Women in Power
Classical Myths and Stories, from the Amazons to Cleopatra
Published on 24. April 2025
Book
Paperback/Softback
352 pages
978-0-14-313636-1 (ISBN)
Description
Classical stories about women who wield power, from the Amazons to Dido to Cleopatra
In 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 women's 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 Aristophanes's Assemblywomen, to the righteous anger of Boudicca against sexual violence by men in power, to the successful resistance of Amanirenas against Rome's colonial expansion. Read differently, these tales testify to the long history of women in power and suggest new paths for female empowerment.
In 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 women's 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 Aristophanes's Assemblywomen, to the righteous anger of Boudicca against sexual violence by men in power, to the successful resistance of Amanirenas against Rome's colonial expansion. Read differently, these tales testify to the long history of women in power and suggest new paths for female empowerment.
Reviews / Votes
"...the volume has a significant merit: it identifies a compelling overarching objective that applies to many studies of ancient history. By reconstructing diverse episodes-mythical, legendary, and historical-in which women exercised power, Stephanie McCarter ultimately helps to illuminate the reasons and circumstances that led to the exclusion of women from power in classical antiquity. Moreover, her study can offer us answers to the reasons why power continues to be associated with masculinity in the minds of so many, including women themselves."-- Bryn Mawr Classical Review"A refreshing change to read a collection of vivid ancient texts that tell of powerful women, some legendary, some real" -Mary Beard
More details
Language
English
Place of publication
London
United Kingdom
Publishing group
Penguin Books Ltd
Product notice
Paperback (UK-B)
Dimensions
Height: 197 mm
Width: 129 mm
Thickness: 21 mm
Weight
240 gr
ISBN-13
978-0-14-313636-1 (9780143136361)
Copyright in bibliographic data and cover images is held by Nielsen Book Services Limited or by the publishers or by their respective licensors: all rights reserved.
Schweitzer Classification
Other editions
Additional editions
E-Book
09/2024
Penguin Classics
€11.49
Available for download
Persons
Stephanie McCarter is a professor of classical literature at the University of the South in Sewanee, Tennessee. She has published translated work on Horace and has written for The Sewanee Review, Eidolon, Electric Literature and The Millions. She won the 2023 Harold Morton Landon Translation Prize from The Academy of American Poets for her Penguin Classics translation of Ovid's Metamorphoses.
Content
Introduction by Stephanie McCarter
Suggestions for Further Reading
WOMEN IN POWER
Part One: The Woman-Run State
The Amazons
Strabo, Geography 11.5.1-4, translated from the Greek by Daniel Holmes
Diodorus Siculus, Library of History 2.45-46, translated from the Greek by Stephanie McCarter
Herodotus, Histories 4.110-118, translated from the Greek by Daniel Holmes
Diodorus Siculus, Library of History 4.16, translated from the Greek by Daniel Holmes
Plutarch, Theseus 26-28, translated from the Greek by Daniel Holmes
Quintus of Smyrna, Posthomerica 1.574-674, translated from the Greek by Stephanie McCarter
Quintus Curtius, History of Alexander 6.5.24-32, translated from the Latin by Stephanie McCarter
Female Revolution
Aristophanes, Assemblywomen, translated from the Greek by Stephanie McCarter
Part Two: Mythical and Legendary Queens
Semiramis, Queen of Babylon
Diodorus Siculus, Library of History 2.4-20 (selections), translated from the Greek by Daniel Holmes
Omphale, Queen of Lydia
Ovid, Heroides 9.53-118 (Deianira to Hercules), translated from the Latin by Stephanie McCarter
Ovid, Fasti 2.303-358, translated from the Latin by Stephanie McCarter
Hypsipyle, Queen of Lemnos
Apollonius of Rhodes, Argonautica 1.607-914, translated from the Greek by Aaron Poochigan
Statius, Thebaid 5.1-498, translated from the Latin by Stephanie McCarter
Dido, Queen of Carthage
Vergil, Aeneid Selections, translated from the Latin by Robert Fagles
Book One (1.314-756)
Book Four (all)
Book Six (6.450-476)
Ovid, Heroides 7, translated from the Latin by Erika Zimmermann Damer
Lavinia, Regent of Lavinium
Livy, The History of Rome 1.3, translated from the Latin by Stephanie McCarter
Part Three: Historical Queens
Artemisia I, Queen of Caria
Herodotus, Histories Selections (7.99, 8.67-69, 8.87-88, 8.100-103), translated from the Greek by Daniel Holmes
Salome Alexandra, Queen of Judea
Josephus Selections, translated from the Greek by Stephanie McCarter
Jewish War 1.107-119
Jewish Antiquities 13.428-432
Cleopatra VII, Queen of Egypt
Lucan, Civil War 10.53-171, translated from the Latin by Matthew Fox
Cassius Dio, Roman History 50.4-5, translated from the Greek by Daniel Holmes
Plutarch, Antony 25.3-27.5, translated from the Greek by Daniel Holmes[MOU1]
Pliny the Elder, Natural History 9.119-121, translated from the Latin by Stephanie McCarter
Vergil, Aeneid 8. 675-731, translated from the Latin by Stephanie McCarter
Horace, Odes 1.37, translated from the Latin by Stephanie McCarter
Propertius, Elegies 3.11, translated from the Latin by Stephanie McCarter
Cassius Dio, Roman History 51.14, translated from the Greek by Daniel Holmes
Amanirenas, Queen of Kush
Strabo, Geography 17.1.54, translated from the Greek by Daniel Holmes
Boudicca, Queen of the Iceni
Tacitus, Annals 15.31-35, translated from the Latin by Christopher M. McDonough and Paige Graf
Tacitus, Agricola 16.1-2, translated from the Latin by Stephanie McCarter
Cassius Dio, Roman History 62.3-7, translated from the Greek by Daniel Holmes
Zenobia, Regent of Palmyra
Historia Augusta, "The Thirty Pretenders" 30, translated from the Latin by Stephanie McCarter
Notes
Suggestions for Further Reading
WOMEN IN POWER
Part One: The Woman-Run State
The Amazons
Strabo, Geography 11.5.1-4, translated from the Greek by Daniel Holmes
Diodorus Siculus, Library of History 2.45-46, translated from the Greek by Stephanie McCarter
Herodotus, Histories 4.110-118, translated from the Greek by Daniel Holmes
Diodorus Siculus, Library of History 4.16, translated from the Greek by Daniel Holmes
Plutarch, Theseus 26-28, translated from the Greek by Daniel Holmes
Quintus of Smyrna, Posthomerica 1.574-674, translated from the Greek by Stephanie McCarter
Quintus Curtius, History of Alexander 6.5.24-32, translated from the Latin by Stephanie McCarter
Female Revolution
Aristophanes, Assemblywomen, translated from the Greek by Stephanie McCarter
Part Two: Mythical and Legendary Queens
Semiramis, Queen of Babylon
Diodorus Siculus, Library of History 2.4-20 (selections), translated from the Greek by Daniel Holmes
Omphale, Queen of Lydia
Ovid, Heroides 9.53-118 (Deianira to Hercules), translated from the Latin by Stephanie McCarter
Ovid, Fasti 2.303-358, translated from the Latin by Stephanie McCarter
Hypsipyle, Queen of Lemnos
Apollonius of Rhodes, Argonautica 1.607-914, translated from the Greek by Aaron Poochigan
Statius, Thebaid 5.1-498, translated from the Latin by Stephanie McCarter
Dido, Queen of Carthage
Vergil, Aeneid Selections, translated from the Latin by Robert Fagles
Book One (1.314-756)
Book Four (all)
Book Six (6.450-476)
Ovid, Heroides 7, translated from the Latin by Erika Zimmermann Damer
Lavinia, Regent of Lavinium
Livy, The History of Rome 1.3, translated from the Latin by Stephanie McCarter
Part Three: Historical Queens
Artemisia I, Queen of Caria
Herodotus, Histories Selections (7.99, 8.67-69, 8.87-88, 8.100-103), translated from the Greek by Daniel Holmes
Salome Alexandra, Queen of Judea
Josephus Selections, translated from the Greek by Stephanie McCarter
Jewish War 1.107-119
Jewish Antiquities 13.428-432
Cleopatra VII, Queen of Egypt
Lucan, Civil War 10.53-171, translated from the Latin by Matthew Fox
Cassius Dio, Roman History 50.4-5, translated from the Greek by Daniel Holmes
Plutarch, Antony 25.3-27.5, translated from the Greek by Daniel Holmes[MOU1]
Pliny the Elder, Natural History 9.119-121, translated from the Latin by Stephanie McCarter
Vergil, Aeneid 8. 675-731, translated from the Latin by Stephanie McCarter
Horace, Odes 1.37, translated from the Latin by Stephanie McCarter
Propertius, Elegies 3.11, translated from the Latin by Stephanie McCarter
Cassius Dio, Roman History 51.14, translated from the Greek by Daniel Holmes
Amanirenas, Queen of Kush
Strabo, Geography 17.1.54, translated from the Greek by Daniel Holmes
Boudicca, Queen of the Iceni
Tacitus, Annals 15.31-35, translated from the Latin by Christopher M. McDonough and Paige Graf
Tacitus, Agricola 16.1-2, translated from the Latin by Stephanie McCarter
Cassius Dio, Roman History 62.3-7, translated from the Greek by Daniel Holmes
Zenobia, Regent of Palmyra
Historia Augusta, "The Thirty Pretenders" 30, translated from the Latin by Stephanie McCarter
Notes