The Amazons

The ancients enumerate three nations of Amazons, or female warriors.

First, the African, under their queen, Myrina, extirpated by Hercules.

Second, the Asiatic, the most famous nation of all, who founded an extensive empire along the shores of the Euxine, or Black Sea. Themiscyra was their capital.

About the year 330 B.C., their queen, Thalestris, made a visit to Alexander of Macedon, soon after which time the Asiatic Amazons disappear from history.

Third, the Scythian Amazons, a distinct branch of the Asiatic. They attacked the neighboring Scythians, but soon after married among them, and lost their identity as a separate nation.

As a nation of warlike women, the Amazons appear in legend as early as the time of Homer. They are frequently represented in Greek art.

Pliny relates that a prize was offered to that one of four celebrated sculptors--Phidias, Polycletus, Phradmon, and Cresilas--who should represent the most beautiful Amazon.

The Amazon of Polycletus won the prize. It was of bronze, and stood in the Temple of Artemis at Ephesus.

The Amazon of Phidias was represented as resting, or leaning, upon her spear.

Cresilas represented a wounded Amazon.

Phradmon represented an Amazon resting after a battle, and laying aside her bow, shield, battle-axe, and helmet.

We still possess a number of Amazon statues, of which some are supposed to be marble imitations of the renowned statues of Polycletus and of Cresilas. One is to be seen in the Vatican collection, and one in the Berlin Museum.