10 Female Spies and Saboteurs from the Ancient World

When we think of spies and saboteurs from the ancient world, we often picture cunning men in togas or armor.

But the truth is, history is full of clever and daring women who used brains, beauty, and bravery to outwit powerful empires.

These women didn’t just play supporting roles; they changed the course of wars, toppled kingdoms, and became legends.

Whether hiding messages in their clothes or using charm to manipulate generals, these ancient spies were masters of deception.

Here’s a look at 10 fearless women who turned espionage into an art form—long before modern intelligence agencies even existed.

1. Rahab – The Walls Whisperer

Rahab, a woman living in Jericho, helped Israelite spies escape before the city’s conquest. Despite being a prostitute, Rahab proved herself incredibly brave and loyal.

She hid the spies on her roof and misled the king’s men who were searching for them. Her help was key to Jericho’s fall. Rahab used her position and wit to survive and protect her family.

In return, the Israelites spared her life when they destroyed the city. Her actions not only saved lives but also made her one of the earliest known female informants in history.

2. Artemisia I of Caria – The Cunning Naval Queen

Artemisia wasn’t just a queen, she was a naval commander and advisor to Xerxes I of Persia during the Greco-Persian Wars.

Though not a spy in the traditional sense, she engaged in psychological warfare and misinformation. At the Battle of Salamis, she tricked Greek ships by using deception tactics that made them mistake her for an ally.

Her cleverness on the sea earned her the king’s respect, and she reportedly gave him brutally honest advice about military strategy. Her boldness made her a legend in both Persian and Greek stories.

3. Delilah – The Secret Cutter

Delilah is often portrayed as a seductress, but she also played the role of a cunning infiltrator. Her mission? Discover the secret of Samson’s superhuman strength.

She used charm and persistence to extract the truth from him – his strength came from his uncut hair. Once she got the information, she helped the Philistines capture him by cutting his hair while he slept.

Delilah may have acted out of self-interest or under pressure, but her manipulation and betrayal changed the fate of a warrior and showed how powerful a skilled spy could be.

4. Laodice of Cappadocia – The Poison Plotter

Laodice, a Seleucid princess, was deeply involved in royal power struggles. Though her story is less known, she played a significant role in political intrigue.

She allegedly poisoned her husband, King Ariarathes V, and manipulated her son into power. In the ancient world, poisoning and secret political moves were tools of espionage.

Laodice used her insider status to sabotage rivals and control dynasties from the shadows. She operated quietly, proving sabotage didn’t always require swords—sometimes a drop of poison did the trick.

5. Mata Hari’s Ancient Counterparts – The Courtesans of Espionage

Before Mata Hari danced her way into espionage fame, ancient courtesans across Mesopotamia, Egypt, and Greece were using their access to high-ranking officials to gather intelligence.

These women entertained kings, generals, and diplomats, and listened closely. Some passed on secrets to enemies or influenced political decisions behind the scenes.

Their identities are often lost to time, but their impact was real. They were living proof that intimacy could be as effective as any weapon.

These courtesans operated in luxury and secrecy, often walking the fine line between love and betrayal.

6. Thargelia – The Persian Propagandist

Thargelia was a beautiful Ionian courtesan who became a Persian agent. She used her influence over powerful Greek men to spread Persian propaganda.

By seducing leaders in various Greek city-states, she shaped opinions in Persia’s favor during tense political times.

She wasn’t just flirting, she was manipulating foreign policy. Thargelia played both sides, maintaining her position in Greek society while quietly steering power toward Persia.

Her combination of charm and strategy makes her one of the most effective ancient propagandists and an early master of psychological influence.

7. Judith – The Decapitating Decoy

In the biblical Book of Judith, the title character infiltrates an enemy camp by pretending to surrender to the Assyrian general Holofernes.

Her beauty and grace captivated him, and he invited her into his tent. That’s when Judith made her move – she beheaded him while he was drunk.

Her act of assassination led to the enemy’s collapse in morale and gave her people a major victory. Judith combined intelligence, patience, and courage to turn the tide of battle. 

8. Theodote – The Distracting Spy

Theodote was a beautiful Athenian courtesan enlisted in a spying plot during the Peloponnesian War. General Lysander used her to distract and gather intel from enemies.

She hosted lavish parties, where powerful men let their guards down and revealed plans. Theodote used gossip and charm like weapons, subtly weaving through politics while maintaining her cover.

Though her name isn’t as famous as others, her method of indirect sabotage highlights how information could be pulled from whispered words over wine, not just battlefields.

9. Queen Tomyris – Strategic Saboteur

Tomyris, queen of the Massagetae, wasn’t technically a spy—but her use of strategic deception is worth noting. When Cyrus the Great tried to invade her territory, she tricked his forces with a “fake victory” strategy.

She let his army capture an abandoned camp stocked with wine, knowing they would overindulge. Once drunk and vulnerable, her forces ambushed them.

Tomyris later beheaded Cyrus in revenge for her son’s death. She turned Cyrus’s own tactics against him, proving that sabotage doesn’t always involve infiltration—it can also come from clever misdirection.

10. Nitocris of Babylon – The Tunnel Builder

Queen Nitocris (not to be confused with the Egyptian one) ruled Babylon and was known for her clever defensive sabotage. She reportedly created tunnels and diverted rivers to outsmart enemies.

When she suspected an invasion, she modified the Euphrates to block the enemy’s path, causing them to stumble into traps.

Her work was a hidden, architectural sabotage. Using engineering instead of weapons, Nitocris slowed down armies and protected her people.

Her legacy is one of quiet brilliance, proving that ancient sabotage could be structural and deeply strategic.