rabo says of the Cimbri that when they took the field
they were accompanied by venerable, hoary-headed prophetesses, clothed
in long, white robes. Scandinavians, Gauls, Germans, Danes and Britons
obeyed, esteemed and venerated females who dealt in charms and
incantations. These sacred women claimed to foretell the future and to
interpret dreams, and among Germans, Celts and Gauls they were the only
physicians and surgeons. The druidesses cured disease and were believed
to have power superior to that of the priests.[8] The Germans never
undertook any adventure without consulting their prophetesses.[9] The
Scandinavian name for women endowed with the gift of prophecy was
_fanae_, _fanes_. The English form is _fay_. The ceremonies of fays or
fairies, like those of the druidesses, were performed in secluded
woods.[A]

[Footnote A: Joan of Arc was asked during her trial if she were a fay.]

Magic and medicine went hand in hand in ancient times, and remained
together down to the middle ages. Old herbals largely compiled from the
lore of ancient women form a link in the chain of tradition, the first
ring of which may have been formed in Egypt or in Greece. There is no
doubt that women from an early date tried to cure disease. Homer makes
mention of Hecamede and her healing potions. There seems little doubt
that there were Greek women who applied themselves to a complete study
of medicine and contributed to the advance of medical science. This
traditional belief in the power of women to cure disease survives in the
folk to-day.[10]

In view of the widespread veneration of a peculiar psychic quality of
woman, a power of prophecy and a property of divinity which has made her
an object of fear and worship, it may be well to review the modern
explanations of the origin of this unique feminine power. Herbert
Spencer was of the opinion that feminine penetration was an ability to
distinguish quickly the passing feelings of those around and was the
result of long ages of barbarism during which woman as the weaker sex
was obliged to resort to the arts of divination and to cunning to make
up for her lack of physical force and to protect herself and her
offspring.[11] In like vein Kaethe Schirmacher, a German feminist, says:
"The celebrated intuition of woman is nothing but an astonishing
refinement of the senses through fear.... Waiting in fear was made the
life task of the sex."[12]

Lester F. Ward had a somewhat different view.[13]