The Warrior

The warrior goddess created when no god alone could defeat the buffalo-demon Mahishasura — many-armed, riding a lion, decisive where all others had failed. Fierce and protective at once, she is the archetype's Amazon gift word made divine.

Takes her father's place in the army — the defender's motive in its purest form — and earns her standing through discipline and courage rather than birthright. Both the ancient ballad and the Disney film centre the same gifts: bravery, decisiveness, defence of family.

Crosses the sea to answer another people's peril and meets Grendel bare-handed to keep the contest fair — the champion and defender in one. He leads from the front to the very end, facing the dragon in old age when his retainers hang back.

Volunteering as tribute in her sister's place is the defender's reflex made famous. Surgical with a bow, decisive under fire, protective of allies — her fights are always in defence of someone, which is the Warrior's cleanest form.

The soldier-champion who leads from the front in Germania and again in the arena, turning condemned men into a fighting unit. Disciplined ferocity in pursuit of one clear goal, held to over years of loss.

At seventeen she was leading from the front at Orléans, banner in hand, wounded and returning to the fight the same day. Brave, direct and decisive, she galvanised a demoralised army by sheer example.

Competition and challenge as career-long fuel — twenty-three grand-slam singles titles across two decades, many won from match point down. Fierce, decisive and a champion in the most literal sense of the word.

Champion, fearless and forceful in the ring — and equally willing to fight outside it, sacrificing his title and prime years rather than abandon a principle. The Warrior's gift of challenging others and the status quo, both taken to the limit.

The greatest of the Greek warriors, and the Iliad's first word about him is wrath. He sulks in his tent when slighted, then erupts into destructive rage after Patroclus falls, desecrating Hector's body past all custom.

Too much: raging, destructive, sore loser, winning at all costs — the fighter consumed by his own fire.

A lion — the very emblem of courage — who jumps at his own tail and pleads to be left out of danger. The journey to Oz is the recovery of a courage that was there all along, shown when he faces real peril for his friends.

Too little: cowardly, fearful, playing it safe, undefended — the Warrior's energy absent from the one creature built for it.