Best of the Best: Ancient Women Quiz

Answer: No, it was Queen Sobekneferu of the Twelfth Dynasty.

After the death of her brother, Amenemhat IV, Queen Sobekneferu ruled Egypt for four years, as the last pharaoh of the Twelfth Dynasty. Although few monuments and statues have been found that can be ascribed to her, she did enhance the funerary complex of Amenemhat III at Hawara, where she had her own pyramid, and is credited with building some of the structures at Herakleopolis Magna. Her name in some of the engravings has been enclosed in a cartouche, which was the custom with pharaohs.

There are other women who might have ruled during the First Dynasty, however, historians have been unable to find confirmed proof. As far as Hatshepsut is concerned, there is a good chance that you learned in school that she was the first, and maybe only, female pharaoh. She did make some stunning accomplishments and is believed to have ruled longer than any other female pharaoh, however, she was not the first.

Answer: A warrior.

Deborah led a successful military campaign against Jabin, the King of Canaan, with the assistance of Barak, who is said to have brought ten thousand troops from the Israelite tribes of Naphtali and Zebulun and defeated the forces of Sisera, Jabin's general, at the Battle of Mount Tabor. Actually two women helped to end the Canaanite oppression: Deborah as a military leader, and Jael, who killed Sisera when he stopped to rest in her husband's tent.

The "Song of Deborah", found in Judges 5:2-31, is believed to have been the victory hymn sung by Barak and Deborah.

Answer: Lyric

The Alexandrian school included Sappho on its list of nine lyric poets. Unfortunately, very little is known about her life, and even though her poetry was highly admired, much of it has been lost throughout time. Interestingly, it appears that at one point in her life, Sappho backed the wrong political party, and was forced into exile. Fragment 98 of her surviving work alludes to that fact that Sappho was not living as comfortably as she was accustomed to living! It is believed, however, that at some point she was able to return to Lesbos, her birthplace, where it is believed she lived to enjoy old age.

Answer: Harsh Roman treatment of the Iceni after the death of Boudica's husband.

Prasutagus, Boudica's husband, voluntarily joined forces with Rome in approximately 43 AD, after the successful invasion of the island by the army of Emperor Claudius. Their territory, located in eastern England in roughly the modern region of Norfolk, remained independent, even though other rebellious groups in the area were subjugated by the Romans. Upon his death, Prasutagus willed his land to his two daughters and the Roman Emperor.

Some believe that this was done to avert any problems with Rome, however, the opposite occurred.

The account of what happened next is very hazy; according to the Roman historian, Tacitus, the two daughters were raped and Boudica was beaten; in addition, the estates of the wealthy Iceni were pillaged by Roman centurions.

It is unknown who gave the order for these actions, however, a full-scale uprising was provoked.

Answer: Cleopatra VII

Unfortunately, history tends to judge Cleopatra by her relationships with men (too bad the carpet story concerning how she was introduced to Caesar is just so darn intriguing!) rather than her intellectual ability. While it is true that those relationships were perhaps, interesting, Cleopatra was some pharaoh! Of Greek descent from Ptolemy I, she was the first of her family who bothered to learn the ancient Egyptian language! Not only that, but Plutarch said she spoke at least seven languages, Cicero said she was literary and involved in things that had to do with learning, and Al-Masudi, an Arab historian, said she was the author of learned works, and well versed in the sciences, studying philosophy. And - this is just the tip of the iceberg. I feel a Cleopatra quiz coming on!

After Cleopatra's death, Rome ruled Egypt as a province. There are four family members, including Ptolemy XV, the infant son of Cleopatra and Caesar, however, they had no real power.

Answer: Orator

Little is known about the life of Hortensia, aside from the fact that she was an orator, however, it is known that through her efforts, members of the Second Triumvirate (Octavian, Lepidus, and Marc Antony) partially repealed a tax on noble women. In their need to finance a war, the triumvirs had imposed a tax on the 1400 wealthiest Roman women.

This might sound harsh, but it was better than what had happened to many of the wealthy Roman men. Proscription lists were published that killed the men and seized their property, however, this was not raising enough money.

A Greek historian, Appian, said that Hortensia asked, "Why should we pay taxes when we do not share in the offices, honors, military commands, nor in the short, the government for which you fight between yourselves with such harmful results"? She also pointed out that many of the women had already lost their husbands and property to proscription. Even though the men did NOT appreciate being reprimanded by a group of women led by a female orator, they reduced the number of taxed women to 400 and found another way to raise money.

Answer: Battle of Salamis

Artemisia I was Queen of Halicarnassus, which happened to be the birthplace of the historian Herodotus. Even though the Battle of Salamis was a Persian defeat, Polyaenus, a Greek historian, wrote that Xerxes sent Artemisia complete suit of Greek armor; Herodotus said that Xerxes recognized her excellent leadership, praised her bravery, and asked her advice on a course of action. As with many ancient people, the opinions of her contemporaries are mixed.

Answer: Assyrians

Queen Sammuramat ruled the Assyrian Empire for at least five years after her husband, King Shamshi-Adad V, died until her son, Adad-nirari III, was of age to rule. The Assyrians did not typically have female leaders, however, evidence of her rule is found on an obelisk she built: "Stele of Sammuramat, queen of Shamshi-Adad, King of the Universe, King of Assyria, Mother of Adad Nirari, King of the Universe, King of Assyria, Daughter-in-Law of Shalmaneser, King of the Four Regions of the World". Other inscriptions have also been found at sites within the Assyrian Empire.

Answer: Palmyra

As the wife of King Septimius Odaenathus, Zenobia became Queen of Palmyra after his death, in place of her son who was only a year old. Motivated to both honor her husband and create a legacy for her son, Zenobia was known as a Warrior Queen; she ably led the army, was a capable horsewoman, and could walk distances with her foot soldiers.

Her list of accomplishments is impressive. She proclaimed herself Queen of Egypt, and conquered land including ancient Anatolia. The problem, however, was that this land was also part of the Roman Empire, and Zenobia's conquests were disrupting the trade routes of an already crumbling empire. Eventually she was taken to Rome as a hostage, however, there is evidence that suggests that the Emperor Aurelian freed her and, married to a wealthy Roman senator, she became a philosopher and socialite.

Answer: Historian

Bân Zhâo was born into a family of notables. Her father, Ban Biao, and brother, Ban Gu, were well-known historians, and her brother, Ban Chao, was a general. After Ban Gu was executed, she completed his famous book, called the "Book of Han". She was also the author of "Lessons for Women", which advised on the importance of keeping a harmonious family and advocated the importance of education for women. Serving as a teacher for Empress Deng Sui, Bân Zhâo also gained political influence, and was given the title, "Gifted One".