1. Why do you think that the first article begins with a description of Wonder Woman?
- I think that the first article begins with a description of Wonder Woman because Wonder Woman is a well known DC female hero portrayed as a strong and heroic individual instead of being perceived as a super feminine, weak, or feathered brained character.
2. William Moulton Marston said, “Not even girls want to be girls so long as our feminine archetypes lack force, strength, and power.” Does this quote reflect the myths described in the unit?
- No. I don’t think that this quote reflects the myths described in the unit.
3. Why do you think that some scholars perceived female-dominated societies as better than the current male-dominated ones?
- I think that scholars perceive female-dominated societies as better than male-dominated ones because on an average females can be much more caring when it comes to facing social issues.
4. Why do you think that the Amazons became so important in the founding myth of Athens?
- I think that the Amazons became so important in the founding myth of Athens because of the Athens counter reaction, the history that was only women with no men in their society. In actual Athenian society, women don’t have any roles beside taking care of their children and the household.
5. The second linked article describes the finding of a female Viking warrior. What items were found buried alongside the body of this warrior?
- The items found buried alongside the female warrior consisted of several weapons, including a sword, armor-piercing arrows, a battle knife, an axe, a spear and two shields, indicating that the skeleton was a warrior 30 years old, around 5 feet 6 inches. With the wide array of weapons were two horses and a full set of game pieces and a gaming board. The gaming pieces suggest that the person buried was a high-ranking combatant who was knowledgeable of strategies and tactics.
6. Why do you think that the scholarly community did not immediately come to the conclusion that the skeleton was a woman?
- I think that the scholarly community did not immediately come to the conclusion that the skeleton warrior was indeed a woman because at first guess a warrior would not be placed as a woman because viking warriors were often assumed as male. Women were often relegated to non-combatant roles.
7. What evidence finally concluded that this warrior was a female?
- The evidence that concluded the warrior to be a female, wasn’t until a Stockholm University osteologist Anna Kjellström reviewed the skeleton as part of another project that she noticed the bones’ structure suggested that the unknown Viking may have been a woman. As a DNA sample was taken from a tooth and an arm of the skeleton, revealing no Y chromosomes present.
8. Both the article on Amazons and the one on Vikings use discoveries in gravesites to connect myth to facts and develop a better understanding of women warriors. These discoveries threaten modern understandings of gender roles. Give examples from both texts that show how the gravesite discoveries tell a very different story from what society claims are the roles for men and women.
- Amazonian and Viking civilizations have many connections with women warriors. All of the discoveries have certain mysteries about the role of women, whether the women played an important role in society or the women were equally significant as the men.
9. The title of this unit is “Warriors and Goddesses.” Nearly every warrior mentioned in this unit was female. Did you notice that as you read the unit? Did that surprise you at all? Would you have found it unusual if all (or the vast majority) of warriors discussed were male?
- Yes. I wasn’t surprised at all by most of the unit being female. I wouldn’t find it unusual if most of the unit was discussed as male because males are typically perceived as the warriors but I know that females can be warriors too.