Recent archeological finds reveal that the Greek mythological Amazons, ferocious woman warriors, may have been real. Legends have described the Amazons as horseback-riding, bow-wielding nomads from the outskirts of the known world.
According to Greek mythology, Amazons were ferocious warrior women who fought Hercules, lived in lesbian matriarchies, and had their breasts removed to improve their archery. Homer immortalized these heroines in "The Iliad," and Wonder Woman comics included them, according to a Washington Post article.
However, recent archeological evidence suggests that the Amazon female warriors existed.
A bronze age necropolis at Nakhchivan, Azerbaijan, revealed razor-sharp arrowheads, a bronze knife, and a mace, together with jewelry, suggesting a warrior culture 4,000 years old, per The Guardian. These finds may prove the Amazons' existence, famed for their male-free society and combat skills, particularly in archery.
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A giant 30-metre high bronze statue representing an Amazon is seen in central Cotonou on September 17, 2022 as a symbol of national identity and key part of its rich history to showcase in a bid to attract tourists to the country.
Women Buried Alongside Weapons
These findings were significant, according to historian Bettany Hughes, who noted their link with prior discoveries. Previous discoveries in Russia and Armenia found female soldiers buried with weapons, indicating a larger cultural phenomenon. Hughes stressed that Amazonian cultures' existence requires numerous finds and a thorough archeological record.
Bone evidence reveals these Amazon warrior women used bows and arrows extensively, demonstrating skill and experience. Carnelian necklaces, worn by high priestesses and deities, indicate social prestige.
A Channel 4 series called "Bettany Hughes' Treasures of the World." will highlight these archeological discoveries. The Silk Roads and Caucasus series examines the historical relevance of cultural interactions and economic routes between Asia and Europe.
Bettany Hughes also visited Khinalig, a highland town in the Greater Caucasus, where oral legends suggest women fought like men. Ancient reports of Amazon warriors hiding their identities in combat support such legends.
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Historian, Author and Broadcaster, Professor Bettany Hughes poses with her OBE award following an investiture ceremony at Buckingham Palace on October 31, 2019 in London, England
The Long Debates Over Amazons' Existence
According to Smithsonian Magazine, some academics have long debated the Amazons' or any matriarchal society's existence. Johann Jakob Bachofen, a Swiss law professor and classical historian, boldly claimed that the Amazons were real in 1861, sparking this dispute. At the birth of civilization, Bachofen said, patriarchy replaced women's rule. Bachofen admired earth-mother figures, but he felt that male supremacy was important for social development since women could only grasp physical existence while men could free the soul from nature.
The similarity of Brünnhilde and the Valkyries to flying Amazons shows Bachofen's influence on Richard Wagner. Bachofen inspired generations of Marxist and feminist thinkers after Wagner. Friedrich Engels, like Bachofen, lamented mother-right's fall and men's slavery of women.
The dearth of proof plagued Bachofen's matriarchy idea. Alternative hypotheses arose in the 20th century. Some believed the true Amazons were beardless "bow-toting Mongoloids" mistaken for women by the Greeks, while others believed they were Athenian propaganda amid political instability. Meanwhile, Freudian thinkers considered Amazons more fascinating psychologically than historically.
Whether myth, truth, symbol, or neurosis, none of these hypotheses explained the Amazon's origins. Even if they were merely the products of Greek imagination, the question of what motivated such intricate fiction remained unanswered.
The boundary between fiction and fact surrounding the Amazons seems to erode as archeological evidence emerges, revealing intriguing glimpses into ancient history and society giving clues that Amazon warriors may be real.
