In
Greek legend the amazon was a female hunter, unusual for occupying a male role.
The Amazon river was named after this legendary hunter when
early European explorers encountered women who were hunters and in many ways acted like
men.
Amazons are members of a legendary nation of female warriors in
Greek mythology.
Many cultures have acknowledged a masculine role for women. The
Kaska Indians of the Subarctic may select a daughter when it appeared the family was going
to have no sons and perform a transformation ceremony to symbolically turn the daughter
into a son.
The dried ovaries of a bear were tied to her belt which she
always wore, she dressed like males and engaged in hunting.
The counterpart of this role among men is called
‘berdache’.
How did the ancient Greeks see the Amazons?
There is a lot of literature concerning the Amazons and there are numerous pictures of
Amazons in Greek art, mostly vase-painting and sculpture.
Amazons at the river Thermodon in northern Turkey
It has always been very clear to the ancient Greeks, where these famous Amazons once
really had lived. Their home had been at the mouth of the river Thermodon in Northern
Turkey. This localization is so definite that even now the river bears a Turkish name
which leaves no doubt about its identity. Today the river is called Terme Çay. Çay is
the Turkish name for river.
Amazons from Libya
There had been a second localization of the Amazons in ancient times. Long before the
Amazons lived at the river Thermodon, there had been Amazons in Libya. |