1 Introduction
There is a theory that the story of the Dorians, led by the Heracleidae (descendants of Heracles), invading the Peloponnesus and driving out its previous inhabitants was created in later times.
However, the 5th-century BC historian Herodotus records that the Heracleidae attempted to return to the Peloponnesus, and that Heracles' son Hyllus was killed in battle. [1]
Herodotus also writes that the Dorians migrated from Dryopis to the Peloponnesus, driving out all but the Arcadians. [2]
The 5th-century BC historian Thucydides records that the Dorians and Heracleidae occupied the Peloponnesus 80 years after the fall of Troy. [3]
The 4th-century BC orator Isocrates wrote that the Dorians invaded the Peloponnesus, seized its land from its rightful owners, and divided it into three parts. [4]
The 4th-century BC historian Ephorus of Cyme began his historical account by narrating the events that occurred after the return of the Heracleidae, bypassing the older mythological tales. [5]
Ephorus describes the return of the Heracleidae to the Peloponnesus in Book I of his Histories. [6]
In other words, ancient historians recognized the return of the Heracleidae as a historical event.
2 Relationship between Heracles and Eurystheus
2.1 Good Relationship
In 1278 BC, Amphitryon, son of Alcaeus, who ruled Tiryns in Argolis, was invited by Sparti in Thebes to migrate to Thebes. [7]
In 1275 BC, Amphitryon had a son, Heracles. Heracles won a battle against Erginus, king of the Minyans, and became famous throughout the region. [8]
Eurystheus, son of Sthenelus, brother of Amphitryon's father, Alcaeus, was born in the same year as Heracles and was king of Mycenae in Argolis. [9]
Heracles migrated from Thebes to Tiryns and attacked Augeas in Elis, losing his half-brother, Iphicles. [10]
Heracles attacked and killed Augeas's generals, Cteatus and Eurytus. [11]
Elis demanded that Eurystheus hand over Heracles, but Eurystheus allowed Heracles to leave Tiryns. [12]
2.2 Changes in Relationships
Heracles moved to Pheneus in Arcadia and gained power by winning over the Arcadians in a war against the Centaurs. Heracles then conquered Elis, Pylus, Sparta, and Amyclae. Heracles gained influence over almost all of the Peloponnesus, excluding the area controlled by Eurystheus. [13]
Eurystheus, alarmed by Heracles' growing power, persuaded Amphidamas, king of Arcadia and father of his wife Antimache, to expel Heracles from Pheneus. Heracles moved to Calydon in Aetolia, located north of the Peloponnesus across the sea. [14]
After leaving the Peloponnesus, Heracles continued his exploits, capturing Ephyra in Thesprotia. [15]
However, Calydon only lived there for three years before moving to Trachis in southern Thessaly, where his close friend Ceyx ruled. [16]
3 Battle between Eurystheus and Heracles
3.1 Migration from Trachis to Athens
Heracles died in 1223 BC. As his sons, including Hyllus, reached adulthood, King Eurystheus of Mycenae began to feel threatened by them. [17]
Eurystheus threatened Ceyx with armed force if he did not expel Heracles' children from Trachis. [18]
The 2nd-century AD orator Aelius Aristides reports that Eurystheus wielded great power at the time. [19]
Ceyx forced Heracles' sons to leave Trachis. [20]
Heracles' sons were welcomed into Athens and settled in Tricorythus (or Trikorynthos), northeast of Marathon. [21]
Tricorythus, along with nearby Marathon, was a marshland. [22]
Iope, one of the wives of King Theseus of Athens, was the sister of Iolaus, the guardian of Heracles' children, making Theseus and Iolaus brothers-in-law. Moreover, both Theseus and Heracles had Pelops as their great-grandfather, and since Theseus held Heracles in high esteem, they were likely accepted. [23]
At that time, in Thebes, the homeland of Heracles and Iolaus, their relative Creon held the reins of power. It is thought that the Heracleidae did not go to Thebes because Heracles had divorced Creon's daughter Megara. [24]
3.2 Death of Eurystheus
In 1217 BC, Eurystheus personally led a large army to invade Athens. The Heracleidae, with Iolaus as commander and aided by the Athenian king Theseus, fought against Eurystheus. Eurystheus and his five sons, Alexander, Iphimedon, Eurybius, Mentor, and Perimedes, were killed in battle.[25]
Though it was Hyllus's first battle, Iolaus, estimated to be 50 years old at the time, was a seasoned warrior who had accompanied his uncle Heracles on numerous expeditions.
Iolaus severed Eurystheus' head and buried it at Tricorynthus.[26]
This likely reflected Iolaus' hatred for Eurystheus, who had repeatedly driven him from peaceful lands.[27]
4 First Return
In 1215 BC, following their conflict with Eurystheus, the Heracleidae invaded the Peloponnesus by land through the Isthmus of Corinth, with Hyllus as their commander.[28]
The Heracleidae settled in Midea, where Heracles' mother Alcmena and her brother Licymnius had spent their childhood. [29]
This return did not encompass the entire Peloponnesus.
The following year, Hyllus decided to retreat. Tradition attributes this to an outbreak of plague.[30]
In reality, it was likely due to fear of Mycenae, which was surrounded by enemies and gradually regaining strength.
Alternatively, discord within the Heracleidae themselves may have been the cause.
After the Heracleidae withdrew from the Peloponnesus, Tlepolemus, son of Heracles, and Licymnius, brother of Heracles' mother Alcmena, remained in Midea.[31]
However, after Licymnius died, Tlepolemus led people wishing to emigrate from his father's former domain of Tiryns. They set sail from the coast of Lerna, bound for Rhodes. [32]
During the Heracleidae's retreat, Heracles' mother Alcmena died near the Olympieum in Megara. She was estimated to be 78 years old.[33]
Alcmena was buried beside the tomb of her second husband, Rhadamanthys, in Hariartos, Boeotia.[34]
5 Second Return
In 1211 BC, the Heracleidae, with Hyllus as their commander, once again attempted to invade the Peloponnesus by land across the Isthmus of Corinth.
After Eurystheus' death, Atreus, who had succeeded to the kingship of Mycenae, led the Tegeans, Achaeans, and Ionians to await them at the Isthmus, and the two armies faced each other. [35]
Tradition holds that Hyllus fought a single combat with Echemus of Tegea, was defeated, and died. [36]
However, the historical reality likely involves fierce fighting, the death of commander Hyllus, and the defeat of the Heracleidae.
Pausanias records that Hyllus's body was buried in Megara.[37]
This appears to be a fabricated story tailored to the battle location. Earlier, the body of Alcmena, who died in the same Megara, was buried in Boeotia.[38]
It is probable that the Heracleidae were defeated in battle, leaving behind the bodies of their fallen, and fled in retreat.
Athenians who had joined the expedition to support the Heracleidae also suffered casualties in this battle, and the Heracleidae could no longer remain in Tricorythus.
The Heracleidae went to Aegimius in Doris, who granted them land and allocated inhabitants to them. [39]
At this time, some remained in Attica instead of going to Doris with the Heracleidae.
Antiochus, son of Heracles and Meda, daughter of Phylas, stayed behind and became one of the eponymous fathers of Athens. [40]
Macaria, daughter of Heracles and Deianeira, married Demophon (or Demophoon), son of Theseus, and became the mother of Oxyntes, the 13th King of Athens. [41]
6 Third Return
6.1 Pausanias' Account
No tradition records a third return of the Heracleidae.
Only the 2nd-century AD geographer Pausanias offers a clue in his account of Messenia. Pausanias writes: “When Hyllus and the Dorians were defeated by the Achaeans, Abia, the nurse of Glenus, son of Heracles, fled to Ire and settled there.” [42]
Hyllus' expedition took place before they went to the land of the Dorians, and the Dorians were not part of his expeditionary force.
Even if the expeditionary force led by Hyllus had included Dorians, the first expedition was not defeated by the Achaeans, and the second expedition never entered the Peloponnesus.
Therefore, Pausanias' account does not describe either the first or the second expedition by Hyllus.
6.2 Cleodaeus, son of Hyllus
If this Hyllus mentioned by Pausanias is Cleodaeus, son of Hyllus, then the account becomes understandable. It seems likely that Cleodaeus, son of Hyllus, led the expeditionary force in which Glenus (or Gleneus), born shortly before Heracles' death, participated as a nurse. Cleodaeus had a hero shrine in Sparta, suggesting he was a man of great merit. [43]
After Hyllus' death, his son Cleodaeus settled in Pindus of Doris and became king of the Hylleis, one of the three Dorian tribes. [44]
6.3 Cleodaeus' expedition
Cleodaeus led the Dorians in an invasion of the Peloponnesus, attacked Mycenae, and destroyed the city.[45]
Recent archaeological investigations have confirmed traces of destruction in Mycenae dating to the 12th century BC.[46]
Cleodaeus also destroyed Tiryns and Midea. [47]
Agamemnon's son Orestes fled from Mycenae to Tegea in Arcadia.[48]
Orestes then gathered an army and expelled the Dorians from the Peloponnesus.
Cleodaeus returned safely to Pindus in Doris, and later his son Aristomachus was born. [49]
Agamemnon of Mycenae is thought to have fallen in battle against the Dorians.
The third return of the Heracleidae occurred in the 30th year of Agamemnon's reign, in 1173 BC. [50]
6.4 Cleodaeus's eldest son
Some individuals, including Cleodaeus's eldest son and Abia, the nurse of Glenus, were unable to return to Doris and remained in the Peloponnesus. They fled to Ire in Messenia and settled there.
It is thought that when the Heracleidae made their final return, choosing Messenia as their first destination, one purpose was to join their kinsmen who had remained behind. [51]
Later, Polyphontes rebelled against Cresphontes, who had acquired Messenia.
Polyphontes claimed to be the “true” Heracleidae, likely the son or grandson of Cleodaeus's eldest son. [52]
The term “true” likely signified that he was the legitimate heir of Cleodaeus, son of Hyllus, son of Heracles.
Establishing the genealogy reveals a 50-year age difference between Cleodaeus and his son Aristomachus.
Aristomachus likely had several older brothers. [53]
6.5 Scale of the Expeditionary Force
Following the Dorian invasion of the Peloponnese led by Cleodaeus, Orestes led those who had lost their lands and began a colonization campaign.
Peisander of Amyclae, who participated in Orestes' expedition, settled on Tenedos. [54]
Perinthus of Epidaurus also took part in Orestes' expedition. [55]
Thus, the Dorians devastated not only Mycenae, Tiryns, and Midea in Argolis, but also Epidaurus and Amyclae in Laconia.
Recent archaeological investigations at Pylus in Messenia have uncovered traces of a large-scale fire believed to be related to Cleodaeus' expedition. [56]
The Dorians who remained in the Peloponnesus settled in Ire (later Abia) in Messenia.
The Dorians led by Cleodaeus who invaded the Peloponnesus and ravaged Argolis, Laconia, and Messenia were of tremendous numbers.
7 Fourth Return
7.1 Accounts in Traditions
The following accounts in traditions suggest a fourth return occurred:
1) During the reign of Tisamenus, son of Orestes, the Heracleidae attempted a return, and Aristomachus died. [57]
2) Aristomachus, son of Cleodaeus, misinterpreted an oracle and failed in his return to the Peloponnesus. [58]
3) Around the time of the Heracleidae's return sixty years after the Trojan War, Penthilus undertook an expedition to Asia Minor. [59]
Sixty years after the Trojan War, Penthilus, son of Orestes, undertook colonization activities in Asia Minor. At this time, the expeditionary forces of Cleues and Malaus lingered for a long time in Locris and near Mount Phricium, departing later than Penthilus. [60]
Cleues and Malaus were great-grandsons of Agamemnon and relatives of Tisamenus, son of Orestes, the greatest enemy of the Heracleidae. It is presumed they were observing whether the Dorians, who had returned to Doris after their expedition failed, would attempt another invasion of the Peloponnesus.[61]
At that time, Doris, where the Heracleidae resided, and the settlement of Malaus were in close proximity.
7.2 Cadmeans' convergence
The great-grandsons of Agamemnon led an emigration to Asia Minor around the same time that the Boeotians residing in Arne, Thessaly, returned to Boeotia. [62]
According to Thucydides, the Boeotians' return occurred sixty years after the fall of Troy. [63]
The Boeotians' return also prompted the migration of the Cadmeans, who had lived in Thebes since the time of Cadmus. Led by Autesion, son of Tisamenus, they migrated to join Aristomachus, who resided in Doris. [64]
It is likely that the migration of the Cadmeans led by Autesion was the direct cause prompting Aristomachus to decide on his expedition to the Peloponnesus.
Thus, sixty years after the Trojan War, there was another expedition of the Heracleidae to the Peloponnesus, led by Aristomachus, son of Cleodaeus.
7.3 Aristomachus' death in battle
In 1126 BC, the Heracleidae led by Aristomachus attempted to return to the Peloponnesus, but the expedition failed when Aristomachus was killed in battle. [65]
Aristomachus' expeditionary force appears to have reached Sparta and was likely comparable in size to Cleodaeus' expedition. [66]
Some of the people who lost their land due to their invasion were led by Penthilus, son of Orestes, and migrated to Mitylene in eastern Lesbos. [67]
8 Estimating the Fifth Return Year
8.1 The Year Melanthus Became King of Athens
The key factor in estimating the year of the fifth return to the Peloponnesus is the year Melanthus, exiled by the Heracleidae, migrated from Messenia to Athens. [68]
Calculations based on the reign lengths of Athenian kings recorded in the chronicles of the 4th-century AD historian Eusebius indicate Melanthus's accession to the Athenian throne occurred in 1132 BC. [69]
If the fifth return occurred around this time, it would be 54 years after the fall of Troy.
The 2nd-century BC grammarian Apollodorus, the 2nd-century BC chronicler Castor, and the 5th-century BC historian Thucydides all record the return of the Heracleidae as occurring 80 years after the fall of Troy. [70]
This creates a 26-year discrepancy with the year Melanthus became king of Athens.
Eusebius, citing Castor, records the total reign of kings from Cecrops, the first king of Athens, to Thymoetes, the fifteenth, as 450 years. However, the sum of the kings' reigns is 429 years, creating a 21-year discrepancy with the total. [71]
It is presumed that these 21 years correspond to Melanthus' reign as King of Messenia.
According to Castor, the reigns as King of Athens were 8 years for Thymoetes and 37 years for Melanthus. However, it is thought that Thymoetes actually reigned for 29 years and Melanthus for 16 years.
Considering this, the year of Melanthus' accession as King of Athens would be 1111 BC.
8.2 Estimated birth and death dates of Heracleidae
Based on the accession year of Melanthus, the estimated birth and death dates of the major Heracleidae are as follows:
Aristomachus, son of Cleodaeus *56* (1168 - 1126 BC)
Temenus, son of Aristomachus 34 (1146 BC - ?)
Ceisus, son of Temenus, son of Aristomachus 15 (1127 BC - ?)
Phalces, son of Temenus, son of Aristomachus 13 (1125 BC - ?)
Cresphontes, son of Aristomachus 24 (1136 BC - ?)
Aristodemus, son of Aristomachus *36* (1148 - 1115 BC)
Eurysthenes and Procles, sons of Aristodemus 4 (1116 BC - ?)
Note: The numbers represent the ages of the individuals at the time of the landing of the Heracleidae on the Peloponnesus in 1112 BC. * * indicates the ages he would have been if he was alive at that time.
8.3 Basis for Presumption
The basis for this assumption is as follows:
1) Aristodemus is presumed to have been Aristomachus' eldest son. [72]
2) Temenus' eldest son was Ceisus. [73]
3) Temenus had a son, Phalces, who became ruler of Sicyon. [74]
4) Cresphontes was the only one still single at the time of the return. [75]
5) Aristodemus had two young sons, Eurysthenes and Procles. [76]
9 Fifth Return (Final Return)
9.1 Pre-Departure Situation
Tradition holds that Temenus discovered Oxylus by chance, as instructed by an oracle. [77]
However, Oxylus was the son of Haemon, the son of Thoas, the son of Gorge, the sister of Deianeira, the mother of Hyllus, the father of Cleodaeus, the father of Aristomachus, the father of Temenus. [78]
Oxylus' ancestor was Aetolus, the son of Endymion, who emigrated from Elis to Aetolia.
It is believed that it was not Temenus who found Oxylus, but rather Oxylus, having learned of Temenus' expedition and wishing to return to his ancestral homeland, who joined the expedition.
Temenus decided to cross the strait from Aetolia and land at Peloponnesus, and began building a fleet on the western outskirts of Ozolian Locris. [79]
The construction site became a town, which came to be called Naupactus. [80]
9.2 Death of Aristodemus
During preparations for this expedition, tradition holds that Aristodemus, brother of Temenus, was killed at Delphi by Medon and Strophius brothers, cousins of Tisamenus. [81]
However, tradition also holds that the expeditionary force led by Aristodemus marched through Boeotia before returning to the Peloponnesus. [82]
It is likely that Aristodemus' expedition preceded Temenus' expedition.
Aristodemus was killed by Medon and Strophius brothers while marching through Boeotia toward the Isthmus of Corinth.
These brothers were the sons of Electra, daughter of Agamemnon, and Pylades, son of Strophius. Strophius had succeeded his father Pylades and resided in Cirrha, near Delphi. [83]
It is presumed the brothers killed Aristodemus to prevent the Heracleidae from returning to the Peloponnesus.
9.3 Sabotage
The prophet Carnus appeared at Naupactus. Hippotas, son of Phylas, son of Antiochus, son of Heracles, regarded him as an enemy agent and killed Carnus. Following this incident, shipwrecks and famine struck, and the army assembled by Temenus fell into disarray. Temenus sentenced Hippotas to ten years of exile. [84]
The prophet Carnus, killed by Hippotas, is presumed to be the grandson of Alcmaeon, son of Amphiaraus, who had migrated from Argos to Acarnania. [85]
Aletes, son of the exiled Hippotas, later rejoined the Heracleidae and became ruler of Corinth. [86]
Hippotas' grandfather Antiochus was the eponymous ancestor of the Antiochis tribe, one of the ten tribes of Athens. [87]
Tradition relates these events thus, but the fleet's destruction likely stemmed not from the prophet's murder, but from the sabotage of Tisamenus, son of Orestes.
In 1113 BC, the fleet's rebuilding was completed, and Temenus informed the participants that the expedition would commence the following spring.
9.4 Participants in the Expedition
9.4.1 Heracleidae
Besides the sons and grandsons of Aristomachus, son of Cleodaeus, son of Hyllus, at least the following Heracleidae were present in the expeditionary force.
9.4.1.1 Delphontes
Delphontes was the son of Antimachus, son of Thrasyanor, son of Ctesippus, son of Heracles.
Among Heracles' sons are Ctesippus, whose mother was Deianira, and Ctesippus, whose mother was Astydamia, daughter of Amyntor.
Since it is said that Temenus, who led the Heracleidae, trusted Delphontes more than his own sons, Ctesippus' mother is thought to have been Deianira. [88]
9.4.1.2 Hegeleos
Hegeleos was a descendant of Tyrrhenus, son of Heracles and Omphale of Lydia. [89]
Hegeleos taught the Salpinx to the Dorians. The Spartan military style led by flute-playing soldiers seems to have been established upon the return of the Heracleidae. [90]
9.4.2 Dorians
Among Temenus' expeditionary force were many Dorians.
Long ago, Heracles had aided Aegimius, king of the Dorians. In gratitude, after Heracles' death, Aegimius adopted Heracles' eldest son, Hyllus. [91]
After Aegimius' death, the Dorian kingship passed to Hyllus and his descendants. Temenus was king of the Hylleis, one of the three Dorian tribes. [92]
In the time of Dorus, son of Hellen, son of Deucalion, the Dorians lived in a region called Doris (later part of Histiaeotis) in northern Thessaly. They later migrated from northern Thessaly to the vicinity of Mount Parnassus. [93]
The Dorians who remained in northern Thessaly were driven out by the Thesprotians who invaded Thessaly, and they migrated en masse to the vicinity of Mount Parnassus. [94]
The Dorians who followed the Heracleidae settled in the Tetrapolis of the Dorians (Pindus, Boeum, Kitinium, Erineum) and were divided into three tribes: the Hylleis, the Pamphyli, and the Dymanes. [95]
9.4.3 Ionians
The Ionians of Attica, who had lived there before the Heracleidae migrated to Doris, also participated in the expedition. It is thought the Ionians joined Temenus' army at Naupactus before crossing the Gulf of Corinth. [96]
9.4.4 Lydians
The expedition of Heracles was accompanied by Lydians known as the Cylicranes (or Kylikranoi). Among Temenus' forces, descendants of these Lydians also participated in the expedition, led by Hegeleos, a descendant of Heracles and Omphale. [97]
9.4.5 Arcadians
After Heracles' death, the Arcadians who had accompanied him on his expedition remained in Trachis.[98]
It is thought that the Arcadians continued to act alongside the Heracleidae thereafter.
It is presumed that the Heracleidae first headed for Arcadia after landing in the Peloponnesus in order to gain allies from their kinsmen.
9.4.6 Cadmeans
The Cadmeans, who migrated from Thebes to Doris in 1126 BC under the leadership of Autesion, son of Tisamenus, also participated in the expedition.[99]
Theras, son of Autesion, who led the Cadmeans, was the guardian of the sons of Aristodemus.[100]
9.5 Landing in the Peloponnesus
In 1112 BC, Temenus set sail from Doris, leading the Heracleidae and Dorians.[101]
Temenus arrived at Naupactus in Ozolian Locris, near the border with Aetolia.[102]
From there, guided by Oxylus, Temenus sailed his fleet to the port of Molycrium on the border of Aetolia and Locris, where he prepared for the crossing.[103]
Temenus' fleet set sail from Cape Antirrhium near Molycrium, aiming for Cape Rion in the Peloponnesus, about 3 km away.[104]
Apollodoros records that Temenus' fleet defeated the enemy.[105]
Sir Isaac Newton relates that the battle between the Corinthians and the Corcyreans during the 29th Olympiad (664 BC) was the earliest recorded naval battle.[106]
However, the naval battle off Cape Rion is thought to be the earliest in Greece.
Temenus' fleet defeated Tisamenus' fleet and landed at Cape Rion in the Peloponnesus.[107]
The 2nd-century BC historian Polybius relates that the Heracleidae had agreed that if they bypassed the Isthmus of Corinth and headed for Cape Rion, the Locrians would notify Tisamenus.
Knowing the Heracleidae were heading for Cape Rion, the Locrians did not inform Tisamenus, so he took no precautions. [108]
9.6 Advance into Arcadia
After landing at Cape Rion, Temenus, guided by Oxylus, advanced eastward along the coast of Achaia. From Aigeira (or Aigai), he changed course southward toward Pheneus in Arcadia.[109]
Aegium and Helice in Achaia had been under Mycenaean control during the Trojan War era, but Temenus passed through them unopposed.[110]
Later, the inhabitants of Achaia refused to coexist with the Achaeans led by Tisamenus, suggesting Achaia was not under Mycenaean domination at that time.
Pheneus was the town where Heracles resided for five years, using it as a base to conquer Elis, Pylus, and Sparta. [111]
Many descendants of the Arcadians from Pheneus who had participated in Heracles' expeditions also joined the Heracleidae's expedition.
At Pheneus, King Cypselus of Arcadia, fearing an invasion by the Heracleidae, went out to meet Temenus. The Arcadians were enemies of the Heracleidae, having killed Hyllus, son of Heracles. To seek forgiveness from the Heracleidae, Cypselus offered to give his daughter Merope in marriage to Cresphontes. [112]
Temenus permitted the marriage of his brother Cresphontes to Cypselus' daughter Merope, on the condition that the Arcadians assist in the expedition.[113]
The Arcadians' prior cooperation in Heracles' expedition was the factor behind this generous concession.[114]
9.7 Invasion of Messenia
When Cleodaeus, son of Hyllus, invaded the Peloponnesus and was defeated by the Achaeans, some of his men fled to Ire in Messenia and settled there. It seems the Heracleidae invaded Messenia instead of heading from Arcadia to Argos in order to join forces with their kinsmen who had remained behind during Cleodaeus' expedition. [115]
In 1111 BC, Temenus departed from Trapezus in Arcadia and invaded Messenia. At that time, Messenia was under the rule of Melanthus. [116]
Melanthus was the son of Andropompus, son of Borus (or Penthilus), son of Penthilus (or Borus), son of Periclymenus, the eldest son of Neleus who died fighting Heracles. [117]
It is unclear whether Melanthus fought against the Heracleidae, but Melanthus migrated to Athens. [118]
Alcmaeon, Peisistratus, and the children of Paeon, the descendants of Nestor, also migrated to Athens. [119]
In Athens, Alcmaeon became the progenitor of the Alcmaeonidae clan, and Paeon's children became the Paeonidae clan. [120]
Hippocrates's son Peisistratus, a descendant of Peisistratus, became tyrant of Athens in the 6th century BC. [121]
9.8 Reason for Choosing Athens
The 12th-century AD rhetorician Tzetzes, while enumerating the kings of Athens beginning with Cecrops, states, “Thymoetes was the father of Melanthus.” [122]
Furthermore, Pausanias records that both Melanthus's mother and wife were Athenians. [123]
From these accounts, it is presumed that Melanthus's wife was the daughter of Thymoetes.
Constructing a genealogy reveals that Melanthus was over 50 years old at the time of migration, and his son Codrus, who succeeded him, was also over 30. It appears Thymoetes had his son-in-law succeed him as King of Athens.
Melanthus's mother Henioche's father Armenius's father Zeuxippus was the son of Eumelus, who participated in the Trojan War from Pherae in Thessaly.
During Eumelus's campaign, the Thesprotians invaded Thessaly, forcing the inhabitants to become penestai (serfs) or be driven from their homes. [124]
The 4th-century BC historian Ephorus states that Athens had a custom of “welcoming any Hellas who wished to settle there.” [125]
The Athenians accepted descendants of Peirithous, son of Ixion, who had fled from Thessaly, as settlers and assigned them the district of Perithoedae.[126]
Zeuxippus, son of Eumelus, who lived in Pherae, is also presumed to have been accepted by the Athenians and lived in Athens.[127]
In other words, Melanthus chose Athens as his place of settlement because it was the homeland of his mother and wife.
9.9 Invasion of Argos
In 1110 BC, after capturing Messenia, Temenus joined forces with the Arcadians and Trapezus, who had been temporarily sent home. Temenus marched through Tegea toward Argos.
Entering Argolis, he first engaged the Achaeans led by Tisamenus in battle. [128]
Tisamenus was defeated and retreated to Argos, where he took refuge behind its walls. Temenus built a fortress at Temenium, near the Argolis Gulf to the south-southeast of Argos, and laid siege to the city. [129]
The Heracleidae were capturing towns along the Argolis coast with their fleet, and the fortified Temenium was ideally situated for supplies from the sea. [130]
9.10 Entry into Argos
Like Mycenae and Tiryns in Argolis, Argos was fortified with walls, prolonging the siege.
In an era without siege engines, starvation was the only means to capture a walled city.
Temenus asserted his claim to Argos against Tisamenus, who then moved from Argos to Sparta. [132]
This likely occurred because Tisamenus's supplies ran out, and because the Argives supported descendants of the city's founders rather than those of its occupiers. [133]
Another tradition holds that Erginus, a descendant of Diomedes son of Tydeus who lived in Argos at the time, stole the Palladium, the guardian statue of the city, and aided Temenus. [134]
In 1107 BC, Temenus entered Argos.
9.11 Capture of Sicyon
While besieging Argos, Temenus sent his son Phalces with part of the army to capture Sicyon. King Lacestades of Sicyon was a descendant of Hippolytus, son of Rhopalus, son of Phaestus, son of Heracles, and thus one of the Heracleidae. Consequently, they agreed to a joint rule without fighting. However, since Phaestus was neither expelled by the Mycenaeans nor cooperated with the Heracleidae, he is not thought to be a son of Heracles. [135]
9.12 Entry into Sparta
In 1106 BC, Temenus departed Argos to attack Sparta. [136]
Tisamenus took refuge in Sparta, and Temenus laid siege to the city. The Argives had left Tisamenus' army, leaving only the Achaeans.
The Heracleidae persuaded Philonomus, promising him rewards, to negotiate with Tisamenus. Philonomus succeeded in convincing Tisamenus to decide to emigrate to Achaia. [137]
This Philonomus was one of the Minyans who had migrated from Lemnos to Lacedaemon, having been driven from Lemnos by the Pelasgians who had migrated there from Athens. [138]
In 1104 BC, Tisamenus made peace with Temenus and migrated to Achaia in the northern Peloponnesus. [139]
9.13 Oxylus' Departure
It is presumed that around this time, Oxylus, who had been guiding the Heracleidae, departed Sparta for Aetolia after securing a promise from Temenus that Elis would be granted to him. Until then, Oxylus had likely been watching closely to see if Tisamenus, who had left Argos, would go to Elis.
9.14 Tisamenus' Migration to Achaia
Tisamenus likely chose Achaia as his destination for the following reasons:
1) Achaia had been under Mycenaean control since before the Trojan War.
2) Achaia lacked a powerful ruler.
As Oxylus feared, Eleia, where Tisamenus' ancestor Pelops had lived, was probably also considered as an option. However, Eleia is presumed not to have been chosen as a settlement site because it contradicted the above reasons. [140]
At this time, those who migrated with Tisamenus were the people called the Achaeans, who were widely settled from Laconia to Argolis. The Lacedaemonians and Argives, who had lived in that region since ancient times, are thought to have remained there. [141]
Later, the Spartan king Agis assisted Patreus, son of Preugenes, descendant of the Lacedaemonian king Amyclas, in founding Patrae in Achaia, where Tisamenus and his group had settled.[142]
Additionally, the Lacedaemonians supported the colonization efforts of Gras, son of Echelas, son of Penthilus.
[143]
9.15 Elis's possession of Oxylus
In 1105 BC, Oxylus led the Aetolians into Elis and demanded that King Dius of Elis relinquish his kingship. However, Dius refused, and it was decided that the matter would be settled by a duel between representatives of both armies. The battle between archer from Dius's side and slinger from Oxylus's side resulted in victory for a slinger, and Oxylus seized the kingship of Elis. [144]
As if it were historical fact, the names of the two combatants are also recorded, but this appears to be a fabrication. Oxylus had the following reasons to be able to receive the kingship of Elis:
1) Oxylus was the sixth-generation descendant of Aetolus, King of Elis, who had fled to Aetolia around 1330 BC, pursued by Salmoneus, son of Aeolus.
2) Dius was a descendant of Augeas, who had been defeated by Heracles but later pardoned, and thus owed a debt to the Heracleidae.
3) Oxylus was related by blood to the Heracleidae.
Oxylus permitted the existing Epeian inhabitants of Elis to remain, while settling new Aetolians to cohabit with them.[145]
Oxylus invited Agorius, great-grandson of Orestes, from Helice in Achaea to serve as co-ruler of Elis.[146]
This was likely due to conflict with Pisa over the administration of Olympia.
9.16 Allocation of Territories
In 1104 BC, the return of the Heracleidae was completed, save for a few exceptions, and territories were allocated to each. [147]
Temenus was to possess Argos, Cresphontes to Messenia, and the sons of Aristodemus to Lacedaemon. Many traditions record that this allocation was decided by lot. [148]
However, it is thought that the elder Temenus obtained his ancestral land of Argos, while Cresphontes, who had married the daughter of the King of Arcadia, obtained the wealthy Messenia.
The sons of Aristodemus, still young, had no say in the matter.
Tradition has Theras, guardian of Aristodemus' sons, speaking, but he too had no right to speak.
Theras' father, Autesion, had been king of Thebes but was exiled by the Boeotians returning from Arne in Thessaly, becoming an exile who sought refuge among the Dorians. [149]
9.17 Year of the Heracleidae's Return
Apollodorus of Athens states that 267 years elapsed between the Ionian migration and the first Olympiad (776 BC), making 1043 BC the year the Ionian migration was completed. [150]
Castor of Rhodes states that 60 years elapsed between the return of the Heracleidae and the Ionian migration.[151]
The year of the Heracleidae's return mentioned by Castor likely refers to the year they completed the allocation of their respective territories.
10 Peloponnesus after the Return of the Heracleidae
10.1 Achaia
Tisamenus, who had departed Sparta with many Achaeans, settled in Achaia. Tisamenus proposed cohabitation to the Ionians living in Achaia, but they refused, leading to battle. Tisamenus was killed in battle against the Ionians. [152]
However, the Achaeans gained the upper hand in the battle against the Ionians. The Ionians, who had been living in twelve separate cities, gathered at Helice seeking divine protection, and the Achaeans besieged them. [153]
The Ionians made a truce with the Achaeans and decided to migrate to the ancestral land of Athens. [154]
The Athenians, remembering the favor they had received over 300 years earlier from Ion, son of Xuthus, progenitor of the Ionians, accepted them. King Melanthus of Athens permitted the Ionians, who had fled from Achaia, to settle among them, seeking to strengthen his forces against the Dorians. [155]
10.2 Argos
Deiphontes, son of Antimachus, husband of Temenus' daughter Hyrnetho, led the Dorians to Epidaurus, east of Argos. Deiphontes forced Pityreus, a descendant of Ion, son of Xuthus, to cede Epidaurus without a fight. [156]
Deiphontes settled the Ionians who had joined the expedition from Tetrapolis of Attica in Epidaurus. [157]
Temenus of Argos was later killed by his sons, who were dissatisfied with his favoritism toward Deiphontes. [158]
Temenus was succeeded by his eldest son, Ceisus, who gathered the inhabitants and founded a new city, Argos. [159]
In 1070 BC, Ceisus' youngest son, Althaemenes, led the Dorians and Pelasgians from Argos to colonize Crete. [160]
The Dorians founded ten cities in Crete. [161]
Althaemenes himself then settled Rhodes. [162]
Althaemenes further dispersed the Rhodes settlers to Halicarnassus, Cnidus, and Cos. [163]
Some traditions attribute Althaemenes' migration to internal strife in Argos, but famine was the cause. [164]
10.3 Lacedaemon
10.3.1 Expulsion of the Achaeans
Philonomus, the man whose service prompted the decision to migrate to Tisamenus, was entrusted with Amyclae, just south of Sparta. [165]
Amyclae, the last remaining Achaean city, was attacked by the Dorians. After putting up a fierce resistance, the Achaeans withdrew from the Peloponnesus. [166]
The period when Althaemenes led an emigration from Argos to Crete coincided with the time when Amyclaeans migrated to Melos and Gortyn in Crete. [167]
Of course, it is unclear whether this emigration from Amyclae constituted the final abandonment of the city.
The resistance of the Amyclaeans proved extremely stubborn. The Dorians summoned Timomachus from Thebes to organize their forces and provide leadership, and only then did they finally drive out the Achaeans. [168]
Furthermore, even before this, the inhabitants of Pharis and Geranthrae, where Achaeans had continued to live, also abandoned their towns to avoid fighting the Dorians. [169]
10.3.2 Migration to Thera
When Eurysthenes and Procles came of age, Theras, having fulfilled his role as guardian, migrated to Calliste, situated between Sparta and Rhodes.[170]
The island was ruled by descendants of Membliarus, son of Poeciles, but Theras gained the support of the inhabitants, became king of the land, and the island came to be called Thera.[171]
Eurysthenes and Procles, the twin founders of the Spartan royal house, were constantly at odds despite being twins, yet both actively supported Theras' migration.[172]
The immigrant group led by Theras included a small number of Minyans alongside selected individuals from each tribe. [173]
Among these Minyans were descendants of Leukophanes, son of Euphemus and Lamache. [174]
In 630 BC, Battus, son of Polymnestus, descendant of Leukophanes, led an expedition from Thera to Libya, founding Cyrene. [175]
10.4 Phlius
In 1087 BC, Rhegnidas, son of Phalces, son of Temenus, led an expeditionary force from Argos and Sicyon to Phlius. He was accepted by the inhabitants and became king of Phlius. Hippasus, a leader of Phlius who opposed his acceptance, emigrated to Samos. [176]
In 1095 BC, Procles, son of Pityreus, led most of the original inhabitants of Epidaurus from Athens to settle on Samos. They coexisted with the indigenous population and founded Samos.[177]
Additionally, some people from Phlius crossed over to Asia Minor with the Cleonaeans and founded Clazomenae.[178]
10.5 Corinth
In 1075 BC, Aletes, son of Hippotas, led the Dorians, taking Melas, son of Antasus, from Gonussa west of Sicyon, with him on the expedition to capture Corinth.[179]
Hippotas was the son of Phylas, son of Antiochus, son of Heracles and Meda, daughter of Phylas the Dryopes. [180]
Antasus, meanwhile, was a descendant of Gonussa, daughter of Sicyon, son of Marathon, son of Epopeus. [181]
At that time, Corinth was ruled by the two sons of Propodas, Doridas and Hyanthidas. They ceded the throne to Aletes and remained in the land. However, the Aeolians residing in Corinth resisted the Dorians. Aletes took up arms on the hill of Solygia and drove the resisting Aeolians out of Corinth. [182]
Aletes became King of Corinth and made Melas a co-inhabitant. Cypselus, son of Eetion, who became tyrant of Corinth in 657 BC, was a descendant of Melas. [183]
10.6 Athens
In 1074 BC, the Dorians invaded Athens, whose population had grown due to an influx of people from the Peloponnesus.
In the battle against the Dorians, Melanthus's son Codrus, king of Athens, was killed, but Athens was able to repel the Dorians. [184]
10.6.1 Reason for the Invasion
Strabo records that the reason for this invasion was that the Dorians were concerned about Messenia because Codrus, son of Melanthus, was king of Athens. [185]
In other words, Strabo believed the Dorians acted preemptively before Codrus could reclaim his father Melanthus's former domain of Messenia.
However, the following points suggest the Dorians invaded Athens aiming to expand their territory:
1) The sons of Codrus, who defeated the Dorians, did not attempt to reclaim Messenia.
2) The Dorians founded Megara between Athens and Corinth. [186]
3) Attica was one of the homelands of Heracleidae. [187]
10.6.2 Commander
Tradition also holds that Aletes of Corinth led the Dorians.[188]
However, Antiochus, father of Phylas, father of Hippotas, father of Aletes, is the eponymous ancestor of the Antiochis, one of the ten Athenian tribes.[189]
It seems unlikely that the Athenians would have named an ancestor of Aletes, who attacked them, as their eponym.
10.6.3 Founding of Megara
On their return journey from Athens, the Dorians expelled the Ionians who lived in Megara and founded Dorian Megara. [190]
The expelled Ionians also migrated to Athens, with some settling in Brauron on the eastern coast of Attica. Brauron housed a statue of Artemis associated with Iphigenia, daughter of Agamemnon, who is buried in Megara. [191]
10.7 Mycenae
Strabo records that Mycenae, along with Argos, was occupied by the Heracleidae.
[192]
However, Diodorus relates that the Mycenaeans maintained their independence, suggesting Mycenae was not occupied by the Heracleidae and the Achaeans continued to reside there. [193]
In August 480 BC, Mycenae sent 80 soldiers to the Battle of Thermopylae. In August 479 BC, it sent 400 soldiers, combined with those from Tiryns, to the Battle of Plataea.
In 494 BC, Argos, having lost most of its male citizens in the war against Lacedaemon, was unable to send troops to fight the Persians and resented the Mycenaeans who had sent forces to those wars. [194]
In 468 BC, Argos, receiving reinforcements from places like Tegea, laid siege to Mycenae. Most of the starving Mycenaeans sought protection from Alexander, son of Amyntas of Macedonia, while some fled to Cleonae or Ceryneia.[195]
The inhabitants of Ceryneia in Achaia accepted the Mycenaeans as co-residents.[196]
10.8 Tiryns
Like Mycenae, Tiryns was not occupied by the Dorians and is thought to have been inhabited by the Achaeans.
In 494 BC, Argos fought Cleomenes, son of Anaxandridas, King of Lacedaemon, who had invaded, at Sepeia near Tiryns, losing nearly all its male citizens. [197]
Argos had entrusted the city to slaves, but when the sons of the common citizens came of age, they expelled the slaves from the city. The slaves driven out of Argos expelled the Achaeans from Tiryns and occupied it. After a long struggle, Tiryns became part of Argos. [198]
The Achaeans who had lived in Tiryns migrated to Halieis, east of the entrance to the Argolic Gulf. [199]
10.9 Cleonae
After the return of the Heracleidae, Agamedidas, great-grandson of Ctesippus son of Heracles, ruled Cleonae. [200]
In 1050 BC, some inhabitants of Cleonae migrated with the people of Phlius to Asia Minor, founding Clazomenae. [201]
However, it seems Achaeans continued to live in Cleonae thereafter, as some Mycenaeans, attacked by Argos in 468 BC, fled to Cleonae. [202]
10.10 Troezen
Troezen, which had been subordinate to Argos, accepted the Dorians as co-inhabitants. [203]
In 1070 BC, Anthes led a colony from Troezen to Caria, founding Halicarnassus and Myndus. [204]
Anthes was a descendant of Aetius, son of Anthas. [205]
10.11 Messenia
Cresphontes, having gained Messenia, made Stenyclerus the royal capital.[206]
Later, Polyphontes, claiming to be a descendant of the “true” Heracleidae, killed Cresphontes and his two sons and usurped the throne.[207]
Cresphontes' youngest son, Aepytus, was safe because he had been raised by his grandfather Cypselus in Trapezus, Arcadia. [208]
In 1082 BC, Aepytus was restored as King of Messenia with the support of his uncle Holaeas of Arcadia, Isthmius, son of Temenus, of Argos, and Eurysthenes and Procles of Sparta.[209]
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