1 Introduction

Phocis was the birthplace of the ancient Greeks and the starting point of the sacred river Cephisus. [1]

The name Cephisus was given to rivers throughout the ancient Greek world as they spread out, and was the name given to the most rivers in the ancient Greek world.

Phocis was also home to Delphi, one of the oldest oracles in Greece.

At Delphi there was a stone called Omphalus, and the ancient Greeks believed that the location of that stone was the center of the world. [2]

The region took on the name Phocis after the sons of Phocus, son of Aeacus, spread their settlements throughout the region.

From the time of Achilles, son of Peleus, son of Aeacus, that is, during the Trojan War.

2 Great Flood of Ogygus Era

2.1 Year of flood occurrence

The 4th century AD historian Eusebius wrote in his Chronography that there was a great flood during the time of Ogygus, the ancestor of the Athenians, and that 190 years elapsed before the accession of Cecrops, the first Athenian king. [3]

According to the 2nd century BC chronicler Castor of Rhodes, Cecrops was crowned king of Athens in 1561 BC. [Four]

Therefore, the Great Flood of the Ogygus era is estimated to have occurred around 1750 BC.

2.2 Oldest town in Greece

Shortly before the Flood, Parnassus, the son of Cleopompus and Cleodora, gathered together the people who had previously lived in scattered places and founded a city. [5]

The town founded by Parnassus appears to have been on the right bank of the Cephisus River, which rises near Lilaea in the northwest of Phocis and flows north of Mount Parnassus. [6]

2.3 Emigration to Boeotia

Ogygus, the ancestor of the Athenians, led the Ectenes to migrate down the Cephisus River and settle in Boeotia. [7]

2.4 Emigration to Peloponnesus

A group led by Inachus' two sons, Aezeius and Phoroneus, went further than Ogygus and entered the Peloponnesus peninsula. [8]

Aezeius settled on the coast just off the Peloponnesus peninsula and founded Aegialeia (later Sicyon). [9]

Phoroneus moved further south and settled on the edge of the plain. Phoroneus brought together a scattered people and founded Phoroneus (later Argos). [10]

2.5 Founding of Lycoreia

The town founded by Parnassus was submerged by a great flood, and the people fled to Mount Parnassus and founded Lycoreia. [11]

The one who led the people and built the city was Lycorus (or Lycoreus), son of Corycia, daughter of Parnassus. [12]

Lycoreia was inhabited by the Delphians, who later moved near the sanctuary of Delphi. [13]

2.6 Founding of Delphi

According to the genealogy reported by Pausanias, Delphi's godfather Delphus was the son of Celaeno, daughter of Hyamus, son of Lycorus. [14]

In other words, it is estimated that Delphus migrated from Lycoreia and founded Delphi in 1690 BC. [15]

3 Phocis in the 15th century BC

3.1 Emigration from Thracia

In 1420 BC, part of the Edoni who lived in the Strymon River valley of Thracia, led by Tereus, son of Lycurgus, son of Dryas, migrated near what would become Daulis. [16]

Tereus married Procne (or Progne), daughter of Pandion, the fifth king of Athens. [17]

Tereus then migrated from Phocis to near Pagae in Megara. [18]

3.2 Emigration from Argos

3.2.1 Founding of Abae

In 1408 BC, Abas, son of Lynceus, migrated from Argos to Phocis and founded Abae. [19]

The descendants of Orus, who came from Egypt with Abas's grandfather Danaus, lived in Troezen of Argolis, and the descendants of Lelex lived in Lacedaemon and Megara. It is unclear why Abas chose Phocis as his place of emigration.

The 6th century AD, Stephanus of Byzantium, tells us that there was an oracle in Abae that was older than Delphi, which may be why Abas chose Phocis as his place of residence. [20]

However, the first person to appear in ancient Greek historical sources as having received oracles from Abae was Croesus, king of Lydia. [21]

Therefore, there may not have been an oracle of Abae in the time of Abas.

In 1407 BC, Abas returned to Argos from Abae. [22]

Abae was then entrusted to Deucalion, son of Abas. [23]

3.2.2 Deucalion, son of Abas

Abas, the son of Lynceus, is known to have had twin sons, Proetus and Acrisius, and an illegitimate son, Lyrcus. [24]

Abas may have had another son named Deucalion.

However, in the History of Arcadia written by Aristippus, it is stated that Abas also had a son named Deucalion. This Abas is presumed to be Abas, the son of Lynceus, who married Aglaia, the daughter of Mantineus of Arcadia. [25]

3.2.3 Lynceus, son of Deucalion

Lynceus, son of Deucalion, was slain by Megapenthes, son of Proetus of Argos, and Abas, son of Lynceus, slew Megapenthes. [26]

Lynceus and Megapenthes were cousins, and Megapenthes also killed Perseus, son of Danae, of Mycenae. There appears to have been a conflict between three towns: Argos, Mycenae, and Abae.

4 Phocis in the 14th century BC

4.1 Emigration from Thessaly

In 1365 BC, Deion (or Deion, Deioneus), son of Aeolus, migrated from Arne of Thessaly to Phocis. [27]

Deion took Diomede, the daughter of Xuthus, as his wife, and had his sons Aenetus, Actor, Phylacus and Cephalus, and a daughter Asterodia. [28]

4.2 Delphi Looting of Phlegyans

In 1350 BC, the Phlegyans who lived in Boeotia ravaged the sanctuary of Delphi.

This was the first sacking of Delphi recorded in historical sources. [29]

The Phlegyans were a group of warriors gathered from all over the world by Phlegyas, king of Orchomenus. [30]

The Delphians sought help from all over the world.

4.2.1 Reinforcements from Argos

An elite force of Argos led by Philammon fought against the Phlegyans, but Philammon was killed in action. [31]

Acrisius, son of Abas, who ruled Argos at the time, took this incident as an opportunity to organize the Amphictyons. [32]

Philammon, who led the Argives, is presumed to be the son of Acrisius. Having lost his heir, Acrisius succeeded him in Perseus, the son of Danae, daughter of Acrisius, who lived in Egypt. [33]

4.2.2 Reinforcements from Arcadia

The Arcadians, led by Elatus, son of Arcas, fought against the Phlegyans and defeated them. [34]

The Phlegyans returned from Phocis to Boeotia, and after the death of Amphion of Thebes, led by Eurymachus, attacked and plundered Thebes. [35]

4.3 Founding of Elateia

Elatus, son of Arcas, remained in Phocis after driving out the Phlegyans and founded Elateia. [36]

Elateia during the Roman period was the largest town in Phocis, but Homer does not mention Elateia, and it is assumed that it developed after the Trojan War. [37]

4.3.1 Founding of Daphnus

Daphnus, located near the sea about 23 km north of Elateia, is presumed to be a colony founded by the inhabitants of Elateia. [38]

Daphnus, belonging to Phocis, separated Epicnemidian Locris into Epicnemidis and Opus. [39]

Phocis had a port on the northern sea at Daphnus, but the town was destroyed and became Locris, and the Epicnemidian Locris were joined together. [40]

4.4 Emigration to Thessaly

In 1325 BC, Deion's son Phylacus migrated from Phocis to Thessaly and then to the northeast of the Pagasetic Gulf to Phylace. Phylacus is probably the founder of Phylace. [41]

Phylacus' father Deion was a settler from Arne of Thessaly to Phocis. [42]

4.5 Founding of Hyampolis

In 1310 BC, the Hyantes, who had long lived in Boeotia, migrated near Abae and founded Hyampolis. [43]

In 1420 BC, the Hyantes, who had lived near Thebes, were driven out by Cadmus and migrated to the area around Onchestus. [44]

In 1370 BC, Coronus and Haliartus, adopted sons of Athamas, founded Coroneia and Haliartus near Onchestus. [45]

At this time, the Hyantes are believed to have migrated northwest of Lake Copais.

In 1350 BC, Aspledon, son of Orchomenus, founded Aspledon northwest of Lake Copais. [46]

Later, Aspledon migrated south-southwest from Aspledon and founded Midea. [47]

Aspledon likely relocated after a battle with the Hyantes.

In 1310 BC, the Hyantes migrated north-northwest from near Aspledon and founded Hyampolis. [48]

The Hyantes' migration is presumably due to a battle with Orchomenus.

At the time, Orchomenus was experiencing a golden age under the reign of Minyas, son of Chryses. [49]

4.6 Emigration to Euboea

In 1310 BC, Abas, the son of Lynceus, crossed the Euripus strait from Abae and migrated to Chalcis in Euboea. [49-1]

The cause of Abas' migration is presumably a battle with the Hyantes, who founded Hyampolis near Abae.

Chalcis was founded in 1360 BC by Pandorus, the son of Erechtheus, the 6th king of Athens. [49-2]

Euboea was formerly called Macris, but became known as Abantis (or Abantias). The inhabitants of Euboea also came to be called Abantes. [49-3]

Along with Abas, his supposed brother Crius also emigrated to Euboea. [49-4]

4.7 Founding of Naubolenses

In 1310 BC, Ornytus, believed to be brother of Abas, moved to a place approximately 33 km west-northwest of Abae and founded a town. Ornytus had a son, Naubolus, and the town became known as Naubolenses (later Drymaea). [49-5]

The cause of Ornytus' migration is also presumably a battle with the Hyantes, who founded Hyampolis near Abae.

4.8 Founding of Cyparissus

In 1305 BC, Cyparissus, son of Minyas, migrated from Orchomenus to near Delphi and founded Cyparissus. [50]

5 Phocis in the 13th century BC

5.1 Founding of Anticyra

In 1280 BC, Anticyreus, son of Cyparissus, settled on the coast of the Gulf of Anticyra and founded Anticyra. [51]

Anticyreus cured Heracles of his madness with a plant called hellebore. [52]

Hellebore was used as a laxative, so Heracles may have suffered from constipation. [53]

5.2 Emigration from Euboea

In 1270 BC, Tityos (or Tityus), son of Crius of Euboea, settled in the land that would become Panopeus. [54]

Although there are no historical sources that directly say that Tityos' father was Crius, it is presumed that Tityos was the son of Crius for the following reasons.

1) The person killed by Apollo in connection with Delphi was Tityos, son of Elare, daughter of Orchomenus. [55]

2) It was the son of Crius of Euboea who was killed by Apollo. [56]

It is assumed that Tityos was born in Euboea, but moved to Panopeus, near his father's hometown of Abae and his mother's hometown of Orchomenus.

5.3 Fighting the Boeotians

5.3.1 Demolition of Delphi's Sanctuary

In 1264 BC, Tityos, son of Crius, was slain after ravaging the sanctuary of Delphi and surrounding area. [57]

The Delphians turned not to Orchomenus, Tityos's mother's hometown, but to Thebes, who was hostile to Orchomenus. [58]

Laius, son of Labdacus of Thebes, fought with Tityos together with Damasitratus of Plataea.

Laius and Tityos died, and both were buried at Panopeus. [59]

Tityos' daughter Europa continued to live in Panopeus and gave birth to her son Euphemus near the Cephisus River. [60]

5.3.2 Apollo Lore

Pausanias tells the following about Apollo who killed Tityos:

Apollo killed Tityos, son of Crius, who had ravaged the sanctuary of Delphi. [61]

Apollo then went to Carmanor, who lived in Tarrha in southwestern Crete, and was purified. [62]

And Apollo married Acacallis, daughter of Minos, in the house of Carmanor. [63]

It is presumed that Apollo is the Hyperborean Hyperochus or Laodocus (or Amadocus).

Hyperochus and Laodocus were Perpherees who guarded the daughters of the Hyperboreans on their way from the land of the Hyperboreans to deliver offerings to Delos. [64]

On their way from Dodona to Malis, they passed through Delphi, and appear to have killed Tityos, the son of Crius, at the request of the Delphians. The Delphians make sacrifices to Hyperochus and Laodocus as heroes. [65]

5.3.3 Pausanias' fallacy

Pausanias describes the history of the sacking of the sanctuary of Delphi. In it, Pausanias writes that first the son of Crius and then the Phlegyans sacked the sanctuary of Delphi, but vice versa. [66]

It was Elatus, son of Arcas of Arcadia, who fought against the Phlegyans. [67]

Apollo, who killed Tityos, son of Crius, was a contemporary of Acacallis, daughter of Minos. [68]

Cepheus, who fought with Hippocoon, son of Oebalus the Lacedaemon, together with Heracles, a contemporary of Acacallis, was not of an earlier age than Elatus, son of Arcas.

Cepheus was the son of Lycurgus, the son of Aleus, the son of Apheidas, the brother of Elatus, the son of Arcas. [69]

In other words, the Phlegyans ravaged the sanctuary of Delphi three generations before the son of Crius.

5.4 Founding of Stiris

In 1277 BC, Oeneus' son Peteus was driven from Stiria in Attica by Oeneus's brother-in-law Aegeus and migrated to Phocis. Peteus founded Stiris southeast of Phocis. From there, Lebadus, who was chased by Aegeus and migrated, also lived in Lebadeia, about 11 km east-northeast. [70]

Lebadus appears to be a brother of Peteus. [71]

5.5 Emigration from Aegina

In 1256 BC, Phocus, son of Aeacus, migrated from Aegina to Naubolenses (later Drymaea), northwestern Phocis. [72]

In the Naubolenses lived Naubolus, the son of Ornytus, who accepted Phocus as a co-resident. Then Antiphateia, the daughter of Naubolus, and Crisus, the son of Phocus, were married. [73]

Crisus and Antiphateia had a son, Strophius. [74]

5.6 Founding of the Oracle of Apollo

Pausanias tells us that the oracle of Delphi was passed from Themis to Apollo. [75]

Olen of Lycia, one of the founders of the oracle, was born before the poet Orpheus. [76]

Olen was the son of Lycus, son of Pandion, who migrated from Athens to Lycia, and is estimated to have been born in 1280 BC. [77]

Phemonoe, the oracle's first female seer, preceded Orpheus by 27 years. [78]

This Orpheus was not a famous poet, but one of the Argonauts, and Phemonoe is estimated to have been born around 1290 BC.

The first winner of the competition singing the Pythian Apollon hymn was Chrysothemis, daughter of Carmanor who purified Apollo. [79]

Chrysothemis was the wife of Staphylus, son of Ariadne, daughter of Minos, and is estimated to have been born in 1270 BC.

Judging from the marriage of Apollo and Acacallis, purified by Carmanor, it is estimated that Apollo's oracle was established in Delphi in 1255 BC.

5.7 Emigration to Panopeus

In 1250 BC, Panopeus, son of Phocus, and Iphitus, son of Naubolus, migrated from Naubolenses (later Drymaea) to Panopeus. [80]

Iphitus was the brother of Antiphateia, the wife of Panopeus' brother Crisus. [81]

In other words, Panopeus and Iphitus were stepbrothers.

The town became known as Panopeus, after Phocus' son Panopeus. [82]

In Panopeus lived Tityos, the son of Crius, who was thought to be the brother of Ornytus, the father of Naubolus, but he ravaged the sanctuary of Delphi and was killed.

When Panopeus and Iphitus moved to Panopeus, Tityos' daughter Europa lived in the town. Iphitus and Europa were second cousins. [83]

In 1248 BC, Iphitus served as a guide for Jason, leader of an expedition of Argonauts, when he visited Delphi to seek oracles. [84]

5.8 Founding of Crissa

In 1240 BC, Crisus, the son of Phocus, migrated from Naubolenses over Mount Parnassus and settled near Delphi, where he founded Crissa. [85]

5.9 Marriage from Argolis

In 1232 BC, Crisus, son of Phocus of Crissa, married Kydragora, daughter of Atreus, son of Pelops, from Cleonae of Argolis, and they had a daughter Anaxibi (or Anaxibia). [86]

5.10 Emigration from Corinth

In 1230 BC, Phocus, son of Ornytion, son of Sisyphus, migrated from Corinth to Neon (later Tithorea) in Phocis. [87]

Pausanias records a tradition concerning the tomb of Phocus, son of Ornytion, and his wife Antiope at Tithorea.

Bacis, in the 7th century BC, prophesied that if the Tithoreans stole earth from the tombs of Amphion and Zethus in Thebes and carried it to the tomb of Phocus, son of Ornytion, and his wife, Tithorea would have a good harvest and Thebes would have a bad harvest. [88]

Bacis, his contemporaries the Thebans and Tithoreans, and Pausanias himself seem to have believed that Antiope, the wife of Phocus, son of Ornytion, was the mother of Amphion and Zethus. [89]

The reason for this was that Sisyphus, the father of Aloeus, the father of Epopeus, who appears in the legend of Antiope, the mother of Amphion and Zethus, and Sisyphus, the father of Ornytion, the father of Phocus, were thought to be the same person.

However, both Sisyphus were kings of Corinth; the former was the first king of Corinth, and the latter was the ninth king of Corinth, succeeding Jason.

5.11 Emigration from Dryopia

In 1230 BC, Heracles expelled the Dryopians from Dryopia for disrespecting the temple of Delphi. [90]

The Dryopians migrated to various places, but some settled near Cirrha and were called Cragalidae. [91]

Cragalidae is presumed to be a descendant of Cragaleus, the son of Dryops, the son of Amphissus. [92]

6 Phocis in the 12th century BC

6.1 Founding of Cirrha

In 1190 BC, Pylades, son of Strophius, son of Crisus, son of Phocus, migrated south from Crissa and founded Cirrha on the shores of the Gulf of Crissa. [93]

6.2 Trojan War Era

6.2.1 Troy Expedition

In 1188 BC, two sons of Iphitus, son of Naubolus, Schedius and Epistophus, led the Phocians on an expedition to Troy. [94]

Schedius was killed in battle at Troy, and Epistophus brought back Schedius' remains. [95]

6.2.2 Emigration from Boeotia

In 1188 BC, Thracians and Pelasgians invaded Boeotia and occupied the towns, but in the chaos Phlegyans occupied Panopeus.

In 1215 BC, the Phlegyans lived in the land of the Minyans, and in Roman times they lived in Panopeus. [96]

Phorbas, king of the Phlegyans who lived in Panopeus and terrorized the visitors to Delphi, seems to be a later figure during the Trojan War. [97]

Iphitus's son, Epistophus, who returned from Troy, abandoned his desire to return to Panopeus, which had been occupied by the Pelasgians, and emigrated to Anticyra. [98]

The tombs of Schedius and Epistophus were at Anticyra. [99]

6.2.3 Emigration to Boeotia

In 1188 BC, the Hyantes of Hyampolis invaded Orchomenus in Boeotia, expelling its inhabitants and occupying it. [100]

The Orchomenians, driven from their towns, migrated to Teos in Ionia, led by Athamas, a descendant of Athamas, son of Aeolus. [101]

Also, some of the Orchomenians were accepted into Athens and lived in Munychia. [102]

In 1126 BC, the Orchomenians, who had taken refuge in Munychia, expelled the Hyantes from Orchomenus, together with the Boeotians who had returned from the Arne of Thessaly. [103]

Hyantes returned to Hyampolis again.

6.3 Fighting the Molossians

In 1175 BC, Neoptolemus, son of Achilles, led the Molossians in sacking Delphi and was killed in battle against Machaereus, son of Daetas, who led the Delphians. [104]

Together with Neoptolemus, his brother Oneiros was also slain by Orestes, son of Agamemnon, in a battle with the Phocians. [105]

Orestes joined the Delphians with Pylades, son of Strophius, son of Crisus.

Pylades was the husband of Orestes' sister Electra (or Laodice) and Orestes' brother-in-law. [106]

Pylades lived in Cirrha, the outer port of Delphi. [107]

6.4 Founding of Medeon

In 1150 BC, Medon, son of Pylades, migrated east from Cirrha and founded Medeon. [108]

Homer mentions Medeon in Boeotia in his Catalog of Ships, but that town did not exist during the Trojan War. [109]

Strabo reports that Medeon of Boeotia was named after Medeon of Phocis. [110]

6.5 Return of Heracleidae

In 1115 BC, Aristodemus, son of Aristomachus, was killed at Delphi by Medon and Strophius, sons of Pylades. [111]

Aristodemus was the chieftain of the Heracleidae who were preparing to return to Peloponnesus.

After Aristodemus' death, his brother Temenus was left to lead the Heracleidae.

Medon and Strophius were cousins of Tisamenus, son of Orestes, and were enemies of the Heracleidae. [112]

At that time, Strophius lived in Cirrha, Medon lived in Medeon, and it is presumed that they knew the movements of Heracleidae who lived in Doris.

7 Phocis since the 11th century BC

7.1 Fighting Amphictyons

In 595 BC, the inhabitants of Cirrha (or Cyrrha) committed a siege against the sanctuary of Delphi, and the Amphictyons attacked the town. Clisthenes, tyrant of Sicyon, became chieftain, and Solon of Athens became advisor. [113]

According to records left at Delphi, the Athenians participated in this battle, led by Alcmaeon. [114]

The Thessalians also took part in the battle, led by Eurylochus and Latamyas. [115]

In 594 BC, the Thessalians, led by Latamyas, also invaded Boeotia and were defeated by the Thebans in a battle near Thespiae. [116]

End