Heroes and Amazons Trivia Quiz

Answer: Burning or cutting off their right breast

It was reported that the right breast was removed (seared or cut off) to make it easier to throw a spear or wield a bow without hindrance(!) Clearly the ancient artists and sculptors didn't agree, as they portrayed the women as beautiful and intact (apart from the odd war wound). According to some reports, some women sported decorative tattoos, but there was no mention of the other two options in the versions I have read. I know a couple of very good women archers, and they appear to have retained both boobs without loss of aim.

Answer: A girdle (waist belt)

King Eurystheus demanded that Heracles obtain the magical girdle given to Hippolyte by her father, the war god Ares. The legend goes that Hippolyte visited the famous hero aboard his ship, and was so impressed by him that she offered the girdle to him.

Unfortunately, Hera spread a rumour among the Amazons that Heracles was about to kidnap their queen; they attacked the ship, Heracles slew Hippolyte and many of her companions, and set sail with the prize. Probably not Hera's idea of a good outcome, but it was a result for our Hero.

Answer: The Trojan Wars

The Amazons were traditional enemies of the Greeks, and Penthesilia willingly came to the defense of Troy. It is said Achilles fell in love with the dying Amazon, and felt such remorse for her death that he killed a companion who mocked him for fighting a woman. Hector, Ajax and Achilles all died during that long and bloody siege.

Marathon and Thermopylae were the sites of great battles between the Greek city-states and the invading Persians. The Battle of Gallipoli, a campaign still remembered by both Anzacs and the successful defenders, the Turks, was fought in 1915.

Answer: Theseus

According to the myth, Antiope was caught up in the battle between Heracles and Hippolyte's people when Heracles took the magic girdle to fulfill his ninth Labour. Heracles was accompanied on his voyage by the King of Athens, Theseus.
Antiope was abducted, but fell in love with Theseus, and they later married. Like many of the Heroes, he treated women poorly. He abandoned her (as he had earlier abandoned Ariadne, who had helped him slay the Minotaur).

Answer: Atalanta

Atalanta was the daughter of King Iasos, who left her on a mountain to die as he wanted only sons. She was raised in the wild by a bear, and became well known for her hunting and athletic skills. Among her companions on this exploit were Jason, Theseus and Meleager, who killed the huge beast after Atalanta had wounded it. Unfortunately a few of the hunting party were outraged that a woman should be awarded the trophies, and this led to a family feud in which Meleager was killed.


Gaia was the personification of the Earth; Persephone the (part-time) wife of Hades; and Elektra was the daughter of Agamemnon.

Answer: He threw three golden apples in front of her

The price of losing the race was instant death to the suitor; so Hippomenes asked the goddess of love, Aphrodite, for help. She gave him the three golden apples to which she added irresistible allure. Atalanta stopped to pick up each, and narrowly lost the race.

She married Hippomenes, they lived happily and enjoyed hunting together. One day on a hunt, they were transformed into lions and lived out the rest of their lives in the form of lion and lioness.

Answer: An archery contest

Odysseus arrived at his palace disguised as an old beggar. Penelope had used all her ingenuity to keep her suitors at bay without making enemies. She now offered her hand to the man who could string Odysseus' bow and fire an arrow through 12 axe heads. (Could it be coincidence, or had she seen through Odysseus' disguise?) No other man could even string the bow; Odysseus was triumphant, and promptly dispatched the contenders for his throne.

Answer: The Chimera

King Iobates wanted to kill Bellerophon, but could not as he was a guest. So he set him several seemingly impossible tasks. With divine help the hero harnessed the magical horse, Pegasus, and attacked the Chimera from the air. Next Iobates sent him to kill a nearby tribe of Amazons, which he did. Eventually Iobates gave Bellerophon half his kingdom.

Answer: Andromeda

Andromeda's mother, Cassiopeia, had angered Poseidon by claiming her daughter was more beautiful than the Nereids, so Poseidon had sent a monster to destroy the land. Andromeda was offered as a sacrifice to placate Poseidon; Perseus intervened and slew the monster.

Both Andromeda and Cassiopeia became constellations after their deaths.

Answer: Poison from a stingray

Telegonus, Odysseus' son by Circe, grew up and wished to meet his father, now grown old on Ithaca. He landed on Ithaca, but being hungry, killed one of his father's sheep. Odysseus was told of a stranger's presence, and thinking he was a pirate, challenged him. In the ensuing fight, Telegonus unknowingly killed his father with a spear dipped in stingray poison.

Steve Irwin, the Australian TV wildlife adventurer, died after he startled a stingray and it injected him with its poison.