Amazons International # 73 ************************** Contents: Words from Editor Redd: My new web site and address Jo Ann Montgomery: Review of Women Warlords Arne Gahada: Sculpturing the Ancient Amazons Brad Parker: Rape Prevention Will Jones: The Psychology of Mixed Wrestling Jo Ann Montgomery: My Wonder Woman and Amazon Pages Jo Ann Montgomery: Bio Date of publication: 04.06.2000 ********************************************************************* From: Editor Subject: Words From Editor Hopefully you haven't forgotten about Amazons International -- there has been over a year since the previous issue, and a very busy one. Meanwhile a lot of things have happened on the Amazon front -- a lot of new web sites, mailing lists web forums etc., new TV series, and new seasons of old ones (e.g., Cleopatra 2525, new seasons of Buffy the Vampire Slayer and Xena: Warrior Princess), a lot of new books about amazons, physical feminism, action heroines, goddess mythology, martial arts, women warriors in history, novels etc. etc., some of which will be reviewed in future issues of AI. While AI has been dormant, those of you who have been perusing my web site, the Amazon Connection, at http://www.math.uio.no/~thomas/lists/amazon-links.html will have noticed its growth and development: better thematic organization, better layout, a definition of Amazon feminism, a huge increase in the number of links to Amazon web sites, and the addition of pictures to the Amazon Connection. While "I'm a textual kind of guy" (Richard Stallman), and the pictures do take some time to download, I've decided that they are worth it. Images of that which for a long time has been unimaginable and suppressed can be of great value as concretization and inspiration. I've also created a new page in praise of and "In Search of the Woman Warrior": http://www.math.uio.no/~thomas/1amazon.html . I did a chat session on Ifeminists.com about "The Cultural Phenomenon of Warrior Heroines", transcript available here: http://www.math.uio.no/~thomas/po/warriorheroine-chat.html . The Amazon Group of Norway now has about 100 members and have arranged several meetings, lectures, debates and video evenings. Their web pages (in Norwegian) are here: http://www.math.uio.no/~thomas/lister/ag.html Xenadu, the Norwegian Xena fan club is also alive and kicking http://www.math.uio.no/~thomas/lister/xena.html and Xena fan clubs are sprouting all over Europe. Has anyone been at the New Museum of Contemporary Art in New York, to see their exhibiton, entitled "Picturing the Modern Amazon", that I wrote about in AI # 72? ( http://www.etext.org/Politics/Amazons.Intl/ai.72 ) See also the museum's web page about the exhibition: http://www.newmuseum.org/exhibitions/amazon/text.html . Would anyone like to write a review of this exhibition for AI? You will NOT have to wait another year for the next issue. In fact, I already have a lot of material for it. But, let us move on now to this issue's submissions, most of which are long overdue. Strength to your sword arm, Thomas Gramstad thomas@ifi.uio.no (<-- Note new address) ********************************************************************* Date: Sat, 11 Dec 1999 22:22:46 -0800 From: "Mary Elizabeth McKee" Subject: My new web site and address Hi there -- this is Redd from the "Zen of Wrestling" in AI # 65. ( http://www.etext.org/Politics/Amazons.Intl/ai.65 ) I still get calls referring to that story! I just got a computer and am now finally online with a web site and with a new e-mail address. My web site is here: http://www.reddmary.com/ My new e-mail address is reddmare@hotmail.com. Redd ********************************************************************* Date: Sat, 17 Apr 1999 11:40:49 +0200 (MEST) From: Jo Ann Montgomery Subject: Re: Book Review: Women Warlords Book Review: "Women Warlords" by Tim Newark. Illustrated by Angus McBride Published by Blandford, London England "Women Warlords" is a fascinating book about the military history of female warriors. The book covers everything from mythology to fact, and everything in between. You'll learn about the Amazons of Greek mythology and discover evidence that they might have been real. Other Amazons in the book include, The African Amazons of Dahomey, Queen Zenobia, Joan of Arc, Artemisia, Boudicca (the basis for the character of Xena, I have been told), Medb/Maeve, Jeanne de Montfort, and many, many more. "Women Warlords" is lavishly illistrated with black and white photographs, engravings, and color paintings. You will see sculpture, weapons, and armor, along with at least one photograph of REAL Dahomeyan Amazons. With a full bibliography for each section, and a huge index, "Women Warlords" is a must-read for anyone interested in the military history of women warriors, fans of Amazons, or just to have a plain good read. If I have any complaint against it, it is that there was not more of it! Note: I got my copy at the Glasgow Highland Games in Glasgow, KY (Barren County). Here is the address of the vendor that I bought it from: Billings' Sutlers HQ For Toy Soldiers and Military Prints 3850 Five Forks-Tricum Road Lilburn, Georgia 30247 (404) 279-7037 ********************************************************************* Date: Mon, 2 Aug 1999 10:56:57 -0400 From: Gahada Subject: Sculpturing the Ancient Amazons Hi, I am a sculptor in the US and do mostly women of Greek myth & history. Working on a "Young Atalanta"; the famous boar hunter. Although not strictly an Amazon (she was raised by bears, after all), I would like to convey something of the Amazon sensibility. The copies of the famous Competition at Ephesus show 3 similar body-types: the Sciarra; Mattei; and Sosikles. Each has a typical Greek pose and upraised arm. The musculature and diameter of the upper arms is more than that shown in most Greek sculptures of women. This would be appropriate in a person whose weapon is the bow; particularly the recurved bow as shown in the Mattei. I would be grateful if anyone with an opinion on the degree or kind of musculature on either an Amazon or an Atalanta would e-mail me at gahada@swns.net. I do, BTW, accept the obvious evidence from Antiquity that the Amazons were quite real. One particular question is about the "cat suits" worn by Amazons on some of the vases. Was this: Clothing? Body-paint or tattoo? Is there any mention of this in the literature? I am sorry that I do not have the photos in front of me. Best regards, Arne Tully, NY, USA (Near Syracuse, where, in Antiquity, there were no Amazons) ********************************************************************* Date: Mon, 29 Nov 1999 09:03:59 -0800 (PST) From: Brad Parker Subject: Rape Prevention One of the top-of-mind issues for all women is rape prevention. Would be interested in submissions on this topic? I am the publisher of Defend University, which is a virtual campus dedicated to free information on self-defense, security and defensive tactics issues. You can go to Defend University at the URL below and go the classroom 'Rape Escape' for a feel for the type of info I provide. Sincerely, Brad Parker Defend University http://www.defendu.com/ ********************************************************************* Date: Thu, 17 Feb 2000 04:11:13 PST From: Will Jones Subject: The Psychology and Rewards of Mixed Wrestling Last November, during a mixed wrestling night at a local club here in NYC, a 30 year-old guy approached me after I'd lost a match against a particularly ferocious young woman. He wanted to know why I did this, let women kick my butt in front of an audience? Wasn't I embarrassed? Humiliated? How could I do this? As he talked, he grew increasingly agitated, even hostile. Clearly, it wasn't so much that men and women were competing in wrestling that got under his skin. No, it was that men were LOSING to women that was touching something very deep in this man. And losing we were, the men. I had four matches that night, won one and lost three. For the entire night, the women won 18 out of 25 matches. And on the surface, the audience loved it, cheering and yelling and hooting and applauding every time a woman gained a submission. And yet ... and yet ... That man's agitation and hostility struck a chord within me. The plain truth is that at one time, a long time ago, I was no different than he. Even though I have been fascinated with, and very attracted to, women of physical strength and prowess since I was in high school, it was many years later before I ever permitted myself to act on this. I would secretly fantasize about the muscular female, about her strength, her confidence, her aura of utter indomitability. However, this was outside the norm, something which "society" deemed strange, unnatural. Thus, it all remained a secret. Buried deep, but not forgotten. Both genders suffer tremendously because of the strictures placed upon what is and is not acceptable behavior. Women are emotionally and psychogenically scarred from being told not to have muscles, not to show off physical skills, not to upstage the male in the arena. Men are equally scarred, because those of us who admire that very female who is muscular, who parades her physical skills, who upstages the male in the arena -- we too suffer emotionally and psychogenically. And take my word for it, there are far more men like myself than anyone realizes, than ever seems to show up on psychological tests of what men want in a woman. And I'm not some guy hiding in a one room apartment, or a "wimp." I was a jock in school, am still a big sports fan, the Knicks and Yankees and Mets, etc. I watch sports at a bar, the whole nine yards. When I say that far more men than anyone realizes admire the woman of impressive physical stature and accomplishment, I'm talking about guys like myself. We're out there and we're everywhere. And yet ... and yet ... I was thirty years old and married before I acted on my feelings. Secretly, of course. While on business out in LA, I went to a wrestling parlor. For $30.00, you got to wrestle a girl for half-an-hour. Looking back, more than twenty years later, I cannot remember why I suddenly decided to do this. I wasn't drunk, I didn't do it on a dare. All I can remember is the thrill of rolling around on the mat with this young Black woman, who astonished (and thrilled!) me by pinning me over and over. It was a watershed moment. Three days later, the very day I was flying back to NYC, I went back and wrestled this woman again. And lost and loved it. Back in NYC, I scoured back pages of weeklies, looking for something similar. I found an ad for someone named Deena Zarra. Deena Zarra is a legend in the mixed wrestling area. She even fought Andy Kaufman at Carnegie Hall, kept pinning him, until the referee would step in and rule that Deena had done something illegal. So much for Andy Kaufman never having lost to a woman! I started wrestling Deena once a month, getting my ass battered something fierce. Deena is 6'3", and at the time weighed 180 lbs. It was glorious ... and all very, very hush-hush. Until one day, a few years later, Deena told me she was having a live wrestling show at a local theatre in the East Village. Would I like to participate? You mean wrestle a woman in front of an audience? In front of others? That is exactly what Deena meant. I demurred, saying I couldn't handle that, losing to a woman in front of others. What would I look like, a damned fool. Men don't lose to women in a fight (publicly, that is). However, as the weeks went by, I started to explore my feelings. On the one hand, I was enamored of the physically superior woman. Indeed, took an erotic delight in her physical supremacy. So why was I embarrassed at the idea that someone would see me losing to the woman? If I truly admired her, why was I ashamed? Why, indeed! Because society told me I should be. Admiring the physically superior female, taking erotic delight in being overwhelmed by this same female, meant falling outside the range of "normal". The more I considered things, the more I thought about how ridiculous it was to let so-called society tell me what I should and should not feel. Life is too short to let yourself be strapped down by rules which serve no purpose whatsoever. So, with a great deal of trepidation, I told Deena I'd take part. That whole day, I was a basket case. I waffled back and forth, I was sure I couldn't do it, that I had to call in sick, whatever. But I showed up backstage, where I was literally shaking, my teeth chattering. I met some of the women and a few of the guys. I peeked through the curtains, there were more than 300 people in the audience. I checked the ring up on the stage. And I was ready to run out the door. I can't remember a single thing from my first match, other than that I was shaking as if someone had poured an ice bucket over me. I don't even remember how the match went. The second match isn't much clearer, though I wasn't shaking so much. The third match, I know that I won, but couldn't tell you a single thing about it. It was the night that I realized how draining it was to deny my feelings about the physically superior female. It was the night that I admitted to myself that I did not feel humiliated by losing to a woman; rather, I was proud to be associated with this woman. Proud to let others see the exquisite beauty of an athletic and muscular woman as she showcased her physical prowess. Many years and many matches have come and gone since. And I am ever-more open about these things. It was Deena Zarra who got me to do my first photo set match. A young protégé of Deena's, Anne-Marie, was interested in showcasing herself through Deena's web site. Deena asked me to permit photos to be taken of our match. This was a first, but I agreed. It was a very one-sided match, as Anne-Marie was stronger, a better wrestler, and in far better condition. And the photos bore this out. But it was one more step in my growth. I've now done several photo set matches, the pics spread all over the web for anyone to see. http://www.geocities.com/Colosseum/Sideline/7161/annem.htm http://www.geocities.com/Colosseum/Sideline/7161/tatianna.htm http://www.geocities.com/Colosseum/Sideline/7161/dimples.htm http://www.geocities.com/Colosseum/Sideline/7161/angel.htm And I don't feel a single ounce of regret. I would have thought that things have changed for the young, that it would be just fine for a young guy to openly admire the muscular female, to have no problem with facing off on the mat against this woman ... and losing in front of others. But the hostility from the young guy last fall has me wondering. I hope he took what I told him seriously. I told him that I was once exactly like he, and that if he's smart, he'll come out of "the closet" and admit his feelings to himself. Life is too short to deny yourself something which, frankly, I have come to believe is ... the "norm" between men and women. Will Jones willwr52@hotmail.com ********************************************************************* Date: Wed, 29 Sep 1999 13:39:25 -0500 From: Jo Ann Montgomery Subject: My Wonder Woman and Amazon Pages I now have Wonder Woman and Amazon Pages as part of my website. Drak Pack Headquarters: http://www.geocities.com/Area51/Capsule/4679/ The Wonder Woman Page: http://www.geocities.com/Area51/Capsule/4679/WonderWoman.html The Amazon Page is part of the Wonder Woman page and is called, "Other Amazons". Just click on Xena. If the pic link doesn't work (although, it should, so try it first), the "Other Amazons" page can be seen at: http://www.geocities.com/Area51/Capsule/4679/Amazons.html Please note: My DreamBook and Survey can only be accessed from my main page, Drak Pack Headquarters. Jo Ann Montgomery Drak Pack: Draka/Drak/Joni Harker Hero High: Mighty Isis Wonder Woman: Wonder Woman/Queen Hippolyte Drak Pack HQ: http://www.geocities.com/Area51/Capsule/4679/ (ReBoot, Hero High, Rick Springfield, Human Target, and Wonder Woman) ********************************************************************* Date: Tue, 04 May 1999 11:50:15 -0500 From: Jo Ann Montgomery Subject: Bio My name is Jo Ann Montgomery, and I am 35 years old. I have always loved the Amazon character type since the 1970's. I suppose, like most people that grew up in the '70's, my first experience with the Amazon character type was Lynda Carter as Wonder Woman. As I grew to love the character, I began to look for more of the same types. I remember The Mighty Isis, the female counterpart to Captain Marvel (SHAZAM!). That was a double-dose of favorites, since I also love ancient Egypt. And Marvel Comics also had/has some great characters, my first from them being Red Sonja. My favorites now include (but is not limited to) Xena: Warrior Princess; Princess Deirdre from Mystic Knights of Tir Na Nog; AndrAIa, Mouse, Dot, and Princess Bula from ReBoot; Buffy the Vampire Slayer; Supergirl (but not the modern version. I seem to prefer the Silver Age DC characters. The only modern character from DC that I like is Wonder Woman, and that's only the earlier stories.); and Storm, from the X-Men. When I first got on the Net, I used "Amazon" as chatroom nickname. When I got ICQ, that's the nickname I choose to use there. It seems to be a favorite. There are too many to list in ICQ User Search Engine. I even have one on my ICQ list! ^_^ I enjoy Role-Playing Games, and I usually end up as either an Amazon or an Elf. Most often an Amazon, though. Of course, I could always combine the two and create an Amazon Elf! :-) Let's see...I was eleven years old when Wonder Woman came out in 1975. This is not counting the Cathy Lee Crosby version in 1974. That one was fair, but not as good as the Lynda Carter version. (Still the best!) My first encounter with super hero fantasy was in 1966 (I was 2), and the hero was Batman. I was 4 by the time Batgirl showed up in season three. As for science fiction. Well, let's just say that, while other kids were watching Sesame Street and Captain Kangaroo, I was watching Star Trek, Land of the Giants, Lost in Space, (as well as Batman. I was as "Bat-crazy" as the rest of America! :-) and Mission Impossible, amoung others. I was also a fan of Dark Shadows, the only soap opera I have ever been interested in. Now, don't think from my love of Amazons that I was a tomboy: I was not. Far from it. I am 5' 1/2", and am a little overweight. I was never into sports. I was more of a writer (still am) and an artist (also, still am). I am currently writing fan-fiction stories, most of them for the 3D cartoon, ReBoot, although I have one for Jayce and the Wheeled Warriors, and one for Captain N: The Game Master. I also write Role-Playing Game stories with others through e-mail and ICQ. The RPG's are Buffy and ReBoot. On ICQ, a friend and I have merged the worlds of Buffy and ReBoot, and have added another old cartoon, Drak Pack. Give me some encouragement, and I might write an Amazon fanfic! :-) A word of caution, if you plan to write stories with someone over ICQ: Keep it between two people. Three or more, and it will get confusing. I tried that once with two of my friends on ICQ. From the point the third one entered, I was totally confused. And I am the one that is editing the stories for the Net. I have a website, although it is not an Amazon one. It's the only website so far for the Drak Pack T.V. show. If you want to go and take a look, the URL is: http://www.geocities.com/Area51/Capsule/4679/ And please sign my Dreambook while you are there. I also love Anime, in all its forms. Sailor Moon is one of my favorites. I also like Ranma 1/2, Vampire Princess Miyu, Iria (a female bounty hunter), and even more Anime that I can't think of at the moment. As I mentioned earlier, I love role-playing games. I have several, including Sailor Moon, Hercules and Xena, Dungeons and Dragons (As well as AD&D), Star Wars, Space 1889 (science fiction with Victorian science), and many more. An Amazon is one of the Hero Types in the Hercules and Xena RPG (It's also in AD&D, in the 2nd Edtion Fighter's Manual). Here is what the listing for Amazon says in Hercules/Xena RPG: AMAZON Important Attributes: Coordination, Endurance, Reflexes Typical Skills: acrobatics, battle cry, climb, command, cultures (Amazon), dance, dodge, fighting, first aid, hide, hurled weapons, marksmanship, perception, run, stay up, survival (forest), track Role: The collective Amazonian culture encompasses many individual tribes of human warrior women. Each tribe had its own tenets, history, fighting styles, and goals, but all stand for the proliferation of women's rights to one degree or another in an otherwise male-dominated world. Paradoxically, most Amazons ascribe their origins to being the daughters of Ares, god of war, though they all agree that Artemis initiated the Amazon cause, stealing away a select group of young girls and training them to become self-sufficient huntresses capable of existing without men. Unfortunately, males do come in handy for the propagation of the Amazonian lineage, so raids into nearby villages occur every few months to ensure a healthy source of females. Male infants are either left to die or are returned to the village of their father (or whichever settlement is closest), depending on the culture of the particular tribe. Most Amazon tribes reside in forested regions where they use the trees and plant life as natural defenses. Tracking an Amazon through her own woodland is a nearly impossible task, especially considering the Amazon penchant for traveling through the upper branches of the forest canopy. Each tribe tends to select a single weapon as its weapon of choice -- crossbow, lasso, javelin, or other -- but this does not mean that they shun other types. Rather it indicates a preference and therefore an expertise, but no Amazon worth her blood would be found without at least three different weapons on her body. In general, Amazons prefer seclusion from the "civilized" world, focusing on their own society and the defense and growth thereof. One would do well to avoid ticking off an Amazon, especially males -- unless of course you feel those jewels you're carrying are just getting in the way." The above was quoted from the Hercules & Xena Role-Playing Game Hero's Guide. Incidently, the book is narriated by Salmoneus, so that gives the entry a little extra flavor. :-) Here's what's written in the Amazon Character Sheet Template: AMAZON Race: Human Gender: Female Type: Amazon Background: You have been raised in the tradition of the Amazons. A warrior from birth, you have protected your tribe from various male enemies and have upheld the teachings of Artemis. You have worked hard all your life to ensure the safety of those around you. You are disgusted by the squalor in which Amazonians live. You don't understand how other women can stand to live with men. One day, as your ashes burn on the funeral pyre and your spirit is sent free into the Elysian Fields, your name will be known among all of the tribes for the glory and strength with which you lived your life. Personality: You resent the world around you for allowing men to become anything more than slaves. Any man who dares to confront your tribe is in for a surprise -- a deadly surprise. Goal: One day you will die gloriously in battle with the bodies of many men at your feet. Quote: "A man has no place among warriors." Special Powers: None Vulnerabilites: None Gear: Knife (2), ceremonial mask, spear (3), tunic, and hide boots This, of course, is a starting Amazon character, and the player could change any or all of the character sheet to suit her character. This is simply a template. There is more, but this is getting WAY too long. ***************************************************************** * Amazons International * * Thomas Gramstad, editor: thomas@ifi.uio.no * * Administravia/Listserver: amazons-request@ifi.uio.no * * Submissions: amazons@math.uio.no * * http://www.math.uio.no/~thomas/lists/amazons.html * * * * The Amazon Connection -- Links to Amazon web sites: * * http://www.math.uio.no/~thomas/lists/amazon-links.html * ***************************************************************** "A Hard Woman is Good to Find" -- The Valkyries