1 Introduction
Homer called the town of Boeotia Orchomenus in Minyae to distinguish it from a town of the same name in Arcadia. [1]
The name Orchomenus was given to the town of Arcadia earlier, but the town of Boeotia was much more famous. [2]
Orchomenus in Boeotia was a wealthy town, comparable to Thebes in Egypt, but Orchomenus in the Bronze Age had a turbulent history.
2 Settlement of Athamas and Andreus
2.1 Settlement of Athamas
Aeolis settled in Boeotia 30 years after Cadmus.
The first settler in Boeotia was Athamas, son of Aeolus, son of Hellen. Athamas migrated from Arne in Thessaly to the western shore of the Pagasetic Gulf and founded Halus.
In 1390 BC, Halus was washed away by a tidal wave, and Athamas migrated to the vicinity of Lake Copais. [3]
That was the land where Athamas' ancestor Deucalion's grandfather had lived.
2.2 Founding of Acraephnium
Athamas founded Acraephnium on the east side of Lake Copais, and his son Ptous left his name on a nearby mountain. [4]
Athamas lived in the Athamantian plain between Acraephnium and Lake Copais. [5]
At the time Athamas settled, the area around Lake Copais was inhabited by the Encheleans, who had migrated with Cadmus. [6]
The Encheleans migrated to Cadmeia, where Cadmus lived, and then to Illyria. [7]
2.3 Children of Athamas
2.3.1 Sons of Ino
Many traditions say that Athamas married Cadmus' daughter Ino, and had two sons, Learchus and Melicertes. [8]
However, this legend is likely a fabrication, since Athamas was estimated to have been 55 years old when he emigrated to Boeotia and had many children.
2.3.2 Phrixus
In 1390 BC, Athamas' son Phrixus emigrated to Colchis in a colony led by Aeetes, son of Sisyphus of Ephyraea (later Corinth). [9]
Aeetes and Phrixus were cousins.
Phrixus married Aeetes' daughter Chalciope. [10]
2.3.3 Founding of Schoenus
In 1380 BC, Schoeneus, son of Athamas, moved between Thebes and Anthedon and founded Schoenus. [11]
2.4 Founding of Andreis
There are two legends about the founder of Orchomenus:
1) Orchomenus was founded by Andreus, son of the river god Peneius, and the name of the town at that time was Andreis. [12]
2) Minyas, son of Aeolus, founded Orchomenus on the land bordering Cadmus, from the region of Iolcus, where Deucalion once lived. [13]
From the above legends, it is assumed that the founder of Orchomenus was Andreus, also known as Minyas, the son of Aeolus, who ruled over the area around the Peneius River flowing in northern Thessaly.
This Minyas is also believed to be the same person as Minyas, the father of Persephone, the mother of Amphion, the father of Chloris, the wife of Neleus, as described by the 5th century BC mythologist Pherecydes. [14]
Andreus, son of Aeolus, is thought to have emigrated from Arne in Thessaly and founded Andreis in 1380 BC. [15]
2.5 The period when Athamas and Andreus settled
Pausanias says that Andreus gave land to Athamas, who came later, but it seems that it was the other way around. It is more appropriate to understand that Athamas, who lived on the eastern shore of Lake Copais, gave land to Andreus, who came later. [16]
Athamas was the son of Aeolus, the son of Hellen, but it is impossible to say that Aeolus was the father of Andreus. If that were the case, Andreus and Athamas would be brothers, but it is impossible that Andreus married his brother's granddaughter. [17]
Andreus' father was not Aeolus, the son of Hellen, but Aeolus, the son of Hippotes, the son of Mimas, the son of Aeolus, the son of Hellen.
Athamas was the brother of Andreus' great-grandfather Mimas.
Strangely enough, Andreus had only just come of age, while Athamas was an old man with marriageable grandfather, making a difference of two generations.[18] Later, as Orchomenus' fame grew, a counter-narrative was likely created, with Andreus granting land to Athamas.
2.6 Location of Andreis
At the time of the Athamas' settlement, the area around Lake Copais was inhabited not only by Encheleans but also by Hyantes, who had been driven out by Cadmus. [19]
The Thracians also lived in Phocis. [20]
Aeolis expanded their settlement from Acraephium, where Athamas had settled, to the west side of Lake Copais. Therefore, Andreus, who settled shortly after Athamas, founded Andreis, which was probably near Acraephium. [21]
Strabo reports that the old Orchomenus was submerged in Lake Copais, and a new town was built near Mount Acontius on the west side of Lake Copais. [22]
Andreis is assumed to have been located north of Acraephium.
3 Age of Eteocles, son of Andreus
3.1 Founding of Olmones
In 1365 BC, Almus, son of Sisyphus, emigrated from Corinth to the north of Lake Copais. [23]
Pausanias reports that Eteocles gave the land to Almus. [24]
Pausanias writes that Andreus gave the land to Athamas, but in line with this story, Eteocles gave the land to Almus.
However, it seems likely that Athamas, not Eteocles, actually gave the land to Almus.
Eteocles was the son of Andreus, the son of Aeolus, the son of Hippotes, the son of Mimas, the son of Aeolus, the son of Hellen, and Almus was the son of Sisyphus, the son of Aeolus, the son of Hellen. In other words, Almus was a cousin of Eteocles' great-grandfather Hippotes.
On the other hand, Athamas was the son of Aeolus, the son of Hellen, and was Almus' uncle.
It would be more reasonable to assume that Almus migrated to the area relying on his uncle Athamas, not Eteocles. The town that Almus founded was called Almones, but later became Olmones. [25]
3.2 Founding of Haliartus and Coroneia
Athamas adopted two sons of his nephew Thersander, Coronus and Haliartus, after his son Leucon, who he intended to succeed him, died of illness. [26]
In 1370 BC, Coronus founded Coroneia southwest of Lake Copais. [27]
Haliartus founded Haliartus near Thebes from Coroneia. [28]
3.3 Return of Presbon, son of Phrixus
In 1370 BC, Presbon, son of Phrixus, returned to his grandfather Athamas from Phrixus, son of Athamas, who had emigrated to Colchis. [29]
Athamas adopted Haliartus and Coronus, but left Presbon to inherit all the land he had given to them. [30]
4 Age of Phlegyas, son of Chryse
When Eteocles, son of Andreus, died without an heir, Phlegyas, son of Chryse, daughter of Almus, succeeded Eteocles. [31]
4.1 Founding of Phlegyas
In 1360 BC, Phlegyas founded Phlegyas and gathered warriors. They came to be called Phlegyans. [32]
Phlegyans was an Achaeans from Thessaly who had migrated from Corinth to Boeotia with his grandfather Almus.
Phlegyas likely gathered warriors to protect the crops from the raids of the Hyantes, who still lived nearby.
Phlegyas was founded more than ten years before the construction of the walls of Tiryns. [33]
The town was probably built with a fence around it and a storage facility on a hilltop that was easily defended from outside enemies.
4.2 The ruins of Gla (or Glas)
The mysterious ancient ruins of Gla are said to have been revealed when Lake Copais in Boeotia was drained in the late 19th century. However, on December 27, 1805, William Martin Leake, a member of the Royal Society, passed by the ruins of Gla and saw a "fortified island". [34]
Leake assumed that the island was the site of the palace of Athamas, son of Aeolus, as described by Pausanias. [35]
However, Pausanias wrote that Athamas' palace was located on the Athamantian plain between Lake Copais and Acraephium. [36]
Athamas gave land to a young man named Andreus from Arne in Thessaly, who had come to him for help, and married Andreus to his granddaughter Euippe. [37]
Andreus founded Andreis, which was in the lowlands north of Acraephium.
Later, it was submerged in Lake Copais and a new town, Orchomenus, was built on the west side of the lake. [38]
Phlegyas, son of Chryse, founded Phlegyas while he lived in Andreis, which was near Andreis.
The "fortified island" is Gla, whose ancient name is presumably Phlegyas.
5 Age of Chryses, son of Chrysogeneia
Phlegyas was succeeded by Chryses, son of Chrysogeneia, daughter of Almus. [39]
During the time of Chryses, the water level of Lake Copais rose and Andreis became uninhabitable.
In 1350 BC, the inhabitants of Andreis founded a new town (later Orchomenus) on the west side of Lake Copais, near Mount Acontius. [40]
5.1 Founding of Aspledon
In 1350 BC, Aspledon, son of Orchomenus, son of Athamas, founded the town of Aspledon northwest of Copaic Lake. [40-1]
Pausanias reports that the inhabitants of Aspledon abandoned the town due to lack of water, but Strabo says that Aspledon was located near a river and had a good climate. [40-2]
Also, Aspledon was not completely deserted, and Hymenaeus, who is thought to be Aspledon's grandson, lived there. [40-3]
The name of Aspledon is also recorded in Homer's Catalog of Ships and in the list of towns in the Roman region of Boeotia. [40-4]
5.2 Founding of Mideia
In 1340 BC, Aspledon migrated south-southwest from Aspledon and founded Mideia. [40-5]
Strabo states that Mideia was submerged in the lake, but there may have been another Mideia. [40-6]
Mideia, later called Lebadeia, was built on high ground. [40-7]
6 Age of Minyas, son of Chryses
6.1 Drainage of Lake Copais
Minyas excavated an underground channel to drain the waters of Lake Copais into the sea. The entrance to a natural channel was near Copae, northeast of Lake Copais, and the excavation was made to improve the flow of the channel. [41]
An underground channel was also excavated in Cadmeia, where construction had already been carried out in the time of Cadmus. [42]
The Boeotia submerged in Lake Copais included Athens, Eleusis, and Andreis (old Orchomenus). [43]
Strabo also reports that Arne and Mideia were submerged in Lake Copais. [44]
Alexander the Great ordered Crates, the miner of Chalcis, to remove the blockage that was blocking the underground channel that drained Lake Copais. [45]
As a result, Athens, which had been submerged in the lake, appeared. [46]
6.2 Treasure house of Minyans
During the reign of Minyans, Minyans entered a golden age and the first treasury house was built. [47]
This tells us how plentiful the harvest was from the lands around Lake Copais, into which the Cephisus River flows.
Herodotus tells the story of the sons of the craftsmen who built the treasury of King Rhampsinitus of Egypt stealing the treasures from the treasury. [48]
Pausanias tells a similar story, but the owner of the treasury house was Hyrieus, near Lebadeia. [49]
Others say that the king was Augeas, and it seems to incorporate an earlier ruler of the area. [50]
Probably, the story arose from the treasury house of Minyans, which had accumulated great wealth, and the nearby sanctuary of Trophonius. [51]
Herodotus tells the story in Egypt, without mentioning Trophonius.
6.3 Founding of Onchestus
In 1320 BC, Hippomenes, son of Haliartus, migrated east-southeast from Haliartus and founded Onchestus. [52]
6.4 Spread of the Minyans
The wealth of the Minyans became widely known, and the sons of prominent people from various regions began to take wives from the town of Minyans. [53]
In ancient Greece, it seems that dowries were given to daughters when they were married. Homer gave his epic poem, "Cypria," to his groom Stasinus in lieu of a dowry for his daughter. [54]
Many Minyans accompanied brides who migrated to various places. In particular, many Minyans came to live around Iolcus in Thessaly. [55]
6.4.1 Marriage to Phylace
In 1317 BC, Clymene, daughter of Minyas, was married to Phylaceus, who lived in Phylace in Thessaly. [56]
6.4.2 Marriage to Pherae
In 1301 BC, Periclymene, daughter of Minyas, was married to Pheres, who lived in Pherae in Thessaly. [57]
6.4.3 Marriage to Iolcus
In 1299 BC, Phylomache, daughter of Amphion, son of Iasius, was married to Pelias, son of Cretheus, who lived in Iolcus in Thessaly. [58]
6.4.4 Marriage to Aesonis
In 1291 BC, Alcimede, daughter of Clymene, daughter of Minyas, was married to Aeson, who founded Aesonis (or Aeson) in Thessaly.
6.4.5 Marriage to Pylus
In 1277 BC, Chloris, daughter of Amphion, son of Iasius, was married to Neleus, son of Cretheus, who lived in Pylus in Eleia. [59]
Minyans, who accompanied Chloris, wife of Neleus, lived in Eleia. [60]
6.5 Migration to Phocis
In 1305 BC, Cyparissus, son of Minyas, emigrated to the area near Delphi and founded Cyparissus. [61]
7 Age of Orchomenus, son of Minyas
Minyas was succeeded by his son Orchomenus. During his time, Andreis came to be called Orchomenus. [62]
7.1 Founding of Hyettus
In 1275 BC, Hyettus of Argos killed Molurus, son of Arisbas, and emigrated to Boeotia. [63]
Hyettus founded Hyettus after receiving land north of Lake Copais from Orchomenus, son of Minyas. [64]
Hyettus was probably the son of Bias, the son of Amythaon, the daughter of Salmoneus, the son of Aeolus, the son of Hippotes, the son of Mimas, the son of Aeolus, the son of Hellen. [65]
Orchomenus was the son of Minyas, the son of Chryses, the daughter of Chrysogeneia, the daughter of Almus, the son of Sisyphus, the son of Aeolus, the son of Hellen. [66]
In other words, Hyettus probably migrated to Boeotia, relying on Orchomenus, the common ancestor of Aeolus, the son of Hellen.
8 Age of Clymenus, son of Presbon
Pausanias reports that Orchomenus, son of Minyas, died childless, and the line of kings of Almus, son of Sisyphus, came to an end. [67]
But Orchomenus had a daughter, Elara (or Elare), and at least five sisters. [68]
Orchomenus also had a brother, Cyparissus, who founded Cyparissus in Phocis. [69]
But Orchomenus was succeeded by Clymenus, son of Presbon, son of Phrixus, son of Athamas, who lived in Acraephium. [70]
Clymenus was the son of Presbon, cousin of Euippe, wife of Andreus, the first king of Orchomenus. [71]
It seems likely that Clymenus succeeded Orchomenus not because the line of Minyas was extinct, but for other reasons.
With the succession of Athamas' descendant Clymenus, Orchomenus gained control of the area around Lake Copais, including the territory of Athamas.
This made Orchomenus a rival power to Thebes.
In this situation, the first armed conflict between the two parties occurred.
In 1256 BC, Clymenus was killed by Perieres, the charioteer of Menoeceus, son of Creon of Thebes, in the sanctuary of Poseidon at Onchestus. [72]
9 Age of Erginus, son of Clymenus
9.1 War with the Thebans
In 1256 BC, Erginus, son of Clymenus, whose father was killed, attacked Thebes and imposed tribute on the Thebans. [73]
Then, led by Amphitryon, the Thebans attacked Orchomenus, and Erginus was defeated. [74]
As a result of this battle, the inhabitants of the towns that supported Orchomenus migrated to various places.
9.2 Migration to Arcadia
Hippomenes, son of Megareus, who lived in Onchestus, and Schoeneus, who lived in Schoinos, migrated to Arcadia. [75]
9.3 Founding of Copae
Copaeus, son of Plataeus, son of Onchestus, was expelled from Onchestus and migrated to the north shore of Lake Copais, where he founded Copae. [76]
9.4 Sons of Erginus
According to legend, after his defeat at Amphitryon, Erginus had two sons, Trophonius and Agamedes. They became master builders of the temple at Delphi, and Trophonius was swallowed up in a hole in the earth of Lebadeia and became a god. [77]
However, it is also said that Trophonius had children, which contradicts Erginus' succession by the descendants of his brother Azeus. [78]
The sons of Erginus were invented to fit the story, and it is believed that he had no heir.
10 Trojan War Era
Erginus was succeeded by Ascalaphus and Ialmenus, the two sons of Astyoche (or Pernis), daughter of Actor, son of his brother Azeus. [79]
10.1 Occupation by the Thracians
In 1188 BC, Ascalaphus and Ialmenus led the Orchomenians and Aspledonians in an expedition to Troy. [80]
The Thracians invaded Orchomenus, which had been deprived of its warriors, and occupied it.
Some of the Orchomenians fled to Athens and lived in Munychia. [81]
The Orchomenians, led by Athamas, a descendant of Aeolus' son Athamas, migrated to Asia Minor and founded Teos. [82]
Colophon, just east of Teos, had been settled some time earlier by people taken captive by the Epigoni during their attack on Thebes. [83]
10.2 Migration to Sauromatae
In 1186 BC, Ascalaphus was killed in battle at Troy, and Ialmenus emigrated to Sauromatae. [84]
Ialmenus' mother Astyoche was the daughter of Actor, the son of Azeus, the son of Clymenus, the son of Presbon, the son of Phrixus, the son of Athamas. [85]
Presbon was born in Colchis and emigrated to Boeotia to succeed his grandfather Athamas.
After that, there seems to have been contact between Colchis and Boeotia. [86]
Perses, the son of Perseis (or Perse), granddaughter of Phrixus, ruled over Tauric Chersonese (present-day Crimea). [87]
In 1270 BC, Circe, the daughter of Hecate (or Idyia), daughter of Perses, was married to the king of the Sauromatians. [88]
It was no coincidence that Ialmenus, a descendant of Presbon, emigrated to Sauromatae.
10.3 Trade with the Black Sea Region
The following suggests that there was trade between Orchomenus and the Black Sea region.
1) Sauromatae, where Ialmenus migrated, was the home of Ialmenus' ancestor Circe, who married 84 years ago. Ialmenus is unlikely to have aimed for Sauromatae based on ancient traditions. It is believed that some of the people who migrated with Ialmenus were engaged in trade with the Black Sea region.
2) The Troy expedition was carried out by the Achaeans, who used the Hellespontus. It is believed that the Orchomenians who participated in the expedition also traveled through the Hellespontus and were active in the Black Sea region.
Trade between Orchomenus and the Black Sea region began when Phrixus, the son of Athamas, migrated to Colchis on the eastern shore of the Black Sea in 1390 BC. [89]
Orchomenus' wealth probably came from trade activities, not just from the grain produced by its fertile soil.
11 After the Trojan War
Orchomenus was occupied by the Thracians for over 60 years.
In 1126 BC, the Boeotians, returning from Arne in Thessaly, together with the Orchomenians returning from Munychia in Athens, expelled the Thracians from Orchomenus. [90]
But Orchomenus was annexed by the Boeotians, who also took Thebes. [91]
Part of the Orchomenians, led by Chaeron, son of Thero, daughter of Phylas, son of Antiochus, son of Heracles, emigrated from Orchomenus to Arne (later Chaeroneia). [92]
Leipephilene (or Leipephile), daughter of Iolais (or Iolaus), wife of Phylas, is thought to have been one of the Orchomenians who fled to Athens when Orchomenus was occupied by the Thracians.
Later, Orchomenus became one of the towns of Boeotia, which was centered around Thebes.
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