[Greek heroic] The ninth labor imposed on Heracles by Eurystheus, was to bring back the precious girdle of Hippolyte, queen of the Amazons. She was the daughter of Otrera and Ares (the god of war). It was Admete, the daughter of Eurystheus, who begged her father for the possession of this symbolic girdle (it gave supremacy and power to the wearer). The Amazons were an all female race and is believed that they lived in the mysterious lands in the north, their capital Temiscyra, lay on the slopes of the Caucasus. To execute this expedition Heracles had to organize a group of volunteers, among them were Telamon and Theseus. They armed a ship, expecting the Amazons to be hostile against them, then set sail on their long voyage. But when they reached Temiscyra on the mouth of the river Thermodon, they were unexpectedly welcomed by the Amazon women, especially by Hippolyte, who was charmed by the looks of the heroic band. Heracles explained to Hippolyte the reason for their expedition to her far off la...
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