The Goddess of Reason
Preserved but no longer current.
The central figure in an attempt to substitute a religion for Chris- tianity during the French Revolution, which was known as The Feast of Reason. The role was taken by various young women who, in turns, were enthroned and "worshipped" in the cathedral of Notre Dame. Mile Condeille, of the Opera, was one of the earliest of these "goddesses" (Nov.
Era: ca. 1898 (Victorian)
Sources & notes
Reproduced from Brewer’s Dictionary of Phrase and Fable (1898 edition, public domain; archive.org, retrieved 2026-07-31; OCR text, minor errors possible). Reflects the scholarship and attitudes of its era.
Common questions
What does “The Goddess of Reason” mean?
The central figure in an attempt to substitute a religion for Chris- tianity during the French Revolution, which was known as The Feast of Reason. The role was taken by various young women who, in turns, were enthroned and "worshipped" in the cathedral of Notre Dame. Mile Condeille, of the Opera, was one of the earliest of these "goddesses" (Nov.
Is “The Goddess of Reason” formal or informal?
No register label has been reviewed yet — treat it as neutral and check the usage notes above.