Amazons, Pygmies & Giants: Warrior Women & Lost Civilizations

Explore the fascinating world of Amazons and their legacy as warrior women in ancient history. From the Herodotus Amazons and Scythian women warriors to the fierce Dahomey Amazons, these Amazonian legends have captivated historians and storytellers for centuries. Sir John Mandeville Amazons painted a picture of a world where men were excluded, while Pygmies in history, including ancient Pygmies described by Homer, Aristotle, and Pliny Pygmies, reveal tales of small-statured humans with incredible abilities.

The stories of mythical Pygmies and their battles continue to intrigue, especially as we uncover more about African Pygmies and their rich cultural history. But the legends don’t stop with Pygmies—giants in mythology like the biblical giants (Anakim, Zamzummim, Goliath of Gath) and the towering Viking giants and medieval giants leave us wondering about prehistoric giants and their role in early human civilizations. Could they have been real figures from a lost age?

We’ll also take a look at the Stone Age civilization, from Paleolithic era cave dwellers and Neolithic period societies to the Bronze Age tools and Iron Age society that shaped the course of history. The discovery of lake dwellers, cave dwellers, and kjökkenmöddings—shell mounds filled with clues to ancient diets and survival—gives us insight into the prehistory of humanity. Alongside wild men myths like Romulus and Remus and Peter the Wild Boy, we’ll examine the lives of hairy humans like Julia Pastrana and the ancient Britons, shedding light on the rich tapestry of prehistoric anthropology and the lost civilizations that have shaped our understanding of the ancient world.