Women Who Have Stood the Test of Time

In Ancient Greece, women rarely took part in the political or social spheres. Their livelihood relied on men and their familial lineage. But a few women, mythological or historical, took a stand against this patriarchal regime, and were so well-known that the historians decided to include them.

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1. Agnodice

Seen more as a mythological figure, Agnodice represented the first female midwife and physician in the Ancient Greek world. As women were not permitted to be physicians, Agnodice disguised herself as a man, and her skills in the profession made her popular among the women of Athens.

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2. Anyte

Anyte of Tegea was a famous poet who lived around 300 BCE. While there isn’t much written about her life, she has 24 epigrams - brief statements - attributed to her in the Greek Anthology, a preserved collection of poems.

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3. Arete of Cyrene

Born in Libya, Arete was the daughter of Aristippus. Her father studied under Socrates, who passed his philosophical teachings to Arete. When her father died, Arete took over teaching students at the School of Cyrene and became a highly esteemed philosopher.

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4. Aspasia of Miletus

Considered one of the most important women in the Ancient Greek world, not much is known about her personal life. Allegedly, she worked as a courtesan (an old-school escort) and had a son with the general, Pericles. Today, she’s seen as a role model for feminists everywhere.

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5. Artemisia I of Caria

Born in the city of Halicarnassus (modern-day Turkey), Artemisia ruled as queen. She ruled over Halicarnassus, Kos, Nisyros, and Kalymnos after her husband’s death, and fought with Xerxes I during the Persian invasion. She’s also said to have commanded a ship at the Battle of Salamis in 480 BCE. In a funny twist of fate, we don’t even know her late husband’s name.

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6. Athena

Athena is the goddess of wisdom, strategy, and warfare. She was a patron for many cities across the Ancient Greek world, most notably, Athens. In Greek mythology, Athena had no mother; instead, she was born from Zeus’s forehead. Sounds painful!

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7. Cleopatatra

Yes, that Cleopatra. The last Hellenistic pharaoh of Egypt, Cleopatra VII, ruled from 51 to 30 BCE. She was born in 69 BCE in Alexandria and left a lasting impression on the Ptolemaic dynasty and the world at large.

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8. Gorgo, Queen of Sparta

Gorgo was the wife of King Leonidas I. She lived during the fourth century BCE, and is best known for her intelligence and assistance in the beginning of the Persian Invasion of 480 BCE. While she wasn’t a queen in the sense of holding any political power, and was married to her half-uncle, Gorgo is cited as one of the first female cryptanalysts.

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9. Helen of Troy

Another mythological figure, Helen of Troy, had a face you would go to war for, which is exactly how the story goes. Daughter of Zeus and Leda, Helen was considered the most beautiful woman in the world. Said to have married both Menelaus of Sparta and Paris of Troy, Helen is considered the catalyst of the Trojan War.

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10. Hipparchia of Maroneia

Hipparchia was a philosopher and the wife of Crates of Thebes. Born in Maroneia around 350 BCE, Hipparchia fell in love with Crates after her family moved to Athens. Known as a Cynic Philosopher, Hipparchia lived her life in a way considered unacceptable for women at the time.

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11. Hydna of Scione

Known for her exemplary swimming and diving skills, Hydna is believed to be a massive contributor to the destruction of the Persian navy in 480 BCE. It’s said that she and her father, Scyllias, swam 10 miles out to sea in the middle of the night, cutting anchors and moorings off of Persian ships.

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12. Hypatia

Born in the second half of the fourth century AD, Hypatia was a philosopher, astronomer, and mathematician in the city of Alexandria. She was considered a great teacher during her life, and is one of the few fourth-century female mathematicians we know about today. 

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13. Lysimache

Living in the 4th and 5th centuries BCE, Lysimache was a high priestess of Athena Polias. This position was considered the highest religious office in Ancient Athens and was a hereditary, lifetime-long position. Only married women were allowed to take office, but this allowed certain women to partake in social and political affairs at the time.

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14. Medea

Medea is a mythological figure, most known for being an accomplished sorceress. Daughter of King Aeëtes of Colchis, Medea dedicated her life to the goddess Hecate. Her name first appeared in Hesiod’s Theogony, but she has a tragedy named after her, written by Euripides.

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15. Olympias, Queen of Macedon

Eldest daughter of King Neoptolemus I, Olympias was a queen, priestess, and devout member of the cult of Dionysus. Her son is Alexander the Great, and Olympias played a big role in Alexander’s rule over Macedon, so much so that she is considered the de facto queen.

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16. Oracle of Delphi

Better known as the Pythia, the oracle of Delphi was a high priestess at the Temple of Apollo. The role of the Pythia came about in the 8th century BCE, and her role was to commune with the Gods and provide counsel to whoever she spoke with. The oracle of Delphi was considered one of the most powerful roles in the world, and the role was specific to women.

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17. Penthesila

An Amazonian Queen in Greek mythology, Penthesila is the daughter of Ares and Otrera. She fought for Troy during the Trojan War and is said to have died at the hands of Achilles or Neoptolemus.

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18. Sappho

Considered the first female poet ever recorded, Sappho lived between 630 - 570 BCE. She’s considered one of the greatest lyric poets of the time, so much so that she received nicknames such as the “Tenth Muse” and “The Poetess.”

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19. Themistoclea

Themistoclea was a priestess at Delphi during the 6th century BCE. She is considered the teacher of the mathematician Pythagoras, teaching him his moral doctrines, although this relation is not confirmed.

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20. Vestal Virgins    

The Vestal Virgins were a powerful group of priestesses dedicated to the virgin goddess Vesta. The priestesses were chosen as children, freed of any obligations to their families, and swore to practice for at minimum 30 years. The Vestal Virgins were obligated to serve the Roman state and maintain a vow of chastity during their service, but they were also granted rights and privileges given to no others at the time.

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