Scythian Amazons: Female Burials in Northern Pontus

Abstract

Abstract Since the Scythian people first encountered the Hellenic cultural environment in the Archaic period, their lifestyle, customs and characteristics had such a strong impact on the Hellenic colonies in the region that they soon formed part of the Amazonian myths. The discovery of different female burials with weapons among their grave goods pointed to the possibility that female Scythians were warriors, thus giving rise to the Amazonian myths. However, even though this status has been evidenced by the remains found in the Kurgans of the northern Pontus, the origin of those myths dates back long before the first contacts between both cultures. So, even though a knowledge of their customs favoured their association with the Amazonian myths, it could never have led to their appearance in the Greek mythical imaginary.