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Journals / Anemon Muş Alparslan Üniversitesi Sosyal Bilimler Dergisi / 2026 / Cilt: 14 Sayı: 2

Amadun and Mythology

Amadun ve Mitoloji

Salih Fehmi Katırcıoğlu(Ankara Eğitim ve Araştırma Hastanesi)0009-0008-2897-6570
Pages
1437–1468
Publication Date
2026-08-30
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AI Summary & Key Takeaways

AI Insight
⚡ TL;DR(Too Long; Didn't Read)

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.

📌 3 Key Takeaways

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Objective & Hypothesis: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.
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Key Findings & Data:Departing from the conventional Ancient Greek etymologies, the research proposes that the word Amazon may derive from the Sumerian compound term Amadun.
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Conclusion & Impact: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.
🔬Design:Araştırma Makalesi
📍Scope:Comprehensive Sample
⚙️Variables:Antik Yunan · Sümerler. · Amadun

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.

Özet

Bu çalışma, mitolojik anlatıların kültürel süreklilik ve anlam üretimi içindeki rolünü merkeze alarak, “Amazon” kavramının kökenini filolojik ve mitolojik bir çerçevede yeniden değerlendirmeyi amaçlamaktadır. Araştırma, Amazon sözcüğünün yaygın Antik Yunan etimolojilerinden farklı olarak, Sümerce kökenli “Amadun” bileşik sözcüğünden türemiş olabileceği varsayımına dayanmaktadır. Bu bağlamda özellikle “-dun” bileşeni üzerinde durulmuş; Sümer yazılı kaynakları, arkeolojik bulgular ve karşılaştırmalı mitoloji verileri aracılığıyla sözcüğün anlamsal ve kültürel sürekliliği incelenmiştir. Çalışmada Amazon figürü, Antik Yunan kaynakları (Homeros, Herodot, Strabon) ile Avrasya bozkır kültürlerinde tespit edilen arkeolojik bulgular ışığında ele alınmış; savaşçı kadın topluluklarının yalnızca mitolojik değil, tarihsel bir arka plana da sahip olabileceği gösterilmiştir. Amazon adının “göğüssüz” anlamına dayanan geleneksel etimolojisinin sanat eserleri ve yazılı kaynaklarla örtüşmediği ortaya konmuş, bunun yerine Amadun kökenli bir okumanın daha tutarlı olduğu savunulmuştur. Sümerce metinlerde yer alan DUN sözcüğünün, dişi, süt veren, uysal ve bereketle ilişkilendirilen bir hayvanı tanımladığı; bu hayvanın bakımının büyük ölçüde kadınlar tarafından üstlenildiği saptanmıştır. Bu bulgular, Amadun kavramının dişil üretkenlik, besleyicilik ve kutsallıkla ilişkilendirildiğini göstermektedir. Bu çerçevede Hindu mitolojisindeki Kamadhenu, İskandinav mitolojisindeki Audhumbla ve Yunan mitolojisindeki Amalthea figürleri karşılaştırmalı olarak incelenmiş; farklı coğrafyalarda ortaya çıkan bu mitolojik anlatıların ortak bir sembolik çekirdeği paylaştığı ortaya konmuştur. Sonuç olarak çalışma, Amadun kökenli sözcük ve anlatıların, dünya mitolojilerinde bereket, besleyicilik ve kutsal kadın figürü etrafında şekillenen ortak bir mitolojik yapı oluşturduğunu ileri sürmektedir. Bu bağlamda Amazon anlatılarının yalnızca Antik Yunan mitolojisinin ürünü olmadığı, daha eski ve çok katmanlı bir kültürel mirasın parçası olduğu sonucuna ulaşılmıştır.

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Cite This Article

Katırcıoğlu, S. F. (2026). Amadun and Mythology. Anemon Muş Alparslan Üniversitesi Sosyal Bilimler Dergisi, Cilt: 14 Sayı: 2, 1437–1468. https://doi.org/10.18506/anemon.1855257

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