Women to be Feared

Ancient Greece

In ancient Greece, women who wielded power or posed a threat to men were often portrayed as monstrous or inhuman in literature and mythology.
Medusa, originally a young and beautiful woman, was one of these figures who was turned into a monster with snakes for hair. Any man who looked into her eyes was turned to stone.
The Amazons were another group of such women, portrayed as a society of warrior-women living away from men. They were feared because they could fight in battles and were self-sufficient.
Characters like Clytemnestra, who kills her husband Agamemnon in retribution for him sacrificing their daughter, represent the fearsome aspects of women’s power.

Rome continued the tradition of fear-inspiring women in its history and mythology.
Lucretia’s story shows her committing suicide after being violated, leading to the overthrow of the monarchy in Rome. It was a tale of a woman’s power to ignite dramatic political change.
The Vestal Virgins, priestesses of the goddess Vesta, were feared for their spiritual power and the dire consequences that would follow if they broke their vows of chastity.
In Roman literature, women like Dido in Virgil’s ‘Aeneid’ represent threats to Roman heroes, revealing anxiety around women’s potential power and influence.

In contrast to Greece and Rome, ancient Egyptian society seemed far more comfortable with powerful women.
Queen Hatshepsut, who ruled for over 20 years in her own right, was feared by her successors. Her name and image were systematically erased from monuments throughout Egypt after her death.
On the other hand, the goddess Isis, who had magical healing powers and was the divine mother of the pharaoh was venerated and seen as a protective force.
Despite this, there is evidence of fear associated with female power, as shown by spells protecting against the dangers posed by wandering goddesses in the Book of the Dead.