I enjoyed blogging more than I thought I would, but its easier than i origonally thought.
With respects to my information i've decieded that its hard to differenciate between what is specific to each society; partly because i can't read!!!!!! So it was mainly my fault.
I felt good about this assignment, mainly becuase i'm pretty sure i found all the information thats reasonable in regards to my topic :)
The amazon myth is confusing though at times and i will admit that i was entirely dissapointed that they didn't exist, but not surprised becuase it kinda figures because of the grekks and their liking for making up myths that make them look good.
All in all i think putting the actual essay together was the hardest because i began to realise that i had missed information that was quite essential! but it was ok becuase i realised.
Getting it down to 1000 words was also hard because i had been determind to find so much information on the amazons that now my head is going to explode with relief.
btw, i think i began to build too much of my information up in my mind instead of writing it down so when i went back to look for stuff i wanted to check it wasn't there so i had to re-look it up and that was SOOOOO anoying!
anyways
THE END
Tuesday, August 31, 2010
FINAL COPY- only longish bc of quotes
The Amazon woman of Greek mythology’s’ existence is much debated, and is generally considered to be a metaphor for the fears of women to Greek society; these Amazon women are depicted as feminist extremists. For such a race to exist there must be evidence of mounted warrior women, geographical connections between the Amazons and archaeological civilisations, they must have existed during the Trojan War, and be strong archaeological evidence to support the myth.
To answer the question two types of burial mounds, Kurgan and Pokravka mounds , need to be examined, due to the similarity of the women inside the to the Amazons. The Kurgan mounds belonged to the Scythians; containing women who wore similar garments to the men they were buried with, and had weapons. One of the most popular Scythian women is the “Siberian Ice Woman”, whose burial chamber contains six sacrificed horses. This evidence paired with the bowed legs or genu varum (genu- knee; varum- angles in) which means that the femur or tibia of the leg curves outward, shows that these women were indeed a mounted society. According to Herodotus’ account, the Amazons married the Scythian men on the grounds that they were not to follow the customs of Scythian women. This account may not be reliable as it is based on the events of the myth. Russian archaeologist Vera Kovalevskaya believes that Scythian men were usually away hunting or at war so the women of the nomadic tribes would have needed to defend and protect themselves. From this is evident that Scythian women were a mounted civilisation and were warriors; though according to Herodotus the women weren’t warlike as the Amazons were.
The other form of burial mound that has been found throughout the same region is the Pokravka mounds, which contain bodies from women of the Sauromatian (Sarmatian) which clearly show that they were mounted warriors. Within these burials the women have generally been found with a wider variety/number of daggers, bronze arrow heads, and whetstones than the men of the society; approximately 25% of the mounds contained warrior women. These weapons weren’t for ritual or ornamental purposes, though male Scholars have tried to dispute this. Once the bones were examined, it was conclusive that the bodies were those of warriors. This is ascertained through the presence of bowed legs of a 13-14 year old girl, and a bent arrow head within the chest cavity of another female. Besides this, as an American Archaeologist named Philip Cowell stated; “If we find in a grave weapons beside a men's skeleton, we are sure that he was a warrior. So a similar conclusion is logical when we deal with women's remnants”. This proves that this tribe was both warlike and mounted. Herodotus’ account of these nomads is found within the ‘Histories’, revealing that women did partake in warfare (4.110-117). He later confirms Sarmatia as ‘’woman-ruled Sarmatae”. Therefore it is conclusive that this nomadic tribe matches the Amazon’s as the Sauromatian women were mounted warriors.
Geography is another factor that can aid in proving the existence of the Amazons of Greek mythology. Through accounts of many Greek writers such as Strabo, the Amazon women are portrayed as living within the Kingdom of Caucasian Albania; "In the spring, they celebrate two special months, when they climb the nearby mountains which separate them from the Gagarians.” This is known as the modern day Azerbaijan Republic, which is near to the Black Sea. If one was to compare maps depicting the how far the Scythian language had expanded from the 1st century, it can be seen that in this area that it was Indo-Scythian speaking. It is improbable that the Scythians were the inspirations for the myth as they weren’t situated close enough to the supposed location of the Amazons. Though, this map conflicts with others in relation to the positioning of the Sarmatian tribe, as it shows Sarmatia to the far west whereas others show it in a south-easterly direction. From these geographical examples two conclusions can be drawn; that the Sarmatian people were too far west to be considered to be or a basis for the Amazon myth, or, that due to the south-easterly direction it matches the location that Strabo mentions, and so meaning that they could be the basis for the myth. Due to the geography it is unlikely that the Amazons were based on the Scythian due to the distance between the locations of the Amazons and themselves, though it is possible that the Sarmatians were the basis for the myth.
For the Scythians or the Sauromatians to be the Amazon tribe of Greek mythology they must have existed during the time of the Trojan War, as they are recorded to have fought with the Trojans during the battle. Though this War is a part of legend it is commonly thought by many that it really did occur due to the overwhelming evidence that proves it so. The Trojan War occurred during the 12th century BC, but the Scythians (who are recorded as migrating from Iran) only arrived in the Asia region in 675 BC. Proving that they weren’t involved with the battle of Troy itself, though, this doesn’t disprove that they did not influence the poem itself. It is possible that from this civilisation that the Scythian women did inspire the Amazon myth as the Iliad was not written down until the c. 5th century, so it is possible as all written accounts (which aren't mythological) of the amazons begin after this century were affected by these women; e.g. Herodotus during the 5th century BC, Apollonius Rhodius, 3rd century and Didorus Siculus during the 1st century. The probability of this occurring is high as due to the customs of the society in which people were unusually tall, and women wore the same battle garments as men and carried weapons of their own. This would have been so alien to Greek people that there may have been a fear of these people. Through this evidence it disproves the presence of a Scythian society which was the Amazon's during the Trojan War, but there is a possibility that the myth was based on this society.
The Sauromatians though seeming to be the most probable candidate to be the Amazons, it is unlikely that they were present during the Trojan War. This conclusion as the Sauromatians are a variant of the Scythian people, therefore if the civilisation they were subverted from wasn’t present at the Trojan War then it is impossible that they were. This doesn’t disprove the theory mentioned above, as the era of the Sarmatians began in the 6th century, easily leaving time for a myth to be created for the same reasons as in this culture women were “frequently hunting on horseback with their husbands; in war taking the field; and wearing the very same dress as the men... No girl shall wed till she has killed a man in battle ", stated by Herodotus. Therefore it is conclusive that the Sarmatian people weren’t present during the Trojan War, though it is possible that they began the myth.
There is also a link between the language variants between the Greeks and the Iranian speaking Scythians and Sarmatians. The Iranian word for warrior, which they would have used to describe themselves, was “ha-mazan”. In the regular form of Greek this would have been translated to “hamazōn”, but the Ionians (one of the four major tribes of Greeks) would have dropped the ‘h’, thus becoming “amazōn”; which is also the Greek word for “without a breast”. This not suggests that the Scythian and Sarmatian people had an effect on the creation of the Amazon myth, and due to the different varients created some aspects of the myth.
There is no such evidence that proves the existence of the Amazon tribe itself; only the existence of other cultures that suggest the basis of the myth. It seems as if Strabo’s personal view of the myth is true; “There is a peculiarity in the history of the Amazons. In other histories the fabulous and the historical parts are kept distinct. For what is ancient, false, and marvellous is called fables... But with regard to the Amazons, the same facts are related both by modern and ancient writers; they are marvellous, and exceed belief.” From this absence of evidence it is clear that the Amazon women are just a part of Greek mythology that was based upon the Scythian and Sarmatian tribes.
In conclusion the Amazons of Greek mythology didn’t exist due to the deficiency of archaeological evidence directly correlating to the tribe itself, though it is possible that the myth was based upon the Scythian and Sarmatian civilisations due to the archaeological evidence within the burial mounds, geographical connection, proof through the language variations, and the theory surrounding the Trojan War.
To answer the question two types of burial mounds, Kurgan and Pokravka mounds , need to be examined, due to the similarity of the women inside the to the Amazons. The Kurgan mounds belonged to the Scythians; containing women who wore similar garments to the men they were buried with, and had weapons. One of the most popular Scythian women is the “Siberian Ice Woman”, whose burial chamber contains six sacrificed horses. This evidence paired with the bowed legs or genu varum (genu- knee; varum- angles in) which means that the femur or tibia of the leg curves outward, shows that these women were indeed a mounted society. According to Herodotus’ account, the Amazons married the Scythian men on the grounds that they were not to follow the customs of Scythian women. This account may not be reliable as it is based on the events of the myth. Russian archaeologist Vera Kovalevskaya believes that Scythian men were usually away hunting or at war so the women of the nomadic tribes would have needed to defend and protect themselves. From this is evident that Scythian women were a mounted civilisation and were warriors; though according to Herodotus the women weren’t warlike as the Amazons were.
The other form of burial mound that has been found throughout the same region is the Pokravka mounds, which contain bodies from women of the Sauromatian (Sarmatian) which clearly show that they were mounted warriors. Within these burials the women have generally been found with a wider variety/number of daggers, bronze arrow heads, and whetstones than the men of the society; approximately 25% of the mounds contained warrior women. These weapons weren’t for ritual or ornamental purposes, though male Scholars have tried to dispute this. Once the bones were examined, it was conclusive that the bodies were those of warriors. This is ascertained through the presence of bowed legs of a 13-14 year old girl, and a bent arrow head within the chest cavity of another female. Besides this, as an American Archaeologist named Philip Cowell stated; “If we find in a grave weapons beside a men's skeleton, we are sure that he was a warrior. So a similar conclusion is logical when we deal with women's remnants”. This proves that this tribe was both warlike and mounted. Herodotus’ account of these nomads is found within the ‘Histories’, revealing that women did partake in warfare (4.110-117). He later confirms Sarmatia as ‘’woman-ruled Sarmatae”. Therefore it is conclusive that this nomadic tribe matches the Amazon’s as the Sauromatian women were mounted warriors.
Geography is another factor that can aid in proving the existence of the Amazons of Greek mythology. Through accounts of many Greek writers such as Strabo, the Amazon women are portrayed as living within the Kingdom of Caucasian Albania; "In the spring, they celebrate two special months, when they climb the nearby mountains which separate them from the Gagarians.” This is known as the modern day Azerbaijan Republic, which is near to the Black Sea. If one was to compare maps depicting the how far the Scythian language had expanded from the 1st century, it can be seen that in this area that it was Indo-Scythian speaking. It is improbable that the Scythians were the inspirations for the myth as they weren’t situated close enough to the supposed location of the Amazons. Though, this map conflicts with others in relation to the positioning of the Sarmatian tribe, as it shows Sarmatia to the far west whereas others show it in a south-easterly direction. From these geographical examples two conclusions can be drawn; that the Sarmatian people were too far west to be considered to be or a basis for the Amazon myth, or, that due to the south-easterly direction it matches the location that Strabo mentions, and so meaning that they could be the basis for the myth. Due to the geography it is unlikely that the Amazons were based on the Scythian due to the distance between the locations of the Amazons and themselves, though it is possible that the Sarmatians were the basis for the myth.
For the Scythians or the Sauromatians to be the Amazon tribe of Greek mythology they must have existed during the time of the Trojan War, as they are recorded to have fought with the Trojans during the battle. Though this War is a part of legend it is commonly thought by many that it really did occur due to the overwhelming evidence that proves it so. The Trojan War occurred during the 12th century BC, but the Scythians (who are recorded as migrating from Iran) only arrived in the Asia region in 675 BC. Proving that they weren’t involved with the battle of Troy itself, though, this doesn’t disprove that they did not influence the poem itself. It is possible that from this civilisation that the Scythian women did inspire the Amazon myth as the Iliad was not written down until the c. 5th century, so it is possible as all written accounts (which aren't mythological) of the amazons begin after this century were affected by these women; e.g. Herodotus during the 5th century BC, Apollonius Rhodius, 3rd century and Didorus Siculus during the 1st century. The probability of this occurring is high as due to the customs of the society in which people were unusually tall, and women wore the same battle garments as men and carried weapons of their own. This would have been so alien to Greek people that there may have been a fear of these people. Through this evidence it disproves the presence of a Scythian society which was the Amazon's during the Trojan War, but there is a possibility that the myth was based on this society.
The Sauromatians though seeming to be the most probable candidate to be the Amazons, it is unlikely that they were present during the Trojan War. This conclusion as the Sauromatians are a variant of the Scythian people, therefore if the civilisation they were subverted from wasn’t present at the Trojan War then it is impossible that they were. This doesn’t disprove the theory mentioned above, as the era of the Sarmatians began in the 6th century, easily leaving time for a myth to be created for the same reasons as in this culture women were “frequently hunting on horseback with their husbands; in war taking the field; and wearing the very same dress as the men... No girl shall wed till she has killed a man in battle ", stated by Herodotus. Therefore it is conclusive that the Sarmatian people weren’t present during the Trojan War, though it is possible that they began the myth.
There is also a link between the language variants between the Greeks and the Iranian speaking Scythians and Sarmatians. The Iranian word for warrior, which they would have used to describe themselves, was “ha-mazan”. In the regular form of Greek this would have been translated to “hamazōn”, but the Ionians (one of the four major tribes of Greeks) would have dropped the ‘h’, thus becoming “amazōn”; which is also the Greek word for “without a breast”. This not suggests that the Scythian and Sarmatian people had an effect on the creation of the Amazon myth, and due to the different varients created some aspects of the myth.
There is no such evidence that proves the existence of the Amazon tribe itself; only the existence of other cultures that suggest the basis of the myth. It seems as if Strabo’s personal view of the myth is true; “There is a peculiarity in the history of the Amazons. In other histories the fabulous and the historical parts are kept distinct. For what is ancient, false, and marvellous is called fables... But with regard to the Amazons, the same facts are related both by modern and ancient writers; they are marvellous, and exceed belief.” From this absence of evidence it is clear that the Amazon women are just a part of Greek mythology that was based upon the Scythian and Sarmatian tribes.
In conclusion the Amazons of Greek mythology didn’t exist due to the deficiency of archaeological evidence directly correlating to the tribe itself, though it is possible that the myth was based upon the Scythian and Sarmatian civilisations due to the archaeological evidence within the burial mounds, geographical connection, proof through the language variations, and the theory surrounding the Trojan War.
DRAFT far to long to be actual copy
The Amazon woman of Greek mythologies existence is much debated, and is generally considered to be a metaphor for the threats/fears of women to Greek patriarcle society. The Amazon women are depicted as feminist extremists almost brutal in their customs. For such a race to exist there must be evidence of women who were warriors, in which they were a mounted society, there must also be a geographical connections between the Amazons to an archaeological present civilisation, they must have existed during the time of the Trojan War, and there must be strong archaeological evidence to support the basis of the myth.
To answer the question two types of burial mounds need to be examined due to the similarity of the women inside to the Amazons; these are the Kurgan and Pokravka mounds. The Kurgan mounds belong to the Scythians, which contained women wearing similar garments to the men they were buried with, and had weapons. One of the most popular Scythian women is the “Siberian Ice Woman”, whose burial chamber contains six sacrificed horses. This evidence paired with the bowed legs or genu varum (genu- knee; varum- angles in) which means that the femur or tibia of the leg curves outward, shows that these women were indeed a mounted society. The Siberian ice woman was also extremely tall, which makes it more likely that the Scythians were possible Amazons. Though there is absence of women partaking in warlike practices as according to Herodotus the Amazons married the Scythian men on the grounds that they were not forced to follow the customs of their women. This account may not be reliable as it is based on the events of an improbable myth, and according to Russian archaeologist Vera Kovalevskaya Scythian men were usually away hunting or at war so the women of the nomadic tribes would have needed to defend and protect themselves. From this is evident that Scythian women were a mounted civilisation and were warriors; though according to Herodotus the women weren’t warlike as the Amazons were.
The other form of burial mound that has been found throughout the same region is the Pokravka mounds, which contain bodies from women of the Sauromatian (Sarmatian) which clearly show that they were mounted warriors. Within these burials the women have generally been found with a wider variety/number of daggers, bronze arrow heads, and whetstones than the men of the society. From the mounds that have been discovered aproximatly 25% contained warrior women, usually armed with bows. These weapons weren’t for ritual or ornamental purposes, though male Scholars have tried to dispute that they are. Once the bones were examined though, it was conclusive that the bodies were those of warriors. This is ascertained through the presence of bowed legs of a 13-14 year old girl, and a bent arrow head within the chest cavity of another female body. Besides this, as an American Archaeologist named Philip Cowell stated; “If we find in a grave weapons beside a men's skeleton, we are sure that he was a warrior. So a similar conclusion is logical when we deal with women's remnants”. This proves that this tribe was both warlike and mounted. Herodotus’ account of this nomadic tribe through his ‘Histories’ reveals that women did partake in warfare, which he attributes it to their Amazon decadence (4.110-117). He later confirms as ‘’woman-ruled Sarmatae”. Therefore it is conclusive that this nomadic tribe matches the Amazon’s as the Sauromatian women were mounted warriors.
Geography is another factor that can aid in proving the existence of the Amazons of Greek mythology. Through accounts of many Greek writers such as Strabo, the Amazon women are portrayed as living within the Kingdom of Caucasian Albania; "In the spring, they celebrate two special months, when they climb the nearby mountains which separate them from the Gagarians." This is known as the modern day Azerbaijan Republic, which is near to the Black Sea. If one was to compare maps depicting the how far the Scythian language had expanded from the 1st century in which Strabo was writing, it can be seen that in this area that it was Indo-Scythian speaking; making it possible that the Scythians were the inspiration for the myth. Though, this map conflicts with others in relation to the positioning of the Sarmatian tribe, as it shows Sarmatia to the far west whereas others show it in a south-easterly direction. From these geographical examples two conclusions can be drawn; that the Sarmatian people were too far west to be considered to be or a basis for the Amazon myth, or, that due to the south-easterly direction it matches the location that Strabo mentions, and so meaning that they could be the basis for the myth. Due to the geography it is unlikely that the Amazons were based on the Amazons due to the distance between the two locations, though it is possible that the Sarmatians were the basis for the myth.
For the Scythians or the Sauromatians to be the Amazon tribe of Greek mythology they must have existed during the time of the Trojan War, as they are recorded to have fought with the Trojans during the battle. Though this War is a part of legend it is commonly thought by many that it really did occur due to the overwhelming evidence that proves it so. The Trojan War occurred during the 12th century BC, but the Scythians (who are recorded as migrating from Iran) only arrived in the Asia region in 675 BC. Proving that they weren’t involved with the battle of Troy itself, though, this doesn’t disprove that they did not influence the poem itself. It is possible that from this civilisation that the Scythian women did inspire the Amazon myth as the Iliad was not written down until the c. 5th century, so it is possible as all written accounts (which aren't mythological) of the amazons begin after this century were affected by these women; e.g. Herodotus during the 5th century BC, Apollonius Rhodius, 3rd century and Didorus Siculus during the 1st century. The probability of this occurring is high as due to the customs of the society in which people were unusually tall, and women wore the same battle garments as men and carried weapons of their own. This would have been so alien to Greek people that there may have been a fear of these people, which began the Amazon myth. Through this evidence it disproves the presence of a Scythian society which was the Amazon's during the Trojan War, but there is a possibility that the myth was based on this society.
The Sauromatians though seeming to be the most probable candidate to be the Amazons, it is unlikely that they were present during the Trojan War. This conclusion as the Sauromatians are a variant of the Scythian people, therefore if the civilisation they were subverted from wasn’t present at the Trojan War then it is impossible that they were. This doesn’t disprove the theory mentioned above, as the era of the Sarmatians began in the 6th century, easily leaving time for a myth to be created for the same reasons as in this culture women were “frequently hunting on horseback with their husbands; in war taking the field; and wearing the very same dress as the men... No girl shall wed till she has killed a man in battle ", stated by Herodotus. Therefore it is conclusive that the Sarmatian people weren’t present during the Trojan War, though it is possible that they began the myth.
There is also a link between the language variants between the Greeks and the Iranian speaking Scythians and Sarmatians. The Iranian word for warrior, which they would have used to describe themselves, was “ha-mazan”. In the regular form of Greek this would have been translated to “hamazōn”, but the Ionians (one of the four major tribes of Greeks) would have dropped the ‘h’, thus becoming “amazōn”; which is also the Greek word for “without a breast”. This not suggests that the Scythian and Sarmatian people had an effect on the creation of the Amazon myth, and due to the different varients created some aspects of the myth.
Despite these similarities and theories, for the Amazon’s of Greek mythology to exist there needs to be direct evidence that strongly conveys that they were a tribe that existed. There is no such evidence, nowhere has there been such evidence that proves the existence of the Amazon tribe itself. There is only the existence of other cultures, all of whom are mentioned above, that suggest that the myth has been based on. It seems as if Strabo’s personal view of the myth is true; “There is a peculiarity in the history of the Amazons. In other histories the fabulous and the historical parts are kept distinct. For what is ancient, false, and marvellous is called fables... But with regard to the Amazons, the same facts are related both by modern and ancient writers; they are marvellous, and exceed belief.” From this absence of evidence it is clear that the Amazon women are just a part of Greek mythology that was based upon the Scythian and Sarmatian tribes.
In conclusion the Amazons of Greek mythology didn’t exist due to the deficiency of archaeological evidence directly correlating to the tribe itself, though it is possible that the myth was based upon the Scythian and Sarmatian civilisations due to the archaeological evidence within the burial mounds, geographical connection, proof through the language variations, and the theory surrounding the Trojan War.
To answer the question two types of burial mounds need to be examined due to the similarity of the women inside to the Amazons; these are the Kurgan and Pokravka mounds. The Kurgan mounds belong to the Scythians, which contained women wearing similar garments to the men they were buried with, and had weapons. One of the most popular Scythian women is the “Siberian Ice Woman”, whose burial chamber contains six sacrificed horses. This evidence paired with the bowed legs or genu varum (genu- knee; varum- angles in) which means that the femur or tibia of the leg curves outward, shows that these women were indeed a mounted society. The Siberian ice woman was also extremely tall, which makes it more likely that the Scythians were possible Amazons. Though there is absence of women partaking in warlike practices as according to Herodotus the Amazons married the Scythian men on the grounds that they were not forced to follow the customs of their women. This account may not be reliable as it is based on the events of an improbable myth, and according to Russian archaeologist Vera Kovalevskaya Scythian men were usually away hunting or at war so the women of the nomadic tribes would have needed to defend and protect themselves. From this is evident that Scythian women were a mounted civilisation and were warriors; though according to Herodotus the women weren’t warlike as the Amazons were.
The other form of burial mound that has been found throughout the same region is the Pokravka mounds, which contain bodies from women of the Sauromatian (Sarmatian) which clearly show that they were mounted warriors. Within these burials the women have generally been found with a wider variety/number of daggers, bronze arrow heads, and whetstones than the men of the society. From the mounds that have been discovered aproximatly 25% contained warrior women, usually armed with bows. These weapons weren’t for ritual or ornamental purposes, though male Scholars have tried to dispute that they are. Once the bones were examined though, it was conclusive that the bodies were those of warriors. This is ascertained through the presence of bowed legs of a 13-14 year old girl, and a bent arrow head within the chest cavity of another female body. Besides this, as an American Archaeologist named Philip Cowell stated; “If we find in a grave weapons beside a men's skeleton, we are sure that he was a warrior. So a similar conclusion is logical when we deal with women's remnants”. This proves that this tribe was both warlike and mounted. Herodotus’ account of this nomadic tribe through his ‘Histories’ reveals that women did partake in warfare, which he attributes it to their Amazon decadence (4.110-117). He later confirms as ‘’woman-ruled Sarmatae”. Therefore it is conclusive that this nomadic tribe matches the Amazon’s as the Sauromatian women were mounted warriors.
Geography is another factor that can aid in proving the existence of the Amazons of Greek mythology. Through accounts of many Greek writers such as Strabo, the Amazon women are portrayed as living within the Kingdom of Caucasian Albania; "In the spring, they celebrate two special months, when they climb the nearby mountains which separate them from the Gagarians." This is known as the modern day Azerbaijan Republic, which is near to the Black Sea. If one was to compare maps depicting the how far the Scythian language had expanded from the 1st century in which Strabo was writing, it can be seen that in this area that it was Indo-Scythian speaking; making it possible that the Scythians were the inspiration for the myth. Though, this map conflicts with others in relation to the positioning of the Sarmatian tribe, as it shows Sarmatia to the far west whereas others show it in a south-easterly direction. From these geographical examples two conclusions can be drawn; that the Sarmatian people were too far west to be considered to be or a basis for the Amazon myth, or, that due to the south-easterly direction it matches the location that Strabo mentions, and so meaning that they could be the basis for the myth. Due to the geography it is unlikely that the Amazons were based on the Amazons due to the distance between the two locations, though it is possible that the Sarmatians were the basis for the myth.
For the Scythians or the Sauromatians to be the Amazon tribe of Greek mythology they must have existed during the time of the Trojan War, as they are recorded to have fought with the Trojans during the battle. Though this War is a part of legend it is commonly thought by many that it really did occur due to the overwhelming evidence that proves it so. The Trojan War occurred during the 12th century BC, but the Scythians (who are recorded as migrating from Iran) only arrived in the Asia region in 675 BC. Proving that they weren’t involved with the battle of Troy itself, though, this doesn’t disprove that they did not influence the poem itself. It is possible that from this civilisation that the Scythian women did inspire the Amazon myth as the Iliad was not written down until the c. 5th century, so it is possible as all written accounts (which aren't mythological) of the amazons begin after this century were affected by these women; e.g. Herodotus during the 5th century BC, Apollonius Rhodius, 3rd century and Didorus Siculus during the 1st century. The probability of this occurring is high as due to the customs of the society in which people were unusually tall, and women wore the same battle garments as men and carried weapons of their own. This would have been so alien to Greek people that there may have been a fear of these people, which began the Amazon myth. Through this evidence it disproves the presence of a Scythian society which was the Amazon's during the Trojan War, but there is a possibility that the myth was based on this society.
The Sauromatians though seeming to be the most probable candidate to be the Amazons, it is unlikely that they were present during the Trojan War. This conclusion as the Sauromatians are a variant of the Scythian people, therefore if the civilisation they were subverted from wasn’t present at the Trojan War then it is impossible that they were. This doesn’t disprove the theory mentioned above, as the era of the Sarmatians began in the 6th century, easily leaving time for a myth to be created for the same reasons as in this culture women were “frequently hunting on horseback with their husbands; in war taking the field; and wearing the very same dress as the men... No girl shall wed till she has killed a man in battle ", stated by Herodotus. Therefore it is conclusive that the Sarmatian people weren’t present during the Trojan War, though it is possible that they began the myth.
There is also a link between the language variants between the Greeks and the Iranian speaking Scythians and Sarmatians. The Iranian word for warrior, which they would have used to describe themselves, was “ha-mazan”. In the regular form of Greek this would have been translated to “hamazōn”, but the Ionians (one of the four major tribes of Greeks) would have dropped the ‘h’, thus becoming “amazōn”; which is also the Greek word for “without a breast”. This not suggests that the Scythian and Sarmatian people had an effect on the creation of the Amazon myth, and due to the different varients created some aspects of the myth.
Despite these similarities and theories, for the Amazon’s of Greek mythology to exist there needs to be direct evidence that strongly conveys that they were a tribe that existed. There is no such evidence, nowhere has there been such evidence that proves the existence of the Amazon tribe itself. There is only the existence of other cultures, all of whom are mentioned above, that suggest that the myth has been based on. It seems as if Strabo’s personal view of the myth is true; “There is a peculiarity in the history of the Amazons. In other histories the fabulous and the historical parts are kept distinct. For what is ancient, false, and marvellous is called fables... But with regard to the Amazons, the same facts are related both by modern and ancient writers; they are marvellous, and exceed belief.” From this absence of evidence it is clear that the Amazon women are just a part of Greek mythology that was based upon the Scythian and Sarmatian tribes.
In conclusion the Amazons of Greek mythology didn’t exist due to the deficiency of archaeological evidence directly correlating to the tribe itself, though it is possible that the myth was based upon the Scythian and Sarmatian civilisations due to the archaeological evidence within the burial mounds, geographical connection, proof through the language variations, and the theory surrounding the Trojan War.
emma whinging
why is it so hard to write about something that doesn't exist in less than 1000 words!!!
Turns out...
that the Sarmatians were heaps more amazony than the scythians...
as they were the ones who decided that no girl would wed unil she had killed in battle
as they were the ones who decided that no girl would wed unil she had killed in battle
GRRRR
i must have read a website wrong or something b/c the saumartias or however you spell it seem to be pretty likley
BTW
Cacasian albania is the modern day 'Azerbaijan Republic'; for anyone (aka me)who didn't know where it was :)
Thursday, August 26, 2010
Little bit abou the greeks in later bits
Later on in history many of the greeks began to treat the amazon legend as a myth, and regarded it to have the same amount of factual information as the centaurs and the Gorgans. Subsequently many of the writers wre critised (strabo, Herodotus and pliny) for acrediting the amazon myths.
Though, as detailed about the amazons as Strabo is he does make a statement about his personal view on the hole myth:
"There is a peculiarity in the history of the Amazons. In other histories the fabulous and the historical parts are kept distinct. For what is ancient, false, and marvellous is called fable. But history has truth for its object, whether it be old or new, and it either rejects or rarely admits the marvellous. But with regard to the Amazons, the same facts are related both by modern and ancient writers; they are marvellous, and exceed belief. For who can believe that an army of women, or a city, or a nation, could ever subsist without men? and not only subsist, but make inroads upon the territories of other people, and obtain possession not only of the places near them, and advance as far as the present Ionia, but even dispatch an expedition across the sea to Attica?"
http://www.sacred-texts.com/wmn/ama/ama04.htm
Though, as detailed about the amazons as Strabo is he does make a statement about his personal view on the hole myth:
"There is a peculiarity in the history of the Amazons. In other histories the fabulous and the historical parts are kept distinct. For what is ancient, false, and marvellous is called fable. But history has truth for its object, whether it be old or new, and it either rejects or rarely admits the marvellous. But with regard to the Amazons, the same facts are related both by modern and ancient writers; they are marvellous, and exceed belief. For who can believe that an army of women, or a city, or a nation, could ever subsist without men? and not only subsist, but make inroads upon the territories of other people, and obtain possession not only of the places near them, and advance as far as the present Ionia, but even dispatch an expedition across the sea to Attica?"
http://www.sacred-texts.com/wmn/ama/ama04.htm
Can can the existance of the Amazon women of Greek mythology be proven?
This is my question
and a simple answer is no :(
and a simple answer is no :(
Wednesday, August 25, 2010
:(
absolutly no archaeological evidence that proves the existence of the warrior women :(
probs a myth based on the scythians then :(
probs a myth based on the scythians then :(
Siberian ice maiden
was from the scythian tribe!!!!! and dil
she had bowed legs, tattoos, buried with weapons and everything :)
she had bowed legs, tattoos, buried with weapons and everything :)
Tuesday, August 24, 2010
Caucasian Albanian Amazons
The reference to the amazons in Caucasian Albania is continued as Strabo mentions a man named Theophanes who took part in the Pompeius campaign (106-46 BC) said that the amazons lived near to the Scythians, but a river, the Mermadalis, ran between the two.
Others dispute with this and say they lived near the border of the Gargarians northern promontories of the Caucasus called the Ceraunian Mountains.
fitting Strabo's description; "In the spring, they celebrate two special months, when they climb the nearby mountains which separate them from the Gagarians."
http://azer.com/aiweb/categories/magazine/ai131_folder/131_articles/131_amazons.html
Others dispute with this and say they lived near the border of the Gargarians northern promontories of the Caucasus called the Ceraunian Mountains.
fitting Strabo's description; "In the spring, they celebrate two special months, when they climb the nearby mountains which separate them from the Gagarians."
http://azer.com/aiweb/categories/magazine/ai131_folder/131_articles/131_amazons.html
AMAZONS IN ALBANIA
Many ancient sources such as Strabo and Plutarch
state that there were amazon women living in Albania.
state that there were amazon women living in Albania.
Why would an amazon race occur???
Stephanus of Byzantium, a geographer, and Justin, a historian from 3 c. CE, agree that the beginning of the Amazons was most likely the result of war.
http://people.uncw.edu/deagona/amazons/orgins2.htm
http://people.uncw.edu/deagona/amazons/orgins2.htm
Monday, August 23, 2010
But were the scythians really the amazons???
Everyone remembers that the amazons were at troy , BUT if they were really in it the Scythians would need to have been found before the C9th or C8th (the first historical record of their existence), which they weren't.
So unless the section of the amazon warriors was added in to show the might of the Greeks when it was written (during the C8th or C7th) then the Scythians are unlikely candidates for the amazon warriors.
THOUGH, Herodotus does mention in his histories written in C5th b.c.e a group of Amazon women who had lost to the Greeks in the battle of Thermodon.
Apparently after this battle hercules filled 3 galleys with Amazon prisoners. These galleys got separated from the rest of the fleet and the Amazons successfully took control of the ship (mutinied so killing all the greeks). THis turned out to be a bad idea as the Amazon's didn't understand how to navigate or operate boats, so they drifted about in the sea, blown in a northerly direction, until they reached certain 'white cliffs' which haven't been identified, and reached the Sea of Azof (which is a bay in the Black Sea), and so landed in the Scythian world. After this they met an unsuspecting group of scythians and began to slaughter and pillaging. There was confusion on both sides according to Herodotus, as the Scythian hadn't encounted these strange women before and the Amazons mistook them for youths.
As some of the Amazons fell the Scythians realised who they were, and made them sickened by the warfare. They then sent youths to watch the women. After awhile the youths and the amazons became friends and fell in-love; the men wanted to bring the women home so they could become wives but the AMazons couldn't, "We could not live with your women--our customs are quite different to theirs" due to their warlike customs compared to the women who stayed in their wagons.
Then they decided to make seperate camps, but they couldn't do that b/c of what they had allready stolen from the Scythians so, they had to move away completely, into what is now Europe; and then moved northwest. Thus evolving into the women of Sauromatœ (who continued amazon customs, ie, hunting), which then evolved into the Sarmatians.
So unless the section of the amazon warriors was added in to show the might of the Greeks when it was written (during the C8th or C7th) then the Scythians are unlikely candidates for the amazon warriors.
THOUGH, Herodotus does mention in his histories written in C5th b.c.e a group of Amazon women who had lost to the Greeks in the battle of Thermodon.
Apparently after this battle hercules filled 3 galleys with Amazon prisoners. These galleys got separated from the rest of the fleet and the Amazons successfully took control of the ship (mutinied so killing all the greeks). THis turned out to be a bad idea as the Amazon's didn't understand how to navigate or operate boats, so they drifted about in the sea, blown in a northerly direction, until they reached certain 'white cliffs' which haven't been identified, and reached the Sea of Azof (which is a bay in the Black Sea), and so landed in the Scythian world. After this they met an unsuspecting group of scythians and began to slaughter and pillaging. There was confusion on both sides according to Herodotus, as the Scythian hadn't encounted these strange women before and the Amazons mistook them for youths.
As some of the Amazons fell the Scythians realised who they were, and made them sickened by the warfare. They then sent youths to watch the women. After awhile the youths and the amazons became friends and fell in-love; the men wanted to bring the women home so they could become wives but the AMazons couldn't, "We could not live with your women--our customs are quite different to theirs" due to their warlike customs compared to the women who stayed in their wagons.
Then they decided to make seperate camps, but they couldn't do that b/c of what they had allready stolen from the Scythians so, they had to move away completely, into what is now Europe; and then moved northwest. Thus evolving into the women of Sauromatœ (who continued amazon customs, ie, hunting), which then evolved into the Sarmatians.
Saturday, August 21, 2010
Ok im REALLLY REALLY CONFUSED!!!!
were the scythians matriarchal, patriarchal or just men and women fighting together????? MR WRIGHT I NEED HELP!!!
Friday, August 20, 2010
THE Scythians
The scythians can be dated back as far as the 9th century BCE around central asia, and as early as their disappearance in the Christian era (which is the period that began with Jesus). This is one of the earliest and strongest horse-riding cultures (explaining the bowed legs on many of the females in the burial mounds). Little is known about their everyday life, so all that remains of their culture is "legend and artefact". Though, Herodotus does record their customs in his 9 volume "History"; according to him the Scythians had an expansionist war policy of enslaved slaves and nations.
According to Herodotus as well the scythians never built fortresses or houses, and their cart was their home, so they lived very mobile lives (explaining the lack of archaeology). This also made them invincible to their enemies, as they were not 'sitting ducks' to use some colloquial jargon. When they did stop or anything they apparently arranged their vehicles in a circle to act as a fortress type thing. The remains of these carts can be found in the graves of some aristocracy.
There is much debate about where the amazons actually lived, also due to the lack of ruins. Some say that they lived in 'Pontus', which is part of modern day Turkey on the black sea; and if one were to look at a picture of where to loom at a map of the Scythian world you would note the closeness of the two.
According to Aeschylus, tin early times they lived in Scythia but later moved to Themiscyra on the River Thermodon; now the Terme river in northern Turkey.
+ http//www.nationalgeographic.com.au
According to Herodotus as well the scythians never built fortresses or houses, and their cart was their home, so they lived very mobile lives (explaining the lack of archaeology). This also made them invincible to their enemies, as they were not 'sitting ducks' to use some colloquial jargon. When they did stop or anything they apparently arranged their vehicles in a circle to act as a fortress type thing. The remains of these carts can be found in the graves of some aristocracy.
There is much debate about where the amazons actually lived, also due to the lack of ruins. Some say that they lived in 'Pontus', which is part of modern day Turkey on the black sea; and if one were to look at a picture of where to loom at a map of the Scythian world you would note the closeness of the two.
According to Aeschylus, tin early times they lived in Scythia but later moved to Themiscyra on the River Thermodon; now the Terme river in northern Turkey.
+ http//www.nationalgeographic.com.au
Thursday, August 19, 2010
FOUND my amazons!!!
SOOOO excited!
So most commonly it is though that the name 'amazon' came form the Greek word 'without a breast', thus linking to the legend that Amazon women cut of their breast and yada yada yada.
The cause of this may be logical though; not just some misogynist Greek man who's a massive scaredy-cat.
The Scythians came from Iran and spoke Iranian, and the Iranian word for this is "ha-mazan", meaning warrior. The regular Greek form would be hamazōn, but because the Ionians dropped their "H's", hamazōn becomes amazōn, the form taken into the other Greek dialects.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Scythians#History_and_archeology
So most commonly it is though that the name 'amazon' came form the Greek word 'without a breast', thus linking to the legend that Amazon women cut of their breast and yada yada yada.
The cause of this may be logical though; not just some misogynist Greek man who's a massive scaredy-cat.
The Scythians came from Iran and spoke Iranian, and the Iranian word for this is "ha-mazan", meaning warrior. The regular Greek form would be hamazōn, but because the Ionians dropped their "H's", hamazōn becomes amazōn, the form taken into the other Greek dialects.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Scythians#History_and_archeology
Tuesday, August 17, 2010
DID you know!
During 1999, a farmer was spraying his potato crop when the wheel of his tractor got stuck, when he moved what was blocking it he found a large hole (in Britian), which he thought was an old well. Anyways it was discovered it was like a little 'cist' thing, and in it they found in it a mirror, a sword and a broach. You do the math, is it a male or female grave.
GOOD quote, possible QUESTION??
"If we find in a grave weapons beside a men's skeleton, we are sure that he
was a warrior. So a similar conclusion is logical when we deal with women's
remnants," agreed an outstanding American archaeologist, Philip Cowell.
So why do archaeologists question the validity of women warriors who are found with weapons
inside their burial mounds?
Question????
was a warrior. So a similar conclusion is logical when we deal with women's
remnants," agreed an outstanding American archaeologist, Philip Cowell.
So why do archaeologists question the validity of women warriors who are found with weapons
inside their burial mounds?
Question????
Ancient tribes
So far it looks as if its most likely that the area that the Amazon tribes were from areas around Russia or Eurasia. These two tribes are the Sauromatians and the Sarmatians (as well as any i've already mentioned).
Today, around 50 burial mounds have been found near the Russian town of Pokrovka, which is near to the Kazakhstan boarder. These women are know as the Sauromatians, and started to be buried here aprox. ca. 600BC. They were nomads who (some) were buried with weapons. This tribe is thought to be nomadic, and according to Herodotus were descendants of the Scythians and Amazons.
Later bodies that have been found in aprox. 400 BC are apart of the Sarmatians (nomadic), thought to be of some relation to the Sauromatains. These Pokravka mounds were reused and with a wider variety and amount of artefact's than males; several have been found containing iron swords or daggers, bronze arrowheads, and whetstones to sharpen the weapons. Some (misogynist) scholars felt/argued that these artefacts were only present to serve a ritual purpose. The anatomy of these women though prove undoubtedly otherwise. Many of the bodies had BOWED legs, or genu varum (genu- knee; varum- angles in) meaning that the femur or tibia curves outward, and is most common in the jockey occupation. Also, one of the bodies were found with an arrow dead lodged in her chest cavity.
Though, these women could not have been the Amazons the Greeks described as they didn't live"far to the west", and don't seem to be the blood thirsty women as they were portrayed.
http://www.archaeology.org/9701/abstracts/sarmatians.html
Today, around 50 burial mounds have been found near the Russian town of Pokrovka, which is near to the Kazakhstan boarder. These women are know as the Sauromatians, and started to be buried here aprox. ca. 600BC. They were nomads who (some) were buried with weapons. This tribe is thought to be nomadic, and according to Herodotus were descendants of the Scythians and Amazons.
Later bodies that have been found in aprox. 400 BC are apart of the Sarmatians (nomadic), thought to be of some relation to the Sauromatains. These Pokravka mounds were reused and with a wider variety and amount of artefact's than males; several have been found containing iron swords or daggers, bronze arrowheads, and whetstones to sharpen the weapons. Some (misogynist) scholars felt/argued that these artefacts were only present to serve a ritual purpose. The anatomy of these women though prove undoubtedly otherwise. Many of the bodies had BOWED legs, or genu varum (genu- knee; varum- angles in) meaning that the femur or tibia curves outward, and is most common in the jockey occupation. Also, one of the bodies were found with an arrow dead lodged in her chest cavity.
Though, these women could not have been the Amazons the Greeks described as they didn't live"far to the west", and don't seem to be the blood thirsty women as they were portrayed.
http://www.archaeology.org/9701/abstracts/sarmatians.html
Sunday, August 15, 2010
Possible question
"Did the Amazon warriors exist as they were depicted by Greek mythology, or were they a metaphor for men's fears in Greece?"
or something else??????
Anyways a look at Greek Mythology+ Amazons
According to legend , the Amazons lived in the Asia minor region, and were pretty warlike. They had a matriarchal society; meaning it was female dominated, which according to wikipedia, never has unambiguously existed. These women were pretty awesome, they were dominant during the bronze age. Amazons have MANY possible locations though, which is why theres alot of confusion as to where they def. were.
Some similarity found in most of the myths is that they 'visited' the Gargareans once a year to stop their race from dying out. The female children were kept (obviously because they were a supposed matriarchal society) and the males were either killed, sent into the wilderness or sent back to their fathers. The daughters were taught agricultural stuff, hunting and the 'art of war'.
Though in different versions the women captured male slaves on their raids, the ones they didn't kill that is, and would sleep with them once or twice a year.
Amazon women are also supposed to have cut off their right breast so they could better throw a javelin, and only keep the left so that they could breast feed.
All legends associated with the amazon women end the same way; Defeated by some macho greek hero, aka Hercules or Achilles. Though in the Amazons and Atlantis myth, the women appear as Greek men did, and the men are portrayed as Greek women are. In the end though the women are only half able to defeat their enemies and it takes a greek hero, Perseus, to finish the job. Slightly propogandistic (yes i made that word up) sounding ???
They were also massive horse people btw.
And as much as they are described to be around the black sea
http://www.mnsu.edu/emuseum/prehistory/aegean/amazons/amazonindex.html
http://www.wikipedia.com.au
or something else??????
Anyways a look at Greek Mythology+ Amazons
According to legend , the Amazons lived in the Asia minor region, and were pretty warlike. They had a matriarchal society; meaning it was female dominated, which according to wikipedia, never has unambiguously existed. These women were pretty awesome, they were dominant during the bronze age. Amazons have MANY possible locations though, which is why theres alot of confusion as to where they def. were.
Some similarity found in most of the myths is that they 'visited' the Gargareans once a year to stop their race from dying out. The female children were kept (obviously because they were a supposed matriarchal society) and the males were either killed, sent into the wilderness or sent back to their fathers. The daughters were taught agricultural stuff, hunting and the 'art of war'.
Though in different versions the women captured male slaves on their raids, the ones they didn't kill that is, and would sleep with them once or twice a year.
Amazon women are also supposed to have cut off their right breast so they could better throw a javelin, and only keep the left so that they could breast feed.
All legends associated with the amazon women end the same way; Defeated by some macho greek hero, aka Hercules or Achilles. Though in the Amazons and Atlantis myth, the women appear as Greek men did, and the men are portrayed as Greek women are. In the end though the women are only half able to defeat their enemies and it takes a greek hero, Perseus, to finish the job. Slightly propogandistic (yes i made that word up) sounding ???
They were also massive horse people btw.
And as much as they are described to be around the black sea
http://www.mnsu.edu/emuseum/prehistory/aegean/amazons/amazonindex.html
http://www.wikipedia.com.au
Monday, August 9, 2010
Did Amazon warrior women, the Antiope and Hippolyte belong to an extinct matriarchal warrior society? Or were they simply fictional characters depicte
INFORMATION: So folklore and myths have provided very little evidence that the warrior women actually existed. Until recent excavations though in Russia, it is possible that such a race did exist, therefore Herodotus may have been right with his connections to the ancient Scythian race.
This ancient Scythian race were extremely bloodthirsty mounted (horse ppl) nomads, whose generals were supposed to be more cunning than Genghis Khan. These people were illiterate though and left no written history or language. The only way archaeologists know about this race is the ruins they left (all over the Russian Steppes) and the burial mounds called 'Pokrovka kurgans'.
There have been a few found intact which are believed to be those of aristocracy or royalty. They contain many golden artefacts; jewlery, challaces, weapons, etc.
Some of the mounds found by the archaeologists containing women though to be of high station. Their bodies were found in full battle dress, surrounded by an assortment of weapons and their legs were significantly 'bowed', suggesting these women spent a significant amount of time on horseback.
Another skeleton was found with an arrowhead lodged in her upper chest, suggesting that she had died in battle.
It hasn't be confirmed if these women are actually the bloodthirsty warrior women as legend described, but they definatley are of a bloodthirsty civilisation, in which, women were imporatnt enough to ride into battle with or without men.
http://www.essortment.com/all/amazonswarrior_ryci.htm
This ancient Scythian race were extremely bloodthirsty mounted (horse ppl) nomads, whose generals were supposed to be more cunning than Genghis Khan. These people were illiterate though and left no written history or language. The only way archaeologists know about this race is the ruins they left (all over the Russian Steppes) and the burial mounds called 'Pokrovka kurgans'.
There have been a few found intact which are believed to be those of aristocracy or royalty. They contain many golden artefacts; jewlery, challaces, weapons, etc.
Some of the mounds found by the archaeologists containing women though to be of high station. Their bodies were found in full battle dress, surrounded by an assortment of weapons and their legs were significantly 'bowed', suggesting these women spent a significant amount of time on horseback.
Another skeleton was found with an arrowhead lodged in her upper chest, suggesting that she had died in battle.
It hasn't be confirmed if these women are actually the bloodthirsty warrior women as legend described, but they definatley are of a bloodthirsty civilisation, in which, women were imporatnt enough to ride into battle with or without men.
http://www.essortment.com/all/amazonswarrior_ryci.htm
Tuesday, August 3, 2010
TIP!
If your on wikipedia click on the discussion part, its next to the article bit.
You can find out heaps of stuff other people have said
You can find out heaps of stuff other people have said
FINAL TOPIC!!!!! with information??? lol
Alright after a bit of procrastinating and freaking out about how this stupid thing works, i have chosen my topic. Which is possible a good time to do it considering we have like 5 weeks left to do this. meh. I am doing
AMAZON WARRIORS!!!!!
Yes those feminists historic men love to hate!
I already know some folklore they're part of from our Troy study, but heres some more stuffs......
The term 'Amazons' originate from a greek word, which gives some clues as to their origins, and are pretty much a whole 'nation' that consist of these 'female warriors'.
A Greek guy called 'Herodotus' said they were situated around in a bit that was near Scythia in Sarmatia (modern territory of Ukraine...semon). Other historians place them in the Asia Minor regions (http://www.hurriyetdailynews.com/n.php?n=0627113515282-2010-06-28) Which would explain their presence in the Troy story as they were supposed to be allies and all , or Libya (http://www.ancientlibrary.com/smith-bio/0146.html).
From Troy we can all remember the one that Archillies fell in-love with after he stabbed her, Penthesilea. There was also her sister Hippolyte whose magical girdle, given to her by her father ARES (God of war/ bloodthirst, shows how warroir like they were) was one of the objects of the labourers of Hercules> the people who helped him in the 10 things he had to slay to gain immortality.
Also, apart from the obvious presence in Greek mythology, the Amazons (often described as "raiders") they have been OFTEN depicted fighting the Greeks! especially in the Amazonomachy which is supposed to be a legendary battle between the Greeks and Amazons.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Amazons <<<
AMAZON WARRIORS!!!!!
Yes those feminists historic men love to hate!
I already know some folklore they're part of from our Troy study, but heres some more stuffs......
The term 'Amazons' originate from a greek word, which gives some clues as to their origins, and are pretty much a whole 'nation' that consist of these 'female warriors'.
A Greek guy called 'Herodotus' said they were situated around in a bit that was near Scythia in Sarmatia (modern territory of Ukraine...semon). Other historians place them in the Asia Minor regions (http://www.hurriyetdailynews.com/n.php?n=0627113515282-2010-06-28) Which would explain their presence in the Troy story as they were supposed to be allies and all , or Libya (http://www.ancientlibrary.com/smith-bio/0146.html).
From Troy we can all remember the one that Archillies fell in-love with after he stabbed her, Penthesilea. There was also her sister Hippolyte whose magical girdle, given to her by her father ARES (God of war/ bloodthirst, shows how warroir like they were) was one of the objects of the labourers of Hercules> the people who helped him in the 10 things he had to slay to gain immortality.
Also, apart from the obvious presence in Greek mythology, the Amazons (often described as "raiders") they have been OFTEN depicted fighting the Greeks! especially in the Amazonomachy which is supposed to be a legendary battle between the Greeks and Amazons.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Amazons <<<
Thursday, July 22, 2010
TOPICS!!
Now for a serious post. I have four possible topics to look at
1. Stonehenge
2. Pompeii by Mary Beard
3. Screaming mummies
4. Atlantis
The possiblities are endless
1. Stonehenge
2. Pompeii by Mary Beard
3. Screaming mummies
4. Atlantis
The possiblities are endless
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