The New Amazons

It's funny. Just yesterday, someone asked me if Pokrovia is real place. I explained that while the kingdom of Pokrovia exists only in the world of Kiki Strike, there IS a town in Russia that's known as Pokrovka. I "borrowed" the name after I read that the graves of an ancient race of warrior women had been discovered a few miles outside of the village. I figured Kiki Strike would have fit in quite well with them.

Back in ancient times, that particular part of the world was teeming with butt-kicking ladies. Among them were the legendary Amazons themselves, who lived in and around what is now the Ukraine. And it seems as if the women there still fancy a fight once in a while.

This morning I came across an interesting photo essay. French photojournalist Guillaume Herbaut recently journeyed to the Carpathian Mountains to spend time with a group of Ukrainian women who aspire to live like modern-day Amazons. They call themselves the Asgarda, and I gotta say, they look pretty tough to me. From what I can tell, their days are spent learning the martial arts, getting weird haircuts, and fighting with some awfully impressive "equipment."

I don't know about devoting my life to their cause, but I sure wouldn't mind hanging out with the Asgarda ladies for a month or two!

See more photos here.