Women’s History Month is here! This month is all about celebrating women and their achievements, from the ones widely known, to those who played important parts in history but often get overlooked. To celebrate Women’s History Month, these are five Goddesses from mythology and what makes them so noteworthy.

Medusa (Greek mythology)

Medusa was the main devotee priestess of Athena’s temple. One day she was walking beside the sea and caught the eye of the sea god Poseidon. Poseiden attempted to pursue Medusa, but Medusa rejected him.

Poseiden, known not to take rejection, did not care. He chased after her, and she ran to Athena’s temple, hoping for protection from him from Athena. He assaulted her in Athena’s temple.

Athena did not have the power or authority to punish him. She took her anger and disgust out on Medusa by turning her into a fully-fledged gorgon, making it so no one could look in her eyes without turning to stone, and turned her golden locks into venomous snakes. She was forced to live in isolation, and stayed so until she was killed by Perseus.

People who get the tattoo of her do so for a specific reason. The tattoo has become synonymous with those who have experienced sexual assault. By reclaiming Medusa’s identity, they dispel the belief that they should be shamed, blamed, or punished for their assault.

Anagolay (Philippine mythology)

Anagolay is the goddess of lost things. Though, what’s lost refers to more than just physical items. Her influence extends to concepts such as lost opportunities and fading memories. People looked to her for guidance regarding matters of existential questions. She embodies the themes of loss and restoration. According to OldWorldGods.com, “Anagolay’s influence reaches beyond the realm of material possessions, as she holds the power to unlock hidden opportunities and rekindle forgotten memories.”

She served as a metaphor for understanding life’s mysteries and assigning importance to different aspects of the human life. She personifies the transformative power of loss and represents the potential for growth and self-discovery that emerges from the experience. She also represents the universal experience of longing to retrieve what’s lost, and the yearning for completeness and human desire to find solace in restoration.

In Philippine indigenous beliefs, she holds the key to reconciliation, healing, and offering a path.

Bellona (Roman mythology)

She was known as Mar’s (God of War) sister and was goddess of War representing the uncontrollable aspects of war. She is said to have given guidance to Romulus, the founder of Rome, divine favor and guidance. She has a fierce and commanding presence, as is often depicted in amour.  Her most meaningful pieces of amour are her helmet, sword, and shield which stands as symbols. The helmet is a symbol of protection and strength. The sword is a symbol of her formidable offensive capabilities.

Her shield in particular has the most meaning behind it. It stands for her defensive prowess on the battlefield. It also represents her ability to protect warriors and inspire them to defend her cause.

She is known for her bloodlust and destruction, and the brutality that can arise, but Bellona has a deeper meaning than just the generalities of war’s unpredictability. She is a reminder of the devastating consequences of war, and the reminder that war can consume even the most powerful of forces.

Sekhmet (African [ Upper Egypt, Egyptian] mythology)

Sekhmet is the goddess of both Destruction and Healing.  She was the tool of vengeance for Ra, the sun god, and a sign of protection. The Egyptians believed that she had dominion over plagues and natural disasters. Egyptian generals and pharaohs prayed to her before battle. The ancient Egyptian pharaohs also called on her for protection, and her name was commonly invoked during the embalming rites (a process in preparing a dead body). Egyptians would place hundreds of Sekhmet statues and symbols in the tomb.

In one incident, Sekhmet almost wiped out the human race. Ra had gotten frustrated with mankind’s insolence and transgressions against the principals of Ma’at (Ma’at being a goddess of truth, law and order, and the principals a system of rules to keep those things). The sun god unleashed Sekhmet. World History Edu says, “The myth goes on to say that Sekhmet killed every one of Ra’s conspirators, leaving the land of Egypt in a pool of blood.” Ra feared she’d kill everything living in Egypt. The people of Egypt dyed the Nile River red and poured in beer, as instructed to them by Ra. Sekhmet, thinking it was blood, drank it, became drunk, and returned to Ra’s side.

Macha (Celtic mythology – Irish)

Macha is the Irish Goddess of War and horses. She was a sídhe (a fae). One day she appeared in Ulster and married a man named Crunden. She could move faster than any human or horse. She told him when Cruden had to go to a feast in honor of the king getting new chariot horses, not to boast about her or else misfortune would befall him.

At the feast, when the king talked of how fast his horses was, Cruden spoke out, saying Macha was faster.

The king, insulted, ordered for Crunden’s wife to race against his horses immediately. If Macha lost, Crunden’s life would be taken. The king’s men came for her. She was pregnant and late in term. Macha pleaded with them to protect her from having to race. They wouldn’t. She asked the king to postpone the race. He refused. While racing, Macha began to have birthing pains, yet continued on, screaming. When she won and had crossed the finish line, she was bloody, and collapsed on the grass. In her arms were her twins, both dead.

She put a curse on the men of Ulster for failing to protect her that lasted nine generations after them. For them and each male born into their family, as soon as they grew a beard, they would be forced to endure birthing pains for nine days and nights, and that their strength would leave when they most needed it.

These 5 powerful women were of monumental influence on their mythology, and the people who followed it. This Women’s History Month don’t forget to take notice of the achievements of women of both past and present, and to not forget how inspiring, powerful, and insightful women are!