1  Introduction 
    In 1750  BC, a great flood occurred in the upper reaches of the Cephisus River, north of  Mount Parnassus. 
The  Ectenes, led by Ogygus, migrated downstream of the Cephisus River and settled southeast of Lake Copais. [1] 
In 1580  BC, a group of Ectenes, led by the grandfather of Hellen's father, Deucalion,  migrated north from Boeotia due to pressure from other tribes, including the  Hyantes. Deucalion founded Pyrrha (later Melitaea) near the source of the  Enipeus River, which flows from the south into the Peneius River in northern  Thessaly. [2] 
Deucalion  had two sons, Hellen and Amphictyon. [3] 
Hellen  had three sons, Aeolus, Xuthus, and Dorus. [4] 
Hellen's  descendants grew in power, with Aeolus became the progenitor of the Aeolis and  Dorus became the progenitor of the Dorians. Xuthus had two sons, Achaeus and  Ion. Achaeus became the progenitor of the Achaeans, and Ion became the progenitor  of the Ionians. [5] 
After  Hellen's death, Aeolus and Dorus exiled their brother Xuthus. [6] 
In 1470  BC, Xuthus fled to Athens, where his uncle Amphictyon had once reigned as king.  [7] 
Xuthus  married Creusa, daughter of Erichthonius, the fourth king of Athens. [8] 
In 1465  BC, Xuthus founded four towns (Oenoe, Marathon, Probalinthus, and Tricorynthus)  in northeastern Attica, gathering residents from the surrounding areas. [9] 
In 1442  BC, Xuthus emigrated to Aegialus (later Achaia) in the northern Peloponnesus  Peninsula. [10] 
      2 Progenitor,  Achaeus 
        Achaeus  was the eldest son of Xuthus, son of Hellen, and Creusa, daughter of  Erechtheus, the fourth king of Athens. [11] 
        Achaeus  migrated from Athens to Aegialus with his father and succeeded him. [12] 
        In 1435  BC, Achaeus led the Achaeans in an invasion of Thessaly and returned to his  father's hometown, Melitaea. [13] 
        In 1420  BC, a large group led by Cadmus passed through Thessaly, causing chaos, and  Achaeus again migrated from Melitaea to Aegialus. [14] 
        It is  believed that some Achaeans remained in Thessaly. 
        During  the Persian Wars, Achaeans lived in Phthiotis. [15] 
        Achaeus  had two sons, Archander and Architeles. [16] 
2.1  Architeles, son of Achaeus 
        Architeles  married Automate, daughter of Danaus. [17] 
        Architeles  fought alongside his brother Archander against the Sicyonians, but his  whereabouts are unknown. [18] 
      2.2  Archander, son of Achaeus 
        In 1425  BC, Archander married Cyrene, daughter of Hypseus, who lived near Mount Pelion  in eastern Thessaly. [19] 
        Archander  and Cyrene had four sons: Nomius, Aristaeus, Authocus, and Argaeus. [20] 
        In 1420  BC, Archander emigrated from Melitaea to Aegialus. [21] 
        Archander  married Scaea, daughter of Danaus from Argos, as his second wife, and had a  son, Metanastes. [22] 
        In 1413  BC, Lynceus, who had succeeded Danaus, died, and his infant son, Abas,  succeeded him in Argos. [23] 
        In 1408  BC, Lamedon, son of Gelanor, son of Sthenelas, who had been driven out of Argos  by Danaus, led the Sicyonians and occupied the city. [24] 
        Abas, son  of Lynceus, who had also been driven out of Argos, fled to Phocis and founded  Abae. [25] 
        In 1407  BC, Archander fought Lamedon, recaptured Argos, and brought Abas back. 
        Archander  became Abas' guardian and moved to Argos. [26] 
        Archander's  wife, Scaea, was Abas's mother's sister, making Archander Abas's uncle-in-law. 
        In 1402  BC, when Abas came of age, Archander moved to the Nile Delta in Egypt and  founded Cyrene (also known as Archandropolis). Archander was accompanied by his  wife Scaea, as well as his first wife Cyrene and her son Aristaeus.[27] 
      2.2.1  Aristaeus, son of Archander 
        Many  traditions state that Aristaeus' mother was Cyrene, daughter of Hypseus. [28] 
        However,  the name of Aristaeus's father is not mentioned in the traditions. 
        The  following suggests that Aristaeus' father, Cyrene's husband, was Archander, son  of Achaeus. 
        1) When  creating a family tree, there is no inconsistency in ages even if Cyrene and  Archander were couple. 
        2) At  marriageable age, Cyrene and Archander lived in Thessaly. 
        3) Both  Cyrene and Archander emigrated to Libya. [29] 
        4) Cyrene  was the daughter of Hypseus, son of Aeolus, brother of Xuthus, father of  Archander's father, Achaeus. Thus, Cyrene was Archander's second cousin. 
        In 1420  BC, Aristaeus accompanied his father on a migration from Melitaea to Aegialus.  [30] 
        In 1402  BC, Aristaeus migrated with his father to the Nile Delta in Egypt and founded  Cyrene (also known as Archandropolis). [31] 
        In 1390  BC, Aristaeus migrated to Ceos. [32] 
        The  Parrhasians, descendants of Lycaon, participated in this migration. [33] 
        Although  Aristaeus is said to have been king of Arcadia, his connection to Arcadia is  unclear. [34] 
      2.2.1.4  Migration to Sardinia 
        In 1372  BC, Aristaeus returned from Ceos to Egypt and again led a colony to Sardinia on  the western side of the Italian peninsula. [35] 
        Before  Aristaeus, Sardus, son of Maceris, led a colony to Sardinia from Canopus,  Egypt. [36] 
      2.2.2  Archander's Sons, Nomius and Argaeus 
        Nomius  and Argaeus inherited the territory of their grandfather Hypseus near Mount  Pelion in Thessaly. [37] 
      2.2.3  Authocus (or Belus), son of Archander 
        2.2.3.1 Also  known as Belus 
        Authocus  seems to have had another name, Belus. 
        That is,  Belus, father of Cepheus and Phineus. [38] 
        Belus  lived in Egypt. [39] 
        Phineus,  the son of Belus, married Idaea, the daughter of Dardanus, the founder of the  Trojan Empire. [40] 
        Andromeda,  the daughter of Cepheus, the son of Belus, married Perseus, the son of Danae,  the daughter of Acrisius. [41] 
        Considering  the spouses of Phineus, the son of Belus, and Andromeda, Belus's granddaughter,  Belus is likely a descendant of Greeks who migrated to Egypt. 
        Archander's  wife was Scaea, the daughter of Danaus. During Belus's time, no descendants of  Danaus or Cadmus lived in Egypt. The only Greeks living in Egypt were the  family of Archander, who migrated from Argos to the Nile Delta and founded  Archandropolis. [42] 
        In other  words, Belus is presumably another name for Authocus, the son of Archander. 
      2.2.3.2  Migration to Ethiopia 
        In 1390  BC, Belus led a group of people affected by a tsunami from Egypt to Greece,  where he joined a colony led by Aeetes, son of Sisyphus, of Corinth. [43] 
        Corinth,  which had just been founded by Sisyphus, son of Aeolus, had also been hit by a  tsunami. Aeetes and Belus were of the same race, sharing a common ancestor,  Hellen, son of Deucalion. 
        Their  colony traveled north across the Aegean Sea, passing through the Hellespontos  and entering the Propontis Sea. 
        Belus  found a suitable site near the mouth of the Aesepus River, just before Cyzicus,  and settled there. 
        Belus's  settlement came to be called Ethiopia. 
        The  Ethiopians, descended from Belus, were likely so named because their physique  and appearance resembled those of the Ethiopians who lived south of Egypt. 
      2.2.3.3  Cepheus, son of Belus 
        Cepheus  had no sons to succeed him, so his grandson Perses succeeded him. [44] 
        The  Ethiopians likely came under Troy's control, and their lineage after Perses is  unknown. 
        During  the Trojan War, the Ethiopians were ruled by Memnon, son of Tithonus, son of  Laomedon. 
      2.2.3.4  Phineus, son of Belus 
        Phineus  married Idaea, daughter of Dardanus. [45] 
        In 1380  BC, Phineus migrated to the southwestern shore of the Black Sea and founded  Salmydessus. [46] 
        In 1350  BC, the Achaeans, who had lived in Salmydessus, migrated eastward across the  Bosporus Strait under the leadership of Phineus's sons, Mariandynus, Bithynus,  Paphlagon (or Paphlagonus), and Thynus. [47] 
        The  Achaeans changed their name to Mariandynians, Bithynians, Paphlagonians, and  Thynians. [48] 
        In 1345  BC, Phineus' sons, Clytius and Polymedes (or Plexippus, Pandion), emigrated  from Salmydessus to Tauric Chersonese (present-day Crimea). [49] 
      2.2.4  Metanastes, son of Archander 
        Metanastes,  accompanied by his father, Archander, emigrated from Argos to the Nile Delta in  Egypt. 
      2.2.4.1  Pilumnus, son of Metanastes 
        Metanastes  had a son, Pilumnus, who married Danae, daughter of Acrisius. [50] 
        In 1341  BC, the ships carrying Danae's colony were blown by a strong southerly wind en  route to Sardinia and washed ashore on the west coast of central Italy. [51] 
        After  Danae's husband, Pilumnus, died, Danae, daughter of the king of Argos, founded  Ardea, about 30 kilometers southeast of Rome. [52] 
        At the  time, the Sicels were scattered across Latium, where Danae founded her city.  Shortly thereafter, descendants of Sabus arrived from the mountains and founded  Saturnia and Janiculum. [53] 
        Danae's  colony consisted of Achaeans and Pelasgians who had migrated from Argos to  Egypt. Their language and customs were similar to those of Sabus's descendants.  It was the people who migrated with Danae from Egypt who taught Saturnus of  Saturnia how to cultivate wheat. [54] 
        Danae's  son Daunus inherited Ardea. [55] 
        The  Achaeans, who migrated with Danae to the Italian peninsula, changed their name  to the Rutulians. [56] 
        Turnus,  the leader of the Rutulians who died fighting Aeneas, was a descendant of  Daunus. [57] 
        Danae had  a son, Perseus. 
      2.2.5  Migration from Argos to Messenia 
        In 1405  BC, the Achaeans, who migrated to Argos with Archander, participated in the  founding of Andania in Messenia. [58] 
        Andania  was founded by Polycaon, son of Lelex of Lacedaemon, whose wife, Messene, was  from Argos. 
        In 1310  BC, when Polycaon's heirs died out, the inhabitants of Andania adopted  Perieres, son of Aeolus, from Thessaly. [59] 
        Aeolus  was the son of Lapithes, son of Aeolus, son of Hippotes, and Perieres was  Lapiths. 
        In 1280  BC, Aphareus, son of Perieres, migrated to the west coast of Messenia and  founded Arene. [60] 
        The  inhabitants of Arene were Achaeans, Lapiths, and Lacedaemonians. 
      3  Perseus, son of Pilumnus 
        In 1360  BC, Perseus, the son of Pilumnus and Danae, was born in Chemmis, Nile Delta,  Egypt. [61] 
      3.1  Migration to Argos 
        In 1349  BC, Perseus emigrated from Egypt to Argos to succeed his grandfather, Acrisius.  [62] 
        In 1343  BC, Perseus killed Acrisius' brother, Proetus, and left Argos. [63] 
      3.2  Perseus' Marriage 
        In 1342  BC, Perseus traveled to the land of the Ethiopians to visit Cepheus, son of  Belus, and married his daughter, Andromeda. [64] 
        Andromeda's  birthplace, Ethiopia, was not south of Egypt but in the northwestern Anatolia  Peninsula, near the mouth of the Aesepus River. [65] 
        Ethiopia  was located in the Adrasteia Plain, which was the territory of Pelops' father,  Tantalus, at the time of Perseus' marriage to Andromeda. [66] 
        The  marriages between Perseus' sons and Pelops' daughters were the result of a  friendship between Tantalus and Perseus. 
        Perseus'  mother, Danae, and Evarete, the mother of Pelops' wife, Hippodamia, were  sisters. 
        Thus the  sons of Perseus and the daughters of Pelops were second cousins. [67] 
      3.3  Perseus's Campaign 
        There is  a tradition that tells of Perseus' expedition to Iconium (Konya) in Lycaonia.  [68] 
        Perseus's  whereabouts in the ten years between his marriage and the return of  Peloponnesus are unknown, so the campaign is presumed to have occurred during  this period. 
        Hittite texts  indicate that Arzawa king Tarhuntaradu invaded deep into Hittite territory and  occupied Tuwanuwa (Tyana). [69] 
        Iconium  is located approximately 185 km west of Tuwanuwa. 
        Tarhuntaradu  was a contemporary of Perseus' mother, Danae, and Perseus likely participated  in Tarhuntaradu's campaign with the Ahhiyawa army. 
        The  temple of the citadel of Mycenae, founded by Perseus, housed a scarab of Tiye,  wife of Amenhotep III of Egypt. [70] 
        The  scarab was supposedly given to Perseus by Tarhuntaradu, who had connections  with Amenhotep III, and Perseus placed it in his temple. 
      3.4  Founding of Mycenae 
        After the  death of Acrisius, son of Abas, Megapenthes, son of Proetus, who lived in  Tiryns, moved to Argos. [71] 
        In 1332  BC, Perseus returned to Peloponnesus from the land of the Ethiopians and  occupied Tiryns with the Achaeans, who had been expelled from Argos. [72] 
        In 1330  BC, Perseus founded Mycenae and surrounded it with fortified walls. [73] 
        The  Achaeans who lived in Mycenae changed their name to Mycenaeans. 
      3.5 Sons  of Perseus 
        Perses  and Andromeda had sons: Perses, Electryon, Alcaeus, Sthenelus, Cynurus, Mestor,  and Helius (or Heleus). 
        Perses  was born in Ethiopia and left there to succeed his mother Andromeda's father,  Cepheus. [74] 
        Alcaeus  married Hipponome, daughter of Menoeceus of Thebes, and had a son, Amphitryon,  who would later become the father of Heracles. [75] 
        Alcaeus  lived in Tiryns, and the Achaeans changed their name to Tirynthians. 
        Sthenelus  inherited Mycenae from his father Perseus. [76] 
        In 1300  BC, Cynurus, seeking a new land, migrated to the border with Laconia and  founded Cynuria. [77] 
        The  Achaeans who lived in Cynuria changed their name to Cynurians. 
        Mestor  married Lysidice, daughter of Pelops, and had a daughter, Hippothoe. [78] 
        In 1290  BC, Helius founded Helos on the coast of Laconia. [79] 
        Helius  married Hippothoe, daughter of Mestor, and had a son, Taphius. [80] 
        In 1277  BC, Helius and his brothers invaded northwestern Greece and settled in  Echinades. [81] 
        Electryon  died during this expedition, along with his sons, leaving his youngest son,  Lycymnius, and his daughter, Alcmena, in Mideia. [82] 
      3.6  Migration after the Death of Eurystheus 
        Sthenelus'  son, Eurystheus, inherited Mycenae from his father. [83] 
        In 1217  BC, Eurystheus died after Heracles' death, defeated in battle by Heracles'  sons. [84] 
        In 1213  BC, the Tirynthians joined the migration of Heracles' son Tlepolemus and  migrated to Rhodes. [85] 
        Tlepolemus's  migration included Eurystheus' daughter Admete and the Mycenaean Lebes. [86] 
        Lebes  settled in Crete. [87] 
        In 1200  BC, Lebes' son Rhacius traveled from Crete to Asia Minor and founded Colophon.  [88] 
        Admete  joined Rhacius' migration and migrated from Crete to Samos. [89] 
      4 Mycenae's  prosperity 
        After the  death of Eurystheus, Pelops' son Atreus inherited Mycenae. [90] 
        During  the reign of Atreus' grandson Agamemnon, Mycenae enjoyed its second golden age,  following that of Argus' son Messapus in the mid-16th century BC. 
        In 1200  BC, Agamemnon annexed Laconia to Mycenae, and his brother Menelaus took  possession of Laconia. [91] 
        Agamemnon  established a sanctuary for Athena on the Onugnathus Peninsula near Cape Maleae  in Laconia. [92] 
        In 1190  BC, Agamemnon's son Halaesus emigrated from Mycenae to Falerii in central Italian  peninsula. [93] 
        In 1341  BC, Danae, mother of Perseus, founder of Mycenae, migrated to the Italian  peninsula and founded Ardea, about 30 km southeast of Rome. [94] 
        The area  around Falerii was ruled by the Rutulians, based in Ardea in Latium. Their  king, Turnus, was a descendant of Danae. [95] 
        The  Rutulians likely invited Halaesus to join forces with them against the  surrounding rivals. 
        In 1182  BC, a battle broke out between Aeneas, son of Anchises, and the Rutulians.  Halaesus sided with the Rutulians and was killed by Pallas, son of Evander.  [96] 
        After  Halaesus' death, the Mycenaeans who had lived in Falerii likely returned to  Mycenae. Recent archaeological excavations have unearthed artifacts that  indicate trade between Mycenae and Italy in the 12th century BC. 
      5 Dorian  Invasion 
        5.1  Battle with Cleodaeus 
        In 1173  BC, Cleodaeus, son of Hyllus, led the Dorians in an attack on Mycenae and  destroyed the city. [97] 
        Recent  archaeological findings have revealed evidence of destruction at Mycenae in the  12th century BC. [98] 
        The  Achaeans expelled the Dorians from Peloponnesus, but the land was devastated. 
        Penthilus,  son of Orestes, son of Agamemnon, led the dispossessed people in an expedition  to Lesbos and colonized it. [99] 
        The  Achaeans who lived in Amyclae, led by Peisander, colonized Tenedos. [100] 
        The  Achaeans who lived in Epidaurus, led by Perinthus, migrated elsewhere. [101] 
      5.2  Battle with Temenus 
        In 1112  BC, the Dorians, led by Temenus, son of Aristomachus, invaded Peloponnesus.  [102] 
        The  Achaeans, led by Tisamenus, son of Orestes, were attacked by the Dorians and  surrendered Argos to Sparta. [103] 
        In 1104  BC, the Achaeans, who had been besieged in Sparta, surrendered their city to  the Dorians and migrated to Achaia. [104] 
        Some  Achaeans remained in Laconia. 
        In 1101  BC, Oxylus of Elis summoned Agorius, great-grandson of Orestes, from Helice in  Achaia and made him co-ruler. [105] 
        In 930  BC, most of the Achaeans who lived in Pharis, led by Patreus, son of Preugenes,  migrated to Achaia and founded Patrae. [106] 
        In 780  BC, the Achaeans who lived in Amyclae, Pharis, and Geranthrae migrated from  Peloponnesus after being attacked by the Dorians. [107] 
      6  Colonization to Aeolis 
        In 1100  BC, Archelaus (or Echelas), son of Penthilus, led a group of Achaean settlers  to the area around Dascylium in northwestern Anatolia. [108] 
        In 1055  BC, Archelaus' son Gras marched to the Granicus River, recaptured Lesbos, and  took possession of Aeolis between Mysia and Ionia. [109] 
      7  Migration from Laconia to Eleia 
        In 1070  BC, the Pelasgians, who lived in Lemnos, migrated to Laconia and were accepted  by the Dorians. However, conflict subsequently arose between the two groups.  The Pelasgians, instigating the Achaeans living in Laconia, rebelled against  the Dorians. The Dorians concluded a treaty with them and expelled them from  Laconia. [110] 
        The  Pelasgians and Achaeans migrated to various places. 
        Herodotus  writes that the Minyans, who did not join the Theran migration, migrated from  Lacedaemon to southern Eleia and founded Lepreum, Macistus, Phryxae, Pyrgus,  Epium, and Nudium. [111] 
        However,  it was the Pelasgians who were expelled from Athens who drove the Minyans out  of Lemnos. [112] 
        It is  unlikely that the Minyans, fewer in number than the Pelasgians, could have  founded six towns. 
        The  founders of these towns were likely Achaeans who had rebelled and been expelled  from Laconia, most of whom were Achaeans who had lived in Laconia and opposed  the Dorians. 
      8  Ahhiyawa in Hittite Texts 
        The term  Ahhiyawa in Hittite texts is generally interpreted as referring to the  Achaeans. [113] 
        Ahhiyawa  is first mentioned in the Indictment of Madduwatta (CTH 147), written during  the reign of Arnuwanda I (1390–80 BC). [114] 
        The text  records that Madduwatta was attacked by Attarsiya of Ahhiyawa and fled to the  Hittite king Tudhaliya I. [115] 
        Ahhiyawa  must have existed at the time the text was composed. 
        At that  time In 1380 BC, the Achaeans (descendants of Achaeus, son of Xuthus) inhabited  Argolis, the Nile Delta in Egypt, and northwestern Anatolia. 
        However,  no connection with Madduwatta has been found within these areas. 
        The  Ahhiyawa that appear in Hittite texts are not likely to be Achaeans. 
      9 Spread  of Achaeans Settlements 
        In 1435  BC, the Achaeans were born in Aegialus, north of the Peloponnesus. 
        In 1435  BC, the Achaeans who lived in Aegialus migrated to Thessaly. 
        In 1420  BC, the Achaeans who lived in Thessaly migrated to Aegialus. 
        In 1407  BC, the Achaeans who lived in Aegialus migrated to Argos. 
        In 1405  BC, the Achaeans who lived in Argos migrated to Andania in Messenia. 
        In 1402  BC, the Achaeans who lived in Argos migrated to the Nile Delta in Egypt. 
        In 1390  BC, the Achaeans who lived in Egypt migrated to the mouth of the Aesepus River  in northwestern Anatolia and changed their name to Ethiopians. 
        In 1380  BC, the Achaeans who lived in Ethiopia migrated to the southwestern coast of  the Black Sea and founded Salmydessus. 
        In 1350  BC, the Achaeans who lived in Salmydessus migrated to the southern coast of the  Black Sea and changed their name to Mariandynians, Bithynians, Paphlagonians,  and Thynians. 
        In 1345  BC, the Achaeans who lived in Salmydessus migrated to Tauric Chersonese. 
        In 1341  BC, the Achaeans who lived in Egypt migrated to the Italian peninsula and  founded Ardea. 
        In 1330  BC, the Achaeans who lived in Ethiopia migrated to the Peloponnesus and founded  Mycenae. 
        In 1280  BC, the Achaeans who lived in Andania migrated to Arene in Messenia. 
        In 1213  BC, the Achaeans who lived in Tiryns and Mycenae migrated to Rhodes and Crete. 
        In 1200  BC, the Achaeans who lived in Crete migrated to Samos and Colophon in Ionia. 
        In 1200  BC, the Achaeans who lived in Mycenae annexed Laconia. Later, the Achaeans also  gained control of Messenia. 
        In 1190  BC, the Achaeans who lived in Mycenae migrated to the Italian peninsula. 
        In 1173  BC, the Dorian invasion of the Peloponnesus devastated the land, causing the  Achaeans to migrate to Tenedos and Lesbos. 
        In 1104  BC, the Achaeans who lived in Argolis and Laconia migrated to Achaia in the  northern Peloponnesus. 
        In 1100  BC, the Achaeans who lived in Achaia migrated to the area around Dascylium in  northwestern Anatolia. 
        In 1070  BC, the Achaeans who remained in Laconia also migrated to Eleia and founded six  towns there. 
        In 1055  BC, the Achaeans who lived in northwestern Anatolia migrated to Lesbos. 
      10 Greek  Dark Ages 
        The  majority of Achaeans lived in Achaia in the northern Peloponnesus. 
        Achaeans  also lived in Eleia, Thessaly, Mycenae, Tiryns, and Cynuria. 
        Ardea in  Italy was inhabited by the Rutulians, who changed their name from Achaeans. 
        Achaeans  also inhabited the Anatolian peninsula around Dascylium, Tenedos, and Lesbos. 
        On the  southern coast of the Black Sea lived the Mariandynians, Bithynians,  Paphlagonians, and Thynians, who changed their names from Achaeans. 
      End  |