1 Introduction
The Pelasgians lived over a wider area than any other tribe in ancient Greeks.
The Pelasgians also migrated frequently and changed their names.
The Pelasgians therefore seem to have been a difficult race to understand for ancient historians such as Ephorus of the 4th century BC. [1]
2 Eponym of the Pelasgians
The 1st century AD myth writer Apollodorus and his contemporary historian Dionysius of Halicarnassus agree that the eponym of the Pelasgians was Pelasgus, son of Niobe, daughter of Phoroneus. [2]
They also say that Pelasgus had a son named Lycaon, who lived in Arcadia. [3]
But if I draw up a genealogy, three generations after Lycaon, son of Pelasgus, son of Niobe, there is Lycaon, son of Pelasgus, son of Triopas.
The first Lycaon lived in Argos, and the second Lycaon lived in Arcadia. [4]
The Peloponnesus peninsula was originally called Apia, after Niobe's brother Apis. Later it became Pelasgia, named after Pelasgus, and Argos, named after Pelasgus' brother Argus.
This name was mainly used for Argos, not Arcadia.
Therefore, the most likely eponym of the Pelasgians is Pelasgus, son of Niobe, who is estimated to have been born in 1710 BC. [5]
3 Emigration from Argos to other locations
3.1 Emigration from Argos to Italy
In 1635 BC, Oenotrus, son of Lycaon, son of Pelasgus, son of Niobe, migrated from Argos to southwestern Italy and founded Pandosia. [6]
Oenotrus' brother Peucetius migrated to the southeastern part of the Italian peninsula. [7]
The region became known as Peucetia, after Peucetius. [8]
The Pelasgians who migrated with Oenotrus changed their name to Oenotrians, and the Pelasgians who migrated with Peucetius changed their name to Peucetians. [9]
3.2 Emigration from Argos to Arcadia
In 1560 BC, Pelasgus, son of Agenor, son of Triopas, migrated to the foothills of Mount Lycaeus (1,421 m above sea level), about 70 km west-southwest of Argos. [10]
In the early 14th century BC, the people living under Callisto's son Arcas changed their name from Pelasgians to Arcadians. [11]
3.2.1 Emigration from Arcadia to Eleia
In the 14th century BC, the brothers Phrixus and Makistus, descendants of Caucon, son of Lycaon, migrated from Arcadia to Eleia and founded Phrixa and Makistos. [12]
The people they led were the Caucones, who changed their name from the Pelasgians. [13]
3.3 Emigration from Argos to Egypt
In 1560 BC, Iasus, son of Triopas, son of Phorbas, son of Argus, son of Niobe, led the Pelasgians and migrated from Argos to Egypt. [14]
Iasus' daughter Io married Telegonus, who lived in Sais of Egypt. [15]
Io's son Epaphus expanded his power and founded Memphis above the forks of the NileDelta. [16]
Cranaus, the second king of Athens, was also a son of Io. [17]
3.3.1 Emigration from Egypt to Athens
The Athenians of old were the Pelasgians, who at that time were called the Cranaans. [18]
The Cranaans are thought to have been the people under Cranaus, the second king of Athens. If so, there must have been a migration of the Pelasgians to Attica some 150 years from the time of Pelasgus, the eponym of the Pelasgians, to the time of Cranaus.
No migration from Argos to Athens is reported until Crotopus, son of Agenor, ruled Argos in the time of Cranaus.
However, there is a tradition that the Athenians were immigrants from Sais in Egypt, and that the early rulers of Athens were Egyptians. [19]
From this, it is estimated as follows.
Herodotus tells us that the Pelasgians were called Cranaans. [20]
Therefore, the people under the Athenian king Cecrops before Cranaus were not Pelasgians.
Io, the daughter of Iasus, son of Triopas, who migrated from Argos to Egypt, married Telegonus of Sais, and they had a son, Cranaus. Cranaus immigrated to Attica, bringing with him descendants of the Pelasgians who had emigrated to Egypt with Io. [21]
3.4 Emigration from Argos to Asia Minor
In 1560 BC, Iasus' brother Xanthus led the Pelasgians from Argos to colonize Lycia, after which Xanthus himself colonized the island of Issa, which became known as Pelasgia (later Lesbos). [22]
Cyrnus of Argos, who parted ways with Xanthus, founded Cyrnus in Cheronesus, opposite Rhodes. [23]
3.5 Emigration from Argos to Thessaly
In 1560 BC, the Pelasgians, led by Larisa, daughter of Pelasgus, son of Triopas, migrated from Argos to Thessaly. [24]
The Pelasgians settled in an area extending north of Thessaly, on the banks of the Peneius River, from Larisa to the southeast coast. [25]
In 1511 BC, during the time of Pelasgus, son of Larisa, a great earthquake occurred north of Thessaly. The mountains called Tempe split open to form the Tempe Valley, and the water from the swamps flowed into the Peneius River, which dried up and became a plain called Dotium, where the Pelasgians expanded their settlements. [26]
3.5.1 Emigration from Thessaly to Dodona
In 1480 BC, Thessalus, son of Haemon, migrated from Scotussa in Thessaly to Dodona. Thessalus also removed the oracle from Scotussa and built a temple at Dodona. [27]
This migration was accompanied by most of the women in the town, and it is said that the shrine maidens in charge of prophecies at the oracle in Dodona were their descendants for generations. [28]
3.5.2 Emigration from Thessaly to other locations
The Pelasgians, led by Pelasgus' daughter Larisa, lived in Thessaly, and within six generations the Pelasgian population rapidly increased due to the fertile land. [29]
In 1390 BC, a huge tsunami in the Aegean Sea hit the towns of Pelasgians on the coast of Thessaly. Displaced, the Pelasgians moved inland en masse and raided Itonus on the west coast of the Pagasetic Gulf.
In the town of Itonus lived Itonus, son of Amphictyon, son of Deucalion, and his wife Melanippe.
Melanippe was the daughter of Aeolus, son of Hippotes, who lived in Arne of Thessaly. [30]
Amphictyon and Aeolus rallied their kin and drove the Pelasgians from Thessaly. [31]
Driven from Thessaly, the Pelasgians scattered in search of new lands.
4 Emigration from Thessaly to around Dodona
Most of the Pelasgians forced from Thessaly fled around Dodona. [32]
From around Dodona, some Pelasgians migrated to the Italian peninsula, but many lived in the mountains, waiting to return to their homeland of Thessaly. [33]
Afterwards, a leader named Thesprotus appeared among them, and it is assumed that the name of the clan changed from Pelasgians to Thesprotians. [34]
The Thesprotians founded Ephyra (later Cichyrus) near the sea southwest of Dodona. [35]
Ephyra was also the name of a town (later Crannon) founded near Scotussa in Thessaly by Crannon, who was believed to be the brother of Thessalus, who had built a temple at Dodona. [36]
4.1 Situation of Thessaly before return
In 1257 BC, chased by the Lapiths, the Aenianians who lived on the Plain of Dotion migrated to the north side of Mount Oeta. Later, some of them migrated to the vicinity of Cyphus, southwest of Mount Olympus.
Also, some of the Perrhaebians who lived around Gyrton moved to the area around Mount Lacmus, near Dodona, upstream of the Peneius River. However, many Perrhaebians chose to live together in servitude to Lapiths. [37]
Afterwards, Lapiths expanded its range around Gyrton, Magnesia and the Pagasetic Gulf, and even crossed the Peneius River to overwhelm the Dorians. However, Lapiths was attacked and destroyed by Heracles, who sided with the Dorians. [38]
Some time before this, the Minyans who lived around Iolcus had rebelled against the tyranny of Acastus, son of Pelias, and had been driven out by Peleus of Phthia. [39]
During the Trojan War, Thessaly's main town, Iolcus, was destroyed, Lapiths was defeated in a battle with Heracles, and Phthia gained great power.
In the time of Achilles, son of Peleus, Phthia had influence over Scyros, Aegina, and even Locris. [40]
4.2 Beginning of return
The Pelasgians, who were driven from Thessaly in 1390 BC, also lived in Ravenna, on the northern east coast of the Italian peninsula. They are said to have returned to Thessaly under pressure from the Tyrrhenians who had migrated from Lydia to the Italian peninsula. [41]
However, they did not return directly from Ravenna to Thessaly. They fled across the Adriatic Sea to the Thesprotians around Dodona.
It is assumed that their appearance inspired the Thesprotians and triggered the invasion of Thessaly.
After that, the Thesprotians were gradually oppressed by the following people who immigrated to northwestern Greece from various places.
1) Settle in Aetolia
In 1320 BC, Aetolus, son of Endymion of Elis in Peloponnesus, migrated to the land of the Curetes in Aetolia, expelled the Curetes, and founded Pleuron and Calydon. [42]
After the settlement of Aetolus, northwestern Greece became a popular migration destination, and many colonists headed there. [43]
2) Settlement of Cephallenia and islands
In 1277 BC, Amphitryon, son of Alcaeus, and Cephalus, son of Deion (or Pandion), went on an expedition to the land of the Teleboans. [44]
The central figure in this expedition is presumed to be Amphitryon's uncle, Helius (or Heleus), son of Perseus, who had already built Helos in Argolis. Helius was married to Hippothoe, the daughter of his brother Mestor, and was not satisfied with Helos and set out on an expedition in search of new lands. [45]
Helius enlisted the help of his brother Electryon and his nephew Amphitryon. Amphitryon invited Creon, his mother's brother, and Cephalus, the son of Deion, who had come from Thoricus in Attica to Thebes, pursued by Aegeus, to join the expedition. [46]
The expedition expelled the Teleboans from islands in the Ionian Sea west of Acarnania and colonized them. [47]
Cephalus colonized the largest island in the Ionian Sea and named it Cephallenia. [48]
Helius settled the Echinades Islands. [49]
Then Taphius, the son of Helius, expelled the Teleboans from the islands north of Cephallenia, founded one of them Taphos, and called it Taphos. [50]
3) Settlement in Acarnania
In 1246 BC, the Pelasgians migrated from Sicily to Acarnania. [51]
These Pelasgians were forced out of Thessaly in 1390 BC and migrated to the Italian peninsula, where they lived in Regis Villa near Rome. They had migrated to Sicily in 1300 BC, chased by the Tyrrhenians from Lydia. [52]
However, with the arrival of Evander from Arcadia to what would become Rome, the population began to move one after another. The chain of migration extended to the southern part of the Italian peninsula, where the Sicels, chased by the Oenotrians, migrated to Sicily. Following the invasion of the Sicels, the Pelasgians in Sicily migrated to Acarnania. [53]
4) Settlement in Cephallenia
In 1244 BC, Phyleus, son of Augeas, settled from Elis in Dulichium of Cephallenia. [54]
5) Ephyra capture
In 1237 BC, Heracles, son of Amphitryon, went on an expedition to Thesprotia and captured Ephyra. [55]
During the Trojan War, Ilus, son of Mermerus, son of Jason, lived on Ephyra. [56]
6) Settlement in Corcyra
In 1237 BC, Jason, son of Aeson, who traveled with Heracles, settled in Scheria (later Corcyra). [57]
7) Settlement in Acarnania
In 1237 BC, Icarius, son of Oebalus, who took part in the expedition of Heracles, settled Acarnania, west of the River Achelous from Pleuron.
Icarius' two sons, Alyzeus and Leucadius, founded a city in Acarnania that they named after themselves. [58]
8) Settlement in Taphos
In 1237 BC, Taphius, son of Helius, son of Perseus, who took part in the expedition of Heracles, settled Taphos from the Echinades. [59]
9) Settlement in Echinades
In 1237 BC, Meges, son of Phyleus, who took part in the expedition of Heracles, emigrated from Cephallenia to the Echinades and took possession of the largest island, which he called Dulichium, the same as his homeland. [60]
10) Settlement near Ambracian Gulf
In 1204 BC, Alcmaeon, son of Amphiaraus, migrated to the eastern side of the Ambracian Gulf and founded Argos (later renamed Argos-Amphilochicum). [61]
4.3 Birth of a leader
Heracles had a son, Dexamenus, by Astyoche, the daughter of Phyleus of Ephyra, who was taken prisoner on Heracles' expedition in 1237 BC.
Ambrax, son of Dexamenus, ruled Ambracia in the northern part of the Ambracian Gulf. [62]
Dexamenus also had sons named Pheidon and Haimon.
The sons of Dexamenus became leaders of the Thesprotians. [63]
4.4 Emergence of defenselessness during the Trojan War
The Troy expedition included combat-ready men from all over Thessaly.
During the Trojan War, Thessaly was defenseless.
4.5 Status of return
The Thesprotians' occupation of Thessaly appears to have been completed shortly before the fall of Troy.
It is estimated that the Thesprotians first invaded Thessaly in the early spring of 1186 BC. [64]
The Boeotians of Arne in Thessaly were defeated by Haimon, the son of Dexamenus, son of Heracles.
Some of the Boeotians returned to Boeotia, but most remained as serfs, known as Penestae. [65]
The Thesprotians fought against the Achaeans, Perrhaebi, and Magnesians.
The Achaeans were also initially allowed to continue living as Penestae, but were driven out in the third generation, along with Arne's Boeotians.
Eventually, the Perrhaebians and Magnetes continued to live in Thessaly, subordinate to the Thesprotians. [66]
The Perrhaebians also lived in northern Thessaly 800 years later, during the time of Philip, son of Amyntas. [67]
5 Emigration from Thessaly to Italy
In 1390 BC, some of the Pelasgians were forced from Thessaly and migrated to various parts of the Italian peninsula.
5.1 Emigration to the northern part of the Italian peninsula
Some of the Pelasgians landed in northeastern Italy via Dodona and founded Spina (modern Comacchio) south of the mouth of the Padus River (modern Po River). [68]
They also founded Ravenna, a little south of Spina. [69]
5.2 Emigration to the central part of the Italian peninsula
The Pelasgians, who lived in Perrhaebia north of Thessaly, were led by Janus and moved westward from the east coast of the Italian peninsula across the Apennines. [70]
Janus was the son of Nanas, the son of Teutamides, the son of Amyntor, the son of Phrastor, the son of Pelasgus, the son of Larisa. [71]
Janus was accepted by the Ausones and lived with them near Cutilia in Reatine. The Ausones had driven out the Umbrians and Sicels and settled near Cutilia shortly before Janus appeared. [72]
Olistene, the daughter of Janus, married Sabus, son of Sancus, who became the eponym of the Sabines, which produced the kings of ancient Rome. [73]
Faunus, son of Aethex, son of Janus, drove out the Umbrians and took control of Lake Trasimene. [74]
5.2.1 Emigration from Italy to Sicily
In 1300 BC, Arnus, the son of Faunus, was driven out of the area around Lake Trasimene by the Tyrrhenians, led by Tyrrhenus, son of Atys, who had migrated from Lydia. [75]
Furthermore, Maleus, son of Janus, son of Sabus, who lived in the land of Regis Villa, near the west-northwest coast of Rome, was also driven out by the Tyrhenians. [76]
The Pelasgians, chased by the Tyrrhenians, migrated to Sicily. [77]
The Pelasgians migrated from Sicily as follows:
1) Emigration from Sicily to Acarnania
In 1246 BC, the Pelasgians migrated from Sicily to Acarnania, chased by the Sicels, who migrated en masse from the Italian peninsula. [78]
2) Emigration from Acarnania to Boeotia
In 1188 BC, the Pelasgians moved from Acarnania to Boeotia. They drove out the Boeotians who lived in Coroneia and occupied the town. [79]
3) Emigration from Boeotia to Athens
In 1126 BC, the Pelasgians occupying Coroneia were expelled from Boeotia by the Boeotians, led by Damasichthon, son of Opheltes, who had returned from Arne of Thessaly.
The Pelasgians, led by Agrolas and Hyperbius, fled to Athens and were allowed to live in the barren lands at the foot of Mount Hymettus. [80]
4) Emigration from Athens to Lemnos
In 1115 BC, the Pelasgians were expelled from Athens and moved to Lemnos, envied by the Athenians who had seen their barren land successfully cultivated. [81]
Homer says that Lemnos was inhabited by the Sinties, and the 3rd century BC historian Philochorus tells us that the Sinties were Pelasgians. [82]
The Sinties were the Pelasgians who migrated from Athens to Lemnos.
5) Emigration from Lemnos to Chalcidice
In 495 BC, the Pelasgians of Lemnos, chased by Miltiades, son of Cimon, migrated to five towns on the Chalcidice peninsula: Cleonae, Olophyxis, Acrothoi, Dium, and Thyssus. [83]
The descendants of Janus, who migrated from Thessaly to the Italian peninsula in 1390 BC, ironically returned close to the land where their ancestors had once lived, some 900 years later.
5.3 Emigration to the southern part of the Italian peninsula
In 1390 BC, Dius, who lived on the coast of Thessaly and led the tsunami-stricken Pelasgians, attacked Itonus on the west coast of the Pagasetic Gulf. Dius took Melanippe, wife of Itonus, son of Amphictyon, as spoils of war and moved to Metapontium in the southern part of the Italian peninsula. [84]
At Metapontium, Melanippe gave birth to two sons, Aeolus and Boeotus. [85]
When Boeotus came of age, he returned from the Italian peninsula to Arne of Thessaly and succeeded his grandfather Aeolus. [86]
Melanippe's son Aeolus moved to Lipara, northeast of Sicily, married Liparus' daughter Cyane, and ruled the area around the island. [87]
6 Emigration from Thessaly to Phrygia
Some of the Pelasgians who fled Thessaly in 1390 BC headed north to the Black Sea, led by Dolion, son of Silenus, brother of Nanas. They crossed the Bosporus, turned right around the Propontis, and settled on the banks of the Ascanius River. [88]
Later, the Pelasgians changed their name to Doliones and moved westward, settling widely around Cyzicus. [89]
Placia and Scylace on the shores of the Propontis, east of Cyzicus, were inhabited by Pelasgians even during the time of the historian Herodotus in the 5th century BC. [90]
Cyzicus, son of Aeneus, fifth generation from Dolion, married Cleite, sister of Arisbe, wife of Priam king of Troy, and lived in the town of Cyzicus. Cyzicus learned that an expedition of Argonauts had once come from Thessaly, where his ancestors had been driven out, and he fought them and was killed. [91]
There was also a town in the Ida mountains named after Gargaros of Larissa in Thessaly.
Cycnus (or Cygnus), son of Hecato's daughter Calyce, who lived in Colonae near the southern coast of Ilium, is presumed to be a descendant of Gargaros. [92]
7 Emigration from Thessaly to Lesbos
Some of the Pelasgians who fled Thessaly in 1390 BC joined the immigrant band of Macareus, son of Aeolus, and moved to Pelasgia (later Lesbos). In addition to the Aeolis, Macareus' immigrant group also included Ionians. [93]
The sons of Macareus then settled the neighboring islands (Chios, Samos, Rhodes, Cos), possibly including the Pelasgians. [94]
7.1 Emigration from Lesbos to the Hermus Basin
During the Trojan War, a large tribe lived in the Hermus River valley, led by Hippothous and Pylaeus, two sons of Lethus, son of Teutamus. [95]
The large tribe of Pelasgians became a vassal state of the Hittites, who were influential in Asia Minor, and were called the Seha River Land. [96]
When the power of the Hittites and Pelasgians weakened, Malaus, who led a band of Aeolis immigrants from Locris, moved to the area near the mouth of the Hermus River and founded the Phryconian Cyme. [97]
The Pelasgians, led by the descendants of Teutamus, were chased by the Aeolis, and seem to have migrated to the Italian peninsula and settled in Pisae, where the Tyrrhenians lived. [98]
It is thought that the Tyrrhenians accepted the Pelasgians, who immigrated from Asia Minor, as their own tribe and lived together with them.
8 Emigration from Thessaly to Lemnos
Lemnos is not named among the destinations of the Pelasgians who fled Thessaly in 1390 BC. However, they are said to have crossed to a number of islands near Hellespont, including Lemnos. [99]
The 3rd century BC historian Anticleides tells us that the first inhabitants of Lemnos were the Pelasgians. [100]
8.1 Emigration from Lemnos to Lydia
Strabo reports that some of the Pelasgians of Lemnos migrated to the Italian peninsula, led by Tyrrhenus, son of Atys. [101]
From this it is assumed that Manes, the progenitor of the Maeonians of Lydia, was the leader of the Pelasgians who were driven out of Thessaly in 1390 BC. [102]
Manes migrated from Thessaly to the mainland via Lemnos and settled around Mount Tmolus. [103]
Manes is presumed to be the same person whom the Hittites called Kupanta-Kurunta, king of Arzawa. [104]
8.1.1 Emigration from Lydia to Lemnos
In 1318 BC, in a battle between the Hittite king Mursili II and Uhha-Ziti (Tantalus), the descendants of Manes sided with Uhha-Ziti. [105]
The Hittites were victorious in battle, and the Maeonians (Pelasgians), led by Tyrhenus, son of Atys, fled from Lydia to Lemnos.
Herodotus tells us that they migrated from Smyrna to the land of Umbria, but at that time Smyrna did not exist. [106]
Tyrrhenus appeared in Italy around 1300 BC, with a time lag of 18 years, during which time it is assumed that they were in Lemnos.
8.1.1.1 Selecting a new destination
After Atys's son Tyrrhenus emigrated, Lemnos received more settlers and became overpopulated, forcing Tyrrhenus to migrate to the Italian peninsula.
At that time, Agylla in the central part of the Italian peninsula was so prosperous that it dedicated the treasury house to Delphi, and rumors of it are thought to have spread throughout the Greek world. [107]
The founders of Agylla were the Pelasgians who were exiled from Thessaly. The Pelasgians of Lemnos were probably aware of their prosperity from their interactions with the tribe. It is also believed that they learned information about Agylla through offerings to Dodona, which was founded by the founder of both, and visits to receive oracles. [108]
8.1.1.2 Emigration from Lemnos to Italy
In 1300 BC, Tyrrhenus led the Maeonians (Pelasgians) and landed on the central west coast of the Italian peninsula, attempting to invade Latium, but were repulsed by Romis. However, they later expanded their range to the northern half of the Italian peninsula, displacing many of the indigenous peoples. They were called the Tyrrhenians after Tyrrhenus, their place of residence was called Tyrrhenia, and the sea west of the Italian peninsula was called the Tyrrhenian Sea. [109]
Many of the natives driven out by the Tyrrhenians were of the same tribe as the Pelasgians who had been driven out of Thessaly ninety years earlier, but they did not speak the same language. [110]
8.1.2 Emigration from Lydia to Mysia
Mysus, son of Atys, son of Cotys, son of Manes, migrated from Lydia to Mysia. [111]
The cause of Mysus' emigration, like that of his brother Tyrhenus, appears to have been the struggle with the Hittites.
Teuthras, son of Diomedes, son of Mysus, married Auge, the mother of Telephus, who had migrated from Arcadia. [112]
The Pelasgians under Teuthras accepted the Arcadians as their kin and cohabited with them.
9 Emigration from Thessaly to Chios
The Pelasgians who fled Thessaly in 1390 BC are said to have crossed to many islands near Hellespont. [113]
Among them were the Pelasgians who migrated to the island of Chios. [114]
10 Pelasgians who are not attached to the land
As we have seen, the Pelasgians were not attached to the land and migrated repeatedly. For this reason, the Pelasgians were nicknamed "the storks" (Pelargi). [115]
Aeolis, on the other hand, fought tooth and nail against their opponents.
Neleus, son of Cretheus of Eleia, fought against Heracles until Pylus was in ruins. [116]
Acastus, son of Pelias of Thessaly, resisted the Minyans until Iolcus was destroyed. [117]
Eurytus, son of Melaneus of Euboea, fought against Heracles until Oechalia was destroyed. [118]
Aeolis, who lived in Corinth of Argolis, resisted the Dorians to the end and left Peloponnesus. [119]
The Achaeans, who lived in Amyclae of Laconia, resisted the Dorians to the end and left Peloponnesus. [120]
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