THE AMAZONS

                                                      

 

The myth says that they were the most powerful women ever.   In antiquity, they were said to be a tribe of independent, mighty women who had rebelled against the men-dominated society. They used to live in isolated places, excluded men from their society and fought against them.   

 

Little is known about the Amazons, most of which is taken from myths.  Only a few historical facts have been discovered to prove the existence and development of an Amazon culture.  Others say it is a fable that shows the superiority of manhood, as in any battle between men and women the men won.  Another interesting point is that the legend of the Amazons appears in many nations.

 

According to mythology, they lived in the city Themiscyra, off the river Thermodon and they were a race of warrior women.  Men were not allowed to become members of their society unless it was for the specific of mating or slavery.  Perhaps this is why Homer describes them in Iliad as “women who go to war as men”, and Herodotus uses the term “Androktones” for them, which means killers of men.

 

The Amazons when they were young girls learned how to fight.  The bow and arrow, the labrys, a kind of double-edged ax, and a shield in the shape of a crescent were their weapons.  The Amazons showed skill and excellence as horse tamers and riders.

 

Peculiar but perhaps justified from the Amazons’ perspective was the removal of a girls’ right breast in an inhumane manner to facilitate the drawing of an arrow or drawing a spear. 

 

The word Amazon derives from the Classical Greek word “Amazoi” which means breastless, full-breasted or not-touching men.  “Full-breasted” appears as a paradox but that is exactly how the Amazons were depicted in sculptures and paintings.

 

According to modern popular imagination, they were dressed in leather clothes that covered a few parts of their bodies.  However, in ancient ceramic vessels, they are depicted wearing long dresses that reached the knee.

 

The moon, since time immemorable, has been a symbol of femininity and beauty.  The Amazons were beautiful women who led an untamed life.  They also worshipped the moon.  The word Amazon in ancient Circassian language meant “mother-moon”.

 

Greek mythology has a number of famous myths related to the Amazons.  Hercules on his way to the land of the Amazons, was accompanied by Theseus and Antiope fell in love with him and they got married and had a son called Hippolytus.

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