Description
Many myths surround the Amazons, a legendary tribe of hunters and warrior-women, such as the story of Queen Hippolyta's magical girdle sought by Herakles. A female-dominated society, descended from Ares, they were reputed to have lived on the shores of the Black Sea. According to Herodotus, the Amazons were killers of men and a popular source of artistic and poetic inspiration within Greek culture. When necessary, they intermingled with the all-male Gargareans to keep up their numbers, or enslaved the few men they needed after raids or battles. Depicted as superb archers, the Amazons are also often shown carrying spears, axes and crescent-shaped shields. Archaeology suggests Sarmatian and Scythian women participated in battle, which may be the source of the Amazons’ legend.
