Why so many mythological monsters are female (Smithsonian Magazine)

The Smithsonian published this engaging review of a recent publication entitled Women and Other Monsters: Building a New Mythology.  Explore the myths surrounding many female monsters from ancient Greek and Roman tradition. 

"Monsters reveal more about humans than one might think. As figments of the imagination, the alien, creepy-crawly, fanged, winged and otherwise-terrifying creatures that populate myths have long helped societies define cultural boundaries and answer an age-old question: What counts as human, and what counts as monstrous?"


Caravaggio, Medusa, 1595 



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