Religions in the Graeco-Roman World, the Early Amazons

This text provides an insight into the ancient Amazon myth, situating mythical representations in the realm of cultural history. The first section examines how the Amazons have presented a challenge to views on history, myth and gender in classical mythology from the late 18th century up to the impact of structuralism. Topics covered include 19th-century historiography and the interest in linguistics. The second section sheds light on the culture of archaic Greece, offering a coherent assessment of literary and visual representations. Taking mythical narrative as a form of oral storytelling, it shows the emergence of the Amazon motif and its meaning in the world of epic. Iconographical analysis reveals how the visual arts have made a contribution to the imaginary presence of the Amazons.