It really is true that you can buy just about anything on Amazon.com. Just ask the UPS driver who is constantly delivering to my house. So, with dollars flowing (like a river) from my account to Amazon.com, I'm thinking about that word.
Amazon
In Greek mythology, the Amazons were a nation of Iranian women warriors said to have lived in Scythia (which really could be anywhere in the huge area of present-day Central Asia, Russia and Ukraine). I've heard before that the word Amazon comes from the Greek a-mazos, meaning "without a breast," because these women warriors supposedly cut off their right breasts to improve their bow and arrow skills. I find that hard to believe, but what do I know. In any event, it's just etymological legend. Amazon is a Greek form of the Iranian word ha-mazan, meaning "fighting together."
I had always assumed that the Amazons were a tribe of women who lived and fought in the Amazon Jungle of South America. There's a connection, but those tribal women were actually named after the ancient Iranian women warriors in Greek legends. The name Amazon (as in Amazon Jungle) comes from a war led by a Spanish explorer named Francisco de Orellana against indigenous tribes in South America, whose women reportedly fought alongside the men. I was amused to learn, however, that some historians think that Orellana could have been confusing tribal men wearing "grass skirts" for women.
In a more general sense, amazon means "a tall, aggressive, strong-willed woman." Hey, I resemble that definition (at least sometimes)!
Posts
No comments:
Post a Comment