From Myth to Reality: How Archaeology Supports Ancient Greek Legend

Figure 1: Turkish mosaic depicting a battle with an Amazonian warrior (Image Credit: Marie-Lan Nguyen)

Archaeological discoveries provide great insights into the past, particularly in uncovering pasts that have long been forgotten.  This is what archaeological fieldwork is most known for, but it can and often does also validate forgotten or discarded histories.  Today’s blog post features one of those examples of a piece of history that historians thought was a myth but was actually a reality: the tale of Amazonian warriors (Figure 1).

Earlier this year popular media outlets were abuzz with a news about a remarkable discovery in Russia: a partially intact tomb of four women warriors.  These women, ranging in age from early adolescence to elderly, were interred 2500 years ago.  While two of the women’s graves had been previously looted two remained intact.  They were discovered to be wearing horse riding gear and armor and were buried with a series of iron weapons, including points and knives, and animal bones, which were provided as meals for the deceased.  These women were part of the Scythian culture, a nomadic group that claimed territory between the Black Sea and eastern Mongolia. 

The Scythians were well known for being fierce warriors that employed both men and women.  This recent discovery accompanied a mount of evidence of 300 previously excavated tombs also containing women warriors.  Together, the evidence demonstrates that the Greek tales about fierce warrior women were true.  Scythian women of all ages trained and fought alongside their male counterparts and were equally successful in their roles. 

While this evidence does demonstrate that the Greek myth of Amazon warrior women is true it does not support variations of the myths.  There is no evidence that the Scythian women/Amazons were lesbians or hated men.  In fact, the evidence negates that variation of the myth all together.  Also, there is no evidence that Scythian women cut off one of their breasts to make it easier to draw their bows and arrows.  In fact, the Scythians created and used the recurve bow, a small but very effective bow and arrow that was used by all Scythian warriors.  This work demonstrates that not all tales passed down through the generations are completely false.

References

Machemer, T. (2019, December 30). Tomb Containing Three Generations of Warrior Women Unearthed in Russia. Smithsonian Magazine.

Mosley, T. (2020, January 14). New Russian Gravesite Proves Amazon Warrior Women Were Very Much Real. Retrieved from WBUR: https://www.wbur.org/hereandnow/2020/01/14/amazon-women-archaeology-myths

Schuster, R. (2020, January 2). Tomb With Three Generations of ‘Amazon’ Warrior Women Found in Russia. Retrieved from Haaretz: https://www.haaretz.com/archaeology/.premium.MAGAZINE-amazon-warrior-women-russia-archaeology-scythian-greece-1.8327358

Weekend Edition Sunday. (2020, January 12). Remains Of Ancient Female Fighters Discovered. Retrieved from National Public Radio: https://www.npr.org/2020/01/12/795661047/remains-of-ancient-female-fighters-discovered