#1 Cleopatra
Cleopatra VII was queen of Egypt in the first century BCE . Cleopatra was the last monarch of the Ptolemaic Dynasty of Egypt, who can trace their ancestry back to Macedonia, gaining power after the death of Alexander the Great. Though remembered infamously for her sexual exploits, it is believed that she was a very effective ruler, and that she actually learned the Egyptian language, rather than just her native Greek. Cleopatra is best known today for her role as the ally and lover of Marc Antony and Octavian after the assassination of Julius Caesar in 44 BCE , but she was also a lover of Julius Caesar, bearing him a son, Caesarion, in 47 BCE.
#2 Sappho
Sappho was a Greek lyric poet from Lesbos, Greece ( 610 BCE -570 BCE). Much of her biography remains a mystery, there are lots of legends surround her personal life. Even in her time she was considered a great poet and was referred to as the “Poetess” and “the tenth Muse” by Plato. Her works were so popular she appeared on coins and civic statues.
#3 Athena
Athena was the Greek goddess of war strategy and wisdom and was the daughter of Zeus, king of the gods. Athena fought alongside heroes such as Odysseus in battle and gave them the strength to overcome their enemies. A virgin goddess, she did not conform to the female social expectations of a wife and child bearer. She became the patron of the city of Athens, giving it her name. The images below show ancient Athenian coins depicting both the bust of the goddess and her owl.
#4 Isis
Isis was one the most important Egyptian goddess, regarded as patron of mourners, healers, and mothers. Though her origins are in Egypt, she was worshiped throughout the ancient mediterranean world. Her main power presided over magic and she was considered one of the most powerful deities. She is often depicted as holding a sistrum (pictured below), a rattle like object, which was also used in her cult worship.
#5 Cornelia Africana
Cornelia Africana is considered to be the perfect example of a virtuous Roman woman. She was the daughter of Punic War hero, Scipio Africanus, and was the mother of the Roman politicians, Tiberius and Gaius Gracchus. Not only was she a loving mother, personally overseeing the education of her children, but she herself was extremely well educated and became active in Roman politics after the death of her husband.
Websites Referenced
https://www.britannica.com/biography/Sappho-Greek-poet
https://www.poetryfoundation.org/poets/sappho
https://www.britannica.com/topic/Athena-Greek-mythology
https://www.britannica.com/topic/Isis-Egyptian-goddess
https://www.biography.com/people/cleopatra-vii-9250984
https://www.history.com/news/10-little-known-facts-about-cleopatra
http://www.ancient-origins.net/history-famous-people/who-was-cornelia-africana-and-how-did-she-become-prototype-virtuous-roman-021232