Clio's hidden portraits

illustrating women through History var _wau = _wau || []; _wau.push(["small", "yb52ed5d6dm2", "i2a"]); (function() {var s=document.createElement("script"); s.async=true; s.src="http://widgets.amung.us/small.js"; document.getElementsByTagName("head")[0].appendChild(s); })();

[9musesandanoldmind]

Spartan girls in practice.

I’ve been feeling a bit demotivated lately (maybe cause I’m older lol), but this day inspired me to start something I’ve been wanting to do for awhile.

I’d like to start a series of illustrations to picture the presence of women through History, without being necessarily attached to a well known woman and along with it I’d like to picture friendship and love.

If you like the idea feel free to suggest me place/time/settings, I started with Sparta for no reason, probably just easier for me. I’ll put some colours on it another time.

[coolchicksfromhistory]

Aspasia circa 470-400 BCE

Art by 9 muses and an old mind (tumblr 1, tumblr 2)

“To ask questions about Aspasia’s life is to ask questions about half of humanity.” -  Madeleine M. Henry

Aspasia was the romantic partner of Pericles, one of the greatest politicians in Ancient Greece.  Their home was an intellectual center and Aspasia was known for her erudition.  The philosophers Plato, Xenophon, Aeschines Socraticus, and Antisthenes all mentioned her by name.  Socrates was among Aspasia’s close friends and according to Aeschines Socraticus, Socrates recommended Aspasia as a teacher to an important politician.

Aspasia and Pericles were a controversial couple.  Although they had a son together, it is unclear whether they ever married.  Some sources suggest that she may have been a hetaerae (courtesan) and perhaps even a brothel keeper.  However, those who characterized Aspasia as a sex worker also complained that she had too much influence on Pericles.  In 440 BCE, Athens sided with Miletus in a conflict against Samos.  As Aspasia was a native of Miletus and Pericles was one of the most important politicians in Athens, Aspasia was blamed by many for Athens’s involvement in the war.

After Pericles’s death, Aspasia lived with the Athenian general Lysicles with whom she had a second child.  

[coolchicksfromhistory]

Pierra Vejjabul (1898-1984)

Art by 9 muses and an old mind (tumblr 1, tumblr 2)

Pierra was the first female physician in Thailand.  Denied a place at Thailand’s Mahidol University on the basis of her gender, Pierra moved to France to study medicine.  She graduated in 1936 and returned to Thailand where she worked to combat venereal diseases.  

[clioshiddenportraits]

“Kings of Sparta were my forefathers and my brothers. 

I Kyniska, victorious with a chariot of swift-footed horses, 

have erected this statue and declare I am the only woman 

in all of Hellas to have won this crown.”

Kyniska was a spartan princess, first woman to win in the Olympic Games, still in the 4th century BC. The inscription above is the only thing left of her statue in Olympia.

[womenruntheworld]

Early 1900s Classical Jiu Jitsu Smackdown

or…”How to Retain Your Put Together Style While Kicking Butt”

I love how poised and dignified this woman is as she kicks that guy’s butt while wearing a long skirt and heeled shoes no less. Oh, and her hair remains totally coifed. 

[thehappysorceress]

Classic Bad-Assery!

[9musesandanoldmindrandomness]

Ok, that’s probably my favourite thing in the internet right now and it’s from the 30s btw.

[clioshiddenportraits]

Have been caught up for awhile, computer broke, so, to not pass this day without a single note, have some classy exposition of martial arts.

[9musesandanoldmindrandomness]

*-*

[clioshiddenportraits]

Some cool stuff.

[coolchicksfromhistory]

Catherine the Great (1729-1796)

Art by 9 muses and an old mind (tumblr 1, tumblr 2)

Prussian by birth, Catherine the Great became one of the most important monarchs in Russian history.  She began her life as a minor German princess named Sophie Friederike Auguste von Anhalt-Zerbst-Dornburg.  Diplomatic machinations brought Catherine to the Russian court in 1744 as a potential bride for the future Peter III.  Catherine enthusiastically embraced Russia culture, earning the approval of Empress Elizabeth.  Catherine converted to Russian Orthodoxy against her father’s wishes and married Peter in 1745. 

After the death of Empress Elizabeth in 1761, Peter ascended to the throne as Emperor Peter III.  Catherine and Peter’s marriage had never been happy and it became even more strained with this rise to power.  Peter was a deeply unpopular and alienating ruler who many felt favored Prussia over Russia.  Six months after Peter’s ascension to the throne, Catherine took power in a bloodless coup.  Eight days later, Peter was dead under mysterious circumstances.

Catherine ruled Russia for the next thirty-four years, overseeing a golden age.  She expanded the territory of the Russian Empire and continued the process of Westernization begun by Peter the Great.  She rewrote Russia’s legal code and discouraged capital punishment.  She also championed the arts, creating one of the world’s most impressive art collections.  Although Catherine was generally popular, she was not without her opponents and she subdued more than a dozen domestic uprising during her reign.

Beyond her achievements as a monarch, Catherine was famous for her love affairs.  While there are many wild rumors, Catherine was likely more of a serial monogamist than a wild libertine.  Her twelve known lovers were important men who supported her ambition.  When Catherine decided to move on from a relationship, the men were given money, land, and serfs as going away presents.

Catherine’s heir was her son Paul.  Although he was treated as the son of Peter III, Paul was widely thought to be the son of the courtier Sergei Saltykov.  After his birth, Empress Elizabeth took control of little Paul’s upbringing.  Catherine had very little contact with her son during his formative years and after she took power, she began to fear him as a potential rival.  Eventually, Catherine took over the upbringing of her grandsons the way Elizabeth had taken over Peter’s upbringing.  Many believed Catherine planned to skip over her son and name her grandson Alexander as her heir.  When Catherine died, Paul confiscated her will before it was made public and took power.  Like Peter, Paul was an erratic and unpopular leader.  Five years into his reign, Paul was assassinated and his 23-year-old son ascended to the throne as Alexander I.

[clioshiddenportraits]

New one.

[queenotrera]

Camilla of the Volscians: Introduction

I’ve decided that I want to put together a series of posts about Camilla and her story in the Aeneid. I’ve written many papers on her before and thought it might be nice to put some of my thoughts …

I’ve started a new series on my proper blog! It’s about Camilla in the Aeneid. I know you’ve all heard me ramble about her a lot. I made the first post tonight but should put up some more before too long. Hope you like! Let me know what you think! 

[9musesandanoldmind]

This is the first in a series of posts about Camilla, badass character from the Aeneid, written by queenotrera, who’s a real classics student. So, if you love mythology and its ladies and wanna know more about its origins in the classic literature, that mostly perpetuated them for us, you probably should read this. Also, she’ll write about a lot more of interesting mythological women after Camilla. Enjoy.

[clioshiddenportraits]

This ^

[coolchicksfromhistory]

Catherine Parr

Queen of England, Sixth wife of Henry VIII

Art by 9 muses and an old mind (tumblr 1, tumblr 2)

After his disastrous marriage to Catherine Howard, Henry VIII resolved to marry a more mature woman.  He found his next wife among the maids of honor to his daughter Mary.  In her thirties and twice widowed, Catherine Parr fit the bill perfectly.  She was sensible, stylish, and intellectual.  She also favored religious reform over the traditions of Catholicism.  Her father had been a close friend of Henry’s and Catherine herself may have been named in honor of Henry’s first wife Catherine of Aragon.

After two arranged marriages, Catherine hoped her third marriage would be for love and she had formed an attachment to Thomas Seymour, brother of the late Jane Seymour.  But no one could refuse the king.  Henry and Catherine married on July 12, 1543.

Catherine soon became one of Henry’s most trusted advisers.  She was a devoted stepmother and personally oversaw the education of his two minor children, Elizabeth and Edward.  She also influenced Henry to return Mary and Elizabeth to the line of succession.  Henry trusted Catherine so much that he appointed her regent for several months in 1544 while he went on a military campaign to France.

Despite this show of trust, Catherine was not entirely safe from Henry’s wrath.  Catherine was devoutly Protestant and published two theological works.  In 1546, her strong religious view nearly led to her death when she was accused of having banned religious books in her rooms.  A warrant was drawn up for her arrest but before it could be executed, a copy was anonymously left for Catherine.  Aware that her life was in jeopardy, Catherine rushed to Henry who chastised her for being so outspoken on religious matters.  Catherine told him she only brought up such issues so that he could educate her.  Henry quickly forgave Catherine and rewarded her with new jewelry. 

Henry VIII died in 1547.  Six months later, Catherine married Thomas Seymour.  Although her hasty marriage was somewhat scandalous, Catherine remained the guardian of Princess Elizabeth and her cousin Lady Jane Grey.  Childless after three marriages, Catherine became pregnant at age 35.  On August 30, 1548, Catherine gave birth to a daughter she named Mary.  Six days later Catherine died from postpartum infection. 

Thomas Seymour was beheaded for treason on March 20, 1549.  Baby Mary went to live with a close friend of Catherine’s, but apparently died as a small child as there are no records of her life past age two.

[clioshiddenportraits]

Another one for 'Cool Cheeks from History'. =) 

[9musesandanoldmind]

Some time ago these pages simply bloomed in my mind, but the idea kept growing, so I finally decided to commit myself to it and will be posting the story here. This comic will mix a bit of myth and a bit of history to show the amazons’ point of view.

Hope you feel like boarding this ship. =)

[clioshiddenportraits]

Something I'm starting in my other tumblr. =)

[clioshiddenportraits]

Yamamoto Yaeko (1865-1932) was born in the Aizu domain (part of present Fukushima prefecture), which Lord remained loyal to the shogun through the Bakumatsu (literally 'the end of the military camp' or in short, the end of shogunate). Then, as many Aizu women, Yamamoto fought during the invasion of their homeland, albeit forbid to do so officially, but unlikely most of them, she survived. Being daughter of a samurai who also was a gunnery instructor, she was trained not only in traditional weapons as firearms, and is said to have been exceptional with the later. Due to this background, Yamamoto was one of the few in the Aizu side to possess and know how to handle a repeating rifle, while most of her comrades still needed recharge after each shoot.

Nevertheless Aizu feel, Yamamoto came to Kyoto. There her brother, pardoned by the new government, helped in the Meiji Restoration. At this point, besides teaching in the Kyoto Women's School, she became a tea ceremony and flower arrangement master and through her acquaintance with Rev. Joseph Hardy Neesima (formerly Niijima Jou), she converted to christianism. Neesima and her got married (he was her second husband) and together with her brother they started Doshisha Girl's School alongside the Doshisha English School, the school eventually became the first japanese institution for women's higher education and is currently part of the Doshisha University.

Some time after Neesima's death, Yaeko departed of the institution due to alleged prejudice against students from domains contrary to Aizu during Boshin War. From then on she enlisted to the Japanese Red Cross and also became a instructor in nursing schools, serving during the war periods till the early years of the 20th century. She was the first woman non part of the imperial house to be condecorated for services to the country.

Yamamoto is a character depicted and many mediuns, but most notoriously she was the protagonist of the NHK annual period drama of 2013, called 'Yae no Sakura'.

After long, this post concludes the 'onna bugeisha series'. For the next one, thinking about spartan women or maybe some of you have nice suggestions. =)

[coolchicksfromhistory]

Lozen circa 1840-1890

Art by 9 muses and an old mind (tumblr 1, tumblr 2)

Like most Apache women of her generation, Lozen trained at horseback riding and combat from a young age.  By the time she reached adulthood, Lozen was a skilled fighter and an excellent rider.  Married Apache women often participated in military maneuvers, but most functioned as support personnel rather than as warriors.  Lozen was unusual in that she never married and devoted herself to the life of a warrior.  She was also a healer and midwife.  Legend says she had the ability to divine the movements of her enemies. 

The US government forced the Apache onto reservations in the 1870s.  Frustrated by the poor conditions on the reservation, Lozen joined her brother Victorio and his followers when they fled the San Carlos Reservation in 1877.  The group raided forts and other settlements until October 1880 when Victorio and half of his followers were killed by the Mexican Army in the Tres Castillos Mountains south of El Paso.

Away from the group at the time of her brother’s final battle, Lozen survived.  For the next six years, she took part in raids led by the Apache leaders Nana and Geronimo. In 1886, the renegade Apaches surrendered to US forces.  Lozen died in prison from tuberculosis sometime after 1887. 

[clioshiddenportraits]

Illustration I did for 'cool chicks from history' tumblr, if you're following me you'll probably like their tumblr. Now they're celebrating the native american heritage month, for me it was awesome to get to know Lozen, you guys should read more about her story too. =)

[shoomlah]

I briefly mentioned the book Pharaonic Egyptian Clothing (one of the few available surveys on, predictably, pharaonic Egyptian clothing) in my historical fashion master post some months ago, but I also mentioned that it’s out of print and a royal pain in the butt to get your hands on.

Seeing how I’m never one to selfishly hoard good reference (and I’m tired of checking it out of the library over and over again like I’m Belle or something), I finally scanned the whole damn thing and uploaded it HERE for you to download and peruse!

(point of note: this book was published in 1993 so there’s always a slim chance that some of this information might be considered out of date over the past twenty-odd years, but there are so few resources dedicated to the topic that I’m more than willing to take that chance.)

Enjoy, let me know if the link stops working, and go draw some historically accurate Egyptian people!  NOW.  GO GOGOGOGO.

[clioshiddenportraits]

Reblog won't be a common thing here, but this is too precious and rare to let pass. Also she has another post with links for whom want to support the Textile Research Centre in Leiden, where the book's author works nowadays. 

[clioshiddenportraits]

Ohori Tsuruhime (1526-1543) became the head priestess of the Oyamazumi Shrine, in Omishima Island, when she was 15 years old, it was the Sengoku Jidai (or Warring States period) and her father and brothers were dead. Being trained in martial arts all her life, Tsuruhime took the lead of her island's army against Lord Ouchi Yoshitaka. Initially the experienced commanders literally laughed at her, but as she managed to send fleet after fleet back to the main island of Honshu, while engaging directly in the battles and raids, her cause grew. In the ocident she's commonly linked to Joan of Arc because she claimed to be the avatar of Mishima Myojin, the shinto god worshiped in her temple. Tsuruhime kept fighting for a few more years, but as a tragic turn common of the period she commited suicided after her fiance was killed in battle.

The Oyamazumi Shrine is an important center till this day, there are dozens of armours and weapons donated by warlords along japanese history, actually is roughly estimated that 80% of Japan's cultural treasure is guarded there. Among these armours is a simple breastplate clearly adjusted for a woman's body said to have belonged to Tsuruhime, besides a statue and other homages to her.

After the Warring States period Japan was unified under the shogun and closed to the world for centuries, the ruling class was the samurai class who didn't live constantly away in their wars anymore, the place of women as defenders of homes and families was erased, they couldn't inherit or have any official prevalence thereafter, even be culturally nurtured wasn't much of a priority for women in those times, in consequence there's no much about women registered in those years be them warriors or not.

Next post will be the last one of this 'onna bugeisha series' and I'll once again jump some centuries.

[clioshiddenportraits]

Tomoe Gozen (Lady Tomoe) is by far the most well known onna bugeisha (meaning literally woman warrior). She is described as an outstanding warrior, master of all the main weapons of her period - the long bow, sword, naginata and horse riding - being sent frequently to field as first captain of Minamoto no Yoshinaka, a general and one of the three main forces behind the Genpei War (1180-85). Tomoe and Yoshinaka were lovers, but their "official union" is not clear, as well as her origin or end, in one of the most common stories she's daughter of Yoshinaka's wet nurse and one of his close companions. What happened to her after Genpei is a more obscure matter, she actually might has died with the derrocada of Yoshinaka or married another samurai or yet become a nun (a common escape road for that age). 

Her story is told in a number of epics and even kabuki plays, appearing first in the Heike Monogatari (Tale of the House of Hei (other reading for the name of the Taira clan)), the biggest epic about the Genpei War and although such an uncertain story, for being compiled after oral tales, Tomoe became an icon nonetheless. She's considered the embodiment of the onna bugeisha, celebrated and well known till this day, possessing even a memorial in Shiga.

The Heike possess various translations in english, the first being avaiable online for free here: http://library.uoregon.edu/ec/e-asia/read/heike-whole.pdf

Next, in the onna bugeisha tales, I'll jump some centuries.

[clioshiddenportraits]

Hangaku Gozen (Lady Hangaku), also known as Itagaki Gozen, was born in the Jou family, linked to the Taira clan, which lost the Genpei war (1180-1185). Being forced to serve the war winners, now leaders of the shogunate, the remaining members of the Jou family, Hangaku, her brother and nephew, responded starting the Kennin rebellion (1201-1203). Hangaku would have defended the Torisaka castle for three months, her soldiers only surrendering after she was wounded by an arrow. After that she was brought to the capital, the vassals of shogun Minamoto Yoriie were impressed by her deeds, and one of them asked for permission to marry her, unfortunately there's no registry about her thoughts of such arrangement...

Hangaku's story appears in the entries of Azuma Kagami (Mirror of the East), a daily record of the Genpei war and early Kamakura period, comprising more than 80 years. Also known as Houjobon (Houjo's Book), after the family that primarily compiled and possessed it, the book was organized decades later of the events, collecting from various registers and being strongly biased to the Houjo's side of the story. It's no certain how much of it is reliable, yet it turned into the "bible" of shogun Tokugawa Ieyasu who ordered its print in the 17th century, becoming the most known chronicle about that age.

In the environment Hangaku lived women were expected to be able to defend their home, family and themselves of dishonor. Such capacities were mostly seen during sieges to castles of which lord was away, even so there're stories of women who engaged in open battle and are accounted as the most valuable soldier on field, I'll be telling about more of these women in the next posts.

The japanese version of Azuma Kagami is avaiable online and the session of the Genpei War is avaiable in english through the Japanese Historical Text Initiative. Also there's a book by Stephen Turnbull, called 'Samurai Women 1184-1877', that covers all known cases and general context of these warriors.

[clioshiddenportraits]

My post of Hatshepsut and Neferure got featured on the History tag of Tumblr. Sweet. =) 

Also, things are a bit slow now but I'll be posting new stuff this week.