The heroine's journey in motherhood myths

This study aims to analyze the transformation of motherhood myths in classical mythology—particularly those involving Gaia – Rhea, Demeter–Persephone, Metis–Athena, Aphrodite–Eros–Psyche, Clytemnestra–Electra–Orestes, Medea, and Atalanta—through Carl Gustav Jung's concept of archetypes as elements of the collective unconscious. It further examines representations of motherhood in these myths and explores the protagonists' journeys toward wholeness and transformation within the framework of Maureen Murdock's heroine's journey model. The study addresses traces of matriarchal societies, the sacred bond between women and nature, and how this bond was gradually suppressed by patriarchal systems. In matriarchal structures, women were revered as sacred and creative figures. However, with the rise of settled life and concepts of property, women were relegated to secondary status, restricted under the pretext of their biological functions, and subjected to the dominance of the patriarchal mind. This transformation is examined not only as a societal shift but also on the psychological level of the individual. The selected mythological mother figures are analyzed in accordance with Jung's archetype of the mother, revealing both their nurturing and destructive aspects. Their mythic journeys are interpreted through Murdock's model, focusing on fragmentation, alienation, introspection, and integration in the development of feminine identity. This study explores how each heroine confronts the patriarchal order, faces her inner darkness, and ultimately achieves integration by reconciling both her feminine and masculine aspects. Key Words: Matriarchal Order, Archetype, Classical Mythology, The Heroine's Journey, The Hero's Journey