Themiscyra (Pontus)

According to Greek mythology, it was the capital city of the Amazons, a society of fierce, independent women known for their skill in combat and dedication to their way of life.

[1] Aeschylus, in his play Prometheus Bound, places the original home of the Amazons in the country about Lake Maeotis (the modern-day Sea of Azov), stating that they later moved to Themiscyra.

The inhabitants on that occasion defended themselves with great valor; and when their walls were undermined, they sent bears and other wild beasts, and even swarms of bees, against the workmen of Lucullus (Appian, Mithrid.

[6] Some believe the town of Terme (Therme), at the mouth of the Thermodon, marks the site of ancient Themiscyra; but Hamilton (Researches, i. p. 283) justly observes that it must have been situated a little further inland.

Ruins of the place do not appear to exist, for those which Texier regards as indicating the site of Themiscyra, at a distance of two days' journey from the Halys (now called the Kızılırmak River), on the borders of Galatia, cannot possibly have belonged to it, but are in all probability the remains of Tavium.

[8] Themiscyra was previously thought to have been the seat of a bishopric,[9] but is not now included in the Catholic Church's list of titular sees.

Zeus sent Boreas, the god of the north wind, and with his help the Argonauts stood out from the shore near Themiscyra where the Themiscyreian Amazons were arming for battle.