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, whose inhabitants were called Hellenes or Hellas. [4]

2 Dorus, the Progenitor

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

In 1460 BC, Dorus migrated from Melitaea down the Enipeus River, north of its confluence with the Peneius River. The region became known as Doris, and its inhabitants as Dorians. [6]

In 1420 BC, Cadmus and a large group of Thracians moved south from Thracia and invaded Thessaly. Dorus, who lived in Doris, led the Dorians south and settled between Mount Oeta and Mount Parnassus. [7]

The region became known as Doris. [8]

3 Children of Dorus

3.1 Tectamus, Son of Dorus

3.1.1 Migration near Parnassus

Tectamus, son of Dorus, son of Hellen, was born in Doris in northern Thessaly. [9]

Tectamus married the daughter of Cretheus, son of Aeolus, his paternal cousin, and had a son, Asterius. [10]

In 1420 BC, Tectamus and his father Dorus emigrated to the area between Mount Oeta and Mount Parnassus. [11]

3.1.2 Migration to Crete

Tectamus later led the Dorians, as well as the Aeolians and Pelasgians, to Crete. [12]

Displaced by the migration of Danaus to Argos and the subsequent large migration of Cadmus and the Thracians, a great number of people sought to emigrate to Crete. [13]

The Dorians, led by Tectamus, settled near Cnossus in eastern Crete. [14]

The Pelasgians likely settled near Hierapytna in southeastern Crete, where Larisa was located. [15]

3.1.3 Asterius, son of Tectamus

Tectamus' son Asterius married Europa, daughter of Phoenix, in Cydonia, where he stopped during his voyage. [16]

Europa had a son, Minos, from a previous marriage. Asterius died childless, and Europa's son, Minos, succeeded him. [17]

3.1.4 Peneius, likely the son of Tectamus

Diodorus reports that Peneius' daughter, Stilbe, was the ancestor of the Lapiths and Centaurs. [18]

Lapithes, the progenitor of the Lapiths, was the son of Aeolus, the son of Hippotes. [19]

This suggests that Stilbe was Aeolus' wife, and that Peneius was a contemporary of Hippotes.

Peneius is said to have given his name to the Peneius River in Thessaly, and lived near the river. [20]

Peneius was the son of Tectamus, son of Dorus, and likely remained in Doris rather than migrating with his father to Mount Parnassus.

Peneius had a son, Hypseus, and three daughters: Stilbe, Iphis (or Iphys), and Tricca. [21]

Tricca migrated west from Doris, founded a town, and named it Tricca. [22]

Deimachus, father of Phlogius and Deileon (or Demoleon), who appear in the story of the Argonauts' expedition, is thought to be a descendant of Tricca. [23]

3.2 Deucalion, son of Dorus

Although only Tectamus is known as the son of Dorus, son of Hellen, he likely also had a son named Deucalion. He is the father of those who expelled the Pelasgians from Thessaly. [24]

In 1415 BC, Deucalion migrated east from Doris, between Mount Oeta and Mount Parnassus, to the coastal area eastward and settled near the Gulf of Opus. [25]

Deucalion was the first Greek to inhabit Locris and the progenitor of the Locrians.

The descendants of Deucalion are described in "Genealogy of Locrians."

3.3 Macednus, son of Dorus

Tectamus, son of Dorus, migrated to Crete, and Deucalion, another son of Dorus, likely also migrated to Locris. [26]

The descendants of Dorus, who settled near Mount Parnassus, were called the Macedni, suggesting that Dorus's son was named Macednus. [27]

Aegimius, son of Dorus, king of the Dorians during the reign of Heracles, son of Amphitryon, is presumably a descendant of Macednus. [28]

3.4 Iphthime, Daughter of Dorus

After Dorus, son of Hellen, migrated with his family to Mount Parnassus, some people remained in Doris near the Peneius River. Among them was the family of Iphthime, daughter of Dorus. Iphthime had three sons: Pherespondos, Lycos, and Pronomos. [29]

One of Iphthime's sons married Polydore, daughter of Danaus, and had a son, Dryops. [30]

Dryops migrated to the vicinity of Mount Oeta and became the progenitor of the Dryopians (or Dryopes). [31]

The descendants of Dryops are described in "Genealogy of Dryopians."

4 Battle against Lapiths

4.1 Aegimius, King of the Dorians

Aegimius, son of Dorus, was the leader of the Dorians living in Pindus, Doris. [32]

Aegimius was likely descended from Dorus, son of Hellen.

Aegimius was also the leader of the Dorians living in Hestiaeotis, the birthplace of the Dorians in northern Thessaly, formerly known as Doris. [33]

The Dorians, who continued to live in Pindus, were a branch of Hellas, but they likely practiced endogamy and did not intermarry with other branches.

The Dorian genealogy does not connect to the genealogy of Danaus or Cadmus, who introduced writing to Greece. The genealogy of approximately 160 years from Macednus, likely the son of Dorus, son of Hellen, to Aegimius's father, Dorus, is unknown. Furthermore, the genealogy of Aegimius's sons is unknown.

4.2 Expansion of Lapiths

The progenitor of the Lapiths was Lapithes, son of Aeolus, son of Hippotes, son of Mimas, son of Aeolus, son of Hellen. Thus, the Lapiths and the Dorians share Hellen, son of Deucalion, as their common ancestor.

The Lapiths trace their ancestor to Lapithes, son of Aeolus, son of Hippotes, son of Mimas, son of Aeolus, son of Hellen. The Dorians share a common ancestor with Hellen, son of Deucalion.

The Dorians originated in Doris in northern Thessaly and expanded their settlement near Mount Parnassus. [34]

Meanwhile, Lapiths expanded their settlement within Thessaly.

Lapithes left Arne, the home of his father Aeolus, in 1390 BC after the Pelasgians, who had long lived in Thessaly, were expelled. Lapithes traveled down the Curalius River and settled north of its confluence with the Peneius River. [35]

One of Lapithes' sons, Periphas, married Astyagia, daughter of Hypseus, ruler of Magnesia, and had eight sons. [36]

Periphas succeeded Hypseus as ruler of Magnesia and established a close relationship with neighboring Phthia to the west through marriage.

Phlegyas, son of Anion, son of Periphas, lived in Amyrus, near the Boebian lake in the Dotium plain. Periphas ruled the area between Mount Ossa and Mount Pelion. [37]

Lapithes's grandsons grew in power, and Ixion, son of Anion, son of Periphas, drove out Perrhaebia in Gyrton. Ixion's son, Peirithous, advanced toward Mount Pelion and drove out the Centaurs. [38]

A look at the towns of participants in the Argonauts' expedition of 1248 BC reveals that the Lapiths were present throughout Thessaly, with the exception of Phthia. [39]

4.3 Alliance with Heracles

The Dorians, living in Doris (later part of Hestiaeotis) in northern Thessaly, were attacked by the Lapiths, living in Gyrton. [40]

Coronus, son of Caeneus of Gyrton, sent a petition to Aegimius of Pindus for the Dorians' aid. However, Aegimius, who had rushed to their aid, was besieged by the Lapiths, led by Coronus. [41]

Aegimius then requested reinforcements from Heracles of Trachis, on the condition that he cede one-third of Doris, centered around Pindus. Heracles, leading the Arcadians and the Malians of Trachis, led an expedition to Doris and drove out the Lapiths. [42]

Heracles also fought against Cycnus, son of Pelopia of Itonus, and Ormenius of Ormenium. [43]

4.4 Battle against Eurytus in Euboea

Heracles then attacked Eurytus who lived in Oechalia in Euboea. [44]

It is said that Heracles attacked Eurytus because Eurytus had forced the surrounding people to pay tribute. [45]

However, based on Heracles's actions, the true reason for the battle is inferred as follows:

Eurytus's father, Melaneus, is believed to have been the son of Aeolus, son of Lapithes. Eurytus was a Lapiths. Melaneus founded Oechalia a short distance upstream on the Ion River, which flows into the Peneius River in northern Thessaly.

Melaneus was later invited by Perieres to migrate to Messenia and found Oechalia near Andania. [46]

During Eurytus' time, he was driven out of Messenia by Tyndareus of Sparta and he founded Oechalia in Euboea. [47]

When the battle between the Dorians and the Lapiths broke out, Eurytus supported the Lapiths of Thessaly. Many Lapiths fled to Oechalia in Euboea from the cities that had been attacked and captured by Heracles. The attack on Oechalia was fierce, and there were recorded casualties on Heracles' side that were not recorded in previous battles with the Lapiths. [48]

On his way back to Trachis, Heracles built an altar to Zeus on the Cenaean promontory at the northwestern tip of Euboea, declaring an end to the war with the Lapiths. [49]

4.5 Dorians after Heracles' Death

After the death of Heracles, Aegimius, king of the Dorians, adopted Heracles' son Hyllus and ceded him part of his territory. [50]

However, the Heracleidae did not reside in Doris until Hyllus led them back to the Peloponnesus Peninsula and was killed in battle. [51]

5 Joining Doris near Parnassus

5.1 Joining the Heracleidae

In 1211 BC, after being defeated in battle by the Achaeans while attempting to invade the Peloponnesus, the Heracleidae migrated to Aegimius, who lived in Doris near Mount Parnassus. [52]

Aegimius gave the Heracleidae a share of land with one-third of the Dorians, and they formed a tribe called Hylleis, named after Heracles' son Hyllus. [53]

5.2 Joining the Dorians of Thessaly

In 1186 BC, the Thesprotians, who lived in northwestern Greece, invaded Thessaly and drove out its inhabitants. [54]

Herodotus lists the names of tribes living in Thessaly during the Persian Wars, but does not include the Dorians. [55]

The Dorians, who lived in Doris near the Peneius River in Thessaly, are thought to have migrated to Doris near Mount Parnassus.

5.3 Joining the Cadmeans

In 1126 BC, the Boeotians, led by Damasichthon, son of Opheltes, returned from Arne in Thessaly and occupied Thebes.

The Cadmeans, who had lived in Thebes, were led by Autesion, son of Tisamenus, and moved to Doris near Mount Parnassus. [56]

In Pindus on Doris, lived Aristomachus, son of Cleodaeus, leader of the Hylleis, one of the three Dorian tribes. [57]

Autesion's daughter, Argeia, married Aristomachus' son, Aristodemus, and bore twin sons, Eurysthenes and Procles, who became the first kings of the two royal houses of Sparta. [58]

Autesion's son, Theras, became the guardian of his sister Argeia's sons, Eurysthenes and Procles, and participated in the Heracleidae's return to Peloponnesus. [59]

6 Migration to Peloponnesus

In 1215 BC, the Heracleidae, led by Heracles' son Hyllus, invaded Peloponnesus, which was left vulnerable after the death of Eurystheus in Mycenae, and settled in Argolis. [60]

However, the following year, the Heracleidae, leaving some behind, retreated to Tricorythus in Attica. [61]

In 1211 BC, Hyllus led the Heracleidae on a second attempt to return to Peloponnesus. The Heracleidae, led by Hyllus, engaged in battle with the Achaeans, who were waiting for them at Isthmus, and Hyllus was killed in battle. [62]

Heracleidae migrated from Attica to Doris.

6.1 Expedition of Cleodaeus, son of Hyllus

The population of Doris surged as the Heracleidae and the Dorians who had lived in Thessaly migrated to Doris.

In 1173 BC, Cleodaeus led the Dorians on a third attempt to return to the Peloponnesus. The Dorians attacked Mycenae and destroyed the city. [63]

Recent archaeological findings have revealed evidence of destruction at Mycenae in the 12th century BC. [64]

The Dorians also destroyed Tiryns and Midea. [65]

6.2 Expedition of Aristomachus, son of Cleodaeus

In 1126 BC, Aristomachus made a fourth attempt to return to the Peloponnesus. Aristomachus was killed in battle, and the expedition ended in failure. [66]

6.3 Expedition of Temenus, son of Aristomachus

In 1112 BC, the Dorians, led by Temenus, made a fifth attempt to return Peloponnesus. [67]

In 1111 BC, the Dorians expelled Melanthus and occupied Messenia. [68]

In 1109 BC, the Dorians, led by Temenus' son Phalces, captured Sicyon. [69]

In 1107 BC, the Dorians captured Argos after a siege. [70]

In 1104 BC, the Dorians captured Sparta after a siege. [71]

In 1103 BC, the Dorians, led by Cresphontes, established Stenyclerus as the capital of Messenia. [72]

In 1102 BC, the Dorians, led by Deiphontes, son of Antimachus, occupied Epidaurus. [73]

In 1087 BC, the Dorians, led by Rhegnidas, son of Phalces, occupied Phlius. [74]

In 1075 BC, the Dorians, led by Aletes, son of Hippotas, fought against Aeolis of Corinth and occupied Corinth. [75]

The inhabitants of the Peloponnesus Peninsula became Dorians, except for the Arcadians in Arcadia, the Eleans in Eleia, and the Achaeans in Achaia.

After completing their return to the Peloponnesus, the Dorians attacked Athens but failed.

In 1074 BC, the Dorians expelled the Ionians who lived in Megara and founded Megara. [76]

Megara was built by the Dorians of Corinth. [77]

7 Overseas Migration

7.1 Migration to Crete and Rhodes

In 1070 BC, Althaemenes, son of Ceisus, son of Temenus of Argos, led the Dorians and Pelasgians in colonizing Crete. [78]

Their migration was due to a famine in the Peloponnesus. [79]

Althaemenes himself migrated to Rhodes and founded Lindus, Ialysus, and Cameirus. [80]

Althaemenes's colony included not only Dorians from Argos but also Dorians from Megara. [81]

Althaemenes' colony also included Anthes, a descendant of Aetius, son of Anthas, who led the inhabitants of Troezen. [82]

Anthes settled in Caria and founded Halicarnassus and Myndus. [83]

Part of Althaemenes' colony also dispersed to Cnidus and Cos. [84]

The three towns of Rhodes, Halicarnassus, Cnidus, and Cos came to be known as the Doric Hexapolis. [85]

7.2 Migration to Bithynia

In 712 BC, Zypoetes of Megara led the Dorians in migration to Bithynia and founded Astacus. [86]

Astacus flourished after a colony sent by the Athenians joined the Megarians in 434 BC. [87]

The name Astacus is said to be derived from Astacus of Sparti, and was likely given by the Gephyraeans, who were among the Athenians. [88]

The Gephyraeans had migrated to Athens shortly after the Epigoni's attack on Thebes, driven by the Boeotians. [89]

Therefore, the town's name changed to Astacus after the Athenians settled there. It is likely that the original name of the town was Lobster. Arrian reports this in his "Bithynian History." [90]

8 Spread of Dorians Settlements

In 1460 BC, the Dorians were born in Doris near the Peneius River in northern Thessaly.

In 1420 BC, the Dorians who lived in Thessaly migrated to Doris near Mount Parnassus.

Some of the Dorians migrated from there to Crete.

In 1186 BC, the Dorians who lived in Thessaly migrated to Doris near Mount Parnassus.

In 1104 BC, the Dorians who lived in Doris near Mount Parnassus migrated to Argolis, Laconia, and Messenia.

In 1070 BC, some of the Dorians who lived in Argolis and Megara migrated to Crete, Rhodes, and Caria.

9 Greek Dark Ages

Most Dorians lived in Doris, Argolis, Laconia, Messenia, and Megara. Dorians also lived in Crete, Rhodes, and Caria.

End