The

Amazons In Greek mythology, the Amazons (Ancient Greek: Ἀμαζόνες ''Amazónes'', singular Ἀμαζών ''Amazōn'', via Latin ''Amāzon, -ŏnis'') are portrayed in a number of ancient epic poems and legends, such as the Labours of Hercules, ...

were a group or race of female warriors in Ancient Greek mythology. Most of them are only briefly named in one or two sources, either as companions of Penthesilea at the Trojan War, or as being killed by Heracles during his 12 labours.

Mythology

Labour of Heracles

Many stories about Heracles and his 12 labours mention different Amazons being killed by him. These include Alcippe, Asteria,

Celaeno In Greek mythology, Celaeno (; grc, Κελαινώ ''Kelaino'', lit. 'the dark one', also Celeno or Kelaino, sometimes isspelledCalaeno) referred to several different figures. *Celaeno, one of the Pleiades. She was said to be mother of Lycus an ...

Deianira Deianira, Deïanira, or Deianeira (; Ancient Greek: Δηϊάνειρα, ''Dēiáneira'', or , ''Dēáneira'', ), also known as Dejanira, is a Calydonian princess in Greek mythology whose name translates as "man-destroyer" or "destroyer of her hu ...

, Eriboea and Tecmessa. Others, like Aella and Pantariste, fought Heracles but weren't killed.

Trojan War

John Tzetzes John Tzetzes ( grc-gre, Ἰωάννης Τζέτζης, Iōánnēs Tzétzēs; c. 1110, Constantinople – 1180, Constantinople) was a Byzantine poet and grammarian who is known to have lived at Constantinople in the 12th century. He was able to p ...

gives in his ''Posthomerica'' a list of Amazons who went with queen Penthesilea to the Trojan War and were killed in battle: Anchimache, Andro, Androdaixa, Antianeira, Aspidocharme, Chalcaor, Cnemis, Enchesimargos, Eurylophe, Gortyessa, Iodoce, Ioxeia, Oistrophe, Pharetre, Thorece, Toxoanassa, and Toxophone. Tzetzes, John, ''Posthomerica'' 179-182 (translated by Ana Untila)

Quintus Smyrnaeus Quintus Smyrnaeus (also Quintus of Smyrna; el, Κόϊντος Σμυρναῖος, ''Kointos Smyrnaios'') was a Greek epic poet whose ''Posthomerica'', following "after Homer", continues the narration of the Trojan War. The dates of Quintus Smy ...

, in his '' Posthomerica'', also gives a list of the companions of Penthesilea at Troy who were killed there by the Greek warriors. Achilles killed

Antandre In Greek Mythology, Antandre (Ancient Greek: Ἀντάνδρη means 'she who precedes men') was an Amazonian warrior. She was one of Penthesilea's twelve companions at Troy. Mythology Antandre was killed in the Trojan War by the hero Achilles, ...

, Antibrote, Harmothoe,

Hippothoe In Greek mythology, Hippothoe (Ancient Greek: Ἱπποθόη ''Hippothoê'' means 'swift as a mare') is the name of five distinct characters. * Hippothoe, the "lovely" Nereid and one of the 50 marine-nymph daughters of the 'Old Man of the Sea' Ner ...

, and Polemusa;

Diomedes Diomedes (Jones, Daniel; Roach, Peter, James Hartman and Jane Setter, eds. ''Cambridge English Pronouncing Dictionary''. 17th edition. Cambridge UP, 2006.) or Diomede (; grc-gre, Διομήδης, Diomēdēs, "god-like cunning" or "advised by ...

killed Alcibie and Derimacheia,

Idomeneus of Crete In Greek mythology, Idomeneus (; el, Ἰδομενεύς) was a Cretan king and commander who led the Cretan armies to the Trojan War, in eighty black ships. He was also one of the suitors of Helen, as well as a comrade of the Telamonian Ajax. ...

killed Bremusa,

Podarces In Greek mythology, Podarces ( grc, Ποδάρκης) was a son of Iphiclus (son of Phylacus, founder of Phylace) by Diomedeia and the brother of Protesilaus. In some accounts, he and his brother were called the sons of Phylacus and Astyoche in ...

killed Clonie after she had killed his comrade Menippus, Ajax the Lesser killed Derinoe after she had killed

Laogonus In Greek mythology, Laogonus (Ancient Greek: Δαογόνον or Λαόγονον) may refer to the following personages: * Laogonus, an Achaean warrior who participated in the Trojan War. He was slain by the Amazon Derinoe. * Laogonus, the "bold ...

, and Meriones killed

Evandre In Greek mythology, the Amazons (Ancient Greek: Ἀμαζόνες ''Amazónes'', singular Ἀμαζών ''Amazōn'', via Latin ''Amāzon, -ŏnis'') are portrayed in a number of ancient epic poems and legends, such as the Labours of Hercule ...

and Thermodosa.

, '' Posthomerica'

/ref>

Other named Amazons

* Agave (mythology), Agave * Alke * Dioxippe * Euryale * Glauce * Lysippe * Melanippe * Menippe * Molpadia * Mytilene * Xanthe

Amazons named in non-literary sources

Some Amazons are not known from literary sources, but only from inscriptions on vases. Areto is depicted on an

Attic An attic (sometimes referred to as a '' loft'') is a space found directly below the pitched roof of a house or other building; an attic may also be called a ''sky parlor'' or a garret. Because attics fill the space between the ceiling of the ...

black-figure vase. Blok, Josine H. The early Amazons: modern and ancient perspectives on a persistent myth. BRILL, 1995
page 218
(with a reference to '' Lexicon Iconographicum Mythologiae Classicae'', "Amazones" entry, vol. 1, p. 653)

Creusa In Greek mythology, Creusa (; grc, Κρέουσα ''Kreousa'' "princess") may refer to the following figures: * Creusa, a naiad daughter of Gaia. * Creusa, daughter of Erechtheus, King of Athens and his wife, Praxithea. * Creusa, also known by t ...

is known from a vase from Cumae. Iphito is only known from inscriptions. Xanthippe is known from a

red-figure vase Red-figure vase painting is one of the most important styles of figural Greek vase painting. It developed in Athens around 520 BCE and remained in use until the late 3rd century BCE. It replaced the previously dominant style of black-figure va ...

Wilhelm Heinrich Roscher Wilhelm Heinrich Roscher (12 February 1845, in Göttingen – 9 March 1923, in Dresden) was a German classical scholar. He specialized in studies of Greek and Roman mythology. He received his education at the Universities of Göttingen and Leip ...

(ed.): ''Ausführliches Lexikon der griechischen und römischen Mythologie''. Band VI (U-Z), Hildesheim, 1965, s. 518

References