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ADRIAN ROBU

Institute for South‐East European Studies (Romanian Academy)

The Achaeans occupied the northwestern coast of PELOPONNESE, between the Gulf of Corinth, ELIS, ARCADIA, and SICYON (BA 58 A–D 1–2). Achaea was not a homogenous geographical unit: several mountains (Panachaikon, Erymanthos, Aroania, Kyllini) are located inside the territory, while the main CITIES were settled on coastal plains.

Herodotus (8.73) attests that the Achaeans constitute one of the seven nations (ethnea) of the Peloponnese. According to legendary traditions, they were firstly located in the Argolid and LACONIA, but were driven out by the DORIANS and migrated to the northwest Peloponnese, expelling in turn the IONIANS who previously occupied the land (7.94; Paus. 7.1.5–9, 7.24.5). This was the starting point of Ionian MIGRATION to Asia Minor. These traditions are difficult to verify by means of material evidence (Rizakis 1995, 21–22, 111–12, 151–52).

For the occupation of the territory, Herodotus also reports that the Achaeans imitated the previous Ionian organization in twelve geographical units (1.145; cf. Paus. 7.6.1). These districts (merē) were located around the following settlements: PELLENE, AEGEIRA, AEGAE, BURA, HELICE, AEGIUM, RHYPES, PATRAE, PHARAE, OLENUS, DYME, TRITAEA. Most of these centers evolved into cities (poleis), but the emergence of the POLIS in Achaea seems not to antedate the fifth century (Morgan and Hall 1996, 193). At the end of that century, Achaea was organized into a confederation, the Achaean League, which played a role on the international political and military stage until the Roman conquest of Greece in 146 BCE (Polyb. 2.38–44; cf. Rizakis 2015).

The Achaeans participated in the COLONIZATION movement: in the last quarter of eighth century BCE, they founded the cities of SYBARIS and CROTON (8.47) in southern ITALY (Morgan and Hall 1996, 199–215). There is no mention of Achaean participation in the PERSIAN WARS.

SEE ALSO: Achaeans of Phthiotis; Ethnicity; Hypachaeans