Myth of the Amazons, women of great strength and more

Let's talk about the myth of the Amazons

According to classical mythology, specifically Greek mythology, the Amazons were a community made up solely of warrior women, from the Ancient Greek: ᾽ Αμαζόνες , singular Ἀμαζών [Amazōn]. These women were notable for their beauty and their fighting skills.

They carried different weapons and were trained from an early age. In Greek culture, the Amazons were one of the enemies of the Greeks. In other words, many of the myths that exist explain that the Amazons constantly fought with different Greek heroes, making them look like evil characters.

Despite this, it has been determined that this was not the case. The Amazons were an army with a single mission: to defend their people. One of the most impressive characteristics of the Amazons was the creation of their female society, a concept that many found impressive.

The myth of the Amazons in the written tradition

The Greek historian Herodotus placed the region where this settlement was located near a border region with Scythia in Sarmatia, although later they were located in Asia Minor. The reality of the Amazons is quite confusing; unlike other classical myths, the existence of the Amazons is questionable.

While we commonly think of myths and legends as fanciful stories born of human imagination, the myth of the Amazons does have real evidence. In the Eurasian steppes, several tribes did indeed record how women served in the army and even as warriors. They were responsible for defending the area where they were located if men were at war.

Thanks to several archaeological discoveries, the tombs of these inhabitants have been found. We invite you to read other articles similar to this one on our blog; we recommend reading Myths and Legends.

Greek mythology and the myth of the Amazons

There are various myths about the Amazons, but they differ slightly from the stories we know today from the artistic world. In Greek mythology, the Amazons are the product of the union of the god of war Ares and a nymph named Harmonia.

Under this concept, the Greeks believed the Amazons lived in Therma, a region of the Dead Sea in Turkey. Their village was located near the sea coast, a place called Pontus Eucinus. They had a monarchical hierarchy, and Hippolyta was said to be the queen of the Amazons. In fact, it was formed by the union of several cities, including Smyrna, Ephesus, Sinope, and Paphos.

The playwright Aeschylus described the Amazons as having lived in Scythia, but over the years they became a nomadic group that eventually settled in Themyscira. Herodotus called them Andoctona , which essentially means "man-killers." This was because their society consisted entirely of women, and they were said to hate men, thus engaging in constant conflict with them.

Homer and the myth of the Amazons

It wasn't until Homer's Iliad that the name became Antianiras (those who fight like men), exemplifying the fact that the Amazons were trained from a young age to fight in wars. That is, as soldiers, a role that, according to the Greeks, was traditionally held by men.

For many people, the existence of the Amazons is questioned simply because, as a society made up of women, there was no way for them to reproduce. However, several myths explain that, although men were not allowed to enter the village, the Amazons would travel several kilometers to Gargaros, where they would have sexual relations to preserve their race.

If you'd like to read more articles like this, we recommend reading Legend of Mermaids in our myths and legends category.

The Amazons did not stay in this tribe; once pregnant, they returned to their city. The sons of these warriors suffered various terrible fates: they could be sent back to their fathers, abandoned to their fate, or blinded and mutilated to serve as servants. The Amazons kept the girls, who were raised by their mothers; their education was based on the art of war, manual labor, hunting, and wrestling.

Greek heroes vs the myth of the amazons

Among the best-known Greek myths about the Amazons, we find that the heroes Heracles, Bellerophon, and Achilles had several encounters where they had to confront the Amazons. Even the god Dionysus was involved in some of these adventures. Heracles, specifically, was involved in one of the greatest adventures of the Greek era.

He was charged with finding and stealing the belt of the Amazon queen Hippolyta, a task assigned by Eurystheus. To accomplish this task, he enlisted the help of his friend Theseus, who ended up kidnapping Princess Antiope, Hippolyta's sister. This kidnapping had a terrible consequence, as it triggered the invasion of Attica in retaliation for what Theseus had done.

There are different versions of what happened next, as some explain that Theseus ends up marrying Hippolyta after helping Heracles, while others claim this never happens and that Antiope, his wife, dies during the invasion. The Greeks firmly believed that the Amazons were to blame and that they were a symbol of bad luck.

The Greeks and their hatred of the Amazons

While it's true that today we appreciate the story of the Amazons for what they are—courageous warriors who defended their people—the Greeks' hatred of these women is quite explicit in all the myths that have been told throughout history.

The Amazons were seen as the enemy, or even, if the story wasn't so dire, as a kind of antagonist. They didn't particularly seek to confront the Greeks, but if the opportunity presented itself, they were willing to kill them. Greek myths feature several stories where military raids were entirely led by the Amazons.

Amazon Attributes

They had a deep knowledge of the art of war, handled multiple weapons, and also possessed enviable intelligence. On the other hand, despite the Greeks' latent hatred of the Amazons, they greatly emphasized their beauty. Tall, strong, with white skin and black hair, the Amazons were perfect. Their only flaw was their thirst for conflict; their need to fight presented a problem for the Greek people, who were more accustomed to pacifism.

It is often mentioned that the Amazons had a relationship with the goddess Artemis; this is due more to the fact that they worshipped her than to the fact that she had anything to do with her creation. The warriors asked for the goddess's protection, since, as the goddess of the hunt, the Amazons felt strongly identified with her.

famous amazons

When we talk about the Amazons, we are referring entirely to the people who made up this society; however, there were several famous Amazons throughout history. Myths tell their stories, and they have survived through the ages.

penthesilea

Among the famous Amazons, we find Penthesilea, a formidable warrior known for participating in the Trojan War, defending the city with great courage. Tales of her battles were envied by warriors around the world; sadly, Penthesilea suffered a cruel end, as she was killed by Achilles.

Hippolyta

Another example we can find is Hippolyta, queen of the Amazons. Hippolyta was the sister of Penthesilea and was known for wearing a magic belt that gave her a certain advantage over other warriors. This warrior fought against various figures in Greek mythology, from Bellerophon, who had dominated Pegasus, to Hercules, who tried to steal her magic belt.

Hippolyta is killed by Hercules when they face each other in battle. On the other hand, as a people, the Amazons also fought in impressive wars; the most famous was the one they led against Athens. This war was a retaliation, as King Theseus had kidnapped Princess Antiope, Hippolyta's sister, so the Amazons attacked the unsuspecting people.

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heroic cult

Although at the time, they were seen as terrible beings, the Amazons were revered after their disappearance. According to various ancient sources, the tombs of these female warriors could be found quite easily throughout what was known as the Greek world.

Many of them were found in Megara, Athens, Chaeronea, Chalsis, Scotusa, and Cynoscephalae. After their disappearance or extinction from their race, several statues were erected throughout Greece to honor these women in heroic worship.

In both Chalcis and Athens, there were places called Amazonia , which were temples where altars were erected to the Amazons and where they were worshipped. Young women of the time performed rituals in which they danced in a circle with various weapons. This dance had been created by Hippolyta and her sisters.

Amazons in art

In our modern culture, it is quite easy to find artistic references to Amazons, especially on television and in movies. However, these artistic samples were born in the Greek art of the archaic period. Many of the works of that time represented the Greek legends and myths.

Through artwork, one can observe how the battle between the Amazons and the Greeks remained level-headed; that is, despite being portrayed as the enemy, at least for a time, it was clearly emphasized that they were as capable as, or more so than, the Greek heroes themselves. On the other hand, the evolution of art indicated an emergence of the belief that the Amazons did exist. This is because they were transformed to appear more human than the myths portrayed, bringing them closer to the common person.

Place of the Amazons in current museums

A brief search of existing artistic displays reveals how the Amazons were portrayed with their main characteristics and elements; there was little imagination. Striking a heroic pose, they were depicted with various hunting and war weapons, revealing what strong women they were.

The Amazons worshipped Artemis, the goddess of the hunt, so their image changed slightly to resemble the existing model of the goddess. With a fine dress that was held up at the upper body, the Amazons lost some of the rugged, masculine essence that characterized them so much.

Currently, the British Museum has an art exhibition displaying reliefs from the frieze of the Temple of Apollo at Basae and other artifacts from the period, which feature both the image of Artemis and the Amazons.

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What do historians say about the warriors?

In general, the historians of the Greek or Latin culture accepted the existence of the Amazons and even included them in many of their stories.

Herodotus was the first historian to dedicate himself to discussing and describing female warriors. He did so in his book Histories, where he describes the history of the Amazons somewhat differently than we know them today. In it, he explained that they were a group of fugitives who attempted to cross Lake Meotida and later managed to reach Scythia, making this area their home.

Esticia was a region known for its cliffs, which allowed this nomadic group of women to isolate themselves from other societies. They adopted a life dedicated to hunting, fishing, and plundering; the city of Esticia was not uninhabited; in fact, there were several inhabitants who could not withstand the constant attacks.

More on Herodotus and the Amazon myth

The Amazons agreed to marry young men from the village, as long as they could maintain their lives in the same way. As they integrated into society, the population of warriors grew, their customs were passed on to their descendants, and little by little, this group of nomads became what we know today as the Amazons. Herodotus noted the following reasons the Amazons had for maintaining their customs and way of life:

"It is impossible for us (the Amazons) to live among their women. They were raised in a way we don't understand. While they were taught domestic chores, family care, and even innocence and decency, we were taught to hunt for our food, use weapons, protect the innocent, and ride horses. We ignore the skills they have, and what we do seems crazy to them."

More of the Amazon myth and ancient historians

Herodotus's description ends when he explains that this mixed group (warrior nomads and village youths) settled just beyond the Tanais River, on what is now known as the Don River. Their offspring were the Sarmatians, who fought with the Scythians, who were in fact their distant relatives, against the Persian king Darius I in the 5th century BC. Herodotus physically described the Amazons as:

"Beautiful women who lacked a right breast, as it was cauterized when they were babies. Their mothers placed a bronze object whose sole purpose was to stop the breast from growing. This was done so they could use weapons more effectively. The strength of the breast was then directed to the shoulder and arm on that side, giving them greater strength than the average woman or man."

Other written references to the myth of the Amazons

Among other historians, Diodorus explained the story of Hercules defeating the Amazons at Themyscyra, while Philostratus tried to locate them in the Taurus Mountains. Ammianus explained that they were located east of the Tanais River and were neighbors of the Alans, and Procopius explained that they were in fact in the Caucasus.

Although many historians doubt their existence, even in modern times, the vast majority agree that they are important historical figures during late antiquity. Several fathers of history and mythology sought, for years, to eliminate their trace; however, it was almost impossible.

From the most fanciful tales to real-life society, the Amazons represent a large part of our culture's history, whether we accept their existence or not. Culturally, their story impacted entire societies, and today, although we remember them as simply a story from the past, ancient times show us their importance to different populations.

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Amazons in literature

Describing all the books and works that refer to the Amazons is almost impossible. Since their first mention in Greek mythology, various authors have discussed the existence of the Amazons, describing their behavior, strategies or the way they functioned as a society.

Despite this, there are several important mentions that can be made of famous authors who have spoken about the Amazons. During the 13th century, Marco Polo wrote a book titled "Book of Travels," in which he recounts his entire journey through Asia. There, he mentioned the existence of an island inhabited only by women; however, he doesn't specify these as Amazons, as he makes no reference to their abilities.

The Renaissance and the warriors

On the other hand, during the European Renaissance, the Amazons were a focal point for medieval and Renaissance authors. They followed the opinion of Pliny the Elder, who claimed that the Amazons had invented the warboat. This is related to the sagaris , a weapon very similar to an axe, which was associated with the Amazons but was also used by neighboring tribes.

Paulus Hector Mair declared that this was impossible, since he did not believe that such "manly" weapons could have been invented by a tribe inhabited only by women.

Ancient and medieval literature

The Renaissance writer Giovanni Boccaccio dedicated two whole chapters to the Amazons, specifically to the queens Lampedo and Marpesia, in his work De claris mulieribus , which was translated into Spanish as “De las mujeres Famosas” in 1374.

The image of the Amazons throughout literature has changed considerably; the original image of Greek myth had evolved as their existence was questioned. The stories of these warriors are perhaps one of the most interesting branches of Greek mythology and literature.

There are millions of stories that describe the reality of the Amazons; few of them come close to the truth. Even if they really existed, literature has transformed these women into incredible figures, who can be used according to the personal and individual criteria of the person who decides to write about them.

Amazons in America

The myth of the Amazons is not only found in ancient Greece, but traces can also be seen in Hispanic society. When we talk about the Amazons, we can refer to two different entities. The first is a group of people who, according to Greek myths, lived on a small island, and the second is women from around the world who were noted for their skills.

Exploring the second entity further, we find that several historians, archaeologists, and even philosophers determine that populations of Amazons existed around the world. This doesn't mean they came from the same place or had the same origins, but rather that they were women with similar characteristics, which is why the term Amazons was adopted to differentiate them from the rest.

The American Amazons, that is, the Amazons who lived in the Americas, are believed to have existed in several important locations on the continent. The most notable among them are the Antilles, the Amazon River, western Mexico, and the Llanos province in the Kingdom of Granada. These sites were recorded by Christopher Columbus, Hernán Cortés, Francisco de Orellana, and other adventurers and colonizers as places where a society of warrior women was observed.

Americanized customs of the Amazons

These women took different forms depending on where they lived. Despite this, they shared similar characteristics. They were powerful women, usually naked, who defended their people with traditional weapons; bows, spears, arrows, and clubs were the most common. On the other hand, it was observed that in the society where they lived, women held supreme power, men were servants, boys were abandoned, and girls were raised to follow their mothers' example.

For this reason, and because of the similarities they had with Greek myths, these groups of women were also nicknamed the Amazons. There are other references that speak of the American Amazons. For example, a book by Dominico Gaspar de Carvajal contains considerable information about these sightings and how these groups of women operated; the account is called "Discovery of the Amazon River."

The myth of the American Amazons: truth or fantasy?

This book begins with an expedition by Gonzalo Pizarro, heading to the headwaters of the Marañón River, while searching for the cinnamon tree, and continues with an encounter with Captain Francisco Orellana, who had had a close encounter with this society in 1542.

As a curious fact, the current Amazon River, in fact, was called the Orellana River, since he was the one who had discovered it. However, finding an entire society living nearby, the river was given its current name.

Modern culture and the Amazons

Modern culture has taught us more about the Amazons of Greek mythology than about the real Amazons on the American continent. There's a reason for this: the figure of women was eradicated from history; for many, it was impossible to imagine that a real woman, without supernatural powers, could defend her people. Above all, it was not believed possible for a society entirely comprised of women to exist.

Despite attempts to erase history, many historians have found evidence to the contrary. The myth of the Amazons underwent a complete transformation; it was no longer just a story written centuries ago, but was transformed into legends of real women and recorded societies.

The American Amazons are not the same as the Amazons of Greek mythology; they are two different cultures united by the same characteristics. The need for survival and evolution explains why the warriors of the American continent were so similar to those of ancient Greece, even though they did not share the same knowledge.

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Frequently asked questions about the myth of the Amazons

Today, there are many references to Amazons in art. Television and cinema are the main sources that have made the myths of the Amazons more recognized in the modern world.

From TV series, movies, and even plays, the Amazons have become part of modern culture. Although their myths are no longer as well-studied, it's impossible to deny how incredible the stories of these warriors could have been. Below, we'll address five of the most frequently asked questions online about the Amazons and their references.

Is Wonder Woman an Amazon?

Wonder Woman, as she is known in English-speaking countries, is one of the most popular characters in the comic book industry. Created by William Moulton Marston in the 40s, Wonder Woman seeks to save the world from powerful villains.

Her creation had a specific purpose; in the early 40s, the United States was suffering the consequences of World War II. To cope with the horrors, Moulton created a symbol of feminine power; she drew inspiration from the book "The Superiority of Woman" and the ancient Greek myths about the Amazon warriors. This superheroine's characteristics are:

Blue eyes and beautiful black hair
Athletic body
Supernatural strength and combat prowess
fighting knowledge
A uniform with the American flag.

Interestingly, Wonder Woman is a direct reference to one of the Greek myths; her similarities center on the princess of Themyscira. The only difference is that instead of fighting mythological beings from ancient Greece, this princess was Americanized to transform into Wonder Woman and fight the Nazis.

One of the reasons we recognize Wonder Woman as an Amazon is the undeniable similarities she has with ancient myths. Wonder Woman is known for being beautiful, strong, and intelligent; these characteristics are the same ones that describe the Amazons in Greek myths.

Did the Amazons really exist?

It's very uncertain if we investigate a little history; we'll quickly learn that women's efforts are often overshadowed or used solely as a symbolic reference. For years, the true role of women was hidden; this doesn't mean they actually existed, only that it's possible that if they had, their history was erased over the years.

Today, we know that women warriors existed; the clearest example was the combatants of World War II. However, it is difficult to specify whether the history of women warriors goes back much further than we might imagine.

Despite all this, there were people who claimed that the Amazons existed. For example, Francisco Orellana, one of the men who joined the explorations for the colonization of America, claimed that when he reached the banks of the Marañón River, he saw warrior women trying to defend their village with bows.

This impressive image led him to name the waters where he had first seen them, the Amazon River. Determining whether this actually happened is impossible, but it's not that hard to believe.

The culture of indigenous peoples was very different from what we have today; their practices and teachings may have created strong and brilliant warriors. You can read other articles like this one about Amazon myths on our blog; in fact, we recommend reading Pegasus in the myths and legends category.

What is the origin of the Amazons?

When we talk about the Amazons, one of the most frequently asked questions is about their origins. Being a society of women, it's difficult to imagine how they were born; the answer to that, in fact, is quite simple. Myths tell us that these warriors were born from the union of the Greek god of war, Ares, and a nymph named Harmonia.

To give a little more context to his creation, shortly before his birth, Athens was engaged in a serious conflict with Sparta, as the two communities led very different lives. Sparta sought to win every possible war to conquer more and more territory, while Athens sought knowledge; they firmly believed that the arts should be defended and protected above all else.

With whom did the Amazons identify?

Obviously, with Sparta, both civilizations believed that war was the best solution. However, there is a clear distinction: the Spartans focused on supplying soldiers to the armies, while the Amazons were the ones who went to war.

In both Sparta and Themyscira, the Amazon city-state, homosexuality was welcomed; they had no other option; these were populations where there was an abysmal number of same-sex citizens, both on and off the battlefield.

Were the real Amazons Spartans? Maybe, maybe not; as we mentioned before, if the Amazons really existed, it's impossible to determine their origin, so we'll have to stick with the theory explained by Greek mythology.

Were the Amazons single?

The stories of the Amazons indicate that they were a society of women; that is, there were no men among their people. The myths about them tell us that the Amazons were hunters who came to Earth with a single purpose: to defend their lands.

Additionally, other purposes were added, such as winning important battles for other peoples, living together as a community, and preserving their society. While it's true that at no point is there much reference to whether men existed on Themyscira, the reality is that they probably did.

The Amazons rejected marriage, but they enjoyed satisfying their carnal desires; they were also tasked with preserving their people. The myth of the Amazons breaks the common stereotypes of other myths, as it eliminates the mentality that a girl's only destiny was to marry and have a family.

The accounts are quite clear; as a general rule, the Amazons lived as single women, although there were some exceptions; for example, Antiope married Theseus some time after he abducted her.

Xena, the warrior princess existed?

During the 90s, a popular series called Xena: Warrior Princess aired. It was set in Ancient Greece. It told the story of a brave young woman who encountered difficult situations. Many episodes of the series emphasized that Xena was a beautiful woman (with typical Amazonian features) and that she knew how to fight with different weapons.

Lucy Lawless was the actress who gave life to this character from 1995 to 2001. Although no exact reference was made as to whether or not Xena was an Amazon, it is strongly implied that her character has several references to the myths.

Xena, as a real-life person, never existed. There is no record of a person in history who was a princess by that name, much less a prominent warrior. Xena is a character created for television, an iconic warrior who defined and inspired many young women of the time.

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The Amazons in real life

While the actual existence of the Amazons is somewhat uncertain, there is one discovery that may prove their legitimacy. The Greek myth of the Amazons implies that they were a community of women who were trained in the art of war, creating perfect soldiers of immense beauty.

For centuries, it was believed that the Amazons could have been the worst enemy of various heroes of the time, such as Hercules and Achilles; at the same time, they were praised for their mission to defend their people with immense courage. Several historians have been able to locate this group of women on the Anatolian Peninsula (Asia Minor).

The Thermodon River flows into the valley here, believed to be the site of the city of Themyscyra, the beloved Amazon state. The historian Herodotus (484–425 BC) indicated that he believed this site was located further northeast, in the Pontic steppes; this location is what we know today as Ukraine, southern Russia, and part of Kazakhstan.

This site, in turn, was the border between the Greeks and the Scythian peoples; their culture stood out from the rest because it was based on nomadic herding and horse breeding (horses, moreover, are frequently referenced when discussing the myth of the Amazons).

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Exploration

More than 30 years ago, in 1988, an archaeological expedition in the Republic of Tuva uncovered an incredible find. It was a unique burial from the Early Iron Age; this discovery was made at the Saryg-Bulum site.

During the excavation, two burial mounds were discovered; they were joined together, forming a figure of eight. This discovery was determined to date from the 4th century BC. Within the burial mounds were the remains of seven buried individuals, each accompanied by multiple artifacts.

The most surprising thing for the Russian archaeologists was when they began work on grave number five, where they found a coffin made of larch wood, the lid of which was tightly closed. Due to the natural properties of this type of wood and the lack of air, the body buried in that grave was very well preserved.

the DNA test

At the time, it was believed to be the mummy of a child. However, three decades later, after various DNA studies, it has been revealed that the body found was not a child; on the contrary, it was a young woman who could have been around 13 years old when she died. According to the study published by the Russian Academy of Sciences, only three of the other six skeletons were female.

Even more surprising was that they were buried as if they were riding horses. Many people believe that the ancient Greeks had encountered the Scythians, who had dominated the Eurasian stage during the first millennium BC.

The Greeks may have been so impressed by their riding skills that when they were buried, they took it upon themselves to relive that moment for eternity.

The buried women

The women buried and discovered during the archaeological expedition were of varying ages. Two of them were young, estimated to be between 20 and 29 years old; while the others were between 25 and 35, in addition to the young woman who was 12 or 13 years old and a 45-year-old woman. This last fact is quite curious; the woman had exceeded the Scythian life expectancy of 30 to 35 years.

Unlike other burials, this clan of women's burials occurred simultaneously, which could indicate that they all died around the same time. Many of the artifacts that could shed some light on the mystery are missing. Grave robbers stole several fragments of clothing and artifacts from the tombs.

Despite this, the woman's body, which was buried in the position of a rider—that is, as if riding a horse—was found intact. A crown, a dagger, and several iron arrowheads were found inside the older woman's grave. Curiously, these arrowheads were quite unusual, as they were forked.

Amazon Privileges

Far beyond what can be theorized, this discovery may imply that the Amazons may have a real place in history. Even if it isn't the fantasy story everyone already knows about them.

For our history and culture, this discovery could mean a turning point. In fact, it would allow humankind to begin to question the reality of myths.

If the Amazons existed, what other creatures, heroes, or fantasy characters were part of reality?

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