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What happens when ancient myth meets modern reader?
The Amazons of Greek Myth
The Amazon warriors created by the ancient Greeks are heartbreaking characters. Men invented them to be beautiful, resourceful, and skilled in warfare. However, in their most famous mythic interactions, they are simultaneously admired and killed by Greek heroes: Heracles and Hippolyta, Theseus and Antiope, Achilles and Penthesilea, and Bellerophon and the Amazons. Beyond that, storytellers and gossips characterized them as whores, man-haters, male baby killers, and said they cut off their breasts to make throwing a spear and drawing a bowstring easier. Historians and classicists widely agree that the Amazons possessed the very qualities that destabilized the masculinity of the Greek hero, and that their purpose was to serve as a straw figure against which the male Greek hero could demonstrate his heroism.
Development of the Amazon Archetype
Most scholars have concluded that the ancient Amazons were not invented from whole cloth. Their image was shaped by accounts brought back to Athens by Greek travelers, traders, and historians who ventured to the fringes of the Asian steppe and interacted with the Scythians and their culture. Archaeologists believe that in steppe cultures, all people learned to ride horses, shoot arrows from bows while mounted, hunt, and, if necessary, engage in warfare. Both direct and indirect archaeological evidence support these interpretations. This includes not only weapons in graves of DNA-tested XX persons, but also osteological evidence such as battle wounds and wear and tear on joints from the use of bows and arrows and being on horseback.
Those who encountered these steppe cultures observed women with the same skills as men, who were contributing equally to their societies. The cultures were viewed as egalitarian—not just by the Greeks but also by travelers from other regions, including India. As of today, over 600 Scythian female warrior graves have been confirmed. According to some scholars, Greek men may have incorporated their fear of Scythian fighting women into their myths because they were frightened by them, and it was a way control the narrative. But there is little doubt that the myths were designed to fuel the gender imbalance in Greek society and suppress the idea of strong women.
Amazons Today: Super Heroes and Wonder Woman
There has been an inversion in the ancient Greek image of Amazons in American culture. The Amazon archetype was introduced in American media through 1940s comics and has persisted in 21st-century superhero films and video games. Fictional Amazons appear in popular culture, including Wonder Woman, Katniss Everdeen, and several Disney princesses. In his book Super Heroes: A Modern Mythology, Richard Reynolds described Wonder Woman as a “re-coded Amazon figure adapted for American ideological values.” And Patty Jenkins, director of the 2017 Wonder Woman movie, tells us what Wonder Woman’s new mythology is designed to convey:
“We need a new kind of hero. It’s easy to be a hero. You do it because of what you believe, not because of what other people deserve. I wanted to talk about the fact that we can’t defeat the evils upon us by slaying one villain. We’re facing a time where each country has such legitimate complaints against each other, and this has all been going on for so long that if we’re going to come to a world of peace in the future, we have to lay down the past and become responsible heroes ourselves. Often what that requires is love and peace instead of battle. That is a hugely important message to the world right now from my perspective.” Interview with Gina McIntyre of Rolling Stone (June 2017).
Middle-Grade Myth
This new view of Amazons as proud fighting women with genuinely equal status to men has also entered the middle-grade adventure genre. Age-appropriate mythic heroines abound. Their presence teaches resilience, teamwork, and gender norms. The typical adaptations include protagonists who train with Amazons, live in Amazon societies, and embody modern mythology. Rather than bloodthirsty tropes, the themes center on mentors, justice, and rites of passage.
Some Mythic Heroines That Middle-Grade Readers Love
The Percy Jackson and the Olympians series — Rick Riordan
Girls play important roles in this series. Annabeth Chase, daughter of Athena, is a tactical fighter and a central heroic figure. She is known for her intelligence, bravery, and strategic thinking. She appears throughout the series and often acts as a skilled warrior and the voice of reason. There are other notable girls in the series as well. Clarisse La Rue, daughter of Ares, is fierce and competitive, as is Thalia Grace, daughter of Zeus, who is also strong and rebellious. They contribute significantly to the plots, highlighting the importance of female heroes and breaking gender stereotypes.
The Heroes of Olympus series — Rick Riordan
This series continues the mythic world with new quests and more focus on Roman/Greek hero dynamics. Several mighty female warriors (including Annabeth, the Hunters, and other demigoddesses) play significant roles.
The Trials of Apollo series — Rick Riordan
Greek gods, demigods, and warrior orders return in this follow-up series; characters who are seasoned fighters and members of Artemis’ band appear, and female heroism remains a recurring theme.
Percy Jackson and the Olympians series
The Goddess Girls series — Joan Holub and Suzanne Williams
The series retells myths through young female characters in a boarding-school setting on Mount Olympus. Their adventures demonstrate leadership, friendship, and collaboration.
The Goddess Girls
The Olympians graphic novel series — George O’Connor
These are middle-grade graphic novel retellings of Greek myths, in which volumes are dedicated to Athena, Artemis, and other goddesses and heroes highlight combat prowess, strategy, and warrior myth. The visuals emphasize the strength and agency of mythic women.
D’Aulaires’ Book of Greek Myths — Ingri & Edgar Parin d’Aulaire
In print for fifty years, these classic illustrated retellings of Greek myths for younger readers include stories of warrior women—Atalanta, the Amazons, and Athena—and present their deeds in an accessible manner for middle-grade audiences.
People sometimes say change is beneficial; other times, it’s readily recognized as detrimental. In this case, the shift from ancient Amazon to contemporary girl hero is welcome. We shouldn’t ignore the toxic origins rooted in the classics, but we can also appreciate the rejection of that complex, bloodthirsty figure for contemporary middle-grade audiences. © C. M. Surrisi
