The image of Amazons in Greek myths contradicts the patriarchal Athenian principles of the order of things and the Athenian way of life, and therewith reveals knowledge about the
conventions that existed in Athens. This paper intends to examine in how far this statement is valid, and additionally, what meanings underlie the fact that Amazons often are slain by mythical heroes. At first, a short description will be given on how Amazons are generally depicted in Athenian myths. Then several outstanding features of Amazons will be discussed and connected with their impact on the inversion of social roles. Furthermore, examples of heroes and their successful victory will be analysed in terms of their meaning for Athenian gender roles and male supremacy.
The first thing to say about the depiction of Amazons in myths is that they do not have female weaknesses (cf. Tyrell, 88/89). In several myths, the Amazons are described as “men’s equals…”
(Homer, Iliad 3.189), or women, “who fight men in battle” (ibid. Iliad 6.186)...
Table of Contents
- How Athenian Mythmaking about Amazons reveals Knowledge about the Conventional Social Roles in Athens and Men's Attitude towards Women
- The Depiction of the Amazons
- Amazons do not have female weaknesses
- Amazons are characterized by male and female features
- Amazons are “daring” women
- Examples for the Inversions of Social Roles and their Implications
- The Lemnian Women
- Jason and Hypsipyle
Objectives and Key Themes
This paper examines how Athenian mythmaking about Amazons reveals knowledge about the conventional social roles in Athens and men's attitudes towards women. The paper aims to analyze the significance of the Amazons' deviation from Athenian patriarchal norms, exploring the meanings behind their portrayal as formidable warriors, their androgyny, and the consequences of their "daring" nature.
- The portrayal of Amazons as a challenge to Athenian social conventions
- The significance of Amazons' androgyny and its impact on gender roles
- The consequences of female "daring" in Athenian society
- The role of mythical heroes in conquering and subduing Amazons
- The importance of marriage and its role in taming female "bestiality"
Chapter Summaries
The first section of the paper provides a general overview of the depiction of Amazons in Athenian myths. It highlights their lack of female weaknesses, their strength in war, and their dominant role in their society. This section contrasts the Amazonian lifestyle with the expected roles of Athenian women. The second section discusses the androgyny of Amazons and its implications for gender roles. The paper argues that the Amazons' combination of male and female features makes them a challenge to the conventional binary understanding of gender in Athenian society. The final section focuses on examples of mythical heroes who encounter and defeat Amazons. The paper argues that these heroes represent a symbolic victory over female power and a reaffirmation of male dominance.
Keywords
This paper explores the themes of gender roles, mythmaking, social conventions, patriarchy, androgyny, daring, and the role of heroes in Athenian society. Key concepts include the image of Amazons, the inversion of social roles, and the significance of the Amazons' unconventional behavior in relation to Athenian expectations. The paper also examines the role of mythical heroes in conquering and subduing female power, and the significance of marriage in taming and civilizing women.
Frequently Asked Questions
Why did Athenians create myths about Amazons?
Amazons served as a "counter-culture" to Athenian patriarchal norms. By depicting women who acted like men, Athenians could reinforce their own social conventions through the mythic defeat of these women.
What does the androgyny of Amazons represent?
Their combination of male features (warfare, strength) and female bodies challenged the binary gender roles of Athens, representing a chaotic inversion of the natural order.
What is the significance of heroes defeating Amazons?
Heroes like Theseus or Heracles subduing Amazons symbolized the triumph of Greek civilization and male supremacy over "wild" female power and "bestiality."
How did the role of marriage relate to Amazon myths?
In Athenian thought, marriage was the institution that "tamed" women. Myths often ended with the Amazons' death or forced integration, reaffirming marriage as a tool for social control.
What does "daring" (tolma) mean in the context of these myths?
"Daring" was a negative trait for Athenian women, associated with stepping out of their domestic roles and challenging male authority, as the Amazons did.
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- Christina Gieseler (Autor:in), 2007, How Athenian Mythmaking about Amazons reveals Knowledge about the Conventional Social Roles in Athens and Men’s Attitude towards Women, München, GRIN Verlag, https://www.grin.com/document/148699
