#warriorwomen — Public Fediverse posts
Live and recent posts from across the Fediverse tagged #warriorwomen, aggregated by home.social.
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#AncientEgyptian princesses were ‘powerful’ weapon users, new analysis suggests
These findings challenge a long-held belief about weapons found in female burial sites
By Jackie Flynn Mogensen, July 17, 2026
Excerpt: " 'We wanted to see if the skeletons themselves supported the presence of the weapons found beside them,' [#ZeinabHashesh] says.
"By looking at the princesses’ internal bone structure and muscle attachment sites, as well as by analyzing chemical signatures left on the remains, Hashesh and her team began to piece together a picture of what the princesses’ daily lives and burials may have looked like.
" 'Our big takeaway is that these women were ‘active ritual agents’ whose lives involved disciplined physical strength,' she says, participating in activities that possibly included archery or the use of daggers.
"In Princess Ita’s case, her muscle attachments 'strongly reflect the habitual gripping of weapons like daggers or maces,' Hashesh says.
"Even more clear was Princess Noub-Hotep, whose skeleton, she says, 'provides the most definitive evidence for the 'archer’s grip,' including 'a unique bowing' of a hand bone, a feature that Hashesh sees as evidence of having to drawing a bow.
"Meanwhile, she adds, Princess Itaweret appeared to have survived 'significant trauma” to her ribs and feet bones, 'indicating a high-risk, active lifestyle.' "
Read more:
https://www.scientificamerican.com/article/ancient-egyptian-princesses-were-powerful-weapon-users-new-analysis-suggests/Archived version:
https://archive.ph/R4QEx -
Uncovering the Real Mulan: Historical Warrior Women of China
If you enjoyed the movie Mulan as much as I did, I bet you wondered if the story had any basis in fact. I wasn’t educated on the early military history of China, or Asia for that matter, in any depth. In researching female warriors for this series, I decided to research “Mulan” and find out if there were any epic warrior women. I greatly enjoyed the process. Here is what I discovered.
While Mulan is based upon the Chinese “Ballad of Mulan” which dates to the 5th or 6th Century, the character may be based upon three such warriors in Chinese history. Historians tend to agree that Mulan is a literary character, but they point to the following three women who parallel her legend as potential models for the ballad.
First is Fu Hao who was both a high priestess as a military general. She was one of the many wives of Wu Ding, king during the Shang Dynasty (cir. 13th Century). The entirety of Fu Hal’s life comes from the contents of her tomb, which was unearthed in 1976, rather than from written records. Archeologist Zheng Zhenxiang discovered more than 500 bone objects known as oracle bones. These bones are engraved with the story of the queen’s life. It might be interesting to note that King Wu Ding promoted cooperation with the neighboring tribes. To do so, he married a woman from each tribe. He had 64 wives! Although Chinese kings and emperors were strong, able men, at this time China had a semi-matriarchal society and profited from the slave trade. Fu Hao used both to her advantage.
Fu Hao owned her own land which contributed to her wealth. Oracle bones indicated that she offered the king valuable tributes during her life. The King often called upon Fu Hao to conduct rituals and to offer sacrifices to the ancestors. During this period of Chinese history two activities were of the utmost importance—religious rituals and battles. Fu Hao was engaged significantly in both.
Discovered in her tomb were many weapons and inscriptions on the oracle bones reflect Fu Hao’s role in military battles during the Shang Dynasty. In fact, Fu Hao was responsible for the defeat of the Tufang, a neighboring tribe that had been the enemy of the Shang for generations. Fu Hao defeated the Tufang in a single, decisive battle. The defeat of neighboring Yi, Qiang and Ba tribes would follow. She is described as having been responsible for conducting the largest ambush in Chinese history. She had command of over 13,000 soldiers. Generals Zhi and Hou Gao served under her. She was not the only female to serve in the military; the oracle bones revealed the records of over 600 who participated in the military during this time. The temple Mu Xin was dedicated to her posthumously.
Second is Princess Pingyang of the late 6th- early 7th Century CE. She was the only daughter of Emperor Gaozu of the Tang Dynasty and his wife Empress Taimu. The princess was instrumental in her father becoming emperor. During the fall of the Sui Dynasty while her husband and father were away fighting, Pingyang used her position and wealth to feeding the peasantry and to recruit rebel leaders. At the age of 28, she was successful in raising an army of almost 70,000 men which became known as the “Army of the Lady”. She used her army to capture key cities, to include the Sui Capital of Chang’an, in the Guanzhong region. Because of the contributions, the emperor gave her a military funeral complete with military band and named a strategic pass after her—the Niangzi Pass today was once the Lady’s Pass.
Last we have Qin Liangyu who lived from 1574 to 1648. Qin Liangyu is historically significant because she is the only woman to be officially recorded as a military commander in China’s Twenty-Four Histories. She was well educated in the classics as well as in military arts like archery and horseback riding. After the untimely death of her husband Ma Qiancheng, she took command of the elite White Cavalry. Utilizing warfare that prioritized ambushes and offensive stands in the narrow mountainous passes, she led her troops to victory over the invading forces of Manchu. She made use of her great knowledge of the rugged terrain to out maneuver the larger invading Manchu armies. Moreover, her soldiers incorporated long pikes, poisoned arrow volleys, and lightweight defensive gear to maintain speed and endurance. She also succeeded in putting out rebellions in the southwest and defending the capital of Beijing. For her achievements, Qin Liangyu earned the title “Marquis Zhongzhen”, a title given to her posthumously by the Southern Ming Dynasty. It is interesting to add that Qin Liangyu was quite tall for even women today. Her height has been estimated based upon preserved clothing to be approximately 6 foot 1 one inch. Additionally, she lived and fought into her 60s.
In closing up this series, there are other epic warrior women like Boudicca in 1st Century Britain, Joan of Arc in 15th Century France, and even a more modern Russian woman named Lyudmila Pavlichenko who fought during World War II. I wanted to focus on the lesser known of those ancient of warrior women. What I discovered during this research process was that women have always involved themselves in conflicts throughout history. While their numbers are far less dramatic than the millions of men who have fought over the centuries, these women are no less honorable, courageous, and skilled than those male counterparts, much like the women who serve in our military today. We must never diminish their contributions to our world and to history.
I am now contemplating what my next series will be. Stay tuned!
#history #Mulan #WarriorWomen -
Epic Warrior Women: Artemisia I, Kicking A— In Ancient Greece
Unlike our previous warrior women, we’ll now go to the ancient world. In the annals of ancient history, few figures stand out quite like Artemisia I of Caria. A Greek queen ruling a Persian vassal state in the 5th century BCE, she personally led ships into battle against her fellow Greeks during the Second Persian Invasion of Greece. Herodotus, known as the “Father of History” and a fellow Halicarnassian, couldn’t help but marvel at her: a woman who joined Xerxes’ massive expedition not out of necessity, but driven by “high-hearted valour” and “manly courage.”
When most of us think of Ancient Greece and Rome, we would not think of a woman going into battle in our first thoughts. We know of strong ancient women like Cleopatra, but one who both ruled a region and fought isn’t what we normally think of. Most history classes aren’t going to focus on these women, choosing instead to focus on the majority…men. In fact, Alexander the Great’s sister, Cynane (358-323 BCE) was also a warrior, having fought along side her famous brother and she even masterminded an attack that would place her daughter on a throne by force.
Artemisia ruled Halicarnassus (modern-day Bodrum, Turkey) and the nearby islands of Cos, Nisyros, and Calydna. With a Halicarnassian father, Lygdamis, and Cretan mother, she was a blend of Greek and regional heritage. After her husband’s death, she assumed the tyranny (rule) herself, even though her son Pisindelis was of military age. She wasn’t forced to participate in Xerxes’ campaign—she chose to, contributing five ships to the Persian fleet. Those vessels were said to be the best in the entire navy after the elite Sidonian contingent, and her counsel to the king was considered the wisest among all his allies.
Courage Under Fire: The Battles of Artemisium and Salamis
Artemisia’s reputation as a naval commander was forged in the crucible of the Greco-Persian Wars. She took part in the Battle of Artemisium in 480 BCE, a series of naval clashes off the coast of Euboea that coincided with the famous stand at Thermopylae.
Her defining moment came later that year at the Battle of Salamis. Xerxes had captured Athens, but the Greek fleet, primarily Athenian and Spartan-led, had withdrawn to the narrow straits between the island of Salamis and the mainland. The Persian commanders overwhelmingly urged an immediate naval assault to finish the Greeks. Artemisia alone advised caution.
She urged Xerxes, via his advisors, to spare his ships and avoid battle at sea. Her reasoning was shrewd and prophetic: the Greeks were superior seafarers—“as men are to women” at sea, in her words. Xerxes had achieved his main objective by burning Athens; thus, the rest of Greece would likely submit without further risk. Fighting at this point could endanger the entire fleet. “If he succeeds [with land forces under Mardonius], the honor will be yours,” she added. “If he fails, it would be no great matter as you would be safe.”
Xerxes respected her but chose not to give weight to her opinion. The result was a decisive Greek victory that crippled the Persian navy and shifted the momentum of the war.
Even in defeat, Artemisia shone. According to Herodotus, when her ship was pursued by an Athenian vessel during the chaotic retreat, she rammed and sank a friendly Calyndian ship—either by accident or clever calculation. The Athenian pursuer, seeing her attack what he assumed was an enemy vessel (or mistaking her for a Greek defector), broke off the chase. Xerxes, according to witnesses, remarked that his men had become women and his women men, praising Artemisia’s gallantry while lamenting the performance of his other commanders. Some accounts suggest he even inquired whether she had sunk an enemy ship.
A Trusted Advisor and Strategic Mind
Artemisia wasn’t just a fighter; she was a voice of reason in Xerxes’ war council. After Salamis, she again counseled the king wisely on his next steps, reinforcing her image as one of his most reliable allies. Herodotus portrays her with genuine admiration, repeatedly highlighting her intelligence, bravery, and independence in a world dominated by male rulers and warriors.
This stands in stark contrast to typical ancient attitudes toward women in power. While many Greek sources viewed female rulers with suspicion or as aberrations, Herodotus treated Artemisia as a exemplification of courage. She was the only woman among Xerxes’ naval commanders, yet she earned his esteem through deeds rather than birthright alone.
Herodotus notes that the Athenians placed a bounty on her head because of the damage she inflicted, underscoring both the fear and respect that she inspired among her opponents.
Legacy: Beyond the Battlefield
After the Persian retreat from Greece, Artemisia largely fades from the historical record. We know she continued ruling Caria, and her lineage persisted in the region. A later Artemisia II of Caria (sister-wife of Mausolus in the 4th century BCE) would commission the Mausoleum at Halicarnassus—one of the Seven Wonders of the Ancient World—though the two should not be confused.
Artemisia I’s story survived primarily through Herodotus’ Histories, with mentions in later writers like Plutarch, Pausanias, and Polyaenus. She became a symbol of female agency and martial prowess in a male-dominated era.
In modern times, her legend has endured. She appears in historical fiction and was memorably (if dramatically) portrayed by Eva Green as a fierce antagonist in the 2014 film 300: Rise of an Empire. While Hollywood amplifies the action and romance, the core of her character—strategic brilliance, unflinching courage, and command of ships—echoes the ancient sources.
Why Artemisia Still Matters
Artemisia I of Caria challenges easy narratives about ancient gender roles, warfare, and loyalty. A Greek woman fighting for the Persian “invader” against other Greeks, she prioritized duty, strategy, and personal valor over ethnic solidarity. She proved that leadership isn’t defined by gender but by capability and resolve.
In an age when most women in power are remembered for intrigue or tragedy, Artemisia stands out for her competence on the deck of a trireme and in the war council. Herodotus marveled at her; Xerxes respected her; and history has preserved her as one of antiquity’s most remarkable warrior queens.
She reminds us that extraordinary individuals can rise above the expectations of their time, steering their own course through the storms of war and politics. In the narrow straits of Salamis, amid clashing fleets and shattered ambitions, Queen Artemisia of Halicarnassus sailed into legend—not as a footnote, but as a commander worthy of remembrance.
Further Reading:
• Herodotus, The Histories (especially Books 7–8).
• Modern accounts in Barry Strauss’ The Battle of Salamis or general histories of the Greco-Persian Wars.
Artemisia’s ships may have been outnumbered and ultimately defeated at Salamis, but her reputation sailed on, undefeated.
If you have any warrior queen bee that you’d like me to research and write about, please leave a comment. I’d be happy to consider her.
God bless!
#AncientGreece #BattleOfSalamis #history #NavalHistory #WarriorWomen -
Imagining of the Japanese woman warrior Tomoe Gozen
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Onna Musha by Nakano Sumiko
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DONE! My translation is just a wee bit different than Fagles and Lombardo.
"Next, [Bellerophon] fought against the renowned Solymi, who were renowed in battle in the past. Thus, at any rate, it was said to be the strongest battle he had ever entered into. And thus furthermore, lastly, he slew the Amazons, who were a match for men."
And yes, if my translation sounds FORMAL, that's because Homeric Greek is FORMAL!
#Classics #Histodon #AncientGreece #BronzeAge #WarriorWomen #AncientHistory
#WomenInTheAncientWorld -
I'll be doing my own translation of this passage...
"καρτίστην δὴ τήν γε μάχην φάτο δύμεναι ἀνδρῶν.
τὸ τρίτον αὖ κατέπεφνεν Ἀμαζόνας ἀντιανείρας."#Classics #Histodon #AncientGreece #BronzeAge #WarriorWomen #AncientHistory
#WomenInTheAncientWorld -
I am well-armed with all of my notes from class as well as my trusty Duckworth Homeric Dictionary! And, of course, there's Perseus Hopper to the rescue! (Thank the gods that website is still working!)
#Classics #Histodon #AncientGreece #BronzeAge #WarriorWomen #AncientHistory
#WomenInTheAncientWorld -
[Thread] So, my "homework" assignment has to do with #Amazons -- one of my favorite topics to focus on (since I was 11 years old). I was recently gifted a new book about Amazons, and also had one that I picked up for myself years ago, but hadn't gotten around to reading yet. The books are: "The Amazons: Lives and Legends of Warrior Women Across The Ancient World" by Adrienne Mayor (2014), and "Amazons: The History Behind the Legend" by David Braund. Both of them are Classics scholars, but they seem to have completely different takes on Amazons (from what I've read in the reviews). And yes, I am planning on diving into both books, but first, I'm going to work on my own translations of certain passages in #TheIlliad and #Herodotus' "Histories"!
#Classics #Histodon #AncientGreece #BronzeAge #WarriorWomen #AncientHistory #WomenInTheAncientWorld
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List of women warriors in folklore
"This is a list of women who engaged in war, found throughout mythology and folklore, studied in fields such as literature, sociology, psychology, anthropology, film studies, cultural studies, and women's studies. A mythological figure does not always mean a fictional one, but rather, someone of whom stories have been told that have entered the cultural heritage of a people. Some women warriors are documented in the written or scientific record and as such form part of history (e.g. the Ancient Briton queen Boudica, who led the Iceni into battle against the Romans). However, to be considered a warrior, the woman in question must have belonged to some sort of military, be it recognized, like an organized army, or unrecognized, like revolutionaries."
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_women_warriors_in_folklore
From: Women warriors in literature and culture
"The portrayal of women warriors in literature and popular culture is a subject of study in history, literary studies, film studies, folklore history, and mythology. The archetypal figure of the woman warrior is an example of a normal thing that happens in some cultures, while also being a counter stereotype, opposing the normal construction of war, violence and aggression as masculine. This convention-defying position makes the female warrior a prominent site of investigation for discourses surrounding female power and gender roles in society.
[...]
"Beyond the individual level, fictional depictions of violence by women can be a political tool to draw attention to real-world issues of violence, such as the ongoing violence against Indigenous women. Others say that a violent heroine undermines the feminist ethics against male violence, even when she is posited as a defender of women, for example in films such as Hard Candy."
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Women_warriors_in_literature_and_culture
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I haven't seen a website for this event yet, but it's been an annual event for years!
#4DirectionsMarch
February 27, 2025
Wounded Knee, South DakotaAIM Liberation of Wounded Knee 1973
North Direction: 9am Porcupine Post Office
East Direction: 9am 2 miles back on Mouse Creek
South Direction: 9am 18 Junction & Big Foot Trail
West Direction: 9am Manderson Post OfficeAIM Liberation Celebration and Honorings 2pm
Wounded Knee District School, Manderson, South Dakota#LeonardPeltier #WarriorWomen
#WoundedKnee #NDNCollective #IndigenousProtectorMovement #WaterProtectors #DefendTheSacred #ProtectTheSacred -
All three of us have faced multiple violent threats & assaults from RCMP. All three of us refused to bow down to any colonial corporate entities. All three of us lost loved ones to colonial violence. We are not built like some other women. We are women in active colonial resistance & it is a lifelong commitment. We do not have or will ever have white privileges. We respect our white comrades who have done heavy decolonization work a lot. We do not really respect anyone who always obeys any colonial masters & does not challenge them.
#WarriorWomen #POCcommunity #ColonialResistance #Decolonization #RainbowNation #Activists #MatriarchRising #WomenOfResistance
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#MikeHuckebein - #WarriorWomen
(140 bpm Techno House)
[AI / Ki Musicvideo dedicated to all Women] -
Native Warrior Women
Indian women have always been written out of history, but their bravery is being rediscovered in archives and Native oral traditions.
May 11, 2023
“#Cheyenne warrior #BuffaloCalfRoadWoman had fought a number of battles in leadership roles. At the Battle of the #LittleBigHorn, it is told she charged #Custer, grabbed his saber and stabbed him, knocking him off his horse, killing him. Afterward, Cheyenne and #Arapaho women stabbed their awls in Custer’s ears, chanting ‘you will listen to our people in the next world.’ They were avenged.'
"She wasn’t the only female warrior at the Little Big Horn. The Arapaho Chief, #PrettyNose, fought there, too. She lived to be 101 years old and her grandson served in the Korean War as a U.S. Marine and later an Arapaho chief, just like his grandmother.
"Lozen (c. 1840-June 17, 1889) was a female warrior and prophet of the Chihenne Chiricahua #Apache who fought beside #Geronimo. She was the sister of Victorio, a prominent chief. Born into the #Chihenne band during the 1840s, Lozen was, according to legends, able to use her powers in battle to learn the movements of the enemy. The Apache tribesman, scholar and author, James Kaywaykla, was a child during the fighting days of Geronimo, Lozen and Victorio. Kaywaykla wrote, as a child:
"'I saw a magnificent woman on a beautiful horse—Lozen, sister of Victorio. Lozen the woman warrior! High above her head she held her rifle. 'She could ride, shoot, and fight like a man, and I think she had more ability in planning military strategy than did Victorio.'
"He added that Chief Victorio honored his sister as a great warrior: "Lozen is my right hand ... strong as a man, braver than most, and cunning in strategy. Lozen is a shield to her people."
Lozen fought beside Geronimo after his breakout from the San Carlos reservation in 1885, in the last campaign of the Apache wars. The band was pursued relentlessly by both the U.S. and Mexican cavalries. According to Alexander B. Adams in his book Geronimo, Lozen would try to ascertain where the enemy was by standing 'with her arms outstretched, chant a prayer to Ussen, the Apaches' supreme deity, and slowly turn around.' The band often relied on her strategic prowess.
"In 1885, Geronimo and about 140 of his followers, including Lozen, fled the reservation when they heard rumors that they were to be imprisoned on Alcatraz Island. Lozen and another female warrior, Dahteste, were designated to try to negotiate a peace treaty. Ultimately, after Geronimo's final surrender, Lozen traveled as a prisoner of war to the barracks in Mount Vernon, Alabama. There, along with many of her fellow warriors, Lozen died in confinement of tuberculosis in 1889.
"#Dahteste was a #Mescalero Apache warrior who rode with Lozen. Dahteste was fluent in English and often acted as a translator for the Apache people and was designated to lead in treaty negotiations with the American and Mexican armies. When Geronimo surrendered, she was arrested alongside Geronimo and Lozen, but was shipped to St. Augustine, Florida, rather than the barracks in Alabama. Nevertheless, like other prisoners in Florida, she contracted tuberculosis and pneumonia, but managed to survive both. Some scholars believe that #Lozen and Dahteste were #TwoSpirits and lovers."
https://www.notesfromthefrontier.com/post/native-warrior-women
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Gong Xi Fa Cai/Gong Hei Fat Choi
Happy Lunar New Year
#lunarnewyear #chinesenewyear #PekingOpera #daomadan #warriorWomen #oilpainting #art #artwork
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Went to drop off an aloe cutting for a neighbourhood guerrilla gardener. She's waging war with the city council, warding off the council's tractors with wooden stakes, standing up to the drivers, and multiple phone calls. It's an ongoing battle and if she relaxes even a bit it would all get mown into shreds, she's a real warrior.
If it wasn't for her this stretch of land would be a sandy wasteland growing only grass and devil thorns. As it is, I've spotted a grey heron walking around in it the other day, which must mean the smaller critters are flourishing too, for it to be hunting there.
The wooden cross is for a tree she planted that got stolen. She still mourns it.
The people who live on the other side of the road got infected with the guerrilla gardening virus too, and planted a whole row of aloes that are all flowering now.
#GuerillaGarden #UrbanGarden #WarriorWomen #PeopleAreAwesome #today
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I redid the face on this #painting so many times until I got it to where I liked it just now. I did have it once where I liked it, then ruined it 😭 Now I am FINALLY happy with it and how I intended it to look.
The whole painting is coming along.
Crop on the face of #Bishamon, One of the Seven Lucky Gods, as a woman. She is looking side-eyed & sneering.#artishard #dontgiveup #art #artist #figurativeart #warriorwomen #goddess #workinprogress #arte #symbolicart #wip #BuddhistArt #Buddhism
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LES AMÉRINDIENNES FACE À LA COLONISATION
👉 https://youtu.be/TJXnV8M6-Dc
De l’occupation de la prison d’Alcatraz en 1969 au combat contre le pipe-line de Standing Rock en 2016, #WarriorWomen raconte la vie de Madonna Thunder Hawk, l’une des fondatrices de l’American Indian Movement.
🐦🔗: https://twitter.com/LeMediaTV/status/1189575028247007234
