These women are called "virgin" (a woman unto herself), that is, they are unmarried and not owned by men. This does not necessarily mean they had no sexual life, but that they were the arbitrators of it.

ARTEMIS

She is goddess of the hunt and the moon. She personifies the independent, achievement-oriented feminine spirit. She is a feminist and supports her "sisters".

HESTIA

This is the goddess of the hearth, and she embodies the patient and steady woman who finds comfort in solitude, mysticism and exudes a sense of inactness and wholeness.

ATHENA

Athena is the goddess of wisdom and craft. She represents the logical self-assured woman who is ruled by her head more than her heart. She is the legitimate female assertive archetype. No one need say that when a woman is being logical and assertive that she is acting like a man.

©1999-2001 Susanne MacKay