Partheneia
Greek Myths Reclaimed
"But she is, more than the Sirens, capable of song..."
"The greatest glory of a woman is to be least talked about by men, whether in praise or blame."
-Pericles
Except... no. Obviously, no.
What is Partheneia?
(spoiler: it's Greek myths, with a shamelessly feminist agenda)
Imagine you have a toxic ex. Maybe he cheated and blamed you for not putting out. Maybe he couldn't handle the fact that your salary is higher. Take your pick, or fill in the blank with your own real-life misogynist. Would you want him writing your biography? Your eulogy? Could the world trust his version of your story?
Even modern feminist myth retellings like Circe and Stone Blind accept certain premises. Hera was jealous and spiteful, Athena blamed the victim, Artemis was cold and unforgiving, and so on. But who says? Why are we taking as gospel the word of ancient male writers who drank misogyny with their mothers' milk? Yes, their versions are the only ones we have... is that a good enough reason?
We don't think so. Partheneia breathes new life - and a few grains of salt - into the Greek myths, giving girls, women, and goddesses the benefit of the doubt for once in ancient history.
Two spears with one target...
Retellings
Every month, subscribers receive anywhere from 1 to 3 Greek myth retellings as short stories. These stories feature both lesser known myths with a spotlight on female characters and common myths with an uncommon (and feminist) spin.
Discussion
Each Partheneia myth retelling is accompanied by an article that summarizes and discusses the "traditional" or typical version that is most commonly presented as the "real" or original version. In these articles, we look at the source material and see how the content has trickled down to modern readers.
Support the Partheneia Project on Substack
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Substack is a platform that allows readers to get their reading material delivered to them via email.
From the creators: "On Substack, writers and creators can publish their work and make money from paid subscriptions while supporters can directly sustain the work they deeply value."
What does it cost?
Substack offers writers and readers the flexibility to choose what they pay and how they pay it. The Partheneia Project currently offers 3 options:
Yearly ($50)
Monthly ($5)
FREE
What will I get?
In short, subscribers receive Partheneia content delivered straight to their inboxes. The only difference between paid and free subscriptions is quantity. Paid subscribers get 3-4 articles and stories per month, while free subscribers get a monthly post which can be either a story or an article.
Frequently Asked Questions
Are these the real myths?
Well, that depends. Whose version is the real one? Ancient writers frequently disagreed with each other, and even with themselves. These stories were told and retold for hundreds, even thousands of years. There's a well-established tradition of artistic license, especially in the plays written by the greats like Aeschylus and Euripides. The changes I've made are similar in scope to those made by ancient writers.
What's the educational value of Partheneia?
Despite the alterations I've made in my retellings of the myths, readers will still come away equipped with the same essential information they would find in any other basic Greek mythology primer or Greek mythology unit. For instance, students will be well able to pass a typical high school quiz on the "who-what-where" of the major Greek myths.
Is Partheneia appropriate for young girls?
That is entirely at the discretion of the parents of said young girls, but this work is aimed primarily at ladies of about 14 and up. Although there are no graphic descriptions of sex or violence, I felt very strongly that the stories should not obscure the reality of what was happening to these women. Zeus did not "fall in love" with his mortal victims. He raped them. The ancient sources made no bones about it, and neither do I. These stories, tragic and ugly as they can be, have much to say that is urgently relevant to women today. I've written the stories in such a way as to prompt reflection on issues like consent, sexual agency, victim blaming, gossip, and more.
So do you, like... hate men?
Most emphatically, no! These ancient writers were products of their societies. I would say it's not their fault, but any discussion of fault is beside the point. The purpose here is not to cast blame but rather to challenge assumptions and pull back the curtain on misogyny in the myths. If readers have a problem with the way men behave in the myths... well, take it up with Homer and company. I didn't make this stuff up.
Meet the Author
Kassandra Flamouri is the author of three published novels and mother to the amazing and indefatigable Zoe Grace, the inspiration behind this project. Together they spend their days learning not to touch the stove and planning the downfall of the patriarchy (with the full support of Zoe's dad, who is the model of what a modern man should be).