Women in ancient warfare

Amazonomachy battle between Greeks and Amazons, relief of a sarcophagus – c. 180 BC, found in Thessaloniki, 1836, now in the Louvre, Department of Greek Antiquities

The role of women in ancient warfare differed from culture to culture. Warfare throughout written history mainly has been portrayed in modern times as a matter for men, but women also have played a role. Until very recently, little mention of these exploits was included in retellings of history in most countries, aside from the Amazons.

Female deities, whose origins predate historical records, are present in most early cultures. Often they were portrayed as warriors, which signals a pervasive presence of women among such activities prior to a profound change in many human cultures after the adoption of agriculture as the typical sustenance (and which enabled protracted warfare with large armies).

Their influences, the roles of women rulers, and those of significant women, were retained in many of these cultures so strongly that no layers of new legends, ideals, and myths were able to obscure them completely.

The following is a list of prominent women who participated in warfare, which was assembled from the fragmentary beginning of written records to approximately 500 AD. Archaeological research provides more details and clues regularly.

Timeline of women in ancient warfare worldwide

Statue of Fu Hao at Yinxu
1659 painting by Elisabetta Sirani depicting Timoclea of Thebes pushing the Thracian captain who raped her into a well.
18th century depiction of Thaïs
Arsinoe III of Egypt
Fulvia of Roman Empire
Boadicea Haranguing the Britons by John Opie
Veleda, by Charles Voillemot
Coin depicting Zenobia

17th century BC

15th century BC

13th century BC

11th century BC

10th century BC

9th century BC

8th century BC

7th century BC

6th century BC

5th century BC

4th century BC

3rd century BC

2nd century BC

1st century BC

1st century AD

2nd century AD

3rd century AD

4th century AD

See also

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