The Distaff Side: Representing the Female in Homer's Odyssey

by Beth Cohen (Editor)

Female Characters play various roles in the Odyssey : patron goddess (Athena), seductress (Kirke, the Sirens, Nausikaa), carnivorous monster (Skylla), maid servant (Eurykleia), and faithful wife (Penelope). Adopting an interdisciplinary approach, this study examines these different female representations and their significance within the context of the poem and Greek culture. A central theme of the book is the visualization of the Odyssey 's female characters by ancient artists, and several essays discuss the visual and iconographic implications of Odysseus' female encounters as depicted in Greek, Etruscan, and Roman art. The distinguished contributors--from the fields of classical studies, comparative literature, art history, and archaeology--are A.J. Graham, Seth L. Schein, Diana Buitron-Oliver, Beth Cohen, Sheila Murnaghan, Lillian Eileen Doherty, Helene P. Foley, Froma I. Zeitlin, H.A. Shapiro, Richard Brilliant, Jenifer Neils, and Christine Mitchell Havelock. Feminine in
orientation, but not narrowly feminist in approach, this first interdisciplinary work on the Odyssey 's female characters will have a broad audience amongst scholars and students working in classical studies, iconography and art history, women's studies, mythology, and ancient history.

Genres: Nonfiction, Mythology, Literary Criticism, Greece, Academic

288 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 1995

Reviews

[Ellana Thornton-Wheybrew · Rating 4 out of 5]

A genuinely interesting look at the women of the Odyssey, both in the epic and in art.

[Debi · Rating 4 out of 5]

A collection of essays focused on the representation of women in the Odyssey. I've not read through all of it yet but what I have read so far is quite good. There are definitely articles here I can assign to students, which was why I bought the book.

[Melissa · Rating 4 out of 5]

Fantastic collection of essays on female characters and representation in The Odyssey. Especially enjoyed Sheila Murnaghan's piece, "The Plan of Athena."