Homazan (Amazon) Women, the Oiorpatea

What is the meaning of this Airyan word Homazan?  The meaning of the words "homa" and "zan" are regal (warrior) and female.  Homa also has the following meanings: glorious, imposing and royal.

Female warriors were among the best archers.  

Airyan female archers were defenders of the family and their territories. Some wore one-side-breast-shield or full upper torso shield to protect themselves during combat.  

An artistic liberty in Greek style for portraying Homazan before battle (Queen Antiope or Armed Venus), National Gallery of Art, Washington, D.C.

In real life Homazan dressed in a pants suit, see the depictions of Amazon in the following pictures.

Mounted Homazan (Amazon) in Saka costume, on an Attic red-figure vase, ca 420 BCE

The Homazan (Amazons) also known as Oiorpata (Airyan language, Aiwa- one + paiti orpantea means ruler/commander), were Iranian warriors.  A reasonable close translation of Oiropata or Oiropantea would be the top commander. The home to Airyan Saka, Sarmatians, Scythians, Parthian, Sassanians, and Persians extended from eastern Europe to northern China. 

The approximate extent of East Iranian languages and people in Middle Iranian times in the 1st century BC is shown in orange. The extent of Western Iranian language is in red.

What is historical evidence for Homazan society?

The first direct evidence for Homazan warriors comes from excavations of burial sites of the Sarmatian culture dating from the 6th to the 4th century BCE Judging from objects in the graves, Sarmatian were nomadic, experts in animal husbandry, and skilled in warfare.

                                            Iranian Homazan in battle

In addition to raising animals, they were capable of the art of war and defense. The excavation shows these were strong, powerful women, but their role changed after 4th century BCE.  The burials indicate that the buried women were the high ranking members of some sort. They wore more ornate objects and had more golden cups and jewelry, but less weaponry. These may indicate a change in their culture.