The Amazons: Warrior Women of Ancient Greece, Myth or Reality?
Location
CSU
Student's Major
Anthropology
Student's College
Social and Behavioral Sciences
Mentor's Name
Winifred Mitchell
Mentor's Department
Anthropology
Mentor's College
Social and Behavioral Sciences
Description
Matriarchal, strong, and warrior. These are all words used to describe the Amazons of Ancient Greece. The Greeks told many tales of the ancient Amazons. Herodotus was a firm believer in their existence, and yet the archeological evidence of their existence remains scant. In such a patriarchy of Ancient Greece, why is there a myth about a race of warrior women in ancient Asia Minor? Using mythological and archeological evidence and theory, this paper examines why and where the Amazons are represented in Greek myth, and contrasts the actual view of women in Ancient Greece to the alternate view of a warrior woman. Archeological evidence suggesting that the Amazons really existed is also reviewed to show that Amazons may have been migrants from Libya, present in Asia Minor prior to the arrival of the Greeks.
The Amazons: Warrior Women of Ancient Greece, Myth or Reality?
CSU
Matriarchal, strong, and warrior. These are all words used to describe the Amazons of Ancient Greece. The Greeks told many tales of the ancient Amazons. Herodotus was a firm believer in their existence, and yet the archeological evidence of their existence remains scant. In such a patriarchy of Ancient Greece, why is there a myth about a race of warrior women in ancient Asia Minor? Using mythological and archeological evidence and theory, this paper examines why and where the Amazons are represented in Greek myth, and contrasts the actual view of women in Ancient Greece to the alternate view of a warrior woman. Archeological evidence suggesting that the Amazons really existed is also reviewed to show that Amazons may have been migrants from Libya, present in Asia Minor prior to the arrival of the Greeks.
Recommended Citation
Taylor, Jennifer K.. "The Amazons: Warrior Women of Ancient Greece, Myth or Reality?." Undergraduate Research Symposium, Mankato, MN, April 5, 2021.
https://cornerstone.lib.mnsu.edu/urs/1999/proceedings/9
