Women in Power
Classical Myths and Stories, from the Amazons to Cleopatra
Recommended by Mary Beard as one of the BBC History Magazine's Books of the Year
Classical stories about women who wield power, from the Amazons to Dido to Cleopatra
A Penguin Classic
There is no other anthology that brings together similar stories of ancient women in power. These women threaten male power by stepping into the roles traditionally held by men. They command armies, exercise sexual autonomy and even dominance, speak in public, issue laws, and subject others (even masculine heroes and citizen men) to their control. All of these stories were written by men, and none of them can be read as affirmations or celebrations of women in power. They are instead misogynistic tales that aim to shore up masculine authority…