Photo of a river surrounded by cliffs and forests, with text: "Y is for the Yi (Sani) epic of Ashima: The story of a beautiful girl kidnapped to be forced into marriage. She resists, and manages to escape with the help of her brother; the story, instead of tragedy, ends in transformation. #WomensEpics "

#WomensEpics: The Yi epic of Ashima

Ahsima is kidnapped by an evil man to force her into marriage with his son. Her brother sets out to rescue her, and while she valiantly resists the marriage he finds a way to save her.

Read:
multicoloreddiary.blogspot.com/2025/04/y-is...

#AtoZChallenge

Pink and blue graphic of mountains and river, with text: "X is for the Xibe epic of Shirin Mama: The story of a warrior maiden who defeats three robber kings, saves hundreds of women and children, and becomes a goddess. #WomensEpics "

#WomensEpics: Shirin Mama

A Xibe epic about a warrior maiden who goes on a quest to defeat three robber kings who have been holding people in slavery.
I shouldn't be playing favorites, but this one was definitely my favorite.

Read:
multicoloreddiary.blogspot.com/2025/04/x-is...

#AtoZChallenge

Image of blue water, with text: "W is for The Water Goddess: An Ainu epic about two goddesses working together to save humans from famine. #WomensEpics "

#WomensEpics: The Water Goddess

Water Goddess receives a plea from humans who suffer from a famine. She organizes a feast for other gods and discovers that humans treated animals cruelly, so the Gods of Fish and Game caused the famine

multicoloreddiary.blogspot.com/2025/04/w-is...

#AtoZChallenge

A flowery background pattern with text: "V is for the voyage of Hiiaka: A Hawaiian epic about a goddess who goes on an epic journey to find and rescue her sister's beloved. And rid the world of monsters along the way. #WomensEpics "

#WomensEpics: Hiiaka

Hiiaka, little sister of volcano goddess Pele, sets out on a journey to bring Pele the man she'd dreamed about. Along the way she battles monsters, dragons, sharks and bandits to clear the islands of danger.

Read:
multicoloreddiary.blogspot.com/2025/04/v-is...

#AtoZChallenge

Black and white photo of a rocky river between mountains, with text: "U is for the Underworld voyage of the Nisan shamaness: A Manchu epic about a shamaness who descends into the Underworld to retrieve the soul of a boy. #WomensEpics "

#WomensEpics: Nisan shamaness

Manchu epic about a young, eccentric and talented shamaness who travels into the Underworld to bring back the soul of a 15 year old boy. She has many adventures, and even meets her own ex-husband.

Read:
multicoloreddiary.blogspot.com/2025/04/u-is...

#AtoZChallenge

Dark background with some cloud motifs, and text: "T is for The Tale of Sumiyoshi: A Japanese epic about a girl persecuted by a jealous stepmother, and helped in her exile by several other women. #WomensEpics "

#WomensEpics: Tale of Sumiyoshi

Japanese tale from the 10th c. about a girl persecuted by a jealous stepmother. She goes into exile with her best friend and lives under the protection of a friendly nun, until her beloved finds her
Read:
multicoloreddiary.blogspot.com/2025/04/t-is...

#AtoZChallenge

Image of a golden bracelet and some other gold jewelry, with text: "S is for the Silappadikaram: A Tamil epic about a woman who takes revenge for the fate of her husband. #WomensEpics "

#WomensEpics: Silappadikaram

Another famous Tamil epic, about a woman named Kannaki. Her husband abandones her, but eventually repents and returns. When her husband dies an unfair death Kannaki avenges him, then becomes a goddess

Read:
multicoloreddiary.blogspot.com/2025/04/s-is...

#AtoZChallenge

Close up photo of a brown bear, with text: "R is for Repunnot-un-kur: An Ainu epic about a girl's adventures and romance with a bear-god. #WomensEpics "

#WomensEpics: Repunnot-un-kur

(The epic is named after the villain, the heroine's name is Shinutapka-un-mat)
A girl is kidnapped by an evil man who wants to marry her. A bear befriends her. They excape together and have many adventures

multicoloreddiary.blogspot.com/2025/04/r-is...

#AtoZChallenge

A floral frame with text: "Q is for Queen Bertha Broadfoot: A 13th century French romance about a queen who is replaced on her wedding night by an evil twin. #WomensEpics "

#WomensEpics: Bertha Broadfoot

13th century romance. Bertha is married to King Pepin. However, on her wedding night an evil maid tricks her and takes her place. Bertha lives in exile for 10 years. Eventually the truth is revealed

Read:
multicoloreddiary.blogspot.com/2025/04/q-is...

#AtoZChallenge

Australian flower patterns with text: P is for the Pleiades: A Ndarrindjeri Songline about seven girls who go through a series of challenging initiations, proving that they can conquer their fears. #WomensEpics "

#WomensEpics: The Mungingee

Songlines are also epics. This one is from the Ngarrindjeri people. It features seven girls who want to prove that they can conquer their fears and withstand pain. In the end they become stars, and role models for other young women.

#AtoZChallenge #Australia #indigenous

Silhouette of a jumping horse against a sunset sky, with text: "O is for Ochi-Bala: An Altaic epic about a warrior maiden who fights off the armies of an evil khan, saving her people. #WomensEpics"

#WomensEpics: Ochi-Bala

When her people are threatened by an invading army, Ochi-Bala fights to defend them. She is strong, fierce, and crafty - but also empathic in the end, sparing people who were just caught up in the war.

Read:
multicoloreddiary.blogspot.com/2025/04/o-is...

#AtoZChallenge

Background image of a sandy seashore, with text: "N is for the Nitida Saga: An Icelandic saga about a sorceress-queen who fights off unwanted suitors and chooses her husband by her own free will #WomensEpics "

#WomensEpics: The Nítíða Saga

14th-century Icelandic "knight saga" about a sorceress-queen named Nítíða. Several men try to conquer her, but she defeats all unwanted suitors with magic or sheer force.

Read here:
multicoloreddiary.blogspot.com/2025/04/n-is...

#AtoZChallenge #Iceland

Decorative frame featuring a clay pot filled with rice. Text: "M is for Manimekalai: A Tamil epic about a famous dancer who becomes a devout Buddhist with magic powers. #WomensEpics "

#WomensEpics: Manimekalai

Manimekalai is a famous dancer. She renounces her profession, and becomes a Buddhist. She gains magic powers, feeds thousands of people, abolishes prisons, and helps others learn about Buddhism.

Read:
multicoloreddiary.blogspot.com/2025/04/m-is...

#AtoZChallenge

Dark blue background with a spider silhouette. Text: "L is for Long-Fingered-Woman: An Ainu epic about the Spider Goddess who fights off an unwanted suitor with wits and nonchalance. #WomensEpics "

Today on #WomensEpics: Long-Fingered-Woman

Long-Fingered-Woman is the name of the Ainu spider goddess. In this story she has to deal with an unwanted suitor, and she does so in a genius way, while staying cool and nonchalant.
Read here:
multicoloreddiary.blogspot.com/2025/04/l-is...

#AtoZChallenge

Photo of a cloaked person in the woods. Text: K is for the Knight Silence. A girl raised in secret to be a knight, caught up in court intrigue and sent on a quest for Merlin"

#WomensEpics: The Knight Silence

13th century French romance about a kingdom where women can't inherit, so a count raises his only daughter as a boy. The child named Silence goes through many adventures, and even goes on a quest to find Merlin, before the unjust law is rectified.

#AtoZChallenge

Red and orange background with text: "J is for Juliana: An Old English epic about a saintly virgin who wrestles the devil into submission. #WomensEpics "

#WomensEpics: Juliana

9th cent. Anglo-Saxon retelling of the legend of St. Juliana, changed to fit the taste of the audience for evil villains and epic fights. At the high point Juliana wrestles the Devil and beats him into submission.

multicoloreddiary.blogspot.com/2025/04/j-is...

#AtoZChallenge

Yellow, blue and orange geometric frame with text: "I is for Inyan Olugu: An Igbo epic about a woman who goes to war instead of her timid husband. #WomensEpics "

#WomensEpics: Inyan Olugu

Igbo epic about a woman whose husband is too scared to fight the warriors of the enemy tribe. When she is publicly shamed for her husband's cowardice, she takes matters into her own hand.

Read here:
multicoloreddiary.blogspot.com/2025/04/i-is...

#AtoZChallenge

The silhouette of a woman riding a horse against the sunset, with text over it: "H is for Harman Dali: A Turkmen epic about a woman who will only marry someone who bests her in wrestling and music. #WomensEpics "

#WomensEpics: Harman Dali

You know those scenes from action movies where a man and a woman fight, and it looks like they are... doing something else? This epic has several scenes like that 😄

Read here:
multicoloreddiary.blogspot.com/2025/04/h-is...

#folklore #AtoZChallenge #epics

Photo of tall, snow-covered mountain peaks, and text over it: "G is for Grottasongr: An Icelandic saga about two enslaved giantesses who take revenge on a cruel king. #WomensEpics "

#WomensEpics: Song of Grotti

Icelandic saga about two giantesses enslaved by a king. He makes them turn a giant millstone that grinds out endless riches. When he refuses to give them rest, they use the mill to take revenge.

multicoloreddiary.blogspot.com/2025/04/g-is...

#folklore #AtoZChallenge

Decorative frame with crescent moon and star, and text: "F is for Fatima Dhat Al-Himma: An Arabic epic about a legendary warrior woman who fights her evil ex-husband's schemes and goes through many adventures. #WomensEpcis "

#WomensEpics: Princess Fatima

The original text of this epic is 5000 pages. Fatima is a warrior woman with a life full of adventures: She battles armies, befriends djinn, and quite literally fights for her divorce.

Read here:
multicoloreddiary.blogspot.com/2025/04/f-is...

#folklore #AtoZChallenge

A green background decorated with snakes, and text: "E is for the epic of Manasa: A Bengali epic about the Goddess of Serpents, who fights for her rightful place among the gods. #WomensEpics "

#WomensEpics: The Epic of Manasa

Manasa is is born accidentally from Shiva, who doesn't want to accept her as his daughter. She repeatedly has to prove her powers to gods and mortals to be accepted.

Read here:
multicoloreddiary.blogspot.com/2025/04/e-is...

#AtoZChallenge #folklore #mythology

An elaborate frame with motifs from the Philippines flag, with text: "D is for the Deity of the Wind and Matabagka: A Talaandig epic from the Philippines about a princess who battles the deity of the wind to save her kingdom. #WomensEpics "

#WomensEpics: Matabagka and the Deity of the Wind

This is an epic from the Philippines, in which a brave girl sets out to steal magic instruments that control the wind, to save her kingdom from an invasion.

Read here:
multicoloreddiary.blogspot.com/2025/04/d-is...

#epics #AtoZChallenge #mythology

Text in an elaborate green and gold floral frame. It reads: "C is for Chandravati's Ramayana: A 16th century Bengali retelling of the Ramayana, written by a woman poet. It tells the epic's story from Sita's perspective. #WomensEpics "

#WomensEpics:
Chandravati's Ramayana

A retelling of the Ramayana by 16th century Bengali poet Chandravati. Her version focuses on Sita's perspective, the horrors of war, and compassion between women.

multicoloreddiary.blogspot.com/2025/04/c-is...

#AtoZChallenge #epics #folklore #storytelling

A flowery image frame that features text: "B is for Bidasari: A Malay epic about a princess who, due to a jealous queen's curse, is alive at night and in a death-like sleep during the day. #WomensEpics "

Today in #WomensEpics:
The Malay epic (syair) of Bidasari

This story is based on the same tale type as Snow White, except it is a lot more adventurous and elaborate.

Read more here:
multicoloreddiary.blogspot.com/2025/04/b-is...

#epics #folklore #Malaysia #AtoZChallenge

An image with colorful silhouettes of women, with writing over it. It reads "A is for Agu-Nogon-Abakha: A Buryat epic about a girl who wins the hand of three princesses, and brings her brother back to life. #WomensEpics "

The #WomensEpics blog series have officially started!

First up: a Buryat epic about a girl who goes on a quest to bring her brother back to life. And win the hand of three princesses.

Read more here:
multicoloreddiary.blogspot.com/2025/03/a-is...

#epics #AtoZChallenge #folklore #storytelling

The #AtoZChallenge begins tomorrow! We now have more than 100 blogs signed up for the challenge. My own theme will be #WomensEpics - 26 epics from around the world with women heroes. Can't wait to share!

#blogging #storytelling #BloggingChallenge

Women's Epics A to Z: Epics in general knowledge As I was preparing for this year's challenge, reading several epics with women as protagonists, it kept occurring to me how unfair it is tha...

I recently created a survey about epics in general knowledge. More than 200 people responded about epics they know, kinda know, or heard of.

I summarized the results in a blog post here:
multicoloreddiary.blogspot.com/2025/03/wome...

#epics #AtoZChallenge #WomensEpics #storytelling #books

A to Z Challenge Theme Reveal 2025: Women's Epics A to Z! Honestly, I already revealed this theme last year, but I am doing it again for good measure (for someone who has changed their theme multipl...

In honor of #InternationalWomensDay I am announcing my A to Z blogging challenge theme for this year:

Women's Epics!

I read 26 epics from around the world. All of them have women heroes.

Read he intro here:
multicoloreddiary.blogspot.com/2025/03/a-to...

#AtoZChallenge #storytelling #WomensEpics