1 Introduction

Euripides, a tragic poet of the 5th century BC, described Laconia as “There is a lot of arable land, but cultivation is not easy. Surrounded by mountain ranges, the land is rocky and steep, making it difficult for foreign enemies to penetrate.” [1]

The 2nd century AD writer Apollodoros reports that the wife of Cranaus, the second king of Athens, was a Lacedaemonian. [2]

Cranaus' marriage dates to around 1530 BC, but there is no traceable lineage to Laconia at that time.

If there were Greeks living in Laconia during Cranaus' time, they were probably Pelasgians who had migrated south from Arcadia.

2 Age of Lelex

2.1 Emigration from Egypt

In 1430 BC, Lelex emigrated from Egypt to Greece via Rhodes with Danaus. [3]

Their first landing in Peloponnesus was near Pyramia in Thyrea, on the border of Argolis and Laconia. [4]

From there Danaus sailed on, landing at Apobathmi near Lerna, and sailing to Argos. [5]

Lelex moved inland from Pyramia, descending along the river, and settled in the middle reaches of the river.

That river was the Eurotas, which was called by the names of Marathos or Himeros. [6]

The inhabitants of the land ruled by Lelex were called Leleges. [7]

2.2 Identity or Lelex

Lelex was the son of Libya, daughter of Epaphus, and brother of Belus, father of Danaus. [8]

Like Danaus, Lelex was a Greek-Egyptian who lived in Chemmis in the Nile Delta. [9]

The people living in the Nile Delta rebelled against Upper Egypt and were expelled from Egypt. [10]

They were expelled by Pharaoh Thutmose III of the 18th Dynasty, the Conqueror who expanded ancient Egypt to its greatest territorial extent.[11]

2.3 Migration to Megara

In 1430 BC, Lelex entrusted the land to his son Myles and migrated to Megara. [12]

Car, son of Phoroneus, son of Inachus, had migrated to Megara from Argos in 1725 BC. [13]

2.4 Founding of Therapne

In 1430 BC, the husband of Therapne, daughter of Lelex, founded Therapne near Lacedaemon. [14]

Therapne's husband had migrated from Egypt alongside Danaus and Lelex.

3 Age of Myles, son of Lelex

After Lelex migrated to Megara, his son Myles succeeded him. [15]

3.1 Founding of Andania

In 1405 BC, Polycaon, son of Lelex, migrated to a location approximately 50 km northwest of Lacedaemon and founded Andania.[16]

Many people from Argos, the homeland of Polycaon's wife Messene, participated in the construction of Andania.[17]

The people Polycaon led from Lacedaemon were Leleges, while those who migrated from Argos were Achaeans. [18]

The region where Andania was located came to be called Messene, after the name of Messene. [19]

Later, when Polycaon's descendants died out, an heir was brought in from Thessaly, suggesting that most of Andania's inhabitants were Achaeans. [20]

3.2 Father of Messene

Pausanias records in five places within his Description of Greece that the father of Messene was Triopas of Argos. [21]

Pausanias also relates that Messene's father was the foremost in Greece in both fame and power. [22]

When Polycaon married Messene, Danaus was ruling Argos; Triopas was likely either an alternative name for Danaus or his original name.

The chronicles of Egypt's Thutmose III record tribute from the land of Danaya (Tanaju), presumed to be the Greeks. [23]

Danaya was the tribal name of Belus, father of Danaus. Danaus seems to be a name coined from this tribal name to sound like a personal name.

4 Age of Eurotas, son of Myles

Eurotas succeeded his father Myles. [24]

Apollodorus records Eurotas as the son of Lelex. However, when constructing the genealogy, it is more reasonable to consider Eurotas the son of Myles, as Pausanias relates.

4.1 Migration to Acarnania

In 1390 BC, Teleboas, son of Therapne, daughter of Lelex, migrated from Therapne to western Acarnania. [25]

Aristotle relates that in ancient times, western Acarnania was inhabited by the Leleges and Teleboans. [26]

The settlers led by Teleboas were initially called Leleges, but later, Teleboas' descendants came to be known as Teleboans. [27]

4.2 Founding of Oetylus

In 1380 BC, Oetylus, son of Amphianax, migrated from Ptolis (or Mantineia) in Arcadia to the north of Cape Taenarum and founded Oetylus. [28]

Amphianax was the son of Antimachus, son of Aegyptus, and Midea, daughter of Danaus. [29]

5 Age of Lacedaemon, son of Taygete

Since Eurotas had no sons, his daughter Sparta's husband Lacedaemon succeeded him. [30]

Lacedaemon's mother Taygete was the daughter of Orchomenus, son of Lycaon, who lived in Arcadia. [31]

Orchomenus was the founder of Methydrium and Orchomenus, bore the epithet Atlas, and was the father of daughters called the Pleiades (or Atlantides).[32]

5.1 Founding of Sparta

Lacedaemon gathered the scattered people and built a city, naming it Sparta after his wife.[33]

Before that, the region and its people were called Lacedaemon and Lacedaemonians after him.[34]

Strabo reports that the same city was called both Lacedaemon and Sparta. [35]

5.2 Marriage to Argos

In 1357 BC, Eurydice, daughter of Lacedaemon, married Acrisius, son of Abas, who lived in Argos. [36]

Eurydice was the daughter of Eurotas, son of Myles, son of Lelex, brother of Belus, father of Danaus, father of Hypermnestra, mother of Abas, father of Acrisius.

Thus, Acrisius was Eurydice's fourth cousin.

6 Age of Amyclas, son of Lacedaemon

Lacedaemon was succeeded by his son Amyclas. [37]

6.1 Founding of Amyclae

In 1351 BC, Amyclas migrated to the right bank of the Eurotas River, about 4 km south of Sparta, and founded Amyclae.[38]

Amyclae became the most fertile land in Laconia.[39]

6.2 Marriage from Thessaly

In 1351 BC, Amyclas took Lapithus' daughter Diomede as his wife from Thessaly. [40]

Acrisius, husband of Amyclas' sister Eurydice, had connections with Lapithus when organizing the Amphictyons. [41]

Lapithus, son of Aeolus, lived near the Peneius River in northern Thessaly and was the progenitor of the Lapiths.[42]

Many Aeolians migrated to Amyclae with Diomede.

Amyclae was a city inhabited by the last remaining Achaeans in Laconia, which had fallen under Dorian rule. [43]

7 Age of Aigalus, son of Amyclas

Aigalus succeeded his father Amyclas as king of Lacedaemon and resided in Amyclae. [44]

7.1 Founding of Acriae

In 1320 BC, Acrias founded Acriae on the coast of Laconia. [45]

Acrias is presumed to be the son of Amyclas.

Acrias appears in the tradition of the chariot race with Oenomaus of Pisa. [46]

8 Age of Cynortas, son of Amyclas

Cynortas succeeded his brother Aigalus as king of Lacedaemon and resided in Sparta. [47]

8.1 Pelops' Passage

In 1315 BC, Pelops, son of Tantalus, migrated from Lydia to Greece. [48]

The following evidence suggests Pelops landed in Laconia on the Peloponnesus:

1) The oldest statue of the Mother of the Gods in the Peloponnesus was found at Acriae, near the mouth of the Eurotas River. The oldest statue of the Mother of the Gods was in Lydia, made by Pelops' brother Broteas. [49]

2) Acrias, founder of Acriae, is the only figure among the twelve said to have been killed by Oenomaus who is thought to have actually existed at that time. Acrias is presumed to have guided Pelops to Eleia. [50]

3) Tombs of the Phrygians who migrated to Greece with Pelops were found throughout the Peloponnesus, with a particularly large one located in Sparta. [51]

4) Pelops performed sacrifices at Phrixa, located more than 5 km inland from Pisa. [52]

8.2 Participation in Pelops' Expedition

Cynortas, or his son Oebalus, is presumed to have participated in Pelops' expedition.

Tombs of the Phrygians who migrated to Greece with Pelops were found throughout the Peloponnesus, with a particularly large one in Sparta. [53]

After participating in the expedition with Pelops, Oebalus, son of Cynortas, married Batia, daughter of a prominent Phrygian leader who had migrated to Greece with Pelops. [54]

Batia is also the name of the wife of Dardanus, founder of the kingdom of Troy. [55]

Along with Oebalus' wife Batia, many Phrygians migrated to Sparta. [56]

9 Age of Oebalus, son of Cynortas (1290–65 BC)

Oebalus succeeded his father Cynortas and resided in Sparta. [57]

9.1 Marriage from Mycenae

In 1303 BC, after the death of his wife Batia, Oebalus took Gorgophone, daughter of Perseus, as his wife from Mycenae. [58]

Gorgophone had been the wife of Perieres, son of Aeolus of Andania in Messenia, but she too had been widowed. [59]

9.1.1 Factors leading to the Marriage

The husband of Eurydice, sister of Oebalus' grandfather Amyclas, was Acrisius, father of Danae, mother of Perseus. However, Danae's mother was not Eurydice, so Oebalus and Gorgophone had no blood relation.

The marriage between Oebalus and Gorgophone likely came about because Perseus participated in Pelops' expedition.

Pelops' father Tantalus' domain lay very close to Ethiopia, the homeland of Perseus' wife Andromeda, and Pelops was acquainted with Perseus. [60]

By the time Pelops arrived in Greece, his sister Niobe had died, leaving Perseus as Pelops's only reliable contact in Greece.

Perseus was likely the foremost of Pelops's guides.

This is evidenced by the marriages between Perseus's four sons and Pelops's four daughters. [61]

9.1.2 Gorgophone's Remarriage

Pausanias reports that Gorgophone broke with contemporary custom by being the first to remarry after her husband's death. [62]

However, at least two women preceded Gorgophone in doing so.

1) Europa, daughter of Phoenix, remarried Asterius, son of Tectamus of Crete. [63]

2) Tyro, daughter of Salmoneus, remarried Cretheus, son of Aeolus of Iolcus in Thessaly. [64]

9.2 Children of Oebalus

Oebalus and Batia had a son, Hippocoon. [65]

Oebalus and Gorgophone had two sons, Tyndareus and Icarius, and a daughter, Arene. [66]

Arene married Aphareus, son of Perieres, her mother Gorgophone's previous husband. [67]

Aphareus founded Arene near the southwestern coast of Messenia, naming it after his wife. [68]

9.3 Founding of Helos

In 1290 BC, Helius, son of Perseus, emigrated from Mycenae near Acriae on the Gulf of Laconia and founded Helos. [69]

Helius was able to found Helos near Acriae, founded by Acrias, thanks to the marriage of Helius' sister Gorgophone to Oebalus, son of Cynortas.

Acrias was the uncle of Oebalus, the husband of Helius' sister Gorgophone.

9.4 Migration from Helos

In 1277 BC, Helius, son of Perseus, migrated from Helos to the Echinades Islands in Acarnania. [70]

It is believed that trade between Laconia and Acarnania began after Teleboas, son of Therapne, migrated to western Acarnania. Helius, having heard so much about Echinades, sought the help of his brother Electryon and nephew Amphitryon and led an expedition to Echinades. Helius settled in Echinades, and Cephalus, son of Deion, who also participated in the expedition, settled in Cephallenia. [70-1]

10 Age of Hippocoon, son of Oebalus (1265–39 BC)

Hippocoon, son of Oebalus, succeeded his father. [71]

10.1 Migration to Aetolia

In 1265 BC, Tyndareus migrated from Sparta to Aetolia.[72]

Tradition holds that Hippocoon expelled Tyndareus and Icarius from Sparta. [73]

However, Hippocoon was the legitimate heir of Oebalus, and he had many sons of Tyndareus's own age, so the kingship could never have passed to Tyndareus.

10.1.1 Tyndareus's companions

Tyndareus left Sparta of his own accord and went to Aphareus, who lived in Arene in Messenia. [74]

Aphareus was Tyndareus's half-brother and the husband of Tyndareus's sister Arene.

Aphareus had a son, Idas, who was the same age as Tyndareus. [75]

Tyndareus migrated to Aetolia with his nephew Idas.

10.1.2 Tyndareus's migration destination

Tyndareus and Idas settled in Pleuron, Aetolia. The wife of Thestius, who lived in Pleuron, was Demonice, sister of Aphareus. [76]

Demonice was Tyndareus's half-sister and Idas's aunt. [77]

Thus, Tyndareus and Idas migrated to Aetolia seeking Demonice's support.

10.1.3 Marriage of Tyndareus

After settling in Pleuron, Tyndareus married Leda, daughter of Thestius. [78]

10.1.4 Marriage of Idas

Idas married Marpessa, daughter of Evenus and Alcippe, who lived in Pleuron. They had a daughter, Cleopatra (or Halcyone).[79]

Idas' daughter Cleopatra married Meleager, son of Calydon, who lived in Calydon.[80]

10.1.5 Aetolian conflict

The conflict broke out in Aetolia, resulting in the death of Meleager, son of Calydon. This event is known as the Calydonian boar hunt.[81]

It was the conflict between the inhabitants of Pleuron, descended from the Curetes, the original inhabitants of Aetolia, and the inhabitants of Calydon, descended from Aetolus, son of Endymion, who had migrated from Eleia.

Tyndareus fought on the side of Pleuron, while Idas fought on the side of Calydon. [82]

However, Tyndareus does not appear in the tale of the Calydonian boar hunt; instead, his sons, the Dioscuri, feature in it. [83]

The story's author apparently did not consider Tyndareus and Idas to be contemporaries, but rather saw Tyndareus as belonging to a generation preceding Idas.

This conflict in Aetolia would continue as the war between Messenia and Lacedaemon even after the Dioscuri and the Idas brothers had returned to their homeland. [84]

10.2 Marriage of Icarius

In 1256 BC, Icarius founded Pharis south of Sparta and took Dorodoche, daughter of Orsilochus, from Pharae in Messenia as his wife.[85]

The founder of Pharae was Pharis, father of Telegone, mother of Orsilochus.[86]

Pharis founded by Icarius was also called Pharae.[87]

10.3 Migration to Cythera

In 1251 BC, Thyestes, son of Pelops, migrated from Midea to Cythera.[88]

Thyestes' departure from Midea was likely caused by the return of Licymnius, son of Electryon, from Thebes to Midea.

10.4 Death of Hippocoon

In 1239 BC, Hippocoon was killed in battle alongside many of his sons when attacked by Heracles.[89]

Tradition states the cause of the conflict was Hippocoon's support for Elis when Heracles attacked that city. [90]

However, the battle between Hippocoon and Heracles occurred after Heracles had disbanded his expeditionary force against Elis, and Cepheus of Tegea and many of his sons were killed in action. [91]

This suggests Heracles led his forces to aid Cepheus at his request, implying the conflict between Lacedaemon and Tegea was the cause of the battle.

11 Age of Tyndareus, son of Oebalus (1237-19 BC)

In 1237 BC, Tyndareus migrated from Aetolia to Sparta. It is said that Heracles, after his battle with Hippocoon, summoned Tyndareus back to Sparta. [92]

However, it is believed that Tyndareus actually returned to take over Sparta after Hippocoon and Icarius were gone and Oebalus had no one to succeed him.

11.1 Migration to Acarnania

In 1237 BC, Heracles led an expedition to Ephyra in Thesprotia.[93]

Icarius participated in this expedition and migrated to Acarnania.[94]

Icarius' two sons, Leucadius and Alyzeus, founded towns in Acarnania bearing their names. [95]

Icarius joined the expeditionary force at Calydon. En route, he met Tyndareus at Pleuron and persuaded him to return to Lacedaemon. Icarius' son Perileos (or Perilaus) remained in Sparta, but had not yet reached adulthood. [96]

11.2 Icarius' Marriage

Icarius married Polycaste (or Polyboea), daughter of Lygaeus, in Acarnania. [97]

Icarius and Polycaste had Penelope, who would become the wife of Odysseus. [98]

11.3 Tyndareus' Marriage

Tyndareus, returning to Sparta from Aetolia, married Nemesis. [99]

Nemesis was the name of a goddess; her human name is unknown, but she is thought to be the daughter or granddaughter of Hippocoon.

From Tyndareus's second wife was born Clytaemnestra, who would become Agamemnon's wife, and Helen, who would become Menelaus's wife. [100]

Tradition holds that Helen was the daughter of Leda, daughter of Thestius. [101]

However, constructing a genealogy reveals an age difference of over forty years between the Dioscuri, sons of Leda, and Helen. It is unlikely they were born to the same woman.

Thus, Clytaemnestra and Helen were daughters born after Tyndareus returned to Sparta.

11.4 Battle against Andania

In 1237 BC, Tyndareus first attacked Andania.[102]

Andania was originally a Lacedaemonian colony, located near Sparta.[103]

After Perieres' death, his son Leucippus had succeeded him as ruler of Andania.[104]

Leucippus was Tyndareus's half-brother and the uncle of Idas.

In the battle against Tyndareus, Leucippus was killed, and his two daughters were carried off by Tyndareus's two sons, Castor and Polydeuces, to become their wives.[105]

Tyndareus's sons and Leucippus's daughters were first cousins.

11.5 Battle against Oechalia

In 1237 BC, Tyndareus next attacked Eurytus of Oechalia near Andania.[106]

Oechalia was a city founded with land allotted from Andania.[107]

Eurytus had migrated to Euboea and founded the third Oechalia.[108]

The first Oechalia was built in Thessaly in 1310 BC by Eurytus' father Melaneus.[109]

11.6 Battle against the Idas Brothers

Leucippus of Andania was Idas' uncle, and Eurytus of Oechalia was the son of Melaneus, whom Idas' grandfather Perieres had invited from Thessaly.[110]

The father of Melaneus and Perieres was Aeolus, son of Lapithus. [111]

Thus, Idas and Eurytus were Lapiths sharing Lapithus as their common ancestor. It is presumed that the Idas brothers also joined forces with Andania and Oechalia to fight against Tyndareus.

The conflict between Tyndareus and Idas in Aetolia shifted location, becoming the conflict between the Lacedaemonians and the Messenians.

11.7 Death of Tyndareus

After the death of the Dioscuri, tradition holds that Tyndareus ceded the kingship to his son-in-law Menelaus.[112]

However, another tradition states that after Tyndareus' death, the Dioscuri succeeded their father, and this account is more plausible.[113]

Tyndareus is estimated to have died in 1219 BC.

12 Age of Tyndareus' sons (1219-09 BC)

12.1 The War against the Idas Brothers

The war between Tyndareus and the Idas brothers was continued by Tyndareus' two sons and lasted nearly thirty years.

The final chapter of their conflict began with the abduction of Tyndareus' daughter Helen by Idas.

In 1210 BC, Idas abducted Helen and entrusted her to Theseus of Athens, who then placed her in the care of Aphidnus of Aphidnae. [114]

At that time, Helen was a girl of seven (or ten, twelve). [115]

Peirithous, a Lapith, was a friend of Theseus, and it is likely that Idas and Theseus were also acquainted through Peirithous.[116]

Tyndareus' two sons, Castor and Polydeuces, fought against Idas and the Lynceus brothers, and all were killed.[117]

12.2 Death of the Dioscuri

In 1209 BC, Tyndareus' sons, Castor and Polydeuces, fought the brothers Idas and Lynceus, and all were killed.[118]

13 Age of the sons of the Dioscuri (1209-00 BC)

The Dioscuri had sons named Anogon and Mnesileus.[119]

It seems their sons succeeded the Dioscuri.

13.1 Marriage to Mycenae

In 1209 BC, Clytaemnestra, daughter of Tyndareus, married Agamemnon of Mycenae. [120]

Agamemnon was the son of Plisthenes, son of Atreus, son of Autochthe, sister of Gorgophone, mother of Tyndareus, father of Clytaemnestra.

Thus, Agamemnon was the son of Clytaemnestra's second cousin.

13.2 Marriage to Mycenae

In 1205 BC, Helen, daughter of Tyndareus, married Menelaus of Mycenae.[121]

Menelaus was the son of Helen's second cousin.

14 Age of Menelaus, son of Plisthenes (1200-1180 BC)

In 1203 BC, Atreus died, and his grandson Agamemnon became king of Mycenae. [122]

14.1 Annexation to Mycenae

In 1200 BC, Agamemnon annexed Laconia to Mycenae, granting Menelaus dominion over Laconia.[123]

Agamemnon built a sanctuary to Athena on the Onugnathus peninsula near Cape Maleae in Laconia.[124]

14.2 Expansion into Messenia

Nestor, son of Neleus, succeeded Idas but could not subjugate all of Messenia.[125]

Menelaus brought under his control the coastal towns of Cardamyle, Enope, Hire, Pherae, Antheia, Aepeia, and Pedasus along the Gulf of Messenia, beyond the reach of Nestor's power.[126]

According to Homer, Menelaus had ruled these seven cities even before the Trojan War.[127]

14.3 Death of Menelaus

Pausanias relates that Agamemnon's son Orestes and Orestes' son Tisamenus also became kings of the Lacedaemonians. [128]

Furthermore, Menelaus had at least three sons. [129]

From the above, it is presumed that Menelaus died before Agamemnon.

15 Age of Agamemnon's son Orestes (1180-1132 BC)

Upon Menelaus' death, Orestes, son of Clytaemnestra, daughter of Tyndareus, became king of the Lacedaemonians. [130]

The following points suggest Orestes was a nominal king of Lacedaemon, with actual governance held by Menelaus' sons, and that Orestes did not reside in Sparta:

1) Orestes was the son who should have succeeded Agamemnon, king of Mycenae. [131]

2) After Menelaus' death, the power of those who inherited Laconia declined. [132]

3) Orestes migrated from Mycenae to Arcadia, where he died. [133]

15.1 Battle against Cleodaeus

In 1173 BC, the Dorians, led by Cleodaeus, son of Hyllus, attacked Mycenae and destroyed the city. [134]

Agamemnon is presumed to have fallen in battle against the Dorians.

Orestes gathered an army and drove the Dorians out of the Peloponnesus.

15.2 Founding of Tenedos

In 1170 BC, Peisander of Amyclae, together with Orestes, made an expedition to Tenedos and founded the city of Tenedos. [135]

Amyclae had been devastated by an invasion of Dorians led by Cleodaeus, and Peisander led those who had lost their homes and farmlands to settle in the new land.

Peisander's maternal grandfather was Melanippus, the commander who defended against the siege of Thebes. [136]

16 Age of Tisamenus, son of Orestes (1132–1104 BC)

Orestes was succeeded by his son Tisamenus. [137]

Tisamenus resided in Argos and ruled over the Lacedaemonians. [138]

16.1 Battle against Aristomachus

In 1126 BC, Tisamenus fought the Dorians led by Aristomachus, son of Cleodaeus, who had invaded the Peloponnesus. [139]

Aristomachus advanced as far as Sparta but was killed in battle. [140]

16.2 Exile of the Minyans

In 1115 BC, the Minyans, who had lived on Lemnos and Imbros, migrated to Laconia, driven out by the Pelasgians.[141]

Herodotus relates that “the Lacedaemonians accepted them because they were descendants of those who had joined the Argonauts' expedition with the Dioscuri.” [142]

However, this account by Herodotus appears to be a fabrication for the following reasons:

1) The Argonauts' expedition is a fiction, and the Dioscuri did not sail.

2) The Minyans are not descendants of the heroes featured in the Argonauts' myth.

3) The tradition that the Argonauts left descendants on Lemnos is also a fiction. [143]

16.3 Battle against Temenus

In 1110 BC, Tisamenus fought against the Dorians led by Temenus, son of Aristomachus, who had invaded Argolis from Arcadia. Defeated, he took refuge in the citadel of Argos. [144]

Later, Tisamenus surrendered Argos to the Heracleidae and took refuge in Sparta. [145]

16.4 Migration to Achaia

In 1104 BC, Tisamenus was persuaded by Philonomus, who had made a secret deal with the Heracleidae, to migrate from Sparta to Achaia. [146]

Philonomus was a Minyan who had migrated from Lemnos to Lacedaemon after being chased by the Pelasgians. [147]

Philonomus was entrusted with Amyclae by Eurysthenes and Procles. [148]

Amyclae was devastated by an invasion by the Dorians led by Cleodaeus, and its inhabitants migrated to Tenedos in search of new life. It is believed that Amyclae had few inhabitants at the time.

17 Age of Eurysthenes and Procles (1104 BC-)

After Tisamenus left, Sparta became a city controlled by the Dorians.

Aristodemus' two sons, Eurysthenes and Procles, became the first kings of Sparta. [149]

17.1 Migration to Thera

In 1099 BC, Theras, son of Autesion, who had finished guarding Eurysthenes and Procles, led the Lacedaemonians and Minyans to Thera. [150]

Eurysthenes and Procles were twins who had always disagreed and were at odds with each other, but both actively supported Theras' migration. [151]

17.2 Migration from Lemnos

In 1075 BC, the Pelasgians, who lived in Lemnos, emigrated to Taenarum in Laconia. [152]

They were the children of a woman whom the Pelasgians had abducted from Brauron in Attica and brought to Lemnos. [153]

The Pelasgians gained citizenship by joining forces with the Dorians in their war against the Achaeans. [154]

17.3 Helping Aepytus

In 1082 BC, Eurysthenes and Procles sided with Cresphontes' son Aepytus and restored him to the throne of Messenia. [155]

Aepytus was their paternal cousin.

When Polyphontes killed Cresphontes and usurped the Messenian throne, Aepytus escaped because he was being raised by his grandfather, Cypselus, who lived in Trapezus, Arcadia. [156]

17.4 Outbreak of Rebellion

In 1070 BC, the Pelasgians, who lived in Lemnos, migrated to Laconia and were accepted by the Dorians. However, the two groups later became hostile. The Pelasgians, instigating the Achaeans who lived in Laconia, rebelled against the Dorians. The Dorians concluded a treaty with them and expelled them from Laconia. [157]

The Pelasgians and Achaeans migrated to various places.

17.4.1 Migration to Crete and Melos

The people led by Pollis and Delphus settled in Gortyn and Lyctus in Melos and Crete. [158]

Their migration also included the Minyans, who lived in Amyclae under the leadership of Apodasmos, a descendant of Philonomus. [159]

17.4.2 Migration to Eleia

Herodotus records that Minyans, who did not join the Theras's migration, migrated from Lacedaemon to southern Eleia and founded Lepreum, Macistus, Phryxae, Pyrgus, Epium, and Nudium. [160]

However, it was the Pelasgians, expelled from Athens, who drove the Minyans out of Lemnos. [161]

It is unlikely that the Minyans, fewer in number than the Pelasgians, could have founded six towns.

The six towns were likely founded by the Pelasgians and Achaeans, who had rebelled and been expelled from Laconia.

18 Age after Eurysthenes and Procles (11th-10th Centuries BC)

18.1 Conquest of Helos

In 930 BC, during the reign of Agis and Sous, the Spartans demanded tribute from the inhabitants of surrounding towns, but Helos rebelled and enslaved the inhabitants. [162]

The inhabitants of Helos became the first Helots (public slaves) of Lacedaemon. [163]

18.2 Battles against the Arcadians

In 920 BC, Sous, king of Sparta in Agiadae, fought against the Cleitorians. [164]

The Cleitorians were the inhabitants of Cleitor, a state founded in northern Arcadia by Cleitor, son of Azan, in 1355 BC. [165]

In 900 BC, Agis, king of Sparta in Eurypontidae, invaded Arcadia and was killed by the Mantineians. [166]

Eurypon (or Euryphon), son of Sous, king of Sparta in Agiadae, attacked and captured Mantineia. [167]

18.3 Final departure of the Achaeans

In 780 BC, during the reign of Teleclus, son of Archelaus, king of Sparta, the last remaining Achaean town in Laconia was evacuated. [168]

The inhabitants of Pharis and Geranthrae departed Peloponnesus without fighting the Dorians. [169]

The inhabitants of Amyclae departed after putting up a stubborn resistance against the Dorians. [170]

18.4 Destruction of Helos

In 760 BC, during the reign of Alcacmenes, son of Teleclus, the Dorians attacked and destroyed Helos. [171]

The Achaeans who lived in Helos were occupied by the Dorians in 930 BC and became Helots. [172]

During the reign of Alcacmenes, Helos was destroyed and depopulated. [173]

End