Aeolians

The Aeolians (/iːˈoʊliənz/; Greek: Αἰολεῖς) were one of the four major tribes in which Greeks divided themselves in the ancient period (along with the Achaeans, Dorians and Ionians).[1][2]

Not to be confused with Aeolian Islands.

Name

Their name mythologically derives from Aeolus, the mythical ancestor of the Aeolians and son of Hellen, the mythical patriarch of the Greek nation; it actually comes from Greek term aiolos (αίολος) meaning "quickly moving".[3] The dialect of ancient Greek they spoke is referred to as Aeolic.[2]

History

Originating in Thessaly, a part of which was called Aeolis, the Aeolians often appear as the most numerous amongst the other Hellenic tribes of early times.[2] The Boeotians, a subgroup of the Aeolians, were driven from Thessaly by the Thessalians and moved their location to Boeotia.[2] Aeolian peoples were spread in many other parts of Greece such as Aetolia, Locris, Corinth, Elis and Messinia.[2] During the Dorian invasion, Aeolians from Thessaly fled across the Aegean Sea to the island of Lesbos and the region of Aeolis, called as such after them, in Asia Minor.[2]

Early record

According to Herodotus, the Aeolians were previously called Pelasgians.[4]

See also

• Aeolian (disambiguation)
• Aeolic Greek
• Aeolis

References

Citations

1. Hard 2004, pp. 401–436.
2. Smith 1856, pp. 50–51.
3. Harper, Douglas (2001–2020). "Aeolian". Online Etymology Dictionary.
4. Herodotus, The Histories, 7.95: "The Aeolians furnished sixty ships and were equipped like Greeks; formerly they were called Pelasgian, as the Greek story goes."

Sources

• Hard, Robin (2004). The Routledge Handbook of Greek Mythology. London and New York: Routledge (Taylor & Francis Group). ISBN 0-415-18636-6.CS1 maint: ref=harv (link)
• Smith, William (1856). Dictionary of Greek and Roman Geography. London: Walter and Maberly.