“Frailty, thy name is woman!” suggests our bard, Adam Mickiewicz, drawing attention to the complexity of a woman’s nature. Indeed, the multifaceted nature of female characters makes it possible to classify them either as sensitive creatures, merely wishing to experience a wonderful feeling at the side of the man they love, or as conscious women who have a great influence on shaping reality. For centuries, they have remained in the shadow of men, whose activities – although often inspired and controlled by women – were honoured in the community. The shadow in which women lived very often concealed their achievements and made their life stories a mystery, which consequently condemned them to oblivion and erasure from social consciousness. A symbol that counters the oblivion is the patron of this series, Kalliope. Her name is translated as “a beautiful face” (Gr. Καλλιόπη from καλός – beautiful and ὤψ – face), as well as “beautiful-voiced” (Gr. Καλλιόπη from καλός – beautiful and ὄψ – voice). Thus, on behalf of the women, Kalliope speaks of their heroic deeds, with which they earned a permanent place in history and thus an immortal memory.

Publikacja pod patronatem Austriackiego Forum Kultury, Ambasadora Austrii w Polsce Andreasa Stadlera, Konsulatu Republiki Austrii w Katowicach – Konsula Republiki Austrii w Katowicach Mirosława Bienioszka

Publikacja współfinansowana ze środków Uniwersytetu Śląskiego w Katowicach oraz Austriackiego Forum Kultury