Saturday, August 3, 2019

How does the current Amazon hierarchy function?

I heard some Wonder Woman spoilers and I'm a little confused.

SPOILERS AHEAD

The Bana-Mighdall were founded by Antiope, sister of Queen Hippolyta, after she felt like the Greek gods abandoned their people. Half of the Amazons felt the same and left with her. While this was how things worked in old canon this was last given a nod by Orlando mentioning her importance to the Bana. Now Antiope has shown up in WW--alive--as a general for the Amazons of Themyscira.

This makes sense in regards to the movie having her in that role but not in regards to the Bana Amazons. Did she still have a hand in branching off the Amazons like Orlando implied? If not then what is their origin? If so then why did she abandon the people she lead, her throne, and the Egyptian gods they worshipped after forsaking the Greek gods? Why return to become a general for her sister?

A lot didn't make sense with the Orlando take on the Bana but it makes even less sense with this development. Did she have children to take over the leadership? In old canon the title of queen of the passed out of the bloodline with Antiope's death. It eventually became a position that was won through death battles then forgotten all together when the Amazons merged back. The first Faruka didn't even fight for the role, she never became queen. How did Faruka 2 get the job?

Awhile back I came up with a theory that Artemis was descended from Antiope. While this change with Antiope and the stuff with Orlando confuses things I think there's still enough hints for this to be possible. That maybe her line was supposed to claim leadership but just like the role of Shim'Tar it didn't quite happen.

Artemis gave Jason a basic summary of why her people separated from Diana's. She mentions her foremothers which is odd wording when she could have just said Antiope led them. This could be a careful choice to avoid changes the WW editorial might do but it's still curious.

It's pretty noticible that Artemis doesn't like being called "Princess." Which one would assume has to either do with her rivalry with Diana or seeing it as an insult. Maybe it's also a sour spot because Artemis was suppose to be in charge of her people and doesn't like the reminder. In many ways Artemis was meant to be a foil for Diana and this would highlight their difference more. There might be more of an attempt on DC's part to unite the Amazons in the Wonder family like the core of the Super and Bat families. The center of those families are either connected by blood or being adopted into the fold. Hippoltya is Diana's mother, Cassandra Sandsmark is now Diana's niece, Donna is usually regarded as her sister (not now but her history is usually confusing), Antiope is her aunt and Phillipus is her mothers' lover.

Artemis has been the lone Amazon out in this set up since she's from another tribe.

Other nicknames also seem to come up a lot with her. Usually Jason is the one teasing her yet Jack Knife also annoyed her with the Princess nickname...then referred to her as "your highness." Smart Bizarro called her Lady Artemis, which could just be a personality quirk, but for some reason she was also called this under Orlando while in Bana-Mighdall ? Why was Artemis called a queen in the AU comic Ma Gunn was reading?

Why did her mother put such pressure on her and seem so sure of her future? Why name her after a Greek goddess? Did that insult the Egyptian gods? So many questions.

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