The aegis & intelligencer. [volume] (Bel Air, Md.) 1864-1923, 1900-03-16
FEMININE FIGHTERS.
Amazo1s, 1t Is Believed, F1ourished
Even In PrchIstorIc Times.

Amaz0lS, 1t Is Believed, FI0urtshed
Even In Prehistoric Times.
The idea of women warriors is as old
Us the oldest epic. They must have had
some actual existence in prehistoric
Greece, as traditions of them arc found
in all ancient art, as we'll as in the writ
ings of Homer. Hercules is said to have
met them and to have carried away the
jewelcd girdlc CT their slain queen. Hip
polytc, which trophy had been gift of
the war god Mars.
Legend relates that the Grecian nma-
IONS, having cmancipated themselves
from masculine rule, formed an independ-
ent colony on the northeast coast Of the
Black sea. Their organization was pure
ly military, and daily drill was practiced.
They became stancf warriors without
losing any of their feminine qualities of
diplomacy and guile Early in their his
tory they were overcome and borne off
by superior force of GTecans. The wo-
men affected subsection and docility and
were permitted the freedom of the ships.
Suddenly the amazon captain gave the
signal, and they fell upon the Grecians
and slew them to a man.
Ignorant of naval tactics, they were
unable to return to their native shores,
out ufllleu 10 the Oh tle
They landed and overcame the inhabit-
ants. who were enchanted by the strange
invaders and Immediately proposed u
truce and marriage.
According to Herodotus, tho courtship
was somewhat delayed by the inability
of the Scythans to speak the language
of the amazons. The difficulty was over
come by the quicker wittcd women, who
al
enough of it at any rate to accept the
wholesale proposal on condition that
they were not to do weaving, cooking or
other household duties. The men con-
scented to the conditions and lived there
after under subsection to the feminine
rule.
The amazon girls were not permitted
to marry until they had slain enemies in
battle and had brought back trophies of
victory. Motherhood was reserved as an
honor to be bestowed on those who espe-
cially distinguished themselves. Only
female children, as Il rule, were reared.
The amazons subdued the greater part
of Asia Minor and built q number Of
famous towns, among them Smyrna,
Ephesus, Magnesia and Themiscyra.
After opposing Priam of Troy for many
years they Joined his forces in the Trojan
war against Greece.
In the early part of the eighteenth GEN.
fury the king of Dahomcy found his king
dom almost depleted of fighting men, and,
being a man of resource, he resolved to
see what training and discipline would
do for the Superfluous women of the
country-womcn Of muscle and endurance
and undoubted bravery.
In 1928 the first women regiments were
formed. Their duties at first were more
or less mental, but in time they developed
such superior fighting qualities that they
became the flower of the Dahomeyan ar
my. Every three years the young girls
were required to appear before royalty,
who selected the likeiicst to recruit his
regiments. y few of them the king mar
ried. and they held a high place in the ar
my. Others We're married to male SOL
diers, but the majority were welded to
the fetch and remained cclibatcs on pain
Of death. They were divided into three
ranks-thc elephant huntresses, the blum
derbuss women and the razor women,
whose object was to pursue and decapi-
tate the leader of the opposing forces.
They wore uniforms of blue and white
striped cotton, with short, wide trousers.
Like their Grccian sisters, they reared
only the female children, the males being
handed over to foster mothers. A large
percentage of the women being celibates
and numbers pcrishing in battle. falling
off in the native population soon became
apparent In 1862 the amazon troops
numbered less than 5000, and after the
battle Of Abeokuta they practically ceas-
ed to exist.