The AMAZONS

This book focuses on the numerous traces of the Amazons. It reports on latest findings and investigation in the legendary homeland of the Amazons at the river Thermodon and on the Amazon island Lemnos.
Fresh evidence indicates that the Amazons really existed! According to these new discoveries the lost history of the Amazons can be reconstructed.

It is astonishing that Gimbutas' key assumption that there existed egalitarian societies prior to the invasion of patriarchal Indo-European peoples in Europe is so much criticized and controverted by scholarly circles. Actually, her intriguing findings seem plausible, the numerous pictures in her books make everything very logical.

Marija Gimbutas (1921 - 1994) was a serious and profound scientist who dedicated nearly her whole life to archaeological research. She was professor of archaeology at UCLA (University of California, Los Angeles) from 1963 to 1989, and directed major excavations of Neolithic sites in southeastern Europe. She had deep knowledge of archaeology but also of linguistics, ethnology and history of religion. Her theories are well thought out, clearly presented and thoroughly explained.

The rather unknown North Aegean island Lemnos amazes with its great prehistoric past. About 5000 years ago there existed a highly-developed civilization which created imposing cities, mighty rock buildings and impressive sanctuaries on this Greek island. The discovery of Poliochni was sensational. Because of its largeness and refinement this Bronze Age settlement is regarded as the most ancient city of Europe. Also the discoveries at Myrina in the west and Hephaistia in the north witness the island's prehistoric importance. Presumably there was a further city in the Northeast - Chryse, which was sunken under the sea.
Moreover, the findings make evident that in this ancient civilization there was gender equality, it even seems that the women had the predominating gender role. Not without reason in antiquity Lemnos was described with the words »island dominated by women«.
=> Table of contents
At present, this book is only available in German.

Matriarchy today
Matriarchal life form is still existing today, though very isolated. Due to cultural assimilation and growing globalization these last examples are doomed to extinction. It's a great pity because these remaining unique cultures are a living evidence that civilizations dominated by women are historical truth. Last concrete representatives are the Minangkabau of Sumatra and the Moso in the southwest of China.

==> The Moso in South China
A vivid picture of the matriarchy of the Moso people you get from the book: Leaving Mother Lake. A Girlhood at the Edge of the World by Yang Erche Namu and Christine Mathieu. Besides being very entertaining the autobiographical story of the Moso woman Erche Namu gives a profound insight into this definitely matriarchal people.
Leaving Mother Lake. A Girlhood at the Edge of the World

At last there is an amazing detail: In the language of the Moso the word »Ama« has the meaning »Mother«. This is a striking analogy to the name of the warlike Amazons. Well-fitting to this the Berbers in North Africa, which had been matriarchal in the past, call themselves Amazigh in their own language. Because of this we reason that the very ancient word Ama has the meaning »Mother« in its narrow sense. In the figurative sense it stands for »Matriarchal Culture«.

==> The Minangkabau people of West Sumatra
The Minangkabau are the largest and most stable matrilineal society in the world today. The book by Peggy Reeves Sanday Women at the Center: Life in a Modern Matriarchy gives a deep insight into the life of this unique people. Sanday proves that the Minangkabau are truly a living and thriving matriarchal society.
Women at the Center: Life in a Modern Matriarchy