Illustrated Companion to the Latin Dictionary/Amazon

Illustrated Companion to the Latin Dictionary, and Greek Lexicon (Rich, 1849)

AMA'ZON ('Aμαζών). An Amazon, a female warrior of Scythian race, whose armour consisted of a helmet, a shield of peculiar form called pelta, a bow and arrows, a sword, and double axe (bipennis), all of which accessories are shown in the illustration (Amazon/1.1) which is copied from a sarcophagus in the Museum of the Capitol at Rome. The common derivation of the name from μαζός, because they were said to have destroyed the right breast in order that it might not interfere with the use of their weapons, is a mere fiction invented by the grammarians; for they are always represented in works of ancient art as perfect as other women. See the next cut.

Amazons are also frequently represented on horse-back, in which case they are armed with a spear, like the ordinary cavalry of other nations; as in the example (Amazon/1.2) from a fictile vase.

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  Amazon/1.1
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  Amazon/1.2