Amazons
Lives and Legends of Warrior Women across the Ancient World
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Narrated by:
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Fran Tunno
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By:
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Adrienne Mayor
About this listen
Amazons - fierce warrior women dwelling on the fringes of the known world - were the mythic archenemies of the ancient Greeks. Heracles and Achilles displayed their valor in duels with Amazon queens, and the Athenians reveled in their victory over a powerful Amazon army. In historical times, Cyrus of Persia, Alexander the Great, and the Roman general Pompey tangled with Amazons.
But just who were these bold barbarian archers on horseback who gloried in fighting, hunting, and sexual freedom? Were Amazons real? In this deeply researched, wide-ranging book, National Book Award finalist Adrienne Mayor presents the Amazons as they have never been seen before. This is the first comprehensive account of warrior women in myth and history across the ancient world, from the Mediterranean Sea to the Great Wall of China.
Mayor tells how amazing new archaeological discoveries of battle-scarred female skeletons buried with their weapons prove that women warriors were not merely figments of the Greek imagination. Combining classical myth and art, nomad traditions, and scientific archaeology, she reveals intimate, surprising details and original insights about the lives and legends of the women known as Amazons. Provocatively arguing that a timeless search for a balance between the sexes explains the allure of the Amazons, Mayor reminds us that there were as many Amazon love stories as there were war stories. The Greeks were not the only people enchanted by Amazons - Mayor shows that warlike women of nomadic cultures inspired exciting tales in ancient Egypt, Persia, India, Central Asia, and China.
Driven by a detective's curiosity, Mayor unearths long-buried evidence and sifts fact from fiction to show how flesh-and-blood women of the Eurasian steppes were mythologized as Amazons, the equals of men. The result is likely to become a classic.
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disappointed
- By C Makoski on 10-31-19
By: Adrienne Mayor
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The Parthenon Enigma
- By: Joan Breton Connelly
- Narrated by: John Lee
- Length: 12 hrs and 10 mins
- Unabridged
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Overall
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In this revolutionary book, Joan Breton Connelly challenges our most basic assumptions about the Parthenon and the ancient Athenians. Beginning with the natural environment and its rich mythic associations, she re-creates the development of the Acropolis - the Sacred Rock at the heart of the city-state - from its prehistoric origins to its Periklean glory days as a constellation of temples among which the Parthenon stood supreme.
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dope book, lacked depth but overall worthwhile
- By Nicholas on 06-29-15
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Uncovering Greek Mythology: A Beginner's Guide into the World of Greek Gods and Goddesses
- By: Lucas Russo
- Narrated by: Jared Zak
- Length: 3 hrs and 18 mins
- Unabridged
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Get to know the Greek gods and goddesses, from the mighty Zeus, to the temperamental Poseidon, the beautiful Aphrodite, and every character from A to Z. Who wouldn’t want to hear about Zeus and his command of lightning, Hades and how he found his bride, the wisdom of Athena, and so many other stories that capture the imagination. These stories can do more than just entertain; they can also inspire and teach us lessons that were penned by the Greeks themselves.
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Wonderful book!!
- By Laura Preston on 12-07-22
By: Lucas Russo
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The Poison King
- The Life and Legend of Mithradates, Rome’s Deadliest Enemy
- By: Adrienne Mayor
- Narrated by: Paul Hecht
- Length: 15 hrs and 51 mins
- Unabridged
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Overall
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Performance
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Story
A National Book Award finalist for this epic work, Adrienne Mayor delivers a gripping account of Mithradates, the ruthless visionary who began to challenge Rome’s power in 120 B.C. Machiavelli praised his military genius. Kings coveted his secret elixir against poison. Poets celebrated his victories, intrigues, and panache. But until now, no one has told the full story of his incredible life.
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A mythic & complicated life of a charismatic King
- By Darwin8u on 06-15-13
By: Adrienne Mayor
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The Vikings
- A History
- By: Robert Ferguson
- Narrated by: Michael Page
- Length: 14 hrs and 50 mins
- Unabridged
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From Robert Ferguson comes a comprehensive and thrilling history, based on the latest scholarship, that offers the definitive portrait of the Vikings.
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Good Historical Overview
- By Elizabeth Ciminelli on 04-25-12
By: Robert Ferguson
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Persians
- The Age of the Great Kings
- By: Lloyd Llewellyn-Jones
- Narrated by: Lloyd Llewellyn-Jones
- Length: 18 hrs and 42 mins
- Unabridged
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The Achaemenid Persian kings ruled over the largest empire of antiquity, stretching from Libya to the steppes of Asia and from Ethiopia to Pakistan. In Persians, historian Lloyd Llewellyn-Jones tells the epic story of this dynasty and the world it ruled. Drawing on Iranian inscriptions, cuneiform tablets, art, and archaeology, he shows how the Achaemenid Persian Empire was the world’s first superpower—one built, despite its imperial ambition, on cooperation and tolerance. This is the definitive history of the Achaemenid dynasty and its legacies in modern-day Iran.
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Good History and Historiography
- By David A on 04-19-22
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Ragnar Lothbrok and a History of the Vikings
- Viking Warriors Including Rollo, Norsemen, Norse Mythology, Quests in America, England, France, Scotland, Ireland and Russia
- By: Noah Brown
- Narrated by: Dalan E. Decker
- Length: 8 hrs and 9 mins
- Unabridged
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Ragnar Lothbrok was a legendary warrior who left a legacy among the Vikings like none other. Today's popular TV show may have popularized Ragnar's story, but the real facts are not very well known. Discover the truth behind this Viking warrior and the rich history of the Vikings.
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Happy with this purchase!
- By Michelle Watson on 09-08-19
By: Noah Brown
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When Montezuma Met Cortes
- The True Story of the Meeting That Changed History
- By: Matthew Restall
- Narrated by: Steven Crossley
- Length: 16 hrs and 6 mins
- Unabridged
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Performance
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Story
In 1519, the Spanish conquistador Hernando Cortés first met Montezuma, the Aztec emperor, at the entrance to the capital city of Tenochtitlan. This introduction - the prelude to the Spanish seizure of Mexico City and to European colonization of the mainland of the Americas - has long been the symbol of Cortés' bold and brilliant military genius. Montezuma, on the other hand, is remembered as a coward who gave away a vast empire and touched off a wave of colonial invasions across the hemisphere. But is this really what happened?
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Flawed, but worth it for those interested.
- By "J" on 02-16-18
By: Matthew Restall
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Introducing the Ancient Greeks
- From Bronze Age Seafarers to Navigators of the Western Mind
- By: Edith Hall
- Narrated by: Sian Thomas
- Length: 12 hrs and 24 mins
- Unabridged
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Acclaimed classics scholar Edith Hall's Introducing the Ancient Greeks is the first book to offer a synthesis of the entire ancient Greek experience, from the rise of the Mycenaean kingdoms of the sixteenth century BC to the final victory of Christianity over paganism in AD 391. Each of the ten chapters visits a different Greek community at a different moment during the twenty centuries of ancient Greek history.
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Surveying the Greeks
- By Jolene on 05-31-18
By: Edith Hall
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Norse Mythology
- Captivating Stories of the Gods, Sagas and Heroes
- By: Matt Clayton
- Narrated by: JD Kelly
- Length: 1 hr and 29 mins
- Unabridged
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Overall
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Performance
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Story
Though the world came to know of the Norse and their legends through Roman interaction at about the time of Christ, most of what we came to know were handed-down from folk tales gathered by native writers like Snorri Sturluson (c. 1179 - 1241). This was from a time when the Norse had already been converted to Christianity.
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Very interesting
- By E. Allison on 04-30-18
By: Matt Clayton
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Incas: A Captivating Guide to the History of the Inca Empire and Civilization
- By: Captivating History
- Narrated by: Duke Holm
- Length: 2 hrs and 8 mins
- Unabridged
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One of the most notable ancient cultures of South America is undoubtedly the Inca civilization. They once ruled over the largest empire in South America. Not only that - their empire was also the largest in the world at the time. There are many mysteries surrounding the Incas. Where did the Incas originate? And how did they come to rule over their vast empire that incorporated mountaintops, tropical jungles, and coastal lands? What were the most notable achievements of their great kings?
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Thoroughly and objectively presented
- By Rodrigo on 06-03-18
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River Kings
- A New History of the Vikings from Scandinavia to the Silk Roads
- By: Cat Jarman
- Narrated by: Christine Rendel
- Length: 11 hrs and 17 mins
- Unabridged
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Three years ago, a Carnelian bead came into Catrine Jarman's temporary possession. River Kings sees her trace the path of this ancient piece of jewelry back to eighth-century Baghdad and India, discovering along the way that the Vikings' route was far more varied than we might think—that with them came people from the Middle East, and that the reason for this unexpected integration between the Eastern and Western worlds may well have been a slave trade running through the Silk Road, all the way to Britain.
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Like school
- By Amazon Customer on 09-08-24
By: Cat Jarman
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In Search of the Dark Ages
- By: Michael Wood
- Narrated by: Marston York
- Length: 14 hrs and 27 mins
- Unabridged
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In Search of the Dark Ages is an unrivalled exploration of the origins of English identity, and the best-selling book that established Michael Wood as one of Britain's leading historians. Now, on the book's 40th anniversary, this fully revised and expanded edition illuminates further the fascinating and mysterious centuries between the Romans and the Norman Conquest.
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Brilliant!
- By Dee Goulet on 08-31-22
By: Michael Wood
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Well researched but narrator is terrible
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disappointed
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Well researched but narrator is terrible
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Gods and Robots
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There is something profoundly romantic about lost civilizations. Davies peers through the cracks in the mainstream accounts of modern-day states to dazzle us with extraordinary stories of barely remembered pasts, and of the traces they left behind. This is Norman Davies at his best: sweeping narrative history packed with unexpected insights. Vanished Kingdoms will appeal to all fans of unconventional and thought-provoking history, from listeners of Niall Ferguson to Jared Diamond.
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needs a good editor.
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Adrienne Mayor is renowned for exploring the borders of history, science, archaeology, anthropology, and popular knowledge to find historical realities and scientific insights—glimmering, long-buried nuggets of truth—embedded in myth, legends, and folklore. Combing through ancient texts and obscure sources, she has spent decades prospecting for intriguing wonders and marvels, historical mysteries, diverting anecdotes, and hidden gems from antiquity, medieval, and modern times. Flying Snakes and Griffin Claws is a treasury of fifty of her most amazing and amusing discoveries.
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A Cabinet of Curiosity
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Warlords of Ancient Mexico
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Learn the unbelievable true history of the great warrior tribes of Mexico. More than 13 centuries of incredible spellbinding history are detailed in this intriguing study of the rulers and warriors of Mexico. Dozens of these charismatic leaders of nations and armies are brought to life by the deep research and entertaining storytelling of Peter Tsouras. Tsouras introduces the reader to the colossal personalities of the period.
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Written in 1996. Narration disrespectful
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Captive Paradise
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The most recent state to join the union, Hawaii is the only one to have once been a royal kingdom. After its discovery by Captain Cook in the late 18th century, Hawaii was fought over by European powers determined to take advantage of its position as the crossroads of the Pacific. The arrival of the first missionaries marked the beginning of the struggle between a native culture with its ancient gods, sexual libertinism, and rites of human sacrifice and the rigid values of the Calvinists.
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Good, but not enough history of the Island.
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The Last Days of the Incas
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In 1532, the 54-year-old Spanish conquistador Francisco Pizarro led a force of 167 men, including his four brothers, to the shores of Peru. Unbeknownst to the Spaniards, the Inca rulers of Peru had just fought a bloody civil war in which the emperor Atahualpa had defeated his brother, Huascar. Pizarro and his men soon clashed with Atahualpa and a huge force of Inca warriors at the Battle of Cajamarca.
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Interesting but problematic
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River of Darkness
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In 1541, the brutal conquistador Gonzalo Pizarro and his well-born lieutenant Francisco Orellana set off from Quito in search of La Canela, South America's rumored Land of Cinnamon, and the fabled El Dorado, "the golden man". Driving an enormous retinue of mercenaries, enslaved natives, horses, hunting dogs, and other animals across the Andes, they watched their proud expedition begin to disintegrate even before they descended into the nightmarish jungle, following the course of a powerful river.
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Amazing!
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The First Fossil Hunters
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Griffins, cyclopes, monsters, and giants - these fabulous creatures of classical mythology continue to live in the modern imagination through the vivid accounts that have come down to us from the ancient Greeks and Romans. But what if these beings were more than merely fictions? Through careful research and meticulous documentation, Adrienne Mayor convincingly shows that many of the giants and monsters of myth did have a basis in fact - in the enormous bones of long-extinct species that were once abundant in the lands of the Greeks and Romans.
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The Wolf Age
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The Wolf Age takes listeners on a thrilling journey through the bloody shared history of England and Scandinavia, and on across early medieval Europe, from the wild Norwegian fjords to the wealthy cities of Muslim Andalusia. Warfare, plotting, backstabbing, and bribery abound as Tore Skeie skillfully weaves sagas and skaldic poetry with breathless dramatization as he entertainingly brings the world of the Vikings and Anglo-Saxons to vivid life.
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Perspective matters
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Conquistador
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It was a moment unique in human history: the face-to-face meeting between two men from civilizations a world apart. In 1519, Hernán Cortés arrived on the shores of Mexico, determined not only to expand the Spanish empire but to convert the natives to Catholicism and carry off a fortune in gold. That he saw nothing paradoxical in his intentions is one of the most remarkable and tragic aspects of this unforgettable story.
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A Great Book
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By: Buddy Levy
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The Anglo-Saxons
- A History of the Beginnings of England: 400 - 1066
- By: Marc Morris
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Sixteen hundred years ago Britain left the Roman Empire and swiftly fell into ruin. Grand cities and luxurious villas were deserted and left to crumble, and civil society collapsed into chaos. Into this violent and unstable world came foreign invaders from across the sea, and established themselves as its new masters. The Anglo-Saxons traces the turbulent history of these people across the next six centuries. It explains how their earliest rulers fought relentlessly against each other for glory and supremacy, and then were almost destroyed by the onslaught of the vikings.
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"Pretty Good"
- By Stephen on 05-30-21
By: Marc Morris
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How Europe Underdeveloped Africa
- By: Walter Rodney, Angela Y. Davis - foreword
- Narrated by: Mirron Willis
- Length: 13 hrs and 21 mins
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Guyanese intellectual Walter Rodney emerged as one of the leading thinkers and activists of the anticolonial revolution. In 1980, shortly after founding of the Working People's Alliance in Guyana, the 38-year-old Rodney would be assassinated. In his magnum opus, Rodney incisively argues that grasping "the great divergence" between the West and the rest can only be explained as the exploitation of the latter by the former. This meticulously researched analysis of the repercussions of European colonialism in Africa remains an indispensable study for grasping global inequality today.
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A Superb must read for everyone
- By Joy on 04-16-19
By: Walter Rodney, and others
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Dynasty
- The Rise and Fall of the House of Caesar
- By: Tom Holland
- Narrated by: Derek Perkins
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Author and historian Tom Holland returns to his roots in Roman history and the audience he cultivated with Rubicon—his masterful, witty, brilliantly researched popular history of the fall of the Roman republic—with Dynasty, a luridly fascinating history of the reign of the first five Roman emperors. Dynasty continues Rubicon's story, opening where that book ended: with the murder of Julius Caesar. This is the period of the first and perhaps greatest Roman emperors. It's a colorful story of rule and ruination, from the rise of Augustus to the death of Nero.
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Accessible, enjoyable history
- By Mary on 01-28-16
By: Tom Holland
What listeners say about Amazons
Average customer ratingsReviews - Please select the tabs below to change the source of reviews.
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Overall
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Performance
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Story
- Robert Blais
- 10-25-16
INTERESTING BUT REPETITIOUS
Would you try another book from Adrienne Mayor and/or Fran Tunno?
NARRATIVE LIMITED TO AMAZON CULTURE IN THE STEPPE REGIONS AND ANCIENT GREECE. WAY TOO MUCH REPETITION AND DETAILED CULTURAL AND ARCHAEOLOGICAL DATA. NO COMMENTARY ABOUT WARRIOR WOMEN IN OTHER COUNTRIES OR MORE RECENT TIMES.
What was the most interesting aspect of this story? The least interesting?
MOST EDUCATIONAL ASPECT WAS INFO ABOUT MANY OF THE HISTORICAL CIVILIZATIONS OF CENTRAL ASIA--STEPPE TRIBES, PERSIA, THRACE, MACEDONIA AND ALEXANDER THE "GREAT."
Was Amazons worth the listening time?
YES BUT COULD HAVE BEEN MORE CONCISE
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- Adam
- 02-16-19
From Penthesilea to Wonder Woman
Heads up - There is an enormous amount of information about Amazonian tribes surrounding the Black Sea as well as warrior women across the globe. Although the duration was daunting, it was never boring as it explored what the ancient world considered Amazonian and how relatively normal it was. Due to a class assignment on Wonder Woman and Amazonian history, I rummaged extensively in this book. I definitely got my money's worth. You will too.
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- Victor Parrish
- 03-21-24
Good research
Good info, but why refer to the plates and figures in the book if you don’t include a .pdf with them?
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- James
- 08-26-16
Amazons were real, and kicked ass.
If you are a fan of Adrienne Mayor and have read any of her other books you know the E ticket ride you are in for. While not quite up to "The Poison King" (but what is?) this is a fascinating bit of history done as Sherlock Holmes who done it.
In this detective work Mayor use the results of archeological digs, ancient histories, and other tools to build up a story of the lost Scythian tribe that became to be known as the semi mythical Amazons.
It is quite the bit of sleuthing as the author weaves together tattoos, funerary items, skeletons from long lost graves and the most modern DNA analysis to bring the Amazons out of the mythic mists and the bias of the Greek reportage of the day and create living, breath, if a bit odd to modern eyes, Steppe warriors. And if you know anything about the ancient Steppe warriors of Central to West Asia you know you are dealing with some awesome, if rather frightening people. These people could rip you head off without as much as a "how do you do" if given proper motivation.
But sometime these people made love, not war and that too is, well, different from what you would expect. They were rather liberal and rather egalitarian about who they bedded down with, as long a their paramours were sufficiently willing to crack skulls for the tribe.
These were some larger than life woman with some larger than life stories to tell. It's great that Ms. Myers was able to retell their tales to a modern audience.
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- Elizabeth T. Kusel
- 06-05-17
Missed the pictures!
I loved listening to the book. The story is compelling. The main issue was the lack of the numerous figures listed in the book which could have given more visual understanding to the narrative.
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- Julie
- 11-02-17
Not a fictional novel, but wow!
The narrator is great. It can’t be easy narrating... well, a historical text. Pronunciations of all those names, places and tribes of all those languages, is beyond impressive. Seriously, she didn’t skip a beat (which is what I expect👍🏽).
This is 2017, times have changed since I studied history in school (thank the Gods). She writes with a modern tone without being flippant. It’s officious without being pretentious, overbearing and most importantly, without being boring.
IMHO, history isn’t indisputable facts. It’s old stories with probable cause. Tell me what’s more probable than not, without pretending it’s indisputable and I’m good.
There’s SO much info in this book; I’ll need to reread and rehear it a few times. Maybe if you’re already very familiar with the legends, you will breeze through. Being humbled myself, it was still easy enough to follow.
Ah to the author, thank you for writing this book. Thank you for digging so deeply into the nooks and crannies.
Worth every minute.
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2 people found this helpful
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- Troy
- 09-02-15
Into the Myths and Far Beyond Them
Adrienne Mayor impressed me with her book Greek Fire, Poison Arrows, & Scorpion Bombs. To have her tackle the subject of the Amazons, a subject of personal fascination to me... suffice it to say, I expected big things. And I got bigger things.
Beginning with the myths of Atalanta, this book quickly delves into the historical and often contradictory accounts behind the legends through critical examination of archaeological evidence, literature, and art. The scope of it is nothing less than astounding as the level of influence the Amazons had on the ancient and modern worlds becomes known. No stone is left unturned. The personalities are examined in as much detail as the clothes, the weapons, and the territories they staked out.
As narrator, Fran Tunno does a respectable job for the most part. However, she also joins a great many throughout modern culture who have difficulty pronouncing many of the names. She pronounces the "w" in "sword," so you can imagine how badly mangled some of the Amazonian names become by comparison. Some of these names will have different pronunciations, and it gets a little cartoonish at times. But if you can deal with that, the strength of her delivery is otherwise quite solid.
This is a book that will eventually see hardcover for my personal library. Part of that is due to the sheer amount of quality information, and part of that is because there are constant references to photos and illustrations that are not packaged with the audio.
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- David M.
- 05-31-15
Exceeds expectations. I promise. By a lot.
This book is fantastic. This is tangible, human, personal scholarship fused with the fascinating, potent history of "Guns, Germs & Steel." It's the same duration, actually, yet it doesn't drag like GG&S because the entire book is focused squarely on people, painted vividly. Seriously, I don't remember the last time I found a history book this good.
The Greek myths are, of course, myths, but Adrienne Mayor pulls together a multitude of ancient sources - writers and artists in equal measure - and 21st century archaeology to assemble a picture of the real, powerfully egalitarian ethic group behind the legendary women warriors. It's like having an enthusiastic guide walk you through a living museum of Amazon attire, weapons, lifestyle, history, portrayal, recreation, and sex (except you can't see the artifacts she's pointing to, but you'll get over it).
Adrienne Mayor does a champion job of unpacking what the Greeks wrote about the Amazons in their histories and myths, what the people they called the "Amazons" were most likely like, and_why_Greek and later accounts differ from the probable reality.
For example, some writers in the last couple centuries B.C. and the first few A.D. claimed that the Amazons maimed their male infants. Adrienne Mayor, in response:
1. Puts forward several reasons why men of the regions ascribed to the Amazons may have had high rates of hip dislocations, broken leg bones, and consequent limps.
2. Provides historical, bio-archaeological, and bio-ethnological support for these explanations.
3. Suggests why male Greek writers listening to travelers' tales would have jumped to the conclusion that the injuries were inflicted on the men by the women at birth.
4. Keeps an interesting narrative running through the whole thing.
Unfortunately, the narrator has a tone and inflection which reminds me of the recorded women's voices which make announcements in airports and other high-traffic buildings. The last sentences of paragraphs sound as though she's smiling as she's speaking and deliberately wrapping the sentence up and tying a bow on top. My opinion is, of course, subjective, so listen and decide for yourself.
The only other problem is that I listened to this before I read anything else relating to the Amazons. Now I catch myself grinding my teeth whenever I hear or read about the Amazons amputating/cauterizing their right breasts or whenever a (well-meaning) feminist refers to the Amazons as existing only as a male fantasy of power and validation. Breasts don't get in the way of archery unless your bow is big enough to draw to well behind your head and "the Amazons" were an actual people group. Please stop ignoring them - they practiced your principles!
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- Linda
- 11-25-14
Warning: Images NOT Included
Any additional comments?
This book references and gives detailed discussions of images throughout. There are MANY color plates, b/w images, and maps that are, unfortunately, NOT included for download. The verse surrounds the visuals, and they should be experienced in unison. It is difficult to fully comprehend without being able to see what is being referred to.
Otherwise, I LOVE this book... and really want to see the images. I submitted a request for a PDF file... Audible responded that my "feedback has been forwarded to the proper department so it can be reviewed and taken into consideration".
The book is $16 on kindle, $21 hardcover.
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- aaa
- 10-13-14
Fascinating!
What made the experience of listening to Amazons the most enjoyable?
The scenes and people were so vivid, it was so easy to put myself into their shoes. These women were awesome!
Was this a book you wanted to listen to all in one sitting?
YES, and I did (twice)
Any additional comments?
There are images referenced but there is no accompanying PDF, which is disappointing but not critical.
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3 people found this helpful