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==Who were the Amazons==References to the Amazons first appear in the ''Iliad''The Greeks myths remain popular because of their remarkable stories of heroes, composed by the legendary blind-singer Homer <ref>Homergods, Iliad (London, Penguin, 1998), p 201</ref>and strange peoples. Many later poets and writers referred to them, especially their interactions with Some of the Greeks and their Gods. According to most remarkable of these are the sources, tales of the Amazons . These were a race of female warriors and they who were ruled by a Queen <ref> Carabatea, M. Greek Mythology (Pergamos, Peania, 2007), p 112</ref>. It was a society dominated by females and which had no males. Women would mate with men, from a neighboring tribe once a year only to perpetuate often the race. They would expose the male children and only rear enemies of the female children, who when older, were taught military skills. Many ancient writers state that the female society hated menHellenes. The Amazons Greeks were feared warriors and it is claimed that they cut off or burnt off their right breast so that they could draw clearly fascinated by the string of a bow. These women-warriors were renowned archers and they were often depicted riding horses. In Greek myths, Amazon’s came from the Black Sea coast of what is now modern Turkey. HoweverAmazons, as they began to colonize seen in the area, different locations were proposed for their mythical homeland. One source states’ that they originated from Libya many references in poetry and another that they came the Steppes of what is now Ukraine and Russia. Academics have argued that the myth many representations of the female -warriors may have been based on a matriarchal society that flourished in the Black Sea areaart. Some believe  It appears that the Amazons were based on Scythian or Sarmatian female warriors, who were Iranian-speaking nomads. It is known that they were a war-like people and that they had female rulers. For example, the Massagetaemany myths, who were related to the Scythians were ruled by narratives about a warrior Queen, who was credited with slaying Cyrus the Great, the founder race of the Persian Empire. There martial women could have been numerous archaeological finds of burials of women, from the age of 16-30 who bear injuries associated with blunt force trauma and weaponsbased on fact. These graves The Amazons' stories are believed important as they allow us to be of female warriors who possibly died of war wounds Fialko, Elena E. "Amazons burials in understand the lands of steppe ScythiaAncient Greek mindset and their values." Mousaios 14 (2009): 47-59. Many of  ====Who were the artistic depictions of Amazons have them attired like the Eurasian nomads. ====

==The Trojan War and References to the Amazons==The Trojan War was a 10first appear in the ''Iliad'', composed by the legendary blind-year conflict between singer Homer.<ref>Homer, Iliad (London, Penguin, 1998), p 201</ref> Many later poets and writers referred to them, especially their interactions with the Greeks and Trojans over their Gods. According to the abduction sources, the Amazons were a race of Helen of Troy in legendfemale warriors, and they were ruled by a Queen.<ref> Carabatea, M. Both sides enlisted their allies in their causeGreek Mythology (Pergamos, Peania, 2007), p 112</ref>  It was a society dominated by females and which had no males. The Amazons were allied Women would mate with men from a neighboring tribe once a year only to perpetuate the Trojan King during race. They would expose the conflict. This is even though Priam had defeated them male children and expelled them from Phrygia previouslyonly rear the female children. After Achilles had killed When the great Trojan hero Hectorfemale children were older, they were taught military skills.  Many ancient writers state that the Amazons felt that they had to intervenefemale society hated men. The female Amazons were feared warriors, especially and it is claimed that they cut off or burnt off their Queen Penthesilea, are shown as great right breast so that they could draw the string of a bow. These women-warriors were renowned archers and killing many Greeks in the Iliadthey were often depicted riding horses. Penthesilea was In Greek myths, Amazons came from the daughter coast of the God of war AresBlack Sea in what is now modern Turkey. She was eventually killed by Achilles. In one account However, he saw as they began to colonize the dying Queenarea, after she removed her helmet different locations were proposed for their mythical homeland. One source states’ that they originated from Libya and he fell in love with heranother that they came the Steppes of what is now Ukraine and Russia. This scene was depicted in many famous works Academics have argued that the myth of art the female warriors may have been based on a matriarchal society that flourished in the Classical eraBlack Sea area. According Some believe that the Amazons were based on Scythian or Sarmatian female warriors, who were Iranian-speaking nomads. It is known that they were a war-like people and that they had female rulers.  For example, the Massagetae, who were related to some accountsthe Scythians, were ruled by a number warrior Queen, credited with slaying Cyrus the Great, the Persian Empire's founder. There have been numerous archaeological finds of Amazon women escaped 's burials from Troy after the death age of their Queen 16-30 who bear injuries associated with blunt force trauma and settled weapons. These graves are believed to be female warriors who possibly died of war wounds. <ref>Fialko, Elena E. "Amazon's burials in the lands of steppe Scythia. This has been seen as the Greeks trying to rationalize and make sense " Mousaios 14 (2009): 47-59.</ref> Many of the custom artistic depictions of female nomadic warriors on Amazons have them attired like the Eurasian Steppenomads. ====The Trojan War and the Amazons====

The Trojan War was a 10-year conflict between the Greeks and Trojans over the abduction of Helen of Troy in legend. Both sides enlisted their allies in their cause. The Amazons were allied to the Trojan King during the conflict. This is even though Priam had defeated them and expelled them from Phrygia previously. After Achilles had killed the great Trojan hero Hector, the Amazons felt that they had to intervene. The female warriors, especially their Queen Penthesilea, are shown as great warriors and killing many Greeks in the Iliad. Penthesilea was the daughter of the God of war Ares. Achilles eventually killed her.  In one account, he saw the dying Queen after she removed her helmet and he fell in love with her. This scene was depicted in many famous works of art in the Classical era. According to some accounts, a number of Amazon women escaped from Troy after the death of their Queen and settled in Scythia. This has been seen as the Greeks trying to rationalize and make sense of the custom of female nomadic warriors on the Eurasian Steppe. ==== Myrina- the great Amazon warrior queen====Myrina was a queen of the Amazons and a great conqueror. It was claimed that she traveled as far as modern-day Libya and , defeated a powerful kingdom , and destroyed their capital city. She then turned her attention to another neighboring kingdom , which she devastated. Later this Amazonian Alexander the Great defeated the Egyptians and campaigned as far as Arabia.  The queen also conquered Asia Minor (modern Turkey) and many Aegean islands. It is claimed that she founded many cities here , such as Mysia. Myrna was later defeated by two semi-legendary Thracian and Scythian heroes. The tomb of the Amazonian ruler 's tomb is mentioned in Homer’s Iliad, as being located near Troy .<ref> Blok, p 119</ref>.==Bellerophon and the Amazons==Bellerophon was regarded as the greatest hero before Hercules. He was a renowned slayer of monsters and he killed the Chimera and he captured the winged horse Pegasus. In one myth he is ordered by a King of Lycia to attack the Amazons. The ruler believed that Bellerophon would be killed by the fierce women warriors. However, to the amazement of the king, he managed to defeat an army of Amazonians. Bellerophon also killed the Queen of the Amazons in a personal duel and eventually, overthrew the Lycian king. ==Hercules and the Amazons==Perhaps the best-known Greek hero was Hercules, renowned for this super-strength. He was driven mad by the Queen of the Gods, who hated him. In his insanity, Hercules killed his wife and child. To atone for his crimes, he asked an oracle what should he do? He was told to follow the instructions of a King Eurystheus, who set him twelve labors. One labor or task was to seize the girdle of the Amazonian queen Hippolyta. In some versions of the myth, Hercules is accompanied by Theseus, the great Athenian hero. Hercules managed to persuade the Amazonian to give him the girdle, which had been given to her, by her father Ares. However, Hera took the form of the queen and initiated a war between Hercules and the Amazons. The female warriors. were defeated and their queen killed. Hercules then obtained the girdle.

==The Battle of Athens==Bellerophon and the Amazons====In many myths, Bellerophon was regarded as the Amazons invaded Athensgreatest hero before Hercules. Most myths believe that this they invaded Attica because Theseus had abandoned his Amazonian wife AntiopeHe was a renowned slayer of monsters, whom and he had abducted during killed the war between Hercules Chimera, and he captured the Amazons<ref> Blok, Jwinged horse Pegasus. The early Amazons: modern and ancient perspectives on a persistent In one myth (The Netherlands, Brill, 1994), p 113</ref>he is ordered by a King of Lycia to attack the Amazons. The female ruler believed that the fierce women warriors attacked would kill bellerophon. However, to the amazement of the Athenians king, he managed to rescue Antiopedefeat an army of Amazonians. In Bellerophon also killed the battle, the Athenians, who were all males emerged triumphant and totally vanquished Queen of the Amazons. This battle was celebrated in a great many artworks personal duel and they are known as eventually overthrew the AmazonomachyLycian king. Indeed ====Hercules and the Amazons====Perhaps the best-known Greek hero was Hercules, there were once many scenes from renowned for this battle between super-strength. He was driven mad by the Queen of the Athenians Gods, who hated him. In his insanity, Hercules killed his wife and child. To atone for his crimes, he asked an oracle what he should do? He was told to follow the Amazons on instructions of King Eurystheus, who set him twelve labors. One labor or task was to seize the friezes that adorned girdle of the Parthenon and Amazonian queen Hippolyta.  In some versions of the Mausoleum at Halicarnassus <ref>Carpentermyth, Hercules is accompanied by Theseus, Tthe great Athenian hero.H. Art and Myth in Ancient Greece (LondonHercules persuaded the Amazonian to give him the girdle, Thames & Hudsonwhich had been given to her, 1991)by her father, p 89</ref>Ares. It was widely believed that However, Hera took the nation form of the queen and initiated a war between Hercules and the Amazons. The female warriors was permanently weakened . They were defeated, and their queen was no longer a threat after their defeat by Theseus and killed. Hercules then obtained the Atheniansgirdle.  ====The Battle of Athens====

==Dionysus and In the Amazons==Dionysus was battle, the god of wineAthenians, religious ecstasy, fertility, and theatre. According to legend, he was driven mad by Hera <ref> Bagnall, R. (ed). The Encyclopedia of Ancient History (London, Wiley-Blackwell, 2012), p. 34</ref>. He traveled around Asia, making it as far as India, during which time he had many adventures. Eventuallywho were all males, he was cured of his madness and he returned to Greece. He demanded to be recognized emerged triumphantly and worshipped as a God, but the Amazons refused. Dionysus chased totally vanquished the Amazons, far and wide. Eventually, he cornered them on the island of Samos and with the assistance of the Samians, he massacred them. Bacchus thanked the Samians for their help, by showing them how to grow grapes and to make wine <ref> Hope Moncrieff, A.R. Classical Mythology. Senate, London, 1994), p 134</ref>. ==Alexander the Great and the Amazons==Alexander IV of Macedon, better known as Alexander the Great This battle was one of the great world-conquerors in history. He made himself master of much of the known world celebrated in the 4th century BC. Many legends were told about the Macedonian, who won victories from the Danube to the Indus. In one source, entitled the ''Alexander Romance'', the Queen Thalestris and 300 of her companions, visited the Macedonian King. The Amazons hoped to have children with the great general and his men. The Queen reputedly wanted to have a daughter with the great conqueror and she would become her heir. However, many scoffed at the claims in the ''Romance''. ==The meaning of the Amazon myths==Myths are not just entertaining stories but typically have some significance. The Amazonian myths were important in the Greekartworks, world as and they were used to define social norms and impart values. They helped pre-scientific society to understand their world and history. The Amazon myths are often thought to express the male Greek’s elite fear of known as the femaleAmazonomachy. Classical society believed that women had to be controlled because they Indeed, there were irrational once many scenes from this battle between the Athenians and therefore dangerous to social stability. The stories of the Amazons was, used to demonstrate the dangers inherent in uncontrolled females. Stories of female warriors and their attacks on men were part of a discourse to justify their subjugation of women and the continuation of male hegemony. There is no one interpretation of a myth and the fabled battles between friezes that adorned the Greeks Parthenon and the female warriors are often seen as representing the Hellenic conquest of nature and the victory of civilization Mausoleum at Halicarnassus. <ref> HornblowerCarpenter, ST.H. The Oxford Classical Dictionary Art and Myth in Ancient Greece (OxfordLondon, Oxford University PressThames & Hudson, 20121991), p. 6789</ref>. Many Athenians saw the defeat of the Amazons as the victory of the civilized and rational males over irrational women, which It was vital for the development of society and culture. Moreover, the women were the archetypical barbarian, widely believed that is everything contrary to the Greek male citizen class. The cycle of stories was later adapted by the Athenians and other Greeks, to represent the Persians. In many works of art, the Persians, are equated with the Amazons, who like them were defeated when they invaded Greece. The Persians nation of Xerxes and Darius were like the female warriors, irrational barbarians was permanently weakened and their defeat, also saved civilization <ref>Hornblower, p 134</ref>. Later the Romans used the stories of female warriors to determine what was socially acceptable. During the reign of Augustus images of women such as Antiope were used to represent the enemies of Rome. ==Conclusion==The Amazons and their stories have been very influential. The Romans adopted the cycle of tales and they were later used by medieval writers. They remained influential in the Early Modern period and many genuinely believed that in distant lands they were no longer a race of women warriors. Indeed, the Amazon River was allegedly named threat after some female warriors whom the Spanish conquistadors encountered in the 16th century. The Amazon myth was very influential in the history of Classical art and depictions of Amazons were made all over the Graeco-Roman world. The stories of the female warriors also offer an insight into Greek male fears of females and were used to justify the repression of women. These tales of the fearsome warriors who hated men were also used in allegories. They were used for political propaganda their defeat by both the Greeks Theseus and the Romans. The Amazons were important in Greek culture as they were designated as the ‘other’ and were used to define the identity of Athenians and others in the ancient world.

====Dionysus and the Amazons====Dionysus was the god of wine, religious ecstasy, fertility, and theatre. According to legend, he was driven mad by Hera. <ref> Bagnall, R. (ed). The Encyclopedia of Ancient History (London, Wiley-Blackwell, 2012), p. 34</ref> He traveled around Asia, making it as far as India, during which time he had many adventures. Eventually, he was cured of his madness and he returned to Greece. He demanded to be recognized and worshipped as a God, but the Amazons refused. Dionysus chased the Amazons, far and wide. Eventually, he cornered them on the island of Samos, and with the assistance of the Samians, he massacred them. Bacchus thanked the Samians for their help by showing them how to grow grapes and make wine.<ref> Hope Moncrieff, A.R. Classical Mythology. Senate, London, 1994), p 134</ref> ====Alexander the Great and the Amazons====Alexander IV of Macedon, better known as Alexander the Great, was a great world-conqueror in history. He made himself master of much of the known world in the 4th century BC. Many legends were told about the Macedonian, who won victories from the Danube to the Indus. In one source, entitled the ''Alexander Romance,'' the Queen Thalestris and 300 of her companions visited the Macedonian King. The Amazons hoped to have children with the great general and his men. The Queen reputedly wanted to have a daughter with the great conqueror, and she would become her heir. However, many scoffed at the claims in the ''Romance.'' ====The meaning of the Amazon myths====Myths are not just entertaining stories but typically have some significance. The Amazonian myths were important in the Greek, world as they were used to define social norms and impart values. They helped pre-scientific society to understand their world and history. The Amazon myths are often thought to express the male Greek’s elite fear of the female. Classical society believed that women had to be controlled because they were irrational and dangerous to social stability. The stories of the Amazons was, used to demonstrate the dangers inherent in uncontrolled females. Stories of female warriors and their attacks on men were part of a discourse to justify their subjugation and the continuation of male hegemony. There is no one interpretation of a myth, and the fabled battles between the Greeks and the female warriors are often seen as representing the Hellenic conquest of nature and the victory of civilization.<ref> Hornblower, S. The Oxford Classical Dictionary (Oxford, Oxford University Press, 2012), p. 67</ref>  Many Athenians saw the defeat of the Amazons as the victory of the civilized and rational males over irrational women, which was vital for the development of society and culture. Moreover, the women were the archetypical barbarian, which was contrary to the Greek male citizen class. The cycle of stories was later adapted by the Athenians and other Greeks, to represent the Persians. In many works of art, the Persians are equated with the Amazons, who were defeated when they invaded Greece. The Persians of Xerxes and Darius were like the female warriors, irrational barbarians and their defeat also saved civilization.<ref>Hornblower, p 134</ref> Later the Romans used the stories of female warriors to determine what was socially acceptable. During the reign of Augustus images of women such as Antiope were used to represent the enemies of Rome.  ====Conclusion====The Amazons and their stories have been very influential. The Romans adopted the cycle of tales, and medieval writers later used them. They remained influential in the Early Modern period, and many genuinely believed that they were a race of women warriors in distant lands. Indeed, the Amazon River was allegedly named after some female warriors whom the Spanish conquistadors encountered in the 16th century.  The Amazon myth was very influential in the history of Classical art, and depictions of Amazons were made all over the Graeco-Roman world. The female warriors' stories also offered insight into Greek male fears of females and were used to justify women's repression. These tales of the fearsome warriors who hated men were also used in allegories. They were used for political propaganda by both the Greeks and the Romans. The Amazons were important in Greek culture as they were designated as the ‘other’ and were used to define Athenians' and others' identities in the ancient world.  ====Further Reading====

 ====References====<references/> [[Category:Wikis]] [[Category:Myths and Gods]] [[Category:Ancient Greek History]]