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.

This document is currently not available here.

Share

COinS
 

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