Melanippe was the sister of Antiope. When Herakles came for Hippolyte's girdle, Melanippe was captured by the son of Zeus. While a prisoner, she planned a successful mutiny, on one of Herakles' ships, that freed her and some other captive Amazons. They took the ship, killing the Greeks and tossed their bodies overboard. Unfortunately, these Amazons were trained to ride horses, not sail, and they were blown to the shores of Scythia. They stole horses and became marauders. Her name means, "Black Mare."