Ancient history

Penthesilea and Antiope, heroic queens of the Amazons

Penthesilea and Achilles
In his Posthomerics , Quintus of Smyrna recounts the death of Penthesilea, queen of the Amazons and ally of the Trojans. Mounted on her swift steed, present from the wife of the god of the Wind, Penthesilea confronts Achilles, who pierces her with his spear. Gazing at the lifeless body of the Amazon, Achilles is moved by its beauty and leaves the Trojans to honor the queen with a funeral fit for a hero.

Antiope and Theseus
According to one version of this legend, Theseus sailed to the country of the Amazons with his friend Pirithoos. When they arrived, they brought them gifts. But when their queen Antiope boarded the ship, Theseus ordered the sails to be raised. The Amazons then attacked Athens, and Antiope, who had married Theseus, fought alongside her until she was killed by an arrow shot by one of her former companions.