Female warriors during the Imperial period

[Marcus Mummius]

Salvete,

I was wondering what cultures had women serving as warriors in their armies during the Roman Imperial period. How about the scytians?

I seem to remember about female soldier graves found in Britain? What's the current interpretation of these finds?

I think the Scythian female warriors might be the most likely? How would they have looked?

Valete,

[Cassius Tullius]

I came across this:

http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/news/u ... 404942.ece

Unfortunately, the specific Numerus isn't identified. It does offer a legitimate avenue for female re-enactors who want to be fighters.

These sites have some good atistic/artifact refrences:

http://www.pitt.edu/~haskins/

http://elmo.sssnet.com/7genex7/

[Celtic505]

I'm guessing the Romans would have undoubtedly encountered female warriors on the northern frontier in britain, due to celtic culture being open to female combatants, as well against Sarmatians and Scythians in the eastern steppes. I think the tale of Amazons derives from greek encounters with the Sarmation/Scythian female warriors. I remember reading about an archaeological find I beleive around modern day lebanon and the western coast of Syria that included a vast amount of female Scythian warriors. As I remember (which isnt good to go by :roll: ) they theorized that this settlement was perhaps the origin of Amazon warriors. I'll look into the topic a bit more to clear up the information but that's all I can remember for now.

[Gaius Julius Caesar]

There must be some truth to the story of amazons invading greece!?
Anyone know of any sources? Other than Pressfields 'Last of the Amazons'? :roll: :lol:

[Celtic505]

Well, I would think that most of the greek myths were based on some, however dull, real events dating to the Myceneans. I know a bit about Mycenean history, but not of other cultures during that period. I've seen Mycenean and Minoan representations of battles with "barbarian" tribes, covered in animal skins from surrounding areas. Wether their dress is just the artists imagination or based on any truth I don't know, but if there were to be primitive tribes around their area, I am sure due to their lack of any organized army that theres a chance women must have participated with the men in any kind of conflict. That is my unprofessional theory on that. I want to say the origin is the Scythian female warriors but I don't know when their culture first appeared and if it was around when the Myceneans were, unless the ancestors to the Scythians and Sarmatians were in contact with them. I'll have to look into that one.

[Sean Manning]

Salvete,

I was wondering what cultures had women serving as warriors in their armies during the Roman Imperial period. How about the scytians?

I seem to remember about female soldier graves found in Britain? What's the current interpretation of these finds?

I think the Scythian female warriors might be the most likely? How would they have looked?

Valete,

In most cultures where fighting is considered 'a man's job' a few women fight anyways in special circumstances. The Engligh pirate Mary Read pretended to be a man and served as an infantryman for some time for example, and there are plenty of accounts of noblewomen who took up arms or lead armies in times of trouble. We also have a few accounts of women fighting during Crusades (and not just in "they're invading the town/camp, I'd better defend myself" situations). So almost any culture might have a few scandalous female warriors.

The Romans would probably be an exception, due to their professional army and its practice of communal baths.

[M. Demetrius]

due to their professional army and its practice of communal baths

But if they weren't wearing any clothes, how could they tell whether they were men or women?

[Sean Manning]

due to their professional army and its practice of communal baths

But if they weren't wearing any clothes, how could they tell whether they were men or women?

Well, I'm a bit busy for dating these days, but I have heard there are differences ...

[Gaius Julius Caesar]

due to their professional army and its practice of communal baths

But if they weren't wearing any clothes, how could they tell whether they were men or women?

Hmmmmmm, how can I answer this one with a straight face..... :lol: :lol: :lol: :lol: LMAO