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Many thousands of Years ago, high on Mount
Olympus sat the Goddesses. Aphrodite brushing her long blonde
hair humming sweetly to herself, Artemis making arrows whilst
her dogs slept by her feet, Athena strategizing a war between
her beloved Athens and the warriors of Sparta, whilst Hestia and
Demeter discussed the approaching harvest. The five Goddesses
had been summoned to Mount Olympus, but by whom or why none of
the Goddesses knew.
“Does anyone know why we have been summoned?” Athena asked. The
other Goddesses shook their head
“Well I’m not waiting around here all day,” Artemis said raising
to her feet, “I have other things to do.”
“But we were summoned here sweetie,” Aphrodite replied, “We must
wait and be patient”
“Why must We”, snapped Artemis, “nobody knows why we are here.
Who are we waiting for?”
“For Me, my dear Artemis, for Me.”
The five Goddesses turned and found Hera standing behind them.
“I’m so glad that You responded to my summons”. Hera walked to
the front of the group, “Now please be seated”.
“What do You want Hera?” questioned Athena
Hera held up her hand “Peace Athena, I merely wish to talk to
you all”.
Artemis let out a sarcastic laugh, “talk Hera, You never talk.
You just act.”
“I wish to discuss an idea that you all, especially you Artemis,
may find interesting” Hera replied.
Artemis turned to Hera “Okay, I’m listening”.
“For too long males, both here on Mount Olympus and down on
Earth have been ruling all. While us females have been brushed
aside”, as Hera spoke to looked at each Goddess, “even in some
of our own temples are most faithful servants are being removed
whilst men are trying to win our good graces. Whilst we might
not declare war against the Gods, we might be able to influence
the females on Earth.”
“You want to start a war on Earth between the men and women?”
Aphrodite whispered.
“Something like that.” Hera smiled.
“No. This cannot happen” Hestia shouted, “It would be ludicrous.
It would destroy the foundations of…
“I agree with Hera”, Artemis butted in, “I can’t believe I’ve
said that. But I know of the cruelty and evilness of the males
on Earth. They treat the women with such malice and some dare
believe that they are better then the Goddesses”.
“But not all the males are cruel and unkind,” Aphrodite
remarked, “Some are loving and gentle to their women.”
The Goddesses started to argue amongst themselves. Artemis and
Hera trying to convince Hestia and Aphrodite of the evils of
men, whilst Demeter knew too well of the tricks used by men and
Gods to deceive women. Whilst the arguing and shouting continued
Athena looked down on the Earth. There she watched a young woman
walking through a forest. As the young woman walked, a man
appeared before her. The man blocked the young woman’s path.
Athena heard the young woman ask the man to let her pass. The
man just laughed as his eyes wondered over the woman’s body. The
young woman, fearing for her safety, turned to try and find a
different route. The man grabbed her and forced her to the
ground. The woman froze as the man began to rip the woman’s
clothing. Athena still watching grew angry at the scene before
her eyes. Knowing that she could have easily killed the man, but
instead had a better idea. Athena whispered into the ear of the
young woman, “Fight back, you have the strength and the
knowledge, fight back”.
The woman appeared to suddenly come back to life. As the man
ripped at her clothing, the woman looked around, spotting a
large rock beside her. The young woman picked up the rock and
swung with all her strength, hitting the man on the side of the
head. The man fell beside the woman unconscious. The woman
picked herself up and ran back to the forest. Athena started to
find Hera’s war more interesting. She looked across to see the
five Goddesses still arguing. Athena looked down at the young
woman. She was still running but as she ran she ran into another
man knocking her to the ground. The woman picked up a fallen
branch and got to her feet holding the branch like a club. The
man held his hands out before him and Athena heard him say that
he meant the woman no harm, but still the woman held onto the
branch. The man spoke again, stating his name was Marco and
again he would do her no harm.
Marco noticed that the woman’s clothing were badly ripped, so he
removed the cloak he was wearing and offered it to the woman.
When he realized she would not move, Marco carefully threw the
cloak towards her feet before taking five steps backwards. The
woman still holding the branch stepped forward and picked up the
cloak, wrapping it around her shoulders, muttering her thanks
before collapsing onto the ground.
Athena watched in interest as Marco picked up the young woman
and carried her to a nearby hut. She noticed how he gently
tended to the young woman’s wounds, talking softly to her.
Athena was so busy concentrating on the scene below she didn’t
hear Hestia approach
“He seems to have a good heart” Hestia spoke
“Yes but not all are like that,” Athena replied.
“There must not be a war Athena. So much would be lost.”
“I know” Athena replied. Athena thought deeply, knowing that
something must be done but not a war. Suddenly an idea formed in
Athena’s head and a smile came to her lips, “I have an idea
Hestia, lets return to the others.”
Hestia and Athena returned to the other Goddesses. The argument
still continued but it seemed that Demeter was slowly coming
around to Hera’s idea, whilst Aphrodite was trying to win over
Artemis. Athena had to shout to get their attention.
“Goddesses, hear me. I think I have the solution,” the Goddesses
fell silent, “let me explain. I agree with Hera that something
must be done regarding the women below. However a war between
men and women is not the answer. The solution I see is to give
the women the knowledge and strength to stand up to and defend
themselves against men”.
“And how will you do this Athena?” Hera asked.
“We will start by creating a tribe of women, were we will teach
them skills. Not just how to fight and bare arms but how to live
and survive without the dominance of men”.
Hera smiled “my dear Athena, do you honestly think that this
tribe will be a better solution. Why not just teach them to kill
and let the war begin”.
“To just teach them to kill Hera would make them no better than
the men they appose,” Athena replied, “no Hera we will gather
this tribe of women and hope that the knowledge we empower them
with will help reduce the hold that men have over the women.
Strong men and strong women”.
“Which women do we choose?” Hestia asked
“For now we shall pick the pure of heart and the strength of
soul. No matter who they are or where they come from,” Athena
replied, “we must each give a skill to these women. Then from
there they can teach these skills to others, making the tribe
bigger and stronger”.
“Then I shall teach them to hunt, to ride and how to use
weapons” Artemis said
“I’ll teach them how to grow crops, how to live and respect the
earth” Demeter added
“I will show them how to love and respect each other,” Aphrodite
remarked, “Also how to find beauty is everything.”
“I will give them the knowledge of honour, humility and the
sense of family. That despite the differences they are as one,”
replied Hestia.
“I shall empower them with the wisdom to enable them to create a
new civilization, a better world” Athena added, “but I will also
give them the knowledge of war, of tactics for defensive and
attack”.
The Goddesses looked at each other smiling as they began to look
down on the Earth searching for women to join the new tribe.
Athena walked over to Hera and spoke, “And what will you give
Hera”.
The Goddess turned and said “I will give this tribe a queen. One
with the knowledge, power and strength to lead her people,
whatever the situation”.
“So what will we called this tribe?” Hestia asked.
“I think Athena should have that honour.” Artemis replied.
“So Athena what will you call this tribe. Hera enquired.
Athena feel silent. She wanted to give the tribe a name that
would bring fear to their enemies, hope to the allies and honour
to themselves. Smiling brightly Athena spoke, “They shall be
forever known as Amazons”.
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