I know so very little about mythology but the FICTIONAL character I most relate to would have to be Sidda Walker from Ya Ya Sisterhood.

The historical figure I most identify with, and have since childhood when I first read a children’s version of Homers 800BC Odyssey—the second book in Western Civilization—is King Odysseus. His story is the inborn story of all of humankind. Homer’s classic is repeated again and again throughout literature: Tennyson’s Ulysses (Latin for Odysseus) “For my purpose holds to sail beyond the bath of all the western stars until I die….To strive, to seek, to find, and not to yield.” It is the great Alexandrian poet Constatine Cafavy’s Ithaca (the poem read at Jackie’s funeral by Maurice Templesman.) Cold Mountain, directed by the great, and sadly recently deceased, Anthony Minghella, was a homage to Odyssey. As was “O Brother Where Are Thou” starring George Clooney. Odyssey is the mono-myth that Vogler built his career on at Disney and as a story consultant to Warner Brothers, Fox and others. His famous memo cited Joseph Campbell’s Power of Myth (published by Doubleday because Jackie fought for its publication!) but it’s all the same thing because Odyssey is the central driving myth. Everything Odysseus does on his 20-year journey is about going home. It is inherently what the whole world seeks. Whether in a hut near Machu Picchu or a mansion on St. Barts we all want our own little slice of heaven. We are always going home. And that’s why the stories structured on the mono myth emotionally resonate. I love the great lessons and messages for life today in everything that Odysseus overcomes to get back to Ithaca and Penelope. My favorite is when he and his crew are trapped in the cave with the infinitely larger, more powerful Cyclops-and on his home turf. At their most vulnerable Odysseus’ crew quaked in fear and the Cyclops saw this, grabbed them, threw them against the side of the cave and ate them one by one. Odysseus survived first by his confidence and charm, and then by his wits. He took the monsters own tools and used them against him. He knew that the size that mattered was spiritual size, and Odysseus was a giant. He was the favorite mortal of Athena (who among wisdom mentioned here was also the Goddess of a thousand works, medicine, weaving, oratory, law) because he was wily. He could examine the landscape of any situation and extract what he needed to survive and thrive. Homer based his book on 1200 BC historical events and it remains one of the best loved books of all time.

Bastet would be the mythological figure that I most relate to. A warrior, protector, the goddess of perfumes (yummy!) and the patron of cats. She was sometimes viewed as the goddess of domestic happiness. For an historical figure I would also relate to Esther. She was a strong lady and a good strategist, apparently!

As far as mythological characters are concerned I am torn between between Judith and Esther. Both got things done, but in such different ways. I think they were both amazing and courageous. One learns to try anything to reach the right ends. I actually do not think of them as mythological, but … Historically speaking I would have to say Mary Cassatt, a Philadelphia artist (like me, but much more talented, I am afraid) who, nevertheless had to struggle to be accepted and to sell her work. Being an artist is never easy, but it is so worthwhile.

My choice of mythological figures is twofold: Aphrodite, for beauty & Ceres for nurturing love, & in history my favourite, hands down, is Catherine the Great, for sex, power & intelligence. Heady cocktail, n’est pas????

My mythological character choice would be Santa Claus, because of all the joy and smiles he brings to so many children (and to the child in me) and I wish he could bring to so many others….and my Historical figure choice is Sir Ernest Shackleton, whose ship Endurance in his 1914 voyage to the Antarctic became trapped in sea ice. The ship was completely ice bound for ten months, then crushed and destroyed by ice, and the crew was forced to abandon ship. After camping on the ice for five months, Shackleton made two rescue attempt trips in a small boat, one of which was a treacherous 800-mile ocean crossing to South Georgia Island. His journey is considered one of the greatest boat journeys in history. He also hiked across the mountains of South Georgia to reach the island’s remote whaling station, where he organized a rescue team. He returned to the wreck and saved all of the men he had left behind. THAT is a hero.

I would say Medusa.

Ahh. This is a great question in my opinion. These make women think about other admirable women. My choices would be Dorothy Parker- love her wit, Millecent Fenwick- so many admirable qualities along with strength and wit. Leadership guides for me have always been a combination of 3: Solomon - oh to have such wisdom, John Kennedy for charisma and Lincoln for honesty and integrity. Lately I have really been appreciative of how women have been such unsung heroes- in the background, pulling the weight not getting any of the glory in this world. But my beliefs are that the notice shines in the afterworld for “the least”.

Oh- Helen of Troy has always intrigued me. What did she look like? I can’t help but wonder.

Eleanor of Acquitaine - “At a time when women were treated like the two of clubs, Eleanor acting like a king.”

Mythic …Diana the huntress….historic…….Mother Theresa

Mythical figure: Pallas Athene, Greek godess of wisdom, figures in Homer as owl-eyed, so I collect owls. Historical: Joan Derk van de Capelle van de Poll, Dutch late 18 c. writer and statesman, one of the first revolutionaries.

Kassandra, because no one ever believes me! On another note — and perhaps I should comment on this elsewhere because it’s making me nuts — why is it “Hillary” for her and “Obama” for him?! Either use both their last names or both their first names! I can’t be the only person to notice this. Doesn’t it bother anyone else?

My favorite mythological figure is Mehitabel the cat. I first encountered her in my early teens, and have felt her motto “toujour gai” as a lifelong inspiration. She’s a raggedy survivor who lived another life as Cleopatra, cruising down the Nile. No matter what has happened to her, she has never given up, and still can yowl out her message, Toujour Gai. Poor Archie, the cockroach who loves her knows he can never have her, because she is untamable and free. An historical figure I have always relished is Julia Child (not so historical as she died only in the last few years). As host of the French Chef, she managed to communicate her own sense of joie de vivre, and to laugh at pretentions and snobbery around the art of french cooking. What a lady!