Returning from a long journey, the hero undertook an expedition against
the Amazons in order to finish the ninth adventure and bring to King
Eurystheus the sword belt of the Amazon Hippolyta.
The Amazons inhabited the region of the river Thermodon and were a race
of strong women who followed the occupations of men. From their children
they selected only such as were girls. United in an army, they waged
great wars. Their queen, Hippolyta, wore, as a sign of her leadership, a
girdle which the goddess of war had given her as a present.
Hercules gathered his warrior companions together into a ship, sailed
after many adventures into the Black Sea and at last into the mouth of
the river Thermodon, and the harbor of the Amazon city Themiscira. Here
the queen of the Amazons met him.
The lordly appearance of the hero flattered her pride, and when she
heard the object of his visit, she promised him the belt. But Juno, the
relentless enemy of Hercules, assuming the form of an Amazon, mingled
among the others and spread the news that a stranger was about to lead
away their queen. Then the Amazons fought with the warriors of Hercules,
and the best fighters of them attacked the hero and gave him a hard
battle.
The first who began fighting with him was called, because of her
swiftness, Aella, or Bride of the Wind; but she found in Hercules a
swifter opponent, was forced to yield and was in her swift flight
overtaken by him and vanquished. A second fell at the first attack; then
Prothoe, the third, who had come off victor in seven duels, also fell.
Hercules laid low eight others, among them three hunter companions of
Diana, who, although formerly always certain with their weapons, today
failed in their aim, and vainly covering themselves with their shields
fell before the arrows of the hero. Even Alkippe fell, who had sworn to
live her whole live unmarried: the vow she kept, but not her life.
After even Melanippe, the brave leader of the Amazons, was made captive,
all the rest took to wild flight, and Hippolyta the queen handed over
the sword belt which she had promised even before the fight. Hercules
took it as ransom and set Melanippe free.