In Greek mythology, the Amazons were a fierce group of women known for their exceptional riding abilities, bravery, and strong sense of pride. They inhabited the far reaches of the known world, often linked to the city of Themiskyra by the Black Sea. Their leader was Hippolyte, and while Homer described them as being ‘equal to men,’ they are most famously remembered for their battles against three Greek heroes: Hercules, Theseus, and Bellerophon, which they ultimately lost. Artistic depictions of these encounters were quite popular in ancient Greece, especially on pottery and in grand sculptures that decorated significant buildings like the Parthenon in Athens. Interestingly, archaeological studies of tombs throughout Eurasia have revealed that many women from nomadic steppe tribes were indeed warriors, particularly in the regions around the Black Sea.
Origins & Name
In mythology, the Amazons were said to be the daughters of Ares, the god of war. They belonged to a society exclusively for women, where men were only allowed in for breeding and all male babies were killed. The Amazons were believed to live on the outskirts of what the Greeks considered their ‘civilized’ world, often linked to the southern coast of the Black Sea, especially around the city-state of Themiskyra. Another notable connection was at Ephesus, where it was thought that the Amazons honored the hunting goddess Artemis at her temple and participated in annual war dances. Many settlements in Asia Minor, including Ephesus, Cyme, Sinope, Priene, Myrina, Smyrna, and Mytilene on Lesbos, were credited to the Amazons.
Excavations of Sarmatian tombs from the time of Herodotus suggest that some of these women may have been warriors as well.
Herodotus (around 484 – 425/413 BCE) provides an extensive account in his Histories (Book 4, 110-117) about a meeting between the Amazons and Scythians. Young Scythian warriors convinced several visiting Amazons to form a new society, with the women insisting they would maintain their way of life and not change for anyone. This new group was believed to be the ancestors of the Sarmatians in southern Russia, known for their horses and military prowess.
The Amazon society was essentially seen as a reversal of Greek male-dominated culture, engaging in activities typically associated with men, such as horseback riding, hunting, and warfare. According to legend (though lacking historical evidence), the Amazons were said to have burned off their right breast to improve their archery and spear-throwing abilities. The term a-mazon was commonly interpreted as meaning ‘breastless,’ although it could also mean ‘one breast’ or ‘not breast-fed.’ Another possible origin of the name is from Persian, simply meaning ‘warrior.’ Additionally, some believe it comes from Armenian, meaning ‘Moon-goddess,’ referring to priestesses of the Moon along the Black Sea who sometimes took up arms. Interestingly, ancient Greek art does not depict Amazons with a missing breast. Historian Adrienne Mayor suggests that the confusion may stem from the similarity between mazon and the Greek word for breast, mastos. In artistic representations, Amazons are usually shown wearing hoplite armor and often riding horses. Their common weapons include bows and spears, though there are instances where they wield axes as well. They were recognized not just as skilled fighters but also as experts in ambush tactics and cavalry maneuvers.
Amazons Fighting Greek Heroes
Hercules & Hippolyte
According to mythology, the first encounter between the Greeks and Amazons happened when Hercules was tasked by Eurystheus, the king of Mycenae, Tiryns, and Argos, to complete one of his famous twelve labors (the 9th). This time, he had to retrieve the girdle of the Amazon queen, Hippolyte. The girdle was a gift from her father, Ares, and Eurystheus assigned this mission because it was deemed extremely perilous. In some versions of the tale, Hercules goes on this quest solo, while in others, he gathers a group of elite Greek warriors, including the hero Theseus. Interestingly, in certain accounts, Hippolyte willingly gives Hercules the girdle, making the task easier than anticipated. However, in other narratives, Hera—who harbored resentment towards Hercules due to his being the offspring of her husband’s affair with Alkmene—incited the Amazons to confront Hercules and his men fiercely. Despite their skills, the Amazons were ultimately no match for the mighty Hercules, who successfully returned the girdle to Eurystheus.
Notably, the earliest artistic representations of this story on pottery are actually two centuries older than the written sources we have today. These artworks sometimes depict Hercules battling an Amazon named Andromache or Andromeda, and interestingly, none show a belt. This suggests that the oral traditions surrounding these myths were more diverse and intricate than the surviving literary versions. A significant plot point is that during this adventure, Theseus fell in love with and either abducted or eloped with the Amazon Antiope, leading to another meeting between the Greeks and Amazons.
Sculptures of Hercules fighting Amazons can be found on various ancient structures, such as the frieze of the Treasury of the Athenians at Delphi (490 BCE), the Temple of Apollo at Bassae, the Hephaisteion in Athens (449 BCE), and the metopes on the Temple of Zeus at Olympia (470-456 BCE). Additionally, the throne of the statue of Zeus at Olympia, which is one of the Seven Wonders of the ancient world, featured scenes from this well-known myth.
Theseus & Antiope
The earliest known image of a warrior battling an Amazon appears on a terracotta votive shield dating back to 700 BCE.Theseus eventually took the throne of Athens, but the Amazons were still mourning one of their own and decided to mount a rescue mission for Antiope. Although Theseus managed to defeat the invading Amazons, tragedy struck during the battle when Antiope lost her life. The story of Theseus abducting Antiope is depicted in the pediment of the Temple of Apollo at Eretria (around 510 BCE) and on the metopes of the Treasury of the Athenians at Delphi. Additionally, Athens held annual sacrifices in honor of the Amazons.
Bellerophon & the Amazons
Bellerophon found himself involved in yet another encounter between the Greeks and the Amazons. He was a hero tasked with completing daunting challenges for a king. This time, King Proitos of Argos, angered by false accusations from his wife that Bellerophon had wronged her, sent him to serve Iobates, the king of Lycia. It was Iobates who assigned Bellerophon the daunting task of slaying the Chimera—a mythical beast that breathed fire and was a mix of a lion, snake, and goat. After successfully defeating the creature, Bellerophon was then instructed to confront the Amazons. As expected, the Greek hero triumphed and was even named heir to Iobates’ kingdom upon his victorious return.
Achilles & Penthesilea
The final encounter with the Amazons occurred towards the end of the Trojan War. According to the Epic Cycle, the Amazon warrior Penthesilea, daughter of Ares and Otrere, fought alongside the Trojans but ultimately fell to Achilles in battle. In some versions of the tale, Achilles found himself captivated by her beauty as he lifted her helmet just before she passed away. This poignant moment is beautifully illustrated on a famous black-figure vase created by Exekias (circa 540 BCE).
Amazonomachies
The theme of battles with Amazons, known as Amazonomachies, can be found in several significant artworks from ancient Greece. Notable examples include the shield of the Athena Parthenos statue inside the Parthenon (built in 438 BCE), the west pediment of the Temple of Asclepius at Epidaurus (395-375 BCE), the Temple of Athena Nike on the Athenian Acropolis (around 425-420 BCE), the Tholos of Delphi (380-370 BCE), and the Temple of Ares in Athens’ agora. The earliest illustration of a warrior battling an Amazon dates back to a terracotta votive shield from 700 BCE. Among Greek black-figure pottery, the depiction of Hercules fighting Amazons is the second most popular labor, following his encounter with the Nemean lion, with nearly 400 surviving pieces. Throughout the 6th and 5th centuries BCE, scenes of Amazons clashing with unnamed warriors were frequently portrayed on both black- and red-figure pottery.
In particular, during the 5th century BCE in Athens, these mythological confrontations with Amazons began to symbolize real-life events, specifically the conflicts between the Greeks and the invading Persians during the Persian Wars. The armies of Darius I at Marathon (490 BCE), Xerxes at Salamis, and the Persian assault on Athens in 480 BCE were often represented by Amazons, who were depicted as the epitome of barbaric outsiders. Interestingly, during this time, Amazons on pottery were shown wearing Persian attire. Public buildings and their sculptures served as vital tools for mass communication, reminding everyday citizens that their political leaders had successfully defended Greek culture against foreign invaders, whom they viewed as less civilized.
Amazons in Archaeology
Excavations of Sarmatian tombs and those of other nomadic tribes, particularly in Kazakhstan during the era of Herodotus, have uncovered evidence suggesting that some of these women were indeed warriors. Archaeologists discovered female skeletons alongside weapons, armor, and horse gear, as well as signs of injuries from blades and arrows. One notable Scythian grave from the 4th century BCE, located near ancient Tyras by the Dniester River on the northern Black Sea coast, revealed a female skeleton with a skull injury likely inflicted by a battle-axe and a bronze arrowhead lodged in her knee. She was buried with two iron spears, 20 arrows tipped with bronze heads, a bronze knife, and fragments of body armor.
This finding is not an isolated case; analysis of over 1,000 graves of steppe nomads, spanning regions from Turkey to Russia, shows that around 37% contained warrior women. Many of these women had injuries consistent with close combat. Most of these graves date back to the 5th-4th century BCE, and like the Amazons from Greek mythology, these women were typically young, aged between 16 and 30. It appears that Greek myth-makers, historians, and artists drew inspiration not just from their imaginations when creating the Amazon legends, but also from the real-life stories of fighting women in Eurasia.
