The story of Artemisia, a ship's captain and queen of a city-state, rescued from contention and restored to its place in ancient Greek history.

Herodotus’ listeners never doubted that Artemisia I of Caria had commanded a fleet in the naval Battle of Salamis. After all, she was queen of the Greek city-state of Halicarnassus and a military ally of Persia… But later historians began to question Artemisia’s feats, skeptical that she could have occupied such positions then.
Cuchet examines Artemisia's unique story to reveal how citizens of Greek city-states viewed women in power. For Artemisia's life, long considered an exceptional case, also informs aspects of the lives of the other women of Greek antiquity, contrary to stereotypes developed over the centuries.