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The Gbeto warriors were a terrifying group of female soldiers from the Dahomey Kingdom during the 1700s and 1800s. The Gbeto served as the king's official bodyguards and were known for their ruthlessness -- they ate raw meat, filed their teeth into sharp points and kept the jawbones and skulls of their enemies as trophies -- and European travelers referred to them as Amazonians. Armed with muskets and other weapons, they defended the Dahomey kingdom aptly, fighting in battles against the French, the Oyo, Ouidah, the Ashanti and others.

Today, young descendants of the Gbeto warriors serve as the king's ceremonial bodyguards. The preadolescent girls dance at the king's court, wielding play swords and axes and singing tales of their ancestors' bloody conquests.

Compiled by Jamila White

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