Achillia and Amazon

In ancient times , any woman captured in battle was considered to be an amazon . One such warrior woman was named Amazon . She was described as a big woman of sturdy build and she was sent to the training school to learn to be a female gladiator .

Amazon became famous in the arena as she won so many of her contest which didn't always end in the death of her opponent .she was strong and fearless and proved to be a natural fighter .

Then came a second female warrior , she was a Scythian , famous for their horsemanship, she spoke a different language , so they named her Achillia , after a female goddess .

Achillia was of small stature and of fair beauty and was sold on the slave market as a servant. Her owner (now her master) must have wondered why she had ever bothered to fight a battle , she was so small and surely not cut out for fighting , she was a good servant but could she be more ?

It was decided to put her into the training school , to see if she would be good enough to be a gladiator. Achillia proved to be very fast and agile and she had a strange dancing style . She was light on her feet and even if knocked down , she would roll over and spring to her feet in a single move .She was new and exciting , so it was decided to put her in the arena against another novice . They would fight with wooden swords and shields . Achillia quickly over came her opponent and beat her into submission , the crowd were on their feet and roared their approval . They cheered every cut and thrust of Achillia's sword .

Achillia was a shinning star and had won the hearts of the crowd , they loved her acrobatic , dancing style . it was new and exciting .

The arena was a great place for betting , thousands would change hands at every contest so it was arranged for a contest between Amazon and Achillia , they would have star billing and it would be a fight to the death with real swords .

Amazon and Achillia would have been known to each other and may have even trained together

but this was to be a fight to the death with no quarter given . The fight began cautiously with achillia thrusting and probing at arms length , trying to keep out of danger while Amazon powered into her using experience and strength . Achilia would dance out of her way using her speed and agillity .

The fight intensified with both girls suffering near misses . The fight becoming more vicious with both women receiving cuts but they fought on . Then Achillia rolled under Amazons shield and as she sprang to her feet , she slashed across Amazons stomach, cutting a deep wound . The crowd gasped as Amazon let out a loud scream and sank to her knees , her right arm holding in her entrails . With her entrails spilling out ,She could not continue , the fight was over , Amazon had lost but she did a surprising thing . She rose to her feet , dropped her sword and shield and , placing her helmet between her feet ,a sign that she had surrendered .

She now stood proud and tall , with her head held high , as she awaited her fate like a true amazon .

The crowd were on their feet , some had won money and they roared their approval . others had lost money and they booed Amazon and blamed her for their loss and gave the thumbs down sign . the onus was now on Achillia to slit Amazons throat in the Theatrical manner they had been trained for . Achillia looked at Amazon and she too did a surprising thing ,

Achillia dropped her sword and shield to the ground and placed her helmet between her feet . Achillia had surrendered her great victory in an act of compassion and respect for her amazon sister . Achillia had proved she was a great warrior but she had respect for her fallen sister , she cared for amazon in a loving sisterly way and spared her the humiliation of defeat . The fight was now declared a draw , no one won and no one lost .The two girls would now be declared 'missio' , free slaves

The crowd were stunned into silence as both girls walked from the arena . They disappeared into the foggy mist of history never to be seen again .

We can all learn from Achillia's example....

I wish you ,dear reader ,peace and love