The ancient Greek tribes (Ancient Greek: Ἑλλήνων
ἔθνη) were groups of Greek-speaking populations
living in Greece, Cyprus, and the various
Greek colonies.
They were primarily divided by geographic,
dialectal, political, and cultural criteria,
as well as distinct traditions in mythology
and religion.
Some groups were of mixed origin, forming
a syncretic culture through absorption and
assimilation of previous and neighboring populations
into the Greek language and customs.
Greek word for tribe was Phylē (sing.) and
Phylai (pl.), the tribe was further subdivided
in Demes (sing.
Demos, pl.
Demoi) roughly matching to a clan.
With the dominion of land passing on from
one tribe to the other, cultural exchange
through art and trade, and frequent alliances
toward common goals, the ethnic character
of the different tribes had become primarily
political by the dawn of the Hellenistic period.
The Roman conquest of Greece, the subsequent
division of the Roman Empire into Greek East
and Latin West, as well as the advent of Christianity,
molded the common ethnic and political Greek
identity once and for all to the subjects
of the Greek world by the 3rd century AD.
== Greek tribes ==
=== Late Bronze Age: Homeric Age of the Iliad
(circa 1200 BC) ===
Achaeans/Argives/Danaans (Danaoi)/Hellenes/Panhellenes
(used as synonym of Greeks by Homer in the
Iliad) (Mycenaean Greece before Late Bronze
Age collapse and Dorian Invasion)
Central and Eastern Greek tribes (Aeolians,
Achaeans and Ionians)
Achaeans (Broader sense)
Central Greek tribes (Aeolians and Achaeans)
Aeolians
Acarnanians, Pre-Dorian Acarnanians
Dulichiumians/Doulicheis (mentioned in Iliad's
Catalogue of Ships)
Taphians and Teleboans - in the Echinades
Islands
Taphians (Táphioi) - in Taphos Island and
other Echinades Islands
Teleboans (Tēlebóai) - Originally in the
Mainland (in Acarnania), after in Taphos Island
and other Echinades Islands
Cephallenians - Original dwellers of Cephalonia/Kefalonia,
Ithaca (Odysseus homeland), Leucas/Lefkada
and Zakynthos (Southern Ionian Islands) (mentioned
in Iliad's Catalogue of Ships)
Aenianes/Enienes - Pre-Dorian Aenianes of
Aenis
Boeotians
Aones (mentioned in Iliad's Catalogue of Ships)
Curetes or Aetolians (mentioned in Iliad's
Catalogue of Ships)
Dryopes - Pre-Dorian dwellers of Doris
Locrians - Pre-Dorian Locrians (mentioned
in Iliad's Catalogue of Ships)
Phoceans - Pre-Dorian Phoceans (mentioned
in Iliad's Catalogue of Ships)
Thessalians
Lapiths (Lapíthai) (mentioned in Iliad's
Catalogue of Ships) (Phlegyas was their mythical
king)
Myrmidons (Myrmidónes) (mentioned in Iliad's
Catalogue of Ships) (people of Achilles in
the Iliad)
Perrhaebi (Perraiboí) (mentioned in Iliad's
Catalogue of Ships)
Achaeans (Narrower sense) - Pre-Doric people
of Peloponnese Peninsula (mentioned in Iliad's
Catalogue of Ships)
Arcadians (mentioned in Iliad's Catalogue
of Ships)
Argives - Pre-Doric people of Argos (mentioned
in Iliad's Catalogue of Ships)
Epeans (el) of Elis (Epeioí) - Pre-Doric
people of Elis (mentioned in Iliad's Catalogue
of Ships)
Lacedaemonians - Pre-Doric people of Lacedaemonia,
later doric Sparta (mentioned in Iliad's Catalogue
of Ships)
Mycenaeans - Pre-Doric Myceneans, Mycenae
was their main settlement (mentioned in Iliad's
Catalogue of Ships)
Symians (mentioned in Iliad's Catalogue of
Ships)
Eastern Greek tribes (Ionians)
Ionians
Oldest tribes (Phylai)
Agikoreis
Argadeis
Geleontes
Hopletes
Attics
Athenians (mentioned in Iliad's Catalogue
of Ships)
Euboeans
Abantes
Salamineans (mentioned in Iliad's Catalogue
of Ships)
Western Greek tribes (Dorians and Magnetes)
Dorians?
Oldest tribes (Phylai)
Dymanes (descendants from the legendary eponym
hero Dymas)
Hylleis (descendants from the legendary eponym
hero from Hyllus)
Pamphylians (descendants from the legendary
eponym hero Pamphylos)
Northwestern Doric Greek tribes?
Epirotes (Epirotic Dorians)?
Phaeacians - They lived in the island Scheria
(may have been an old name for the island
of Kerkyra/Corfu before Corinthian colonization)
(mentioned in the Odyssey as a people that
welcomed Odysseus before his return to Ithaca).
Magnetes (mentioned in Iliad's Catalogue of
Ships)
Pre-Greek and Non-Greek peoples from whom
some of the later Greek tribes claimed descent
Anatolians?
Caucones
Leleges
Telchines - Pre-Greek dwellers of Rhodes Island
(mentioned in Iliad's Catalogue of Ships)
Cadmeans
Minoan Cretans (mentioned in Iliad's Catalogue
of Ships)
Bottiaeans?
- They originally lived in Bottiaea, after
Macedonian conquest many of them migrated
to Bottike
Minyans (Minyes) (mentioned in Iliad's Catalogue
of Ships)
Pelasgians (mentioned in Iliad's Catalogue
of Ships and in Trojan Battle Order) - They
lived scattered through several regions of
ancient Greece (like Pelasgiotis).
Crestones
Cynurians - They lived in Cynuria (East Peloponnese
Peninsula).
Phrygians?
Bryges
Mygdones
Phrygians Proper
Phrygians?
Thracians?
Pieres - They originally lived in Pieria,
after Macedonian conquest many of them migrated
to Pieris
=== Iron Age: Archaic and Classical Greece
(from circa 800 BC) ===
Hellenes (Archaic and Classical Greece after
Late Bronze Age collapse and Dorian Invasion)
Central and Eastern Greek tribes (Aeolians,
Achaeans and Ionians)
Achaeans (Broader sense) - They lived in Eastern,
East Central and Southern Greece (Mycenean
Greece) before Dorian migrations or Dorian
invasions (after that most Achaeans were displaced
or assimilated by Dorians in Southern Greece
regions, except for Arcadia).
They spoke Mycenean Greek that was the ancestor
of Aeolic, Arcado-Cypriot and Ionic Greek
dialects of Classical Greece.
Central Greek tribes (Aeolians and Achaeans)
Aeolians - They spoke Aeolic Greek dialects
(archaic dialects that preserved some Mycenean
Greek features).
Boeotians - They lived in Boeotia (Aonia)
Dryopes - They lived in Dryopis, later known
as Doris (after driven out by the Malians,
a Dorian tribe, many scattered to other Greek
regions)
Thessalians - They lived in Thessaly (Thessalia/Aeolia).
Mount Olympus is on the border between Thessaly
and Macedon.
Achaeans, Phtiothis - They lived in Achaea
Phthiotis.
Dolopes?
- They lived in Dolopia (mostly considered
a Thessalian tribe)
Histiaeoteans - They lived in Histiaeotis,
Thessaly's Northwest district.
Perrhaebi (Perraiboí) - They lived in Perrhaebia,
Thessaly's northernmost district.
Thessalians Proper - They lived in Thessaliotis.
Aeolian Diaspora
Asia Minor Aeolians - They lived in Aeolis,
Northwestern Anatolian coast.
Lesbians - They lived in Lesbos Island.
Achaeans (Narrower sense) (Arcado-Cyprian
tribes) - They spoke Arcado-Cypriot Greek
dialects (archaic dialects that preserved
some Mycenean Greek features).
Arcadians - They lived in Arcadia (Central
Peloponnese Peninsula) and were a pre-Dorian
invasion or Dorian migration Greek tribal
confederation.
Azanes
Triphylians - They were a group of three tribes
(Tri - Three, Phylai -Tribes) that lived in
Western Peloponnese, in southern part of Elis
(south of Alpheiós river) but saw themselves
as Arcadians and not Eleans.
Amphidolians
Letrinians
Marganians
Achaean Diaspora
Cypriots - They lived in Cyprus Island
Pamphylians - They lived in Pamphylia (South-West
Anatolia).
Eastern Greek tribes (Ionians)
Ionians - They spoke Ionic Greek dialects
(basis of the Greek Koiné and his descendant
Modern Greek).
Oldest tribes (Phylai)
Agikoreis
Argadeis
Geleontes
Hopletes
Attics - They lived in Attica (included ancient
Athenians) (Marathon is in Attica)
Aiantis (named after Ajax) (Aeschylus was
a member of this tribe)
Aigeis (named after Aegeus)
Akamantis/Acamantis (named after Acamas) (Pericles
was a member of this tribe)
Antiochis (named after Antiochus, son of Heracles)
(Socrates was a member of this tribe)
Erechtheis (named after Erechtheus) (Critias
may also have been a member of this tribe)
Hippothontis (named after Hippothoon)
Kekropis (named after Cécrops)
Leontis (named after Leos, son of Orpheus)
(Themistocles was a member of this tribe)
Oineis (named after Oeneus)
Pandionis (named after Pandion)
Euboeans (West Ionians) - They lived in Euboea
Island.
Abantes
Euboean Diaspora
Chalcidicians, Euboean - They lived in the
Peninsula of Chalcidicia (many were descendants
from Euboean colonies from the cities of Chalcis
and Eretria).
Catanians - They lived in Catania, Magna Graecia
(many were descendants from a Euboean colony
from the city of Chalcis).
Cumaeans - They lived in Cumae, that was founded
by settlers from Euboea island (from Chalcis
and Eretria cities) in Magna Graecia.
It was one of the Greek colonies that most
influenced ancient Etruscan and Roman cultures,
namely by the introduction of the Alphabet.
Cumae by itself was the Metropolis of other
poleis in southern Italy coast, including
Nea Polis (New City), today's Naples (it was
to the West and close of Naples).
Neapolitans - They lived in Naples (many were
descendants from Rhodean and Ionic colonies,
the last ones were more numerous).
Ionians, Cycladian (Central Ionians) - They
lived in Cyclades Islands.
Delos Island that had the important Delos
sanctuary was in this group of islands.
Cycladian Diaspora
Chalcidicians, Cycladian - They lived in the
Peninsula of Chalcidicia (many were descendants
of a colony from Andros Island).
Salamineans - in Salamis/Salamina Island
Ionian Diaspora
Asia Minor Ionians (East Ionians) - They lived
in Ionia, Western Anatolian coast.
Sirisians - They lived in Siris in Lucania/Basilicata
eastern coast (many were descendants of a
colony from the city of Colophon, in the Western
Anatolian coast).
Western Greek tribes (Dorians and Macedonians)
Dorians - They spoke Doric Greek dialects
(that were not descendants of Mycenean Greek
but from a common Proto-Greek language).
Northwestern Doric Greek tribes - They spoke
North-West Doric Greek dialect
Acarnanians, Northwestern Greek - They lived
in Acarnania (this region had two groups of
Greeks: the native Northwestern Greek Acarnanians
and the Dorians Proper Acarnanians, many of
whom were descendants from Corinthian colonies).
Achaean Dorians - Many were Achaeans assimilated
by Dorians.
They spoke a Northwest Greek dialect but with
a stronger Achaean Greek substrate.
They spoke Achaean Doric Greek (not to be
confused with Achaean Greek).
Achaean Dorians of Peloponnese - They lived
in Achaea (whose older name was Aegialus/Aegialea
and was dwelt by Ionians) (North Peloponnese
Peninsula).
Achaean Dorians Diaspora
Crotoneans - They lived in Crotone (Eastern
Calabria coast), Magna Graecia (many were
descendants from an Achaean colony from the
city of Rhypes).
Achaean Dorians of the Islands
Doulicheis - Older dwellers of Leucas/Lefkada
Island (before Corinthian colonization).
Before Dorian Invasion or migration it was
dwelt by Ionians (thus the name Ionic Islands).
Ithacians - They lived in Ithaca Island (the
land of the lengendary Odysseus, the main
character of the Odyssey and also one of the
main ones in the Iliad whose author is traditionally
thought to be Homer).
Before Dorian Invasion or migration it was
dwelt by Ionians (thus the name Ionic Islands).
Kefalloneis - They lived in Kephalonia Island.
Before Dorian Invasion or migration it was
dwelt by Ionians (thus the name Ionic Islands).
Zakynthians - They lived in Zakynthos Island.
Before Dorian Invasion or migration it was
dwelt by Ionians (thus the name Ionic Islands).
Aenianians - They lived in Aeniania/Ainis.
Aetolians/Curetes - They lived in Aetolia.
Aetolian Mountain tribes (Southern Pindus
Mountains)
Agraeis
Aperantoi
Apodotoi
Eurytanians (Eurytanes) - They lived in Eurytania/Evrytania.
Ophioneis
Dolopes?
- They lived in Dolopia.
(sometimes considered an Aetolian tribe)
Amphilochians - They lived in Amphilochia.
Eleans - They lived in Elis (West Peloponnese
Peninsula).
Olympia, were the Ancient Olympic Games were
held was in Elis.
Epirotes (Epirotic Dorians) - They lived in
Epirus.
Atintanes
Chaonians - They lived in Chaonia.
Subtribes or Clans: Dassaretae
Molossians - A tribal confederation.
They lived in Molossis/Molossia.
Aethikes/Aethices - They lived on Mount Pindus
and in the neighborhood of Mount Tomarus.
Amantes/Abantes/Avantes - They lived in Amantia.
May have been a hellenized Illyrian tribe
related to the Amantini.
Apheidantes - They were named after king Apheidas.
Arktanoi
Athamanians (or Athamanes) - They lived in
Athamania
Dodonaioi or Selloi - Dodona sanctuary and
oracle was in their land.
Lyncestai They lived in Lynkestis.
Orestaes - They lived in Orestis.
Parauaei/Paroraioi - They lived in Parauaea,
Northern Pindus Mountains.
Paroraioi (Paroraei) - They lived in the western
slopes of Mount Tymphe, Northern Pindus Mountains.
Pelagones - They lived in Pelagonia.
Talares - They lived on Mount Pindus and in
the neighborhood of Mount Tomarus.
Tymphaeans - They lived in Tymphaea, eastern
slopes of Mount Tymphe.
Thesprotians - They lived in Thesprotia.
Subtribes or Clans: Aegestaeoi; Chimerioi;
Eleaeoi; Elinoi; Ephyroi; Elopes; Fanoteis;
Farganaeoi; Fylates; Graeci; Ikadotoi; Kartatoi;
Kassopaioi (Kassopaeans); Kestrinoi; Klauthrioi;
Kropioi; Larissaeoi; Onopernoi; Opatoi; Parauaioi;
Tiaeoi; Torydaeoi.
Locrians - They lived in Locris.
Malians - They lived in Malia/Malis.
Thermopylae was in their land.
Oeteans - They lived in Oetaea, included Mount
Oeta.
Phoceans - They lived in Phocis.
Delphi sanctuary and oracle was in their land
(on the southern slopes of Mount Parnassus).
Dorians Proper They spoke Doric Greek dialects.
Oldest tribes (Phylai)
Dymanes (descendants from the legendary eponym
hero Dymas)
Hylleis (descendants from the legendary eponym
hero from Hyllus)
Pamphylians (descendants from the legendary
eponym hero from Pamphylus)
Argives - They lived in Argolis (East Peloponnese
Peninsula).
Corinthians - They lived in Corinthia (Isthmus
of Corinth and North-East Peloponnese Peninsula).
Many Greek colonies were of Corinthian origin
(i.e.
Corinth was the Metropolis - Mother City,
the origin of many Greek colonies).
Corinthian Diaspora
Acarnanians, Dorians Proper - They lived in
Acarnania (this region had two groups of Greeks:
the native Northwestern Greek Acarnanians
and the Dorians Proper Acarnanians, many of
whom were descendants from Corinthian colonies).
Ambracians - Descendants of a Corinthian colony.
They lived in Ambracia.
Kerkyreans/Corcyraeans - Descendants of a
Corinthian colony.
They lived in Kerkyra/Corfu (Corcyra).
(Phaeacians may have been the original inhabitants
and called their island Scheria).
Leucadians - Descendants of a Corinthian colony.
They lived in Leucas (Lefkada) Island.
Syracusans - They lived in Syracuse in South-East
Sicily Island, Magna Graecia (many were descendants
from a Corinthian colony).
Cretans - They lived in Crete Island.
Cythereans - They lived in Cythera (Kythera/Kythira)
Island, south of Peloponnese Peninsula.
Dorians (of Doris) - They lived in Doris (Upper
Cephissus river valley).
They were viewed as a people close to the
land were Dorians originated - roughly south
Epirus and Aetolia in Northwest Greece (when
they migrated towards south).
Laconians - They lived in Laconia (South Peloponnese
Peninsula).
Spartans-Lacedaemonians - They lived in Sparta/Lacedaemon
a part of Laconia (South Peloponnese Peninsula).
Spartan Diaspora
Tarantinoi - They lived in Taranto, Magna
Graecia (many were descendants from a Spartan
colony).
Megareans - They lived in Megaris.
Messenians - They lived in Messenia (South-West
Peloponnese Peninsula).
Thereans - They lived in Thera/Thira Island
(Santorini).
Therean Diaspora
Cyreneans - Descendants from a Thera Island
colony.
They lived in Cyrene, Cyrenaica (Eastern Libya).
Dorian Diaspora
Doric Hexapolis
Cnideans - They lived in Cnidus.
Coans - They lived in Kos Island.
Halicarnasseans - They lived in Halicarnassus.
Rhodians - They lived in Rhodes Island.
Camirians - They lived in Camirus.
Ialysians - They lived in Ialysos.
Lindians - They lived in Lindus.
Macedonians (Makedónes) and Magnetes
Macedonians - They lived in Ancient Macedonia
and they spoke a version of the Doric dialect.
Argeads - According to their oral tradition
their tribe originally came from Argos, in
Argolis, Eastern Peloponnese Peninsula (Argeads
= Argives) (origin of the Macedonian ruling
dynasty - The Argeads - House of Argos).
Elimiotai - They lived in Elimiotis/Elimeia.
Eordeans - They lived in Eordaia.
Magnetes - They lived in Magnesia (most of
Thessaly's coastal region).
They were seen by ancient Greeks as a people
that shared a common ancestor with the Macedonians.
== See also ==
Greeks
Regions of ancient Greece
List of Celtic tribes
List of Germanic peoples
List of ancient peoples of Italy
List of Ancient Iranian peoples
List of Rigvedic tribes
== References ==
== External links ==
[1] - Source texts of ancient Greek and Roman
authors
[2] - Strabo's work The Geography (Geographica).
Books 7, Chapter 7 and Books 8, 9 and 10 are
about Greece (each region has a chapter).
