TheAmazons were a group or race of female warriors in Ancient Greek mythology. Most of them are only briefly named in one or two sources, either as companions ofPenthesilea at theTrojan War, or as being killed byHeracles during his 12 labours.
Many stories aboutHeracles and his 12 labours mention different Amazons being killed by him. These includeAlcippe,Asteria,Celaeno,Deianira,Eriboea andTecmessa.[1] Others, likeAella andPantariste, fought Heracles but weren't killed.
John Tzetzes gives in hisPosthomerica a list of Amazons who went with queen Penthesilea to the Trojan War and were killed in battle: Anchimache, Andro, Androdaixa, Antianeira, Aspidocharme, Chalcaor, Cnemis, Enchesimargos, Eurylophe, Gortyessa, Iodoce, Ioxeia, Oistrophe, Pharetre, Thorece, Toxoanassa, and Toxophone.[2]
Quintus Smyrnaeus, in hisPosthomerica, also gives a list of the companions of Penthesilea at Troy who were killed there by the Greek warriors.Achilles killedAntandre,Antibrote,Harmothoe,Hippothoe, andPolemusa;Diomedes killedAlcibie andDerimacheia,Idomeneus of Crete killedBremusa,Podarces killedClonie after she had killed his comradeMenippus,Ajax the Lesser killedDerinoe after she had killedLaogonus, andMeriones killedEvandre andThermodosa.[3]
Some Amazons are not known from literary sources, but only from inscriptions on vases. Areto is depicted on anAtticblack-figure vase.[4][5]Creusa is known from a vase fromCumae.[6] Iphito is only known from inscriptions.[5]Xanthippe is known from ared-figure vase.[7]