Thesprotians

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The Thesprotians (Greek: Θεσπρωτοί, English: Thesprôti) were an ancient Greek tribe of Thesprotis, akin to the Molossians. The poet Homer frequently mentions Thesprotia which had friendly relations with Ithaca and Doulichi. On their northeast frontier they had the Chaonians and to their central frontier the kingdom of the Molossians, to their north were the Illyrians. The Thesprotians were part of the League of Epirus until they were annexed into the Roman Empire.

Geography

Strabo puts their region in southwest Epirus called Thesprotis. The Thesprotians lived in Epirus between the Ambracian Gulf and the River Thyamis, and between the Pindus mountains and the Ionian Sea. According to legend, the nation got its name from the Pelasgian leader and first governor Thesprotos, who built Kichyro (Cichorus), which later was called Ephyra, the capital of Thesprotia. Other important cities of Thesprotia include Pandosia, Titani, Chimerion, Torine, Fanoti, Kassopa, Fotiki, Boucheta and Batiai. There was a city called Thesprotia same as the tribe.

Tribe

According to Strabo, the Thesprotians (along with the Chaonians and the Molossians) were the most famous among the fourteen tribes of Epirus, who once ruled over the whole region. The Chaonians ruled Epirus first while the Thesprotians and Molossians ruled afterwards. Plutarch tells us that the Thesprotians, the Chaonians and the Molossians were the three principal clusters of Greek-speaking tribes that had emerged in Epirus, and all three were the most powerful among all other tribes. Strabo also records that the Thesprotians, Molossians, and Macedonians referred to old men as pelioi and old women as peliai (PIE: *pel- means grey); in Ancient Greek pelitnós - grey, peleia, "pigeon", so-called because of its dusky grey color, poliós - grey, and pollós - dark). Their senators were called Peligones , see Macedonian Peliganes.

Sub-tribes

The Thesprotians were divided into many sub-tribes. During the middle part of Antiquity, the region had been inhabited by: The Elopes, Graeci, Kassopaeoi, Dryopes and Dodonians, (Greek: Δωδωναίος), Aegestaeoi, Eleaeoi, Elinoi, Ephyroi, Ikadotoi, Kartatoi, Kestrinoi, Klauthrioi, Kropioi, Larissaeoi, Onopernoi, Opatoi, Tiaeoi, Torydaeoi, Fanoteis, Farganaeoi, Fylates and the Chimerioi. There was a migration to Thessaly since early Antiquity. Some of these tribes in later times moved and further colonized Ithaca, Leucas, Acarnania, parts of South Greece, Thessaly and Italy.

Mythology

According to the Telegony (Epic Cycle), Odysseus came upon the land of Thesprotia where he stayed for a number of years. He married Thesprotia's queen, Kallidike (Callidice, Kallidice), and had a son with her named Polypoetes. Odysseus led the Thesprotians in the war against the Brygoi (Brygi), but lost the battle because Ares was on the side of the Brygoi. Athena went to support Odysseus, by engaging the war god in another confrontation until Apollo separated them. When Kallidike died, Odysseus returned home to Ithaca, leaving their son, Polypoetes, to rule Thesprotia.

Trivia

Allied with Corinth in the 5th century BC
Allied with Athens and Molossis, 415 - 404 BC
Occupation of Kassopaea, Dodona, east Thesprotia by Molossians 400 BC
The Thesprotian League middle 4th century BC
Allied with Macedonia 343 - 300 BC
Part of the League of Molossis 300 BCE
Part of the Epirote League, included Chaonians and Molossians 220 - 167 BC
Assigned as a district of Macedonia within Rome 148 - 27 BC
Assigned as a district of Achaea within the Roman Empire from 27 BC

List of Thesprotians

Kallidike Queen , wife of Odysseus
Aidoneus King of Ephyra , husband of Persephone
Petoas,Simakos,Poionos,Admatos - Skepas,Aristodamos from Cassopea - Dioszotos from Pandosia - Theorodokoi in Epidauros 365 BC
Alexandros prostates (mid 4th c. BC)
Xenarchos son of Xenon from Cassopea (tomb stele) ca. 310 BC
Gallithos son of Xenon from Cassopea (tomb stele) ca. 275 BC
Sokratis daughter of Sotion from Boucheta (tomb stele) ca. 250 BC
Xenias of Cassopea proxenos in Thyrrheion Acarnania III bc
Alkimos (son of Nikandros) proxenos in Delphi c.215 BC
Eucharon , Eunostidas proxenoi in Thermos (Aetolia) end III-beg. II
Milon (son of Sosandros) honoured by Koinon of Epirotes (late 3rd c. BC)
Opatos dedicated to Zeus Naos, Dione, and Zeus Bouleus in Dodona(ca. 215-210 BC)
Simakos (son of Phalakrion) 2nd c.BC Pancratiast, Epidauria (fined 1000 staters, along with other two athletes)
Demetrios (son of Machatas) dedicated to Apollon at Kourion,Cyprus 200-193 BC. Ptolemaic city commander of Kourion
Alkemachos (son of Charops) Diaulos (~400-metre race) Panathenaics 194/3 BC nephew of Demetrios (see above second link)
Echenika daughter of Menedamos and Aristokrateia from Kassopa, wife of Lysixenos (tomb stele) II bc

References

External links

Map of Thesprotia

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