Sarah B. Pomeroy was born in New York City and educated at Barnard College and Columbia University. She has lived in England and several other European countries and has taught at a number of universities, including Vassar College and Columbia. Her books include, Women in Hellenistic Egypt from Alexander to Cleopatra, Women's History and Ancient History, Women in the Classical World: Image and Text and Xenophon: Oeconomicus: A Social and Historical Commentary.

"From Pandora to the Lemnian women who slaughtered their husbands for saying they stank, from Solon's state-controlled brothels, the scabrous writing of Juvenal, the transvestite peculiarities of Spartan marriage...attitudes and anomalies are explored which remain valid paradigms to this day... A scholarly and deeply fascinating study" -- Christopher Wordsworth Observer "Professor Pomeroy's standpoint is clearly that of a reasoned and enlightened sympathy with women's aspirations. Scholars will find the book indispensable and readers will find it both instructive and enjoyable" -- Hugh Lloyd-Jones