Object n. Object v.

Object n. object v. is a sculptural artist book that juxtaposes two very different realities for women who lived north of the Mediterranean Sea during Classical antiquity. Ancient Greek society regarded beauty along with chastity as the most important characteristics for females; male desire objectified the female body. But beautiful women also represented danger that had to be controlled, thus giving rise to an oppressive and misogynist culture. At the same time, an egalitarian nomadic society roamed from Thrace as far east as Mongolia.

These Scythian women warriors were known as Amazons. These starkly opposite realities simultaneously obscure and magnify our present struggle for equality.

All the text on the left side is derived from Helen of Troy: Beauty, Myth, Devastation by Ruby Blondell. The text excerpts on the right side are from Adrienne Mayor’s book The Amazons: Lives & Legends of Warrior Women Across the Ancient World.