Women of the Amazon tribes. Wild tribes of the Amazon

We are used to living in a world of information. However, there are many undiscovered pages in the history and untrodden trails on the planet! The secret of the Amazons - brave freedom-loving women who live without men - is trying to unravel the researchers, filmmakers, lovers of exoticism.

Who are the Amazons?

For the first time about attractive, but dangerous warriors of the weaker sex mentions Homer in the eighteenth century BC. Then their life is described by the ancient Greek historian Herodotus and the playwright Aeschylus, and after them the Roman chroniclers. According to myths, the Amazons formed states that consist only of women. Presumably, these were the territories from the shores of the Black Sea to the Caucasus and further - into the interior of Asia. From time to time, they chose men from other nations to continue the race. The fate of the child born depended on sex - if it was a girl, she was brought up in a tribe, the boy was sent to his father or killed.

Since then, the legendary Amazon - a woman who masterfully owns a weapon and an excellent rider, who does not concede in battle to men. Her patroness - Artemis - a virgin, eternally young goddess of hunting, capable of anger in the anger, released from the bow arrows.

Etymology

So far, researchers are arguing about the origin of the word "Amazon." Presumably, it was formed from the Iranian word ha-mazan - "female warrior". Another option - from the word a masso - "untouchable" (for men).

The Greek etymology of the word is most common. It is interpreted as "bezgrudaya, and according to the legend, warriors burned or cut off their breasts for the convenience of using onions. This version, however, does not find confirmation in the artistic images.

Archaeologists in search of Amazons

Archaeological excavations and found burials do not directly prove the existence of the Amazons. Some burials of women with weapons, found in Ukraine, may indicate their noble origin. To date, the proof is the 2000-year-old mounds, located on the border between Russia and Kazakhstan. Archaeologists have found more than 150 graves of the descendants of the Sarmatians, among whom were women warriors buried with weapons.

Skeptical scholars suggest that the Amazons are a mythological image, opposed to the growing role of men in ancient Greek society. He tries to resurrect the memory of matriarchy and give value to the female nature. At that time, a same-sex relationship between men was preferable. It was considered purer and indicated a special spiritual relationship between the teacher and the student. As the archetype of the Amazon - a woman equal to a man, and therefore worthy of respect and admiration.

The first mention of the Amazons of South America

It took many centuries before this name became popular again. This time on the other end of the earth. The baptism of the women of South America in the Amazon happened with the light hand of the Spanish conquistadors.

In July 1539, royal officials who participated in the campaign of Gonzalo Jiménez de Quesada across Colombia prepared a report describing the conquest of the new colonies. It mentions the people of the Indian women who live without men. The Spaniards themselves did not see it, but recorded data about it from the words of people who were there slaves for conceiving children. Women of the Amazon tribes formed a highly developed civilization, headed by Queen Haratti.

According to other sources, it was learned about the Amazons thanks to the conquistador Francisco Orellani. His brigantine entered the waters of the deep, fast-flowing river on February 12, 1542 (now near this place is a small town named after a brave captain). After a while, hungry Europeans, who are many days on the road, hospitably received in their settlements, the Indians. It was they who told that the tribe of the "great señor" lives on the river, on the local dialect of "konyapuyara", which the Spaniards called Amazons.

Legends or bygone

However, in these stories there is no direct indication of a meeting with fearless women. The gap is filled by the following legend. During the conquest of new lands by the Spanish crown, the conquerors, led by Orellani, faced the fierce resistance of the indigenous Indians. Among them stood out the bravery of the women of the tribes of the Amazon. Entered with them into battle and forced to retreat conquistadors nicknamed them in memory of the girls from ancient Greek mythology. And the river, on the banks of which they fought, was named Rio de las Amazonas.

Modern researchers believe that there were no warriors. Women of the Amazon tribes are Indians, whose long hair misled the Spanish invaders. More romantic people believe that they were beloved, fighting side by side with their men and ready to sacrifice their lives for them.

Anyway, the wild girls, the Amazons, continue to bother the imagination. This is evidenced by the stories of adventure films and best-selling books, which are recounted by the beliefs of the times of the Great Geographical Discoveries. In them the jungle of the Amazon conceals countless treasures, guarded by beautiful warriors, who are cruel and merciless towards strangers. A lot of gold hunters died in search of an easy path to enrichment. But from time to time there are brave men ready to try their luck.

Tribes of the Amazon rainforest

More than five hundred years have passed. And the Amazon jungle still hides a lot of unrecognized tribes. The Brazilian organization FUNAI has registered seventy-seven primitive settlements. Their way of life does not differ from that of their ancestors many centuries ago: they fish, hunt, collect fruit. These people of the Amazon have never been in contact with modern civilization. Moreover, any meeting can be fatal for them, since they do not have immunity from most diseases. Therefore, the aborigines are protected by the state.

Among them there are those that preserve the matriarchal way of life. But no one here is fighting or dominating.

The Kuna Tribe

The most famous and accessible to tourists settlement is the Kuna tribe. It is located on the islands of San Blas. Wild girls, Amazons, are engaged in housekeeping and make clothes incredible in beauty and fineness of work - moles.

What is the manifestation of matriarchy? Here the groom does not choose the bride, but the girl makes an offer to the young man. However, he has no right to refuse her. After that, the man moves to his wife's house and works for several years under the supervision of his father-in-law. Marriages are possible only among the tribesmen. The birth of girls is considered preferable, as they subsequently bring additional labor into the house. In the rest - this is a family of original culture with a typical distribution of responsibilities.

Where to look for modern women warriors?

Today, not so much the women of the Amazon tribes are aggressively attuned, but the inhabitants of urban megacities. Reclaiming the right to be free and independent, the "keepers of the home" tend to leave it for the sake of professional growth.

And although they occupy leading positions and manage countries, there is no need to speak about a new matriarchy. Implicit war of the Amazons of modern society for its status often ends with a successful career and conscious loneliness and, as a consequence, a demographic crisis.