• Ixchel

    Ixchel

    Why yes, that is a snake on her head. Ixchel is the Maya goddess of the moon, with powers over fertility, water, medicine, midwifery, and weaving. Her name may have originally meant something like ...

  • Jane Austen

    Jane Austen

    Jane Austen (1775-1817) hardly needs an introduction; she is one of the most beloved and admired authors in the English language. The watercolor above right is by her sister Cassandra, and is ...

  • Jean Harlow

    Jean Harlow

    Jean Harlow (1911-1937) was the first Hollywood blonde bombshell. Everything about her style was designed to play up her platinum blonde looks: white satin gowns, white furs, white feathers, white ...

  • Jezebel

    Jezebel

    The pop culture image of Jezebel bears almost no resemblance to the woman who was queen of Israel in the 9th century BCE. There is nothing remotely sexy about Jezebel in the Bible; she's just mean. ...

  • Joan of Arc

    Joan of Arc

    Joan of Arc (1412-1431) was one of the most brilliant generals in history. She was probably the only brilliant general in history to be burned at the stake for, essentially, refusing to wear women's ...

  • Josephine Baker

    Josephine Baker

    Josephine Baker (1906-1975) was the original superstar diva. She left behind the racism of the United States to become a sensation in France, where she was celebrated as one of the most glamorous ...

  • Kiyohime

    Kiyohime

    Such a pretty kimono! So delicate, so charming. And such a lovely young maiden...too bad she's a DRAGON. The story of Kiyohime is the original Fatal Attraction. She fell in love with a ...

  • Lady Six Monkey

    Lady Six Monkey

    Lady Six Monkey (11th century) was a Mixtec warrior queen whose story is known from the Mixtec Group Codices. She and her arch nemesis, Lord Eight Deer, loomed large in the legends of Oaxaca for ...

  • Lise Meitner

    Lise Meitner

    You would think that the person who discovered nuclear fission would be one of the most famous scientists of the 20th century. You would think she'd be a household name. But unless you're a geek or ...

  • Lizzie Borden

    Lizzie Borden

    Well, she's not exactly a heroine, but you can't deny she's a Notable Woman. And we gotta have some gore. Lizzie Borden (1860-1927) is one of the most famous crime figures in American history. As ...

  • Madam Walker

    Madam Walker

    Madam C.J. Walker (1867-1919) was America's first great female entrepreneur. Her rags-to-riches story still mesmerizes: born Sarah Breedlove, the daughter of slaves, she built a business empire by ...

  • Mae West

    Mae West

    Mae West (1893-1980) was ahead of her time. Way ahead of her time. She's probably remembered primarily as a zaftig sex symbol, but she was so much more than that. She was a playwright, ...