LESBOS. Mytilene. Circa 412-378 BC. Hekte (Electrum, 11 mm, 2.52 g, 5 h). Bearded head of Ares to right, wearing crested Attic helmet. Rev. Bare head of Amazon to right, her hair drawn up and tied, within linear square within incuse square. Bodenstedt 65. SNG Copenhagen -. SNG von Aulock -. 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.