Bedford Quarry House, Westchester County, NY, USA,

Steven Harris Architects,

Interiors: Rees Roberts and Partners

secret fridge based on an original 1950’s design

Sade

Richard Pryor

Musical Youth

They were feared, admired, and, for a long time, almost forgotten.

The Amazons of Dahomey were an elite all-female military regiment of the powerful Kingdom of Dahomey — present-day Benin in West Africa. Trained from a young age in the art of war, they were known for their strength, strategy, and fearlessness. Armed with spears, swords, and rifles, they charged into battle with a ferocity that astonished even European soldiers.

Their entire lives were devoted to the kingdom: they were forbidden to marry or bear children, as they were considered the ‘wives of the king’ — a title that was purely symbolic. Their existence revolved around discipline, daily training, and absolute obedience.

Contemporary accounts describe their toughness on the battlefield and their fearless disregard for death. They faced French troops during the colonial wars, defending their homeland with a determination that inspired both awe and fear.

Centuries later, their legacy lives on in popular culture: the warrior women of Wakanda in the Black Panther saga are directly inspired by them.

The Amazons of Dahomey were not a myth.

They were real women — who defied convention and proved that courage knows no gender.

brazilian girls