The Amazons featured prominently in Greek myth and art. Fierce warriors from lands far from the Greek mainland, they seemed to represent a lot of what a good Greek woman was not supposed to be. During this webinar, we will explore the Amazons in myth and art, and see if there were any historical Amazon-like women who could have contributed to the myths about them.

From the Athenian Acropolis, to the temple of Apollo at Bassai on the Peloponnese, Amazons feature prominently in Greek temple building. The way they are depicted shows a battle in full motion, with the outcome still to be decided. There are several variations of the mythical battle against the Amazons and we will explore them first before starting a journey to see how architects used these battles on some of the most important buildings from ancient Greece. We will then see if there were any ancient warrior women around, and if and how they could have influenced the myths and their use in Greek society. We will finish the webinar looking at modern interpretations of the myth, and see if our use of the “warrior woman” -story differs from the ancient one.

Hosted by Dr Helena Meskanen, an archaeologist specialising in ancient Greece, this webinar will give you a deep dive into one of the most famous mythical groups from ancient Greece. After an hour long presentation, she is happy to take your questions on the Amazons, archaeology, or anything in between.

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