Themyscira (DC Comics)

Themyscira (DC Comics)
Themyscira is a fictional unitary sovereign city-state and archipelagic island nation appearing in American comic books published by DC Comics. Previously known as Paradise Island and the Amazon Isles, it first appeared in All Star Comics #8 (October 1941).
Themyscira is a homogeneous nation of women governed by Aphrodite's Law, which declared that the Amazons would be immortal as long as no man sets foot on their island. Men are banned from Themyscira under penalty of death. Themyscira's location is undisclosed; as a security measure, the island can shift its location over both land and time, remains undetectable from the perspective of any outside observer, and as soon as anyone leaves the island, they forget its location.
Themyscira is the theocracy and capital city that serves as the Amazonians' government and place of origin for Wonder Woman. The name for the entire archipelago became "The Paradise Islands", when the city was renamed "Themyscira" with the character's February 1987 relaunch in Wonder Woman (vol. 2) #1. Both the island and city are named after the mythological city of Themiscyra, the capital of the Amazons in Greek mythology.
Themiscyra made its cinematic debut in the 2017 films Wonder Woman and Justice League, and appeared in the 2020 sequel Wonder Woman 1984, set in the DC Extended Universe.
Publication history
Pre-Crisis (1941–1987)
When Wonder Woman's homeland is first introduced in 1941, it is referred to as Paradise Island, a secret and hidden island on Earth inhabited by the Amazons of myth. The Amazons were given a break from the hostilities and temptations of Man's World, and so were decreed to start a new life-improving themselves by sequestering themselves to this island away from ancient Greece, after being enslaved by Hercules. With the island blessed by the Olympian Gods, no man was allowed to physically set foot on it. When United States Army intelligence officer Steve Trevor's plane crashes there during World War II, he is nursed back to health just outside of the capital city by Princess Diana, daughter of the island's Queen Hippolyta. Diana later competes against other Amazons to become Wonder Woman, the emissary from Paradise Island who will accompany Steve back to "Man's World" and aid in the fight against the Axis powers. It was established that all Amazons are adept at a discipline called "bullets and bracelets" in which they can deflect bullets fired at them using the chain bands on their wrists.
It was originally implied, but not yet fully confirmed, that Paradise Island was located somewhere in the Pacific Ocean. In the 1970s television incarnation (as portrayed by Lynda Carter), Paradise Island's location was set in the Bermuda Triangle. A 2009 animated movie version had set it in the Aegean Sea.
Originally, there were three generations of Amazons living on the island, with Princess Diana being from the second.
This basic back-story remains intact throughout the Golden Age and Silver Age of Comic Books, until the 1985–1986 "Crisis on Infinite Earths" storyline. Upon the conclusion of this limited series, most characters in the DC Comics universe underwent some revamp or retcon in their storyline history, and Wonder Woman was one of several characters whose entire continuity was rebooted.
Post-Crisis (1987–present)
The 1987 relaunch of the Wonder Woman series establishes that the Amazons are the reincarnated souls of women slain throughout pre-history by men. Shaped from clay over 3,000 years previous and given new lives by five Olympian goddesses — Artemis, Athena, Demeter, Hestia, and Aphrodite — the Amazons are granted immortality, great physical strength, highly acute senses, beauty, wisdom, and love for one another. They are tasked to teach the merits of virtue, love, and equality to the men of "Patriarch's World". They have founded the city-state of Themyscira in ancient Greece – Modern day Turkey, which is ruled by sisters Hippolyta and Antiope. Ares, the God of War and a chief opponent of the Amazons, manipulates his half brother Heracles to gather forces and attack Themyscira. Heracles subdues and ravages Hippolyta, and his forces succeed in ransacking Themyscira and making the Amazons their slaves. Hippolyta pleads with the goddesses for help. Athena agrees to aid the Amazons, but only if they do not go against their purpose of creation by seeking revenge. When they agree to her terms, Athena frees the Amazons from their chains. Once freed, however, the Amazons proceed to slaughter most of their captors. Antiope leads a force of Amazons off into Greece, seeking vengeance on Heracles. As decreed by the goddesses, Hippolyta leads the remaining Amazons to a remote island where, as penance for their failures as teachers, they become guardians of Doom's Doorway, preventing the escape of the monsters beneath. Renaming the island paradise Themyscira after their fallen capital, the Amazons began their new lives, erecting buildings and monuments and perfecting their skills as artisans and warriors.
For centuries, the Amazons of Themyscira live in a perfect state of harmony with their surroundings, under a theocracy. They know no racism, although many consider Antiope's Lost Tribe of Amazons as little more than savages. They do not think in terms of male gender; the word "policeman" is alien to them until Diana's departure into the outside world. Homosexuality is completely natural to them — while some Amazons are chaste, others have loving consorts. Their city is composed entirely of Greco-Roman architecture from 1200 BCE, and they wear Greek garb, togas, sandals, and period armor. The Amazons also all wear the Bracelets of Submission as constant reminders of their Enslavement and obedience to their patrons, although only Diana can deflect bullets with them. They are fervently religious, worshipping their gods as living deities. Artemis is their primary goddess, and they worship her with a sacrifice of a deer. The Amazons celebrate their creation each year in a Feast of Five, remembering the goddesses who brought them to life.
Occasionally, the Nereides bring to the shores of Themyscira young infants who would have otherwise drowned in accidents. The Amazons of Paradise Island would initiate a process called "send forth", where these infants are tutored spiritually in Amazonian ideals, and they are then sent back mystically to the place of their disappearance scant moments after being lost at sea. Julia Kapatelis, Diana's first friend in Patriarch's World, is one such infant.
Themyscira is presently located in the Bermuda Triangle but possesses the magical ability to teleport to any location or time period its inhabitants desire.
National timeline
Turmoil and genocide
Every headline writer who has written volume two of Wonder Woman has depicted Themyscirian slaughter:
George Pérez – included Heracles' rape and slaughter of the Amazons, as well as the destruction of the first Bana-Mighdall city.
William Messner-Loebs – depicted an Amazon tribal war over Themyscira's ownership.
John Byrne – had Darkseid invade Themyscira, kill half the population, and turned the remainder to stone.
Phil Jimenez – re-introduced the Amazon tribal war over Themyscira's ownership.
Walt Simonson – caused a Hydra to turn the Amazons into stone.
Greg Rucka – had OMACs kill over half the remaining Amazon population.
Brian Azzarello – had Hera transform all the Amazons into snakes and petrify Hippolyta.
The island(s) can shift its location over both land and time.
Enter Wonder Woman
In recent times, Hippolyta's daughter Diana, also known as Wonder Woman, has become an ambassador to the outside world. With Diana's help, the Amazons have opened the shores of Themyscira to dignitaries of "Patriarch’s World". The creatures beneath Doom's Doorway were defeated, and for a time the Amazons destroyed their battle armor as a testament to a new period of peace. The Amazons opened up their shores to dignitaries from Patriarch's world, female and male, but that exchange was almost destroyed by Eris, Goddess of Discord. The Amazons even conducted their own tour of the United States, where they were framed for the murders of several people by Antiope's descendants, the mercenary assassins of Bana-Mighdall, and Circe. It was during the "War of the Gods" that the Amazons recrafted their armory, vowing to again become warriors. Circe would transplant many of these mercenary women of Bana-Migdhall, called the Lost Tribe, to Themyscira, where, after warring with the Amazons already there, the two factions joined forces to stop Circe herself. The two sects of Amazons forged an uneasy truce, living at opposite ends of the island.
Professor Julia Kapatelis, a close friend to Wonder Woman and the Amazons, was later presented with a grant by the National Geographic Society to locate the original Turkish city of Themyscira. Julia however had to leave the excavation midway through the project once as one of her daughter's friends committed suicide. Whether the original city of Themyscira has been fully excavated or not it has not been shown.
Later still, Darkseid's forces ravaged Themyscira during a search to locate the Greek gods, killing nearly half of the Amazons there in the process. As they began rebuilding, the Amazons found themselves reverting to stone. This was as a result of the gods' departure from the mortal plane, and the Amazons' connection to their creator beings so diminished as to revert their bodies to their primordial state. With the gods returned to Olympus, the Amazons were again transformed into their flesh and blood state, yet more Amazons were killed in a confrontation with the demonic entity known as Neron.
With Diana and Hippolyta adventuring in Patriarch's World as Wonder Woman for longer and longer periods of time, the Banas and the Themyscirans were manipulated into a bloody civil war at the hands of Magala, who had been possessed by the spirit of Antiope's murderer, Ariadne. Using the pre-existing disdain of the tribes against each other, Magala used allies among both Amazon cities to spark the vengeful conflict. The island was left in ruins, and the war was only stopped when Hippolyta abolished the royal family, renounced her throne.
Left at odds but on even political ground, the Bana Amazons and the Themyscirans joined forces against the alien forces of Imperiex. Themyscira, mystically moved into outer space, was destroyed, and hundreds of Amazons from both tribes died. When Wonder Woman led each tribe of Amazons into an ecumenical prayer, funneling power into the new god Darkseid, the warrior women helped destroy Imperiex and its ally Brainiac 13.
New Themyscira
After the island had been destroyed by Imperiex during the "Our Worlds at War" storyline, Themyscira was rebuilt and relocated, this time to the Bermuda Triangle. Designed by the likes of Julia Kapatelis, the Martian Manhunter, Steve Trevor, Canadian architect Jean Claude Tibet, and Amazon master designer Kaleeza Fashed, the new Themyscira was built with the help of alien technology. Adding to the re-creation of the islands, Themyscira was restored by the combined might of the Greek and Egyptian goddesses the Amazons worship. Transformed into a mighty series of floating islands dedicated to the free exchange of information and ideas, the new Themyscira was governed by members of both tribes of Amazons. After some time Themyscira was nearly destroyed in a jealous fit of rage by the goddess Hera. She was angry that Zeus was magically spying on the bathing form of Artemis via scrying the pool and kicked the pool itself. Because of her actions the islands ceased to float in mid-air under their own power and instead resumed being a cluster of traditional islands once more.
Recently, Themyscira was under attack by OMAC forces, as described in DC Comics's Infinite Crisis. Due to this attack, as well as the many various other attacks the island has suffered through since Diana became Wonder Woman, it was decided that the Olympian and Bana-Mighdallian goddesses would transport the island and its inhabitants (sans Diana) to an undisclosed location to live in peace.
One Year Later
Under the direction of the writer Will Pfeifer, the Amazons attack Washington D.C. as retaliation for the attack on the island in a six-part mini-series titled Amazons Attack. At the end of the series, the Amazons have their memories erased by Granny Goodness (posing as the goddess Athena) and are scattered throughout the world with false personas. Only Hippolyta and four of her original Royal Guard remain on Themyscira. The Queen is exiled to near-empty Themyscira (which had seemingly been sunk and restored during the battle) for her crimes of attacking Man's World, though her actions had been influenced by the evil Circe.
Later, Zeus then revives the Amazons' memories and provides transport for them to return to Themyscira.
DC Universe
During the "Dark Nights: Death Metal" storyline, Themyscira was transformed into the new Hell where Wonder Woman became its warden who guarded the prisoners there. Gemworld became part of the transformed Themyscira.
Flora and fauna
Pre-Crisis
When the Wonder Woman comic book was first introduced, Paradise Island possessed horses, and creatures called Kangas – reminiscent of the island country Australia's kangaroos – that the Amazons both rode like mounts.
The Kangas were probably a breed of kangaroos which were introduced into the island from Australia via coastal migration, which the Amazons bred them and where they originated from. Diana's Kanga was named Jumpa.
There were also smaller rabbit-like creatures wandering Paradise Island.
Post-Crisis
When the Wonder Woman comic book was revamped and started anew in the mid-1980s this was scrapped and the island only had common game animals such as antelopes, deer, wild boar, bears, lions, and fish, pets such as birds, cats, foxes, dogs, and monkeys, and livestock animals such as horses, donkeys, camels, cattle, water buffalo, sheep such as the European mouflon, goats such as the Kri-kri, and pigs (domesticated descendants of wild boar). The only exotic/mythological creatures on the island were more sinister in nature and existed in Doom's Doorway to the underworld, which the Amazons swore to keep trapped and never to escape. In the waters surrounding Themyscira also lived Naiads and in the forests Dryads who played most of their days away, occasionally with the Amazons.
In 1999 when writer Eric Luke took over the Wonder Woman comic book, he had several lost mythical creatures from around the globe take asylum on Themyscira. These creatures consisted of: Chiron the centaur, a white Pegasus, Ladon the dragon, a chimera, and a sphinx.
When writer Phil Jimenez wrote the title in the early 2000s, he had several dinosaurs from the land of Skartaris also take refuge on Themyscira in addition to the reappearance of Kangas on the island. To date, no Kangas has been seen as riding animals.
Writer Greg Rucka reintroduced a second Pegasus to serve as Wonder Woman's riding companion, this one black with red eyes. It is assumed he still lives on Themyscira.
In 2003, a flashback story by Matt Wagner called Batman/Superman/Wonder Woman: Trinity has the island defended by sapient giant birds. They perish in the defense of the Amazons.
The 2007 storyline "Amazons Attack!" depicted the Amazons as having creatures such as giant Stygen wasps and some domesticated Pegasi, large amounts of saddled Chimeras, and three titan-sized ogres.
"Countdown to Final Crisis" storyline introduced the then-new revelation that the island is protected by a school of megalodons.
When writer Gail Simone took over the title, she showed that Hippolyta cared for griffins in the royal stables. She also introduced the island of Thalarion, the home of Gargareans during the "Rise of the Olympian" storyline. The Gargareans possessed herds of winged horses similar to Themyscira but also possessed flocks of winged lions as well. Their leader Achilles also has a domesticated war elephant named Mysia who has two trunks, two mouths, three glowing eyes, an impenetrable hide, and the ability to walk on air. As the Gargareans incorporated themselves among the Amazons of Themyscira, it is safe to assume these creatures also reside there.
Notable citizens
In other media
Television
In line with comic book continuity of the time, the 1975–1979 Lynda Carter television series Wonder Woman did feature Themyscira (still called Paradise Island at the time) in several episodes. The episode "The Feminum Mystique Part 2" reveals that Paradise Island is located at 30° 22' N, 64° 47' W.
The island was mentioned in the Smallville episode "Asylum", in which a newspaper headline reads "Themysciran Queen Addresses the Vatican". The actual island appears in the comic book continuation of the show.
Paradise Island appeared on the animated television series Challenge of the Superfriends, in the 1978 episode "Secret Origins of the Super Friends", and The All-New Super Friends Hour episode "Return of Atlantis".
Themyscira appeared in several episodes of the DC Animated Universe series Justice League and Justice League Unlimited between 2001 and 2006 as the homeland of Wonder Woman.
Themyscira appears in the Batman: The Brave and the Bold episode "Triumvirate of Terror!", where the Joker infiltrates it disguised as an Amazon and kidnaps Wonder Woman.
At the end of the Legends of Tomorrow episode "Helen Hunt", Zari Tomaz delivers Helen of Troy to Themyscira upon returning her to her time. The island is then mentioned several times in the show's third-season finale, "The Good, the Bad, and the Cuddly", as the place where Helen learned to fight like an Amazon.
Themyscira appears in Justice League Action. In the episode "Luthor in Paradise", Lex Luthor and Circe invade Themyscira to obtain the Oculus of the Argo, an artifact of the Olympian Gods entrusted to Hippolyta by Hera that would give anyone that wields it the powers of Zeus. In the web short "The Goddess Must Be Crazy", Supergirl and Wonder Woman practice their sparring on each other, but Felix Faust manages to attack the island by possessing Supergirl.
In the Harley Quinn episode "Bachelorette", the titular character takes Poison Ivy to Themyscira, which has been converted into a resort by Eris for the latter's bachelorette party. The pair later discovers that Eris hypnotized Queen Hippolyta and plans to have her sell the island to Lex Luthor, and can thwart the scheme.
Themyscira appears in the 2019 DC Super Hero Girls episodes "#FantasticBeastsAndHowToMindThem", where in the final scene, Diana takes her pet griffin Steve so that he is free with other griffins and "#AwesomeAuntAntiope", in a flashback, where a young Diana is seen having fun with her aunt Antiope.
Themyscira appears in the ninth episode of season three, "Souls", in the live-action series Titans (2021). In the episode, Raven trains with Amazons while trying to find a way to get Donna Troy back.
Film
In the television film Wonder Woman (1974) starring actress Cathy Lee Crosby, the island of the Amazons is shown briefly but not named.
Themyscira is shown in the animated film Justice League: The New Frontier (2008), in which Wonder Woman spars with a fellow Amazon on a beach.
Themyscira is shown in the animated film Wonder Woman (2009).
Themyscira and its Amazons are shown prominently in the animated film Superman/Batman: Apocalypse (2010).
While not appearing in the animated film Justice League: The Flashpoint Paradox (2013), it was stated that the Amazons had invaded the United Kingdom and renamed it New Themyscira.
In Justice League: War (2014), Diana mentions that she came from Paradise Island (the former name of Themyscira in the comics).
Themyscira is shown in the animated film DC Super Hero Girls: Hero of the Year (2016).
Themyscira is shown in live-action films set in the DC Extended Universe:
In the film Wonder Woman (2017), it was portrayed in keeping with the post-Crisis version. Steve Trevor crash-lands on Themyscira after stealing a German aircraft from a base somewhere in Turkey, which implies a location somewhere in the Eastern Mediterranean.
In the film Justice League (2017), Steppenwolf (played in motion capture by Ciaran Hinds) lands in Themyscira through a Boom Tube in a vault that is storing one of the three Mother Boxes which contain the power of the New Gods. After Queen Hippolyta (Connie Nielsen) escapes while the Amazons fight him off, Steppenwolf successfully retrieves the box after a brief fight with the Queen and injuring several other Amazons. Before leaving, he foreshadows that Hippolyta will obey him and love him after he gains the power of the three boxes, as well as other Amazonians. Themyscira also appears in the director's cut of the film (2021).
In the film Wonder Woman 1984 (2020), Themyscira appears in a flashback where a young Diana Prince participates in an athletic event against older Amazons.
Themyscira briefly appears in the animated film Teen Titans Go! To the Movies, where a young Wonder Woman is shown practicing with the Lasso of Truth.
Themyscira is shown in the animated film Wonder Woman: Bloodlines (2019).
Themyscira appears in the 2021 film Space Jam: A New Legacy, where Lola Bunny is shown completing in a tournament hosted by Wonder Woman to become an Amazon.
Video games
Themyscira is one of the playable stages in the 2008 video game Mortal Kombat vs. DC Universe, with several Amazons appearing in several cut scenes.
Themyscira is featured in several instances of DC Universe Online where the players assist Wonder Woman or Circe to help with their respective goals concerning the Amazons and an open-world version that features the Council of Wonder Women from five different universes that players aid in a fight against the Olympian Gods and New Gods. This version is composed of the island merged with the different universe's Wonder Women corresponding reality versions of their island, called Patchwork Themyscira.
Themyscira is a playable stage in the 2013 video game Injustice: Gods Among Us, represented as a mountaintop temple and a port area.
Themyscira appears in a level in Lego DC Super-Villains. Wonder Woman travels there with Harley Quinn and Cyborg to free it from Darkseid's minion Granny Goodness, who has taken the population under mind control.
In 2020 Roblox had a Wonder Women event set on the island of Themyscira.
Notes
References
Bibliography
Wonder Woman
Fictional elements introduced in 1941
DC Comics populated places
Fictional city-states
Fictional island countries
Classical mythology in DC Comics
Feminist science fiction
Single-gender worlds
DC Comics islands