Amazons

Amazons

The Amazons were a race of female warriors in Greek mythology, who dwelt in the region of modern-day Ukraine. Two of the best known Amazon queens were Penthesilea, who took part in the Trojan War, and her sister Hippolyta, who was the owner of a magical girdle, given to her by the god of war Ares. The magical girdle was the object that Heracles had to recover to complete the fourth task given to him during the myth of the Labours of Heracles.

There were no men allowed to live together with the Amazons. However, in order to continue their race, once a year, the Amazons would visit a nearby tribe called Gargareans. After having sexual intercourse with them, the Amazons would return home; they would keep all baby girls that were born, but the male babies were either killed, sent to their fathers, or left in a forest to die of exposure to the elements.

The Amazons appeared in various Greek myths. In one of them, they attacked the region of Lycia, but were fended off by Bellerophon. They later attacked Phrygia, but were also defeated by the defending army, led by a young Priam, who later became the king of Troy. During the Trojan War, the Amazons, led by Queen Penthesilea, helped Priam defend his city; Penthesilea was killed by Achilles during a battle.

Cultures

Amazonian culture is a combination of the warlike Spartans and the knowledgeable Athenians in the mythos, as seen in DC, Disney's Hercules, and especially in most Greek themed stories such as Hercules and Xena. In the 2015 game Dragon's Crown, Amazon's are more Celtic origin.

Gallery

Hippolyta from "Promptuarii Iconum Insigniorum"

A helmeted Amazon with her sword and a shield bearing the Gorgon head image, Tondo of an Attic red-figure kylix, 510–500 BC

Amazon wearing trousers and carrying a shield with an attached patterned cloth and a quiver. Ancient Greek Attic white-ground alabastron, c. 470 BC, British Museum, London.

Mounted Amazon in Scythian costume, on an Attic red-figure vase, c.420 BC