Female Greek Characters who have endured great sacrifice?

Question

I am looking into researching Greek mythology and great sacrifices that female characters, both gods and mortals have made. For example Iphigeneia the daughter of agamemnon who was sacrificed during the sail back to Troy and Clytemenstra who killed Agamemnon.

Just wondered if anyone had any they thought I should look up.
Will move on to Roman, Norse and any other cultures after that so it's not just Greek if anyone has other advice!

Thanks for the help

Urban :o)

Answer 1

Daphne, and Apollo. I identify with this one as my name is Daphne and been told this story a million times. Since she would not have him, he turned her into a fir tree:

Apollo loved her, and longed to obtain her; and he who gives oracles to all the world was not wise enough to look into his own fortunes. He saw her hair flung loose over her shoulders, and said, "If so charming, in disorder, what would it be if arranged?" He saw her eyes bright as stars; he saw her lips, and was not satisfied with only seeing them. He admired her hands and arms, naked to the shoulder, and whatever was hidden from view he imagined more beautiful still. He followed her; she fled, swifter than the wind, and delayed not a moment at his entreaties. "Stay," said he, "daughter of Peneus; I am not a foe. Do not fly me as a lamb flies the wolf, or a dove the hawk. It is for love I pursue you. You make me miserable, for fear you should fall and hurt yourself on these stones, and I should be the cause. Pray run slower, and I will follow slower. I am no clown, no rude peasant. Jupiter is my father, and I am lord of Delphos and Tenedos, and know all things, present and future. I am the god of song and the lyre. My arrows fly true to the mark; but, alas! an arrow more fatal than mine has pierced my heart! I am the god of medicine, and know the virtues of all healing plants. Alas! I suffer a malady that no balm. can cure!"

The nymph continued her flight, and left his plea half uttered. And even as she fled she charmed him. The wind blew her garments, and her unbound hair streamed loose behind her. The god grew impatient to find his wooings thrown away, and, sped by Cupid, gained upon her in the race. It was like a hound pursuing a hare, with open jaws ready to seize, while the feebler animal darts forward, slipping from the very grasp. So flew the god and the virgin- he on the wings of love, and she on those of fear. The pursuer is the more rapid, however, and gains upon her, and his panting breath blows upon her hair. Her strength begins to fail, and, ready to sink, she calls upon her father, the river god: "Help me, Peneus! open the earth to enclose me, or change my form, which has brought me into this danger!" Scarcely had she spoken, when a stiffness seized all her limbs; her bosom began to be enclosed in a tender bark; her hair became leaves; her arms became branches; her foot stuck fast in the ground, as a root; her face became a tree-top, retaining nothing of its former self but its beauty, Apollo stood amazed. He touched the stem, and felt the flesh tremble under the new bark. He embraced the branches, and lavished kisses on the wood. The branches shrank from his lips. "Since you cannot be my wife," said he, "you shall assuredly be my tree. I will wear you for my crown; I will decorate with you my harp and my quiver; and when the great Roman conquerors lead up the triumphal pomp to the Capitol, you shall be woven into wreaths for their brows. And, as eternal youth is mine, you also shall be always green, and your leaf know no decay." The nymph, now changed into a Laurel tree, bowed its head in grateful acknowledgment.

Answer 2

The mother of Odysseus, who committed suicide as a sacrifice for the gods to help the hero return from Troy.

Answer 3

Penelope, Odysseus's wife, went through the most sacrifice.She waited 10 years for her husband to return, she remained faithful the entire time. She had many men that were wooing her,to take her kingdom. She would weave every day and take it apart every night, because when she was done with her weaving she have to choose a husband. She also was very respectful to all the suiters even though they disrespected her house. Also Odysseus cheated on her many times.

Answer 4

Cassandra

Daughter of King Priam and Queen Hecuba of Troy whose beauty caused Apollo to grant her the gift of prophecy. However, when she did not return his love, Apollo placed a curse on her so that no one would ever believe her predictions.

When Cassandra foresees the destruction of Troy (she warns the Trojans about the Trojan Horse), she is unable to do anything to forestall these events. Her family believed she was mad.

Answer 5

Andromeda- the women chained onto the cliff for a monster sacrifice before Persius came back with Medusa's head

Answer 6

Medea and Ariadne. Medea helped jason gain the Golden Fleece and Ariadne helped Theseus kill the Minotaur. Both were promised mariage to their respective hero (Jason and Medea eventually were and had children), but both were deserted by their husbands in the end.

Answer 7

The warrior god Tyr (Norse mythology) placed his hand in the Fenris-wolf's mouth when the wolf was bound (this was the wolf's term- to guarantee that the gods would untie him, he had one of them place their hand inside his mouth). Thereafter, Tyr was known as the One Handed God. Although this doesn't sound as drastic as Othin's sacrifice, it was done for a cause of much greater importance, as the Fenris-wolf was one of the three greatest threats to the world in Norse Mythology.

Answer 8

Demeter lost her daughter to hades and every time her daughter leaves to be with him the land becomes barren and cold. the greeks explanation for winter.

Answer 9

Antigone - daughter of Oedipus and Jocasta. Her fate was to be walled up in a cave for burying her dead brother, by order of her Uncle Creon.

Answer 10

Andromeda
Arachne