AMAZONS, were an ancient nation of women, inhabiting that part of lesser Asia now called Amasia. See AMASIA.
The Amazons are said to have killed all their male children, and to have cut off the right breasts of their females, to fit them for martial exercises. The existence, however, of such a nation is controverted by many judicious authors, and defended by others, particularly Mr Petit, who has published a dissertation on the subject, wherein are several curious inquiries concerning their arms, dress, &c.
We also read of Scythian Amazons, of German Amazons, of Libyan Amazons, and Amazons of America, living on the banks of the great river which bears their name, who are represented as governed by a queen, no man being permitted to live among them; only, at a certain season, those of the neighbouring nations are suffered to visit them for the sake of procreation. The Amazons of Libya are famous for their wars with another female nation called Gorgons. See GORGONS.
On medals, the bust of the Amazons is ordinarily represented armed with a little battle-axe, called by the Romans biceps, or securis, which they carried on their shoulder with a small buckler, in form of a half moon, distinguished by the name of pelta, upon their left arm.