Forgotten Women of the Ancient World

Ancient history tells the stories of heroic men who changed the face of the world. But there are abundant tales of heroic women who have been left out of those stories and who had as much, and in some cases, even more of an impact on history. Extraordinary women like Atalanta, who sailed to Colchis on the Argo in search of the Golden Fleece and joined the hunt for the Calydonian Boar. Tomyris, Queen of the Massagetae waged war against King Cyrus of Persia and won. Cynane was the older half-sister of Alexander the Great and a fierce fighter like the women of her Illyrian heritage. These are only a few of the remarkable women who fought against and alongside the greatest men of history but are never mentioned in their stories. These are the forgotten women of the Ancient World.

Atalanta of the Argo

Everybody knows the story of Jason and the Argonauts and how they bravely sailed across the sea in search of the golden fleece. The story goes that he fought fire-breathing bulls, ploughed the dragon’s teeth and battled with the warrior men that sprang up from the earth before finally slaying the giant serpent that was guarding the elusive golden fleece. But the truth, and indeed there is a truth as opposed to just the myth, is somewhat different.