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Moritz Suter · 14th Apr 2002, 15:32

In Greek Mythology, dreadful and powerful women dominate the landscape. Some of my personal favourites are known as the Gorgons. There were three of them, all sisters, two of whom were imortal. The third, Medusa was not. She had her head chopped off by the hero Perseus, son of the God Zeus, insodoing giving birth to Pegasus, but thats another story.

The two immortal Gorgons, were named Stheno and Euryale. They were covered in golden scales with hissing and writhing snakes for hair. All three were reputed to be unbelievably beautiful at one time, and turned to stone anyone unfortunate enough to gaze upon them.

Interestingly, in Classical Mythology the sisters are usually depicted as ugly. This is because Medusa shagged Poseidon in the Temple of Athena. Athena was so enraged by this that all three sisters were cursed into hideousness.

Other fearsome ladies of antiquities were know as the Harpies. Like the Gorgons, there were three Harpies and like the gorgons, they were sisters. Aello, Ocypete and Thyella were all daughters of Electra and always ravenously hungry. Often referred to as the 'Dogs of Zeus', the sisters were fierce indeed, flying about making their presence known with acts of unimaginable hostility and destruction. In Homer's 'Odyssey', the Harpies were know as storm winds, but in truth, the Harpies were merely the vengeful manifestation of the Goddess Athena, Goddess of wisdom and weaving, and a woman of inestimable beauty, a warrior daughter of Zeus. An indescribably glorious woman.

I wondered if perhaps my fellow Ppruners had some examples of women in their lives holding positions of responsible authority. Perhaps examples where unreasonable displays of histrionics, as depicted by the stories of the Harpy, gave way to reveal the true nature of the woman behind the beast?

Over to you, fellow scholars of antiquity.....

MS.

14th Apr 2002, 15:32	#1 (permalink)
Moritz Suter Banned... Persona Non Grata Join Date: Jan 2002 Location: The High Seas Posts: 19	Hags of Ancient Times In Greek Mythology, dreadful and powerful women dominate the landscape. Some of my personal favourites are known as the Gorgons. There were three of them, all sisters, two of whom were imortal. The third, Medusa was not. She had her head chopped off by the hero Perseus, son of the God Zeus, insodoing giving birth to Pegasus, but thats another story. The two immortal Gorgons, were named Stheno and Euryale. They were covered in golden scales with hissing and writhing snakes for hair. All three were reputed to be unbelievably beautiful at one time, and turned to stone anyone unfortunate enough to gaze upon them. Interestingly, in Classical Mythology the sisters are usually depicted as ugly. This is because Medusa shagged Poseidon in the Temple of Athena. Athena was so enraged by this that all three sisters were cursed into hideousness. Other fearsome ladies of antiquities were know as the Harpies. Like the Gorgons, there were three Harpies and like the gorgons, they were sisters. Aello, Ocypete and Thyella were all daughters of Electra and always ravenously hungry. Often referred to as the 'Dogs of Zeus', the sisters were fierce indeed, flying about making their presence known with acts of unimaginable hostility and destruction. In Homer's 'Odyssey', the Harpies were know as storm winds, but in truth, the Harpies were merely the vengeful manifestation of the Goddess Athena, Goddess of wisdom and weaving, and a woman of inestimable beauty, a warrior daughter of Zeus. An indescribably glorious woman. I wondered if perhaps my fellow Ppruners had some examples of women in their lives holding positions of responsible authority. Perhaps examples where unreasonable displays of histrionics, as depicted by the stories of the Harpy, gave way to reveal the true nature of the woman behind the beast? Over to you, fellow scholars of antiquity..... MS. Last edited by Moritz Suter; 14th Apr 2002 at 15:41.