This is part of Greater Ancestors World Museum to acknowledge and represent the feminine gender and their greater ancestry under a topic named Greater Women. It is the Museums teachings that women were bigger better faster and stronger than today’s females. Eve is referred to the mother of all living and the first women. Eve may have lived to be almost a thousand years old and was said to have given birth to hundreds of children. Here we honor the legacy of Eve and the Great Amazons that came after her.Names of Amazons are found in Hyginus’ Fabulae. Yet another different set of names is found in Valerius Flaccus’ Argonautica: 

Names of Amazons from various sources include:

• Aegea, queen of the Amazons who was thought by some to have been the eponym of the Aegean Sea.

• Aella,  means “whirlwind”, castellan of Themiskyra and was so appropriate because she was a killer fighter. She was a double-axe wielder and was killed by Heracles when he came to take Hippolyta’s girdle. She was the first to attack him when war broke out. She was easily killed as Heracles’ lionskin made him invulnerable. There were actually nine women who challenged Heracles to single combat, knowing full well that he was invulnerable, before there was a group attack.

• Aete  ‘eagle’

• Agave, ‘high born’ The exposure of newborn girls happened with appalling frequency in ancient Greek society, leading to the establishment of numerous ‘Parthenian Hills,’ places to leave such unfortunate children. In response, the movements of the many sacred hunters of Artemis and rangers of Athena began to cross these hills on a regular basis. It was on one such trip that Agave was found. She was named for her rich wrappings,which had been defaced to make her clan markings unreadable.

• AGAMEDE ‘very cunning’ Founder of a city named for herself on the Amazon colony of Lesbos.

• AGANIPPE ‘mare who kills mercifully’ A warrior and priestess of Artemis as Divine Hunter of Souls.

• Aglaope ‘glorious face’

• Aglaophonos/Aglaopheme ‘beautiful voice’ or ‘beautiful speech’

• Ainia, enemy of Achilles and an Amazon, one of the twelve who accompanied Penthesilea to the Trojan War. Her name means “swiftness.”[citation needed]

• Ainippe, an Amazon who fought with Telamon in the battle against Heracles’ troops. [05] Ainippe was one of the many Amazons who went after Herakles’ captains, after Hippolyte was killed, in order to avenge their Queen’s death. Her name means, “Swift Mare.”

• AKANTHA ‘bright flower’ or ‘burning sun’ Amazon, priestess of Athena.

• Alcibie, Alcibie fought with Penthesilea at Troy.

 

• Alcinoe, Alcinoe was an Amazon under Andromache. Her name means, “Mighty Wisdom.”

• Alcippe.”powerful mare”

• Alkaia ‘mighty one’ Taurian, wore cap with bull ears and tail

• Alkidike ‘mighty justice’

• Alkinoe ‘mighty in wisdom’ daughter of Nikippe

• Alkippe ‘strength of horses’  She chose to remain celibate, channeling her energies as far as possible into her war skills and shamanism. Alkippe became a respected trainer and advisor, as well as an esteemed warrior.

• ALEXIARES ‘warding off war’ Amazon warrior and granddaughter of Hera. Like her grandmother, she commanded the winds.

• ALKYONE ‘queen who keeps away (storms)’ Daughter of Archippe. She was named for a war and sea aspect of Aphrodite, better known as the sister of Taygete the Pleiade.

• Ainippe ‘swift horse’

• Alkaia, Alkaia was one of Queen Andromache’s Amazon generals. Her name means, “Mighty One.”

• Alkibia ‘force of might’

• Alkithoe ‘impetuous might’

• Amastris, who was believed to be the eponym of the city previously known as Kromna, although the city was also thought to have been named after the historical Amastris

• Amynomene, Amynomene was an Amazon serving under Orithia in the Attic War. Her name means, “Blameless Defender.”

• Anaea,  ‘raising up’ She added considerably to the territory of the Thermodontine Amazons, establishing a city named for herself in Karia opposite Hera’s holy city of Samos. Her tomb there, like Orithia’s at Megaera, Myrene’s near Troy, and Antiope’s in Athens was a great pilgrimage site until Classical times. She was named for a Goddess associated with Artemis. an Amazon whose tomb was shown at the island of Samos. Anaea was an Amazon conqueror from the Thermodontine Amazons. She named a city after herself.

• Anaximache ‘queenly warrior’ Phrygian immigrant

• Anaxilea,   ‘queenly lion’ An Amazon whose shield was emblazoned with a white bird, symbolizing Athena. Anaxilea was an Amazon whose name was one of royalty. She was believed to be of royal blood.

• Andro ‘manly’ in final battle

• Androdameia,  was an Amazon who fought in the Attic War. Her name means, ‘tamer of men’  A queen of the Thermodontine Amazons who defeated one of the leading Greek generals in single combat during the Third Doric Raid. Another Androdameia participated in the Attic War.

• Androdaira/Androdaixa ‘subduer of men’

• Andromache, an Amazon who fought Heracles and was defeated; only known from vase paintings. Not to be confused with Andromache, wife of Hector. Andromache, which means “man-fighter” or “man-killer,” and she was a famous and great Queen. Among other things, she fought with Herakles.  One of the greatest of all the queens of the Thermodontine Amazons. Known for her bravery, she was consistently victorious in battle. Ruling with Glauke ‘owl,’ and Iphito ‘shield strength’ whom she also fought with side by side, her most famous conflict was with a horde of Greek pirates. The battle was later known as the First Doric Raid. Andromache successfully united the Thermodontine and Libyan Amazons against the invaders, resulting in a Libyan blockade that prevented the arrival of Greek reinforcements. At the height of the battle, she fought with her hair unbound, insuring that she remained a clear rallying point for her forces, and that no false claims could be made that she had died.

• Andromeda,  served Amazon Queen Andromache. Her name means, “Ruler of Men.”

• Anippe ‘queenly mare’

•  Antandre, “one who goes before men”  Antandre fought with Penthesilea at Troy. Her name means, “Preceding Men.”

• Antianeira,  ‘against the sea’ succeeded Penthesilea as Queen of the Amazons. She was best known for ordering her male servants to be crippled “as the lame best perform the acts of love”. Antianeira was an Amazon in the Attic War. Dueled with Theseus in single combat.  Antianara was the Amazon Queen of the Thermodon after Penthesilea was killed at Troy.

• Antibrote, Antibrote, was one of the twelve Amazons who helped Penthesilea temporarily liberate Troy. ‘gory opposition’

• ANTILEON ‘bold as a lion’ An immigrant from Egypt, she fought with Androdameia during the Third Doric Raid.

• Antimache,  served under Andromache. Her name means, “Confronting Warrior.” or  ‘warrior of the opposition’

• Antimachos, was an Amazon who fought in the Attic War.

• ANTIOCHE ‘confronting the city’ Founder of the Pisidian city in Asia Minor, and its Phrygian twin. Both regions were Amazon territory at the time. A second Antioche was a leader in the Amazon tribe known as the Centaurs.

• Antiope,   ‘confronting Moon’ (not the queen) archer was the only Amazon ever known to marry. She was an Amazon Queen who was abducted by Heracles and brought to Athens where she fell in love and married Theseus (the King of Athens). She gave birth to a son during their marriage, and named him Hippolytus after her sister Hippolyta. Later in life, the Amazons attacked Athens, and Antiope fought on the side of Athens. She was run through with a spear by the Amazon Molpadia. Other stories say that after Antiope’s love affair with Theseus, he planned to marry another. She attacked on their wedding day, and it took Theseus, Herakles, and an army to kill her. Antiope was an Amazon Queen when Theseus attacked. When she was defeated, she married Theseus and had his son, Hippolytus (named after Queen Hippolyte). In one tale, Antiope survived the battle between the Amazons and Theseus, only to be betrayed by the Athenian king, who married another. Antiope attacked the day of the wedding with her Amazons. She had planned to massacre the guests. It took Theseus, his companions and the invincible Herakles to kill her. The history of this Amazon queen is confused by propaganda and the fact that she shares her name with a warrior Goddess of Thebes. Antiope of Thebes was the second aspect of a triad of warrior Moon Goddesses. She descended to the underworld at the New Moon, attended by the crone figure Dirke ‘cleft.’ Each time the Moon reappeared after these few nights of darkness, Thebes rejoiced, and a bull, symbol of rebirth, was sacrificed and feasted on. It is from the ceremony of tossing a round cake representing the Full Moon onto the bull’s horns that the gruesome tale of Dirke’s death comes. The queen of Thebes was the embodiment of Antiope on earth, her older advisor the embodiment of Dirke. Occasionally their disagreements may have been severe enough to demand a ritual combat, or, more likely, the ceremonial combat was performed on the night of the first rising of the Waxing Moon. Dirke ‘lost’ each month, and the loss was well remembered. So much for Thebes. The name Antiope was popular among the Amazons, for it was carried by a queen, a princess, and an archer who gained fame in the Attic War. Queen Antiope’s capture and removal to Athens by Greek pirates helped instigate that war, which included a massive slave revolt. Her death at the hand of Molpadia was not for treachery, but to save her from rape by the Athenian king. Her name means, “Confronting Moon.”

• Antiopeia, Antiopeia was an Amazon archer in the Attic War.

• ANYMONE ‘defender who is without fault’ One Amazon by this name fought for Orithia. The other was a great heroine of the Libyan Amazons, who drew water from a rock in the desert, saving her tribe.

• APOLLONIA ‘destroyer’ An Amazon queen better known as Cyrene, ancestress of the Thrakian tribe of the Milesians, who continued to be matrilinear into Classical times. A city on the shores of the Black Sea was called by this name.

• APRIATE ‘without rancour’ Great heroine of Lesbos, named for a Sea Goddess.

• Archippe ‘dominant mare’

• Areto whose name is only attested in inscriptions on artefact. Areto was an Amazon who went with Pantariste to kill the captains and soldiers of Herakles to avenge the murder of Hippolyte. The Amazons won the battle.  A member of the troupe led by Pantariste which dislodged the Greek pirates from the beach during the Second Doric Raid. Named for a Goddess of justice, she wore a snake insignia. She was also mother of Nausicaa, while the Goddess was a reputed teacher of Heraklaea. Her name means, “Unspeakable.”

• Areximacha, ‘excellent warrior’ Areximacha was an Amazon under Andromache.

• Aristomache, Aristomache was an Amazon who fought Mounichos in the Attic War. Her name means, “Best of Warriors.”

• ARSIPPE ‘rearing horse’ also called Aristippe ‘best of horses’ Associated with bats, this Goddess was worshipped by some Scythian Amazons. One of her priestesses was driven from Orchomenos by priests of Dionysus, who often violently deposed the servants of ecstatic Moon and Night Goddesses with their mad god.

• Asteria, was named for the Titan mother of Hecate. She was the sixth slain by Herakles in single combat when he came for Hippolyte’s girdle. Even though the Amazons knew he was invulnerable, they still chose to fight bravely, challenging him one by one [Editor’s note: Just like all the bad do in X:WP and H:TLJ, they always go at the hero one at a time!]. Her name means, “Of the Sky.”

• ASTRONOE ‘high minded one,’ or ‘one who knows the stars’ Priestess of Artemis, named for a Phoenician Goddess similar in nature to Cybele.

• Atanea ‘of the opposition’

• Athtar,  Sun Goddess

• AUTOCHTHE ‘created by oneself’ Daughter of Andromeda.

• BARKIDA ‘grievous in wrath’ Member of the city guard during the reign of Hippolyta.

• BEREKYNTHIA/BEREKUNTHIA ‘running Goddess of the mountains’ or ‘bringer of wisdom’ Amazon queen.

• Bremusa, Bremusa was an Amazon who was one of Penthesilea’s twelve companions at Troy, where she died. Her name means, “Raging Female.” ‘invoker of the Muses’ in final battle

• CAMILLA ‘little comb,’ fiery one,’ ‘drinking vessel’Great ancestress of the Volscians of ancient Latium, an Amazon queen who was suckled by a mare and grewinto a great hunter and runner. Fighting bare breasted and loose haired in the grand tradition of successfulAmazon leaders, her honour guard included Larina, Tulla, Tarpeia, and Opis (all named for demoted Goddesses).She led the fight against the invaders led by Aeneas.

• Celaeno,  ‘obscurity’ or ‘screamer’ Celaneo was an Amazon under Hippolyte whose best weapon was a spear. She fought with Euryhe and Phoebe, always standing shoulder to shoulder in combat. They were killed by Herakles.

• CHALCIOPE/CHALAIOPE ‘brazen face’ Leader of part of the force that drove off the Greek pirates of the Second Doric Raid.

• Charope ‘brilliant confrontation’

• CHRYSIPPE ‘golden horse’An Amazon warrior whose daughter was one of the first famous Helens, and herself a warrior. Chrysippe’s daughter was later confused with Helen of Sparta.

• Clete, one of the twelve followers of Penthesilea. After Penthesilea’s death she, in accord with the former’s will, sailed off and eventually landed in Italy, founding the city of Clete. * Clete, was looking to join Penthesilea at Troy, but was blown off course and founded a city in Italy instead, her name means “the Invoked”

• Clonie  ‘young shoot’

• Clymene,   Clyemne was an Amazon at the Attic war who fought both Theseus and Phaleros in single combat. Her name means, “Famous Might.”

• Cyme, who gave her name to the city of Cyme (Aeolis)

• CYRENE ‘sovereign mistress of the bridle,’ ‘she of the hair or ax’ Named for a sun Goddess, she founded the Libyan Amazon tribe later known as the Sirens, who lived in a city named for her on the North African coast. She had three sisters, Alkaia ‘mighty one,’ Themisto ‘the oracular,’ and Astygeneia ‘bearer of queens.’ An expert with the sword and javelin, she frightened away potential invaders by inviting them to watch her wrestle wild lions. Her consort Xantho ‘yellow’ was almost as famous for her skills in hunting as her connections with the fierce Amazon queen. Cyrene’s people in general were as known for their exports of the herb silphium and red leather as for piracy. Like many coastal peoples, they were shrewd, prosperous traders, willing to salvage any wrecks that washed up on their shores. Their continued practice of the old Goddess centred religion shows in their later portrayals, sometimes as mermaids singing enchantments. They were prophets who could read the past and look into the future. Other times they were bird bodied, heads, necks, and breasts showing in a way that makes them difficult to tell from Harpies. Usually there were two or three of them, representing the Death Goddess in her light and dark or Triple Goddess aspect. When the Sirens were threefold, they made up a musical trio of flute, lyre, and voice, which may have been a typical arrangement for sacred music. A second Siren colony was located on a Mediterranean island in Classical times, matching accounts of former Amazon Nation members in the area. Several sets of Sirens were known to Classical storytellers.

• Deinomache,  Deinomache was an Amazon in the Attic War. Her name means, “Terrible Warrior.”

• Deianeira,   Deianeira was the fifth Amazon killed by Herakles in single combat, during his ninth labor. Her name means, “Strings Together Spoils.”

• Derimacheia,  Derimacheia was one of the twelve Amazon companions of Penthesilea at Troy. ‘wearing leather armour’

• Derinoe, killed Laogonus, Derinoe was an Amazon who fought for Penthesilea at Troy. Killed Laogonus in single combat. ‘tough minded’

• Diodorus Siculus

• Dioxippe,

• Dolope ‘snare’ spearwielder

• Doris, Doris was an Amazon named for a sea-goddess. Named for the Great Goddess of the Dorians, which suggests that she was an immigrant. She was a spear wielder in the Attic War. Her name means, “Bountiful.”

• Echephyle, Echephyle fought Eudorus in single combat in the Attic War. Her name means, “Chief Defender.” wicker shield

• EGEE A Libyan Amazon queen who led an army through Libya and Asia Minor to fight at Troy. After killing the city’s king, she and her army returned home. The incident seems to be the first of many battles brought about by repeated attempts at take over by patriarchal forces. Since she didn’t stay or leave a garrison, the priestess-queen of the city may have called upon Amazon aid as Hekuba would later. Since all Goddess centred cultures were coming under siege at this time, and the Amazon Nation was itself a confederation which Troy probably belonged to, it is no surprise that the Amazons would provide assistance when called upon.

• Eriboea,  ‘rich in cattle’ Eriobea was an Amazon who served under Hippolyte. She was the fourth killed by Herakles in single combat.

 

• Eumache, Eumache was an Amazon in the Attic War, who once disarmed and out of arrows, fought with a stone. Her name means, “Good Fighter.”

• Eurybia, Eurybe was an Amazon who was handy with a spear. She always fought in an unbeatable pattern with Phoebe and Celaneo. Unfortunately, they were killed by Herakles, when their spears broke against the lion’s skin from his first labor. They were killed with one sword stroke. Her name means, “Grand Strength.”

• Euryale,   Euryleia fought in the Attic War. Her name means, ‘wide wandering’

• Eurypyle, queen of the Amazons who was reported to have led an expedition against Ninus and Babylon around 1760 BC

• Evandr, ‘blooming’

• Glauce,

• Glaukia ‘grey green’

• Gryne, an Amazon who was thought to be the eponym of the Gryneian grove in Asia Minor. She was loved by Apollo

•  Harmothoe dark-eyed, “sharp nail” Harmothoe was an Amazon who was one of Penthesilea’s twelve companions. Her name means, “Sharp Nail.”

• Harpe,

• Helene, daughter of Tityrus. She fought Achilles and died after he seriously wounded her.

• Hippo, was a famous queen who helped found the cities of Ephesus, Smyrna, Cyrene, and Myrina. She conquered the Asia Minor and Syria,. Amazons would often go there to perform rituals like the shield dance, beating the ground in unison to the accompaniment of pipes playing a wild, warlike melody. The name Hippo, is the Greek word for “horse”, and not surprisingly, appears in many Amazon names.  Her sister Molpia ‘melody’ was apriestess of Hanged Artemis.  They were met by a hostile Trojan army (suggesting the city had left the Nation for a time), which they defeated, signing a treaty with the city. It is their establishment of Ephesus that is most well known, where they set up a shrine to Artemis in the forest beneath a beech tree. The tree was a sign from Artemis, since beech trees do not typically grow so far south.

 

• Hippolyta,   Barring perhaps Penthesilea, Hippolyta was the most well-known of the Amazons. She was the daughter of Ares (God of War) and the Amazon Otrera. Hippolyta was a famous queen who fell in love with Heracles when the hero came on his mission to retrieve the golden girdle of Amazonian queenship as his ninth labor (see the Myth Pages for more). She would have been happy to give him the girdle without issue, but the rumour was spread around the Amazon camp (by Hera in disguise) that Heracles had come to steal from Hippolyta, and the Amazons made war on him. Heracles assumed Hippolyta had planned it, killed her, took the girdle, and left. By the way, the girdle was a belt made to carry a sword.  The dynastic title of a series of Thermodontine queens. The one usually remembered for her belt was daughter of Otrere, and her real name was Neptunis. Hippolyta’s birth name suggests that she was a priestess of Artemis, since it was one of the Goddess’ titles. The belt sent to Admete, a priestess of Hera at Argos was a good will gesture. (Clarification on this point is in Part Two.) Dorian pirates coveted what they perceived as Amazon riches and despised their personal freedom. The queen’s belt was considered a representation of her personal sovereignty and her role as queen of the Amazons. The Second Doric Raid was carried out with the purpose of rape and pillage, with the belt taken as proof of victory. The raid failed, although Hippolyta was killed. The Dorians so feared her ghost that they built a heraeum for her at Megaera, and made expiatory pilgrimages to it until Classical times. Later propagandists rewrote the story and claimed that their new hero Herakles had stolen it, a task given to him as part of his penance for murdering his family. A curious idea, since in the same tales say that Herakles was driven mad by Hera, and killed his family in his frenzy, which suggests that some writers had attempted to exonerate him entirely. The belt ‘stolen’ by Herakles then becomes lost to mythology, although the belt sent by Hippolyta was long displayed in the Argive temple of Hera, its story suitably altered by the priests who had forcibly taken it over. Her name means, “Of the Stampeding Horse.”

• Hippolyte II, was a sister of Penthesilea. While the two were hunting together, Penthesilea accidentally killed her. Penthesilea was so shocked and ashamed, that she left the Amazons, taking twelve of her Amazons with her to Troy.

• Hippomache, ‘horse warrior’ Hippomache fought at the Attic War.

• Hippothoe,  Hippothoe fought with Penthesilea at Troy  she survived to found an Amazon colony on one of the Echinade islands.

• . Her name means, “Imperious Mare.”

• Hypsipyle, Hypsipyle was an Amazon under Hippolyte. She helped in the fight against Herakles’ captains.  Her name refers to the meridian, the Moon at its highest point in the sky. An Amazon warrior of this name fought with Pantariste. Another was a member of the Lemnian high council. She was captured by Thrakian pirates during a sea battle, and after her escape became high priestess of Artemis at the Nemean Grove. Her name means, “Of the High Gate.”

• Iphinome,

•  Iphito, Iphito served under Hippolyte. She joined in the battle with Pantariste against Herakles’ captains, Telamon, Theseus and Tiamides.

• Kokkymo ‘curling wave’

• KLEITE/KLETA ‘famous,’ ‘the invoked,’ ‘the renowned’ The first Kleite was queen of Kyzicus, a prophet who was assisted by her sister Arisbe. The second was the mother of Penthesilea. Blown off course on the way to Troy, she arrived only to find the city razed, her daughter killed by treachery. She and her compliment of Amazons then set sail again for the Southern Coast of Italy, where they founded a city called by her name. The tribe came to be known as the Kleitae.

• KLEODAEIS ‘famous warrior’ Helped defend the colony of Lemnos from Greek pirates.

• Kleoptoleme,  ‘famous warrior’ Kleoptoleme was an Amazon under Queen Andromache.

• KLITO ‘the invoked’ Priestess of Athena, daughter of Leukippe, who lived on the sacred island at the centre of the Libyan homeland of Tritonis.

• Klonie ‘young shoot’

• Klymene ‘famous might’ Daughter of the sea Goddess Tethys and participant in the Attic War.

• Kreousa, ‘golden’ Kreousa was an Amazon who was killed by Phylakos in single combat in the Attic War.

• Ktesippe ‘possessor of horses’

• Kydoime, ‘glorious one’  Kydoime was an Amazon under Andromache.

• KYME ‘wave’ She, Priene ‘queen who cuts,’ and Pitana ‘pine mother’ helped lead the evacuation from the devastated Gorgon island of Tritonia. Their leader was Mitylene ‘hornless Moon,’ sister of one of the famous Myrines. The continued movement of the Gorgons was forced by their numbers and tensions with their mainland sisters. The Gorgon resettlement was not completely peaceful, due to the understandable alarm of tribes that had experienced the sudden arrival of patriarchal tribes, and the increased war activity of the new ly united Egyptian state, which had already forced a Libyan migration. Kyme and her sister ‘generals’ founded cities named for themselves, and coins from the city of Kyme still exist, clearly stamped with her image. She may also have been the ancestress of the Kimmeroi, a people who lived around Palus Maeotis, a onetime stronghold of both the Libyan and Thermodontine Amazons. That they were Amazons becomes clear from how they were mythologized, as a race that lived in perpetual darkness. That is, they refused to worship the Greek sun god Apollo or his later replacement, Herakles. Similar descriptions of alien peoples were once commonly used by Christian missionaries, who referred to them as ‘living beyond the light of the Lord.’

• Lampedo, ‘burning torch’ queen of the Amazons, co-ruler of Marpesia  One of the generals who helped establish Ephesus. Her name refers to the traditional New Moon torchlit processions in honour of Artemis.

• Laodoke, Laodoke fought with the Amazons in the Attic War. ‘good for the people’

• Laomache,

• Leukosia ‘white Goddess’ or Himeropa ‘awakening face’

• Ligeia ‘high voiced’ Thelchetereia ‘enchanter’

• Lyce,   

• Lykopis, Lykopis was an Amazon archer under Andromache. Her name means, “She-Wolf.”

• Lysippe, mother of Tanais by Berossos. Her son only venerated Ares and was fully devoted to war, neglecting love and marriage. Aphrodite cursed him with falling in love with his own mother. Preferring to die rather than give up his chastity, he threw himself into the river Amazonius, which was subsequently renamed Tanais. Lysippe was another Amazon Queen with a tragic story. But like almost all Amazon tales, her’s was a story of strength instead of martyrdom. Lycippe had a son named Tanais who was completely devoted to war and scorned marriage. Though this was totally normal in Amazon society, Aphrodite was none too pleased and cursed him with falling in love with his own mother. Unable to deal with this, he threw himself into a river and drowned. Lycippe buried her pain in work. She built the Amazon capital city Themiscrya, consolidating the Amazon Nation and building lots of temples to Artemis (NOT Aphrodite). She established the policies that the Amazons are known for, and she was a very cool woman. She was a notable general, and the first to lead an attack force with cavalry. Settled her Amazons near the Black Sea. She was the one who established the policies that Amazons lived by. She was an intelligent woman, an excellent general and founded the city, Themiscrya. She was killed in battle as a hero to her people. Her name means, “She Who Lets Loose the Horses.”

• Maia ‘grandmother’

• Marpe,  ‘snatcher’  Marpe was the seventh Amazon to challenge and be killed by Herakles

• Marpesia, queen of the Amazons, co-ruler of Lampedo  was one of the cool and important military Queens who made a name (and an empire) for the Amazons. On her own she took over Thrace and Syria and later she teamed up with Hippo and they conquered Ephesus and Cyrene and basically anything that was in their way up until the Aegean Sea. She should have quit then, but an uprising in conquered land called her back to battle and she died fighting. She had a daughter named Orithia. The Caucasus Mountains were once called, “The Marpesians,” after her. Marpesia was killed by a group of barbarians during an Asian attack.  she founded a great city in the Kaukasus Mountains near the Caspian Gate, by what was called the Marpesian Cliff. She helped extend Amazon influence to Europe, Asia, Thrake, Syria, and greater Asia Minor. She was succeeded by her daughter Synope after Marpesia was killed in battle with Asian invaders. Her name means, “The Snatcher.”

• Melanippe, ‘black horse’ Melanippe was the sister of Antiope she was captured during the Second Doric Raid. When Herakles came for Hippolyte’s girdle, Melanippe was captured by the son of Zeus. While a prisoner, she planned a successful mutiny, on one of Herakles’ ships, that freed her and some other captive Amazons. They took the ship, killing the Greeks and tossed their bodies overboard. Unfortunately, these Amazons were trained to ride horses, not sail, and they were blown to the shores of Scythia. They stole horses and became marauders. Her name means, “Black Mare.” sister of Hippolyte. Heracles captured her and demanded Hippolyte’s girdle in exchange for her freedom. Hippolyte complied and Heracles let her go. According to some, however, she was killed by Telamon. another version of the story states that:  She led a successful mutiny to free herself and her fellow captives. They landed at Scythia where many of the other captives stayed to found a new city, while she returned to participate in the Attic War.

• Melousa, Melousa was an Amazon in the Attic War, lead by Orithia. ‘gentle one’

• Menippe

•  Mimnousa, ‘strong one’  Mimnousa fought at the Attic War.

• MITYLENE ‘hornless Moon’ Sister of the second famous Myrine who helped her settle Lesbos. Myrine named the colony’s capital after herin gratitude for her assistance.

• Molpadia, an Amazon who killed Antiope. Molpadia was smart and quick and brave and a model Amazon warrior. She came with the Amazon army to Athens to rescue Antiope from her kidnapper Theseus and was one of the only ones able to infiltrate the castle. She found Antiope and tried to rescue her, but Antiope wanted to stay with Theseus so Molpadia threw a spear through her former Queen and killed her. Theseus quickly killed Molpadia, too, but that didn’t do much for Antiope. Molpadia is buried near Antiope and a temple of Gaia. Molpadia was an Amazon who fought for Orithia. Another version tells: A participant in the Attic War, she saw her queen Antiope fall, injured so seriously she could not defendherself from Theseus and his retainers. She killed the queen with an arrow, saving her from violation by the Athenian king. Her name means, “Death Song.”

• Molpe ‘melody’

• MYRINE ‘swiftly bounding’  Queen of the North African Gorgons, she succeeded in raising an army of 33 000, 30 000 of which was cavalry, and conquer a stupendous amount of territory, including Atlantis. Depending who is writing, she was a kind conqueror, or an incredibly vicious one, acting more like a butcher than an Amazon. Her story was still in the process of revision when these versions were written down. Considering how difficult it was for most early cities to reach 10 000 people, even assuming Myrine collected vast numbers of allies or conscripts, the numbers seem too large. The story reads like a telescoped, confused explanation of how the Amazon Nation came to be so vast. The Nation was of considerable size, but what the Greeks knew of it was created and administered mainly in a time when societal norms were changing. Information on it derives mainly from biased sources, who considered large groups of allied people impossible without warfare. Considering the Northern Amazon Nation existed as a political power for over 400 years and only ceased to be one after two centuries of concerted pressure from patriarchal forces, and the inability of war based empires to last even 100 years, fighting has too strong a role in these stories. Some of the first African Amazon tribes lived on an island off the vast Northern coast of the continent, alternately called Tritonia or Hespera by later authors. The island was probably called Tritonia, giving the inland sea Lake Tritonis its name later. Others lived in a territory including the vast Atlas mountain range. Unfortunately for the island Amazons who worshipped the Moon and Sea Goddess Sipylene ‘the Mother,’ Tritonia was a volcanic island. In a cataclysm that would be repeated at Thera near Crete, the island was destroyed, leaving behind only the present day Canary Islands. The Tritonians were driven to the mainland. However, life was difficult in and around the Atlas Mountains. The Sun beat down mercilessly, and it was necessary to contend with the desert. The sea-loving Tritonians soon came into conflict with the Gorgons, worshippers of Athena the Sun Goddess. Such a huge number of refugees of a different culture although similar philosophy could not be absorbed easily. After some fighting, the first Myrine led her people further east, to the region around Lake Tritonis. The name ‘Myrine’ became a title taken by each queen in honour of her role in resettling her people and repairing relations with the Gorgons. Her efforts on the latter were so successful that the two tribes eventually united, much to the confusion of outsiders later, resulting in the garbled tale of the invasion of Atlantis. The next Myrine of great influence had to deal directly with the united Egypt. Its armies forced a Libyan migration which led to conflict between the Amazons and the fleeing tribes. Myrine was more than successful, turning her army from defense to offense and taking control of Syria, Egypt, Phrygia, and other Mediterranean lands. After some years holding that territory, renewed fighting forced them to withdraw from most of it, except Phrygia and some small areas around the Mediterranean. The resurgence of unified Egypt forced a Libyan migration, resulting in Amazons and other tribes sailing on to Crete and Cyprus. It became clear that taking over other nations was not a successful tactic for increasing the Amazon Nation or maintaining it. Unlike most nations, since the Amazon Nation consisted solely of women, any strategy that ended numerous lives to no purpose had to be abandoned by necessity, even without the difference in mindset between Goddess worshipping and god worshipping cultures. So by philosophy and practicality, a conquistadora strategy never became enshrined in Amazon culture. The Myrine who helped found Ephesus was a great warrior and general, but more importantly she was an excellent diplomat. Her numerous ‘foot and cavalry’ were not raised solely from Libyan Amazonia, if such numbers could have been raised. Rather than going out to conquer, she sent out numerous riders and messengers to search out like minded tribes of women, with overtures to confederation. The tactic was enormously successful. By the end of it, the Taurian Sea, the Black Sea, and the Caucus river formed the boundaries of the Amazon Nation in Europe and Asia Minor. Numerous Goddess worshipping tribes that were not Amazon became allies in order to gain support against the growing numbers of hostile patriarchal tribes coming from the North. Myrine went on to found a city in Aeolis named for herself, and Smyrna in Lydia, also named for herself. During one of her many sea journeys she was caught in a storm. She sacrificed to Sipylene, long considered a protector of sailors caught on rough seas, and made it to shore. Myrine died fighting Scythian and Thrakian tribes that felt threatened by the increased power of the Amazons. Her tomb, called Bateia ‘thorn hill’ was near Troy, a later barometer for the strength of patriarchal forces. The next Myrine, daughter of Orithia, was forced to fight followers of ‘Dionysus’ for control of Ephesus. Besides being an important crossroads, it was of such religious importance that control of it was considered a source of Amazon strength. Myrine’s army was fronted by her Gorgons in snakeskin armour, armed with bows which they drew past their chests and could fire rapidly from horses at full gallop. Gathering allies as she moved North, a huge army with a significant mounted component attacked the Greek stronghold of Olympus. Succeeding in breaking its power at least temporarily, memory of this army remained, multiplying in numbers and ferocity as time passed. Much of this army, like others before it, consisted of women past childbearing age. Later encounters with increasing numbers of Greek soldiers forced younger women to fight on a regular basis, leading to the eventual tales of the beautiful Gorgons, protected by their crone sisters, the Graea. Later the Thermodontine Amazons reunited the numerous tribes and cities of women who worshipped mainly Athena, Artemis, and Cybele, and recreated alliances with other Goddess-worshipping tribes. Artemis was the main embodiment of feminine power in the Northern areas of the Amazon Nation, and never ceased to be associated with it. Athena suffered cruel transformations at the hands of the newly powerful Greek warlords, who made her white and a cruel foe to women.

• Myrto, ‘Sea Goddess’ in one source, mother of Myrtilus by Hermes (elsewhere his mother is called Theobule). Named for Aphrodite as a stormy, warlike Sea Goddess, this Amazon warrior was mother of Autolycus, whowas later conveniently stripped of his Amazon associations.

• Mytilene, Myrina’s sister and one of the possible eponyms for the city of Mytilene

• Ocyale,   ‘swift moving’ Okyale was an Amazon archer who fought in the Attic war. She engaged Astyochos in single combat.

• Oigme

• Okypous,  ‘swift footed’ Okypous was an Amazon under Andromache.

• Orithyia, ‘woman raging in the mountains’ daughter and successor of Marpesia, famous for her conquests. Orithia, or Oreithyia, was the daughter of the Queen Marpesia who inherited her position and went to work as soon as she got the job. She created an alliance with the King of Sythia who sent his son with and army and together they destroyed the Asian barbarians who killed her mother. She was also known as the mother of Chione and Cleopatra (different Cleopatra) and the two Argonauts Calais and Zetes. These children were the result of a kidnapping and rape by the North Wind, Doreas. Learning that a significant number of Scythian and Thrakian slaves were in Athens, with a portion of the former kept as a personal guard for the Athenian king, Orithia saw a great opportunity. Gathering her Scythian and Thrakian allies, she sent two sets of diplomatic envoys. One to ensure Lakonia did not assist Athens, which was no great problem, and a more subtle group to contact Scythian and Thrakian slave leaders to see what the odds were of gaining their assistance in return for freedom. In a feat more impressive than Hannibal’s, Orithia led her army across the Kimmerian Bosporus, over the Danube, then through Thrake, Thessaly, and Boeotia. Then she besieged Athens, which collapsed between her army and the slave revolt it suffered within. Orithia had no intentions of staying, however. After completing a treaty with the chastened Athenians and building a tomb for Antiope, she and her army left, taking a considerable number of newly freed slaves with them. Unfortunately, Orithia had suffered serious injuries, and succumbed to infection on the way home. Her fate was shared by other Amazons, who were buried along the army’s route home. Among the Amazons who participated in the Attic War, a few have had their names recorded.

• Otrera, the consort of Ares and mother of Hippolyte and Penthesilea.  Otrera was the ancient ancient original Goddess of the Amazons. When the patriarchy of the Sky Gods came along, Otrera became the mother, with Ares, of the Amazon Nation. Otrera also became the DAUGHTER of Ares and the mother of the Amazon Queens Hippolyta, Antiope, Lysippe, and Melanippe, the first queens of the Amazons.

• OTRERE ‘the nimble’ Builder of the great temple of Artemis and its attendant bird sanctuary on Aretias, an island on the Black Sea. She was deified after her death.

• Pantariste,  ‘best of all’ who killed Timiades in the battle between the Amazons and Heracles’ troops.  When Herakles’ captains fled, Pantariste lead the chase after them. Two Greek foot soldiers attacked her, but she killed them (killing the second by holding his throat until he suffocated). She threw her spear at Captain Tiamides, who blocked it with his shield, but the force knocked him to the ground. She then threw her labrys (a double-headed ax) and beheaded him. Scythian Amazon who led an attack on Greek pirate captains during the Second Doric Raid. She pursued twoGreeks going to warn their compatriots armed with her spear and shield, which was emblazoned with a whitesphinx. Throwing her spear at one Greek so hard that she pinned him to the ground and couldn’t get it loose,she killed the other with her bare hands.

• Parthenia ‘maiden’

• Parthenope ‘virgin face’

• Peisinoe ‘seductress’

• Penthesilea,  Daughter of Kleite or Orithia, ruler of the Thermodontine Amazons with her sister Hippolyta and Antianeira, who eventually succeeded her. She had Thrakian roots, and this along with a call for help from the besieged queen of Troy led her to lead a small force to the city’s aid. The Amazons temporarily freed the city, and Penthesilea killed Achilles, leader of the Myrmidonian Greeks. Contrary to some claims, he was not brought back to life again. He was named for a mythological figure representing the half of the year when the Sun waxes, while Agamemnon fills in for the waning Sun. They dueled in order to show off their skills to the Moon Goddess Briseis. Of course she chose the waxing Sun at Winter Solstice and the waning Sun at Summer Solstice. The tale was grafted into the story of the fall of Troy. In any case, the next battle led to Troy’s defeat. Penthesilea was killed by treachery, stabbed in the back by one of the infamous priests of Apollo who had betrayed the city. Again contrary to popular belief, Penthesilea was not part of last flair of greatness from a dying Nation. Homeric Troy fell around 1200 BC, a full six centuries before the official political demise of the Northern Amazon Nation. What she probably does represent is the beginning of the retreat of Goddess worshipping peoples in Asia Minor in the face of continuing violence from invaders.

• Penthesilea was one of the greatest of the Amazon warriors and a hero by Greek standards. She was a daughter of Ares and Orithia and had a huge amount of skill with weapons and battle.  12 warriors followed her to Troy and they killed many of the Greeks. Penthesilea was especially deadly because of her parentage, but she died fighting Achilles (because of his “invincibility” clause) in single combat. Achilles mourned when he ripped off her helmet and saw who he’d killed and “loved” her corpse, as it is written. When one of his comrades suggested his lust was unnatural, Achilles killed him. She was known for her bravery, her skill in weapons and her wisdom. During a hunt, she killed her sister, Hippolyte II. She was so filled with grief that she set out for Troy (which she liberated), but Achilles retook it. Penthesilea’s Amazons fought for Troy again. Since she was the daughter of Ares (God of War), she was able to kill many warriors at Troy, including Machaon. Penthesilea fell at Troy. Her name means, “Compelling Men to Mourn.”

• Philippis,   Philippis was the second Amazon of nine to engage Herakles, one-on-one, after he had killed Hippolyte. She was killed. Her name means, “Woman Who Loves Horses.”

• Phoebe, Phoebe was the third of the Amazon spear-women with Celaneo and Eurybe. They were killed by Herakles when the Amazons attacked him after Hippolyte’s death.

• Pisto, ‘trustworthy’ Pisto was an Amazon under Andromache.

• Pitane and Priene, two commanders in Myrina’s army, after whom the cities of Pitane (Aeolis) and Priene were named.

• PLEIADES ‘sailing ones’ or ‘flock of doves’ The usual seven Pleiades are in fact daughters of Aphrodite as Dove Goddess, with only Taygete recognized as an Amazon.

• Polemusa, Polemusa was one of the twelve Amazons who accompanied Penthesilea to Troy. ‘rich in the Muses’ Gifts’

• Polydora.

• Prothoe,  Prothoe was the third Amazon to take on Herakles in single combat after Hippolyte’s death. Herakles won, killing her. Her name means, “First in Might.”
• Protis ‘first’

• Pyrgomache, Pyrgomache was an Amazon who fought in the Attic War. Her name means, “Fiery Warrior.”

• Raedne ‘shining’

• Scyleia, ‘leaper’Scyleia was an Amazon under Andromache.

• Smyrna, who obtained possession of Ephesus and gave her name to a quarter in this city, as well as to the city of Smyrna

• Stonychia ‘barb, sharp point’

• SYNOPE/SINOPE ‘Moon face ‘Daughter of Marpesia, founded a city named for herself on the shores of the Black Sea. She drove off Greekinvaders so successfully they maligned her for being warlike. They later mythologized her as an Amazon queenso desirable, the gods offered her anything she wanted in hopes of demanding her body in payment. Shrewd asher mother before her, Synope forced each god to swear by his own testicles to leave her alone.

• Tecmessa,   Tecmessa was the eighth Amazon to challenge Herakles in hand-to-hand combat. She was killed. Her name means, “She Who Judges.”

• Tekmessa ‘she who ordains’ Phrygian immigrant

• Teisipyte, Teisipyte was an Amazon who served under Andromache.

• Telepyleia, Telepyleia was an Amazon under Andromache. Her name means, “Far Sailing.”

• Teles ‘perfect’

• Tereis ‘piercer’

• Tesipyle ‘swift sailor’

An Amazon from Bullfinch’s mythology

• Thalestris,Thalestris was a ledgendary Amazon Queen in the 320’s BC. She was the best of the best and she knew it, likewise she knew that Alexander the Great was the best of the best and so she decided that if she had a daughter of this union only this daughter could be greater and would bring the Amazon nation great respect. So Thalestris went, armies in tow, to Alexander and explained her plan. He agreed as long as he got any male children. For thirteen days (a sacred number to Moon-worshippers like the Amazons) the two spent all their time together – hunting stag and having lots and lots of sex. After, Thalestris returned to Themiskrya and waited for the results – but they never came and Thalestris died soon after (randomly) without a child or a real legacy.

• Thelxiope ‘perfect face’

• Thelxiopeia ‘a perfect face’

• Thermodosa glorying with the spear.” Thermodosa was one of Penthesilea’s twelve Amazon companions at Troy. ‘heated one’

• Theseis, ‘she who lays down’ What she lays down is the law, suggesting the name may have been a title of Themis the Lawgiver originally.

• Thoe.

• Thraso, Thraso was an Amazon under Andromache. had a gorgoneum on her shield, fought with her lover Her name means, “Confidence.”

• Toxaris, Toxaris was an Amazon of Andromache. Her name means, “Archer.”

• Toxis, Toxis was an archer under Andromache.

• Toxophile, ‘poisoned arrow’ Toxophile was an archer under Andromache.

• Valasca, Valasca (or Dlasta) was an Amazon warrior queen, who ruled for several years in tyranny. She had the right eye and thumbs of all males removed, to make them useless in battle. She wanted to start a new era for the Amazons and she was cruel in her haste, having only a small cult of willing followers. It was not until she died that, “the nation resumed its normal order.”

• Xanthe,   Xanthippe was an Amazon in the Attic War. Her name means, “Yellow Mare.”

• Xanthippe ‘yellow horse’ sabrer

• Zerynthia, (Scythian Amazon)

This section on Amazons is dedicated to “Devan Stuart” who reminded me when discussing “greater women”. about the superiority of these warrior women who fought against great names like Achilles and Hercules. Their names need to me honored and remembered, I doubt any man today could stand long against them.