Why are the goddesses in Greek myth so often imagined in groups? That compelling question occurred to the author as she observed the seven sisters of the Pleiades constellation one night in the Black Rock Desert of Nevada. Her insight that these multiplicities were united in the neglected theme of the Maiden archetype, or Kore, became this present study.

“The Kore Goddess: A Mythology and Psychology is an in-depth exploration of an overlooked mythic and psychic pattern. Also known as the Maiden or Virgin, the Kore personifies an archetypal state of youthful being in which a person becomes one-in-herself. By applying Jungian depth psychology to ancient Greek imagery, Safron Rossi traces the reemergence of this archetype in contemporary individuation and soul-making, bringing to light the critical capacity to be psychologically virginal. In her treatment of this theme, Rossi draws on her prior study of Greek triad goddesses, showing how the Kore pattern is woven into configurations such as the Fates, the Furies, the Graces and other bands of female deities. Expanding Jung’s little known insight that the Kore is central to women’s psychology, Rossi reveals a teleology of soul related to korehood—a deep integrity grounded in one’s essential nature and character. Our relationship to this archetypal pattern brings a sense of vitality and sovereignty, as well as a connection to the interior rhythms of life.”