classical receptions and impact of xena: warrior princess

Presenting a wide range of new scholarly approaches, this is the first volume to critique the highly influential television series Xena: Warrior Princess. Based on the online international 2021 conference on Xena: Warrior Princess, this book offers a critical overview of the series’ ground-breaking impact and discusses why it has maintained its appeal.

Contributors from across the world include perspectives from classical reception studies, queer studies and fan studies to examine the influence of ancient Mediterranean mythology and history in the series and, in turn, how the series shaped the viewer’s understanding of the classical past. Significantly, there are also studies of Xena’s depiction as a barrier-smashing heroine, and an examination of how the series paved the way for portrayals of LGBTQ+ relationships on mainstream television. The legacy of the series is seen in how it has continued to shape modern views about classical antiquity and how it laid the groundwork for subsequent series and films representing the ancient world.

Amanda Potter is a Visiting Fellow in Classics at the Open University, UK. She co-edited Ancient Epic in Film and Television (2021) and has published widely on classics in film and television.

Anise K. Strong is Associate Professor in Classics at Western Michigan University, USA. She has published widely on classics in film, television and comics.