I am expected to marry my uncle Alcaeus the day of the moon (Monday). My kyrios agreed to that... Kyrios means guardian. He's the head of our household because I have no father. But I do not want to live this way. In two days, I am going to escape. I am going to Mytilene, in Lesbos. Women there can learn how to write poems, how to sing and dance. (Thebes, Greece, 610 BC)

Death? We do not fear death. If you die in battle, Odin welcomes himself to the halls of Valhalla. Valhalla is where the brave warriors may live forever. One day, we shall drink, fight and feast with our brothers again! (Vestvågøya, Norway, 840)

I cook with my sisters for the family, I gather food and firewood. I also make clothes. I make the most beautiful quilts in our tribe. I can show you if you want. (Wisconsin, 1710)

Maslenitsa is a sun-festival, personified by the god Volos. It is a celebration of the end of winter and it lasts 1 week. Today is Sunday, the last day of Maslenitsa. Today is "the forgiveness day”. On this day, we ask each other for forgiveness for all grievances and troubles; in the evening we go to cemeteries and bid farewell to the dead. At the end of the day, people gather to burn Lady Maslenitsa, a stuffed figure of the winter. We throw the remnants of pancakes and food to the huge bonfire. This is a very important religious holiday for us, I hope people will still celebrate it in the future... in the year 1700 for example (giggling). (Polotsk, Belarus, 862)
This holiday comes from the pre-Christian times, when the Slavs were still pagans. It is still celebrated today, in 2018.

I have given my best to the world. I used to be a nurse, but I have always loved to paint. What I will truly miss? Going for a walk, laying down and just looking at the magnificent sky, admiring the trees, sketching them... The universe has given us such an amazing palette to work with. Oh, life is amazing. Make the most of it. (Beersheba, Israel, 1983)

I paint self-portraits because I am so often alone, because I am the person I know best. (Mexico, 1940)

I used to be a stenographer, now I am a full-time mom. I just learned to make the tastiest banana bread brownies. Here, have some with a glass of milk, tastes like heaven! (New Jersey, 1954)

Sorry, I was about to take a bath...
I am the prettiest woman in my town. This is why I married the richest landlord of Feldkirch, Herr Henkel. I come from the merchant class, so I am literate, I can read. My job is to love my goodman (husband), to pray I will keep him in clean linen, to have his feet washed, to serve him good food and drink. I have to make sure he is well bedded in white sheets and nightcaps, well covered with good furs. Certes, such services make a man love and desire to return home to see his goodwife. (Feldkirch, Austria, 1247)

I did not choose to be a Benedictine sister, I was an oblate. This means I was given to a covent by my parents to be brought up as a nun. No, I do not remember them... God is my only family. I want to devote my life to serve our Lord Jesus Christ, to spend a life of prayer, work, and silence. (Eisleben, Germany, 1297)

I sacrificed my teenage years training to become a geiko. Yes, it means geisha here in Kyoto. First, you have to be accepted into an okiya (geisha management house). We live a single life, and we must retire once we marry. My job is to entertain special guests, celebrities and CEOs. I serve sake, make conversation and sometimes dance and play shamisen music. Oh no, this is not my geiko look. I look much more beautiful when I'm performing. My skin looks even fairer. (Kyoto, Japan, 2009)

Why am I laughing? I am always laughing. Life has not been easy for me, I lost my two sons in war. Aleksandar died in December 93 and Džafer 4 months later. But this is life, and it is still good. I am lucky to have my friend and neighbour Dževada, she keeps me company. We are always laughing. (Lukomir, Bosnia and Herzegovina, 1998)

I was actually born Maria Antonia Josepha Johanna. It would be doing me great injustice to think that I have any feeling of indifference to my country; I have more reason than anyone to feel, every day of my life, the value of the blood which flows in my veins, and it is only from prudence that at times I abstain from showing how proud I am of it. (1791, Paris, France)

I have always wanted to be a fashion designer. I still ended up doing fashion. I am the editor-in-chief of The XV. I worked very hard for that. My day begins as early as 4 a.m., and may not end at 5:00 p.m. as many jobs do. I love what I am doing, my only regret is not spending enough time with my children. I try to spend at least the weekends with them. (London, 1960)