The sun was setting, casting pink tendrils across the darkening sky. In the blissful balm of a late summer’s evening, guests had draped themselves across the palace grounds. Some were sprawled upon couches, the bright colours of the embroidered surfaces now paling into murky greys and browns. Others reclined on the grass itself, with the…
In Episode 6 of More Queer Nymphs, Clare M Coombe explores the parallels and opposition between Sirens and Nereids, who will both inform later Mermaid myths, considering their allure, their song, and how they embody female empowerment.
In Episode 5 of More Queer Nymphs, Clare M Coombe discusses Circe, powerful witch, daughter of the Sun, transformer of men, and big fan of pigs. Why would she submit to Odysseus when he threatens her? Why would she pine for him? What happened to her power in the end?
In Episode 4 of More Queer Nymphs, Clare M Coombe discusses Skylla, especially her transformation from girl into monster as described by Ovid. Dealing with issues of beauty, appetite, and what women want, the episode tries to free Skylla from the monster narrative, reclaiming it for women’s empowerment and freedom.
In Episode 3 of More Queer Nymphs, Clare M Coombe explores the myth of Lamia, looking at motherhood and monstrosity, women’s identity, female sexuality, and vampirism. Lamia, whose children, born to Zeus, are stolen by Hera, suffers terrible grief, and, in her powerlessness, becomes a child-killer herself. Later she will be identified with women who…
In Episode 2 of More Queer Nymphs, Clare M Coombe explores the story of Callisto, exploring themes of power-abuse and metamorphosis. Raped by Zeus, made pregnant, rejected by Artemis and her chosen family, and transformed into a bear: this episode views the myth as a metaphor for complicity in abuse of women and loss of…
In Episode 1 of More Queer Nymphs, Clare M Coombe explores the story of the nymph Daphne, who opts out of normative gender structures but cannot free herself from predatory men or patriarchal control over her body. Assaulted by Apollo, she is turned into a laurel tree by her father, but retains her mind even…