Super short update this week to give you the low down on the latest at Ladies of Lore. 

Biggest news is that the Patreon & Discord Server are both now live and you can access them here: 

www.patreon.com/LadiesOfLore 

Hope to see and chat to some of you there!

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In this episode, we journey through myth, memory, and modern magic to explore the powerful Norse goddess Freyja. From her ancient origins as a Vanir deity of love, fertility, death, and seiðr, to her medieval demonisation and Enlightenment dismissal, Freyja’s identity has evolved across centuries of cultural transformation. We trace how she was reimagined during the Romantic and nationalist 19th century and how today she rises again—this time as a feminist icon, digital warrior, and muse for video games, music, and literature. Join us as we uncover how Freyja’s story has been told, twisted, and reborn—again and again.

Cool Stuff Mentioned In This Episode: 

http://germanicmythology.com/original/Freyja%20and%20Odr%202008%20CULT%20OF%20FREYR%20AND%20FREYJA.pdf

https://skemman.is/bitstream/1946/27622/1/A%20New%20Kind%20of%20Feminine.pdf

https://www.duo.uio.no/bitstream/handle/10852/57994/1/Lan-Wang-thesis.pdf

https://www.taylorfrancis.com/chapters/edit/10.4324/9780203456385-9/freyja%E2%80%94a-goddess-many-names-britt-mari-n%C3%A4sstr%C3%B6m

https://www.taylorfrancis.com/chapters/edit/10.4324/9781315832951-13/viking-religion-old-norse-mythology-terry-gunnell

https://www.proquest.com/openview/e198dc4fef9e6a4e40d0465d3538b2a7

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This week we will be taking a look at the transformation of one of mythology’s most misunderstood women: Circe. From Homer’s dangerous enchantress to a symbol of female power and self-authorship, we'll trace Circe’s evolution through ancient texts, centuries of retellings, and her feminist reclamation in today’s literature and culture. 

Cool Stuff Mentioned In This Episode: 

https://www.ancient-origins.net/myths-legends-europe/spellbinding-story-circe-goddess-magic-006787

https://www.greekmythology.com/Other_Gods/Circe/circe.html

https://uw.manifoldapp.org/read/odysseus-and-circe/section/00bcf35b-0057-450a-a122-781c91a8a73a

https://devonte.blog/wp-content/uploads/2013/10/alfred-tennyson-e28093-ulysses.pdf

https://www.britannica.com/topic/Circe-Greek-mythology

Support the show

Join the Patreon! - patreon.com/LadiesofLore

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Join me for a very special episode of Ladies of Lore, featuring the incredibly talented cast of RPG Major, the improvised musical actual play podcast. 

Today we explore the Sirens, find out where they come from, hear their stories and learn about how they have changed through time to arrive in today's modern world. All while hearing some amazing improvised songs from RPG Major. 

Follow RPG Major:

https://www.rpgmajor.com/

https://bsky.app/profile/rpgmajor.bsky.social

https://www.instagram.com/rpgmajor/

Cool Stuff Mentioned In This Episode: 

https://www.theoi.com/Text/HesiodCatalogues.html

https://www.frieze.com/article/siren-some-poetics-2022-review

https://www.frieze.com/article/siren-some-poetics-2022-review

https://www.metmuseum.org/art/collection/search/248205

https://www.awesomestories.com/asset/view/Odysseus-and-the-Sirens

https://greekgodsandgoddesses.net/myths/odysseus-and-the-sirens/

https://mnet.mwpai.org/sites/default/files/2021-08/Ulysses_and_the_Sirens.pdf

https://www.historytoday.com/archive/foundations/ulysses-and-sirens

https://www.cusd80.com/cms/lib/AZ01001175/Centricity/Domain/4937/6%20-%20The%20Sirens.pdf

Support the show

Join the Patreon! - patreon.com/LadiesofLore

Follow me on Bluesky - @ladiesoflore.bsky.social

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In this episode, we unravel the mystery of Pandora’s story, the true meaning of her jar, and the curious fate of hope. Was it a blessing, a trick, or something more? 

Cool Stuff Mentioned In This Episode:

https://www.britishmuseum.org/collection/object/G_1884-0807-1

https://turkisharchaeonews.net/object/pithos-garden-troy

https://www.britannica.com/topic/Pandora-Greek-mythology

https://www.greekmyths-greekmythology.com/pandoras-box-myth/

https://www.theoi.com/Heroine/Pandora.html

https://www.greekmythology.com/Myths/Mortals/Pandora/pandora.html

https://books.google.co.uk/books?hl=en&lr=&id=dXmx97UzO6IC&oi=fnd&pg=PR21&dq=pandora+in+modern+culture+across+literature,+film,+tv,+and+music&ots=PJVQqSk1Ae&sig=P2n7RMWm0odw29AwehDgu8ExUtM&redir_esc=y#v=onepage&q&f=false

https://www.proquest.com/openview/23bfa767dfd91f00c401c5faba630aa2/1?cbl=18750&diss=y&pq-origsite=gscholar

http://eprints.bournemouth.ac.uk/18394/

https://books.google.co.uk/books?hl=en&lr=&id=VRttDwAAQBAJ&oi=fnd&pg=PA102&dq=pandora+in+modern+literature,+including+books+and+novels&ots=tH6ayRSPt4&sig=lX2IEw3jxFEAIDi2D83vvOxQ0pY&redir_esc=y#v=onepage&q=pandora%20in%20modern%20literature%2C%20including%20books%20and%20novels&f=false

Support the show

Join the Patreon! - patreon.com/LadiesofLore

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TRIGGER WARNING - SEXUAL ASSAULT 

For centuries, Guinevere has been portrayed as a cautionary tale—the woman whose love affair with Lancelot shattered Camelot. But was she truly the villain of the story, or was she a victim of the patriarchal narratives that have shaped her legend? In this episode, we reclaim Guinevere’s agency, exploring her role as a powerful queen, a woman caught between duty and desire. 

Welcome to the second part of our exploration of Queen Guinevere, where we take a look at how portrayals of Guinevere changed through time from Thomas Mallory, through to the Victorian period and into the modern day. 

Cool Stuff Mentioned in this Episode: 

https://www.earlybritishkingdoms.com/bios/guinever.html

https://www.ancient-origins.net/history-famous-people/guinevere-0017503

https://www.worldhistory.org/Guinevere/

A Woman of Legend: The Once and Future Queen Guinevere | by legendarywomen | Legendary Women | Medium

https://matterofbritain.com/htmlpages/legendliterature3.html

https://www.medievalists.net/2017/12/will-real-guinevere-please-stand/

https://centaur.reading.ac.uk/84552/1/RMS-2004-04_P._S._Noble%2C_Women_in_the_Vulgate_Cycle.pdf

https://www.bdtd.uerj.br:8443/bitstream/1/18264/2/Dissertação - Mariana Feitosa de Campos Oliveira - 2022 - Completa.pdf

https://skemman.is/bitstream/1946/8367/1/Queen Guinevere.pdf

https://www-jstor-org.libezproxy.open.ac.uk/stable/pdf/10.1163/j.ctv2gjwzx0.20.pdf?refreqid=fastly-default%3Aff80eb395a977d8ee47a694283a4ca18&ab_segments=&initiator=recommender&acceptTC=1

https://www.poetryintranslation.com/PITBR/French/DeTroyesLancelotPartIII.php#anchor_Toc534022913

https://www.amazon.co.uk/Dark-Fantastic-Imagination-Potter-Postmillennial/dp/1479806072/ref=tmm_pap_swatch_0?_encoding=UTF8&qid=1742329994&sr=8-1

Support the show

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For centuries, Guinevere has been portrayed as a cautionary tale—the woman whose love affair with Lancelot shattered Camelot. But was she truly the villain of the story, or was she a victim of the patriarchal narratives that have shaped her legend? In this episode, we reclaim Guinevere’s agency, exploring her role as a powerful queen, a woman caught between duty and desire. 

Join us in this first part of our exploration of Queen Guinevere as we examine the medieval sources and hear some stories of Guinevere and her Lancelot.

Cool Stuff Mentioned in this Episode: 

https://www.earlybritishkingdoms.com/bios/guinever.html

https://www.ancient-origins.net/history-famous-people/guinevere-0017503

https://www.worldhistory.org/Guinevere/

A Woman of Legend: The Once and Future Queen Guinevere | by legendarywomen | Legendary Women | Medium

https://matterofbritain.com/htmlpages/legendliterature3.html

https://www.medievalists.net/2017/12/will-real-guinevere-please-stand/

https://centaur.reading.ac.uk/84552/1/RMS-2004-04_P._S._Noble%2C_Women_in_the_Vulgate_Cycle.pdf

https://www.bdtd.uerj.br:8443/bitstream/1/18264/2/Dissertação - Mariana Feitosa de Campos Oliveira - 2022 - Completa.pdf

https://skemman.is/bitstream/1946/8367/1/Queen Guinevere.pdf

https://www-jstor-org.libezproxy.open.ac.uk/stable/pdf/10.1163/j.ctv2gjwzx0.20.pdf?refreqid=fastly-default%3Aff80eb395a977d8ee47a694283a4ca18&ab_segments=&initiator=recommender&acceptTC=1

https://www.poetryintranslation.com/PITBR/French/DeTroyesLancelotPartIII.php#anchor_Toc534022913

Support the show

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Here's a little announcement to let you all know what I've been cooking up. 

TikTok:

https://www.tiktok.com/@ladiesoflore?_t=ZN-8uPUK8OLW7C&_r=1

Patreon will be live from 1st April at: 

patreon.com/LadiesofLore

Support the show

Join the Patreon! - patreon.com/LadiesofLore

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From the golden waters of Yoruba mythology to the iconic visuals of Lemonade, Oshun has long been a symbol of love, femininity, and resilience. But how does this powerful goddess connect to Beyoncé’s music, imagery, and artistic evolution? In this episode, we explore the origins and transformations of the Orisha, Oshun and unpack the deep spiritual and cultural ties between Oshun and Queen Bey. 

Cool Stuff Mentioned In This Episode:

• https://www.blackhistoryheroes.com/2015/10/a-west-african-folktale-of-story-of.html
• https://africanpoems.net/gods-ancestors/oshun-the-river-goddess/
• https://www.britannica.com/topic/The-Philosophy-of-the-Yoruba-2006354
• https://contra.com/p/7NOYqrN6-oshun-the-goddess-of-love-fertility-and-abundance
• https://www.uua.org/re/tapestry/children/signs/session13/oshun
• https://www.vice.com/en/article/how-to-invoke-oshun-yoruba-goddess-orisha/
• https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PeonBmeFR8o
• https://www.vice.com/en/article/how-to-invoke-oshun-yoruba-goddess-orisha/
• https://www.vox.com/culture/2020/7/31/21349403/beyonce-black-is-king-oshun-osun-yoruba-goddess

Support the show

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Disney’s The Princess and the Frog introduced audiences to Tiana, a hardworking dreamer inspired by the real-life culinary legend Leah Chase. In this episode, we start with a brief look at the classic tale before diving into the remarkable story of Leah Chase—her journey from humble beginnings to becoming the “Queen of Creole Cuisine,” her impact on New Orleans, and how her life helped shape Disney’s first Black princess. Join us as we explore the legacy of a woman who stirred up more than just great food—she helped inspire history.

Cool Stuff Mentioned In This Episode:

• https://www.pookpress.co.uk/the-frog-prince-story-a-tale-by-the-brothers-grimm/
• https://www.nationalgeographic.com/history/article/leah-chase-princess-tiana
• https://www.thehistorymakers.org/biography/leah-dookie-chase-40

Support the show

Join the Patreon! - patreon.com/LadiesofLore

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