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Last Update: 04 Apr 2021
Amazons, mighty, skillful female warriors
The Amazons were mighty female warriors who fought against the Greeks during the Trojan War
Who were the Amazons?
The Amazons were a horde of passionate, skilled virgin warriors from the Black Sea. Supposedly they were descended from Ares, the Greek god of war, when he mated with the Naiad Harmony.
The meaning behind the name
The Amazons got their name from the fact that they voluntarily took off their right breast (breast: "mazos") in order to be able to draw the bow and fight more easily, leaving only the left breast to feed their children.
During their battles, they carried crescent-shaped shields and wielded spears, and usually wore a chiton - a single rectangle of cloth that left one shoulder free for activity.
The word "Amazon" is still widely used in the modern world to mean a strong, athletic, or tall woman.
The Amazons' way of life
The Amazons lived entirely without men. They mated with men from other tribes only twice a year to produce children, but ultimately kept only their female children, disregarding or mutilating all the males.
Famous Amazons in Greek Mythology
Antiope
the wife of Theseus