Hellenic Tribes
Greek civilization grew out of a welter of various Hellenic tribal nations
which had occupied the region from time immemorial or had entered from
elsewhere at an early date. Not much is known of this complex group of
interrelated peoples, and so the best I can do for the moment is set down
preliminary notes regarding them.
includes the
Æthikes, the
Agraeoi,
the
Akarnanes, the
Almopia,
the
Aones, the
Aperandoi,
the
Athamanes, the
Atindanes,
the
Avandes, the
Boeotoi,
the
Chaones, the
Dolopes,
the
Dorians, the
Dryopes,
the
Ektines, the
Eordaea,
the
Epeioi, the
Eurytanes,
the
Gephyraeoi, the
Idonoi,
the
Ionians, the
Kikones,
the
Krestones, the
Lapithes,
the
Leleges, the
Lyngistes,
the
Magnites, the
Malieis,
the
Molossoi, the
Mygdones,
the
Oetaeoi, the
Orestes,
the
Paetoi, the
Pelasgoi,
the
Perraivoi, the
Sea Peoples,
the
Temmikes, the
Thesprotians,
the
Visaltes, the
Vistones,
the
Yandes.
ÆTHIKESThey
lived in northern and northwestern Thessaly, on Pindos and Karvounia mountains,
near the Peneios river. They were neighbours of the Athamanes and the Tymphaioi
and were first mentioned by Homer. They were regarded by other Hellenic
peoples as barbarians and thieves. Their towns were Metsovo and Malakasio
(nowadays within the administrative division of Ioannina). They disappeared
after the Roman annexation of Greece in the 2nd century BCE.
AGRÆOIThey
lived in the Agrapha Mountains, between the rivers Achelous and Agraphiotes.
They called their land Agraea or Agrais. Important cities were Agrinio
(capital city of the administrative division of Aetoloakarnania) and Ephyra.
They created their own kingdom.
-
Salynthios.........................................fl. c. 430 BCE
-
To the Ætolian League...
AKARNANES
They lived in Akarnania, having arrived there from Argos. Their cities
were Amphilochia, Amphilochikon Argos, Limnaea, Stratos, Oiniades, Anaktorio,
Echinos, Aktio, Solion, Alyzea, Astakos, Phoitia, Medeon, Thourion, and
Metropolis.
-
Alkmeon
-
Akarnan, with...
-
Amphoteros
-
The Akarnanian League..................................5th
cent.
-
Allied to the Amphilochians
-
Allied to Athens.............................5th
cent.-391
-
To Sparta..........................................391-371
-
To Thebes..........................................371-300
-
To Epirus..........................................300-273
-
Allied to the Ætolian League.......................270-245
-
Lykurgos..............................between
250-167
-
To the Ætolian League..............................245-231
-
2nd Akarnanian League..............................230-225
-
To Macedonia.......................................225-197
-
Within the Roman State from 197...
-
Mnasilochos...................................190-189
ALMOPES They
were located northwestern Macedonia, nowadays adm.div. of Pella, between
the rivers Loudias and Axios and between the regions of Eordaea and Pelagonia.
The region was inhabited by few people, who were isolated - therefore it
was one of the first regions occupied by Macedonia. The primary cities
were Orma, Apsalos, Europos, and Notia.
-
Almopas
-
?
-
To Macedon c. 547/498
AONES Ancient
inhabitants of Boeotia after the Ektines, regarded by other Hellenes as
barbarians. They lived near Thebes, and came from Sounion (Attica) to Boeotia,
together with Temmikes, Leleges, and Yandes.
-
Aon (Aonia - later called Boeotia - was named
after him)
-
Defeated by the Cadmians
-
Afterwards they lived between north of Thebes and Lake Yliki.
APERANDOI
They lived between the rivers Agraphiotes and Megdovas, to the Agrapha
mountains, neighbours of the Agraeoi. They were an Ætolian sub-tribe.
ATHAMANES
They lived in northeastern Epirus, on Tzoumerka mountains and in part of
the administrative division of Trikala. They were regarded by other Hellenes
as a semi-barbarian tribe. Important cities of this tribe: Argothea (capital
city) and Theodoria.
-
Athamas
-
To the Corinthian League........................c.
395-378
-
To the 2nd Athenian League.........................378-
-
During the 2nd Sacred War allied to Macedonia
-
Opposed to Phocis 354
-
Opposed to Macedonia 323
-
Under the control of Macedonia
-
Alliance with Pyrros of Epirus
-
Theodoros..........................................fl. c. 205
-
Amynandrus.........................................fl. c. 201
-
Formed an Athamanian League
ATINDANES
They lived in the region between Chaonia and Dodoni, in northwest Epirus.
-
Allied to the tribe of Molossoi...................c.
429
-
Allied to Rome....................................c.
229
-
Allied to Macedonia..............................225-221
-
To Macedonia..............................................205
AVANDES They
lived in Euboea. They were a protohellenic tribe that came into Greece
appr. 2100-1900 BCE. They had lived initially in Phocis (Avai) and some
of them in Argolis, Sicyon, Epirus, and Asia Minor.
-
Avas
-
Elephinor
-
Chalkodous
-
After the Trojan war they colonized Illyria.
-
They disappeared after the Ionian invasion on Euboea...
BOEOTOI The
region of Boeotia is northwest of Attica, nowadays one of the 52 administrative
divisions of modern Greece.
-
Boeotus
-
Itonus
-
Hippalcimus, with...
-
Alector, and...
-
Areilycus
-
Leaders of the province during the Trojan war:
-
Peneleus
-
Leitos
-
Arcesilaus
-
Prothenor
-
Klonios
Three generations after the Trojan War the region
was inhabited by the Boeotian tribe. They lived initially on the Boios
mountain of Pindos, between Epirus and Macedonia. From there they moved
to Arne between Thessaly and the Pagasitikos bay (till the end of the late
Hellenic era). They claimed to be an Ætolian sub-tribe.
-
Boeotos
-
Opheltas......................................fl. 1150-1100
-
Xanthos
-
By the end of the monarchy, the tribe had colonized
the whole region, by c. 950.
-
1st Boeotian League................................525-480
-
This consisted of the city-states of Thebes,
Koronea, Aliartos, Tanagra, Thespies, while Orchomenos and Plataea remained
independent, and Eleutheres and Erythres went to Athens.
-
Allied to Persia..............................490-479
-
2nd Boeotian League................................479-447
-
3rd Boeotian League................................447-387
-
Ismenias I........................................395
-
Boeotia was divided into districts
in this era. These were:
-
a.) Thebais
(including the cities of Thebes,
Knopia, Ogchestos, Potniae, Kalydna, Therapnae, Schoinous, Peteon, Teumissos,
Glisas, Yla, Foinikis, Tropheia),
-
b.) Orchomenia
or Phlegyandis or Andreis (Orchomenos,
Askledon, Tegyra, Yettos, Achmones, Kyrtone),
-
c.) Chaeronea
(Chaeronea)
-
d.) Kopon
(Kopes, Akraefnio),
-
e.) Levadeia,
-
f.) Koronea
(Koronea,
Alalkomemes, Tylfossion),
-
g.) Aliartia
(Aliartos,
Medeon, Okalea),
-
h.) Thespiki
(Thespies,
Eutrisi, Lefktra, Kerissos, Nisa, Askre, Ippotes, Thisvi, Korsies, Sifoi),
-
i.) Plataeis
(Plataea),
-
j.) Tanagraea
or Poimandria (Tanagra,
Delio),
-
k.) Parasopea
(Eteonos, Skolos, Ysies, Erythres),
-
l.) Tetrakomia
(Phires, Aulis, Mykalessos, Arma, Eleion,
Yrea),
-
m.) Anthedon
(Anthedon,
Isos, Salganeas),
-
n.) Larymna
(Karsea, Ales),
-
o.) Oropos
-
4th Boeotian League................................378-338
-
Gorgidas..........................................378
with...
-
Pelopidas.........................................378
-
Kavi---...............................between
379-338
-
To Macedon.........................................338-245
-
5th Boeotian League...........................336-146
-
Hieronymus Kardianus......................c.
291
-
To Aetolia.........................................245-236
-
To Macedon.........................................236-146
-
Brachylles........................................196
-
Ismenias III......................................173
-
To the Roman Republic..............................146-27
-
6th Boeotian League.......................146
BCE-3rd cent. CE
-
Pytheas......................................146
-
To the Roman Empire (dist. of Achaea 85 BCE)....27
BCE-395 CE
CHAONES Ancient
protohellenic tribe with a Pelasgian root. They lived in Epirus, between
the Keraunia mountains and Kalamas river, therefore the first name of Epirus
was Chaonia. They were related the the Chaones of southern.Italy. Important
cities: Vouthroton, Ilion, Foenice, Panormos, Ogchismos, Amandia, Antigonea
-
Chaon
-
They developed a system relying on an annual leader.
By the 5th century they had combined to a large degree with local Thesprotean
and the Illyrian peoples.
-
Allied to Ambracia against the Akarnanes..........428
-
Photios and...
-
Nikanor
-
To the League of Epirus............................232-170
-
To Rome................................................170
DOLOPES An
ancient Aetolian tribe, related to the Magnites. They lived in Acarnania,
southern Thessaly, and Phthia. Their borders were Phthia and Aenianes (East),
Eurytanes-Agraeoi (South), Amphilochia (West), Athamanes-Thessaliotis (North).
Their capital city was Ktimeni; other important cities were Dolopeis, Ageiai,
Menelais, and Ellopia.
-
Dolops
-
Ktimenes
-
To Phthia
-
Phoinikas
-
Allied to Persia during the Persian Wars
-
Opposed to Herakleia 420.
-
To Pheres 374
-
To Macedonia 344
-
To the Aetolian League
-
To Macedonia
-
Independent........................................189-174
DORIANS A
major Hellenic group of closely related tribes or septs, the Dorians are
regarded both in archeology and in legend as the conquerors of the Peloponessus.
Initially they lived in the area near Mount Olympus, in the land of Doris.
In the 12th century BCE they began migrating southward, and three separate
Doric tribes (Hylleis, Pamphyloi, and the Dymanes) settled in eastern and
southern Peloponnesus, displacing the native Achaeans. The mythological
account of this has it that these three groups were the descendents of
three Herakleides (children of Herakles), Temenus, Aristodemus, and Cresphontes,
who successfully recovered an inheritence lost to a cousin, Eurysthenes
of Mycenae. They were a rather dour, plain-spoken, and harshly disciplined
people - as their best-known branch, the Classic Age Spartans, personified
greatly. The tension between themselves and the other great Hellenic people,
the
Ionians - who regarded Dorics as barely-literate,
ill-mannered martinets - is at the heart of a great deal of Greek historical
development.
-
Doros
-
Ægimios
-
Yllos
-
Colonization of the Peloponnesus..................from
c. 1100
Afterwards the Dorians colonized Megara, Argolis,
Laconia, Messinia, Aegina, Milos, Thera, Crete, Rhodes and Corinth.
DRYOPES Related
to the tribe of
Leleges, they were a barbarian tribe.
They lived in the area between the mountains Oiti and Parnassus. They called
their land Dryopis. Owing to Dorian pressure they evacuated their land
and colonized Euboea, Karystos, Styra, Cyprus, Kythnos, Argolis (Asine,
Nemea), Messinia, and Epirus. Main city: Drys.
-
Dryops
-
Melaneus
-
Laogoras
-
Theiodamas
-
Kythnos............................................fl. 1200's BCE
-
This chieftain, driven from the mainland, established
himself on the Aegean island which now
bears his name.
EKTINES The
first inhabitants of Boeotea.
EORDAEA Ancient
region (and tribe) in western Macedonia near the lake Vegoritis. Eordaea’s
borders were Almopia-Lyngistis (North), Elimea (South), Imathia (East),
Orestis (West). The district occupied during the late Bronze Age, the Eordoi
were a proto-Hellenic, Indo-European group that came to Eordaea appr. 2200
BCE. Nowadays there is the administrative division of Kozane. Main cities
were Eordaea, Arnissa, Vegora and Kellas. Eordaea was the birthplace Ptolemy
Lagos, the Macedonian general who gained the throne of Egypt.
-
Eordos
-
?
-
Destroyed by the Timenides of Macedonia
-
To Macedon c. 547/498
-
Allied to the Greeks during the Persian wars
EPEIOI A Pelasgian
tribe in the western Peloponnesus, they lived in Elea, Pisatis, western
Achaea, and the Echinades islands. Their cities: Vouprasion, Elida, Yrmine,
Myrsinos, Olene, Dyme, Ephyra, Kyllene, Pylos, Aleisio.
-
Epeios
-
During the Trojan War there were 4 different kingdoms...
-
Polyxenos and...
-
Thalpios and...
-
Andimachos and...
-
Diores
-
Many conjoined with Kaukones and Ionians and lived
in Achaea (the Larissos River district).
-
The Epeioi of Pisa combined with the Arcadians and
dwelt lived in Pisatis.
-
Agorios
-
The remaining eventually melded with the Ætolians
and lived in Elea; Elean sequence thereafter...
EURYTANESAn
Ætolian sub-tribe, they lived in the district of Karpenissi (today:capital
city of Evritania), between the mountains Panaitolikon and Tymphristos.
Their borders were Aenianes (East), Dolopes (North), Aperandoi-Akarnanes
(West), Aetolians (South), Thestians (Southwest), Ofionians (Southeast).
During the prehistoric era they had probably lived in Thessaly. Their capital
city was Oichalia.
-
Eurytos
-
From time to time to the Achaeans of Phthia,
to Thessaly or to Macedonia
-
To Rome 146
GEPHYRAEOI
A non-Hellenic tribe (Phoenicians) They lived in Boeotia in the town Gephyra.
Afterwards they moved into Attica. It is claimed that they brought the
alphabet into Greece. This was the homeland of Armodios and Aristogeiton,
murderers of the Athenian tyrants Hippias and Hipparchus
IDONOI They
lived in western Thrace, between the rivers Strymon and Nestos (nowadays
there are the cities Drama and Zichne). Their land was called Idonis or
Andandros. Important cities were Myrkinos (capital-city), Draviskos and
Amphipolis.
-
Idoneus
-
Lykurgos
-
Getas..............................................fl. c. 500
-
To Persia during the Persian wars
IONIANS One
of the great pan-Hellenic tribal groups. They lived initially in southwestern
Thessaly, but at a very early date migrated south. Some of them remained
in southwestern Thessaly and others moved to west Locris, Achaea and Pisa.
Afterwards they colonized Attica and Asia Minor. They also extensively
settled the Cyclades, Euboea, Corinth, Megara, Epidaurus, and by the end
of the Mycenean era they were in Attica, Megaris, Epidaurus, Troezin, Kynourua
and Achaea. Defeated by the Achaeans, Minyes, Phlegyes and Lapithes, they
remained largely in Attica, some of the islands, and most especially in
western Asia Minor, which became known as "Ionia". They are to a large
extent responsible for Greek literature, philosophy, and much Hellenic
art (the Ionian dialect is the foundation upon which standard Classic Greek
developed, which in turn gave birth to "Koine" (Common speech - the language
of most of the New Testament), Byzantine dialects, and ultimately modern
Greek. In acquiescing to Persian hegemony in Asia Minor during the 6th
and 5th centuries, they earned the scornful contempt of the Peloponessian
Dorians,
who regarded Ionians as weak, compliant, mendacious, and very likely treasonous.
It is this tension between the two groups which is at the heart of much
of Greek historical development.
-
Ion
-
Partitioned into four sub-tribes: Geleondes, Oplites,
Aegikoreis and Argadeis.
KIKONES They
lived between the Evros river and the Vistonis lake. They came there appr.
1300-1200 BCE. Their cities were Xantheia, Maronea, Ismaros, Zone and Kyzikos.
-
Euphimos
-
Mendes
-
Their capital Ismaros was conquered by Ulysses after
the Trojan war
-
After the Mycenean era they disappeared as an identifiable
people.
KRESTONES
The Kristones lived in Krestonia a Macedonian district between Chalkidicia
and the Strymon river. They were a Pelasgo-Thracian sub-tribe. Important
cities: Antigonea, Xylopolis, Terpyllos, Karavia, Kreston.
LAPITHES The
main inhabitants of early Thessaly, together with the centaurs (Northern
Pelasgia-Perraivia). Their main cities: Argissa, Gyrtone, Orthe, Elone,
Olossoi. They colonized Perraivia. In the 10th cent. they built a lot of
cities in other regions (Koronos of Koronea, Phaliros of Phalara, Elatos
of Elateia in Arcadia, Boeotia and Phocis, Phorvas and Triopas in Rhodes).
-
Lapithus
-
Ypseus
-
Ixion
-
Peirithous
-
Kaeneas (his succestors were the Kypselides of
Corinth)
-
Koronos (his succestors were the Phylaides of
Attica) with...
-
Polypoites and...
-
Leondeus (during the Trojan War)
-
They were defeated by Ægimios, king of the
Dorians...
LELEGES An
early tribe related to the
Dryopes, they were nomads.
-
Leles (from Laconia or Egypt)
-
They colonized the Cyclades islands, Asia Minor,
Aetolia, Acarania, Megara (King Leles), Locris, Leukas, Euboea, Boeotia
and Lacedaemon (King Eurotas)
-
Leleges from Sparta colonized Messinia (King Polykaon)
-
Leleges from Megara colonized Pylos (Messinia) and
Pylos (Elis)
-
Leleges in Epirus were neighbors of the tribe of
Molossoi
-
In Thessaly they succeeded the Pelasgoi
-
Evacuation of Ionia due to the Greeks..................1200/1100
BCE
-
Altis...........................................fl. c. 1200
-
Altis is mentioned in Homer as an ally of Troy -
after the Trojan war they inhabited Chios and Samos.
-
Evacuation of Caria owing to pressure from the tribe
of Cares
LYNGISTES
They lived in Macedonia, in the Lyngystis Region (nowadays: Florina) and
their capital-city was called Herakleia. An Illyrian tribe, they were neighbours
of the Dassarites. Main cities were Herakleia, Kella, Vevi.
-
BAKCHIADES
-
Aeropos
-
Bromeros
-
Arrabaius..........................................fl. c. 423
-
Argaeus............................................fl. c. 391
-
To Macedonia appr. 338
MAGNITES They
lived on Thessaly, in Magnesia, they were a Macedonian sub-tribe. Important
tribe during the Neolithic, Bronze, Minoan and Mycenean ages. Their cities
were: Mithone, Thaumakine, Melivoia, Olizon and Minyai.
-
Magnes
-
Prothous
-
Philoktetes and...
-
Medon (during the Trojan War)
-
Continued independence until the 6th cent.
-
To Thessaly..................................6th
cent.-363
-
To Pheres..........................................363-c.
342
-
To Macedonia....................................c.
342-194
-
Founding of Demetrias, capital city of Magnesia
293 BCE
-
The Magnesian League...............................194-171
-
Eurylochos........................................193
-
Igisandros.................................c.
197-146
-
To Macedonia.......................................171-168
-
To Rome - (within the Magnesian League)...........from
168
MALIEIS They
lived in southern Thessaly, a Dorian sub-tribe. The Malians were partitioned
into three sub-tribes: Trachinioi, Paralioi, Iereis. Their capital city
was Herakleia and afterwards Lamia.
-
Within the Malis region (their land was named after
them) from c. 1100
-
Malos
-
To the Amphictiony of Delphi.................8th
cent.- ?
-
Opposed to the Phoceans end 6th cent.
-
To Thessaly
-
To Sparta..........................................427-c.
371
-
To Pheres.......................................c.
371-370
-
To Thebes..........................................370-343
-
To Macedonia.......................................343-220
-
To the Ætolian league..............................220
-
To Thessaly appr. 27 BCE
MOLOSSOI An
Epirote tribe dwelling in the north, who succeeded in gaining control over
all of Epirus in late Classical times. They were best known for a breed
of huge war-mastiffs they used in military operations.
-
For their rulers, see the earliest (pre-Aeacid) leaders
of Epirus. Molossus, their eponymous
ancestor, was said to have been born of a union between Neoptolemus and
Andromache.
-
Established the Kingdom of Epirus, 6th or 5th centuries ?
-
Epirus to the Aeacid dynasty 395.
-
A League of Molossoi formed c. 300, within Epirote
and then Roman jurisdiction.
MYGDONES A
Thracian tribe living in southern Macedonia between the rivers Axios and
Strymon, in northern Chalkidicia, near the Thermaikos Gulf. Their cities
were Therme, Sidos, and Chalestri.
-
To Paeonia......................................to
the 350's BCE
-
To Macedonia thereafter...
OETAEOI They
lived on the mountain Oeti in southern Thessaly and in the 5th century
in the valley of Aspos river. Important cities: Antikera, Anthile, Herakleia,
Trachis.
-
Opposed to Dorians and Trachineans
-
Formed the Oeteanid League
-
To the Aetolians...................................280-168
-
To the Achaean League..............................162-146
-
Free and independent for a time; then...
-
To the Thessalian League thereafter...
ORESTES They
lived in Epirus in their land called Orestis, which was part of Molossia.
They inhabited the northern and northwestern borders of Greece between
the rivers Aous and Achelous. They claimed to be successors of Orestes
of Mykenaea. Important cities were Orestia and Argos Orestikon.
-
To Macedonia
-
To the Orestian League of Orestes within Roman hegemony
-
To the Roman district of Macedonia
PAETOI A minor
tribe living in the region called Paetike. Their most important city was
Zerenia.
-
To Persia and against the Greeks during the Persian
wars appr. 500-480
-
To Macedonia, 336
PELASGOI An
Indo-European tribe, that came into the Hellenic region appr. 3000 BCE.
They lived in western Thessaly and Epirus. Afterwards they colonized not
only Argolis and Arcadia, but also some of the Aegean islands, Attica,
Crete, Ionia, Achaea, Phocis, Phthiotis, Euboea, Kristonia and Sicyon.
Most of them disappeared after the end of the Mycenean era, but some Pelasgian
communities survived till the beginning of the 5th century BCE in Kristonia
and Propontis.
PERRAIVOI
They lived in northern Thessaly, initially in the district of Istiaiotis.
Their cities were Gonnoi, Olousson, Phalanna, Doliche, and the Perraivean
Tripolis (3 cities) consisting of Azoros, Polichna, and Pythion.
-
Triopas
-
Karkavos............................................c. 1500 BCE
-
Gouneus (during the Trojan war)
-
To the Amphictiony of Delphi
-
To Larissa
-
To Archelaos of Macedonia
-
Defeated by the Aetolian League........................199
-
Members as free tribe in the Delphian Amphictiony......196
-
They created a Perraivean League...................196-191
-
To Macedonia.......................................191-185
THE SEA PEOPLES
Students of European history will be familiar in a general way with the
phenomena of the devolution of Classic cultures, the swarming forth of
innumerable barbarian tribes, and the subsequent emergence of the so-called
"Dark Ages", together with the slow re-emergence of a vibrant civilization
in the Mediaeval and Renaissance eras. Such a model is an oversimplification
of what occured, but it is valid at least in broad descriptive outline.
What is perhaps less well recognized is that such a pattern has happened,
albeit on a smaller scale, before. Before the 1200's BCE, the Eastern Mediterranean
played host to a variety of sophisticated civilizations. For a variety
of reasons, the 17th to 13th centuries BCE saw a general retreat, one which
did not begin to reverse itself until the 9th century BCE (leading to the
eventual flowering of Classic-Age civilization by the 5th century). One
important factor in this process was the sudden emergence of a group of
barbarian tribes known collectively as the Sea-Peoples. These raiders critically
damaged the ancient civilizations of Greece, Anatolia and Syria, and seriously
threatened the southern Levant and Egypt. The origins of these peoples
are unknown, though it is believed that they emerged from the Aegean
and may have been Minoan or Greek in origin. They referred to their own
homeland as
Ahhiyawa, which seems to
be related to the word "Achaea". The Hittites described their home as an
island near Milawanda (Miletos, on the Ionian coast); which may refer to
Rhodes, while the Bible describes their origin-point as Caphtor, which
is believed to be Crete. They were technologically and artistically sophisticated,
being one of the first groups in the Levant to use iron weapons. The following
is a list of the documented Sea Peoples, and what linguists and archeologists
believe about their origins and eventual fates...
DANYA / DANNUNA
They have been identified with the Danaoi, mentioned in Homer's Iliad;
another, far-fetched explanation is that they are related to the early
Irish Celts (Tuatha de Danaan) - but perhaps
not completely far-fetched: variants on "Danu" (the name of an ancient
river Goddess) appear all over Europe [Denmark, Danube River, Don River]
- there may early links. Some historians and acheologists have suggested
that the Danya invaded Canaan in alliance with the Philistines but then
joined the Israelite tribal confederation as the tribe of Dan. The original
territory of that tribe bordered Philistia, and the Philistines seemed
to bear a particular grudge against the Danites, who eventually relocated
to the Galilee.
EKWESH This
name is very similar to the Hittite name for Greeks (Acheans). Very little
is known about them. Alternatively, some have hypothesized that the Ekwesh
were the Minoan-age inhabitants of the Aegean island of Cos.
KARKISA A minor
Sea People nation mentioned in passing in several sources and apparently
coming from southern Anatolia. They may have been allied with the Lukka.
LUKKA These
are believed to have hailed from Lycia,
and probably returned there after several unsuccessful invasions of Egypt.
LABU
While not Sea Peoples per se, this coalition of Libyan tribes participated
in the attacks on Egypt, in conjunction with the Meshwesh
and their allies. Libya (a term once used by Greeks to describe all of
Africa) derives its name from them. See also Libu,
for a later kingdom established by a subsequent incursion by these people
into the Nile region. They are depicted in Egyptian artwork as having fair
skin, red hair and blue eyes. Unlike their allies the Meshwesh, they wore
kilts and were uncircumcised. The Sheshonqid (22nd) dynasty of Egypt is
believed to derive from a different tribal group.
-
Merirey (see also Libya).......................c.
1230-1220 BCE
MESHWESH
This nation arrived on the Libyan coast from the north and invaded Egypt
in alliance with Libyan tribes, in particular the Tehenu and Temehu under
a King called Merirey (see Libya
and, just above, Labu) in the reign of Merneptah (roughly
1230 BCE). They were also part of the Sea People coalition (along with
the Tjekker and the Philistines)
who invaded Egypt during the reign of Rameses III (early 1100s BCE). Their
ultimate fate is unknown. In Classical times, Herodotus described a tribe
in Libya called "Maxyes" who claimed a Trojan ancestry, but he goes on
to note that his report is based on hearsay. Egyptian artwork, interestingly
enough, clearly depicts Meshwesh captives as being circumcised.
-
Buyuwawa the Libyan ? ...........................fl. c. 1200 BCE ?
-
Buyuwawa is spoken of as the founder of the Sheshonqid
dynasty, which succeeded in gaining control over Egypt 945-715. See Libya.
PELESHET
These are the Philistines who settled
in the southern coast of Canaan and established the pentapolis of Gaza,
Gath, Ekron, Ashkelon and Ashdod. They may have invaded Canaan originally
in alliance with the Israelites, who settled in the inland areas, but any
collegiality quickly disappeared if Biblical records are anything to go
by. The name Palestine, given to Judea by the Romans after the Jewish Wars,
is believed to be derived from Philistine, although some scholars have
suggested that it actually (ironically) comes from a derogatory Greek epithet
for Jew.
SHARDANA (Sherden)Formerly,
it was thought that this people migrated out of the Hellenic region, crossed
the central Mediterranean, and conquered Sardinia, which still bears a
variant of their name. Recently though, it has been suggested that the
migration was in the opposite direction - that they were aboriginal inhabitants
of Sardinia who traveled eastward into the Hellenic littoral. A Sardinian
origin is supported further by discoveries on that island of horned helmets
similar to those depicted on Egyptian images of Shardana warriors. The
Shardana are the first of the Sea Peoples to appear in the historical record,
as Egyptian mercenaries mentioned in the Amarna letters. They later fought
in both the Egyptian army and the armies of the Sea People coalitions.
SHEKELESH This
is believed to be the group that sacked and destroyed Ugarit.
They were part of the coalition that fought Merneptah and later Rameses
III. The Medinet Habu relief depicts a Shekelesh prince, who is shown bearded,
with a thin prominent nose and a swept back turban, which some scholars
believe to be hair. Not much else is known about them.
TJEKKER / SHEKELESH
The Tjekker are of uncertain origin, but they raided Egypt repeatedly before
settling in northern Canaan. They may originally have been the Teucri,
a tribe inhabiting northwest Anatolia around Troy. They conquered the city-state
of Dor and turned it into a Tjekker kingdom.
They are one of the few of the Sea Peoples for whom a ruler's name is recorded
- in the papyrus account of Wenamun, an Egyptian priest...
-
Beder (Prince of Dor)...............................c.
1050 BCE
-
To Macedonia.......................................191-185
-
Dor fell to King David of Israel in the 990's, and
the Tjeker are not mentioned after that date.
Besides the Dorite Tjekker, some scholars believe that the Tjekker may
have been connected in some way with the Israelite tribe of Menasseh. See
also the Teucri, in northwest Anatolia.
TYRSENNOI May
be related to the Etruscans, but
any connection is sheer speculation - Hellenic peoples knew of them; the
"Tyrhennian" Sea - derived from a Greek term - still survives as a name
for the waters between Tuscany and Corsica. Beyond that, note that the
Etruscan word for themselves was "Rasena".
WESHESH Their
origins are unknown, though there is some evidence that they may have come
from the area of Caria. Some have theorized that they, like the Danya,
became part of the Israelite confederacy (as the tribe of Asher).
TEMMIKES A
barbarian tribe living in Boeotia before the Cadmians and the Boeotians.
They came to Boeotia along with the Aones, Leleges, and Yandes.
THESPROTIANS
Their region was called Thesprotia. Nowadays Thesprotia is one of the 52
administrative division (nomoi) of Greece (capital-city: Preveza). They
lived in Epirus between the Amvrikikos Bay and the Kalamas river and between
Pindos mountains and the Ionian Sea.
-
The first inhabitants.................................................Early
Bronze Age
-
Beginning of the middle Hellenic period the region
had been inhabited by the tribes of Elopes, Greacians, Kassopaeoi, Dryopes,
Dononians. They moved and colonized afterwards Ithaca, Leucas, Akarnania
-
Partial colonization of Thessaly and S.Greece 12th-11th
cent.
-
Thesprotos
-
Kallidice
-
Isolated until appr. 730 BCE
-
South Thesprotia was occupied by Eleans 7th cent.
-
Allied to Corinth.................................
? -5th cent.
-
Allied to Athens and the kingdom of Molossoi.......415-404
-
Occupation of Kassopaea, Dodoni, East Thesprotia
by Molossoi after 400 BCE
-
To the 2nd Athenian league.........................375-c.
350
-
The Thesprotian League middle 4th cent. (cap-city:
Elea, afterwards Titane)
-
To Macedonia.......................................343-300
-
To the League of Molossoi..............................300
-
To Macedonia.......................................300-220
-
To the Epirote League..............................220-167
-
To Epirus..............................................167
-
The Thesprotian League........................167-148
-
Assigned as a district of Macedonia within Rome....148-27
-
Assigned as a district of Achaea within the Roman
Empire from 27 BCE
The Thesprotians were divided into many sub-tribes: Aegestaeoi, Dodonians,
Eleaeoi, Elinoi, Ephyroi, Ikadotoi, Kartatoi, Kestrinoi, Klauthrioi, Kropioi,
Larissaeoi, Onopernoi, Opatoi, Tiaeoi, Torydaeoi, Fanoteis, Farganaeoi,
Fylates, Chimerioi.
Their main cities were Ephyra, Chimerion and Torine.
VISALTES They
lived in Macedonia, east of the Mygdonia region, between the Volvi lake
and the Strymonas river
Their cities were: Verge, Euporia, Kalliteres, Oreskia, Visaltia (capital-city).
Before the 5th cent. Visaltie and Kristonia had a common history
-
Mosses..........................................c. 500-480
-
Demetrius..........................................fl. c. 450
-
Vastareas..............................................c. 350
-
To Macedonia..............................4th
cent. to 179
-
Part of Mygdonian territory (within Macedon and
then Rome) from 179...
VISTONES They
lived in the Rhodopi district to the Aegean sea, near Abdera. Their land
was called Vistonea and it was between the Kikones and the Sapes regions.
-
Vistonas
-
Orpheus
-
Diomedes (during the Trojan war)
YANDES Proto-Hellenic
tribe inhabiting Boeotia alongside the Aones, Leleges, and Temmikes. They
lived near Thebes, and in later times colonized East Phocis (building the
city of Yambolis), West Locris, and Aetolia.
http://my.raex.com/~obsidian/gktrib.html
