women character profiles Flashcards
short and sweet
Medea (origin and family)
Daughter of King Aeetes of Colchis, skilled in magic and sorcery
Wife of Jason and mother of two sons.
Aspasia (origin and family)
Born in Miletus, Aspasia became a highly respected companion of Pericles, the athenian statesman.
Livia Drusilla (origin and family)
Born into a prominent Roman family, Livia married Tiberius Claudius Nero before becoming the wife of the Emperor Augustus. Her diplomatic skills and strategic alliances helped stabilize Augustus’ reign and ensure the continuity of the Julio-Claudian dynasty.
Cleopatra the VII
Born in Egypt became the last active ruler of the Plolemaic Kingdom of Egypt. Married Julies Caesar then later Mark Antony
Penthesilea
Penthesilea was the queen of the Amazons as mythical tribe of warrior women
Pythia
High priestess of the Temple of the Apollo at Delphi
Helen of Troy
Daughter of Zeus and Leda, queen of Sparta, and famously known as the most beautiful in the world. Sister of Clytemnestra and Clastar and Pollux (helen was the wife of menelaus)
Clodia
Born into patrican Claudii family in rome. Sister of the infamous Publius Clodius Pulcher, known for hr relationships with prominent Roman figures. Her relationships with influential men like Marcus Caelius Rufus and the poet Catullus earned her a reputation as a femme fatale.
Agrippina the Younger
Origin: Born into the Julio-Claudian dynasty as the daughter of Germanicus and Agrippina the Elder.
Family: Sister of Emperor Caligula, wife of Emperor Claudius, and mother of Emperor Nero.
Analysis: Agrippina the Younger wielded significant political influence during the reign of her husband Claudius and her son Nero. Her ambition and machinations to secure power for herself and her family, including the poisoning of Claudius and manipulation of Nero’s rise to power, earned her a notorious reputation in Roman history.
Medusa
Once a beautiful maiden, Medusa was cursed by Athena and transformed into a monstrous creature with snakes for hair and the ability to turn anyone who looked at her into stone.
Family: Daughter of Phorcys and Ceto, sister to the Gorgons Stheno and Euryale.
Vestal Virgins
Chosen from noble Roman families, the Vestal Virgins served as priestesses of Vesta, the goddess of the hearth.
Family: No specific familial background mentioned.
Analysis: The Vestal Virgins held a unique position of religious authority in ancient Rome. Their vow of chastity and their role in maintaining the sacred fire of Vesta symbolized purity and devotion, earning them respect and reverence within Roman society as guardians of the city’s spiritual well-being.
Camilla
Origin: Daughter of King Metabus, exiled from her homeland and raised in the wilderness.
Family: No specific familial background mentioned.
Analysis: Camilla’s legendary skill in battle and her association with the goddess Diana made her a revered figure in Roman mythology. Her prowess as a hunter and warrior, as well as her tragic death on the battlefield during the war between the Trojans and the Latins, cemented her status as a symbol of feminine strength and independence in Roman culture.
Lucretia
Character: Lucretia
Origin: Lucretia was a noblewoman in ancient Rome, known for her virtue and chastity.
Family: Wife of Collatinus, a Roman nobleman.
Story: Lucretia’s tragic tale is recounted in Roman history and literature. According to tradition, Lucretia was assaulted by Sextus Tarquinius, the son of King Tarquinius Superbus, while her husband Collatinus was away. After the assault, Lucretia informed her father and husband of what had happened and, in despair, took her own life. Her death became a catalyst for the overthrow of the Roman monarchy and the establishment of the Roman Republic.
Pandora
Character: Pandora
Origin: Created by the gods as the first woman, as part of the punishment of mankind.
Family: Given as a bride to Epimetheus, brother of Prometheus.
Story: In Greek mythology, Pandora was given a jar (often mistranslated as a “box”) by Zeus and instructed never to open it. However, consumed by curiosity, she eventually opened the jar, unleashing all the evils and miseries of the world into the mortal realm. Only hope remained trapped inside. Pandora’s actions are often seen as the origin of human suffering.
Sabine Women
Character: The Sabine Women
Origin: In Roman mythology, the Sabine women were the daughters and wives of the Sabine men who inhabited the region around Rome.
Family: Married to Roman men after the abduction and subsequent reconciliation with their Sabine captors.
Story: The Sabine Women are central to the legendary founding of Rome. According to tradition, Rome’s first king, Romulus, abducted Sabine women to provide wives for his male citizens. This action led to a conflict between the Romans and the Sabines, which was ultimately resolved when the women intervened, pleading for peace between their Roman husbands and their Sabine fathers and brothers. The reconciliation resulted in the integration of the Sabine people into Roman society.
