They were originally created by William Moulton Marston, alluding to the Amazons' ties to Greek mythology, as an allegory for his philosophy of loving submission.

William Moulton Marston depicted the origin story of the Amazons as Greek women who had been bound by the wrists by men, who at one point realized their power and broke free.

They then moved to their own women-only island, where, in the absence of male oppression, they grew progressively stronger and lived a longer life.

The "Bracelets of Submission" were still worn as a cautionary reminder: to forfeit one's independence by allowing male dominance over their will sapped them of their own power.

[5] Marston quoted in a 1942 interview: "Wonder Woman and her sister Amazons have to wear heavy bracelets to remind them of what happens to a girl when she lets a man conquer her.

In Sensation Comics #4, it is revealed that Amazons temporarily lose their superhuman strength if a male welds chains to their bracelets together.

In later stories, Amazons lose their strength if males simply bind their wrists, rather than their bracelets, with chains or other forms of welding.

The bracelets are later explained as having been forged from the remnants of the Aegis, a shield made from the indestructible hide of the great she-goat, Amalthea, who suckled Zeus as an infant.

It was revealed during Gail Simone's tenure as the title's writer that Zeus endowed the bracelets with the power to channel his divine lightning when they are struck together at will.

[11] It was revealed in the New 52 that Wonder Woman's bracelets help her control her divine powers as a daughter of Zeus, as shown when she removes them during a fight with Artemis.