Theseus, Hippolyta, and the Amazons

Hippolyta

The Amazons

Background

Daughter of Ares the God of War, she was gifted a girdle from her father, as a symbol for her authority as queen. She was the Queen of the Amazons, a group of warrior women. She was strong and beautiful, and the desired woman Theseus wanted to woo and wed, and make her Queen of Athens. Hippolyta and the amazons had always been welcoming of visitors but after Theseus's visit became very wary and more protective of their queen.

Theseus

The Amazons consisted of warrior women who lived in the city of Themiscyra, off the river Thermodon in Asia Minor. In this island, only women were allowed, the sons conceived by the Amazonian women were killed or sent away. The daughters, however, were taken care of, nourished, and grow to be warrior women, but nonetheless, a lady.

- Theseus is the King of Athens, seeking a wife

- He is also cousins with Heracles

- Hippolyta, daughter of Ares, is the Queen of the Amazons

- Evidence of Amazons from 5th century B.C.

- No men are allowed in Amazonian country.

- The Amazons did not marry, for they saw it as a form of slavery to men.

Theseus was the mythical king of Athens, and the son of Aethra and two fathers, Poseidon and Aegeus. Best known for killing the minotaur, Theseus is also known for founding democracy, and exercised this while he was king. He gained a reputation for helping the poor and oppressed. He died in exile and later his bones were retrieved (as order of the Oracle at Delphi) and buried in a magnificent tomb that also served as a sanctuary for the defenseless.

Summary

Resolution

Conflict

Works Cited

Theseus kidnapped Hippolyta, queen of the Amazons and made her his bride. This started Amazonomachy, a battle between the Amazons and whoever had made the Amazons angry, in this case Theseus and the city of Athens. Hippolyta also had a son with Theseus named Hippolytus. After Hippolytus was born Hippolyta was either killed or Theseus left her for a woman named Phaedra.

Historical Aspects of The Myth

There are two different resolutions to the story. One is that Hippolyta stayed with Theseus and had a child, named Hippolytus. Then Theseus left Hippolyta for a woman named Phaedra. The other resolution to the story is that Hippolyta died before Theseus ends up with Phaedra.

- The Trojan War began when the Queen Helen of Sparta was kidnapped by the Trojans.

- Herakles (Hercules) had begun his twelve labors.

- Hippolyta's sister had married Theseus (in some versions) and had a son.

Theseus, mythical hero and King of Athens seeks for his Queen after killing the minotaur. After careful consideration, he chooses to woo and wed Queen of the Amazons, Hippolyta. She rejects his proposal and he kidnaps her and takes her to Athens to marry her. The Amazons go after their queen and fight the Athens.

• Mythica., Encyclopedia. "Hippolyta." Hippolyta. N.p., n.d. Web. 31 Mar. 2017.
• "Theseus and Hippolyta - GREEK MYTHOLOGY." Google Sites. N.p., n.d. Web. 31 Mar. 2017.
• User, Super. "Greek Mythology." Study in Greece | Official Portal. N.p., n.d. Web. 31 Mar. 2017.
• "The Amazons, the One-Breasted Women." Greeka. N.p., n.d. Web. 31 Mar. 2017.

Theseus, Hippolyta, and the Amazons

Elisa Rodriguez, Guillermo Lievanos, Daniel Montoya, Eric Shoaf