Did the Amazons exist and where they Greek?

[Prokomenos]

Did the Amazons exist and where they Greek?

What is known of the actual Amazons within the Aegean is very little, and yet intrigue about a race of dominant warrior women in the bronze age, has flourished from ancient times into the present. The obvious question asked by most scholars has been, who were the Amazons, and did they actually exist. Research into the Amazons is extremely limited and at times contradictory. There are numerous accounts of the origins of the Amazons, most concurring that the black sea region was their original settlement. To what extent the Amazons settled into the Black Sea region has not been fully ascertained, some sources say they reached as far south as Libya, some to the Anatolia peninsula, others as far west as the Mongolian region of Eurasia. These accounts are further conflicted by the later Greek accounts of the Amazons. According to the Greek accounts, when the Greeks themselves began to settle into the area of the black sea, they found no Amazons. As a result and to explain this discrepancy, the myth of Hercules and Hippolyte was created to explain their disappearance. According to the myth, Hercules led an expedition through the Amazon land to obtain the girdle of Queen Hippolyte (the queen of the Amazons), during this time he managed to expel and conquer all the Amazons in the district.

Regardless of the myth, modern and ancient scholars remain perplexed by the question of whether the Amazons existed at all. Plutarch, a Greek historian concluded that the Amazons did not exist as a race of warrior women per se', but were merely women fighting along side men in battle. Herodotus, another Greek historian, believed that the Amazons did exist within Greece. Other scholars have even ventured that the women were in fact male Persian soldiers who shaved their beards off and dressed up as women in battle. These theories and questions have been compounded by the view of Amazons within Greek art. The early depictions of Amazons were similar in style and likeness of Athena, as time progressed Amazons were given the likeness of Artemis. The final depictions of Amazons share slightly Persian features, a likeness (since the Greeks were in constant conflict with Persia) which can be best viewed as anomalous.

Outside of the questions of the Amazon origins, other questions pertaining to Amazons concern their view of men, and if they were a fierce (blood thirsty) people. The Greeks often questioned (as do modern scholars) how the Amazons, a race composed entirely of women, were able to sustain themselves throughout the generations. The most credible theory holds that the Amazons had contact with men from other lands, the Amazons kept the female children born to them, and sent the male children to live with their fathers. As to the Amazons blood thirsty nature, Quintus Smyrnaeus wrote of them during the Trojan Wars,

"In the pure rapture of triumph the Amazons charged, and with anguished groans and shrieks the Greeks perished, their manhood withered by the women from the fierce and untamed northlands. Like Goddesses amidst earth born heroes the Amazons pursued their reeling foes, dashed them down, cut them apart, and, scoffing, tossed them through the air - till the Greek formations dissolved in consternation."

The Amazons by and large were a race of fierce warriors, who on numerous occasions laid siege in Attica, and were even a threat to Athens. What is certain is that the Amazons were formidable fighters which the Greeks feared, but as to the Amazons being blood thirsty the question still remains.

Traits of the Amazons
The Amazons were a race of fierce warrior women. Speculation into their lives and the way they lived has been passed down through generations by myths and legends. Whether they were feared or admired, scholars have looked at the Amazons in two ways, as a purely mythological phenomena, or as a mixture of a mythological phenomena with marked archaeological evidence. Only within the past 5 years has archaeological research suggested that the Amazons were not purely a matter of mythology. To understand the Amazons, one must look at them from both view points before formulating a conclusion. The Amazons did exist in a functional mythological context, and recent archaeological evidence has only begun to scratch the surface as to their formal origins.

The Amazons were fierce warrior women. From birth they were brought up to be warriors. Female children in the Amazons tribes were said to have their left breast seared during childhood to facilitate the use of a bow. Their main weapons were the bow, the librys (a double edged axe), and a crescent shaped shield. The Amazons were said to be able to tame and ride horses long before mainland Greece acquired the skill. The ability to ride on horseback gave them an obvious edge in battle and added mobility. Accounts as to the culture and rulership of the Amazons remain sketchy, however some sources say there were two Amazon queens, one who ruled over domestic affairs and one who ruled over battle and warfare. Conquests of the Amazons were throughout Greece, and their legacy of fierceness and triumphs in battle were noted by the Spartan leader Lycurgus as well as many Greeks.

Were Spartan Women Remnants of the Amazons?
Research concerning the Amazons and Spartan women is at best sketchy, however, it is evidenced by many historians that the Amazons did have some elements and influences in common with Sparta. Spartan women had much more political freedom than within other cities such as Athens. A Spartan woman was expected to be fierce and be able to defend her land. This can be exemplified in the goddess Artemis. The patroness of Sparta and of the Amazons Artemis was the goddess of the wild hunt, protectoress of animals, protector of women, young girls, and youth, with a connection to adolescence and childbirth (The Amazons in later Hellenistic periods were associated with Dionysus the god of wine, as either his allies of his opponents.). Though the worship of Artemis was common through out the Greek world, only in Sparta was a warrior spirit and sense of equality allowed to flourish among the upper-class Spartiate men and women.

Was Sparta influenced by Amazon women? If so what are the differences and similarities between the two cultures? The answer to any of these questions is not entirely clear in that there is a limited amount of information on the Amazons. It is not beyond speculation to say that if the Amazons did exist that they lived largely within a matriarchy (female dominated), rather than in a patriarchy (male dominated) as in Sparta. It is also not unlikely that the Amazons had different ideological concerns than the Spartans. Perhaps the Spartans created their view of women from the stories they heard, or from actual meetings with the Amazons? Or perhaps the law giver Lycurgus, who upon hearing tales of the Amazon battles in the Trojan war, was inspired to raise the status of women, and give them the same brisk upbringing as a Spartan male. It is unlikely that the Spartans simply allowed women the right to own and take over their land if their husbands were away at war, and take a second husband if need be, overnight. Such a right on it's own remains contradictory to the rest of Greece, which did not allow women to own land (and also excluded many other rights as well), or in some cases did not allow them to take a second husband if the first died. It is more than likely that the women of Sparta were allowed to own land in times of war, simply because Sparta feared a revolt from the helots, and required strong women to fend off such an attack. In such a case, the reasoning of Plutarch on the Amazons would seem to fit, that the women fought among the men as near equal.

Did the Spartans originate from the Amazons? No definitive answer can be given, there is a possible influence, but it is unlikely that the two interbred or otherwise, and a limited number of resources leave many questions concerning the Amazons and the Spartans open to interpretation and further research.

[Prokomenos]

• The Archaeology of the Amazons
  
  
  Archaeological research into the existence of the Amazons is only a recent phenomena. For years the Amazons were thought of as a purely mythological phenomena with little backing in scientific evidence. It was not until quite recently (within the mid-90's) that excavations in the Altai mountain range of Mongolia, that actual hard evidence surfaced which could possible relate to the Amazons (the research is continually on-going, please visit the Center for the Study of Eurasian Nomads for more information and current excavations). In 1993, Natalia Polosmak set out for the Ukok Plateau, precariously located where four countries, China, Russia, Kazikstan, and Mongolia, meet. Polosmak and her team of archaeologists set out to unearth a kurgan, a burial structure of an ancient peoples known as the Pazyryk. When the excavation of the kurgan concluded, Polosomak and her team had found the remains of an ancient Pazyryk woman. The unearthed Pazyryk woman was tall, 5'7", deliberately mummified, had elaborate tattoo's on her amazingly well preserved skin, was surrounded by numerous burial goods including an extremely long feathered head piece, and was buried in a coffin carved from an entire larch tree. The find was dated to around the 5th century BC, around the time of Herodotus.
  
  Polosomak's find is commonly referred to as the 'Siberian ice maiden', and is only one find of many which has added to a continuum of information about the Eurasian nomads since the time of ancient Greece. Following Polosomak's discovery, other unearthed kurgans have had similar finds, mummified bodies with elaborate tattoos, some buried with horses, and in some instances, women and men buried with weapons, which obviously were not for ornamental purposes. Some of the mummified bodies show signs of being bow-legged, indicative of a life led on horseback. Other bodies show wear from battle wounds or similar disputes. Such finds indicate several things, that life within the Eurasian steppes during the 5th century was difficult, and that the tribe to which the ice-maiden belonged was nomadic, traveled a great deal, and held the status of women greatly.
  
  Although further evidence remains to be found, theories have circulated that the ice maiden and her tribe were in fact a part of a nomadic tribe known as the Scythians. The Scythians settled into the northern part of modern day Turkey and the Black Sea region during the 7th century BC and continued their occupation of that territory well into the 5th century BC. The Scythians had an extensive artistic tradition, and a knowledge of the equestrian arts. Similarities do exist between the artistic style and lifestyles of the ice maiden, and the Scythian peoples. According to numerous sources, the Scythians originally came from the Altai mountain region of Eurasia.
  
  According to Herodotus the Scythians incorporated the Amazons into their tribe. According to Greek myth the Amazons existed as a completely autonomous tribe. The obvious questions thus follow: were the Amazons actually Scythian women who fought alongside the men, were they a branch off the original Scythian tribe who chose to live by the tenets ascribed to them by classical Greek myth, or did they just exist as an extended myth influenced by the high status the Scythians attributed to women? These questions cannot be entirely ascertained from present archaeological evidence. Certainly the Scythians held the status of women to a high degree, and burials have been found where women show actual signs of being in battle or of leading a tough life, but were these women the actual Amazons of Greek mythology?
  
  The evidence at present about the Amazons suggests several things. First, the Amazons were a mythological phenomena. The myths examined within these pages have shown the functional light at which the myths of the Amazons can be taken. As a purely mythological phenomena, the archetype of a strong warrior or Amazon, presents a typical reverse role or alien other myth. Such alien other or reverse role myths, are found through out many cultures and serve to reinforce a societies social norms. Second, there is archaeological evidence to suggest that the Amazons did exist in a limited context physically within the past. This archaeological evidence suggests a relation to the nomadic Scythian tribe of Eurasia, where women obviously had high status and did fight in battle (though more research into this area obviously needs to be done). Third, more research into the topic of the Amazons needs to be done.
  
  Though archaeological evidence continues to be unearthed there are many questions left unanswered about the Amazons. It is unknown whether the Amazons were an autonomous tribe who were incorporated into the Scythians, or whether the Amazons were already an aspect of the Scythians to begin with. The sources on many points of Amazon research are conflicting and questionable. Did the Amazons of Ancient Greece exist? Most likely so. The possibility of their existence whether in myth or reality leaves many doors open to research. In addition for many the popular archetype of a strong female warrior woman holds very strongly in the minds of many women, and has inspired many playwrights and poets through out history. For this reason the myths of the Amazons are important, and shall continue to be important.

[Megale]

Feminists must dream of the Amazonian women....

[Ellinas]

I've read somewhere that according to Herodotus they were two kind of Amazons, the African and the Asian.

The ones which are famous are the Asian ones, in Scythia. They are mentioned in many myths and references. Personally I believe that there was a matriarchic tribe in Scythia. It is considerable that even today the women in many areas of the Northeast Black sea (Ukraine, Georgia etc.) are very large in size compared to European or African women.

[o Draminos]

I do not believe that they were of Greek origin. I do not to much about them.

[Prokomenos]

So what about it? Anyone else with an opinion?

[Nikoz78]

If the Amazon's actually existed is a mystery. I would probably say "no." But then up until the 19th century (I believe, could be early 20th century) Troy was thought to be a myth too. So who knows. It is certainly a real possibility.

Wikipedia:

The Amazons (in Greek, Αμαζόνες) are a nation of all-female warriors in Greek mythology. Herodotus placed them in a region bordering Scythia in Sarmatia.

Notable queens of the Amazons are Penthesilea, who participated in the Trojan War, and her sister Hippolyte, whose magical girdle was the object of one of the labours of Hercules.

Amazonian raiders were often depicted in battle with Greek warriors in amazonomachies in classical art.

Source: Amazons article @ Wikipedia

"In Greek Art, the Amazons, a mythical race of warrior women from Asian Minor, were often depicted battling such heroes as Herakles, Achilles, and Theseus" -

Marble statue of an Amazon

[Napalm]

Even if one could prove they were 100000% Greek through DNA, Archeology, Ancient Scrolls, Language etc. Whatever country the remains are found on will claim them as their own descendants. That seems to be the trend these days...