Cassandra, Circe, Medusa and Medea are four well known characters from the Greek mythology. All of them could be categorised as femme fatale, which means "an attractive and seductive woman who brings disaster to a man who becomes involved with her". I designed a series of commemorative stamps and postcards inspired by them, and the stories that was written which highlighted their bizarre yet disastrous lives. 

First of all there's Cassandra, who has the power of prophecy. Yet, an outfall with King Apollo ended up with her being cursed, leaving her being ignored of her prophecies by everyone. She foresaw the destruction of Troy, but couldn't do anything as no one believed her. At the fall of Troy, Cassandra was abducted and brutally raped by Ajax the lesser. 

Then we have Circe, who is a goddess of magic in Greek mythology, and was renowned for her vast knowledge of potions and herbs. Through the use of these potions and a magic wand, she transformed her enemies, or those who offended her into animals.

Medusa was originally a golden-haired, fair maiden, who, as a priestess of Athena, was devoted to a life of celibacy. She however fell in love with Poseidon and married him. For this offence, she was punished by the goddess by turning her hair into venomous snakes; her once eyes turned into blood-shot, furious orbs, whilst her milk-white skin was turned into a greenish tinge. 

The last one is Medea, who is the niece of Circe, granddaughter of the sun god Helios, and later wife to the hero Jason. Medea and Jason got married, and they lived happily for ten years. However, Jason later abandoned Medea for the king's daughter, Glauce. Medea took her revenge by murdering two of her children. Afterwards, she flew to Athens in a golden chariot sent by her grandfather Helios, god of the sun.