Amazons
heroThe Amazons were a legendary nation of all-female warriors who lived without men, governed themselves, and fought the greatest Greek heroes as equals.
The Myth
The Amazons dwelt at the edge of the known world — in Pontus, Libya, or the Thermodon river region. They raised only daughters, sending sons away. Their queens included Hippolyta (whose girdle was Heracles' ninth labour) and Penthesilea (who fought at Troy and was killed by Achilles, who wept over her beauty). They attacked Athens in the Amazonomachy and were depicted on the Parthenon. Greek myth placed them at every boundary of the known world.
Children
Hippolytus (by Hippolyta and Theseus)
Symbols
Fun Fact
The Amazon River was named by Spanish explorers who claimed to have fought female warriors along its banks — the myth was still active in 1542.
Words We Inherited
English words and phrases that trace back to this myth:
Explore Further
Achilles
heroThe greatest warrior in the Greek army at Troy, nearly invulnerable thanks to being dipped in the...
Amazonomachy
conceptThe Amazonomachy was the legendary battle between the Athenians and the Amazons who invaded Athens...
Ares
godGod of the brutal, savage side of war. Unlike Athena's strategic warfare, Ares represented the raw...
Athens
placeAthens was the city sacred to Athena, birthplace of democracy, philosophy, drama, and Western...
Harmonia
godHarmonia was the goddess of harmony and concord, daughter of Ares and Aphrodite, whose wedding...
Hera
godQueen of the Olympian gods and goddess of marriage. Known for her jealous rages against Zeus's...