The Misogynistic Legend Of The Amazons

Summarize arguments and efforts In tandem with the misogynistic tendencies of the Greeks, was the legend of the Amazons. For the Greeks, Amazons were a race of warrior women who lived somewhere on the edges of the civilized world, somewhere in the Black Sea region. While artistic renditions of Amazons show they have two breasts, the word Amazon means having no breasts. A legend developed that these women had their right breasts removed to aid in their use of the bow and arrow. Some of the myths regarding the Amazons may have some historical basis, and recent archaeological uncovering of burials leads many scholars to conclude that the Scythians, an actual historical tribe, exhibited much of the same characteristics as the Amazons. Amazons were
outside the regular fabric of society, as they acted as men. They did not marry, but when they wanted to have female children, they captured men and seduced them. If a male infant was the result, then he was killed, the opposite of what the Greeks did, by committing female infanticide. These Amazons were warriors, who rode astride, and lived without males. Encounters with Amazons were expected of the greatest Greek heroes to show their champion status.