History
Ancient Days[]
Hippolyta was the daughter of Ares, God of War, and Otrera, first queen of the Amazons, a tribe of warrior women who founded the city of Themiscyra on the Thermodon River in Anatolia. She was born around the River Tanais (near modern-day Rostov-on-Don, Russia).[1][2]
Hippolyta's sister Lysippe succeeded Otrera as the Amazonian queen, but Hippolyta became queen after Lysippe's death in combat.[2]
In 1270 BC,[2] after many years of ruling the Amazons, Hippolyta eventually met Hercules when he, Jason, and the Argonauts landed near her city stronghold of Themyscira. There they attempted to steal Hippolyta's enchanted girdle and any slaves they could along the way. Initially resenting Hercules for the initial invasion, Hippolyta eventually fell in love with him. Over the centuries, she made various attempts to win his affection, but ultimately he never gave her his heart. Thus a love/hate relationship was formed between the two.[7]
In her first modern-day appearance, Hippolyta helped Pluto, Greek god of the dead, in his plan to avenge himself on Hercules, by posing as a movie actress and tricking the hero into signing a "movie contract" that in reality bound him to Pluto's realm, Hades. But Thor came to his aid, and the heroes caused so much damage to Hades that Pluto himself broke the contract just to be rid of them.[8]
Pluto then involved her in a plot to convince Zeus that she should be married to Hercules and Venus to Ares. In reality, this would remove these two as obstacles while invading Olympus. This plot led to the formation of the Champions of Los Angeles.[9]
Hippolyta also formed a new generation of Amazons from female runaways in New York City called the Bacchae. The group clashed with such heroes as the Fantastic Four and the X-Men.[10]
Matricide[]
After visiting her father Ares in an attempt to rally him to one of Hera's new schemes, which he ruffed, she was murdered by her daughter Artume, who was tired of her mother's obsession with Hercules.[11]
Fearless Defenders[]
Hela later brought Hippolyta (codenamed "Warrior Woman,” though she hated it) from the Underworld to help the Valkyrior defeat the Doom Maidens.[5] Hippolyta then joined the Fearless Defenders as a full-time member.[12]
Scythia[]
Hippolyta adopted the ceremonial title "Scythia" to settle a blood debt with Darcy Lewis, a journalist who had murdered a Bacchae sect sister belonging to the Daughters of Enyo. Privately, Scythia disapproved of the Daughters' bloodlust and recognized that Lewis had acted in self-defense , but was nonetheless honor-bound to execute her in retribution. After tracking Lewis to Lotkill, New York, Scythia battled the Scarlet Witch, who convinced her that the Bacchae's laws could be changed if they no longer supported true justice.[13]Attributes
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Powers
Olympian Physiology: Hippolyta possesses the conventional attributes of an Olympian goddess. However, many of her physical attributes are more developed than most other Olympian females.
- Superhuman Strength: Like all Olympians, Hippolyta is superhumanly strong. Her strength is much greater than the vast majority of Olympian females, or even Olympian males. Hippolyta used to be of class 50 strength, whereas the typical Olympian male is of class 30. However, her strength was recently vastly enhanced when resurrected by various death gods, and it now considerably exceeds her father, Ares, who is a class 70. When wearing the Gauntlets of Ares her strength is furtherly enhanced and can lift nearly 100 tons.[14]
- Superhuman Speed: Hippolyta can run and move at speeds beyond the natural physical limits of the finest human athlete.
- Superhuman Stamina: Hippolyta has inherited her father's legendary physical stamina. As a result, her stamina is matched by very few Olympians. Hippolyta's musculature produces almost no fatigue toxins, granting her nearly limitless superhuman stamina in all physical activities.
- Invulnerability: Hippolyta has superhuman durability. She is bulletproof and weapons such as swords can't harm her. However, fire seemed to be able to agonize/damage hippolyta.
- Immortality: Like all Olympians, Hippolyta is functionally immortal. She is immune to the effects of aging and hasn't aged since reaching adulthood. She is also immune to all known Earthly diseases and infections. However, this doesn't mean that she can't be killed as no member of any of Earth's pantheons of gods is truly immortal. To be truly immortal, Death itself has to banish an individual from entering it's realm. The Elders of the Universe for instance are among the only truly immortal beings in the universe as Death prevents them from dying. While they can still be injured and feel pain, they will fully recover from any injury no matter the severity, though it may take time to do so.
- Regenerative Healing Factor: Despite her superhuman durability, Hippolyta can sustain physical injury. However, her Olympian life force enables her to regenerate damaged tissue much faster and more extensively than a human being. In fact, her healing powers are superior to those of most other Olympians. However, she can't regenerate missing limbs, organs, or brain cells, at least not without the aid of powerful magical assistance.
- Superhuman Agility: Hippolyta's agility, balance, and bodily coordination are all enhanced to levels that are beyond the natural physical limits of even the finest human athlete.
- Superhuman Reflexes: Hippolyta's reflexes are similarly enhanced and are superior to those of the finest human athlete.
Abilities
Paraphernalia
Equipment
- Gauntlets of Ares: given to her by her father. These gauntlets increase both Hippolyta's punching power by a factor of 100. However, in order for the gauntlets to work, Hippolyta must be in a combat situation.[citation needed]
- Amulet of Pazuzu[15]
Weapons
See Also
- 32 appearance(s) of Hippolyta (Earth-616)
- 5 appearance(s) in handbook(s) of Hippolyta (Earth-616)
- 3 minor appearance(s) of Hippolyta (Earth-616)
- 7 mention(s) of Hippolyta (Earth-616)
- 6 mention(s) in handbook(s) of Hippolyta (Earth-616)
- 15 image(s) of Hippolyta (Earth-616)
- 1 quotation(s) by or about Hippolyta (Earth-616)
- 2 item(s) used/owned by Hippolyta (Earth-616)
Links and References
- Hippolyta on Marvel.com
- Hippolyta on Wikipedia.org
- Hippolyta at the Guide to the Mythological Universe
- Hippolyta at the Appendix to the Handbook of the marvel Universe
- Marvel Encyclopedia Vol 6: Fantastic Four
References
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 Thor & Hercules: Encyclopaedia Mythologica #1 ; Hippolyta's profile
- ↑ 2.0 2.1 2.2 2.3 2.4 2.5 2.6 Official Handbook of the Marvel Universe A to Z #14 ; Hippolyta's profile
- ↑ Scarlet Witch (Vol. 3) #2
- ↑ 4.0 4.1 Trojan War #3
- ↑ 5.0 5.1 Fearless Defenders #2
- ↑ Official Handbook of the Marvel Universe #8 ; Olympians' profile
- ↑ Incredible Hercules #122
- ↑ Thor #127–128
- ↑ Champions #1–3
- ↑ Fantastic Four (Vol. 3) #21
- ↑ Incredible Hercules #121
- ↑ Fearless Defenders #3
- ↑ Scarlet Witch (Vol. 3) #4–5
- ↑ Official Handbook of the Marvel Universe A to Z #14
- ↑ Howard the Duck (Vol. 3) #3
- ↑ Thor & Hercules: Encyclopaedia Mythologica #1
- ↑ Official Handbook of the Marvel Universe A to Z Vol 1 14