Watch Epic Warrior Women

Epic Warrior Women is a documentary series that aired on the Smithsonian CHANNEL in 2018, featuring Bettany Hughes, Adrienne Mayor, and Gaziza Tleubay. This series explores the stories of women who were fighters, leaders, and innovators, and who left their mark on history.

Throughout the series, the three hosts delve deep into the lives and times of iconic women warriors and leaders such as the Amazonians and Tomoe Gozen, the only samurai woman who fought in the Genpei War in Japan in the 12th century. The series explores the legends and historical context of these women, examining how they rose to power and how their actions impacted the world as we know it today.

The series is not only comprehensive in its approach but brings previously unknown perspectives on some of the most ancient cultures of the world. For example, the life story of Queen Tomyris of the Massagetae (Margiana, Kazakhstan), a people spoke an Indo-Iranian language, whose conflict with the Persian Empire around 530 BCE is a tale of battles and revenge but with many ancient feminist elements. Queen Tomyris is not only a warrior but an independent and courageous woman who embodies the spirit of her people.

In each episode of the show, viewers can expect to be taken on a journey through different times and cultures as the hosts visit significant locations, analyze historical writings, and explore artifacts from the era. While the show is certainly educational, it is not stuffy or dry in the least. Instead, the three hosts make the subject matter engaging, entertaining, and thought-provoking.

One of the standout features of the series is how it blends storytelling with scientific analysis. To explore the likely physical attributes of the Amazonians, Stewart Barclay and Dr. Hallie Buckley from the University of Otago investigate the bones buried in Scythian warrior burials revealing a surprising fact. Much of the imagery of Amazons in ancient art portrays them exposing one breast. The analysis revealed evidence of bone growth consistent with marks that may have been caused by training with right-handed weapons or using their legs to control a horse meaning they were 'true warriors' who equally-wielded weaponry with both hands demonstrating greater skill and balance.

Another strength of Epic Warrior Women is how it highlights the diverse backgrounds of the women featured in the series. While some of the warriors come from more familiar regions like Europe and Asia, the series also shines a light on women warriors from lesser-known cultures such as the Dahomey Warriors of West Africa who were skilled in martial arts, trained to become killers from a young age, and contributed to the trade of slaves through a surprising mechanism.

Also, the series gives voice to the female experience in the act of war. One revealing aspect of this respect comes from the Scythians, nomadic herders of the Eurasian steppe that are believed to have inspired the myth of Amazons, whose women fought next to men, enjoying prestige and skill on the battlefield. The most recent scientific research has revealed that girls were afforded the same types of burials as boys which sheds light on the significance of women and girls as Scythian warriors, affirming their place as equal contributors in war, taking an active role in raiding and battle as well as peace-waging activities.

Overall, Epic Warrior Women is a fascinating, informative, and engaging series that puts the spotlight on some of the most remarkable women of ancient history. With the insights and knowledge that it presents, viewers are given a fresh perspective on how these women were able to make such significant contributions to human civilization. Whether you are a fan of history, feminism or martial arts the show is bound to impress.

Epic Warrior Women is a series that ran for 1 seasons (4 episodes) between March 19, 2018 and on Smithsonian CHANNEL