1 Introduction

The Greeks first inhabited Argolis during the "Great Flood of Ogygus" in 1750 BC. They lived in the upper reaches of the Cephisus River, which flows from west to east on the north side of Mount Parnassus, and those who lost their homes in the flood set out for a new land.

The people led by the two sons of Inachus, Aegialeus (or Aezeius) and Phoroneus, moved to the Peloponnesus Peninsula.

Aegialeus settled on the coast in the north of the peninsula, while Phoroneus went further south and settled on the east side of a small hill (later Larisa) at the edge of the plain. [1]

Aegialeus founded Aegialeia (later Sicyon), and Phoroneus founded Phoroneus (later Argos). [2]

This chapter describes Asine, Cleonae, Corinth, Epidaurus, Heraeum, Hermione, Midea, Nauplia, Nemea, Orneae, Phlius, Tenea, Tiryns, and Troezen.

2 History of Asine

2.1 Founding of Asine

In 1230 BC, some of the Dryopians who lived near Mount Parnassus fled to Eurystheus in Mycenae, pursued by Heracles. Eurystheus settled them in the lands near Nauplia, and the Dryopians founded Asine. [3]

2.2 Destruction of Asine

In 745 BC, Eratus, king of Argos, attacked and destroyed Asine, which had sided with the Spartans after a battle with them. [4]

The Dryopians, who lived in Asine, fled to Lacedaemon and were given lands on the coast of Messenia.[5]

3 History of Cleonae

3.1 Founding of Cleonae

In 1251 BC, Atreus, son of Pelops, moved to Cleonae, about 20 km north-northwest of Mideia, and founded the city. [6]

Atreus moved from Mideia around the same time that Heracles moved from Thebes to Tiryns, the former territory of Amphitryon, Heracles' father. [7]

Atreus's move is thought to have been caused by Licymnius, who lived with Heracles in Thebes, returning to Mideia, where Electryon, the father of Licymnius, lived.

3.2 Supporting Heracles

In 1243 BC, Heracles attacked and killed two sons of Actor, Ceatas and Eurytus, in Cleonae, on their way from Hyrmina in Eleia to Isthmus. [8]

At this time, the Cleoneans led by Atreus joined Heracles. [9]

Atreus' father, Pelops, was the father of Lysidice (or Eurydice), the mother of Alcmena, the mother of Heracles' mother. [10]

In other words, Atreus was the brother of Heracles' grandmother.

3.3 Bride from Crete

In 1235 BC, Pleisthenes (or Plisthenes), son of Atreus, married Aerope (or Eriphyle), daughter of Catreus, son of Minos of Crete. [11]

About 10 km from Cleonae, where Pleisthenes lived, lived Phlius, where Phliasus (or Phlias), son of Ariadne, daughter of Minos. [12]

Phliasus was Aerope's cousin. This kinship is presumably what established the long-distance marriage between Pleisthenes, who lived in Cleonae, and Aerope, who lived in Crete.

3.4 Migration to Mycenae

In 1217 BC, Eurystheus of Mycenae died in a battle with the Heracleidae. [13]

Atreus succeeded him and migrated to Mycenae. [14]

Atreus left Cleonae to his brother Cleonymus (or Cleones), after whom the town was named. [15]

3.5 Migration to Athens

In 1109 BC, Agamedidas, great-grandson of Ctesippus, son of Heracles, became ruler of Cleonae. [16]

The inhabitants of Cleonae fled to Athens and later joined the colony of Asia Minor with those who fled from Phlius. They founded Clazomenae on the Mimas peninsula, led by Paralus (or Parphorus) of Colophon. [17]

3.6 Exile from Mycenae

In 468 BC, Argos occupied Mycenae, and some of the inhabitants of Mycenae fled to Cleonae. [18]

It is believed that the Achaeans continued to live in Cleonae after the return of the Heracleidae.

4 History of Corinth

4.1 Founding of Corinth

In 1407 BC, Archander and Architeles, the two sons of Achaeus, son of Xuthus, fought and defeated Lamedon, son of Gelanor of Sicyon. [19]

Sisyphus, son of Aeolus, who joined Archander, founded Ephyra (later Corinth) on the east side of Sicyon. [20]

Sisyphus was Achaeus' cousin.

4.2 Migration to Colchis

In 1390 BC, Corinth was also affected by a tsunami that occurred in the Aegean Sea.

Aeetes, son of Sisyphus, led the stricken people to migrate to Colchis, near the Phasis River on the eastern shore of the Black Sea. [21]

4.3 Bunus, son of Alcidamea

Aeetes, son of Sisyphus, was succeeded by Bunus. [22]

Bunus founded the temple of Hera in Corinth. [23]

Sisyphus's family was a descendant of Deucalion of Thessaly, and had no connection to the worship of Hera.

Bunus' mother Alcidamea was probably the daughter of Gelanor's son Lamedon, who once occupied Argos, and she was a priestess at the temple of Hera in Argos. [24]

After the battle of Sicyon and Argos, Alcidamea is presumed to have married Almus, son of Sisyphus, and had a son, Bunus. [25]

4.4 Epopeus, son of Aloeus

Bunus was succeeded by Epopeus, son of Aloeus. [26]

Epopeus, king of Sicyon, also ruled Corinth. [27]

Epopeus' only son, Marathon, is known. [28]

4.5 Marathon, son of Epopeus

Marathon emigrated to Attica. Pausanias reports that the reason for his migration was the tyranny of Epopeus. [29]

However, Marathon married the daughter of Erechtheus, the sixth king of Athens, and this marriage was the reason for his migration. [30]

And the marriage was a result of Marathon's support for Erechtheus in the battle between Erechtheus and Immaradus, son of Eumolpus, in 1352 BC. [31]

Pandion, the king of Athens before Erechtheus, fought against Eumolpus with the support of Ion, son of Xuthus. [32]

Marathon was the son of Epopeus, son of Aloeus, son of Sisyphus, son of Aeolus, brother of Xuthus, father of Ion.

Marathon and the daughter of Erechtheus had two sons, Sicyon and Corinthus. [33]

4.6 Successors of Corinthus

Corinthus, son of Marathon, succeeded Ephyraea and the town was called Corinth. [34]

Pausanias reports that the Corinthians adopted Medea, wife of Jason, as Corinthus had no heir. [35]

However, genealogies show that there is a difference of more than 60 years between the births of Corinthus and Medea.

Apollodoros gives the name of Creon, king of Corinth, father of Glauce, contemporary with Medea. [36]

It is likely that Creon succeeded Corinthus. [37]

Creon, son of Lycaethus, is presumably the grandson of Epopeus' brother. [38]

4.7 Age of Medea and Jason

4.7.1 Migration from Thessaly

Medea, wife of Jason, son of Aeson, lived in Aesonis (or Aeson) in Thessaly.

Aesonis was a town founded by Aeson near the Pagasetic Gulf. [39]

In 1247 BC, Medea and Jason migrated from Aesonis to Corinth at the invitation of the Corinthians. [40]

The Corinthians invited Medea because she was a descendant of Sisyphus, the founder of Corinth.

Although it was Medea who was invited by the Corinthians, it was her husband Jason who ruled Corinth. [41]

4.7.2 Migration to Lycia

In 1241 BC, Bellerophontes (or Hipponus, Bellerophon), son of Glaucus, son of Sisyphus, had emigrated from Isthmus in Corinth to Xanthus in Lycia. He married Philonoe, daughter of Iobates, who ruled Xanthus. [42]

Earlier, Lycus, son of Pandion, had emigrated to Lycia. [43]

Iobates, son of Lycus, son of Pandion, had summoned Bellerophontes to fight against the surrounding foreign peoples (Solymi). [44]

Nisus, father of Eurynome, mother of Bellerophontes, was the brother of Lycus, father of Iobates. [45]

Philonoe was therefore a second cousin of Bellerophontes.

4.7.3 Migration to Corcyra

Medea died ten years after Jason and Medea had lived in Corinth. [46]

In 1237 BC, Jason accompanied Heracles on an expedition to northwestern Greece and emigrated to Scheria (later known as Corcyra). [47]

4.8 Age of Sisyphus, son of Aeolus

Jason was succeeded by Sisyphus, son of Aeolus. [48]

No historical sources give the name of the wife of Ornytion, son of Sisyphus.

However, it is assumed that Ornytion's wife was Peirene, mother of his two sons, Leches and Cenchrias, who gave their names to the outer harbor of Corinth. [49]

Pausanias reports that Peirene's father was Oebalus and that she was the daughter of the river god Achelous. [50]

In 1237 BC, Ornytion led the Corinthians in Jason's campaign. During the campaign, Ornytion married Peirene, daughter of Oebalus, son of Telon, who lived near the Achelous River in Acarnaia. [51]

4.9 Age of Ornytion, son of Sisyphus

4.9.1 Founding of Lechaeum and Cenchreae

Ornytion founded Lechaeum on the Corinthian Gulf and Cenchreae on the Saronic Gulf. The towns were named after Ornytion's two sons, Leches and Cenchrias. [52]

The founding of the two towns is estimated to have occurred around 1220 BC.

4.9.2 Migration to Phocis

In 1230 BC, Phocus, son of Ornytion, emigrated from Corinth to Tithorea in Phocis. [53]

4.10 Age of Thoas, son of Ornytion

Corinth appears in Homer's Catalogue of Ships as a town under the command of Mycenae. [54]

However, the Corinthians do not appear to have participated in the Achaeans' expedition to Troy.

4.11 Return of the Heracleidae

4.11.1 Battle with the Dorians

In 1075 BC, Corinth was attacked by the Dorians, led by Aletes, son of Hippotas, a Heracleidae. Doridas and Hyanthidas, the two sons of Propodas, son of Damophon, son of Thoas, son of Ornytion, were kings of the Corinthians at the time. Doridas and Hyanthias handed over the throne to Aletes, and they continued to live in the town.

But Aeolis, the chief inhabitant of Corinth, resisted, and Aletes set up camp on the hill of Solygia and fought, driving the resisting inhabitants out of the town. Corinth became a town of Dorians instead of a town of Aeolis. [55]

4.11.2 Melas, son of Antasus

Aletes took Melas, son of Antasus, who had helped him take Corinth from Gonussa in Achaia, as his co-inhabitant. Cypselus, son of Eetion, who became tyrant of Corinth in 657 BC, was a descendant of Melas. [56]

Melas was also a descendant of Gonussa, daughter of Sicyon, son of Marathon, son of Epopeus. [57]

4.11.3 Founding of Megara

In 1074 BC, after completing their return to Peloponnesus, the Heracleidae invaded Athens. Codrus, son of Melanthus, king of Athens, was killed in battle, but Athenians was victorious. [58]

On their way back from Athens, the Heracleidae expelled the Ionians who lived in Megara and founded the Dorian city of Megara. [59]

It is said that Aletes of Corinth led the Dorians' expedition. [60]

However, Antiochus, the father of Phylas, the father of Aletes' father Hippotas, was the eponym of Antiochis, one of the ten tribes of Athens. It is believed that Aletes did not lead the Dorians' expedition.

4.12 Rule of the Dorians

After Aletes, the Corinthians were ruled by the Heracleidae, from Ixion, Agelas, Prymnis, and Bacchis. [61]

Bacchis was lame, but had political talent, and had three daughters and seven sons. [62]

The descendants of Bacchis were called the Bacchiadae. [63]

After Bacchis, Agelas, Eudemus, Aristomedes, Agemon, Alexander, Telestes, and Automenes ruled the Corinthians. [64]

After Automenes, they chose one man each year to run the city for 90 years, but at the time of Prytanes, the Bacchiadae were expelled by Cypselus. [65]

4.13 Age of Cypselus, son of Eetion

In 657 BC, Cypselus, son of Aetion (or Eetion), became tyrant of Corinth. [66]

Cypselus's paternal ancestor was Melas, son of Antasus, who lived in Corinth in cooperation with the Dorians led by Aletes.

Melas was a descendant of Gonussa, daughter of Sicyon. [67]

In other words, Cypselus was a descendant of Sisyphus, the founder of Corinth, and Aeolis.

4.14 Lineage without Dropouts

After the return of the Heracleidae, there is a dropout of about four generations in the lineage of the rulers of Argos, Sparta, etc., around the 10th century BC.

However, the lineage of the rulers of Corinth continues without contradiction after Aletes to the time of Cypselus in the 7th century BC.

Apart from the lineage of the kings of Athens, the lineage of the rulers of Corinth is the only one that has not been lost even after the 11th century BC.

This is thought to be due to the fact that the ruling class, descended from Sisyphus, the founder of Corinth, continued to live in the town.

The presence of Amphilytus's son Eumelus, the epic poet, was also significant.

Eumelus belonged to the Bacchiadae, and his great-grandfather was Bacchis, the son of Prymnis.

It is assumed that Eumelus, who wrote the "Corinthian History," was also able to investigate the genealogy from Aletes to Bacchis.

5 History of Epidaurus

5.1 Founding of Epidaurus

In 1635 BC, Epidaurus, son of Argus, son of Niobe, migrated from Argos to the east near the sea and founded Epidaurus. [68]

Previously, Epidaurus was a town inhabited by Carians called Epicarus. [69]

5.2 Ruled by Tiryns

In 1368 BC, Proetus, son of Abas, became the ruler of the littoral region of Argolis together with Heraeum, Mideia, and Tiryns in a war against his brother Acrisius. [70]

Until then, Epidaurus was under the control of Argos, but it came under the control of Tiryns.

5.3 Ruled by Mycenae

In 1330 BC, Perseus, son of Danae, founded Mycenae and surrounded it with a strong wall. [71]

Perseus also ruled Tiryns and Midea, and Epidaurus was probably under Mycenae.

5.4 Migration from Aegina

In 1287 BC, Aeacus, son of Actor, migrated from Dia in Thessaly to Aegina. [72]

At that time, Aegina was inhabited by Ionians, who had settled on the island from Oenoe in Attica. They migrated to Epidaurus, led by the descendants of Ion, son of Xuthus. [73]

5.5 Birth of Asclepius

In 1260 BC, Asclepius, the god of medicine, was born as the son of Ischys and Coronis, daughter of Phlegyas.

Pausanias records that Asclepius was born in Epidaurus. [74]

Epidaurus was the ancestral land of Phlegyas. [75]

Probably, Phlegyas' mother was born in Epidaurus.

Later, the Asclepius cult flourished in Epidaurus, giving rise to the tradition that Asclepius was born in Epidaurus.

According to Strabo, Asclepius was born on the banks of the Lethaeus River in Tricca, Thessaly. [76]

5.6 Founding of Perinthus

In 1170 BC, Perinthus of Epidaurus participated in the expedition of Orestes and founded Perinthus. That Perinthus was not Thracia. [77]

Shorter before, the Dorians, led by Cleodaeus, son of Hyllus, invaded Peloponnesus from Doris and destroyed Mycenae. The Dorians also invaded Epidaurus, devastating the land. [78]

5.7 Migration to Athens

In 1102 BC, Deiphontes, son of Antimachus, led the Dorians from Argos against Epidaurus. Pityreus, descendant of Ion, son of Xuthus, handed the town over to Deiphontes. [79]

Pityreus led the inhabitants of Epidaurus to emigrate to Athens. [80]

Deiphontes settled the Ionians, who had accompanied him from Tetrapolis in Attica, in Epidaurus. [81]

5.8 Migration from Tiryns

In 468 BC, Tiryns was attacked by Argos, and some of the inhabitants migrated to Epidaurus. [82]

6 History of Heraeum

6.1 Foundation of the Temple of Hera

Argus, son of Niobe, made an idol of Hera from a pear tree that grew in Tiryns. [83]

In 1620 BC, Argus' son Peiras (or Pirantos) founded the temple of Hera. [84]

Peiras appointed his daughter Callithyia (or Callithias) as the first priestess of the temple. [85]

6.2 Migration to Eleusis

In 1580 BC, Trochilus, son of Callithyia, migrated from Argos to Eleusis. Trochilus brought the cult of Hera to Eleusis. [86]

6.3 Age of Iasus

Io, the daughter of Iasus, son of Triopas, was also a priestess at the temple of Hera. [87]

In 1560 BC, Io emigrated to Egypt with her father Iasus. [88]

Io was called Isis in Egypt. [89]

6.4 Age of Danaus

In 1430 BC, Io's descendant Danaus emigrated from Egypt to Argos. [90]

Danaus' daughter Hypermnestra became a priestess at the temple of Hera. [91]

6.5 Age of Lamedon

In 1408 BC, Lamedon, son of Gelanor, who had been expelled from Argos by Danaus, invaded Argos from Sicyon and took control of the town. [92]

Lamedon's daughter Alcidamea became a priestess of the temple of Hera. [93]

Alcidamea's son Bunus built a temple of Hera in Corinth. [94]

6.6 Age of Proetus

In 1368 BC, Proetus, son of Abas, reconciled with his brother Acrisius and was given the dominion over Tiryns, Heraeum, Mideia, and the littoral region of Argolis. [95]

Proetus founded a temple of Hera near the coast of Sicyon. [96]

6.7 Age of Perseus

In 1330 BC, Perseus founded Mycenae and surrounded it with a strong wall. [97]

From this time on, Heraeum was presumably under the control of Perseus of Mycenae, rather than Megapenthes, the son of Proetus of Argos.

6.8 Age of Sthenelus

Perseus' son Sthenelus inherited Mycenae from his father. [98]

Sthenelus' daughter Alcyone became the priestess of the temple of Hera. [99]

6.9 Age of Eurystheus

Sthenelus' son Eurystheus inherited Mycenae from his father. [100]

Eurystheus' daughter Admete became the priestess of the temple of Hera. [101]

Argos and Mycenae were fighting over the temple of Hera, but it was under the jurisdiction of Mycenae at least until the time of Eurystheus. [102]

7 History of Hermione

7.1 Founding of Hermione

In 1700 BC, Hermion, son of Europs, son of Phoroneus, migrated from Argos to the southeast near the sea and founded Hermione. [103]

Hermione was as old as Sicyon, Argos, and Mycenae within Peloponnesus. Before that, it was inhabited by the Carians. [104]

7.2 Migration from near Parnassus

In 1230 BC, some of the Dryopians who lived near Mount Parnassus were chased by Heracles and migrated to Hermione, where they founded the new Hermione. [105]

8 History of Midea

8.1 Founding of Midea

The 12th-century AD rhetorician Tzetzes reports that Perseus, son of Danae, founded Midea (or Mideia). [106]

However, Pausanias writes that Midea existed already in the time of Perseus' grandfather, Acrisius. [107]

Probably, Midea was called something else when Perseus' son Electryon lived there.

It is thought that it was named after Electryon's wife, Midea. [108]

8.2 Hippodamia's Exile

In 1287 BC, Hippodamia, wife of Pelops, fled from Pisa to Midea after being banished by her husband. [109]

Electryon's wife Lysidice (or Eurydice) was Hippodamia's daughter. [110]

Hippodamia died in Midea. Her remains were later buried in Olympia. [111]

8.3 Death of Electryon

In 1277 BC, Electryon, along with his brother Helius and his nephew Amphitryon, campaigned in northwestern Greece. [112]

During this campaign, Electryon and his sons died, leaving behind his son Lycymnius and daughter Alcmena. [113]

Amphitryon summoned his cousins, Licymnius and Alcmena, to Thebes, and Amphitryon married Alcmena. [114]

Sthenelus of Mycenae placed Pelops' two sons, Atreus and Thyestes, in Midea. [115]

8.4 Return of Licymnius

In 1251 BC, Heracles emigrated from Thebes to Tiryns, his father's former domain.

Licymnius also returned to Midea, his father's former domain. [116]

When Heracles emigrated from Tiryns to Pheneus, the name of Licymnius was not found among the people who accompanied Heracles. [117]

Atreus, the son of Pelops, who had been living in Midea, migrated north and founded Cleonae. [118]

8.5 Return of the Heracleidae

In 1215 BC, the Heracleidae, led by Heracles' son Hyllus, invaded the Peloponnesus Peninsula after the battle with Eurystheus. [119]

Heracles' mother Alcmena and her brother Licymnius returned to their father's former territory, Midea. [120]

Licymnius died in Midea. [121]

8.6 Midea after the Trojan War

Midea does not appear in Homer's Catalogue of Ships. [122]

It also does not appear in the legend of the return of the Heracleidae.

However, Strabo writes that Midea, along with Tiryns, was destroyed by Argos. [123]

Tiryns was destroyed by Argos in 468 BC. [124]

In 1173 BC, the Dorians, led by Cleodaeus, son of Hyllus, attacked Mycenae and destroyed the town. [125]

At this time, Midea was also destroyed by the Dorians, and it is believed that it was later rebuilt.

9 History of Nauplia

9.1 Founding of Nauplia

In 1405 BC, Nauplius, son of Amymone, daughter of Danaus, founded Nauplia near Tiryns. [126]

The inhabitants of Nauplia were people who had migrated from Egypt with Danaus. [127]

9.2 Origin of the town's name

Strabo writes that the name Nauplia comes from the location of the town, and that Nauplius is an invented character based on the name of the town. Strabo cites Homer's failure to mention Nauplia or Palamedes as evidence. Strabo also writes that Nauplius, the son of Amymone, could not have been alive at the time of the Trojan War. [128]

However, Strabo did not know that there were two Nauplius.

The Nauplius at the time of the Trojan War was the son of Clytonaeus, the son of Naubolus, the son of Lernus, the son of Proetus, the son of Nauplius, the son of Amymone. [129]

Nauplia is thought to have been named after the town's founder, Nauplius.

9.3 Bride from Crete

In 1234 BC, Nauplius, son of Clytonaeus, married Clymene, daughter of Catreus, from Crete. [130]

Earlier, Clymene's sister Aerope (or Eriphyle) had married Plisthenes, son of Atreus. [131]

Nauplius and Clymene's long-distance marriage is thought to have been due to the marriage of Plisthenes to Aerope.

9.4 Migration to Euboea

In 1225 BC, Nauplius, son of Clytonaeus, emigrated to Chalcis in Euboea, pursued by the Achaeans. [132]

It is believed that Nauplius' son Palamedes also emigrated to Chalcis with his father at this time.

Slightly earlier, Linus, the epic poet who invented the pelasgic letters, died in Chalcis. [133]

Palamedes learned the Pelasgic letters at Chalcis and added new letters to the alphabet. [134]

It is likely that Nauplius lived in Euboea, which is why the story was invented that he deceived the Achaeans on their return from Troy and shipwrecked them near Euboea.

9.5 Trojan War Era

Nauplia does not appear in Homer's Catalogue of Ships.

In the Trojan War, Palamedes, son of Nauplius, departed from Cormos, not from Nauplia. [135]

Nauplia may not have been large enough to be called a town during the Trojan War.

9.6 Occupation by Argos

In 669 BC, Nauplia was attacked by the Argives and became part of Argos. The Nauplians were given Mothone in southwestern Messenia after the Spartans defeated the Messenians. [136]

10 History of Nemea

10.1 Founding of Nemea

In 1247 BC, internal conflict broke out in Argos, and Adrastus, son of Talaus, fled to Polybus in Sicyon. [137]

At this time, Pronax, son of Talaus, moved from Argos to the upper reaches of the Nemea River, which flows between Sicyon and Corinth, and founded a town there. [138]

Pronax married Nemea, daughter of Sisyphus, son of Aeolus of Corinth, and named the town Nemea. [139]

Pronax's son Lycurgus was a priest of the Nemean Zeus. [140]

10.2 Marriage of Hypsipyle

Pronax took Hypsipyle, daughter of Thoas, as his second wife.

Thoas was the son of Ariadne, daughter of Minos of Crete. [141]

Thoas emigrated from Naxos to Lemnos, where his daughter Hypsipyle was born. [142]

It is estimated that the circumstances of the marriage of Hypsipyle, born in Lemnos, to Pronax of Nemea were as follows.

A plague broke out in Lemnos, and her parents died, leaving the young Hypsipyle behind. [143]

Accompanied by those who migrated from Naxos to Lemnos with Hypsipyle's father Thoas, Hypsipyle migrated to Naxos.

In 1250 BC, Oenarus, a priest of Dionysus of Naxos, and his wife Ariadne, made an expedition to the Peloponnesus to spread the cult of Dionysus. [144]

Hypsipyle, the granddaughter of Oenarus and Ariadne, traveled with her grandparents through the various parts of the Peloponnesus.

Phliasus (or Phlias), the son of Ariadne, also participated in the expedition. Phliasus married Chthonophyle of Phlius in Argolis and lived in Phlius. [145]

Hypsipyle's grandmother Ariadne died in Argos during the journey, and Hypsipyle was adopted by her uncle Phliasus and lived in Phlius. [146]

In 1233 BC, Hypsipyle married Pronax, the son of Talaus, who lived in Nemea. [147]

10.3 Migration to Lemnos

In 1188 BC, Euneus, son of Hypsipyle, left Nemea to join the Achaeans' campaign against Troy. After the Achaeans were defeated in a battle with Ilium and migrated, Euneus settled in Lemnos. [148]

Euneus' grandfather Thoas was the ruler of Lemnos. [149]

Euneus spread the rumor that he was the son of Jason and Hypsipyle in order to subjugate the Minyans who lived in Lemnos at the time. [150]

11 History of Orneae

11.1 Founding of Orneae

In 1277 BC, Orneus, who was driven from Athens by Aegeus, migrated to the vicinity of Phlius in Argolis and founded Orneae. [151]

Pausanias reports that Orneus' father was Erechtehus. [152]

If Orneus' father was Erechtehus, the sixth king of Athens, then Menestheus, the son of Peteus, son of Orneus, was a contemporary of Aegeus, the adopted son of Pandion, son of Cecrops. However, the contemporary of Menestheus during the Trojan War was not Aegeus, but his grandson. Therefore, Erechtehus here seems to be another name for Pandion, the eighth king of Athens. Orneus was therefore Aegeus's brother-in-law.

11.2 Trojan War

During the Trojan War, Orneae was under the rule of Mycenae. [153]

Afterwards, Orneae came under the rule of Argos. [154]

11.3 Fall of Orneae

In 415 BC, the Lacedaemonians populated Orneae with aristocrats who had fled from Argos. [155]

Then the Argives attacked Orneae and completely destroyed it. [156]

At the time of Strabo, Orneae was uninhabited. [157]

12 History of Phlius

12.1 Founding of Phlius

Homer calls Phlius Araethyrea. [158]

However, Strabo writes that Phlius was founded about 6 km from Araethyrea. [159]

There was also a town that predates Araethyrea, the first to be founded by Aras. [160]

The town founded by Aras was probably located 1 km from Phlius in what would later become Celeae. There was a tomb of Aras there. [161]

It is estimated that Aras built the town around 1350 BC.

12.2 Aras's Genealogy

Phlias, son of Aras' daughter Araethyrea, was married to Chthonophyle, daughter of Sicyon, son of Marathon, son of Epopeus. [162]

Aras' father was therefore a contemporary of Epopeus, son of Aloeus.

Aras' father was probably Hopleus or Nireus, brother of Epopeus. [163]

Their father Aloeus was the son of Sisyphus, founder of Corinth. [164]

12.3 Bride from Sicyon

In 1303 BC, Phlias, son of Araethyrea, married Chthonophyle, daughter of Sicyon, from Sicyon. [165]

12.4 Bride from Naxos

In 1250 BC, a group of people who carried on the rites of Dionysus visited Peloponnesus. [166]

The group was led by Oenarus, a priest of Dionysus of Naxos, and his wife Ariadne.

Their host was Melampus, son of Amythaon of Argos. [167]

At that time, Polybus, son of Phlias, lived in Sicyon, succeeding his maternal grandfather, Sicyon. Besides Polybus, Phlias had a son who succeeded Phlias. However, Phlias had no one to succeed him, since he only had a daughter, Chthonophyle.

Phliasus (or Phlias), son of Oenarus, married Chthonophyle and succeeded Phlius. [168]

Phliasus and Chthonophyle had a common ancestor, Sisyphus, founder of Ephyra (later Corinth).

It is believed that Melampus acted as an intermediary between them.

Melampus was the uncle of Talaus, the husband of Lysianassa, daughter of Polybus, Chthonophyle's uncle.

12.5 Relations between Phlius and Naxos

The father of Oenarus, father of Phlias, was probably Otus, son of Aloeus, or his brother Ephialtes. Otus and Ephialtes emigrated to Naxos from Anthedon in Boeotia. [169]

Otus and Ephialtes renamed the island, then called Strongyle (later Naxos), to Dia. [170]

Dia was another name for Hebe, daughter of the goddess Hera, who was worshipped in Phlius and Sicyon. [171]

12.6 Age of the sons of Phlias

In 1243 BC, Dameon, son of Phlias, participated in Heracles' attack on Elis and was killed by Ceatas, son of Actor. [172]

Then, Dameon's brother Androdamas moved to Sicyon. [173]

Phlius was inhabited by Aeolis, but it seems to have come under the control of Argos.

Pausanias writes that the inhabitants of Phlius before the return of the Heracleidae were Argives. [174]

12.7 Return of the Heracleidae

In 1087 BC, Rhegnidas, son of Phalces, son of Temenus, led an expedition against Phlius with the Dorians of Argos and Sicyon, and was accepted by the inhabitants as king of Phlius.

Hippasus, the leader of Phlius, who opposed cohabitation with the Dorians, moved to Samos. [175]

Also, some of the inhabitants of Phlius, together with the Cleonaeans, crossed over to Asia Minor and founded Clazomenae on the Mimas peninsula. [176]

13 History of Tenea

13.1 Founding of Tenea

The first known inhabitant of Tenea was Polybus, son of Phlias. [177]

Polybus lived in Phlius, but is presumed to have migrated east-southeast and founded Tenea. [178]

If Polybus was the founder, Tenea was founded around 1282 BC.

13.2 Bride from Thebes

In 1282 BC, Polybus married Periboea, daughter of Laius, from Thebes. [179]

13.3 Migration from Thebes

In 1279 BC, Laius' son Oedipus was adopted by Polybus and emigrated from Thebes to Tenea. [180]

Polybus, who had no heir, probably adopted his wife's younger brother. [181]

13.4 Migration to Sicyon

In 1276 BC, Polybus succeeded his grandfather as king of Sicyon and emigrated from Tenea to Sicyon. [182]

Oedipus succeeded Polybus as ruler of Tenea.

13.5 Migration to Thebes

In 1238 BC, Sphinx revolted in Boeotia. Oedipus led the Corinthians in suppressing the revolt and migrating to Thebes. [183]

13.6 Migration from Tenedos

It is believed that some of the inhabitants of Tenea accompanied Oedipus in his migration to Thebes.

After Oedipus' departure, Tenea came under the control of Atreus of Cleonae, a neighboring city to the west.

In 1186 BC, Atreus' grandson Agamemnon settled Trojans who had fled Tenedos on the Troad in Tenea. [184]

At this time, the town was named Tenea after Tenes (or Tennes), son of Cycnus (or Cygnus), ruler of Tenedos. [185]

13.7 Migration to Tenedos

In 1170 BC, Orestes, son of Agamemnon, and Peisander of Amyclae marched to Tenedos, where Peisander settled. [186]

It is believed that some of the inhabitants of Tenea accompanied Orestes back to Tenedos.

13.8 Migration to Sicily

In 733 BC, Archias, a member of the Heracleidae of Corinth, migrated to southeastern Sicily, expelled the Sicels, and founded Syracuse. [187]

Most of the immigrants led by Archias were Teneans. [188]

In other words, the early inhabitants of Syracuse were Trojans.

14 History of Tiryns

14.1 Founding of Tiryns

In 1645 BC, Tiryns, son of Argus, son of Niobe, migrated southeast from Argos to near the sea and founded Tiryns. [189]

In 1610 BC, Tiryns' brother Peiras founded the temple of Hera in Argos. [190]

The statue of Hera was made by Argus, son of Niobe, from a pear tree that grew in Tiryns. [191]

14.2 Changes in the rulers of Tiryns

In 1387 BC, Proetus, son of Abas, expelled Acrisius from Argos, and Tiryns came under his rule. [192]

In 1370 BC, Acrisius, son of Abas, expelled Proetus from Argos, and Tiryns came under his rule. [193]

In 1368 BC, Proetus, with the help of Amphianax, father of his wife Steneboea, captured Tiryns. [194]

Proetus and Acrisius reconciled, and Proetus took possession of Tiryns. [195]

Proetus invited Cyclopes from Lycia to strengthen the walls of Tiryns. [196]

In 1343 BC, Perseus, grandson of Acrisius, killed Proetus and fled to Seriphus. [197]

In 1339 BC, Acrisius died, and Megapenthes, son of Proetus, moved from Tiryns to Argos.

In 1332 BC, Perseus returned from Seriphus and occupied Tiryns. [198]

In 1330 BC, Perseus founded Mycenae and left Tiryns to his son Alcaeus. [199]

In 1287 BC, Amphitryon married Laonome, daughter of Guneus of Pheneus in Arcadia. [200]

In 1280 BC, Alcaeus died, and his son Amphitryon succeeded him in Tiryns.

In 1278 BC, Amphitryon moved from Tiryns to Thebes, invited by Sparti of Thebes. [201]

In 1251 BC, Heracles, son of Amphitryon, migrated from Thebes to Tiryns. [202]

In 1243 BC, Heracles migrated from Tiryns to Pheneus in Arcadia. [203]

After this, the son of Eurystheus of Mycenae probably ruled Tiryns.

14.3 Migration to Rhodes

In 1215 BC, the Heracleidae, led by Hyllus, son of Heracles, returned to Peloponnesus, but the following year they retreated to Tricorythus in Attica. [204]

Licymnius, brother of Alcmena, mother of Heracles, who remained in Peloponnesus, died, and Tlepolemus, son of Heracles, led the Tirynthians to Rhodes. [205]

Homer reports that the Tirynthians invaded Troy under the command of the Argives, not the Mycenaeans. [206]

14.4 Fall of Tiryns

In 468 BC, Tiryns was destroyed by Argos along with Mycenae. [207]

The Tirynthians migrated to Epidaurus and Halieis, east of the mouth of the Gulf of Argolis. [208]

15 History of Troezen

15.1 Founding of Troezen

In 1430 BC, Orus, who migrated from Egypt to Greece with Danaus, settled in the southeastern part of Argolis, and the area became known as Oraea. [209]

15.2 Migration from Pisa

In 1287 BC, the two sons of Pelops, Pittheus and Troezen, migrated from Pisa to Aetius, the son of Anthas, where they lived with Aetius. [210]

Pittheus gathered people together and founded a town, which he named Troezen after his brother. [211]

15.3 Exile from Athens

In 1264 BC, Pandion's adopted son Aegeus was banished from Athens by the sons of Pallas and fled to Troezen to live with Pittheus. [212]

Pittheus was the father of Henioche, the wife of Canethus, the brother of Chalcodon, the father of Aegeus' second wife Chalciope. Thus, Aegeus likely sought refuge with Pittheus, the father of his step-sister, through his wife Chalciope. [213]

Alcathous, son of Pelops of Megara, may have introduced his brother Pittheus to Aegeus. [214]

15.4 Birth of Theseus

In 1263 BC, Aegeus and Pittheus' daughter Aethra gave birth to a son, Theseus. [215]

Aegeus was estimated to be 55 years old at the time, and Aegeus and Aethra were not officially married. [216]

15.5 Migration to Attica

In 1262 BC, Aegeus returned to Athens with the help of Troezen's two sons, Anaphlystus and Sphettus. [217]

Troezen's two sons, Anaphlystus and Sphettus, founded the Anaphlystus and Sphettus in Attica. [218]

15.6 Visit of Heracles

In 1256 BC, Aegeus' son Theseus, who was brought up in Troezen, saw Heracles visiting Pittheus at his house. [219]

Pittheus was the brother of Nicippe, the mother of Alcmena, the mother of Heracles.

15.7 Migration to Athens

In 1247 BC, Theseus emigrated from Troezen to Athens. [220]

Theseus lived in Troezen as the successor of Pittheus, but Aegeus had no heir, so Aegeus summoned Theseus to Athens.

15.8 Migration from Athens

In 1241 BC, Theseus emigrated his son Hippolytus, born to Antiope, to Troezen to be the successor of Pittheus. [221]

15.9 Epigoni's Siege of Thebes

According to legend, Hippolytus died when the reins of his chariot got caught in a wild olive tree and the chariot capsized. [222]

However, the following account suggests that Hippolytus died in battle in 1205 BC when he participated in the siege of Thebes by Epigoni with Diomedes. [223]

1) Troezen had a temple of Hippolytus founded by Diomedes. [224]

2) Hippolytus was a contemporary of Diomedes.

3) Troezen was under the rule of Diomedes during the Trojan War.

15.10 Return of the Heracleidae

In 1107 BC, the Dorians, led by Temenus, son of Aristomachus, occupied Argos. [225]

Troezen, under the rule of Argos, accepted the Dorians as residents. [226]

15.11 Colonization of Asia Minor

In 1070 BC, Anthes, a descendant of Aetius, son of Anthas, son of Alcyone, emigrated from Troezen to Caria and founded Halicarnassus and Myndus. [227]

The reason for their migration was a famine in Peloponnesos. [228]

Anthes's colony was included in the colony led by Althaemenes, son of Ceisus, son of Temenos of Argos. [229]

Althaemenes' colony also settled three towns in Rhodes, Lindus, Ialysus, and Cameirus, as well as Cnidus and Cos. [230]

These and six other towns, including Halicarnassus, came to be known as Doric Hexapolis. [231]

End