Title Highlight: Encyclopedia of Women in the Ancient World

Encyclopedia of Women in the Ancient World

1 volume: Illustrations, maps, List of entries by Category, Genealogical charts, Index

This encyclopedia tells the stories of around 150 of the ancient world’s most famous women. The entries cover them and their activities in the ancient Western world ranging from Mesopotamia to Britain including Egypt, Greece, Rome, Persia and early Jewish and Christian communities. In addition to real women, the book tells the stories of some of mythologies most famous women (ex. Cassandra, Pandora, Penelope) and goddesses (ex. Artemis, Venus, Hera). The entries are easy to read and very entertaining with references for further reading at the end of each article.

The book contains an interesting mix of women including both Saints (Agnes, Mary Magdelene, Martha) and sinners (Cleopatra, Messalina), poets, scholars and philosophers (Sappho, Hypatia, Hipparchia), rulers (Hatshepsut, Helena) and warriors (Boudicca). The genealogical charts show the relationships within several well-known ancient families, the Herodian family of ancient Palestine, the Roman families of Augustus, Theodosius and the Julio-Claudians. The maps display the regions and cities referred to in many of the encyclopedia’s entries.