AMAZONS. 
147 
length took them to be men ; but after they had taken some prisoners, 
they discovered them to be women. They were then unwilling to 
carry on hostilities against them ; and by degrees, a i:umber of the 
young Scythians formed connexions with them, and w'ere desirous 
that these gentle dames should live with them as wives, and be incor- 
porated with the rest of the Scythians. The Amazons agreed to 
continue their connexions with their Scythian husbands, but refused 
to associate with the rest of the inhabitants of the country, and espe- 
cially with the women of it. They prevailed upon their husbands to 
retire to Sarmatia, where they settled. Hence, says Herodotus, the 
wives of the Sarmatians still continue their ancient way of living. 
They hunt on horseback in the company of their husbands, and some- 
times alone. They march with their armies, and wear the same dress 
with the men. The Sarmatians use the Scythian language, but cor- 
rupted from the beginning, because the AmazOns never learned to 
speak correctly. Their marriages are attended with this circumstance, 
that no virgin is permitted to marry till she has killed an enemy in the 
field, so that some always grow old before they can qualify themselves 
as the Jaw requires. 
Diodorus Siculus says, that there was formerly a nation who 
dwelt near the Thermodoon, which was subjected to the government 
of women, and in which the women managed all the military affairs, 
like men. Among these female warriors was one who excelled the 
rest in strength and valour; she assembled an army of women, whom 
she trained up in military discipline, and subdued some of the neigh- 
bouring nations. Afterwards, having by her valour increased her 
fame, she led her army against the rest, and, being successful, she 
-was so puffed up, that she styled herself the daughter of Mars, and 
ordered the men to spin wool, and do the work of the w'omen within 
doors. She also made laws, by which the women were to go to the 
w ars, and the men to be kept at home in a servile state, and employed 
in the meanest offices. Having become eminent for her skill in mili- 
tary affairs, she at length built a large, city at the mouth of the 
Thermodoon, and adorned it with a magnificent palace. In her enter- 
prises she enforced military discipline and good order, and added to 
her empire all the adjoining nations, even to the river Tanais. She at 
last ended her days like a heroine, falling in a battle, in which she had 
fought courageously. 
She w^as succeeded in the kingdom by her daugher, who imitated 
the valour of her mother, and in some exploits excelled her. She 
caused the girls from their infancy to be exercised m hunting, and 
trained up in military exercises. She instituted solemn sacrifices and 
festivals to Mars and Diana, which were named Tauropoli. She 
afterw^ards carried her arms beyond the Tanais, and subdued all the 
people of those regions, even in Thrace. Returning with a great 
quantity of spoil into her own kingdom, she caused magnificent temples 
to be erected to the deities before mentioned, and gained the love of 
her subjects by her mild and generous government. She afterwards 
undertook an expedition against those who w^ere on the other side of 
the river, and subjected to her dominion a great part of Asia, extend- 
ing their arms as far as Syria. 
