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[[File: Amazon 1.jpg|200px|thumb|left|Modern statue of an Amazon]]__NOTOC__The Greeks myths remain popular because of their remarkable stories of heroes, gods, and strange peoples. Some of the most remarkable of these are the tales of the Amazons. These were a race of female warriors who were often the enemies of the Hellenes. The Greeks were clearly fascinated by the Amazons, as seen in the many references in poetry and the many representations of the female-warriors in art.

The Greeks were clearly fascinated by the Amazons, as seen in the many references in poetry and the many representations of the female-warriors in art. It appears that, like many myths, the narratives about a race of martial women could have been based on fact. The Amazons' stories are important as they allow us to understand the Ancient Greek mindset and their values.

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.

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.