After my rat Achilles died, I took two female husky rats. I gave them the names Kassandra and Penelope.

Cassandra, named after the daughter of the Trojan King Priam and Hecuba, sister of Hector, Polyxena, Paris and Troilos and twin sister of Helenos from Greek mythology, who received the gift of prophecy from the god Apollo. But because she rejected his attempts at seduction, he cursed her so that no one would believe her prophecies. So in the end the people of Troy were warned about the danger posed by the wooden horse (The Trojan Horse), but they didn't listen and the downfall of Troy was sealed. Such unheard warnings are referred to as Cassandra calls.

Penelope, named after the wife of Odysseus (Latin variant Ulysses) and mother of Telemachus from Greek mythology. Penelope faithfully waited for her husband to return. She rejected all greedy suitors who simply desired the power and throne of Ithaca. After twenty years, her husband returned after a long wandering, punished the suitors with the help of his son and was finally able to embrace her again.

With Hero Forge I represent my she-rats in anthropomorphic form with antique clothing and thus honor them and also their mythological namesakes.