Harita Meenee was born in Athens, Greece, where she lives. She works as a teacher of Greek and English, as well as an editor and translator.
She studied classical literature and language at the PhilosophicalSchool of the University of Athens; during that time she examined the female roles in ancient tragedies, as well as their rich mythical symbolism. Her graduate studies, in the field of counseling, were done at the AthensUniversity of La Verne. She focused on Jungian psychology, exploring feminine archetypal images in the Hellenic mythology and their significance for contemporary women. Furthermore, she studied the psychology of children and adolescents and its implications for education.
She has also engaged in painting and in creating artistic jewelry; her artwork has been displayed in several exhibitions and has won awards in various contests.
Among her many translations, the scholarly book Orpheus and the Greek Religion by W.K.C. Guthrie (published by Kardamitsa Press in Athens, Greece) stands out. She has co-operated with the American professor Don Schofield in translating his poems into Greek, as well as poetry by Kiki Dimoula, Nicos Focas and Liana Sakelliou into English. Many of these have appeared in magazines (Gaia, Greek Letters, Ibycos etc.) in Greece and other countries, as well as in the anthology New European Poets. She has also adapted ancient Hellenic hymns in modern Greek and English.
She has delivered many talks in different parts of her country; as an expert on women’s studies she was invited to speak at the Athens University of La Verne and the study abroad program, Hellenic International Studies in the Arts, associated with the Massachusetts College of Art. She has also presented her work in Britain and Uzbekistan (Central Asia), at the Olympic Museum of Tashkent and the Association of Greek Culture. In March of 2006 she gave a series of talks in Southern California, invited by the University of Long Beach as well as by various women’s groups. Since then she has often visited this state, facilitating workshops and doing presentations as a visiting author.
Many of her writings are about pre-Christian Greece and other ancient traditions, including their myths and symbols. Her articles have appeared in many Hellenic periodicals (Diavazo, Istorica Themata, Corpus, Avaton, Anexighito, Phenomena etc), as well as in the English language magazines SageWoman, The Beltane Papers, Goddess Alive!, Sacred History, Matrifocus, Goddess Pages and Mithras Reader.
Many of her essays have been included in anthologies published by Archetypo Press: Sacred Greece, Women and the Sacred, Paths of Knowledge etc. Essays of hers have also been published in the educational CD-Rom “Gender and Public Life” by the Greek Ministry of Education.
She has also written and edited a number of ESL (English as a Second Language) books, helping students approach the English language in a fresh and interesting way.
In 2005 she presented the weekly historical and cultural program “Myths and Words” aired on Greek television channel Seven. She has also participated in various television and radio shows, sharing her knowledge and ideas with a wider audience.
