The Amazons are the people of warrior women descended according to myth from Ares, the god of war, and the nymph Harmony. They lived on the slopes of the Caucasus, or according to other versions, in Scythia or in Thrace.
Uses and customs of the Amazons
The Amazons governed themselves autonomously, they did not tolerate the presence of men except for humble jobs. Men were kept in conditions of slavery, and even to inhibit any plans for mutiny, they crippled their limbs in order to prevent them from using weapons.
They united with foreigners only to perpetuate their lineage but kept alive only the females, trained from childhood to hunt and war.
To better use the bow they underwent cauterization of the right breast (in fact, Amazon means without breast). Their passion was war, in which they fought under the orders of their queen.
Tradition has handed down the names of two famous queens to us
Hippolyte, who appears in the narratives of the myths of Heracles by which she is killed. Penthesilea, who led a contingent of Amazons to help Priam and Troy.
Here she distinguished herself for numerous exploits, but Achilles mortally wounded her in her right breast. However, the last glance of the dying heroine made Achilles fall in love with her, struck by her beauty.
According to the myth, the Amazons placed themselves under the protection of Artemis, goddess of the hunt. Through this, they were approached to the infernal divinities, also because they bring death.
Battle of the Amazons
The myth tells of a battle of the Amazons fought under the walls of the Acropolis of Athens between King Theseus and the Amazons. adventures.
He then thought of an expedition against the Amazons. But, with great surprise, these people of warrior women, instead of waging war on them, showered them with gifts.
Theseus, under the pretext of reciprocating the courtesy, invited the most beautiful and young Amazons to visit his ship. As soon as they were aboard, he raised the anchors, set the sails, and set off, making the women all his prisoners.
Among them was the beautiful Antiope, with whom Theseus fell in love. Sometime later, the Amazons, to avenge their companions, invaded Attica and besieged Athens.
The war was long and lasted several years. During a battle, the faithful Antiope died fighting alongside her husband. Peace finally made, the warrior women returned to their country.