Amazon

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Amazon , in Greek mythology, one of a tribe of warlike women who lived in Asia Minor. The Amazons had a matriarchal society, in which women fought and governed while men performed the household tasks. Each Amazon had to kill a man before she could marry, and all male children were either killed or maimed at birth. It was believed that the Amazons cut off one breast in order to shoot and throw spears more effectively. They were celebrated warriors, believed to have been the first to use cavalry, and their conquests were said to have included many parts of Asia Minor, Phrygia, Thrace, and Syria. Several of the finest Greek heroes proved their mettle against the Amazons: Hercules took the golden girdle of Ares from their queen Hippolyte; Theseus abducted Hippolyte's sister Antiope and then defeated a vengeful army of Amazons at Athens. A contingent of Amazons fought with the Trojans under Penthesilea .

Am·a·zon ¹ / ˈaməˌzän; -zən/ a river in South America that flows more than 4,150 miles (6,683 km) through Peru, Colombia, and Brazil into the Atlantic Ocean. It drains two-fifths of the continent and, in terms of water-flow, is the largest river in the world. DERIVATIVES: Am·a·zo·ni·an / ˌaməˈzōnēən/ adj. Am·a·zon • n. 1. a member of a legendary race of female warriors believed by the ancient Greeks to exist in Scythia (near the Black Sea in modern Russia) or elsewhere on the edge of the known world. ∎  (also amazon) a tall and strong or athletic woman. 2. (amazon) a parrot (genus Amazona), typically green and with a broad rounded tail, found in Central and South America. DERIVATIVES: Am·a·zo·ni·an adj.

Amazonian A division of areological time, lasting from 1.80 Gy to the present in the Hartmann-Tanaka Model and 3.55 Gy to the present in the Neukum-Wise Model, and divided into three epochs: Lower Amazonian (1.80–0.70 or 3.55–2.50 Gy); Middle Amazonian (0.70–0.25 or 2.50–0.70 Gy); and Upper Amazonian (0.25–0.00 or 0.70–0.00 Gy).

Amazon In Greek mythology, a race of female warriors who formed a totally matriarchal society. Heracles, Theseus, and other Greek heroes challenged the Amazons. As allies of the Trojans, they took part in the defence of Troy, where their queen Penthesilea was slain by Achilles.

Amazon. Although the Amazons of Greek tradition are cited briefly in Lebor Gabála [Book of Invasions], the figures mentioned more often in this role include female teachers of martial arts such as Scáthach, Aífe (1), and Búanann. See also BERREY DHONE.

Amazon one of a race of female warriors. XIV. — L. Amazṓn — Gr. Amazón, -ónos, expl. by the Greeks as meaning ‘breastless’ (as if f. A-4 + mazós breast), but prob. of foreign origin.
So Amazonian XVI. f. L. amazonius.

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