A Biographical Dictionary of the Celebrated Women of Every Age and Country/Antiope
ANTIOPE, Queen of the Amazons.
That such a people did exist, among the Scythians, there is little reason to doubt; but, whether they consisted of a separate society of women, or, that the girls of those districts were brought up in a hardy manner, and instructed in warlike exercises, may be disputed; but the last opinion seems the most probable. Much historical mention is made of their queens, particularly of Antiope. It was one of the twelve labours of Hercules, to bring the girdle, or, as others say, the scarf of this queen of the Amazons, to Euristheus, king of Mycena. He went, accompanied by the bravest Grecian warriors, and besieged her capital—when, after many skirmishes, in which numbers on both sides perished, Antiope and two sisters were taken prisoners; and, believing it wiser to give up the contested ornament, than be carried into captivity, she yielded it to Hercules, and recovered her liberty, and that of her sister Menalippe. The other, Hypolita, was married to Theseus, king of Athens, who, according to some, was principal in this expedition.