Eve
One of the most primordial or mythic characters in Boccaccio's history is Eve, from the Bible. For those who may not know or remember the story, Eve is the first female human ever created, and in the myth, she and her husband betray their kind by eating from the forbidden fruit in the mythic Garden of Eden. Eve is regarded by many as an archetypal example of womanly wiles, and Boccaccio's opinion of Eve sets the tone for his approach to this book.
Juno
Instead of borrowing only from the Judeo-Christian tradition, Boccaccio looks to Roman mythology, discussing the mythic character of Juno. Juno is a goddess and a powerful one at that. She is involved in the government of Saturn, and Boccaccio analyzes her myths, demonstrating her to be a kind of archetypically significant woman.
Isis
This is an ancient Egyptian character, one who probably existed, who was divinized in her mythology, becoming a god in her culture. As a goddess, Isis plays a role in resurrection from the dead, having raised her husband from the dead. Isis is also a powerful woman and a governor, showing another example of women in leadership and power. She even raised her husband from the dead.
Dido
Dido is an example of the exotic woman of power. Like the queen Sheba in Abrahamic myth, Dido represents the woman all kings hope they will meet. She is powerful, and she clearly runs the show in her kingdom. More importantly, Dido plays a role in ancient Greek mythology as a kind of archetypal visitor.
Cleopatra
Cleopatra is one of the later accounts in Boccaccio's history. She was a real person who ruled over Egypt. Like other women leaders in Egypt, Cleopatra is remembered in the Greco-Roman tradition as an exotic and highly attractive woman, but more importantly she was an incisive leader who truly was at the center of attention in her own nation and abroad.
