1 Introduction

In 1750 BC, a great flood occurred in the upper reaches of the Cephisus River, north of Mount Parnassus. [1]

Led by Inachus's two sons, Phoroneus and Aegialeus (or Aezeius), people migrated south and settled on the Peloponnesus Peninsula, founding Phoroneus (later Argos) and Aegialeia (later Sicyon). [2]

In 1690 BC, Phoroneus' son Apis annexed Aegialeia (later Sicyon) to Phoroneus and became ruler of the Peloponnesus.

2 Telchin (or Telchis, Telches), the eponym

The 2nd-century BC chronicler Castor gives the following names of early Sicyonian kings:

Aegialeus, Europs, Telchin, Apis, Thelxion, ... [3]

The 2nd-century AD geographer Pausanias gives a genealogy that goes as follows: Apis, son of Telchis, son of Europs, son of Aegialeus. [4]

Castor does not document the parentage of the Sicyonian kings, but Pausanias seems to have interpreted it as a father-son succession.

Europs and Apis, however, were sons of Aegialeus's brother, Phoroneus. [5]

Aegialeus had no heir. [6]

When Aegialeus died, Aegialeus's brother, Phoroneus, made his son, Europs, king of Sicyon.

Telchin of Sicyon usurped Europs's throne. [7]

King Phoroneus of Argos, along with the Parrhasians, attacked the Telchines, led by Telchin, but was repelled. [8]

In 1690 BC, Phoroneus' son Apis defeated Telchin and annexed Sicyon to Argos. [9]

In 1665 BC, Telchin, along with his son Thelxion, killed Apis and secured Sicyon's independence from Argos's rule for 25 years. [10]

3 Migration to Crete

In 1690 BC, after losing a battle against Apis, a group of Telchines, led by Telchin's son Cres, migrated to Crete. [11]

Cres settled in the area north of Mount Leuca in western Crete, near the sea (later known as Aptera). [12]

The Telchines changed their name to Eteocretans, and Cres became king of the Eteocretans of Crete. [13]

Crete was called Telchinia, and the people living on the island were called Telchines. [14]

The 5th-century theologian Jerome reports that Crete's first ruler was Cres, and that the island was named after him. [15]

3.1 About the Telchines

3.1.1 The Discoverers of Iron

In 1438 BC, iron was accidentally discovered during a forest fire on Mount Ida in Crete. [16]

The Telchines, in Aptera, were the first to work iron and became known as the Idaean Dactyls. [17]

3.1.2 Metalworking Technicians

The Telchines invented the method of forging iron. [17-1]

Furthermore, the Telchines were the first to work iron and copper. [17-2]

3.1.3 Mining Engineers

The Telchines accompanied Cadmus, discovering gold mines near Mount Pangaeus and finding copper in Cadmeia. [17-3]

The Telchines also found copper deposits in Chalcis, Euboea. [17-4]

3.1.4 Inventors of Linear B

Linear B is a Greek script, with its earliest known use around 1450 BC. [17-5]

Linear B is presumed to have been invented in Crete, based on the undeciphered Linear A.

The Greeks who migrated to Crete after the Telchines were the Pelasgians, who moved from Arcadia to Crete around 1450 BC. [17-6]

However, it is unlikely that the Pelasgians living in Arcadia invented Linear B.

It is presumed that the Telchines, who lived in Crete before them and could have acquired knowledge from Linear A scribes, invented Linear B.

3.2 Migration from Crete to Rhodes

There were at least two migrations of Telchines from Crete to Rhodes.

1) Migrations before Erysichthon

Some Telchines migrated from Crete to Ophiussa (later Rhodes), and the island came to be called Telchinis. [18]

The migration of Telchines from Crete to Rhodes is estimated to have occurred between 1690 and 1470 BC. [19]

2) Migration of Erysichthon

In 1450 BC, Erysichthon migrated from Prasus in eastern Crete to Rhodes. [20]

The Erysichthon migration is thought to have been caused by the settlement of Pelasgians from Tegea in Arcadia, led by Gortys, son of Tegeates, in Crete. [21]

Erysichthon married Halia's daughter, Rhodos, and had seven sons called Heliadae. [22]

Halia was one of the indigenous Telchines. [23]

The people who settled with Erysichthon from Crete lived alongside the Telchines.

Erysichthon was an Eteocretan (Telchines), a descendant of the Cres who migrated from Sicyon to Crete in 1690 BC. [24]

3.2.1 Migration from Rhodes

In 1425 BC, conflict arose between the Heliadae and the Telchines, forcing the Telchines to leave the island and migrate. [25]

One of the Telchines, Lycus, migrated to Lycia near the Xanthus River. [26]

Telchines remained in Rhodes, changing their name to Heliadae.

Some Telchines migrated to Samothrace and later to nearby Lemnos. [27]

3.2.1.1 Migration from Samothrace to Boeotia

In 1420 BC, Telchines, who lived in Samothrace, joined Cadmus's migration and migrated to Boeotia, settling at Teumessus. [28]

On their way, Telchines discovered gold near Mount Pangaeus, north of the Chalcidice Peninsula in Thracia. [29]

Telchines discovered copper ore, named cadmea, in Cadmeia, founded by Cadmus. [30]

3.2.1.2 Sparti

The Sparti, second only to Cadmus in power in Cadmeia, are said to have crawled out of the soil where a serpent's teeth had been sown. This legend likely arose from Telchines' travels, when he prospected for ore in various places. It is believed that Telchines was among the Sparti. [31]

The Sparti's symbol is a serpent, likely related to the serpent of Telchinis (later Rhodes), the island of Telchines.

The Sparti continued to hold leading positions as prophets and generals for over 1,000 years, even after Cadmus' descendants left Thebes. [32]

3.2.2 Migration from Rhodes

In 1415 BC, conflicts arose among the Heliadae (Ochimus, Cercaphus, Macareus, Triopas, Actis, Candalus, and Tenages), causing some of the Heliadae to migrate.

Macareus (or Macar) migrated to Lesbos. [33]

Candalus migrated to Cos. [34]

Actis (or Auges, Atlas) migrated to Egypt and founded Heliopolis. [35]

Triopas migrated to Caria and founded Triopium (or Triopia). [36]

3.3 Migration from Crete to Troad

In 1435 BC, the Telchines, who lived in Aptera, migrated from Crete to Troad, led by Teucrus, and settled near Mount Ida. [37]

Teucrus's immigrants likely included the Pelasgians (Arcadians), who migrated from Arcadia to Crete in 1450 BC and lived in Cydonia. [38]

In 1420 BC, the Pelasgians (Arcadians), led by Dardanus, migrated from Samothrace and lived alongside Teucrus. [39]

In 1327 BC, Ilus, son of Tros, son of Erichthonius, son of Dardanus, became king of Wilusa. [40]

The Telchines intermarried with the Pelasgians and people of Wilusa and changed their name to Trojans.

Priam's wealth is said to have come from the gold mines of Astyra near Mount Ida. [41]

It is believed that the Idaean Dactyls (Telchines), who worked in iron processing near Mount Ida, were involved in the mining. [42]

3.3.1 Migration from Troad to Lydia

In 1325 BC, Tantalus, who lived near Mount Ida, was attacked by Ilus in Ilium and migrated to the area near Mount Sipylus in Lydia. [43]

Telchines accompanied Tantalus on his migration and mined gold around Mount Sipylus. [44]

The wealth of Tantalus' descendants sprang from the mineral deposits throughout Mount Sipylus. [45]

3.3.1.1 Migration from Lydia to Italy

In 1318 BC, the Maeonians, led by Tyrrhenus, son of Atys, fled from Lydia to Lemnos, pursued by the Hittites.

In 1300 BC, Tyrrhenus migrated from Lemnos to the west coast of the Italian peninsula. [46]

Tyrrhenus was accompanied by the Telchines, who lived around Mount Sipylus. The copper- and iron-producing city of Elba, located between the Italian peninsula and Cyrnus, was named Aethalia. Aethalia was the ancient name of Lemnos. [47]

3.3.2 Migration from Troad to Sicily

In 1295 BC, Laomedon, son of Ilus, was expelled from Ilium by Phaenodamas (or Hippotes). With the help of the Hittites, Laomedon recaptured Ilium.

Phaenodamas was killed in the battle, and the defeated Trojans, along with Phaenodamas' daughters, fled to Sicily. [48]

In Sicily, a son named Aegestus (or Acestes) was born to Phaenodamas' daughter Egesta. [49]

3.3.3 Migration from Troad to Various Places

In 1244 BC, the descendants of Assaracus, son of Tros, summoned Aegestus, son of Egesta, from Sicily, and expelled Priam, son of Laomedon, from Ilium. [50]

Priam recaptured Ilium with the help of the Hittites.

Failed in this battle, the Trojans migrated to various places.

3.3.3.1 Migration from Troad to Sicily

In 1244 BC, the Trojans, led by Anchises, son of Capys, son of Assaracus, migrated to Sicily, guided by Aegestus. [51]

Anchises' son, Aeneas, was born in Sicily. [52]

In 1184 BC, Aeneas led the Trojans from Sicily to the area near Laurentum in the central-western part of the Italian peninsula. [53]

The Trojans, along with Evander, intermarried with the migrating Arcadians and the indigenous Latins, and changed their name to Romans.

3.3.3.2 Migration from Troad to Paeonia

In 1244 BC, the Trojans, led by Antenor, son of Aesyetes, son of Capys, son of Assaracus, migrated to Paeonia. [54]

Antenor was accompanied by the Mygdonians, led by Mygdon, who lived in Mysia of Olympene. [55]

Antenor's wife was Theano, daughter of Mygdon's son Cisseus. [56]

The Mygdonians were Pelasgians who migrated from Thessaly to the area around Lake Ascania in Phrygia and changed their name to Doliones.

The Mygdonians were also accompanied by the Idaean Dactyli (Telchines), who lived on Mount Ida. [57]

They later became the engineers who mined Midas's wealth around Mount Bermius in Macedonia. [58]

Midas was a descendant of Mygdon and king of the Mygdonians. [59]

In 1188 BC, the sons of Antenor led the Trojans to migrate to Troad.

The sons of Antenor expelled Hector, son of Priam, from Ilium and occupied the city. [60]

3.3.4 Migration from Troad

In 1186 BC, Hector, son of Priam, fought alongside the Achaeans against the sons of Antenor to recapture Ilium. After Hector was killed in battle, the Trojans migrated to various places.

3.3.4.1 Migration from Troad to the Land of the Molossians

In 1186 BC, the Trojans, led by Neoptolemus, son of Achilles, and Helenus, son of Priam, migrated to the land of the Molossians. [61]

Helenus was accompanied by his brother Chaon and the sons of Hector. [62]

The Trojans led by Chaon changed their name to Chaonians. [62-1]

In 1170 BC, Hector's sons led the Trojans in an attack on Ilium, expelling the sons of Antenor and recapturing the city.

In 1156 BC, the Trojans who remained in the land of the Molossians, led by Pergamus, son of Hector's wife Andromache, migrated to Mysia and founded Pergamon. [63]

3.4 Migration from Crete to Eleia

In 1420 BC, Acmon (or Idaean Heracles) migrated from Crete to Olympia in Eleia. [64]

Acmon was one of the Idaean Dactyls. [65]

In other words, the people who migrated from Crete to Eleia were the Telchines.

Even after Acmon left, the Telchines remained in Olympia.

In 1345 BC, Clymenus, the grandson of Acmon, migrated from Cydonia in Crete to Olympia. [66]

In 1344 BC, Clymenus was expelled from Olympia by Endymion, son of Aethlius, who lived in Elis. [67]

Clymenus's settlement is thought to have been near Mount Ida in Troad. [68]

3.5 Migration from Crete to Caria

In 1416 BC, Acmon migrated to Cherronesus in Caria, expelling the Carians and founding five towns. [69]

The people who migrated to Caria with Acmon intermarried with the Carians and changed their name from Telchines to Leleges.

Ancaeus, the son of Acmon, became king of Leleges. [70]

3.5.1 Leleges's Residence

In 1404 BC, Ancaeus moved his base from Cherronesus to near the Maeander River and founded Lelegeis (later Miletus). [71]

Leleges fought against the Hittites, who were expanding their power from central Anatolia into Asia Minor.

The Leleges fled to places like Samos when Hittite power was strong, and advanced to the mainland when Hittite power weakened.

During the Trojan War, the Leleges lived in a wide area, from Caria to Troad. [72]

4 Telchines of Sicyon

Thelxion, who killed Apis, became king of Sicyon. Thelxion was succeeded by Aegydrus, and Aegydrus was succeeded by Thurimachus. [73]

4.1 Civil War in Argos

In 1635 BC, conflict broke out in Argos between the tribe of Phoroneus, son of Inachus (hereafter referred to as the Inachians), and the Parrhasians.

Tiryns and Epidaurus, sons of Argus, son of Niobe, who belonged to the Inachians, emigrated from Argos and founded the cities of Tiryns and Epidaurus. [74]

4.2 Marriage to Mycenae

In 1601 BC, Ismene, daughter of Thurimachus, married Argus, who lived in Mycenae. [75]

Argus was the son of Agenor, son of Ecbasus, son of Argus, son of Niobe, daughter of Phoroneus. [76]

After being defeated in battle by the Parrhasians living in Argos, Argus emigrated to Mycenae, where the Telchines lived at the time, and lived with them. Mycenae came to be called Argion. [77]

Argus and Ismene had a son, Messapus. [78]

4.3 Marriage to Mycenae

Thurimachus was succeeded by his son, Leucippus. [79]

In 1576 BC, Leucippus' daughter, Calchinia, married Messapus, who lived in Mycenae. [80]

Messapus was Calchinia's cousin.

4.4 Occupation of Argos

Messapus, king of Mycenae, became king of Sicyon. [81]

Messapus was the grandson of Thurimachus, the seventh king of Sicyon, and the son-in-law of Leucippus, the eighth king of Sicyon.

In 1560 BC, Messapus attacked Argos, which had exiled his father, Argus, and captured the city.

The Parrhasians (Pelasgians) who lived in Argos migrated to various places. [82]

4.5 Golden Age of the Telchines

After this battle, Messapus came to control most of the people living in the Peloponnesus Peninsula, except for the Pelasgians living in Arcadia.

Messapus' neighbors were Inachians (Pelasgians), but the majority of the inhabitants were Telchines.

Sicyon, where the Telchines lived, flourished along with Mycenae, Argos, Tiryns, and Epidaurus.

4.6 Emergence of Danaus

In 1430 BC, during the reign of Orthopolis, son of Plemnaeus, Danaus migrated from Egypt to Argos. [83]

Danaus was a descendant of Io, daughter of Iasus, who was driven from Argos in 1560 BC.

Gelanor, son of Sthenelas, who ruled Argos, was pursued by Danaus and fled to Sicyon. [84]

At the time, Mycenae was ruled by Gelanor's brother, Eurystheus. [85]

Mycenae was also destroyed by Danaus, and the Telchines, who had lived in Mycenae, fled to Sicyon.

4.7 Occupation of Argos

In 1408 BC, Lamedon, son of Gelanor who was exiled in Sicyon, attacked Argos and captured the city. [86]

This was the fifth year since the death of Lynceus, who had succeeded Danaus, and his son Abas (or Triopas) succeeded him. [87]

Argos once again became the town of Telchines.

4.8 Migration from Sicyon

In 1407 BC, the Achaeans led by Achaeus's two sons, Archander and Architeles, expelled Lamedon from Argos. [88]

Furthermore, together with Sisyphus, son of Aeolus, Achaeans expelled the Telchines of Sicyon and founded Corinth, east of Sicyon. [89]

4.9 Whereabouts of Telchines

The Telchines, driven out of Mycenae and Sicyon, are thought to have fled to western Messenia and founded Iklaina.

4.9.1 The Blank Zone

Pausanias records that when Polycaon, son of Lelex of Lacedaemon, founded Andania in 1405 BC, Messenia was uninhabited. [90]

After that, the situation in western Messenia remains entirely unknown until Aphareus, son of Perieres, founded Arene in 1280 BC. [91]

Western Messenia prior to 1280 BC was a blank zone with no surviving traditions.

4.9.2 Founder of Iklaina

Recent archaeological investigations have revealed that Iklaina existed in western Messenia when Andania was founded in 1405 BC.[92]

Clay tablets inscribed with Linear B from that period have been excavated from the ruins of Iklaina.[93]

The situation in Mycenae prior to its founding by Perseus in 1330 BC cannot be known from Greek traditions. However, in reality, a Mycenae that had brought Argos and Sicyon under its control did exist.

Similarly, Iklaina, which is not recorded in Greek traditions, existed in western Messenia.

Iklaina is thought to have been a city founded by the Telchines who fled from Mycenae and Sicyon.

4.9.3 Year of Iklaina's Founding

If the Telchines fled directly from Mycenae to Messenia and founded the city there, the year of Iklaina's founding would be thought to be 1430 BC.

Alternatively, if the Telchines fled from Mycenae to Messenia via Sicyon and founded the city there, the year would be thought to be 1407 BC.

4.9.4 Ancient Name of Iklaina

Aphareus, son of Perieres, founded Arene on the west coast of Messenia. [94]

Moreover, it is also said that the sons of Aphareus lived in Papae, and that the colony of that town was in Crete. [95]

It is presumed that between the founding of Andania in 1405 BC and the founding of Arene in 1280 BC, Iklaina came under the control of Andania.

Papae is thought to have been the ancient name of Iklaina.

4.9.5 Destroyer of Iklaina

Iklaina appears to have been destroyed around 1200 BC. [96]

The destroyer is presumed to have been Nestor, son of Neleus.

In 1209 BC, Nestor migrated from Lepreatic Pylus in southern Eleia to Messenia and founded Pylus near Iklaina. [97]

Pausanias records that Nestor succeeded Idas, son of Aphareus.[98]

However, since Nestor founded Pylus without settling in Arene, where Idas had lived, it is presumed he acquired western Messenia by force.

4.9.6 Linear B Writers

The Linear B writers are presumed to have migrated from Mycenae to Iklaina, and subsequently from Iklaina to Pylus.

5 Spread of Telchines Settlements

In 1700 BC, the Telchines were born in Aegialeia (later Sicyon), north of the Peloponnesus.

In 1690 BC, the Telchines who lived in Aegialeia migrated to northwestern Crete and changed their name to Eteocretans or Telchines.

From 1690 BC to 1470 BC, the Telchines who lived in Crete migrated to Rhodes.

In 1560 BC, the Telchines who remained in the Peloponnesus settled in Sicyon, Mycenae, and Argos, enjoying a Golden Age.

In 1450 BC, the Eteocretans who lived in Crete migrated to Rhodes and changed their name to Heliadae.

In 1435 BC, the Telchines who lived in Crete migrated to Troad and changed their name to Trojans.

In 1430 BC, the Telchines, who lived in Argos and Mycenae, migrated to Sicyon.

In 1416 BC, the Telchines, who lived in Crete, migrated to Caria and changed their name to Leleges.

In 1415 BC, the Heliadae, who lived in Rhodes, migrated to Egypt and founded Heliopolis.

In 1407 BC, the Telchines, who lived in Sicyon, were expelled from Sicyon.

In 1244 BC, the Trojans, who lived in Troad, migrated to Sicily.

In 1184 BC, the Trojans, who lived in Sicily, migrated to central-western Italian peninsula and changed their name to Romans.

6 Greek Dark Ages

The Eteocretans, who changed their name from the Telchines, lived in Crete; the Trojans, who changed their name from the Eteocretans, lived in Troad; and the Romans, who changed their name from the Trojans, lived in the Italian peninsula.

End