Legends of the Greek antiquity, brought to us by Homer and Herodotus, tell of the tribe of Amazons - virgins-warrior who lived on the shores of the Black sea, "in the wilds of Scythia far". In their Kingdom is no place for men. Bold and ruthless, they were fighting at the walls of Troy against the Greeks. The legend is it has a real basis, or idle tale? Or the Greeks had a chance to meet with the tribe that lived under the laws of matriarchy, and the meeting was so impressed by them that we, and now, three thousand years later, repeated the ancient truth that in our mouth has long turned into a myth?

The savage me incoherently and haughtily
Said she, Penthesilea,
The Queen of the Amazons, and respond
We content of his quiver.

H. von Kleist. Pentesilea

Three hundred virgins in quest of the hero

Day of spring. The sea shore. Behind lies halfway around the world, conquered, hero. He was tired. He has made just about the dream. Approaches him the servant came some great lady". A nod of the head, a gesture of the winner: "Let him come!"

Well, he used to worship. But the stranger did not come alone. In front of the house dismounted Suite, three hundred young and brave virgins. Hero surprised, she looks around to gaze of the crowd. Oh, they look unusual! Even dikovina what will happen next. Standing before a hero, a beautiful guest shamelessly merit of his eye. "How is he is small and skinny", displeased throws it, for all the barbarians feel respect for imposing figure, thinking that only has to be special make the man is equal to gods." Immediately guest announces why arrived here. For a child!

The hero was Alexander the great. Having conquered half the known him then of the world, he stood camp on the southern shore of the Caspian sea. The stranger's name was Palustris. She was a Queen, "who ruled all living between the Caucasus and the river phasis", but the whole image of her that was not appropriate to her sanou, that surprised anyone: short skirt, tied on knees node; in hands - light shield in the form of a Crescent; "on the left side of the chest naked". She was the Queen of the Amazons - tribe who lived on the shores of the Black sea, and wanted to be conceived by the hero's daughter, for that was supposed to be born the best of Royal blood.

The relief from the Sarcophagus of the Amazons. Ancient Greece. IV century BC

Alexander amazed unusual request, but he said Yes. Two weeks lasted festival, which indulged in all three hundred Amazon and best Macedonian soldiers. It was during those days that allows thought: and drinking, and dancing, and love, which indulged in the dark, barely finding each other. Then Palustris went into his Kingdom, and Alexander in Parthia.

This remarkable episode in the life of the great commander was quoted by the author of "the History of Alexander the great, Roman writer Curtius Rufus, who lived four centuries later. According to him, the meeting with the Queen of the Amazons, was held in 330 BC

However, another, more famous biographer of the Macedonian king Arrian (90/95-175)assesses the legend about the meeting of Alyaksandr with Amazon: "all this is not a word... none of the writer, the story of which about such a dramatic event could believe. I don't think that the tribe of Amazons have survived to the time preceding Alexander".

Obviously, the meeting really was a figment jaded resident of Rome, a lover "bread and circuses". These Amazon, if they lived in fact, for many centuries before. In the era of Alexander the great story about them seemed to be a legend. In their fantastic Kingdom believed no more than any power of the king of Peas, since it has long since disappeared from the face of the earth. Their Queen died in the battles. Their descendants have disappeared in remote parts of Asia and North Africa. There are only legends and myths, travel notes and war Chronicles, even though monuments, coins and even the names of the cities.
Without fear and barley

Not only Greeks and Romans spoke about the Amazons. Stories about battles with the tribes of the militant women's known, for example, from ancient Chinese and Egyptian history (preserved, in particular, papyrus era of Ramses II. But no one talked about it often Greeks, and the name - Amazon - they invented.

The first time they are mentioned in "Iliad" - the poem, written in the eighth century the Name of their tribe could be translated as "breastless" (a-mazos)because, according to legend, the Amazon since childhood burned right breast that "it was easier to pull onions and throw a spear" (Curtius Rufus). Perhaps a more prosaic explanation. The word "Amazon" we have the right to erect a Greek-maza, that is "living without barley". In other words, the Amazon is of a nomad, not knowing farming. The Scythians were judged warrior by their deeds and called "ludoviciae".

Casually whether the Greeks again and again recalled Amazons? Perhaps in the ancient times they really had to face wild, warlike tribes, where it was ruled by women. According to legend, in the II Millennium B.C. these tribes lived in Asia Minor. Their Kingdom stretched from the Black and Mediterranean seas, and its center was at the river Perlodont and the city Themyscira in Asia Minor.

According to Herodotus, the Amazon was separated from Scythian nomadic tribe, originating from Northern Iran. After the Trojan war, they withdrew to the East and, according to Herodotus, the newly merged with the Scythians. Thus arose the people savromats, where the alien Amazons were equal to men. About the local residents militant guest responded: "We with your women can not live, for we are not equal on them customs. We are engaged in a bow, arrows, horses, and women's work did not study; you have nothing says women don't do, and doing work for women, sitting in their carts" (Herodotus).

Asia minor, Scythia, Pontus euxinus... "Here in sad Tauris, where we fate brought..." the world of Greek lived side by side in peace legendary Amazons, and the next it emerged halfway from myth to reality, least of all can be called good. "This branna mph going down all the Greeks to burn out", - says about the Amazons one of the characters in pentesilea" , von Kleist, tragedy, where the action takes place at the walls of Troy and where the deadly battle kill each other Greek boys and Asian virgin.

The legend says that the Amazon five times was starting to Athens, threatening to destroy all the inhabitants. The Greeks won them, but could not break. In the past, ruthless battle the Greeks and foreign virgin agreed during the Trojan war. Amazon were finally broken. "On the host immortal, what will happen to us?" Survivors of a nomad disappeared among the ridges and ravines of the North Caucasus, where they allegedly met back in the XVII century

This same word "allegedly" and accompanies the first mentions of the Greeks of Amazons: they openly full of myths. In one of such myths favorite Greek hero Hercules goes to get the magic belt Ippoliti (according to another version, Antiope), a daughter of the God of war Ares and the Queen of the tribe of Amazons, who made Hippolyte invulnerable to any weapons because it gave himself Ares.

With a heavy heart Hercules went. Amazon went on to rout even brave Argonauts. Neither shadow of cowardice they do not manifest in the battle, but was famous for a sophisticated mind. The author of "Argonautica", Apollonius of Rhodes (295-215 BC), represented them: "the Battle will not be over in a bloodless, because Amazon only like the force. They are also the daughter of Ares. Virgin-female warrior least were inclined to talk and discuss habit called them to act.

Hercules was preparing for the worst, but it turned out otherwise. Ippolit welcomed the guest and gave tea: "Belt him variegated itself Ippolit handed" (Apollonius of Rhodes). All would be nothing, but stepped vengeful goddess Hera, who wanted to kill Hercules, because he was the illegitimate son of her husband. Immediately she was sent to Amazon malicious Rumors. The false lamented and mourned that the Queen will be abducted by a stranger. Angry Amazon decided to deal with Hercules. He had to hide on a ship with vinolyubitel Ippoliti, and only after arrival in Athens, the fugitives felt safe.

However, revenge of the Amazon has not kept itself waiting. They appeared near the walls of Athens, where the rules at the time of Theseus. The battle was so bloody that the memory of it has survived many centuries. Even Plutarch (approx. 46-125), visiting Athens, saw the monuments reminding about the war on Amazon. According to him, the victory over them were celebrated here every year, and the pomp of her this holiday was eclipsed even the victory over the Persians: "it has been the sacrifice Amazon before the feast in honor of Theseus". He saw also a mass grave of Amazons: "the graves of the dead are close to the street that leads to the current Piraeus goal". Their burial could be found in other areas and cities of Greece: in Thessaly, Cherokee and Megara. It is the recognition of the historian and philosopher Plutarch today is proof that the battles of the Greeks with the Amazon really is a historical fact and not fiction poets.

As for the refugees Ippoliti, then, according to Plutarch, "she died fighting on the side of Theseus, struck with a spear Meleady, and in honor of it was staged column near the temple Gay Olympic". According to other sources, she was killed by the people of Theseus, either by Theseus, or Pentesilea.
"Emancipate" Amazons

On the pages of "the Iliad" three times referred to "Amazons brave the hordes". However, specific explanations Homer does not. Where slovokhotova later authors: Herodotus (approx. 490-425 BC), Hippocrates (approx. 460-370 BC), Diodorus of Sicily (approx. 90-21 BC) and Strabo (64. BC - 20). They think about the origin of this PLthe time, describe the lifestyle of the Amazons, referring to the historical evidence and legends. Partly storytellers contradict each other, but one thing I agree among themselves: the world Amazons strongly differed from the Greek!

Once in the Mediterranean, as in other areas of the world, the power in a tribe belonged to women, but gradually with changes in society - with the development of plough farming and cattle - increasing role to play men. In the portion of women remained household - they were engaged in it along with slaves (Patriarchal slavery originated in primitive peoples) and that is how they were reduced almost to the slave position. In society reigned Patriarchate. Women from all social life were excluded. Their enslavement completed "right before our eyes" - in the foreseeable historical period.

So, in Athens around 600 BC women lost the right to interfere in the political life of the policy. They were denied even the right to attend theatrical performances and sporting spectacle. The more troubled the Athenians rumors that somewhere in Asia lies the Kingdom of women. "Emancipated" Amazon could stand up for himself with the weapon in hands. Major enemies of them were men of them suffered only for the sake of procreation, and none of them could claim power in a tribe of Amazons. Like a mirror separated the two world: Greece, which was owned by men, and lost among the Asian country where all things are left seemed right" and everything was owned by women.

It is interesting, that, speaking about the Amazons, antique authors invariably emphasize their unparalleled courage and military valour. In the Roman Empire the highest praise for the warrior was considered to tell him that he "fought like Amazon". According to the Roman historian dio Cassius, when the half-mad Emperor Commodus (180-192) appeared on the arena of the Colosseum as a Gladiator fighting with beasts, with people, senators, and with them and all they had to scream for him: "Thou art the ruler of the world! In its glory like you Amazon!"

Virgin-female warrior was so worthy of admiration. Their composure became a legend: pursued by enemies, they miss smote them from onions, half turned in the saddle. Especially deftly they were able to contact with a double axe. This razor-sharp arms and light shield Crescent-shaped steel unchanging attributes of the Amazons on any of the images.

More surprising was the way of life of the militant ladies. In the tribe of the black sea Amazons allegedly no place for men. Libyan Amazon kept men in slavery: they cleaned the house, looked after children and even along with pack animals were used for carrying heavy loads.

Where did the children, every tribe of Amazons men was ordered to be? Already ancient authors lot broke his head over this ancient mystery "immaculate conception"; besides, many of the Queen and Princess Amazons allegedly swore that he'd rather die than lose virginity.

Of course, if people were just like the samples of morality, the world would have been different, but the kind of Amazons were cut off would be on the root. Its durability is the recognition of their intemperance. Most of them could not be called "samples of simple virtues". They sinned, continuing to weave the pattern of the tribe with their bodies.

Once a year, in spring when everything is in bloom and yearns to be fruitful, total darkness, as the network was confused Amazons, luring them into sin. They went on the hunt for men. We caught myself wondering healthy males - most of these were men of neighboring tribes, they two months feasted and made love.

Nine months after the spring orgies were born children. If boys born to them in the best case was sent to the fathers, and at worst, maimed or killed. Daughters were welcome children, they were spivali milk mares. All they had to cruel procedure: they took right breast (according to some authors, the left breast). As we said, this was done so that, as adults, the Amazon was easier to pull onions and more convenient to cover yourself with a shield. Thus passed "emancipate" Amazons.
The war of men and women

Homer pretty dry speaks of the Amazons. The myth of Argonauts they are depicted as disgusting the furies. However, in the message later authors, their image is becoming more attractive, while they themselves, clubbed rumor in Libya, the CRE ation - on the Azov sea, already resemble the epic heroes or of fairies, losing in these stories the last remnants advocated.

All the Amazon become beauties as the selection. The beheading of the breast does not make them ugly. The war with the Amazons, obviously, not war "blood and soil", with Japanese nationals and for foreign land, but the war of the sexes". The best example of this is the history of the famous Amazon - pentesilea.

In modern European literature she became the heroine of the play Heinrich Kleist, written in 1808 and which shocked even Goethe. Her final scene disfigured, as the scars, remarks: "unveiling and kneels before corpse", "Kissing a corpse". Its leitmotif just sent the following monologue of the Amazon Queen:
How many women, embracing each other,
Say to him: "I Love you so much
What ready to eat you with love!"
And before you say this word,
As pretty much to the disgust fed.
But I have you, beloved, do not be deceived:
All that you embrace, I said,
From the word and to the word achieved.

Other participants of the tragedy describe happened:
But thou, when he fell on him
Dogs pulled in moisturize
And threw herself his prey.

For the stage realization Kleist chose rare version of the myth, little known even to the Greeks. It pentesilea kills his enemy - Achilles. But the main version of the myth says otherwise. What happened to Pentesilea?

Her story played out against the background of the Trojan war and was the culmination of a myth about the Amazons. Their tribe again ignites revenge for Antiope-Hippolyte. Led by their Queen, "godlike" Penthesilea, they are coming "with the verses of Termodonte", "beautiful, brilliant and eager". They want to fight against the Greeks, taking the side almost broken Trojans. "Beasts like, devoured fierce anger", they rush to battle, destroying hated men. Their example draws residents of Troy: hard defenders of Trojans manage to keep their wives and sisters, ready to rush into battle and obogrety their hands men's blood.

But everything suddenly changed: on the field of battle comes Achilles, long Jurassica battle. Time almost flowed back, but now with frightening speed rushed forward. Achilles mortally wounding Penthesilea, tore off her head a Golden helmet, and then himself was wounded in the heart Cupid's arrow. He fell in love with a beautiful Queen who die before him. Henceforth until his death he'll get desperate, he and his hand was killed virgin, which could only dream of. The poison of love burned his body, invulnerable to other attacks. According to one legend, the minute behind the Achilles came a strange laugh. Then shogunal "contemptuous of Terzic". Turned around, Achilles killed him on the spot.

For the Greeks and later the Romans pentesilea became a symbol of love that is stronger than death. Her image adorns countless Roman and Greek sarcophagi, vases and reliefs. He inspired artists and poets until our days.

Penthesilea, Diodorus says, was the last of the black sea by Amazon for its prowess. After its heroic death of the Amazon disappeared in the mountains of the Caucasus and, according to Herodotus, mingled with the people of the Scythians.

They were not forgotten, but already in the I century BC the first doubts about their real existence. Historian and geographer Strabo collected many stories about the Amazons, but comparing them, called idle inventions.

"With the story about the Amazons, a strange thing happened. The fact that other mythical legends and historical elements delimited... as for Amazons, they always had before and now were in the course of the same stories, completely wonderful and incredible".

His opinion was shared by later generations of historians. In addition, the Amazon as if dissolved in the vast history without a trace - they, at first glance, left no authentic evidence of its existence. "As to the current whereabouts of the Amazons, - has summed up the results of Strabo, something only a few people report this only unsubstantiated and false information". So virgin-female warrior became truly legendary creatures. Their images are only splashed deeds of ancient heroes, excites the imagination and at the same time opposed any contradiction women. According to the rhetorician of Sokrat (436-338 BC): "no matter How brave were the Amazon, but were defeated by men and lost everything".

So is there a grain of truth in this rhetoric? Did Amazon really scattered under the blows of the Greeks, more nimble in battles? Could they really meet the Hellenes across Asia?
Graves, who shared the truth and the lie

The history of the Amazons reminds pure myth, but the history of the Trojan war - front performance army Amazons - for a long time seemed beautiful tale. Only in the last hundred years, it became clear that Homer's "Iliad" have the real background. The same is true of the myth about the Amazons.

The Swiss historian Jacob Bachofen (1815-1887) first proposed the theory, which initially led to intense debate, but now seems more fair: in ancient times people have long lived under the laws of matriarchy. At the head of the tribe, there were women. They were in charge of the land of the tribe and all its reserves and hosted in the homes.

In these ancient times mores Amazons would not surprise anyone. However, in a world where everyone has long ruled the roost warlike men, Amazon embodied in the far past - "deeds of bygone days, ancient legends". Was it possible meeting of the two different worlds - the old and the new?

But in the twentieth century in the remote wilds of tropical forests you can meet people living in the stone age. Why the Greeks-the Achaeans times of Mycenae and Troy war in one of the military campaigns were not able to meet the tribe living according to the laws of matriarchy? It seems that such a meeting could not have startled them less than the invasion of the one-eyed Cyclops. Battle with them for many centuries imprinted in people's memory as the Russian proverb "an Uninvited guest is worse than a Tatar" otchekanili assaults Baskakov, in XIII-XIV centuries history, However, will remain a field for the speculative game, while the archeologists intervene. Only their findings can divide lies and reality, to dispel the fog of possibilities and probabilities. What today can tell us archaeologists?

In 1928, the Soviet scientists during excavations in the village of Zemo-Ahwal on the Black sea coast, i.e. the region of settlement of the Amazons, made a sensational discovery. They dug a prehistoric burial site, in which he was buried "Prince" in full armor and armed with, here lying and double axe. However, a detailed study of the skeleton showed this... the remains of a woman. Who was she? The Queen of the Amazons?

In 1971 again, this time in Ukraine, was found in the tomb of a woman buried with Royal honours. Beside her lay a skeleton girls, as luxuriously decorated. Together with them to the grave he put the gun and gold treasures, as well as two of the men who died, as scientists have found, "unnatural death." Here lay the Queen of the Amazons with the dead in her honor slaves?

In 1993-1997 during the excavations near the village of Pokrovka in Kazakhstan were found in the graves of some "warrior". Next to the female skeletons were conspicuous gifts: tips of arrows and daggers. Obviously, women of this nomadic tribe knew how to stand up for themselves in battle. Age burial - two and a half thousand years. Who was it for? Also Amazon? Maybe rights legend says that after the Trojan war survivor Amazon disappeared among the mountains of the Caucasus? From there, over the centuries, they could end up in the Kazakh steppe.

Still no one could clearly relate to all of these findings in the black sea coast and near the Caspian sea, with the legend about the warlike tribe of women who lived under the laws of matriarchy. In addition, there has not yet been a systematic excavations in Turkey, at the mouth of the river Perlodont, where, according to legend, was the Kingdom of the Amazons. Perhaps they were not the myth and disappeared without a trace? Perhaps soon the scientists will discover the monuments left by the mysterious and extraordinary, but backward to the Hellenistic era tribe - the tribe of Amazons.
Libyan Amazon

Libyan Amazon was from the island of the Evening dusk (possibly mean Gran Canaria). They were blond and blue-eyed. Their Kingdom is allegedly stretched across North Africa and Asia Minor. In "Iliad" Homer mentions the grave of their Queen - Myrina. According Diodoro Sicilian, Libyan Amazons lived a thousand years before the black sea. Herodotus visited North Africa in the V century B.C. He mentions that on lake Trichonida (in Tunisia) found tribe, who lived in the manners of Amazons: at the annual festival of the local girls, "divided into two parties, fight each other with rocks and sticks".
American Amazon

In the late middle Ages and especially in the Renaissance of the newly awakened interest in the Amazons. Travelers of that time discovering the country, where women enjoy greater freedom than women of Europe. So, even Marco Polo claimed to have seen in Asia Amazons. Spaniards and Portugueses have reported "States" Amazon in South America. By the way, the name of the largest river of the continent received in honor of warrior women. On the shores of the Spanish Conquistador Francisco de Orellana fought desperately brave Indian. Back in Spain, he told about the existence on the banks of the great river "of the Republic of female warrior".

In the late NINETEENTH century, the word "Amazon" is again in Vogue. At that time women were fond of horse riding. They were called Amazons.
Caucasian Amazons XVII century

In the SEVENTEENTH century Italian Archbishop Arcangelo Lamberti travelled to the Caucasus, where he allegedly met Amazons. According to him, there lived three tribes virgins-warrior, which continually waged war with the Tartars and Kalmyks.