Theseus ruled wisely in Athens. But he did not live quietly in Athens; he often left them in order to take part in the exploits of the heroes of Greece. Thus, Theseus participated in the Calydonian hunt, in the campaign of the Argonauts for the Golden Fleece and in the campaign of Hercules against the Amazons. When the Amazon city of Themiscyra was taken, Theseus took the Amazon queen Antiope with him to Athens as a reward for her bravery. In Athens, Antiope became the wife of Theseus. The hero celebrated his wedding with the queen of the Amazons magnificently.
The Amazons plotted to take revenge on the Greeks for the destruction of their city and decided to free Queen Antiope from what they thought was a difficult captivity under Theseus. A large army of Amazons invaded Attica. The Athenians were forced to take refuge from the onslaught of the warlike Amazons behind the city walls. The Amazons even burst into the city itself and forced the inhabitants to hide behind the impregnable Acropolis. The Amazons set up their camp on the hill of the Areopagus and kept the Athenians under siege. The Athenians made forays several times, trying to drive out the formidable warriors. Finally, a decisive battle took place.
Antiope herself fought alongside Theseus against the very Amazons whom she had previously commanded. Antiope did not want to leave her hero-husband, whom she dearly loved. In this formidable battle, death awaited Antiope. A spear thrown by one of the Amazons flashed in the air, its deadly tip pierced Antiope’s chest, and she fell dead at the feet of her husband. Both troops looked in horror at Antiope, who had been struck to death. Theseus bowed in grief over the body of his wife. The bloody battle was interrupted. Full of sorrow, the Amazons and Athenians buried the young queen. The Amazons left Attica and returned to their distant homeland. For a long time there was sadness in Athens for the untimely death of the beautiful Antiope.
Translated from Russian · original on wisdomlib.ru