1 Introduction

In 1750 BC, a great flood occurred in the upper reaches of the Cephisus River, north of Mount Parnassus.

The Ectenes, led by Ogygus, migrated downstream of the Cephisus River and settled southeast of Lake Copais. [1]

In 1580 BC, a group of Ectenes, led by the grandfather of Hellen's father, Deucalion, migrated north from Boeotia due to pressure from other tribes, including the Hyantes. Deucalion founded Pyrrha (later Melitaea) near the source of the Enipeus River, which flows from the south into the Peneius River in northern Thessaly. [2]

Deucalion had two sons, Hellen and Amphictyon. [3]

Hellen ruled Phthiotis, and the people of that region were called Hellenes or Hellas. [4]

Hellen had three sons: Aeolus, Xuthus, and Dorus. [5]

Aeolus succeeded his father and lived in Melitaea, ruling over Phthiotis. [6]

Aeolus had five sons: Mimas, Cretheus, Hypseus, Sisyphus, and Athamas. [7]

Aeolus' descendants came to be called the Aeolians (or Aeolis). [8]

In 1420 BC, Sisyphus, along with the sons of his cousin Achaeus, emigrated from Melitaea to Aegialus, north of the Peloponnesus. [9]

In 1407 BC, Sisyphus migrated from Aegialus to the east of Sicyon and founded Ephyra (later Corinth). [10]

2 Migration to Boeotia

2.1 Almus, son of Sisyphus

In 1365 BC, Almus migrated from Ephyra to the north side of Lake Copais in Boeotia and founded Olmones. [11]

Pausanias reports that Eteocles, son of Andreus, bestowed the land on Almus. [12]

However, it is believed that Athamas, not Eteocles, actually bestowed the land on Almus.

Eteocles was the son of Andreus, son of Aeolus, son of Hippotes, son of Mimas, son of Aeolus, son of Hellen. Almus was the son of Sisyphus, son of Aeolus, son of Hellen. Thus, Almus was a cousin of Hippotes, Eteocles' great-grandfather.

Athamas, on the other hand, was the son of Aeolus, son of Hellen, and thus Almus' uncle.

It is more likely that Almus migrated there relying on his uncle Athamas, rather than Eteocles.

2.2 Situation around Copais

In 1390 BC, Athamas, son of Aeolus, migrated from Halus in Thessaly to the east side of Lake Copais and founded Acraephnium. [13]

Athamas's son Phrixus, along with Aeetes, son of Sisyphus from Ephyraea (later Corinth), migrated to Colchis on the eastern shore of the Black Sea. [14]

In 1380 BC, Andreus, son of Aeolus, migrated from Arne in Thessaly to Boeotia and founded Andreis (later Orchomenus). [15]

In 1370 BC, Presbon, son of Phrixus, migrated from Colchis to Acraephnium in Boeotia, where his grandfather Athamas lived. [16]

It is believed that trade between Boeotia and Colchis began around this time, and a group of people with excellent navigation skills was born.

2.3 Succession of Andreis

Almus had two daughters, Chrysogeneia and Chryse. [17]

Chryse's son, Phlegyas, inherited Andreis from Andreus' son, Eteocles. [18]

Andreus was the first king of Orchomenus and the founder of Andreis. [19]

Phlegyas was succeeded by Chrysogeneia's son, Chryses. [20]

During Chryses' reign, the water level of Lake Copais rose, making Andreis uninhabitable.

In 1350 BC, Chryses founded a new town, Andreis (later Orchomenus), near Mount Acontius on the west side of Lake Copais. [21]

Chryses had a son, Minyas. [22]

Chryses is believed to have also had a son named Iasius. [23]

3 Eponym: Minyas

In 1335 BC, Chryses was succeeded by his son, Minyas. [24]

Minyas had two sons, Orchomenus and Cyparissus. [25]

Minyas was succeeded by his son, Orchomenus. During his reign, Andreis came to be called Orchomenus. [26]

In 1305 BC, Minyas' son, Cyparissus, moved to the vicinity of Delphi and founded Cyparissus. [27]

Minyas had daughters: Clymene, Periclymene, Alcathoe, Arsinoe, and Leucippe. [28]

The people under Minyas' rule came to be called Minyans after his name. [29]

3.1 Tribe of the Minyans

The tribe of the father of Minyas' father, Chryses, is unknown.

However, since Eteocles, the son of the Aeolian Andreus, was succeeded by Phlegyas, who in turn was succeeded by Chryses, it is assumed that Chryses' father also belonged to the Aeolians.

In other words, the Minyans were a sub-tribe of the Aeolians.

3.2 Wealth of the Minyans

King Minyas received enormous income, and the first treasury was built. [30]

While traditions do not explicitly state the source of the Minyans' wealth, it is believed that it came from the fertile land around Lake Copais, into which the Cephisus River flows.

In addition, they earned a large income from trade with the Black Sea.

This trade began in earnest after Presbon, son of Phrixus, migrated to Boeotia from Colchis on the eastern Black Sea coast.

4 Marriage Migrations

During Minyas' reign, the wealth of the Minyans became widely known, and the sons of prominent people from various regions began to take wives from the city. [42]

Many Minyans accompanied the brides, and the Minyans' settlements spread throughout the regions.

4.1 Migrations to Thessaly

In 1317 BC, Minyas' daughter Clymene married Phylacus, who lived in Phylace, Thessaly. [43]

In 1301 BC, Minyas' daughter Periclymene married Pheres, who lived in Pherae, Thessaly. [44]

In 1299 BC, Phylomache, daughter of Amphion, son of Iasius, married Pelias, son of Cretheus, who lived in Iolcus, Thessaly. [45]

In 1291 BC, Alcimede, daughter of Clymene, daughter of Minyas, was married to Aeson, who founded Aesonis (or Aeson) in Thessaly. [46]

As a result of these marriages, many Minyans settled in the towns around the Pagasetic Gulf in Thessaly.

4.1.1 Development of Iolcus

The Minyans traded with the Black Sea, and Iolcus, located on the northern shore of the Pagasetic Gulf, developed rapidly. Iolcus reached a golden age during the reign of Pelias, son of Cretheus, and even featured as one of the locations in the story of the Argonauts' expedition. [47]

4.1.2 Jason's Expedition

In 1268 BC, Jason, son of Aeson, led an expedition to Colchis with the Minyans living in Aesonis. [48]

Jason's mother, Alcimede, was the daughter of Clymene, daughter of Minyas. Upon Alcimede's marriage, many Minyans migrated to Aesonis and lived there.

During this expedition, Jason married Medea, daughter of Aeetes, who lived in Colchis. [49]

4.1.3 Migration to Lemnos

In 1236 BC, the Minyans residing in Iolcus and Pherae revolted. [50]

The Minyans were expelled from Thessaly by Peleus, son of Aeacus, and migrated to Lemnos and Imbros. [51]

Lemnos was a stopover on the sea route between the Pagasetic Gulf and Colchis, and was already inhabited by the Minyans.

4.1.4 Expulsion from Lemnos

In 1115 BC, the Minyans living in Lemnos and Imbros were expelled from the islands by Pelasgians who had migrated from Athens. [52]

4.1.4.1 Migration to Lacedaemon

Most of the Minyans expelled from Lemnos and Imbros emigrated to Lacedaemon. [53]

In 1099 BC, some of the Minyans emigrated to Thera with Theras, son of Autesion. [54]

In 630 BC, some of the Minyans living in Thera, led by Battus, son of Polymnestus, emigrated to Libya and founded Cyrene. [55]

In 780 BC, the Minyans, who continued to live in Amyclae, Laconia, were defeated in battle by the Dorians and left the Peloponnesus. [56]

4.1.4.2 Migration to Cyzicus

Some of the Minyans expelled from Lemnos and Imbros migrated to Cyzicus. [57]

The inhabitants of Cyzicus were the Doliionians, a name that changed from Pelasgians. [58]

The Doliionians migrated to Antandros, south of Mount Ida. [59]

4.2 Migration to Eleia

In 1277 BC, Chloris, daughter of Amphion, son of Iasius, married Neleus, son of Cretheus, who lived in Pylus in Eleia, from Orchomenus. [60]

Chloris, accompanied by many Minyans, migrated to Pylus. [61]

In 1270 BC, the Minyans migrated from Pylus to Arene in Triphylia, south of Eleia. [62]

In 1250 BC, Areithus of Arene in Triphylia was killed in a battle with Lycurgus, son of Aleus of Tegea, over a land dispute. [63]

Areithus was a Minyan who had migrated from Orchomenus in Boeotia to Eleia with Chloris, who had been married to Neleus. [64]

Menesthius, son of Areithus, led the Minyans on an expedition to Troy. [65]

5 Rise and Fall of the Minyans

5.1 Descendants of Minyas

Minyas was succeeded by his son Orchomenus, and Andreis came to be called Orchomenus. [66]

Orchomenus had no sons, so he was succeeded by Clymenus, son of Presbon, son of Phrixus, son of Athamas, who lived in Acraephium. [67]

Clymenus was the son of Presbon, cousin of Euippe, wife of Andreus, the first king of Orchomenus. [68]

With Athamas' descendants as kings, Orchomenus's sphere of influence included the western half of Boeotia, bringing them into conflict with the Thebans, who controlled the eastern half.

5.2 Battle with the Thebans

In 1256 BC, Clymenus was killed in Onchestus by Perieres, the charioteer of Menoeceus, son of Creon, ruler of Thebes. [69]

Clymenus' son Erginus attacked Thebes and defeated the Thebans. [70]

Then the Thebans attacked the Minyans and defeated Erginus. [71]

After this battle, the Minyans in Boeotia lost their power.

5.3 Occupation and Recapture by the Thracians

In 1188 BC, the Thracians occupied Orchomenus, where the Minyans lived.

The Minyans, led by Athamas, a descendant of Aeolus' son Athamas, migrated to Ionia in Asia Minor and founded Teos. [72]

Some Minyans also fled to Munychia in Athens. [73]

In 1126 BC, the Minyans living in Munychia, with the help of the Boeotians, drove out the Thracians who had occupied Orchomenus and returned to their city.

However, from this time on, the Minyans of Orchomenus came under Boeotian control.

Later, some of the Minyans of Orchomenus, led by Chaeron, son of Thero, migrated to Arne (later Chaeroneia) in western Boeotia.

5.4 Migration to Sauromatae

In 1186 BC, the Achaeans invaded Troy, were defeated in battle by Ilium, and fled to various places.

The Minyans, led by Ialmenus, son of Astyoch (or Pernis), migrated to Sauromatae, north of the Black Sea. [74]

Perses, the son of Perseis (or Perse), granddaughter of Ialmenus' ancestor Phrixus, ruled the Tauric Chersonese (present-day Crimea). [75]

Perses' daughter Hecate (or Idyia), whose daughter Circe was married to the king of the Sauromatians. [76]

This suggests that the Minyans had active trade with the Black Sea region since ancient times.

6 Spread of Minyans Settlements

In 1335 BC, the Minyans were born in Andreis (later Orchomenus) in Boeotia.

In 1317 BC, the Minyans who lived in Orchomenus migrated to Phylace in Thessaly.

In 1301 BC, the Minyans who lived in Orchomenus migrated to Pherae in Thessaly.

In 1299 BC, the Minyans who lived in Orchomenus migrated to Iolcus in Thessaly.

In 1277 BC, the Minyans who lived in Orchomenus migrated to Pylus in Eleia.

In 1270 BC, the Minyans who lived in Pylus migrated to Arene in Triphylia.

In 1236 BC, the Minyans who lived in Thessaly migrated to Lemnos and Imbros.

In 1188 BC, the Minyans who lived in Orchomenus migrated to Athens and Teos in Ionia.

In 1186 BC, the Minyans who invaded Troy migrated to the land of Sauromatae.

In 1126 BC, the Minyans who lived in Athens returned to Orchomenus.

At this time, some of the Minyans migrated to Arne (later Chaeroneia).

In 1115 BC, the Minyans who lived in Lemnos and Imbros migrated to Laconia.

In 1115 BC, the Minyans who lived in Lemnos migrated to Cyzicus.

In 1099 BC, the Minyans who lived in Laconia migrated to Thera.

7 Greek Dark Ages

The majority of the Minyans lived in western Boeotia.

The Minyans also lived in Cyzicus, Eleia, Ionia, the land of Sauromatae, and Thera.

End