The Amazons

These women didn't shop online. (The Bus 3.15)

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The Stop

In ancient Greek mythology, the Amazons were a race of fearsome women warriors. Known for their exceptional riding skills, courage and pride, they were thought to inhabit the ‘outer limits of the known world,’ which in some myths is identified as the city of Themiskyra on the Black Sea. In time, as their knowledge of geography increased, the Greeks necessarily moved this land of the Amazons further and further away in their mental landscape. This movement was needed as the stories about the Amazons ‘probably originated’ as versions of a myth common to many cultures: that of a ‘distant land organised oppositely from one’s own.’¹

Marble Statue of a Wounded Amazon/Met Museum/Public Domain

Essentially Greek male-society in reverse, the Amazons engaged in traditional male-dominated activities including ‘horse-riding, hunting and warfare.’ They were frequently depicted in ancient Greek art wearing hoplite armour,² riding horses and carrying bows, spears and occasionally axes. Believed to be ‘capable warriors who were also ‘experts at ambush and cavalry charges,’ one common legend was that the Amazons burnt off a breast in order to more effectively use a bow and throw a spear.³ Consequently, the word a-mazon was ‘popularly understood’ as meaning breast-less, though other meanings could include either one breast or not breast-fed, with still other theories maintaining the word is derived from the Persian for warrior.

Over the years, various tales evolved to explain why, if the Amazon nation consisted entirely of women, it did not die out. Though some versions explained that men were ‘welcomed only for breeding purposes’ and that all male children were killed, a more common myth explained that - after mating with men from other tribes - the resulting female children were kept and raised amongst the Amazons, while the male children were returned to their fathers. These stories were popular throughout Asia Minor, and the foundation of many settlements - including Ephesus, Smyrna and Mytilene on Lesbos - was credited to the Amazons.

The Queen of the Amazons was Hippolyte, who had a special piece of armour - a leather belt presented to her by Ares, the god of war, who recognised her as the best warrior of all the Amazons. In the mythological tale of the Twelve Labours of Hercules, King Eurystehus of Mycenae, Tiryns and Argos set as Hercules’s ninth labour the task of bringing back Hippolyte’s belt so the king could give it to his daughter as a present. Set this task ‘precisely because it was an impossibly dangerous endeavour,’ in some versions Hercules travels alone, but in others he assembles an army of the ‘finest Greek warriors’ in his attempt to complete the challenge. Despite being fine fighters, in all versions of the story the Amazons were no match for Hercules, who took the belt back to Eurystheus and moved on to labour number ten.

In addition to the myths, Amazons were mentioned by both Herodotus and Plato, and archaeological evidence has revealed evidence of women warriors, especially amongst the nomadic Scythians.⁴ Of more than 1000 nomad graves dating between the 5th-4th centuries BCE spread across Eurasia, over 37% have been determined to be those of warrior women - many of who had either survived and/or died from ‘injuries typical of one-on-one violent combat.’ Like the Amazons of Greek mythology, these women were ‘always young - between the age of 16 and 30 years old,’ leading many scholars to believe the Greek ‘myth-makers, historians and artists were inspired not only by their imaginations,’ but by some historical reality when creating the Amazon myths.

The Detour

Today’s Detour is to a very short (1:19) video, Bookface. It’s a clever, at times thought-provoking realisation of a single idea - and well worth the minute it takes to watch.

Bookface

The Recommendation

Today’s Recommendation is Camille Paglia’s Sexual Personae: Art and Decadence from Nefertiti to Emily Dickinson (1990). A controversial book since publication, it’s Paglia’s attempt to prove that - despite a general belief to the contrary - Christianity never defeated paganism. For Paglia, Western culture is defined as a struggle between Apollonian and Dionysian forces,⁵ a struggle she argues continues in the form of paganism’s chaos and disorder disrupting ‘polite society’s’ order and symmetry via the arts and popular culture. Be warned: it’s not an easy read - her hyperactive style and incredible breadth of knowledge on the subject can be wearying - but I learned a lot when I read the book back in the 90s, and at times have found myself rereading parts of it. If it sounds interesting, give it a try - and let me know what you think.

Remember: though you can buy Sexual Personae from Amazon, you can also get it from your local new or used bookstore - or even check it out from the library. And those options are better for everyone.

The Sounds

Today’s playlist is composed of five tracks by, if not Amazons - they were mythological, after all - powerful women: ‘I Love Rock and Roll’ (Joan Jett and the Blackhearts, 1981), ‘Maria’ (Blondie, 1999), ‘Shadows of the Night’ (Pat Benetar, 1982), ‘People Have the Power’ (Patti Smith, 1988), ‘Back to Black’ (Amy Winehouse, 2006). Enjoy!

The Thought

Today’s Thought is from the American novelist, Kurt Vonnegut:⁶

‘True terror is to wake up one morning and discover that your high school class is running the country.’

If you have a thought on this Thought - or any part of today’s issue - please leave a comment below:

And that’s the end of this Stop - I hope you enjoyed the diversion!

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Until the next Stop …

1. It’s time to reclaim the term from its current association which is, unfortunately, not mythic. Sources for today’s Stop include: Amazon (Britannica), Amazon (World History), Labours of Hercules (Britannica), Herakles/Amazons (Tufts) and Hippolyte/Amazons (Brewminate).

2. Hoplites were heavily-armed ancient Greek foot soldiers who fought in close formation wearing a metal helmet, breastplate and greaves while carrying a shield and a six-foot thrusting spear. For more information, see: Hoplite (Britannica).

3. Despite this belief, they are not depicted in ancient Greek art with a missing breast.

4. The Scythians, known about since the 9th century BCE, were a nomadic people who founded a rich, powerful empire in Eurasia, centred on what is now Crimea. For more information, see: Scythian (Britannica).

5. Apollo - god of music, light, medicine, etc. - represents order and symmetry; Dionysus - god of fertility, festivals, madness, theatre, religious ecstasy and wine - represents chaos and disorder. Which, when it does break through into order and symmetry, can really upset those folks ….

6. For more information, see: Kurt Vonnegut (Britannica).