Penelope’s Bones
A New History of Homer’s World through the Women Written Out of It
by Emily Hauser
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Pub Date Jun 13 2025 | Archive Date May 01 2025
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Description
Achilles. Agamemnon. Odysseus. Hector. The lives of these and many other men in the greatest epics of ancient Greece have been pored over endlessly in the past three millennia. But these are not just tales about heroic men. There are scores of women as well—complex, fascinating women whose stories have gone unexplored for far too long.
In Penelope’s Bones, award-winning classicist and historian Emily Hauser pieces together compelling evidence from archaeological excavations and scientific discoveries to unearth the richly textured lives of women in Bronze Age Greece—the era of Homer’s heroes. Here, for the first time, we come to understand the everyday lives and experiences of the real women who stand behind the legends of Helen, Briseis, Cassandra, Aphrodite, Circe, Athena, Hera, Calypso, Penelope, and more. In this captivating journey through Homer’s world, Hauser explains era-defining discoveries, such as the excavation of Troy and the decipherment of Linear B tablets that reveal thousands of captive women and their children; more recent finds like the tomb of the Griffin Warrior at Pylos, whose tomb contents challenge traditional gender attributes; DNA evidence showing that groups of warriors buried near the Black Sea with their weapons and steeds were, in fact, Amazon-like female fighters; a prehistoric dye workshop on Crete that casts fresh light on “women’s work” of dyeing, spinning, and weaving textiles; and a superbly preserved shipwreck off the coast of Turkey whose contents tell of the economic and diplomatic networks crisscrossing the Bronze Age Mediterranean.
Essential reading for fans of Madeline Miller or Natalie Haynes, this riveting new history brings to life the women of the Bronze Age Aegean as never before, offering a groundbreaking reassessment of the ancient world.
Advance Praise
“From the shadowy recesses of myth and epic poetry, step forth a host of women who once lived. A stirring, enlightening and fascinating exploration of the real lives of women written with expert knowledge, wit and poetic flair. A true pleasure for the reader to lose themselves in.”—Jennifer Saint, author of Elektra
“A brilliant riposte to a millennia-old dilemma. Fascinating, enthralling and insightful—and helps to recolor the world of epic for us for good!”—Michael Scott, author of X Marks the Spot: The Story of Archaeology in Eight Extraordinary Discoveries
“A timely reminder of how much has been left out of traditional myth and storytelling. Hauser deftly plumbs the depths of Greek myth to re-center the lives of mythical women.”—Joel Christensen, author of Storylife: On Epic, Narrative, and Living Things
Available Editions
| EDITION | Other Format |
| ISBN | 9780226839684 |
| PRICE | $30.00 (USD) |
| PAGES | 496 |
Available on NetGalley
Featured Reviews
Ithianna S, Reviewer
We need to get this out of the way first and foremost: what this book is. And what it is not.
It is NOT a retelling of The Iliad, The Odyssey, or any other Greek myth. It is NOT a work of fiction.
This book is an unflinchingly honest, real look at some historical, scientific, archaeological, and mythological canon information about some of the the key female characters within Homer, such as Helen, Aphrodite, Penelope, Athena, Circe, and Andromache along with others. This is not a "girl boss" examination of their character, making them superheroes or modern culture of 2025 appropriate figures. This book looks at the women in the context of the world and time in which they lived. And it was an ugly, brutal, harsh world indeed for women, and especially non-Greek women during the Trojan Wars.
The Aphrodite and Hera chapter in particular was incredible to me, but honorable mentions to the Thetis, Bryseis, and Circe chapters for being especially impactful to me as a lover of Greek myth, religion, and history. I've been thinking about some of the the DNA evidence factoids within the book for days now, and I suspect that they will continue to haunt me for weeks. The text is beautifully written and when it's fully published should have some detailed maps and art. I can't wait to see those diagrams!
This is a MUST BUY for anyone who wants more historical context around the Iliad and the Odyssey. Even though this book is focused around the women, it grants a lot of insight into the characters of Achilles, Odysseus, Hektor, Paris, and Telemachus to name a few.
I will absolutely be buying this when it releases later this year and telling all my Hellenic polytheist/Greek pagan friends and history lovers to pick this book up!
Thank you so very much to Emily Hauser, the publisher, and NetGalley for the advance copy of this book in exchange for an honest review!
Torrie B, Reviewer
Let's start with a bit of clarification: if you prefer your Greek mythology to remain fictional, this is not the book for you. This is a non-fiction look at the women depicted through Homer's works that breaks apart what we're used to reading about Helen, Circe, Athena, Calypso, and more. The research and care that was put into this book is highly apparent, and the sections are each compelling.
There are maps and other images added throughout that work nicely to add another layer to the book. That is one feature that I do think I'd enjoy more with a physical copy than via e-book, so if you're the same way, that is something to keep in mind.
All in all, this is a great book for anyone who is interested in a historical deep dive. It's written in a way that is refreshing and intriguing, and keeps clear focus on the subject matter.
((While the viewpoints shared are my own, I want to thank NetGalley, University of Chicago Press, & Emily Hauser for this complimentary copy.))
Autumn R, Reviewer
As a huge fan of Greek mythology, ancient history, and archaeology, this book was the perfect read. I loved that each chapter alternated between observing a different woman in Homer, and a topic related to that figure. The sheer range of topics - geography, textiles, architecture, weaponry, and more - was so fascinating. I had no idea that the Ithaca we know is practically the geographic opposite of Homer's Ithaca, or that the enamel on teeth could be used to figure out ancient diets. This book was so rich with information and I devoured all of it! I'm really looking forward to reading more of Emily Hauser's work in the future.
Thank you to NetGalley and University of Chicago press for the eARC!
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