Based on new anthropological discoveries and fresh research of ancient Near Eastern, Greek, Roman, Jewish and early Christian texts, this book investigates the mystery of who Mary really was and what role she played in Jesus' life and ancient society. In the tradition of the historical Jesus books, this book looks at Mary in the context of her social, political and religious settings, and comes up with some very provocative conclusions. Most significant is the pagan culture that flourishedin the region of Jesus' birth and the role Mary played within these cults. The author uses extensive evidence to paint a vivid picture of Mary's world as a heterodox, multi-cultural region, full of cross influences and power struggles. He specifically establishes the widespread worship of female fertility goddesses and relates the known evidence of Mary's life to the practices of these fertility cults. Finding extensive parallels, the author asserts that Mary did participate in these sacred practices and only later did the male religious hierarchy of the early Christian church sanitize her image.