5 Strong Women in Greek Mythology

Welcome to the Topic “5 Strong Women in Greek Mythology”

Although Greek heroes are widely popular, having numerous movies and books about them, Greek women are often shown in nothing more than supporting roles. To tackle that, we have gathered a list of 5 powerful women who successfully slithered men's throats in a fight for revenge, vengeance, and love.

Medea

Medea, an enchantress, holds popularity in Greek mythology due to her brilliant advice to influential male figures. She offered a magic ointment to Jason that protected him from fire-breathing bulls, and in doing so, she helped him steal the Golden Fleece from her father, King Aeëtes of Colchis. Hand in hand, the couple escaped, cutting Apsyrtus into pieces in an attempt to buy time. 

However, on being betrayed by Jason in the journey of love, Medea seeks revenge by poisoning his bride-to-be's wedding dress and killing her own children. She then takes their bodies alongside and flees to Athens, leaving Jason nothing but agony. 

Helen of Troy

Next on our list is Helen, the daughter of Zeus, God of Thunder. The fair maiden whose beauty caused the Trojan war! From an army of suitors, Helen chose Menelaus as her groom. However, upon falling in love with the son of the Trojan king, she fled alongside him to Troy. That marked the start of the Trojan war.

Helen is later reunited with Menelaus and returns with him to Sparta. In Greek mythology, Helen is symbolized as transitioning from adolescence to a married woman. Considered to be a diety, she was worshipped at various temples and had offerings made in her name.

Clytemnestra 

Helen's sister, Clytemnestra, was no novice either when it came to vengeance. To calm the wrath of Artemis and emerge victorious in the war, Agamemnon offered Clymnestra’s beloved daughter Iphigenia as a sacrifice. Spurred by hatred and anger, Clymnestra conspired with her lover Aegisthus to avenge the murder of Iphigenia. The suffering mother then cold-bloodedly stabbed Agamemnon when he went to take a bath.

 Although Cylmnestra emerged successful in seeking revenge, she later became subject to her daughter's vengeance and met her demise. 

Electra

Electra, the daughter of Clytemnestra, is the embodiment of vengeance. Whether hers is a story of heroic struggle or tragedy is debatable. She saved her younger brother from their mother's wrath by sending him away with the promise that when the time comes, they shall seek revenge for their father's death. When Orestes returns, the two-act upon the burning rage and kill Clytemnestra and her lover, Aegisthus.

Circe

Last but not least is Circe, an enchantress, and daughter to Helios and Perse. She holds significance in Greek mythology due to her vast knowledge of herbs and potions. A strong character, she would curse her rivals, forcing them to turn into animals.

Once, when Odysseus took advantage of her and her hospitality, she turned his whole crew into pigs. However, Circe's story does not end here; upon being rejected by the Italian King Picus, she shows her fury by turning him into a woodpecker. Circe is the accurate depiction of a feral woman, a predator, who sought pleasure in the suffering of whoever came in her way.