Deborah Lyons Boeken

The exploration of female heroized figures in ancient Greek religious ideology reveals heroines as a distinct category, essential for understanding gender dynamics in Greek culture. Deborah Lyons argues that heroines navigate relationships between the mortal and immortal realms differently than male heroes. Drawing on diverse sources, including Homeric epics and Attic vase paintings, she highlights how heroines illuminate key Greek concepts of mortality and divinity, ultimately reshaping our understanding of heroism in ancient Greece.

The narrative explores the perilous interplay between women and gifts in ancient Greek culture through the stories of Deianeira, Eriphyle, and Aerope. Each woman's actions—Deianeira's poisoned robe for Herakles, Eriphyle's betrayal of Amphiaraos for a necklace, and Aerope's treachery with Thyestes—illustrate how seemingly innocent gifts can lead to devastating consequences. This theme highlights the complexities of trust and betrayal, revealing how women's roles in these exchanges often wield fatal power.

Ab 12 Jahren, ausgezeichnet, Ruedi W. Schweizer