LESBOS. Mytilene. Circa 412-378 BC. Hekte (Electrum, 11 mm, 2.61 g, 8 h). Bearded head of Ares to right, wearing crested Attic helmet decorated with a griffin. Rev. Head of Amazon to right, wearing Thracian leather helmet, within linear square within incuse square. BMC 96-7. Bodenstedt 65. Boston MFA 1711. SNG Copenhagen 320. SNG von Aulock -. Minor die wear, otherwise, good very fine.


This intriguing hekte from Mytilene features a depiction of an Amazon warrior on its reverse, while the obverse showcases Ares, the war god and father of all Amazons. The Amazon depicted is likely one of the two warrior queens, Antiope or Hippolyta, or perhaps the first Amazon queen, Otrera. The Amazons, a legendary race of fierce female warriors in Greek mythology, perhaps have a historical basis, as numerous graves of Scythian and other nomadic female warriors have been uncovered in the region traditionally associated with the Amazons.