The magical belt of Queen Hippolyta of the Amazons
The Amazons were a tribe of female warriors led by Queen Hippolyta the daughter of Ares the god of war and Otrera. Hippolyta possessed a magical golden belt a symbol of power that had been bestowed upon her by Ares. This belt was so renowned for the power it conferred that it became the object of a fierce struggle and a conflict that formed one of the Twelve Labors of Heracles.
An ancient Greek low-relief metope depicting the scene of Heracles fighting an Amazon, from Temple E at Selinus in Sicily Italy. Dating to approximately the 5th century BC it is currently on display at the Antonino Salinas Regional Archaeological Museum in Palermo.
The mission concerning the Amazon tribe was initiated by King Eurystheus of Argos Tiryns or Mycenae. He commanded the great hero Heracles to undertake the "Twelve Labors" specifically tasking him with retrieving this belt to present as a gift to his daughter Admete who desired it greatly.
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A statue of the god Ares sometimes referred to as Mars or Hermes is located in the Canopus area of Hadrian's Villa Adriana in Tivoli near Rome Italy. - Photo credit / pinterest : Bren TA
Upon Heracles' arrival in the land of the Amazons Queen Hippolyta was impressed by his renown and bravery. After hearing his reasons she agreed to hand over Ares' belt without a fight. However Hera Heracles' adversary intervened with a scheme to prevent the mission's success.
The Temple of Aphaia featured on Wikimedia Commons is an ancient Greek temple of the Doric order located on the island of Aegina Greece.
Disguising herself as an Amazon warrior Hera deceived the tribe with a cunning ruse As Hercules moved to abduct Queen Hippolyta the enraged Amazon warriors charged on horseback to attack his fleet. In the ensuing battle Hercules unintentionally killed Queen Hippolyta ultimately succeeding in retrieving the belt to deliver to King Eurystheus.
A low-relief carving depicting the Amazonomachy battle scene the war between Greeks/Persians and the Amazons from the ancient Mausoleum at Halicarnassus.
The legend tells of a belt crafted from leather gold and gemstones bestowed by Ares the God of War upon Hippolyta Queen of the Amazons. Known in Greek mythology as the "Zoster" a golden battle belt it symbolized supreme authority and invincible martial prowess. Ares admiring the ferocity and courage of his own daughter Hippolyta presented her with this golden belt as a mark of her leadership over the Amazonian warrior women.
