Amazons are fierce warrior women who fight ferociously and are loyal to their kind and their Queen. They could be in the bushes or scouting in trees but they are out there, and ready to defend their land. So get those hands up! You are now entering Amazon Territory.

The Amazons expanded from the Steppes of Asia and have formed tribes as far as Greece. They have, over the years, learned to live with their surroundings and have perfected the art of mortal combat amongst the trees as well as general movement amongst the tree tops and throughout the forests and plains of their territory.

Once a powerful, proud, and greatly feared people, the last great Amazon queen and leaders were destroyed by Xena. What remained of the Amazons were mostly hunted and killed or sold into slavery, although small bands reformed and rebuilt their fallen empire.

The Amazons, by tradition, have one Queen who rules over all the tribes, with other Amazons within each circle in command. The last great Amazon leader was Ephiny who died at the tip of Brutus' sword.

Gabrielle is the current Amazon Queen, although she rarely steps into her role as such, often appointing others to rule in her place, such as Ephiny.

After the death of Ephiny, the Amazons once again rebanded and attempted to rebuild their nation again, only to be cut down a second time some 20 years later by Xena's daughter Eve - then Livia - who slaughtered the strong and sold the weak into slavery once again, just as her mother had done.

The First Amazons Appearing first in “Hooves and Harlots”, Amazons keep to themselves and want to preserve their way of life as a matter of their own choice.

As Terreis says to Gabrielle, "It is a man's world, Gabrielle. Not because it should be, but because we let them have it. It's based on a woman's weakness."

The "Hooves and Harlots" Amazons are not man-haters, they are simply not male dependent. Any contact they have with males is voluntary but not an everyday part of their lifestyle. They live in a village of fellow women and no males are seen there, except the centaur Phantes, who is a prisoner.

In their Xena debut episode, the Amazons are being drawn into a conflict by an evil warlord who is planting false clues that implicate the Centaurs in recent conflict with the Amazons. It is hoped that the Amazons and Centaurs will finish each other off or cause sufficient attrition such that the warlord can walk in and take over the lands.

Were it not for the restraint of Queen Melosa and some quick detective work by Xena, the plan might have worked.

“Hooves and Harlots” introduced several strong female characters; they were all business and no giggle. They let their hair down and danced, but they were very strong, very independent, and very secure in their lifestyle and personal choices. They were not overt man- haters but simply preferred to live without them on a day- to-day basis.

Enter Velasca "It's not whether you die. It's how you die that counts. Let me tell you something about myself. I like pain. I like what it does to people, and I like what it makes people do. And I'm not bragging. I'm just explaining." -- Velasca

The Amazon Nation takes center stage again with the second season episodes “The Quest” and “A Necessary Evil”. As regards the Amazons, they are in civil disarray. Melosa is dead, killed by Velasca in combat. Though ruled a "fair combat" by Amazon officials, there is dissent in the ranks. Some Amazons, particularly Ephiny, think that Velasca is too violent and does not have the appropriate temperament to be an effective Amazon leader. Velasca wants to re-take land that formerly belonged to the Amazons but is now occupied by Centaurs. It is even possible that Melosa granted the Centaurs that land after the events of “Hooves and Harlots” but that is not expressly mentioned in the episode. Ephiny, and Gabrielle as well after assessing the situation, feel that Velasca and her warlike ways are not good for the Amazons. Velasca has her followers and Ephiny and Gabrielle have theirs. The interesting thing about the Amazon friction is that it is an age-old conflict.

One group of people believe they have been wronged and look to a strong leader to retrieve their dignity and former glory. The other side venerates temperance and compromise, being no less strong but seeing violence as a last resort rather than a first one. That it is Amazons involved in the power struggle is almost secondary. It is disappointing we do not see the outcome resolved in these twin episodes. It is another season before we visit the Amazon Nation again.

The Middle Years

"Amazons! Attack!" -- Ephiny

We briefly see Amazons in their natural habitat in “The Bitter Suite” After the events of the Dahak arc and Hope and Solan are killed, Xena and Gabrielle have temporarily parted to sort things out in their own minds. Xena opts for solitude and Gabrielle has returned to the Amazons to undergo a purification ritual.

The scene is very reminiscent of a sweat lodge, and sweat lodges have been traditionally used as a place of healing by Native American tribes. This is the first episode in which Amazon culture has elements readily identifiable as Native American in nature. Even the music in later Amazon episodes is evocative of a Native American style, whereas heretofore it was not.

Although on screen for only a few moments, it is obvious that the Amazons in general and Ephiny in particular are supportive and protective of Gabrielle. Not only did she become an Amazon herself from the "ground up" but also she is at the top of the Amazon hierarchy. Amazons have great respect for their traditions as we saw in “Hooves and Harlots”, but more than anything else, Amazons support and aid one another at all costs.

Even when Xena storms into the Amazon camp looking for Gabrielle, Ephiny is protective and stands her ground, knowing Xena can be a formidable opponent. Indeed, Ephiny has an arm broken in her attempt to defend Gabrielle from Xena. The commitment to Amazon Sisterhood is strong.

Joxer is the only male in the Amazon camp and he is a guest because he is an associate of Gabrielle, who herself is regarded highly in the Amazon hierarchy. It is obvious to Ephiny that Joxer's concern for Gabrielle is genuine and so Joxer's presence is not even disputed while Gabrielle suffers through her personal torment. No Amazons pass by with "disgusting male" remarks and he is treated as any guest would be. Aside from Joxer, again there are no males and the Amazons are simply attending to their own personal business. They are portrayed as nothing but the strong and capable people that they are.

Adventures In The Sin Trade Xena rides at full speed. Hades is seen dismounting from his chariot in a burnt-out village. He begins to judge the dead villagers. Xena arrives at the village and asks Hades where Gabrielle is. Hades tells her he doesn't know but Xena won't accept that because Gabrielle was Greek and all Greeks would normally be judged by Hades. He asks if Gabrielle was a member of a cult or spiritual order. Xena immediately realises that Gabrielle must have gone to the Amazon land of the dead.

Xena saddles another horse and sets Argo free. She tells Argo that she can't go where she (Xena) is going. She then rides away on the other horse.

Xena rides across different landscapes from snow-capped mountains to desert sands until she arrives in the land of the Northern Amazons. She dismounts from her horse and sneaks up on an elk. She shoots it with her bow and continues on her journey. She stops frequently to dance, chant and pick herbs. She finds a cave and whilst in there she hears Gabrielle's voice calling her. She dresses in the skin of the elk and continues dancing. She talks to herself and appears to have gone a little bit mad. As she dances, Xena remembers the past....

Xena and Borias are enjoying their lovemaking. Borias tells her that he loves her but Xena scoffs at him, saying that love isn't for people like him and her. She then asks Borias what their next move is and suggests they attack the Amazons. Borias mentions an alliance with the Amazons against the centaurs but Xena is scornful of this idea. They start to kiss again but are interrupted by a soldier entering the tent.

Following him are a shamaness and a young girl. The shamaness introduces herself as Alti and her apprentice as Anokin. Alti tells Xena and Borias that she can help them defeat the Amazons as she was an Amazon herself at one time. She impresses Xena when she reveals that she knows her secret. She tells Xena that she is pregnant. Xena had not told anyone. Borias starts to laugh until he realises that it is true. Xena invites Alti and Anokin to stay, although it is obvious that Borias is not happy about this arrangement.

Eventually, Xena leaves the cave and enters a forest. She spies a dead Amazon who is hanging from a tree so she cuts down the body. She is unaware that she is being watched by a group of Amazons who are curious as to what she is doing. As Xena chants over the dead body, she is attacked by some barbarians who admit to having killed the Amazon. She fights and defeats them, knocking one of them unconscious. She carries the body of the Amazon away and builds a funeral pyre. Whilst she is doing this, the watching Amazons capture the unconscious barbarian. Xena dances around the pyre and the Amazons follow her, watching from a distance. Xena begins to wail as she seems to realise the full extent of her loss. She mourns Gabrielle, remembering their time together. One of the Amazons, Otere recognises the sound and realises who Xena is. She tells the others of the Greek warlord Borias, who attacked her village when she was a child.

The scene is of a burning village. People are running in all directions and Borias is seen mounted on his horse. The child, Otere is hiding amongst the debris. Xena is crying and shouting to Alti for help. Anokin has been severely wounded and lies in Xena's arms. Xena begins to wail. Borias tells her they must leave but Xena says she will not go without Anokin. Xena suddenly sees the young Otere holding a pitchfork. She moves to attack but Borias snatches the child onto his horse and rides away. Alti arrives and Xena tells her it is too late; Anokin is dead. Alti tells Xena she can see Anokin again. Xena is stood in front of the burning pyre. She draws her sword and approaches her horse. She kills it and drinks the blood. Otere sees this and explains to the others that she must be trying to cross to the other side. Xena collapses on the floor in a trance and her spirit rises from her body.

A young Amazon leans over Xena as Xena opens her eyes. She stands up and the girl pays her tribute. Xena is confused until the girl thanks her for giving her a proper burial. It is the Amazon she cut down from the tree and performed the burial ceremony for. Xena asks where she is and the girl tells her she is in the Land of the Dead. She asks Xena if she has been here before and Xena replies that she visited once before....

Xena and Alti are in the Land of the Dead moving towards the lone figure of Anokin. As they approach, Xena runs forward to embrace her but Anokin pushes her away, telling her she wants nothing to do with her. Xena is angry and wants revenge. Alti tells her that it is possible to get revenge on the dead.

Adventures in the Sin Trade gives us a glimpse of not one but two Amazon communities. One of them, a Northern Amazon tribe is young and without experienced leadership. It is almost an extended family of sisters in that while these Amazons are committed to an Amazon identity, they do not have a very good feel for precisely what an Amazon is. They are nomadic and kept on the run by enemies. This has been their situation since their leadership was destroyed several years ago.

Xena: "These powers you're after ..." Alti: "You want to know what they are. Your friend you told me about, Lao Ma, her powers come from denial, from self-sacrifice, from the Light. That's not for people like you and me. I want to tap into the heart of darkness, the shear naked will behind all cravings, hatred and violence. I will become the face of death destroying not only a person's body, but their soul. Help me and I'll make you Destroyer of Nations."

This group is contrasted with another that did have competent leadership a few years ago until Xena killed their queen, Cyane, a name that is a title as well since many Amazon queens began to adopt the name Cyane upon taking the crown. She is a diplomat as well as a warrior. Cyane arranges an alliance with Borias and feels that at least for the moment she can rely on him to keep his word. She is an undisputed leader of her people.

In the Land of the Dead, Xena meets up with Cyane, an Amazon queen. She apologises to her for what happened and tells her she is looking for Gabrielle, an Amazon. Cyane is scornful of her, not believing that she could be friends with an Amazon.

Meanwhile, the Northern Amazons poke at Xena's still body. Otere is just in time to stop Yakut from killing Xena as she lies helpless and vulnerable.

Xena asks Cyane about the Amazon afterlife and is confused about why the Northern Amazons can't cross over. Cyane explains that it is Alti's doing and that this only affects the Northern Amazons. Otere, Yakut and the others carry Xena's body to safety. Otere explains to Yakut about Alti's prophecy....

Alti tries to persuade Xena to kill the young Otere as she will take Xena's power away from her. As Xena is about to strike, Borias arrives and stops her.

Yakut asks why Otere wants to keep Xena alive if she tried to kill her. Otere replies that she didn't think Xena would have killed her and that she knows she is destined to take her power away. She tells the others to be careful not to jerk Xena's body as they lower it to the ground.

Xena tells Cyane she wants to get into the Amazon afterlife in order to find her friend. Cyane sends her to the volcano where the land is located and Xena hears Gabrielle's voice calling her. Suddenly, Xena realises that she can't go the afterlife to find Gabrielle as it is more important that she help the Amazons against Alti.

She talks to Gabrielle, saying that even though she wants to see her again, she knows that Gabrielle would want her to help others first. Consequently, Xena goes back to Cyane and promises her that she will stop Alti. Xena feels the pull as her body is moved.

Xena wakes up. Yakut is holding Xena's sword and pointing it at her. Xena kicks it away, catches it and puts it in her scabbard. Yakut picks up an axe instead. Xena sees Otere and comments that she remembers her. Otere and Yakut tell Xena that they have been saving the prisoner and that Xena should be allowed to kill him. Xena approaches him with a knife but cuts his bonds and sends him back to Alti with a message. However, Alti already knows that Xena is on her way.

Otere warns Xena about the Berserker who is the most dangerous swordsman in Alti's forces. However, Xena isn't afraid. She persuades the Amazons to fight and they set out across the forest and desert towards Alti's hideout. They run uphill and are met by Alti's minions. Xena screams her battle cry and the Amazons attack Alti's forces. The Amazons fight ferociously and manage to defeat Alti's forces. However, Otere runs towards Xena telling her that the Berserker has arrived. Xena attacks a lone horseman and defeats him easily. She is incredulous that this is the mighty Berserker, but Otere points in the opposite direction and Xena sees another horseman approaching.

Xena stands ready to fight. The Berserker charges and his eyes flame red. He knocks Xena down again and again. He then uses her painful memories to try to defeat her and she sees flashes of herself in the future being beaten and feels the pain of every blow. She sees herself running the gauntlet again and also experiences her legs being broken as she hangs on the cross. She falls to the ground and cannot stand.

The Berserker charges at her but she drags herself to a horse and mounts, steering her mount to face the Berserker. They charge at each other and the Berserker jumps onto Xena's horse and tries to strangle her from behind. Xena manages to throw him to the ground and kill him. Otere helps her stand but she still feels the pain in her legs. She quickly realises that the evil spirit is now in the Berserker's horse.

She moves towards it with her sword but the spirit flees. Otere asks Xena if they have a chance of winning against Alti. Xena says they must.

Later, Otere and Xena are in an Amazon sweat lodge. Xena tells her the story of her first encounter with the Siberian Amazons & Cyane. Xena had snuck into the Amazon camp to execute the Amazon Queen Cyane. But after falling through the roof and attempting to attack Cyane, Xena found herself overmatched by Cyane.

Cyane stole her clothes and quickly wrapped them on herself. She then chases Xena out of the camp and almost killed her before Borias rode up. "I understand your anger with her, Cyane. But Xena's not like you and me. She thinks with her will-- not her reason. You must have warriors in your camp with the same weakness. It would be terrible to let the peace be destroyed by one wild act."    --Borias Borias reiterated how important the alliance was with him & the Amazons and Cyane trusted him. She allowed Xena to go.

After telling Otere this, Otere mentioned that Xena had killed her father those many years ago. Xena knew that and asked not for forgiveness, but a chance to help them against Alti and fulfill Otere's destiny.

Xena readies the remaining Amazons to face off against Alti. She has Yakut become a new shamaness. She knows that pure physical force won’t defeat Alti, so she prepares them for a spiritual war.

This proved invaluable because Alti was pulling lost souls from the land of the dead to attack the Amazons and break their spirits.

Xena & the Amazons make it to the end of their spiritual ritual and Xena makes it to the spiritual plane, but the Amazons don't get a chance as the lost souls attack and possess 5 of the Amazons, including Otere.

Xena reenters her body and fends them off. She tells the Amazons to fight with their will against the demons and they win.

Xena & the Amazons head towards Alti's lair. En route, Xena realizes that Alti has been misleading them and that her actual base is the Amazon burial grounds. They make camp, but Xena senses Alti and has the Amazons set up a charm barrier to fend Alti off. She doesn't totally rely on this though and stays up to protect them herself. Before the Amazons get some rest, Xena tells them more about her past.

Xena remembers Cyane's attempts to get her to join the Amazons. Alti warns Xena not to join them because she can provide her with spiritual power beyond her imagination. Cyane approaches Xena & Alti and they engage in a spiritual battle. Cyane wins and she tells Xena side with us and fight for life or join with Alti and fight for death. Alti makes her way to Xena though, through a spider that lands on her face. Xena is faced with the past again when Alti shows her that when she was pregnant with Solan, she curses his soul so that he'd never know the love of his mother or father. That curse worked apparently. Xena opens her eyes and sees the spider on her face. But the face of the spider becomes Gabrielle's. Then Xena looks up and sees Gabrielle standing above her. This image turns into Alti as Alti asks in feat who the blond one is. Xena tells her she's all the good & innocent that can defeat Alti's evil. The spider bites Xena and knocks her out.

The Amazons wake up and find Xena unconscious and carry her toward the burial ground. Not long afterwards, Xena awakes and is more determined than ever. They approach the burial ground where the skeleton of Amazons hang from most of the trees. The Amazons prepare to honor Xena, but she tells them everything they should know about her past before they follow her....

In the past, Xena approaches Cyane and the Amazon leaders as they honor one of their dead. In conversation, Xena tells them it was herself that killed the Amazon they were honoring. Cyane and the Amazon leaders attack Xena, but one by one she kills them all, even down to the last one, Cyane herself. Cyane asks why and Xena tells her Alti made her a better deal. As Xena is learning Amazon secrets to use against them, Cyane still recognizes greatness in Xena and tries to veer her from her dark side. Cyane tells Xena, "You're a murderer because you still think and act like one. Join us. We can teach you a new way, a new code to live by. We live for each other, not ourselves. We'll be seeing a lot more of you, now that we're allied with you and Borias. Think about my offer." Cyane shows that the communal spirit of the Amazon Nation is what keeps them strong, but we also see that without strong leadership and direction, Amazon communities do not survive. After Xena killed Cyane and the tribal leaders, the Amazon Nation in this part of the world disintegrated and left only a few rag-tag survivors, the Amazons described earlier.

After telling the Amazons this, Xena senses Alti coming and hits all the Amazons with her nerve pinch, killing them all. She arises from her body in spiritual form and asks the Amazons the join her while she fights Alti. Their spirits go into Xena and Alti arrives. They start flying through the air hitting each other while their unconscious bodies take the hits. Alti grabs Xena and shows her visions of her future. Xena sees herself standing in the middle of a burning village. Then she sees herself battling someone. Alti tells her that she wants Xena to feel the pain of her death in the future. Xena can see herself in a winter in the future being bound to a cross about to by crucified and she turns over to see shorthaired Gabrielle being crucified to another cross. She tells her she's the best thing that ever happened to her and Gabrielle tells her she loves Xena. Seeing this vision only strengthens Xena now because she knows that if Gabrielle's alive in the future that she's not dead now!!

She overtakes Alti and impales her through a branch on a tree, killing her spirit and body. Cyane and the Amazons in the land of the dead finally see the opening to Eternity.

Xena awakens in her own body and undoes the nerve pinch on her neck and then the other Amazons too. She tells Otere that her destiny is fulfilled, that she is to be leader of the Amazons. Otere asks where she is going and Xena lifts her palms where she felt the nails of the future crucifixion and tells her 'Home'.