Female warriors who live on the fringes of the Greek world, the Amazons play a part in the stories of several heroes, as well as in the Trojan War. One of Herakles' labors is to get the belt of the Amazon queen Hippolyte. According to Apollodoros, Hippolyte was killed in the ensuing battle. Theseus in some versions accompanies Herakles on this adventure, sometimes he mounts his own independent campaign, either way he ends up capturing an Amazon named Antiope or Hippolyte. The Amazons retaliate by invading Athens but are eventually repelled.

This Amazonomachy was depicted on several major monuments in fifth-century Athens: the shield of the Athena, Parthenos inside the Parthenon; on the exterior of the Parthenon; in mural paintings (now lost). The scene was also shown, along with a Centauromachy, on the temple of Apollo at Bassae in Arcadia. On Classical vase paintings, Amazons come to be represented wearing Eastern costumes, showing that they were identified with the Persians who invaded Greece in the first half of the fifth century.

The Amazons also fought on the Trojan side during the Trojan War. Their queen, Penthesilea was killed by Achilles who is said to have fallen in love with her as he killed her. Their brief encounter is shown on vase paintings and told by the fourth-century CE Greek poet Quintus Smyrnaeus in his continuation of Homer.
 

According to Greek mythology, the Amazons were a warlike tribe of women descended from the god of war, Ares
(and the nymph Harmony), and were founders of the town of Themiscyra in a country on the River Thermodon.
War, hunting and agriculture were their principal pursuits. Two queens, one for defense and one for domestic
affairs, ruled their kingdom. Under their military queen, the Amazons were a mighty army of mounted warriors
bearing ivy-shaped shields and double-bladed battleaxes. At home, the Amazons lived peacefully supplying all their
own economic needs and producing artistic treasures coveted far outside their borders. For some 400 years
(1000-600 B.C.E.), they held sway over that part of Asia Minor along the shores of the Black Sea. Or so the
Greeks believed for hundreds of years after the legendary warriors last engaged them in battle. Later Greeks
attempted to dismiss the earlier tales as untrue. But if they never existed, they could never have invaded Athens as
Plutarch (among others) assures us they did. While the issue of their existence remains far from settled, the stories
of the Amazons continue to inspire the generations. There is a persistent belief that the word Amazon means
"breastless," although no convincing etymology has been established. Allegedly Amazons surgically removed their
right breasts, the better to draw the bow and throw the javelin. There is, though, not a single bit of evidence in
Greek art that they considered their neighbors to be self-mutilated women. On the contrary, Amazons are
invariably shown with one breast bare, and both quite visibly intact. Once or twice a year, on the borders of their
country; the Amazons had intercourse with men from surrounding tribes, and/or male captives of their frequent
wars, keeping their daughters and returning the sons to the tribe of origin - or possibly killing or crippling the boys.
Heracles, as part of the twelve tasks he was required to perform to atone for murdering his children, was to travel
to Amazonia and to bring back the women's most famous treasure, their golden belt of queenship. With a large
army, Heracles landed in the Amazon's territory. Bands of Amazons guarded him and his comrades as they
approached the queen's residence; but Queen Hippolyta liked the looks of the muscular Heracles and offered him
the belt in peace, and her bed with it. As was her wont, before she would bed a man she would insist on wrestling him
so she could test his strength, and therefore be sure she would bear a strong child; but rumor (spread by a vengeful
Hera) flew among the gathered Amazons that their queen Hippolyta was under attack, and they counterattacked
instantly, driving the Greeks right back to their boats. Many warriors fell on both sides before the battle could be
halted. It ended with the Amazons on the losing end. The brave women were no match for the superhuman strength
of Heracles. They were forced to surrender their leaders, Melanippe and Antiope; and beautiful Hippolyta lay dead
from her wounds (One version of the story.) Antiope was carried back to Athens as a spoil of war and given to King
Theseus; this was too much of an outrage for the Amazons, who mounted an attack on Greece. The queenless
warriors fought their way the length of the Greek territories, finally entering Athens. There in the battle Antiope
was killed and many other Amazons lost their lives in the heroic but futile effort. They retreated in defeat to their
own land of Amazonia. (See The Invasion of Attica below for the Amazon participants, and for some Amazons not
posted in the alphabetical list.) The stories about them dwindled away to nothing thereafter.

Aello (Aella)
She was the first to attack Heracles in the battle for Hippolyte's girdle. But Heracles wore the lion skin (from his
first of the twelve labors), making him invulnerable. Aello could not kill Heracles and so he was easily able to kill
her.

Ainia
Ainia was an enemy of Achilles. She fought with Penthesilea at Troy, against Achilles.
Ainippe
One of the many Amazons who went after Heracles' captains, after Hippolyte was killed, in order to avenge her.
Alcibie
She fought with Penthesilea at Troy.
Alcippe
She was the ninth and last Amazon to die in single combat against Heracles. After her death, the Amazons fought in
a group.
Alkaia
She was one of the generals in Queen Andromache's army.
Anaea
She was an Amazon conqueror from the Thermodontine Amazons. She named a city after herself and her tomb lies
there.
Anaxilea
Anaxilea was an Amazon who was believed to be of royal blood.
Androdaira (Androdaixa)
One of the leaders of the Amazons who fought and died at Troy for Penthesileia. She was killed by Achilles.
Andromache
An Amazon Queen noted for her ferocity, and victories, in battle. The members of her troop are as follows:

           Andromeda - One of the mightier warriors under Andromache

           Alcinoe
                         Antimache
                                             Areximacha
                                                                   Okypous
           Pisto
                         Scyleia
                                             Teisipyte
                                                                   Telepyleia
           Thraso
                         Toxaris
                                             Toxis
                                                                   Toxophile
 
 

Antandre
She fought with Penthesilea at Troy.
Antianara
She succeeded Penthesilea as Queen after Penthesilea was killed at Troy.
Antibrote
She was one of the twelve Amazons who fought alongside Penthesilea at Troy.

Antiope
(One version of the mythology):
The Amazon queen Antiope was kidnapped by Heracles from her homeland, brought to Athens and presented to
King Theseus. Theseus took her as his wife (or concubine, according to some myths) and she bore him a son named
Hippolytus after her sister Hippolyte. She is the only Amazon known to have married. Fighting by her husband's
side during an Amazon attack on Athens, one of her Amazon sisters, Molpadia, ran her through with a spear.
(Another version):
Antiope was an Amazon Queen when Theseus (with or without Heracles) attacked. When she was defeated, she
married Theseus and had his son, Hippolytus (named after Queen Hippolyte).
In another tale, Antiope was his consort, not his wife, and felt betrayed by Theseus when he married another.
Antiope attacked the day of the wedding with her Amazons. She had planned to massacre the guests. It took
Theseus, his companions, and the invincible Heracles to kill her.

Areto
Areto was an Amazon who went with Pantariste to kill the captains of Heracles' band to avenge the murder of
Hippolyte. The Amazons won that battle.
Asteria
She was the sixth slain by Heracles in single combat when he came for Hippolyte's girdle. Even though the Amazons
knew he was invulnerable, they still chose to challenge him one by one.
Bremusa
One of Penthesilea's twelve companions at Troy, where she was killed.
Celaeno
Celaneo was an Amazon under Hippolyte whose best weapon was a spear. She fought with Eurybe and Phoebe,
standing shoulder to shoulder in combat. They were killed by Heracles.
Cleite
Her ship was blown off course when on its way to join Penthesilea at Troy; she ended up in Italy and founded the
city of Clete.
Clonie
Accompanied Penthesileia to Troy, and died there.
Deianeira
She was the fifth Amazon killed by Heracles in single combat.
Derimacheia
She was one of the twelve Amazons with Penthesilea at Troy.
Derinoe
Derinoe was another of the twelve who fought for Penthesilea at Troy. She killed Laogonus in single combat.
Eriobea
She was the fourth killed by Heracles in single combat.
Euryale
She was an Amazon Princess, and an ally to Aeetes against the Scythians. As she rode through the raging battle she
swung her great labrys round and round and slew enemies with great ease.
Eurybe
One of the trio, with Celaneo and Phoebe, who stood shoulder-to-shoulder with their spears and were unbeatable in
battle. Unbeatable until they met Heracles and the lion skin which made him invulnerable; he killed all three with
one mighty sword stroke.
Evandre
She accompanied Penthesileia to Troy, and died there.
Gryne
The Amazon made love to by Apollo.
Harmothoe
Another of Penthesilea's companions at Troy.

Hipp (Hippo)
Hipp's name means "horse," a word found in many Amazon names. She was one of the generals who helped found
the cities of Ephesus, Smyrna, Cyrene, and Myrina. Afterwards she and her "sister" generals, Marpesia and
Lampado, set up a wooden image of Artemis in Ephesus. There they would perform a ceremonial shield dance with
rattling quivers, beating the ground in unison to the accompaniment of pipes playing a wild, warlike melody.

Hippolyta (Hippolyte)
Hippolyta was on of the greatest queens of the Amazons and one of the most beautiful and strongest women of her
time. She wore the golden girdle of Amazonian queenship, a gift from her father, Ares (Her mother was Otrera).
This royal belt became the object of Heracles' ninth labor. Hippolyta was attracted to Heracles and was ready to
give him the girdle until Hera, Heracles' nemesis, disguised herself as an Amazon and spread the rumor that the
queen had been robbed by him. The Amazons rose to assist their queen and a fight ensued. In the battle, Heracles,
believing Hippolyta plotted against him, killed her, took the girdle and left.

Hippolyte II
She was Penthesilea's sister. While the two were hunting together, Penthesilea accidentally killed her. Penthesilea
was so shocked and ashamed, that she left the Amazons, taking twelve of her Amazons with her to Troy.
Hippothoe
She also fought along with Penthesilea at Troy.
Hypsipyle
Hypsipyle served under Hippolyte. She joined in the battle with Pantariste against Heracles' captains, Telamon,
Theseus and Tiamides.
Iphito
Iphito also served under Hippolyte. She joined in the battle with Pantariste against Heracles' captains, Telamon,
Theseus and Tiamides.
Kleoptoleme
She was a warrior under Andromache.
Kydoime
She was also a warrior under Andromache.
Lampado
A Queen and General of the Army; she was instrumental in setting up a famous shrine to Artemis at Ephesus.
Lykopis
She was an archer under Andromache.
Lysippe
The Amazon queen Lysippe had a son, Tanais, who offended Aphrodite by his scorn of marriage and his devotion to
war. In revenge Aphrodite caused him to fall in love with his mother. He was so shamed by this that he flung himself
into a river, thereby drowning. Lysippe lost her sorrow in work consolidating her queendom, building the city of
Themiscyra and raising temples to worship Artemis. She was the one who established the policies that Amazons
lived by. She was an intelligent woman, and an excellent general. It is said she led a force of women that were the
first to use calvary in battle.

Marpe
She was the seventh to face Heracles in single combat, and the seventh to die.
Marpesia
One of the great military queens, Marpesia began a victorious campaign at the Black Sea and soon conquered
Thrace and Syria. Then, with Queen Hippo she marched through Ephesus and Cyrene, finally reaching the Aegean
Sea. After settling down to rule her empire, she was called back to the battlefield to defend it from the attack of a
force of Asian barbarians and lost her life in the process.

Melanippe
Melanippe was the sister of Antiope. When Heracles came for Hippolyte's girdle, she was captured. While being
shipped to Greece, she planned a successful mutiny on one of Heracles' ships, that freed her and some other
captive Amazons. They took over the ship, killing the Greeks and tossing their bodies overboard. Unfortunately,
these Amazons were "horsemen", not sailors, and they were soon shipwrecked on the shores of Scythia. Here they
stole horses and became marauders and thieves.

Molpadia
The Amazon warrior cited in some myths as the slayer of Antiope in the battle of Athens.

Myrine
In addition to Amazonia north of Greece, there was supposedly another Amazon kingdom, possibly of earlier
vintage, in Libya, where Myrine ruled. She is reported to have invaded Atlantis and subdued it with 30,000 mounted
women warriors supported by 3,000 infantrywomen, all armed with bows and protected by heavy snakeskin armor.
Defeating the Atlantians, Myrine executed all the men and enslaved the women and children. Then she established
a city in her name and signed a truce with the remaining Atlantians to protect them against a fierce neighboring
tribe. When the Amazons relaxed, confident in their victory, the Atlantians concluded a secret alliance with the
neighboring tribes and overthrew the women warriors. Myrine escaped and pursued her military career eastward,
conquering Lesbos, Samothrace, and Lemnos. Caught in a storm in the Aegean Sea, she sacrificed to "the Mother"
and was spared, thereafter setting up shrines in the goddess' honor. She died in battle in Thrace, when an alliance of
kings invaded Amazon-held Asia Minor; her grave was covered by a huge hill built by women and called Baticia
("thorn hill").

Myrto
In some myths she is the mother of Myrtilus by Hermes, though, in other myths, his mother is usually seen as
Cleobule.
Mytilene
Sister of Myrine, Queen of the Amazons. Mytilene assisted her in their attack on Lesbos, and in gratitude Myrine
built and named its chief city for her.

Omphale
The Amazon queen Omphale was said to have ruled the southern empire of Libya. Omphale bought Heracles in a
sale of slaves and had him weave, spin and card wool as well as many other duties. If he made mistakes she would
beat him with a golden sandal. Eventually growing bored with him, Omphale sent Heracles back to his homeland.

Oreithyia (Orithia)
She was kidnapped, and raped, by Doreas, the north wind. As a result she bore two daughters, Cleopatra and
Chione, and the two Argonauts, Calais and Zetes. She was a daughter of the Amazon Queen Marpesia. When her
mother was killed by Asian barbarians, her mother's position fell to her. She forged an alliance with Sagillus, King
of Scythia, who sent his son with an army to help Orithia avenge her mother's death.

Otrere
Otrere meaning "nimble" was the name given in some tales to the ancestral goddess of the Amazons. It was also a
title of distinction bestowed upon women leaders.
Pantariste
When Heracles' captains fled, Pantariste lead the chase after them. Two Greek foot soldiers attacked her, but she
killed both, one by choking him to death, the other by beheading him with her labrys (a double-headed ax).

Penthesilia
Penthesilea was the daughter of Orithia and Ares, god of war. She was one of the greatest Amazon warriors, known
for her bravery, her skill in weapons and her wisdom. During a hunt, she accidentally killed her sister, Hippolyte II.
She was so filled with grief that she set out for Troy where her Amazons fought against the Greeks. Since she was
the daughter of Ares she was able to kill many warriors at Troy, including Machaon. She engaged Achilles in single
combat that was a close combat but was finally killed. Achilles mourned her death when he tore off her helmet and
saw her beauty. It is said, in some versions that in his battle rage, he raped her corpse, and killed a comrade that
suggested that his lust was unnatural.

Philippis
Philippis was the second Amazon (of nine) to engage Heracles in single combat. She was killed.
Phoebe
Phoebe was the third of a trio of Amazon spear-women (with Celaneo and Eurybe) who were killed by Heracles.
Polemusa
Polemusa was one of the Amazons who accompanied Penthesilea to Troy.
Prothoe
Prothoe was the third Amazon to take on Heracles in single combat. Heracles won, killing her.
Tecmessa
Tecmessa was the eighth Amazon to challenge Heracles in hand-to-hand combat.

Thalestris
Thalestris was an Amazon Queen during the days of Alexander the Great. Alexander met with her and they hunted
lions together and had thirteen nights of lovemaking (thirteen is a sacred fertility number for moon worshippers -it
is the number of new moons in a year). She had hoped to have a mighty daughter from Alexander, but she died soon
afterward without issue.

Thermadosa
Thermodosa was one of Penthesilea's Amazon companions at Troy.
Valasca
Valasca (or Dlasta) was a tyrannical Amazon warrior queen. She had the right eye and thumbs of all captured males
removed (so as to make them useless in battle).
 
 

The Attica War
According to myth Theseus invaded the country of the Amazons (some myths say with Heracles/Hercules, some say
on his own) and kidnapped Antiope (some myths) or her sister Hippolyta (other myths). Whichever one it was, all
myths say she bore him a son, Hippolytus. After the birth of Hippolytus the Amazons invaded Attica to rescue their
queen. They were defeated by Theseus and driven back to their homeland.
 

            Orithia (or Oreithyia)
                             Was the leader of the invading Amazons
            Amynomene
                             Was an Amazon serving under Orithia
            Androdameia
                             Was an Amazon serving under Orithia
            Antianeira
                             Dueled with Theseus in single combat (and lost)
            Antimachos
                             Was an Amazon serving under Orithia
            Antiopeia
                             Was an Amazon archer in the Attica War
            Aristomache
                             Was the Amazon who fought Mounichos in the Attica War
            Clyemne
                             Was an Amazon who fought both Theseus and Phaleros in single combat
            Deinomache
                             Was an Amazon serving under Orithia
            Doris
                             Was an Amazon named for the sea-goddess. She was a spear-woman
            Echephyle
                             She fought Eudorus in single combat in the Attica War
            Eumache
                             She was the Amazon who, disarmed and out of arrows, fought with a stone
            Euryleia
                             Was an Amazon serving under Orithia
            Hippomache
                             Was an Amazon serving under Orithia
            Kreousa
                             She was the Amazon who was killed by Phylakos in single combat
            Laodoke
                             Was an Amazon serving under Orithia
            Melousa
                             Was an Amazon serving under Orithia
            Mimnousa
                             Was an Amazon serving under Orithia
            Molpadia
                             Was an Amazon serving under Orithia
            Okyale
                             She was an Amazon archer who engaged Astyochos in single combat
            Pyrgomache
                             Was an Amazon serving under Orithia
            Xanthippe
                             Was an Amazon serving under Orithia
 
 

CULTURE AND TRAITS
 

Little information is known about the culture of the Amazons except what can be pieced together from the references to them in
ancient literature. They were a nomadic society where women dominated. Their only use for males was to mate in order to
beget children. In some stories males are used as slaves or are kept at home to do domestic work while the women do the
hunting and fighting. The Amazons were creatures of the outdoors. There are many references to Amazon cities, but never
about actual roofs or houses. Even mating was performed outside, during a special two month period, according to Strabo, a
Greek geographer. The women would meet their male neighbors, the Gargarians, on top of the mountains that separated the
two societies. There they would mate randomly with any partner until the women became pregnant. The Amazons kept the
female infants, and sent the males to live with the Gargarians. Hippocrates and Herodotus are among the historians that think the
Amazon women were required to fight until they had killed and scalped three enemies before they were permitted to mate and
have children. Herodotus gave the Amazons the name "Oiorpata", meaning "slayers of men."
The warrior women also may have cauterized one of their daughters' breasts in childhood so that it would not develop, thus
enabling them to shoot the bow and arrow more efficiently and fight. The need for one breast was apparent when it came time
to bear children. Having only one breast may have also been symbolic of the Amazons being half man and half woman.
The Amazons worshipped the gods Ares, the Phygian Magna Mater Cybel and Artemis. All of the gods worshipped by the
Amazons were non-Hellenic, savage and barbaric.
 

MYTHS ASSOCIATED WITH THE AMAZONS
 
 
 

The Amazons and Bellerophon

Bellerophon was a monster slayer who was given challenges by Iobates, one of which was to attack the Amazons. He was
clever and planned a strategic attack with the help of the flying Pegasus. Bellerophon attacked the Amazons by air with arrows.
He killed many off the women because their pride would not let them take cover. They insisted on retaliating, but their arrows
could not reach Bellerophon at his height in the sky. After the Amazons took cover, Bellerophon began hurling boulders at their
shelters, destroying them. Finally, the Amazons were forced to retreat to the Thermadon River.
 
 
 

The Amazons and Heracles

Heracles was commissioned by King Eurytheseus of Mycenae to steal the golden girdle from the Amazon Queen Hippolyte.
The girdle had been a gift to her from the god Ares. This was Heracles' Ninth Labor, and the first one he did not complete
alone. He knew the Amazons would be a difficult feat and so took a small army with him. The Amazons greeted the warriors
without hostility because they were curious about the handsome army of men. Hippolyte was attracted to Heracles and would
have given him the girdle as a love gift. But the jealous Hera, disguised as an Amazon, started a rumor that the Greeks were
planning to abduct the queen, so the Amazons attacked. Heracles killed many Amazons in the battle that ensued, with the help
of his lionskin, but many of his men were also killed. Heracles took Hippolyte's sister Melanipe and held her for ransom in order
to obtain the girdle. Then their fleet sailed away, one ship full of Amazon prisoners. The Amazons broke their bonds and threw
the sailors overboard. They did not know how to sail so they let the wind carry them to Lake Maeotis.
 
 
 

The Amazons and the Scythians

At Lake Maeotis the Amazons encountered a band of young male Scythian warriors and fought. When the men discovered
from the corpses that their enemies were women, they decided to attempt to make peace. The Scythians thought if they mated
with these warrior women, their children would be very "noble and ferocious warriors" (Taylor, p. 201). The young men set up
camp next to the Amazon camp and tried to convey peace. One day a Scythian met an Amazon alone and when she accepted
his advances, they mated. In spite of the language barrier, they agreed to meet again and bring friends. Soon the two tribes were
intertwined. The Amazons learned the Scythian language quickly. The Scythians wanted their partners to return home with them
and be their wives, but the Amazons refused. They told the Scythians that they could not live with the other Scythian women
because they were very different. The Amazons told the Scythians to go home, collect their inheritance, and return to them. The
young warriors did as the Amazons wished and they settled together in the area known as Sauromatia. The mixed language
became known as Sauromatian.
 
 
 

The Amazons and Theseus

After Theseus abducted the Amazon queen Antiope, her sisters Oreithyia and Hippolyte set out to take revenge on Athens.
Most stories admit that Antiope was in love with Theseus and went with him willingly, which made her sisters even more upset.
They led a large group of the warrior women on a long and difficult journey to Athens, destroying whoever was in their path.
Before invading Athens they sacrificed to Ares. Then the standoff began. Neither side wanted to begin the battle. Finally ,
Theseus offered battle on the seventh day of Boedromion. The fighting was said to have lasted four months before the Athenians
defeated the Amazons. Two stories are told as to whether Antiope survived the battle or if she was killed. The story in which
she survived tells of her later death at the hands of Theseus when he marries someone else and she violently interrupts the
ceremony.
The Amazons suffered great casualties in Athens and were disgraced. They disbanded and some even joined male societies.
Oreithyia escaped to Megara, but she died from grief and despair caused by her disgrace in Athens and the betrayal of her
sister Antiope. This defeat marked the beginning decline of the great society of the Black Sea Amazons.

                              THE AMAZONS: MYTH OR FACT?
 

"There is, in fact, no way historically to deny their [Amazon] existence and no way to prove it."
The question of the reality of the Amazons is a complicated one that has perplexed many people. Evidence has been found that could prove the existence of the Amazons, but it is not certain. According to the stories in the myths, most of their cities and homeland has been destroyed, leaving no traceable evidence. The grand stories of the many encounters of the Amazon women may indeed be myth, but in every myth there lies a grain of truth. Evidence found in archeological digs proves that there were female warriors in the Iron Age, whether or not they belonged to the specific race of Amazon is questionable. Graves have been found in many locations in Eurasia where a female is buried with weapons and armor. Recently, fifty ancient burial mounds were discovered near the town of Polrovka, Russia, in which skeletons of women buried with weapons were uncovered. The leg bones of one young woman were bowed, showing a life on horseback. The Amazons were thought to be the only people of their time to ride on horses. An arrowhead was discovered in the body cavity of another female skeleton, suggesting she died in battle. Although these remains may not be of Amazons because of their location, they could very likely be from a similar nomadic tribe. Greek historians are divided on the question of reality of the Amazons. The ancient Herodotus thought the Amazons did exist, but were extinct by the time that he lived. Most other scholars thought the same, that the Amazons were "realities of a distant past, but maintained that the race had died out."