About

Welcome to Femmina Classica, the vibrant home of Mary Naples—an MA-credentialed historian and storyteller who brings the ancient world to life by focusing on its often-overlooked heroines. Formerly thriving in tech sales and recruiting, Mary traded corporate life to pursue her passion: uncovering the untold stories of women in antiquity. After earning her MA in Humanities (Women’s Studies), she founded this site to share articles, webinars, podcasts, and books that spotlight powerful women from Greece, Rome, Egypt, Israel, and beyond.

Mary’s work also appears in respected journals: she’s been a contributing writer at Classical Wisdom Weekly since 2013 and joined Ancient Origins in 2018. Her fresh research and narrative flair earned her two acclaimed books: Cult of the Captured Bride (2023) and Unsung Heroes: Women in the Ancient World (2024)

Explore Femmina Classica to tour compelling blog features like “Mighty Medusa” (special Ancient Origins edition), join thoughtful webinars, listen to illuminating podcasts, and catch Mary at author events. Whether you’re into myth, history, or feminist inquiry, every corner of this site is designed to reveal the women who’ve quietly shaped our past—and inspired our present.

Dive in and discover the extraordinary women the textbooks forgot.

When she is not writing about the ancient world, Mary enjoys working at her local library. She lives with her husband, Tim, and her kitty Ariadne in Sausalito, California. There she has a collection of books on the classical world, a garden with a 5-circuit stone labyrinth, and a Greek-styled temple.