BATTLE AXES OF AMAZONS OF EUROPEAN SCYTHIA

Abstract

Weapons are one of the most important elements of the material culture of the North Pontic nomads. Archaeological finds from the steppe kurhans testify that the Scythians were armed with bows and arrows, spears and javelins, slings, swords and daggers, battle axes, horseman’s picks (pick axe), hammers and maces. However, not all types of weapons were equally common, and battle axes were less popular.
 Relatively few battle axes came from burial assemblages on the territory of European Scythia — from 50 to 100 items, according to the data of various researchers. By morphological features, two groups are distinguished: battle axes (three divisions) and axes with hammers (two divisions). The length of the wooden handles in most cases is about 50―70 cm. Battle axes are known in Scythian burial sites from the 7th to the 2nd century BC. Finds of early specimens are correlated mainly with antiquities of the Forest Steppe, while later specimens are concentrated in the central part of the territories of European Scythia. Until recently, it was believed that this type of weapon marked only male Scythian burials, however, the presence of axes in several female burials proves otherwise.
 The use of axes by the Amazons is mentioned in the works of several ancient authors, the works of ancient art demonstrate this phenomenon as well. According to archaeological materials, battle axes were found in only six (2 %) women’s graves: two in the Lower Dnipro Steppe Group and four in the Lower Dniester Steppe Group. An examination of the burial complexes of Scythian female warriors with axes made it possible to note several characteristic features.
 
 All axes are iron. Five of them have a single blade, from 16.5 to 22 cm long. And only one axe has a double blade. It is also stand out by its small size — 14.6 cm. Typologically and in terms of size, all these axes fully correspond to samples from other Scythian graves of European Scythia.
 An examination of the placement of axes in the graves showed a variety of its options. This means that there were no clear canons for the location of axes regarding the dead.
 The nature and size of the burials, as well as the assortment and number of grave goods testify that Scythian female warriors armed with axes were mainly representatives of the middle class of nomadic society.
 The age of women who were buried with axes is determined to be between 20 and 35 years old. This means that we are talking about the most active members of military units.
 Only ordinary iron axes were found in women’s graves, usually in sets with other weapons, mainly arrows. Gala and artistically decorated pick axes or sceptre axes, which served as symbols of high social status and power, are not known in women’s graves.
 Axes from women’s graves typologically and chronologically do not differ from those found in men’s graves.
 
 Therefore, iron axes from women’s graves, along with other types of weapons, were obviously used for their intended purpose. They were not part of the insignia of power but marked the belonging of women to the military state.