WOMEN IN POWER: CLASSICAL MYTHS AND STORIES FROM THE AMAZONS TO CLEOPATRA

Classical stories about women who wield power from the Amazons to Dido to CleopatraIn this fascinating anthology ancient women threaten male power by stepping into the roles traditionally held by men. They command armies exercise sexual autonomy 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. Instead their sexist attitudes continue to justify womens exclusion from power.Yet despite the fear and suspicion the male authors direct toward these women we can find much to admire in their tales from the coordinated action of the women of Aristophaness Assemblywomen to the righteous anger of Boudicca against sexual violence by men in power to the successful resistance of Amanirenas against Romes colonial expansion. Read differently these tales testify to the long history of women in power and suggest new paths for female empowerment.