8th March is 'International Women's Day' and we should celebrate the 'Wonder Women' of the World.  Greece has some of the most famous women of all time.  Although most ancient Greek women had few rights, were unable to vote, own land or inherit, a womans place was in the home and her purpose in life was for bearing and rearing children.  Yet despite their social isolation, Ancient Greece revered a number of powerful female goddesses.  Hera, Hestia, Hekate, Athena, Artemis, Aphrodite, Demeter and Leto were all powerful goddesses, intensely honoured and greatly admired by both women and men alike.  In Greek mythology, women like Helen of Troy were reknown for their beauty, Hippolyte and her sister Antiope, queens of the tribe of Amazons, were admired for their strength, bravery and fighting abilitiy. 

Some notable ancient Greek women were defiant and established themselves to lasting acclaim as respected queens, leaders, poets, philosophers, physicians and mathematicians.  Notable ones were Gorgo of Sparta, Aspasia of Athens, Sappho of Lesbos, Arete of Cyrene, Agnodice of Athens, Telesilla of Argos and Hydna of Scione.  In more recent times, internationally known Greek women have included Laskerina Bouboulina, Maria Callas, Christina Onassis, Melina Mercouri, Irene Papas and Nana Mouskouri.

To all the women throughout history, today we celebrate and honour you all.