Amazon

Beschreibung

This marble sculpture dating from 1685-1693 was carved by French sculptor Jacques Buirette (1631-1699) based on a series of original sculptures of an Amazon. In Greek mythology, the Amazons were a race of woman warriors. Herodotus placed them in a region bordering Scythia in Sarmatia (modern territory of Ukraine). Other historiographers place them in Anatolia, or sometimes Libya. Notable queens of the Amazons are Penthesilea, who participated in the Trojan War, and her sister Hippolyta, whose magical girdle, given to her by her father Ares, was the object of one of the labours of Hercules. Amazon warriors were often depicted in battle with Greek warriors in amazonomachies in classical art.