Aeolians

Aeolians: see Greece.

The Aeolians (Αἰολεῖς) were one of the three ancient Greek tribes. The name comes from the fact that they were considered to be descended from Aeolus (whose father Hellen was the mythological patriarch of all Hellenes).

Originating in Thessaly, they moved their location when the Dorians were attacking the Achaeans and then abandoned most of the Mycenaean territories. The Aeolians took over some of the abandoned territory and built few cities on islands near Asia Minor. They began building these cities well after the Mycenaeans were defeated, and gave rise to the Aeolian dialect of the Greek language.

See also

• Aeolia
• Aeolian
• Aeolic Greek
• Lesbos