In Greek mythology, an Amazonomachy is a mythological battle between the ancient Greeks and the Amazons, a nation of all-female warriors. The subject of Amazonomachies was popular in ancient Greek art and Roman art.
Amazon with barbarian and Greek, Roman copy of Greek original, detail, c. 160 AD, marble; Galleria Borghese
4th century AD Amazonomachy mosaic from Daphne, a suburb of Antioch on the Orontes (modern Antakya, Turkey); Louvre, Denon Wing
Relief now in Vienna
Herakles fighting the Amazons, side A from an Attic black-figure neck amphora.
In Greek mythology, the Amazons are portrayed in a number of ancient epic poems and legends, such as the Labours of Heracles, the Argonautica and the Iliad. They were a group of female warriors and hunters who were known for their physical agility, strength, archery, riding skills, and the arts of combat. Their society was closed to men and they only raised their daughters and returned their sons to their fathers, with whom they would only socialize briefly in order to reproduce.
Wounded Amazon of the Capitoline Museums, Rome
A Greek fighting an Amazon; detail from painted sarcophagus found in Italy, 350–325 BC
"Amazon preparing for battle" (Queen Antiope or Hippolyta) or "Armed Venus", by Pierre-Eugène-Emile Hébert, 1860, National Gallery of Art, Washington, D.C.
Departure of the Amazons, by Claude Deruet, 1620, Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York
