How did men manage to take over? Easy answer, the same way they do now. Men say a lot of things to flatter the woman and vain creature that she is, she believes him.

You mean like older men believe younger women when they get fawned over?

Something like that yeah. Another reason why they might think women formed a matriach society is because of the statues and various artifacts dedicated to women. They could have been made and honoured because women give birth ,raise and nurture the young and generally take care of eveyone during times of peace and war. What better way to honour someone special. It's like giving your mom a "Best Mom In The World Trophy".

Umm... I was being sarcastic. The implication was that women manipulate the same way that you mentioned men do. Also, the artifacts aren't necessarily dedicated to women; that's an archaological theory, but not proven.

The "matriarchal society" idea was brought forth, as I recall, by Marija Gimbutos and embraced by the American feminist movement. But there's no historical evidence. There are women around the world who are soldiers; men who raise the children. It's a flawed stereotype.

Unless someone can actually go back in time to when these artifacts were carved we'll never know what they were really intended for.

Very true. But the circumstances in which they were found don't show any specific religious significance.

Have you noticed that it doesn't matter what gets dug up from the past the archeologists are always assuming everything was for religion.

It's the easy out, I think. "It's doesn't have any immediately discernable practical use, must be mystical!"