in

Women Warriors in Slavic and Scytho-Sarmatian Culture

ivanovgood (CC0), Pixabay

World history is full of examples where women were taking up arms and performed feats. They were representatives of the beautiful half of the human race who today are called “weaker sex,” however woman – professional soldiers, along with men carrying of military service and fought against the enemy. The Greeks called them Amazons. In Slavic countries, such virgin warrior was called Polanica.  Even the ancient Greeks at the time had legends about women warriors, or Amazons. Allegedly, they lived somewhere in the north-east of Asia Minor, on the southern Black Sea coast. Amazon lived separately from men in battle where brave men who were captured after living with them, were killed. Boys that were born by them were maimed or turned into slaves. Girls also learned to ride a horse. Greek historian Herodotus reported that sometime in the battle of the Amazons captured the Greeks in Asia Minor. On the way to Greece Amazon rebelled, killed the guard, but it turned out that they could not control the ship. In the end, the three rebel ship arrived to the coast Meotida (Sea of Azov).  Amazons found vacant land on the left bank of the Tanais (Don) and began to live there. On the other side, the right bank was inhabited by the Scythians. Once the Scythians fought with these mysterious unknown soldiers when they killed them, they found that these were young girls. Young Scythians contacted Amazon and began to visit them, and then live with them. From the marriage and mixing of the Amazons and Scythian youth a new warrior group came to existence! They were the Sarmatians which are today Indo-European Iranian-branch ancestors of many Slavic nations such as Croats, Serbs, Poles, Russians and Ukrainians. This is the story of Herodotus as he written it but also modern archaeologists excavations discover places where they have found female burials, in which, as in the male, there were weapons. In Russian folk epics there also is an image of a female warrior -polyanitsy (Polanica ) and they were by their prowess and ability to use arms just a little bit inferior to the folk man heroes. Sometimes they would even exceed them in local epics. 

However, the Slavs in general and Russia in particular have survived over the centuries. In the campaigns of Prince Svyatoslav, according to Leo and John Deacon Skylitzes, for the first time Russian and Bulgarian women warriors participated. For their existence enemies learned only after the battle, when marauding, scavenging the dead over their armor and clothing. Russian chronicles tell of women who participated in the defense of the besieged towns by Tatar-Mongols and later by Crusaders, Lithuanians and Poles. And they participated, not only bringing the boom, or by pouring boiling water over the enemy from the walls and resin, but with arms. It is known that in 1641, during the famous “Azov seats” in the battles with the Turks in addition to the male soldiers participated Cossack-rider. They are great archery and applied Turks significant damage. However, the Cossack woman seriously was no stranger to war. Russian military historian Vassily Potto wrote about kazachkah: “Woman, the eternal toiler in peacetime, in moments of danger was the Cossacks full fighter, like her father, husband, son or brother.” Young Cossack learned to ride a horse and fight. Girl Cossack girl raised as a future wife, mother, homemaker, who knew any job – including men. It is known that in 1641, during the famous “Azov seats” in battles with the Turks in addition to the male soldiers participated women Cossack riders. They were great in archery and applied to Turks a significant set of damage.

Up to 13 years of age these Slavic women have even played some games with the boys, learning the wisdom of some of the military skills, such as riding a horse. She could not have just learn to ride, but also wield a lasso or bow. In 1774, one village was surrounded by nine thousandth detached Tatars and Turks. Combatant Cossacks were on the march, and in defense of the village came a hundred and fifty women. How desperately they fought described Mozdok commandant: “Armed with rifles and other weapons … but also with braids, the women were firing their guns charged up and one of them even had a scythe and would cut enemies head and took possession of his gun. ” This is just one of the facts that Slavs carry form their Scyntho-Sarmatian history and bloodline.

What do you think?

3.3k Points

Leave a Reply

Archaeologists Found Tomb of Christian Prince Executed By Slavic Pagans From Bulgaria

Slavlingo – Slavic languages quiz 1