The Amazons: Lives and Legends of Warrior Women Across the Ancient World

The Amazons: Lives and Legends of Warrior Women Across the Ancient World
ISBN-10
0691147205
ISBN-13
9780691147208
Series
The Amazons
Category
Amazons
Language
English
Published
2014
Author
Adrienne Mayor

Description

The real history of the Amazons in war and love Amazons--fierce warrior women dwelling on the fringes of the known world--were the mythic archenemies of the ancient Greeks. Heracles and Achilles displayed their valor in duels with Amazon queens, and the Athenians reveled in their victory over a powerful Amazon army. In historical times, Cyrus of Persia, Alexander the Great, and the Roman general Pompey tangled with Amazons. But just who were these bold barbarian archers on horseback who gloried in fighting, hunting, and sexual freedom? Were Amazons real? In this deeply researched, wide-ranging, and lavishly illustrated book, National Book Award finalist Adrienne Mayor presents the Amazons as they have never been seen before. This is the first comprehensive account of warrior women in myth and history across the ancient world, from the Mediterranean Sea to the Great Wall of China. Mayor tells how amazing new archaeological discoveries of battle-scarred female skeletons buried with their weapons prove that women warriors were not merely figments of the Greek imagination. Combining classical myth and art, nomad traditions, and scientific archaeology, she reveals intimate, surprising details and original insights about the lives and legends of the women known as Amazons. Provocatively arguing that a timeless search for a balance between the sexes explains the allure of the Amazons, Mayor reminds us that there were as many Amazon love stories as there were war stories. The Greeks were not the only people enchanted by Amazons--Mayor shows that warlike women of nomadic cultures inspired exciting tales in ancient Egypt, Persia, India, Central Asia, and China. Driven by a detective's curiosity, Mayor unearths long-buried evidence and sifts fact from fiction to show how flesh-and-blood women of the Eurasian steppes were mythologized as Amazons, the equals of men. The result is likely to become a classic.

Get the book

Amazon.com
Amazon.com
Search the book
eBay.com
eBay.com
Search the book

Other editions

Similar books

  • Female Warriors: Memorials of Female Valour and Heroism from the Mythological Ages to the Present Era (Complete)
    Female Warriors: Memorials of Female Valour and Heroism from the Mythological Ages to the Present Era (Complete)
    By Ellen C. Clayton

    At last, on the 23rd ofMay, they learnt, to their inexpressible relief, that Prince Rupert andthe Earl of Derby were in Cheshire, marching to theiraid. When thePuritans heardofthe approachof Prince Rupert, they retreated toBolton.

  • Across a Wine-Dark Sea
    Across a Wine-Dark Sea
    By Jessica Bryan

    But I will also hope that one of these strangers acts disrespectfully , thus giving me a reason to cut off his head . ... The eyes of young Theseus — the exceedingly handsome red - haired king of Athens / gleamed with special admiration ...

  • How the Amazon Queen Fought the Prince of Egypt
    By Tamara Bower

    Serpot, ruler of a land where women live free, without men, leads her Amazon warriors in battle against Prince Pedikhons of Egypt, who has come to see for himself if women can equal men, even in battle.

  • The Amazon Queen, Revised Edition
    The Amazon Queen, Revised Edition
    By L. M. Townsend-Crow

    Be they all dead, and laid in dolefull hearse? Or do they only sleep, and shall rise again reverse? Edmund Spenser Open the book and awaken them, turn the page and bring them back.

  • The Lost Sisterhood
    The Lost Sisterhood
    By Anne Fortier

    A thrilling new historical novel that will forever alter our understanding of one of mankind’s greatest myths—the Amazons—from the author of the New York Times bestseller Juliet The Lost Sisterhood tells the story of Diana, an ...

  • Wonder Woman: Amazons Attack
    Wonder Woman: Amazons Attack
    By Pete Woods, Will Pfeifer

    Wonder Woman and the Justice League are unprepared for an attack by the once peaceful Amazons.

  • The True Story of Wonder Woman
    The True Story of Wonder Woman
    By Louise Simonson

    Retells the story of Wonder Woman, from her birth as Princess Diana, the Amazon champion, to her defeat of Ares

  • Warrior Princesses
    Warrior Princesses
    By Elizabeth Ann Scarborough, Martin Harry Greenberg

    This unique collection includes original stories from such fantasy and science fiction writers as Anne McCaffrey, Esther Freisner, Morgan Llwellyn, Elizabeth Moon, and many more!

  • Wonder Woman Vol. 1: the Just War
    Wonder Woman Vol. 1: the Just War
    By G. Willow Wilson

    "Originally published in single magazine form in Wonder Woman 58-65"--Copyright page.

  • Keeper of the Dawn
    By Dianna Gunn

    Falling in love with another initiate was not part of the plan. Keeper of the Dawn is a tale of new beginnings, second chances, and the endurance of hope.