From mythological warrior women to the largest rainforest on Earth to the global e-commerce empire that changed how we shop, the word Amazon has carried power and mystery across millennia. In this episode of Lexiconned, we explore the Greek origins of the word, the colonial rebranding of a mighty river, and how a small online bookstore became an economic titan. Was the Amazon River really named after fierce female warriors? Did ancient Amazons actually exist? And what does Jeff Bezos have to do with all of this? Tune in for an etymological deep dive into one of the world’s most influential words.

Sources:

• Herodotus, Histories
• Francisco de Orellana’s expedition accounts
• Modern linguistic research on Scythian and Persian influences
• Historical analyses of Indigenous Amazonian cultures
• Business histories detailing the founding of Amazon.com

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