King Eurystheus’s daughter, Princess Admete, ordered Heracles to obtain the Girdle of Hippolyta for his ninth labor. Queen Hippolyta, the daughter of Ares, was the ruler of the Amazons, a legendary all-female warrior society considered some of the greatest fighters in the known world. Heracles sailed to the land of the Amazons with a crew, anticipating a bloody fight with the Amazonian warriors to obtain their Queen’s sacred girdle. However, things did not go as Heracles had expected.
Teenage Dreams
After defeating an entire Thracian army and subduing four mad human-eating horses, Heracles found himself at the mercy of a teenage girl. King Eurystheus had allowed his daughter, Princess Ademete, to devise Heracles’s new challenge. Whether Eurystheus set the task with the hopes that the diabolical mind of a teenager could invent something so unimaginably horrible that even Heracles would fail, or if the King overlooked his daughter one too many times and saw an easy way to win her affection, is unknown. Regardless of Eurystheus’s true motives, Heracles was now under the direction of a teenager who knew precisely what she wanted: the magical girdle of Hippolyta, the Queen of the Amazons.
Heracles was not just a hero but a figure of immense admiration and even idolization among the youth of ancient Greece. Young men were in awe of the epic deeds he accomplished during his labors. For instance, Phyleus, the son of King Augeas, was so inspired by Heracles that he was exiled for defying his father and defending the hero during his fifth labor.
Heracles and heroes like him were not just figures of admiration but were akin to celebrities in their time. A multitude of people from diverse backgrounds probably idolized Heracles. However, it is also likely that among young women, Heracles paled compared to renowned female heroes such as Atalanta and Hippolyta. The thoughts of the real women in ancient Greece (often confined to domestic life) about the Amazon fighters remain a mystery. Nevertheless, tales of the formidable female Amazonian horse riders and Atalanta’s slaying of the Calydonian Boar may have depicted alternative lifestyles for women within the restrictive male-dominated ancient Greek social structure.
The Amazons lived at the edge of what the Greeks considered the known world. Heracles would have to undertake a long journey to Themiscyra, the capital of the Amazons, located on the southern shores of the Black Sea in northern Anatolia. Instead of traveling by land, traversing mainland Greece, crossing the Bosporus Strait, and most of the north coast of Anatolia, Heracles decided to sail to the Amazons. Given Heracles’s growing fame, it did not take long for him to muster up a ship, a stalwart crew of sailors, and a few of his good friends.
Different accounts provide varying information on which friends accompanied Heracles on his voyage to the land of the Amazons. Iolaus, Heracles’s companion and charioteer, is depicted on several ancient vases accompanying Heracles on his journey to the Amazons. One account states that the entire crew of the Argonauts was with him, while Pindar mentions that Peleus, the father of Achilles, also joined the voyage. Many versions of the myth mention the hero Theseus joining Heracles’s expedition. However, Theseus had a separate encounter and conflict with an Amazonian Queen, and his tale may have been merged with Heracles at some point in history.
Queen Hippolyta and the Amazons
The Amazons were a society of fiercely independent and courageous female fighters who lived on the edge of the known world in ancient Greece. This semi-nomadic society lived along the coast of the Black Sea and to the north in the Eurasian steppes. Over time, Greek writers established the Amazonian homeland at Themiscyra, a settlement on the southeast shores of the Black Sea in modern-day Turkey.
The Amazons were revered for their military prowess and exceptional horse-riding abilities and feared for their constant raids and expeditions into Greek territory. Although the ancient Greeks firmly believed in the existence of the Amazons, they were most likely a myth. However, many scholars believe there is some historical truth to the unique all-female society living in the Eurasian steppes.
The Amazons had a matrilineal society ruled by a Queen, traditionally a daughter of Ares, the war god. Ares and Artemis, the goddess of the hunt, were the patron divinities of the Amazons. Men were forbidden from living with them, but the Amazons maintained relationships with several neighboring tribes of men. Once a year, they would select male consorts with whom they deemed the strongest to have children. The Amazons kept any daughters, while any sons were either sent back to their fathers or, in some cases, left to die of exposure by their mothers. There are also stories of Amazons taking male prisoners during their various military conquests and using them to procreate when necessary.
Hippolyta was the daughter of Ares and Otrera, the first Queen and founder of the Amazons. As the Queen of the Amazons, Hippolyta gained a reputation as a formidable military leader not to be trifled with. This reputation was further bolstered by stories of Hippolyta’s girdle or belt. Her father, Ares, gave Hippolyta the girdle when she first became Queen, recognizing her superiority over everyone else. Made of simple, sturdy leather, the girdle was said to bestow its wearer with supernatural strength and make them invincible in battle. Hippolyta’s girdle symbolized her status as a ruler in many ways, similar to a King’s crown signifying their royal office.
The Diplomatic Mission
The journey from Eurystheus’s Kingdom in the Peloponnese to the Amazonian capital of Themiscyra, located on the southern shores of the Black Sea, would have taken several weeks. This would have allowed Heracles ample time to devise a strategy to obtain Hippolyta’s girdle. Stealing the girdle from under the Amazons’ noses seemed an unlikely prospect for a hulking hero like Heracles. Yet, Heracles’s go-to strategy for straightforward battle seemed just as unlikely an idea. After defeating monsters and even battling Diomedes’s army of Thracian barbarians, Heracles and his friends hesitated to face the Amazons, known as some of the world’s most skilled fighters.
With stealth and outright combat out of the question, Heracles decided to acquire Hippolyta’s girdle through diplomacy. However, while Heracles was a skilled fighter, his negotiation skills left much to be desired. So, when Heracles left his crew and ship to initiate diplomatic negotiations, his crew quickly readied themselves for a fight just in case the leader fumbled his introductions. Before Heracles could negotiate with Hippolyta, he had to figure out how to access her. The Amazons traditionally forbade men from entering their cities, so gaining entry would be the hero’s first step in many delicate diplomatic trials.
As Heracles approached Themiscyra, we could only wonder what was going through his mind. Did he have a prepared speech or plan to improvise on the spot? Unfortunately, Heracles never got the chance to showcase his speechcraft skills. When he announced himself at the gates of Themiscyra, the city guards disappeared without a word. Heracles had embarked on a diplomatic mission, leaving his crew and friends on his ship, and he found himself alone outside the city. Had he foolishly left himself vulnerable and made himself an easy target for the Amazons to attack? However, when the gates finally opened, a welcoming committee led by Queen Hippolyta, not an army, emerged.
Heracles’s fame had grown throughout his labors, and it seems that word of his exploits had even reached the land of the Amazons. Queen Hippolyta and the Amazonians were impressed by the tales of Heracles slaying monsters and accomplishing seemingly impossible tasks under the command of King Eurystheus. Despite their distrust of men, the Amazons respected and admired Heracles enough to invite him and his crew into their city.
The Amazons were excellent hosts and held a grand feast for Heracles and his crew. Heracles and Hippolyta got along splendidly and soon became inseparable. Some accounts claim that the two became lovers. Given the Amazons’ practice of choosing only the strongest and bravest men to father their daughters, Heracles would be an ideal choice for Hippolyta. Heracles and his crew, many of whom were likely considered worthy consorts, spent several days celebrating with the Amazons.
Obtaining the Girdle of Hippolyta
The unexpected hospitality was gratefully accepted by Heracles, who respected and admired Hippolyta. However, Heracles did not forget the mission Princess Admete had given him. One night, while relaxing on his ship with Hippolyta, Heracles finally confessed his true mission to the Amazonian Queen and why he had traveled the seas to find her. Heracles shared his story, starting with Hera’s curse of all-consuming madness that led to him murdering his family and seeking atonement from Eurystheus. He didn’t omit any details, recounting not fanciful, exaggerated tales of his exploits that had spread across Greece but the truth, including all his failures and regrets. Heracles concluded the story with his recent mission to obtain Hippolyta’s girdle for Princess Admete.
After hearing his story, Queen Hippolyta stood up, took off her magical girdle, and gave it to Heracles. The gesture completely surprised him. Hippolyta was so enchanted and impressed by Heracles and his heroic accomplishments that she was happy to give him her girdle.
Heracles’s ninth labor seemed like his easiest mission yet. Heracles had found an equal and lover in Hippolyta, who welcomed him and willingly offered him one of her most prized possessions. However, Heracles’s life was not destined to be so easy and blessed. The unexpected hospitality of the Amazons surprised and angered Hera, Queen of Olympus, Heracles’s sworn enemy and the goddess refused to allow Heracles to succeed so easily.
While Hippolyta and Heracles were on his ship, Hera infiltrated the city disguised as an Amazon warrior. She began spreading rumors among Hippolyta’s subjects that Heracles planned to abduct their Queen. Hera infused divine magic into her words and riled up the Amazon warriors in no time, who became convinced that Heracles and his men were treacherous enemies. The Amazons secretly equipped their armor and weapons, attacked Heracles’s crew, and attempted to storm the ship to “rescue” their Queen.
Heracles and Hippolyta heard the sounds of battle outside and left the ship to investigate. When Heracles saw his men being unceremoniously slaughtered by the Amazons, he assumed that Hippolyta had betrayed him. Before Hippolyta could say anything, the red mist of rage that plagued Heracles took control. With an ear-shattering roar, Heracles attacked and killed the unsuspecting Hippolyta. Fueled by anger, Heracles quickly defeated the Amazons attacking his crew members. Before they could rally the full force of the Amazonian army, Heracles, with Hippolyta’s girdle in hand, set sail with his crew, fleeing their lands.
In various versions of the myth, instead of taking a diplomatic approach, Heracles kills Hippolyta and takes her girdle, or he and his crew engage in a prolonged war with the Amazons over the girdle. In other versions, Hippolyta is not killed by Heracles but is captured by him or Theseus after the Amazons attack his crew. In several myths, Hippolyta plays a central role in the story of Theseus, who kidnaps the Amazonian Queen, takes her back to Athens, and makes her his bride. Theseus’s abduction draws Athens into a lengthy and devastating war with the Amazons. Nevertheless, in most versions of this myth, the Amazon Queen kidnapped by Theseus is not Hippolyta but her sister, Antiope.
Sailing Home
On the way back to Eurystheus, Heracles decided to stop and rest at the renowned city of Troy. The city was known for its magnificent walls, which were constructed by the gods Apollo and Poseidon. Laomedon, the King of Troy, was a naturally greedy man. In a daring but foolish move, he refused to compensate the two Olympians for their work. In retaliation, Apollo unleashed a plague upon the city, causing widespread sickness and diseases. Simultaneously, Poseidon flooded the plain of Illium, which would later be the site of the greatest battle in mythical history. The sea god also dispatched sea monsters to attack any unfortunate Trojan citizens who tried to flee the famine and disease that were now rampant within their city walls.
The priests advised King Laomedon that the only way to appease the gods he had offended and save the city was to chain his daughter, Hesione, to a rock in the now-flooded plain of Illium and sacrifice her to the sea monsters infesting its waters. As the princess was being chained to the rock, Heracles arrived in Troy.
Heracles saw an opportunity to use his heroic talents and he made a deal with the King. He offered to rescue Hesione and slay the sea monsters, in exchange for the King’s famous magical horses. These horses had been gifted by Zeus to Laomedon’s grandfather, Tros, after the King of the gods abducted Tros’s son, Ganymede. Laomedon agreed, and Heracles defeated the sea beasts and rescued Princess Hesione. However, the greedy King reneged on the deal and refused to pay Heracles. Heracles was an expert at holding grudges and vowed to return and seek revenge on the King once his labors were over.
After his eventful detour to Troy, Heracles finally returned to Eurystheus and a very excited Princess Admete. After handing over the girdle, Heracles turned to Eurystheus. Still radiating from his daughter’s gratitude, Eurystheus gave the hero instructions for his tenth labor: stealing the Cattle of Geryon.
