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The Amazons
The Amazons: Lives and Legends of Warrior Women across the Ancient World | Adrienne Mayor
7 posts | 3 read | 36 to read
Amazonsfierce warrior women dwelling on the fringes of the known worldwere the mythic archenemies of the ancient Greeks. Heracles and Achilles displayed their valor in duels with Amazon queens, and the Athenians reveled in their victory over a powerful Amazon army. In historical times, Cyrus of Persia, Alexander the Great, and the Roman general Pompey tangled with Amazons. But just who were these bold barbarian archers on horseback who gloried in fighting, hunting, and sexual freedom? Were Amazons real? In this deeply researched, wide-ranging, and lavishly illustrated book, National Book Award finalist Adrienne Mayor presents the Amazons as they have never been seen before. This is the first comprehensive account of warrior women in myth and history across the ancient world, from the Mediterranean Sea to the Great Wall of China. Mayor tells how amazing new archaeological discoveries of battle-scarred female skeletons buried with their weapons prove that women warriors were not merely figments of the Greek imagination. Combining classical myth and art, nomad traditions, and scientific archaeology, she reveals intimate, surprising details and original insights about the lives and legends of the women known as Amazons. Provocatively arguing that a timeless search for a balance between the sexes explains the allure of the Amazons, Mayor reminds us that there were as many Amazon love stories as there were war stories. The Greeks were not the only people enchanted by AmazonsMayor shows that warlike women of nomadic cultures inspired exciting tales in ancient Egypt, Persia, India, Central Asia, and China. Driven by a detective's curiosity, Mayor unearths long-buried evidence and sifts fact from fiction to show how flesh-and-blood women of the Eurasian steppes were mythologized as Amazons, the equals of men. The result is likely to become a classic.
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S.Web
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A highly readable and fascinating work on the history of real life Amazons - that is nomadic female warriors from the Scythian peoples at the edge of the Greek known world. Mayor presents compelling evidence in the form of grave goods, art, and historical documents to support her theory. She also uses this theory as a lens through which to evaluate classical Amazon myths and the folklore surrounding historical female warriors.

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mrsmarch
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#literaryluck #goldspines So many people are choosing Little Golden Books, and with 2 kids I have so many of those! But I glanced at my shelves and realized I actually have quite a few books with golden spines without leaving the living room!

vkois88 A few really great choices in there!!! 5y
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EadieB
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TrishB Great picks 👍🏻 5y
Cinfhen 👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻 5y
Billypar Gorgeous- I love sculpture! 5y
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MrBook
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Made it to #NYC for the first of two bookclubs today (without @BookBabe 😩😔). This is the selection for the #2030SomethingLongReadsBookClub. Fascinating in-depth analysis of the mythological heroic figures! Well, if you're into mythology, ancient history, archaeology, stuff like that.

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MrBook
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#TBRtemptation post 9! A National Book Award finalist. This thick book explores the history of the Amazon warrior myth--fierce women living on the fringes of the known world. Were they real? Legends have historical and fictional characters interacting with them. From Greece to China, the myth has existed and persisted over time. This lavishly illustrated book is the first comprehensive history of this legendary group. #blameLitsy #blameMrBook 😎

RealBooks4ever So cool! 😻 6y
74 likes21 stack adds1 comment
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Emilyrjones22
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So that @TheLondonBookworm doesn't feel so bad about her book-buying habits!

TheLondonBookworm Amazing!!!! I have so many stacks like this- they just sit and stare at me judging me for not reading them! Trouble is I really do want to read them all but how can you catch up when they keep bringing more out??? 7y
Emilyrjones22 @TheLondonBookworm Exactly!! I have so much anxiety knowing I'll never be able read all the good books in the world 😩 7y
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abbeyreads
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I'm exciiiiiited to read this

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