Amadun and Mythology

Abstract

This study examines the role of mythological narratives in cultural continuity and meaning-making, with a particular focus on re-evaluating the origin of the term Amazon through a philological and comparative mythological framework. Departing from the conventional Ancient Greek etymologies, the research proposes that the word Amazon may derive from the Sumerian compound term Amadun. Special emphasis is placed on the second component, -dun, and its function in the formation of successive mythological narratives, analyzed through phonetic, textual, and cultural evidence. The Amazon figure is explored through Ancient Greek sources such as Homer, Herodotus, and Strabo, alongside archaeological findings from the Eurasian steppe that reveal the existence of armed female individuals buried with weapons and bearing combat-related injuries. These findings suggest that the Amazon myth may reflect historical realities rather than being purely fictional. The widely accepted etymology of Amazon as “breastless” (a-mazos) is critically reassessed and found to be inconsistent with both ancient artistic representations and literary sources, thereby strengthening the plausibility of an alternative Amadun-based interpretation. An analysis of Sumerian texts reveals that the term DUN refers to a female, milk-producing, docile animal associated with fertility, nourishment, and abundance, whose care was predominantly undertaken by women. Building on this semantic framework, the study conducts a comparative analysis of three mythological figures: Kamadhenu in Hindu mythology, Audhumbla in Norse mythology, and Amalthea in Greek mythology. Despite their emergence in distinct cultural and geographical contexts, these figures share core symbolic attributes related to nourishment, fertility, and sacred femininity. The study concludes that Amadun-derived concepts constitute a shared mythological substratum that transcends individual cultures, shaping narratives centered on fertility, sustenance, and the sacred female principle. Within this broader context, Amazon narratives are interpreted not as isolated constructs of Ancient Greek mythology but as manifestations of a much older and multilayered cultural heritage.