Amazons

In ancient Greek] mythology, the Amazons (Ancient Greek: Ἀμαζόνες Amazónes, singular Ἀμαζών Amazōn) were a tribe of warrior women believed to live in the region of Pontus in present-day Turkey. Other Amazon outposts were reported in various locations between present-day Libya and Kazakhstan. The most famous Amazon queens - Hippolyta, Antiope, and Penthesilea - were the daughters of the god Ares and the nymph Harmonia. Many Greek and Roman writers state that they were brutal and aggressive, and their main concern in life was war.

Archaeological discoveries of burial sites with female warriors on the Eurasian Steppes suggest that the Scythian women may have inspired the Amazon myth. From the early modern period, their name has become a term for female warriors in general.

Amazons in "One Touch of Hippolyta"
While the Amazons were indeed a powerful force in the ancient Pontic kingdom, many of the traditional notions about them are inaccurate. For example, the idea that they would regularly amputate their own right breasts, for better dexerity with weapons, has no basis in reality. Also, the idea that they were man-haters is equally ludicrous. The Amazons of Pontus lived with husbands whom they loved, and their husbands often worked in the home and cared for the children.