Iphigenia, Polyxena, and Female Sacrifice in Patriarchal Structures
When we think of the women of the Trojan war, we think of Helen, maybe of Hecuba and Andromache. We think of women deprived of their agency, watching behind the...
The Common Cause
Rococo Art, Briefly
I love autumn, but I am loath to let go of the pleasures that come with the summertime. The heat of the afternoon allows for little more than leisure, lounging...
Historical Jewelry: The Chatelaine
For whatever the reason, women’s clothing has not always had pockets. The tiny, unusable pockets—or, gasp, fake pockets—we find on our pants today are not just a modern problem. If...
Legends of the Thirteenth Zodiac
Ophiuchus, the serpent bearer, is a constellation shrouded in mystery and legend. He is painted across the sky between Scorpius and Sagittarius, best viewed late at night in the summertime....
Gemstone Lore: Birthstones
You might be aware of your own birthstone, perhaps those of your loved ones—but did you know that the history of birth stones reaches back thousands of years, and has...
Time and Oysters: My Take on Hot Pearl Summer
I don’t think there is anything as timeless and elegant as a string of pearls. Just the phrase may conjure up images of the effortless sophistication of Michelle Obama, or...
The Golden Light of Evening
Life is not back to normal, but no one is surprised. The days are long, sometimes too long, but the months are short and fleeting. Often I feel as though...
History of Jewelry: Middle East
Archeologists found a single pearl and gold earring in Bahrain, an island in the Persian gulf. It was estimated to be around 4,000 years old—one of the oldest ever found....
Eternal Love: Baucis and Philemon
To wrap up our unofficial Tragic Romance Month, I give you the story of tenderhearted Baucis and good-natured Philemon. This story is a look inside tradition, social connection, and pragma,...
Niulang and Zhinu, the Oxherd and the Weaver
There are many variations on this 2600 year old Chinese folk legend, including Japanese, Korean, Vietnamese and Indian versions, but here is the one I know. Seven sister goddesses were...
Echo and Narcissus: Enamored of A Ghost
Welcome to the second installment of what I’ve come to think of as Tragic Romance Month. Today, we draw again from the well of Ovid. Love does not always make...
Tragic Romance: Galatea and Acis
An etiological myth is a myth that serves a purpose. It offers an explanation for something we don’t fully understand. Persephone’s marriage is an etiological myth. Before we understood why...
Folkloric Spirits: An Introduction to Nymphs
The word “nymph” comes from the Greek numphe, meaning “bride,” but it didn’t exactly mean what you might imagine; generally, it referred to a certain stage of life, a young...
Which Mythological Monster Are You?
Quick Question: Which Mythological Monster Are You? They can be lovely, beguiling, or deceptively shy. They can be scaled, feathered, with razor-sharp teeth or snakes for hair. The monsters of...
The Myth of Mixed Metals
Like many other young women, I grew up hearing about color seasons, palettes, and undertones. Theoretically, each person is a Deep Autumn or a Soft Summer or a True Bright...
Calliope: a Voice of Reason and Grace
She is often called the “Superior Muse,” coming from the Latin word of the same spelling, “superior” in this case refers to succession, meaning “elder.” Calliope is the oldest of...