How the Labrys Became a Symbol of Lesbian Feminism

Three and a half millennia ago, the people of the Bronze Age Minoan civilization revered the double-headed ax, which is conventionally known today as a labrys (plural form: labryes), as a religious symbol associated with powerful goddesses. Over a thousand years later, the historical Greeks and Romans often depicted Amazons, mythical female warriors who lived in a society without men, as wielding the labrys in battle. Today, the labrys has become a prominent symbol associated with lesbian feminism and female power. This post will tell the strange, extraordinary story, spanning nearly four millennia across four continents, of how a Bronze Age religious symbol became a defining symbol of queer women’s liberation. If you’re new to this blog, I hold a master’s degree in Ancient Greek and Roman Studies and bachelor’s degrees in history and classical studies, and I’ve been writing about ancient history online for the past ten years now. I am also a trans woman who is attracted to women and…