Women Warriors

Introduction

by Janet Phillips, Ashdown, Arkansas

Much has been written about the fanciful tales of bands of women, in matriarchal societies, transcending the role of gentle peacemaker into marauding armies of fierce and often self-mutilated warriors. The central theme of this article is a perusal of several real women, by whatever accident or fate, descent or sheer character found themselves leading their country to war or fighting side by side with men in battle.

Origins of the Amazon

The name Amazon has survived through the ages as a generic term for women warriors.(They were supposed to have removed one breast for better aim with the bow: the etymology of Amazon was once thought to derive from the Greek 'without breast'.) The question of historical truth of the existence of these women and their leaders, Penthesilea, Hippolyta and Camilla is debated among different factions of scholars. Much of their case of existence comes from Classical writers such as Herodutus and in art, Amazonomachy was a popular theme for temple friezes and vases.

Many of the ancient writers place Amazons around the Black Sea. Herodutus places his armies in Libya. These were alleged matriarchal empires founded, governed, and defended by women. Diodorus Siculus, writing about 40 BC, has Penthesilea involved in the Trojan War. She is killed by Achilles and after that the power of the Amazons declined.

The current debates concerning archaeological evidence of the Amazons of prehistory existence (are lack of evidence) continues. Archaeological findings in Sarmatian graves, of the 4th century BC , of women buried with spears and horses, causes scholars to be cautious about making statements concerning historical matriarchies. These discoveries may point to women in the fighting force but does not point to a matriarchy. If in a thousand years, graves of the females that served in the Israeli military were found, it would certainly be an error to assume this was proof of a matriarchal Israeli state.

Warrior Queens

A singular exception. .. a women is often acknowledged the absolute sovereign of a great kingdom, in which she would be deemed incapable of exercising the smallest employment.
-- Gibbon, Decline and Fall of the Roman Empire

For our purposes, a warrior queen, is a female ruler, for whatever the circumstance has made decisions to deploy her country's military forces and often led them into battle. A female ruler has often provided the focus of what is later viewed as the golden age of the country.

Beyond the well known and obvious examples of Queen Elizabeth, Queen Tamara of Georgia, and Queen Isabella of Spain, this article will discuss a few of the perhaps lesser known "singular exceptions" involved in the actual heat of battles for the sake of their country.

More Women Warriors

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