Read the myth of Hippolyta's belt. Belt of Hippolyta

To complete the ninth labor, Hercules had to obtain for the daughter of Eurystheus Admeta the golden belt of the god of war Ares, which was worn by the queen of the Amazons, Hippolyta. Having embarked on a ship (others say nine ships) and taking with him volunteers, among whom were Iolaus, Telamon from Aegina, Peleus from Iolcus and, according to some accounts, Theseus from Athens, Hercules sailed down the Thermodon River 1.

b. The Amazons were the children of Ares and the naiad Harmonia, who gave birth to them in the valleys of Phrygian Akmonia. True, some consider their mother Aphrodite or the daughter of Ares Otrera 2. At first they lived along the banks of the Amazon River, now called by the name of Tanais, the son of the Amazon Lysippos, who offended Aphrodite with her disdain for marriage and commitment to war. In revenge, Aphrodite made Tanais fall in love with his own mother. But, not succumbing to incestuous passion, he threw himself into the river and drowned. To get rid of the reproaches of his spirit, Lysippa led her daughters along the coast of Pontus Euxine to the valley of the Thermodon River, which flows high in the Amazon Mountains. Here they divided into three tribes, each of which founded its own city 3.

c. Then, as now, the Amazons traced their descent through the maternal line, and Lysippa decreed that men should do all the housework and women should fight and rule. Therefore, boys' arms and legs were broken in infancy in order to deprive them of the opportunity to fight and travel. These unusual women, whom the Scythians called “eorpata” (“man-killers”), did not recognize justice or shame, but were known as warriors who pioneered the use of cavalry 4 . They had copper bows and small crescent-shaped shields. They made helmets, cloaks and belts from the skins of wild animals 5 . Lysippa, before she fell in battle, built the huge city of Themiscyra and defeated all the tribes right up to Tanais. With the spoils from her campaigns, she built temples to Ares and Artemis in Tavropol, whose cult she established. Her descendants expanded the possessions of the Amazon Empire to the west beyond the Tanais River, to Thrace, and along the southern bank to the west beyond Thermodon, to Phrygia. Three famous Amazonian queens - Marpessa, Lampado and Hippo - seized large possessions in Asia Minor and Syria and founded the cities of Ephesus, Smyrna, Kima and Myrina. In addition, they founded the cities of Thebe and Sinope 6.

d. In Ephesus, they installed a statue of Artemis under a beech tree, where Hippo performed sacrifices, after which her fellow tribesmen first performed a dance with shields, and then danced in a circle, simultaneously striking the ground with their feet to the accompaniment of pipes, because Athena had not yet invented the flute. The temple of Artemis of Ephesus was later erected over this statue, which in its magnificence surpasses even the Delphic temple of Apollo and is one of the seven wonders of the world. The temple is surrounded by two streams flowing in the opposite direction with the same name Selenium. It was during this campaign that the Amazons captured Troy. Priam was still a child at that time. However, when detachments of the Amazonian army began to retreat with great booty, those who remained in Asia Minor in order to strengthen their power were expelled by an alliance of barbarian tribes, and in one of the battles the Amazons lost Queen Marpessa 7 .

e. By the time Hercules went to the Amazons, they had already returned to the Thermodon River, and Hippolyta, Antiope and Melanippe ruled in their three cities. On the way, Hercules visited the island of Paros, famous for its marble, which King Rhadamanth bequeathed to a certain Alcaeus, son of Androgeus, but the four sons of Minos - Eurymedon, Chryses, Nephalion and Philolaus - also settled on the island. When two of Hercules' companions, having landed on the shore to draw water, were killed by the sons of Minos, he, indignant, killed all four sons and began to press the Parian people so much that they considered it best to send ambassadors and offer two local men in exchange for the killed sailors. selection as slaves. Satisfied with this proposal, Hercules lifted the siege and chose King Alcaeus and his brother Sthenel, taking them with him to the ship. Then he sailed through the Hellespont and the Bosporus to the Mysian Mariandine, where he was received by the Paphlagonian king Lycus, son of Dascylus and grandson of Tantalus 8. In response to this, Hercules supported Lycus in his war with the Bebriks, killing many, including King Mygdon, who was the brother of Amycus, and returned to the Paphlagonians vast lands previously seized from them by the Bebriks. He transferred these lands into the possession of Lycus, and he, in gratitude, named them Heraclea. Later, the Megarians and Tanagra residents created their colonies in Heraclea. This was done on the advice of the Pythia at Delphi, who said that they should found a colony at Pontus Euxine on land dedicated to Hercules 9 .

f. Arriving at the mouth of the Thermodon River, Hercules dropped anchor in the bay of Themiscyra, where Hippolyta paid him a visit and, captivated by his muscular body, offered him the girdle of Ares as a gift as a token of her love. However, Hera was already right there and, dressed up as an Amazon, began to spread the rumor that strangers wanted to kidnap Hippolyta. Hearing such words, the excited warriors mounted their horses and hurried to the ship. Hercules, suspecting treachery, immediately killed Hippolyta, removed her belt, grabbed her ax and other armor and prepared to stand up for himself. He killed all the leaders of the Amazons in turn and, after a great massacre, put their army to flight 10.

g. Some, however, claim that Melanippe was ambushed and was ransomed by Hippolyta for the belt, or vice versa: Melanippe ransomed Hippolyta. They also say that Theseus captured Hippolyta and gave her belt to Hercules, who in return allowed him to take Antiope as a slave, or that Hippolyta refused to give Hercules the belt and they fought in a place specially prepared for this. He knocked her out of the saddle and stood over her with a raised club, offering mercy, but she chose not to yield and die. They even say that the belt belonged to one of the daughters of Briareus the Hundred-Handed 11 .

h. Upon returning from Themiscyra, Hercules again came to Mariandine and took part in funeral games in honor of the brother of King Lycus, killed by the Mysians, named Priolus, to whom funeral songs are still sung. Hercules met in a fist fight with the best fighter of the Mariandins, Titius, knocked out all his teeth and killed him with a blow to the temple. To prove that he regretted what had happened, Hercules conquered the Mysians and Phrygians, fighting on the side of Dascylus. He also conquered the Bithynians, who lived as far as the mouth of the Rebei River and the top of Mount Colonus, and claimed their kingdom for himself. The Paphlagonians of Pelops voluntarily submitted to him. However, as soon as Hercules left this country, the Bebriks, led by the son of Poseidon Amik, again took away the land from the Face and expanded their borders to the Hypius River 12.

i. Swimming to Troy, Hercules saved Hesione from a sea monster and continued his journey to Thracian En, where he was received by Poltis. When he was about to go out to sea again, on the shore he struck with an arrow the insolent brother of Poltis named Sarpedon, the son of Poseidon. Then he conquered the Thracians who settled on Thasos, and bequeathed the island itself to the sons of Androgeus, whom he took from Paros. In Toron, the sons of Proteus, named Polygon and Telegon, challenged him to fight, and in the fight he killed them 13.

j. Finally returning to Mycenae, Hercules gave the belt to Eurystheus, who gave it to Admeta. With the rest of the booty taken from the Amazons, he did this: he donated the rich cloaks to the temple of Apollo in Delphi, and handed Hippolyta’s ax to Queen Omphale, who made it one of the sacred regalia of the Lydian kings. In the end, the ax ended up in the Carian temple of Zeus of Labrand and was placed in the hands of the statue that stood there 14.

k. The Amazons can still be found in Albania, near Colchis, where they were pushed out of Themiscyra at the same time as their neighbors the Gargareans. Feeling safe in the Albanian Mountains, the two peoples split up: the Amazons settled at the foot of the Caucasus Mountains along the Mermod River, and the Gargareans settled a little further north. On a designated day in the spring, groups of young Amazons and Gargareans meet on the top of the mountain that separates their lands, and, after making a joint sacrifice, spend two months together enjoying love under cover of darkness. As soon as the Amazons discover that they are pregnant, they immediately go home. All girls born become Amazons, and boys are sent to the Gargarians and there they are distributed by lot into huts, since it is not known who is whose father 15 . In recent times, the Amazon queen Minifia traveled from her Albanian palace to meet Alexander the Great in tiger-filled Hyrcania. There she spent thirteen days in his company in the hope of giving birth to a child from him, but soon after her return she died childless 16 .

l. These Pontic Amazons must be distinguished from the Libyan allies of Dionysus who once inhabited Hespera, an island in Lake Triton so rich in fruit trees, sheep and goats that the Amazons did not even need to grow grain. Having captured all the cities on the island, with the exception of the sacred Mena, where the Ethiopian fish eaters lived (mining emeralds, rubies, topazes and carnelian), they defeated the neighboring Libyans and nomads and founded the great city of Chersonesus, so named because it was built on the peninsula 17 . From here they attacked the inhabitants of Atlantis - the most cultured people west of the Nile, who had their capital on the Atlantic island of Kern. The Amazon queen Myrina gathered thirty thousand horsewomen and three thousand infantry. All of them were armed with bows, from which they shot straight at their pursuers during their retreat. The skins of incredibly large Libyan snakes served as their armor.

m. Invading the land of the Atlanteans, Myrina inflicted a crushing defeat on them and, crossing to the island of Kernu, captured the city. She put all men to the sword; women and children were captured as slaves and the city walls were razed to the ground. When the surviving inhabitants of Atlantis agreed to surrender, she treated them very well, made friends with them and, in compensation for the island of Kern, captured from them, built a new city, Mirina, where she settled all the captives and those who agreed to live in this city. Since the Atlanteans offered to give her divine honors from now on, Myrina defended them from the neighboring tribe of Gorgons, many of whom she killed and took at least three thousand captive 18 . However, on the night when the Amazons celebrated their victory, the captives stole the swords taken from them and, at a signal, the main forces of the Gorgons, gathered and hidden in the oak grove, rushed from all sides to beat Myrina’s fellow tribesmen.

n. Myrina's fellow tribesmen were buried under three huge mounds, which are still called the “mounds of the Amazons,” but she herself managed to escape, and, having passed through most of Libya, she invaded Egypt with a new army, helped King Horus, the son of Isis, and began the conquest Arabia. Some argue that it was the Libyan Amazons, and not those who lived near Pontus Euxine, who managed to conquer Asia Minor and that Myrina founded a large number of coastal cities in the most convenient places in her new empire, including Myrina, Kima, Pitana, Priene, as well as other cities far from the sea. In addition, she conquered several islands in the Aegean Sea, in particular Lesbos, where she built the city of Mytilene, named after her sister, who participated in this campaign. While Myrina was conquering the islands, her fleet was caught in a storm, but the Mother of the Gods safely carried all the ships to the island of Samothrace, which was uninhabited at that time. Therefore, Mirina dedicated this land to the Mother of the gods, erected numerous altars to her and made abundant sacrifices.

O. After this, Myrina crossed to mainland Thrace, where King Mops and his ally the Scythian king Sinil defeated her in a fair fight, and she herself was killed. The Amazon army never recovered from this defeat, and, losing to the Thracians in minor skirmishes, the surviving Amazons finally left for Libya 19 .

1 Apollodorus II.5.9; Pindar. Nemean Odes III.35 and Fragment 172; Philochor. Quote by: Plutarch. Theseus 26.

2 Apollonius of Rhodes II.990-992 and scholia; Cicero. In defense of Flaccus 15; Gigin. Myths 30.

3 Servius. Commentary on Virgil's Aeneid XI.659; Apollonius of Rhodes II.970 et seq.

4 Diodorus Siculus II.45.1; Herodotus IV.110; Apollonius of Rhodes II.987-989.

5 Pindar. Quote op. III.38; Strabo XI.5.1.

6 Diodorus Siculus II.45-46; Strabo XI.5.4.

7 Callimachus. Hymn to Artemis 237 et seq.; Gigin. Quote op. 223 and 225; Pliny. Natural History V.31; Homer. Iliad III.183 et seq.

8 Diodorus Siculus V.79; Herodotus VII.72; Scholium to Apollonius of Rhodes II.752.

9 Strabo XII.3.4; Apollodorus II.5.9; Pausanias V.26.6.

10 Diodorus Siculus IV.16; Apollodorus. Quote op.; Plutarch. Greek questions 45.

11 Apollonius of Rhodes II.966 et seq.; Diodorus Siculus. Quote op.

12 Apollonius of Rhodes II.776 et seq.

13 Apollodorus II.5.9.

14 Apollodorus. Quote op.; Euripides. Hercules 414 et seq. and Ion 1140 et seq.; Plutarch. Greek questions 45.

15 Strabo XI.5.1-2 and 4; Servius. Commentary on Virgil's Aeneid XI.659.

16 Strabo XI.5.4.

17 Diodorus Siculus III.52-53.

18 Ibid III.54.

19 Ibid III.55.

1. If Admeta was the name of the princess, for whose sake Hercules had to go through the trials of marriage, then removing her belt in the bridal chamber should have meant the end of his exploits. But before this, Admeta had to enter into a duel as Hippolyta did or as Penthesilea fought with Achilles (see 164. a and 2), and Thetis with Lelei (see 81. k). This would explain the appearance of Hippolyta in the story. In this case, it should have undergone all the usual transformations, indicating that the cuttlefish-like hydra was Admeta, i.e. guarding the gold as a serpent, which Hercules defeated in the form of Ladon (see 133. a). In addition, she could turn into a crayfish (see 124. e), doe (see 125. c), wild mare (see 16. f) and cloud (see 126. b) before Hercules gets her hand.

2. The tradition according to which the priestesses were armed still existed in Ephesus and other cities of Asia Minor, but the Greek mythographers, forgetting that a similar practice existed in Athens and other cities of Greece proper, send Hercules in search of Hippolyta's belt to Pontus Euxine, where there were still tribes with a matriarchal organization (see 100.1). Matriarchy, as a rule, assumed a three-tribal organization. The fact that the belt belonged to the daughter of Briareus (“strong”), i.e. one of the Hundred-Handed Ones, indicates that the setting for this narrative of the marriage trials was northern Greece.

3. Admeta - one of the names of Athena, who was probably depicted fully armed and watching the exploits of Hercules in order to help him if necessary. Athena was Neith - the Libyan goddess of love and battle (see 8.1); in Asia Minor it corresponded to the great moon-goddess Marian, Myrina, Ai-Mari, Mariamne or Marienne, who gave the name Mariandina (“Marian dunes”) and Myrina, the city where the Lesbians ruled by women lived (see 149.1). The Trojans worshiped her under the name “fast Mirina” (Homer. Iliad II.814). “Smyrna” is also “Myrina”, only in this case the definite article is placed before the name. The Sumerian form Marienna means “tall fruit-bearing mother.” The Ephesian goddess of fertility was Artemis.

4. It is said that Myrina was caught in a storm and was saved by the Mother of the Gods, in whose honor she erected altars in Samothrace. However, in fact, she herself was the mother of the gods, and the rites dedicated to her were supposed to protect sailors from shipwreck (see 149.2). A very similar Mother Goddess was worshiped in ancient times in Thrace, in the region of the Tanais (Don) River, in Armenia, as well as throughout Asia Minor and Syria. Theseus's campaign in the Amazon is a myth created on the basis of the myth of Hercules, which further confused the issue and allowed mythographers to invent an imaginary invasion of Athens by both Amazons and Scythians (see 100. c).

5. The report that the Amazons erected a statue under the Ephesian beech tree is a mistake by Callimachus, who, being from Egypt, could not know that beeches do not grow so far to the south; most likely it was a date palm, symbolizing fertility (see 14.2) and recalling the Libyan origin of the goddess, whose statues were hung with large golden dates, usually mistaken for breasts. The defeat inflicted by Pug on the Amazons indicates that around the 12th century. BC. The Hittites were defeated by the Moschians. Initially, the Hittites were a patriarchal people, but under the influence of the matriarchal societies of Asia Minor and Babylonia they began to worship a female deity. In their capital, Hattusash, Garstang discovered a sculpted relief depicting a warrior goddess. He believes that the cult of Artemis of Ephesus is of Hittite origin. The victories over the Amazons won by Hercules, Theseus, Dionysus, Pug and others actually indicate the displacement of the matriarchal system from Greece, Asia Minor, Thrace and Syria.

6. Stephen of Byzantium (under the word Paros) mentions a tradition according to which Paros was considered a Cretan colony. The appearance of Hercules on the island speaks of the capture of the island by the Hellenes. The fact that he bequeathed Thasos to the sons of Androgeus indicates the capture of this island by a detachment of Parians, as mentioned in Thucydides' History (IV.104). Moreover, this event occurred at the end of the 8th century. BC. Around the same time, the Euboeans founded a colony on Toron. They considered Torona the daughter of Proteus (Stephen of Byzantium under the word Torone). The double ax of Hippolyta was never placed in the hand of Zeus of Labrand instead of Perun. The ax itself symbolized Perun, and Zeus wore it with the permission of the Cretan goddess who ruled in Lydia.

7. The Gargarites are the Goharens, whom Ezekiel calls Gog (Ezek. 38 and 39).

8. Reporting about Myrina, Diodorus Siculus retells ancient Libyan legends, in which a fairy-tale element is already visible. It has been established that in the third millennium BC. Neolithic tribes left Libya in different directions, perhaps because their fields were flooded (see 39.3-6). Many Libyans appeared in the Nile Delta.

9. According to Apollonius of Rhodes (I.1126-9), Tityus was one of only three Idean dactyls (“fingers”) who determined fate. He mentions another dactyl, Killenia. I have already shown (“White Goddess” 281) that in finger magic the dactyl Titius corresponded to the middle finger, and Killenius, or, otherwise, Hercules, was the thumb; the third dactyl, named Dascylus, was the index finger, as his name suggests (see 53.1). These three fingers extended upward with the ring and little fingers bent constituted the “Phrygian blessing.” This blessing, which first arose as a symbol of Myrina, then passed on to Catholic priests to symbolize the Christian Trinity.

10. Tityus, killed by Apollo (see 21. d), could be a doublet of the name Titius. Mirina's capture of Kerne Island probably represents a later, alien addition to the plot. Kerna has been identified with Fedallah near Fez, or with Santa Cruz at Cape Gir, or, more likely, with Arguin, located just south of Cabo Blanco. It was discovered and colonized by the Carthaginian Hanno, who reported that this island was located at the same distance from the Pillars of Hercules as the Pillars were from Carthage itself.

11. Here is what can be said about the mythical elements contained in the story of the ninth labor. However, Hercules' campaign against Thermodon and his wars in Mysia and Phrygia cannot be dismissed as having no historical basis. Like the voyage of the Argo (see 148.10), they indicate Greek trade relations in the region of the Pontus Euxine as early as the middle of the second millennium BC, and the appearance of the Minyans from Iolcus, the Aeacids from Aegina and the Argives in these waters suggests , that although Helen may have been beautiful and ran away with the Trojan Paris, a thousand ships set sail not because of her beauty, but for purely commercial reasons. Peleus' son Achilles, Telamon's son Ajax, and the Argive Diomedes were among the allies of Agamemnon, who insisted that Priam allow them to sail freely across the Hellespont, as their fathers had done. Otherwise, they wanted to plunder the city, as happened with Laomedon, who fell for the same reason (see 137.1). That is why the Athenians’ dubious claims arose that during the campaign of Hercules they were represented by Theseus, in the voyage of the Argo such a representative was Phaler, and at Troy by Menestheus, Demophon and Acamant. In this way they wanted to justify their right to control trade in Pontus Euxine, which completely passed into their hands after the fall of Troy and the decline of Rhodes (see 160.2-3 and 162.3).

Belt of Hippolyta
The next task that Hercules received was to get Hippolyta's belt.
Eurystheus's daughter Admeta wanted to have such a belt. Thanks to this belt, she wanted to have unlimited power. Hera told the girl about such a miraculous belt.
Hercules accepted the new task and set off to complete it.

It was not easy to get to the land of the Amazons; the path there was not close. To reach the country of these warlike maidens, it was necessary to cross the Middle Sea (Black Sea), then sail through two straits (Bosphorus and Dardanelles) and reach another sea. The Fermodon River flows into this sea, and this is where the capital of the Amazons, Themiscyra, was located. Many times already, Hercules took Iolaus with him on a mission. This time, the son of Zeus took with him not only his faithful friend Iolaus, Prince Theseus and others went on a journey with them.
The path ahead of them was not close and the best way to get there was by water, so they set off by ship by sea.

They made their first stop at Poros. The sons of King Minos ruled the island. The princes did not welcome Hercules and his companions; they were two companions of the son of Zeus, which made him very angry. The angry Hercules killed many residents of the city. And then he besieged the city itself with its population until he was given two companions in return for those killed. The new two companions were the grandchildren of Minos: Alcaeus and Sthenel.

The travelers' second stop was with King Lik in the Mission. Unlike Paros, adventurers were given a warm welcome here. Then Hercules' ship sailed to Troy. The ruler of Troy at that time was Leomedon. He was very arrogant, his arrogance reached the point that he even despised the gods. The gods sent a curse on his kingdom for this. Apollo sent a plague to Troy, and Poseidon sent a monster. This creature devastated the surroundings of Troy. Once again, in order to appease this monster, Leamedont’s daughter, Hesion, was posted on the coast. It was then that Hercules landed from his ship on the coast of Troy, in order to save the girl from this monster, he offered the king a deal. The deal was as follows: Hercules fights the monster, destroys it, and in return receives four horses as payment for what he did. Leomedont agreed to Hercules’ conditions, and he promised not ordinary horses, but those that he received from Zeus himself.

By the evening of the same day, Hercules dealt with the monster, but never received the horses. The angry son of Zeus promised the ruler of Troy that they would meet and talk again.

The hero's ship moved further across the sea and finally reached the country of the warrior maidens.
The gates of the capital of Femskira were locked and guarded by an Amazon guard. After the guard asked why they came, Hercules explained that they were sent by the king of Mycenae Eurystheus, for the queen’s belt. The Amazons did not welcome the “guests” at all. A battle broke out between the Amazons and Hercules. This battle was not successful for the Amazons.

By this time, Hippolyta was not wearing her belt. He was already in the camp of Hercules. Just the day before, the belt was stolen from Hippolyta by one of the Amazons, Antiope. Who fell passionately in love with Theseus. Even at night, she came to Hercules’ camp unnoticed and laid Hippolyta’s belt at the feet of Theseus, who was sleeping. Having lost her talisman and her power, the queen of the Amazons died in this battle. Hercules took the surviving Amazons captive. Antiope, as a captive, was given to Theseus. Eurystheus's daughter Admeta received the belt after Hercules returned to Mycenae. And I thought about the fact that it wouldn’t hurt to continue the conversation with the Trojan king

Symbolism of fairy tales and myths of the peoples of the world. Man is a myth, a fairy tale is you Benu Anna

Belt of Hippolyta. Ninth feat

“To complete the ninth labor, Hercules had to obtain Admeta for the daughter of Eurystheus golden belt the god of war Ares, which was worn by the queen of the Amazons, Hippolyta. As long as she wears this belt, no one can defeat her, and with her, all the Amazons. Having embarked on a ship (and others say nine ships) and taking with him volunteers, among whom were Iolaus, Telamon from Aegina, Peleus from Iolcaia, Theseus from Athens, Hercules sailed along the river Thermodon (Apollodorus. II.5.9.; Pindar. Nemean odes.Sh.35, fragment 172; Philochor. Quoted from: Plutarch. Theseus. 26).

The Amazons were the children of Ares and the naiad Harmonia, who gave birth to them in the valleys of Phrygian Akmonia. True, some consider their mother Aphrodite or the daughter of Ares Otrera (Apollonius of Rhodes. 11.990-992 and scholia; Cicero. In Defense of Flaccus. 15; Hyginus. Myths. 30).

At first they lived along the banks of the Amazon River, now called by the name of Tanais, the son of the Amazon Lysippos, who offended Aphrodite with her disdain for marriage and commitment to war. In revenge, Aphrodite made Tanais fall in love with his own mother. But, not succumbing to incestuous passion, he threw himself into the river and drowned. To get rid of the reproaches of his spirit, Lysippa led her daughters along the coast of Pontus Euxine to the valley of the Thermodon River, which flows high in the Amazon Mountains. Here they divided into three tribes, each of which founded its own city (Servius. Commentary on Virgil’s Aeneid. XI.659; Apollonius of Rhodes. II.970 et seq.).

Then, as now, the Amazons traced their descent through the maternal line, and Lysippa decreed that men should do all household chores, and women should fight and rule. Therefore, boys' arms and legs were broken in infancy in order to deprive them of the opportunity to fight and travel. These unusual women, whom the Scythians called “eorpata” (“man-killers”), did not recognize justice or shame, but were known as warriors who first used cavalry (Diodorus Sicilian. II.45.1; Herodotus. IV. 110; Apollonius of Rhodes. 11.987 – 989).

“It’s a long way to the land of the Amazons. To reach the kingdom of Hippolyta, it was necessary to cross the Middle Sea to its eastern shores, and there, having passed through two narrow straits, sail further east along the waters of another sea - the Pontus Euxine. Where the hot river Thermodon flows into the Euxine Sea, stands Themiscyra, the main city of the country of the Amazons. Hercules equipped a ship and called with him his faithful friends - Iolaus, the Athenian prince Theseus and others. On the appointed day, Hercules' ship raised its sail and went to sea. Finally, the fresh wind of the Euxine Pontus, tirelessly filling the sail, brought Hercules' ship to the mouth of the river, swirling with steam. This was Thermodon. From here it was already a stone's throw to the capital of the Amazons, Themiscyra. The gates of Themiscyra were locked when Hercules and a small detachment approached the city. The gate was guarded by an Amazon guard in a leather helmet, a short chiton, with a small moon-shaped shield in her hands and an ax with two semicircular blades. “Why did you, strangers, come to our lands? What do you need in the kingdom of female warriors? – asked the guard. “I didn’t come here with my friends of my own free will,” Hercules answered her. - King Eurystheus of Mycenae sent me. His daughter Admeta wants to own your queen's belt. If your queen gives me this belt, I will do her any service.” “This will be reported to the queen,” said the guard, “wait.” Soon a detachment of horsewomen emerged from the city gates. It was Queen Hippolyta and her inner circle. “Who needs my belt? Isn't it for you, bearded giant? – asked Hippolyta, turning to Hercules. - Why do you need it, it’s female, and besides, it’s too small for you! However, if you need it so much, you can get it, but only in battle.” Without saying another word, Hippolyta turned her horse and headed into the city, followed by her armed detachment. Only Hippolyta’s closest friend, the beautiful Antiope, hesitated a little: she could not take her eyes off the stately companion of Hercules, the Athenian prince Theseus. Like an uncontrollable forest fire, love for Theseus flared up in Antiope’s heart. She knew that the Amazons were invincible, while Hippolyta owned the coveted belt, she knew that a battle with the aliens was inevitable and that Theseus would inevitably die in this battle. Late at night, Antiope made her way to Hercules’ camp, quietly entered Theseus’s tent and laid Hippolyta’s belt, which she had stolen, at his feet. And early in the morning a battle broke out under the walls of Themiscyra. The Amazons flew into the camp of Hercules like a whirlwind. Ahead of everyone was the fastest of the Amazons, Aela. It was with her that Hercules fought. Having repelled her onslaught, he put her to flight and struck her with a sword. Another Amazon, Protoya, defeated the seven companions of Hercules, but she herself fell at the hands of the son of Zeus. Then three Amazons attacked Hercules at once, three magnificent hunters, whom Artemis herself took with her on the hunt - they had no equal in throwing a spear. Three spears immediately flew at Hercules, but all missed the target. The Amazons were filled with fear. “Woe to us! Where is your belt, Hippolyta! - they shouted. Remorse squeezed the heart of Antiope, who betrayed her friends, but love for Theseus defeated all other feelings in her. With despair in her soul, Queen Hippolyta rushed into the thick of the battle. She knew that her treasured belt was in the hands of the enemy. Hercules struck her down with his arrow. Seeing the death of their queen, the Amazons fled. Many of them were captured, many were killed. Hercules gave the captive Antiope to Theseus. Here the reason for such an easy victory over the Amazons was revealed. “Take, friend, the belt of Hippolyta,” Theseus said to Hercules, “and say thank you to my captive Antiope.” Hercules did not answer anything, for there was something dishonest in the victory over the Amazons.” In Mycenae, Hercules gave the belt of Hippolyta to Eurystheus, and he gave it to his daughter Admeta, but she was afraid to own it. “Let this divine belt return to the gods,” Admeta decided and gave it to the temple of Hera as a gift to the goddess” (1997-2001 PRTS NIT).

The Amazons are born from the union of the god of war Ares and the harmony, beauty and love of Aphrodite. They carry both destructive and creative beautiful qualities. But they reject the feminine harmonious principle in themselves - Aphrodite and recognize only the power of the god of war. The Amazons are the feminine warlike principle, rejecting the power of the masculine principle - reason, logos, i.e. This is the emotional sphere, guided not by reason, the highest spiritual principle, but by feelings, their spontaneous manifestations, trying to subjugate and conquer the rational principle.

The belt is a symbol of organized emotions, subordination of instincts. The belt surrounds the waist - the place where emotional and instinctive manifestations meet (see Symbolism of marriage, belt).

According to other ancient authors, Hippolyta herself gives the belt of invulnerability to Hercules: “Arriving at the mouth of the Thermodon River, Hercules dropped anchor in the bay of Themiscyra, where Hippolyta paid him a visit and, captivated by his muscular body, offered him the girdle of Ares as a gift as a token of her love. However, Hera was already right there and, dressed up as an Amazon, began to spread the rumor that strangers wanted to kidnap Hippolyta. Hearing such words, the excited warriors mounted their horses and hurried to the ship. Hercules, suspecting betrayal, immediately killed Hippolyta, took off her belt, grabbed an ax and other armor and prepared to stand up for himself. He killed all the leaders of the Amazons in turn and, after a great massacre, put their army to flight (Diodorus Siculus. IV.16; Apollodorus. Cythoch.; Plutarch. Greek Questions. 45).

The queen wants to give a golden belt, i.e. recognize the power of the organizing mind over oneself – the emotional principle. But Hera brings chaos to the Amazons and encourages them to fight.

What kind of origin is Hera?

In the Hindu tradition there is a concept - maya. Maya is an illusion that weaves a veil of vital knots that a person must untie and understand what Maya is, what illusion is. Maya is ignorance that hides the truth. The activity of Hera can be compared to the veil of Maya. She diligently weaves a thread of exploits, weaves monsters, various creatures with which Hercules must fight within himself and separate the true from the false, free himself from the power of illusions.

It cannot be said that Hera is a negative principle. It is thanks to her that he gains an understanding of what reality is, and, in the end, becomes immortal.

So Maya takes the form of the Amazon. Hera can take on any form. It sows discord between spirit and soul, between the sphere of thought and the sphere of emotions. The emotional sphere is involved in illusion, and therefore enters into battle with its own positive mental principle.

As long as the belt of organization and orderliness is on the queen of the emotional sphere, the Amazons are invincible. The power of love of Antiope - the emotional principle for Theseus - logos, reason, gives the belt of invulnerability, organized eternity and strength to the masculine principle, i.e. into the hands of the conscious thinking principle. In the end, the belt returns to the gods - the spiritual sphere has the power to organize and order, only such invulnerability and invincibility is true, harmonious.

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From the author's book

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Belt of Hippolyta

The daughters of Ares (the god of war and one of the most uncharming gods of Ancient Greece) and Harmony were considered the Amazon women, who, according to legend, lived in tribes near the Thermodon River in the city of Themiscyra in Asia Minor, as well as in the Crimea and the foothills of the Caucasus, near Maeotis (as the Greeks called Sea of Azov).Excellent warriors and riders, they were distinguished by cruelty and fearlessness. And, of course, irresistible charm (in any case, these qualities were desperately attributed to them by historians). One way or another, small, semi-wild female tribes managed to bring elemental terror to warlike metropolitan cities, and therefore remained an unsolved mystery. It is still not possible to establish the exact place where the myth of the Amazons originated. The origins of the legends about them developed back in pre-Greek times, and reflected the confrontation between matriarchal tribes. This is evidenced for us by the artistic monuments of Cretan culture, emphasizing the exceptional position of women.

Legends about the Amazons were widely known in all parts of the world.
There are several versions about the place of residence of tribes of female warriors. For example, in Aeschylus’s work “Chained Prometheus,” the Amazons lived on the shores of Maeotis (Sea of Azov) in the foothills of the Caucasus or in Asia Minor (on the Fermodon River near the city of Themiscyra). And Herodotus, who lived in the 5th century BC, believed that the Amazons settled in Scythia and mixed with the Scythian population, and their descendants were called Sauromatians.

The soldiers who participated in the battles with the Amazons said that these women are fierce and bloodthirsty, and it is impossible to put them to flight, and you can defeat them only by killing them to the last. They are excellent with weapons and their right chest is burned, supposedly to make it easier to pull the bowstring. As a matter of fact, this is where the name “Amazon” comes from, which means “breastless”. Although we find a refutation of this in some ancient Greek authors, they say that men came up with all this themselves, out of envy. In others we read: “The girls had their breasts burned so that they would not interfere during the battle.” (Diodorus Siculus) This is how wall frescoes and vase paintings appeared, depicting single-breasted women with weapons. However, the most famous masters, such as Polykleitos and Cresilaus, did not dare to deviate in their works from the Hellenic canons of beauty, for little was revered there as sacredly, and their Amazons are depicted with ordinary female breasts. Modern scientists rejected this assumption due to the existence of one myth in which the habitat of tribes of female warriors comes from an Armenian word literally meaning “moon women.” Naturally, not familiar with the real beliefs of distant and uncommunicative warriors, the Greeks attributed Artemis to them as their patroness. And who else could take women under the wing if not the chaste goddess of the hunt, who spends every day in the saddle. Therefore, in every image of the Amazon that has survived to this day, her image is present. According to legend, the Black Sea and Caucasian Amazons used battle axes, axes, small swords, short spears for throwing, light crescent-shaped shields as weapons, and wore helmets on their heads.

Now this information is confirmed by burials found in the Caucasus and the Northern Black Sea region. This is what is said about them: “next to the beads, on decayed threads, lay shields and armor - that which served the warriors in life and was supposed to accompany them to the afterlife. Remains of harness are often found along with weapons: how can an Amazon be without a horse? During excavations of burial mounds in the Azov region, burials from Scythian-Sarmatian times were discovered. Swords, daggers and quivers full of arrows are found there not only in the burial grounds of adult women, but also in the burials of girls.” Efremov’s “Thais of Athens” describes the Amazons’ special way of riding: using a skin instead of a saddle, with their legs pulled back. Thus, the rider's heels rested on the horse's croup. The horse itself was controlled by the knees, which, accordingly, required overdevelopment of the thigh muscles. One blow from such a knee - and, please, here you have an open fracture, or maybe something worse. It is not for nothing that in all historical essays about the Amazons we encounter approximately the same strict subordination of the sexes: men most often live on the sidelines, behind a hill, or even in a neighboring tribe and are visited once a year, in the spring, for the purpose of using them for their intended purpose. Less often they are allowed to do housework, cook food and feed children. Mythological Amazons kept only girls from the children they gave birth to, and killed boys.

There will be no doubt that the “civilized” army of the Greeks felt nothing for these “frenzied warriors” except a mixture of horror and respect if you read at least the book “Legends and Myths of Ancient Greece” from the curriculum for the fifth grade of the school. The great Greek heroes Bellerophon, Achilles and Theseus won their dignity from them. The Amazons took part in the Trojan War, and the journey to their country under the belt of Queen Hippolyta is considered the ninth labor of Hercules. The Mycenaean ruler Eurystheus, at the request of his daughter Admeta, ordered Hercules to bring the golden belt of the god of war Ares, which was worn by the Amazon queen Hippolyta. Hercules set sail on a ship. Arriving at the mouth of the Fermodon River, he dropped anchor and received Queen Hippolyta on the ship, who agreed to give up the belt. At this time, Hera, taking the guise of one of the Amazons, frightened the others with the news that foreigners were trying to kidnap their queen. The Amazons, grabbing their weapons and jumping on their horses, rushed to help Hippolyta. Hercules, deciding that the queen had cunningly set up an attack, killed Hippolyta, seized the belt and, repelling the attack of the Amazons, sailed on the ship.

Invulnerable Achilles, according to legend, fell in love with the beautiful Penthesilea, who he killed at the foot of Troy, and could not forgive himself for what he had done. And the unlucky Bellerophon was sent to fight the Amazons after he had already tamed one female prototype in the person of the Chimera - a monster with three lion mouths, the body of a goat and the tail of a dragon. And here he, who was experiencing all the hardships of fate only because he once did not reciprocate the feelings of Queen Antheia, who fell in love with him, luck smiled on him. Which still did not save the hero from shameful madness later. When Theseus took the Amazon city of Themiscyra, he took Queen Antiope with him as a reward. In Athens, Antiope became the wife of Theseus. The Athenians celebrated the wedding of their king with the queen of the Amazons magnificently. Soon their son was born. His parents named him Hippolytus. The couple were happy. They rejoiced, looking at how smart, brave and beautiful their son was growing. And the Amazons plotted to take revenge on the Athenians for the destruction of Themiscyra and the kidnapping of their queen. They decided to free Antiope from what they thought was a difficult captivity. Their huge army invaded Attica. The Athenians took refuge from the onslaught of the warlike Amazons behind the city walls, but could not hold them back. The last refuge left for the Athenians was the impregnable fortress of the Acropolis. The Athenians remained under siege for a long time, and now they decided on the last battle. Antiope herself fought alongside Theseus against the very Amazons whom she had previously commanded. She did not want to leave her husband in this cruel battle. Death awaited Antiope in this battle. A spear thrown by one of the Amazons flashed in the air, and the deadly tip pierced Antiope’s chest. She fell dead at the feet of her husband. Both troops looked in horror at Antiope, struck down by death. The bloody battle was interrupted. Full of sorrow, the Athenians and Amazons buried the young queen, and then the Amazons left Attica and returned to their homeland. For a long time, sadness reigned in Athens for the beautiful Antiope who untimely descended into Hades. We can still see a reminder of the tragedy that unfolded to this day on the bas-reliefs on the northern side of the Parthenon.

All of the above refers to a legend that took place during the times of classical Ancient Greece and gave life to many, many more guesses of humanity later, most of which were not destined to be realized. On monuments of ancient art, Amazons are usually depicted as beautiful women with developed muscles and, contrary to legend , without signs of injury. Women warriors were depicted with military attributes: a double axe, a bow, a spear and a crescent-shaped shield. Numerous works of ancient art, dating back to the 7th century BC, are associated with the myths of the Amazons. They usually depicted scenes of “amazonomachy”: the western metopes of the Parthenon, the metopes of the treasury of the Athenians at Delphi, the reliefs of the frieze of the Temple of Apollo at Bassae, the reliefs of the western pediment of the sanctuary of Askopios in Epidaurus, the reliefs of the western frieze of the Halicarnassus mausoleum. The plots of the myth of the Amazons were also reflected in the reliefs of sarcophagi and vase paintings: amphoras of Exekius and others. According to the ancient author Pliny the Elder, four famous sculptors competed to create the statue of the Amazon for the Temple of Artemis in Ephesus: Polykleitos, Phidias, Cresilaus and Phradmon. A number of Roman copies of Greek statues that have come down to us apparently go back to the sculpture of Polykleitos “The Wounded Amazon”. The image of the Amazons was often reproduced in post-antique art, especially in the Baroque style.

During the era of the Great Geographical Discoveries, interest in the mysterious “Amazon Country” increased, and this was one of the reasons that prompted people to embark on long journeys across the seas and oceans. Columbus's dream during his voyage of “taking several of these women with him to show Ferdinant and Isabella” was not destined to come true, but people’s faith in the Amazons was so great that when Columbus discovered a group of the Lesser Antilles and called them the Virgin Islands ), some were ready to believe that these were the very islands inhabited by women. According to historians, in the Middle Ages in Europe there was an old Celtic legend about a beautiful island inhabited by Amazons. This island, located far in the ocean, was called “O Brasil” (Happy Island). First one, then another caravel, leaving the port, disappeared into the distance, never to return again. But even more decisive than the captains who went in search of the island of women were geographers and map makers. Since 1325, the ghostly island “O Brasil” suddenly appears on geographical maps. At times it disappears and then appears again. When America was discovered, the search for this country moved there. Thus, in the end, the well-known name “Brazil” appeared. True, this land turned out to be not an island, and, as it turned out, it was inhabited not only by women. But these are not all the traces left by the legend of the Amazons on the map. History also knows the name of Francisco de Orellane, who was part of one of the grandest cavalcades mentioned in the history of the discovery and conquest of America, who was just a lieutenant on the staff of Gonzalo Pissaro, who led this conquering expedition. But nevertheless, it was he who is credited with the first information about the largest river in South America, the Amazon, then still the Marañon. Here is what a Dominican monk who traveled in Orellana’s detachment wrote: “It is known that the Indians are subjects of the Amazons and pay them tribute. Therefore, when the Indians learned of our approach, ... they sent for their help, and 10 or 12 Amazon women appeared, who fought ahead of everyone with such valor that the Indians did not dare turn their backs on our soldiers, because the women killed them with their clubs , and this was the reason that the Indians defended themselves so stubbornly...” It is not known whether the monk made up this story, or told the truth, but the river, which Orellana named Rio Orellana in his honor, was renamed in his honor to the Amazon, and the pioneer himself was appointed governor of the magical land of women, which he, however, never conquered.

Of course, these stories about miracle warriors do not support the image of a woman as a fragile and defenseless creature, and, nevertheless, it is no secret that matriarchy characterized the earliest stage of the development of human society. This kind of family structure is still found in some corners of the planet far from civilization. From time to time we receive reports of degenerate or almost extinct tribes in Africa or South America with specific family laws, perhaps some of them where women dominate over men. According to some travelers, the Amazons are still believed to live in the wooded areas around Lake Titicaca (on the border of Peru and Bolivia). The Indians of the surrounding tribes call them “uru”. The cult of the mother, one way or another, is present in all pagan beliefs, starting from the origins of the primitive communal system. But history shows that matriarchy does not stand the test of time and, with the economic development of society, or rather, since the man becomes the main provider of food, the “power of the mother” must gradually but inevitably be defeated. There is even a fairly widespread opinion that the emergence of the preconditions for such a concept as “love” and the entire cultural aura associated with it is directly related to the moment when a man takes the reins of power into his own hands. One way or another, the legend of the Amazons is not destined to die as long as there are large unexplored areas in South America, and, apparently, the image of the warrior woman is also not destined to disappear from modern life.

In Japan, as you know, even in the era of the samurai, in conditions of the most severe division by gender, there were women who knew the secrets of samurai skills and belonged to this elite class on an equal basis with men, some of them were even lucky enough to make it into history. And in China, by the way, even today there are armies consisting only of women. When creating them, Asians are based on the indisputable arguments of scientists that women endure stress much better than men, they are more insensitive to pain, absorb information faster, adapt better to new conditions and generally have a number of psychological qualities that, with good preparation, allow them to act quite effectively in an emergency situation. The creators of these schools, paradoxical as it may sound, believe that in our time there is no creature more suitable for war than a woman.

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Nadezhda Morozova

Ninth feat. Hercules wins Hippolyta's belt.

King Eurystheus had a young daughter, Admet. One day she came to her father and said:
- They say that far in the east there is a kingdom where women rule. There, a woman is the head and support of the family and the mistress of the house. Women there govern cities, trade and judge, make sacrifices to the gods in temples and decide the affairs of the state. Armed, they ride on war horses and bravely fight their enemies.
They call themselves Amazons, despise men and boast of their invincibility. My patroness Hera, the wife of the great Zeus, revealed to me that all the strength of the warlike Amazons is in the leather belt that the god of war Ares gave to Queen Hippolyta. As long as she wears this belt, no one can defeat her, and with her, all the Amazons. Father! I want to be invincible, like this woman, and reign without sharing power with anyone. I want to get Hippolyta's belt!
The king ordered Hercules to go to the land of the Amazons and get the belt of Queen Hippolyta.

The kingdom of the Amazons was far to the east, in Asia Minor.
Hercules equipped the ship, called with him his faithful friends - Iolaus, the Athenian prince Theseus and others. They sailed along the route that was open to all sailors by the brave Argonauts. They swam for a long time; Finally, along the stormy Black Sea they sailed to the Fermodon River, went upstream and reached the city of Themiscyra - the capital of the Amazons.

Armed women stood at the gate; they wore leather helmets, short shirts and tight, long trousers that reached their ankles; The Amazons had shields in the shape of a month hanging over their shoulders, and in their hands they held hatchets with two blades.
The guards did not allow Hercules and his comrades into the city, and they were forced to camp on the banks of a river that flowed near the city wall.

Soon Queen Hippolyta herself rode up on a magnificent horse with a detachment of armed girls. Among them was the beautiful Antiope, the queen's beloved friend.

Her beauty once almost destroyed the Amazons. The Amazons had long been planning a campaign to Greece, and so, having crossed the sea, they appeared under the walls of Athens and besieged the beautiful city. The Athenians were not prepared for a siege. A little more, and the city would have been in the hands of warlike women. But among the Athenian warriors, Antiope saw Prince Theseus, and love for him flared up in her heart. Theseus also liked the beautiful Amazon; with her help, he hoped to save his hometown. At night, he secretly came to the Amazon camp to see Antiope.
Hippolyta guessed about her friend’s love and, fearing betrayal, ordered the siege to be lifted immediately. The Amazons retreated from Athens and returned to their own country. Antiope was separated from Theseus. But she did not forget him, and now, seeing Hercules Theseus among Hercules’ comrades, she was delighted, and her love flared up even more.
Theseus also recognized her, quietly approached her and agreed on a secret meeting.

Hippolyta asked Hercules why he came to the land of the Amazons.
Hercules replied that he was ordered to get the belt of Queen Hippolyta.
“Only in battle, only to the winner, will I give my belt,” said the queen. - Fight with us, and if you win, the belt will be yours!
This is what Hippolyta said, knowing that as long as the belt was on her, no one could defeat her.

Both squads dispersed to prepare for battle. The Amazons rushed off to the city, and Hercules' companions settled down for the night in their camp near the river.
Theseus was not in the camp all night. In the morning he appeared triumphant and gave Hercules a magic belt.
- How! Did you get it without a fight? - Hercules was surprised.
“Antiope stole it from the queen and gave it to me,” said Theseus.
Hercules did not want to take advantage of the spoils obtained by deception, and the battle began.

On a wild horse, fast as the wind, Aela, the swiftest of the Amazons, rushed towards Hercules. Hercules, at full gallop, knocked the ax out of her hands. She wanted to escape, and the horse rushed her away, but the arrow of Hercules caught up with her and struck her to death. And another Amazon, Protoya, winner of fights seven times, was killed by Hercules.
Then three girls came forward, three magnificent hunters, whom the goddess Artemis herself took with her on the hunt - they had no equal in throwing a spear. At once they all quickly threw their spears, but missed. And the spear of Hercules, whistling, broke the hands of all three.

Fear attacked the Amazons at the sight of the defeat of their best warriors.
- Woe to us! Woe to us! Where is your belt, Hippolyta? - they shouted.
Melancholy squeezed the heart of Antiope, who betrayed her friends, but in the crowd of Hellenes she saw Theseus, and love conquered all other feelings in her.

Terrible in appearance, with despair in her soul, Ippolita rode ahead. Only she and Antiope knew that the magic belt was in the hands of the enemy. The warlike queen did not want to hand over her friend to the ferocious Amazons and decided it would be better to die in battle.
She bravely rushed into the most dangerous places of the battle, sought death herself, and suddenly fell, mortally wounded by an arrow.
Seeing the death of their queen, the Amazons became embarrassed and fled. Many of them were captured, others were killed.
Hercules gave the captive Antiope to Theseus, and Theseus made her his wife.
Hercules returned to Mycenae, to King Eurystheus, and brought him Hippolyta's belt. The king gave it to his daughter, but she did not dare to wear it and gave it to the temple of Hera as a gift to the goddess.

Hercules performed the next feat at the whim of Eurystheus’ daughter Admeta. She wanted to get Hippolyta's belt,queens of the Amazons,which was given to her by the god of war Ares. The ruler wore this belt as a sign of her power over all the Amazons - a warlike tribe of women who never knew defeat. On the same day, Hercules appeared before Eurystheus.

Bring me the belt of the Amazon queen Hippolyta! - the king commanded. - And don’t come back without him! So Hercules set off on another dangerous journey. It was in vain that his friends tried to persuade the hero not to risk his life, assuring him that it was safer to enter a cage with hungry tigers than to meet the Amazons. But the stories of experienced people never frightened Hercules. Moreover, knowing that he would be dealing with women, he did not believe that they could be as ferocious as the Nemean Lion or the Lernaean Hydra.

And then the ship arrived on the island. Imagine the surprise of Hercules' companions when they saw that the Amazons were not going to attack them at all. Moreover, the savages greeted the sailors in a friendly manner, looking with admiration at the powerful figure of the famous hero. Soon the clatter of a horse was heard, and a half-naked rider with a golden tiara on her head and a belt snaking around her waist appeared before the crowd. It was Queen Hippolyta herself. She was the first to greet the guest.

The rumor about your deeds, Hercules, runs ahead of you,” said the warrior. -Where are you going now? Who haven't you conquered yet?

I did not come to you to conquer, but to ask for what you possess - the famous belt of Hippolyta. This was the desire of King Eurystheus, and I must fulfill it in order to atone for my guilt before the gods.

Well,” answered Hippolyta, “it is our custom to give the guest whatever he likes!” You can consider this belt yours.

Hercules had already extended his hand to take the gift, when suddenly one of the women (and it was the goddess Hera herself, who had taken the form of an Amazon) shouted:

Don't believe him, Hippolyta! He wants to take over
with a belt, and take you to a foreign land and make you a slave.

Believing their friend, the Amazons immediately pulled out their bows and arrows. Reluctantly, Hercules took up his club and began to strike down the warlike maidens. Hippolyta was one of the first to fall. Bending down, Hercules removed the belt from the bloody body of the maiden.

Damn you, Eurystheus! - the hero whispered. -You made me fight women!

And without wasting time, he hurried to the shores of Argolis to present the ill-fated belt to the king. Hippolytes.

The story of Adam and Eve

Storm God

In search of the holy grail

Augean stables

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