As the midday sun fills the open bowl of the arena, I feel like I might pass out. My ceremonial armour, resplendent with ornate gold trim and the finest bronze plate, threatens to fry me inside like an egg. As even more sweat trickles into my boots, I curse to the gods.
Of course, the austerity of our arena is by design. With no shelter from the elements, the citizens of our all-female society are taught the value of hardship in keeping with our martial ways. Perhaps ten years into my reign now, I am going soft?
My name is Hippolyta, Queen of the Amazons, and on the longest day of the year we hold the summer wrestling trials; 12 of the strongest male captives, trying to earn their freedom, must face our finest warriors. In the summer wrestling trials, the rules are simple; no strikes are allowed, and the winner must make their opponent submit. Of course, in an all-female society, there could be no prohibition against ball squeezing. I always encourage this submission technique against males.
Surveying the scene before me, 24 figures stand on the dirt floor of the arena: 12 men and 12 Amazons. 12 men stripped naked, their bronzed bodies glistening in the sun. 12 Amazons naked from the waist up, as is our custom, their bodies also catching the light. 12 broad-shouldered bodies with well-developed muscles from years of working in the fields. 12 lithe bodies hardened from years of martial training. Between 12 pairs of muscular legs hang 12 penises, thick and pendulous. Below the 12 penises are 12 silky scrotums, loose and sweaty in the heat. Filling the 12 scrotums are 12 pairs of balls heavy and ripe like plumbs. 12 loincloths guard the further mysteries of the Amazon warriors.
12 pairs of tender balls versus 12 Amazon warriors.
In truth, the summer wrestling trials had long been more of an exhibition than a real contest; no male had won in living memory. Even if the males' most sensitive organs were not so exposed, our warriors, trained in combat since birth, were just too good.
My interest in the trials today is Ariadne who is one of my Praetorians. Inducted only last year into my bodyguard, she had risen quickly, and I had come to see her as a daughter. With a fierceness that was only matched by her loyalty, she stands upright and relaxed, her raven-black hair secured behind her supple back. Before her is her opponent who is as wide as a door and as tall as a draft horse. Her eyes are fixed on his huge genitals, by far the biggest I have ever seen. This is her first summer trial, and having sworn a vow of chastity she is inexperienced in the ways of the male body. I hope she will learn to love beating men, as I do. There is nothing quite like it.
The trumpeter, magnificent in her bronze armour and scarlet sash, solemnly raises her instrument in preparation to begin the summer wrestling trials. Hushed silence descends on the arena as the 12 pairs of combatants adopt their fighting stances. As I continue to broil within my armour, I imagine slipping into the frigidarium of the Baths of Diocletian, my sweating body soothed by the cool waters. Alas, such sweet relief will have to wait.
Taking a deep breath, the trumpeter blows with all her might, sending pigeons fluttering skywards. The fights begin. Below me, the arena floor becomes a maelstrom of bodies and dust.
Within the pell-mell, the first men begin to fall; well-muscled figures tapping out to my favourite submission hold; their sensitive organs clenched tight in female hands until they yield. In victory, their female vanquishers stand over them feet apart and shoulders back in triumph as the crowd applauds.
Beautiful.
Soon there are only two fights left and one involves my dear Ariadne. Circling cautiously around her mountain of an opponent, her fight has become like chess; their moves are careful and calculating. Switching gears, she thrusts a lightning-fast hand out trying to grab her opponent's balls. However, she finds only air as he manages to swing his balls away whilst parrying her hand with a downward chop.
He is good.
The other remaining fight seems to be reaching a climax. The Amazon is now only toying with her opponent who, gasping for air, and moving with leaden limbs, is spent. Looking around at the crowd first, her motions theatrical, she reaches down and clamps onto the man's tender balls. Secure in her hand, she wrenches them up, his scrotum pulled taut like a rope. Forced onto his tiptoes, his wide eyes pleading, the man quickly taps her arm in submission. A sadistic smile forms on her lips, as, with her free hand, she issues a stinging slap to his beet-red face. Satisfied, she drops him to the dusty floor like a sack of onions. Before he can even catch his breath, she plants a bare foot on his broad chest and flicks her head back sending her glossy black hair cascading down her supple back. Waving to the crowd, with shoulders back, she milks their applause, even as the referee admonishes her.
Yes.
I turn my gaze back to Ariadne who is cautiously circling her opponent, her eyes fixed on his impressive genitals. As the pair continue to spar, they rotate around bringing his front into my view.
No!
The man is fully erect; with enormous length and girth, he points skyward. As he paces around Ariadne, his penis bobs and quivers. For a moment, I do not believe my eyes.
This is an outrage.