Book 7
7.1
Hecataeus of Miletus says of the Peloponnesus, that, before the time of the Greeks, it was inhabited by barbarians. Perhaps even the whole of Greece was, anciently, a settlement of barbarians, if we judge from former accounts. For Pelops brought colonists from Phrygia into the Peloponnesus, which took his name; DanausB. C. 1570. He was king of Argos. brought colonists from Egypt; Dryopes, Caucones, Pelasgi, Leleges, and other barbarous nations, partitioned among themselves the country on this side of the isthmus.The Peloponnesus, which before the arrival of Pelops was called Apia. The case was the same on the other side of the isthmus; for Thracians, under their leader Eumolpus,Eumolpus took possession of Eleusis B. C. 1400. He is said to have there instituted the mysteries of Ceres. took possession of Attica; Tereus of Daulis in Phocaea; the Phoenicians, with their leader Cadmus,Cadmus, son of Agenor, king of Tyre, arrived in Boeotia B. C. 1550. The citadel of Thebes was named after him. occupied the Cadmeian district; Aones, and Temmices, and Hyantes, Boeotia. Pindar says, there was a time when the Boeotian people were called Syes.Sues, σύας, swine, in allusion to their ignorance. Some names show their barbarous origin, as Cecrops, Codrus, Oeclus, Cothus, Drymas, and Crinacus.There were two kings of Athens named Cecrops. The first of this name, first king of Attica and Boeotia, came from Egypt. Cecrops II. was the 7th, and Codrus the 17th and last king of Attica. Strabo informs us, b. x. c. i. § 3, that Oeclus and Cothus were brothers of Ellops, who founded Ellopia in Euboea, and gave the name to the whole island. Thracians, Illyrians, and Epirotae are settled even at present on the sides of Greece. Formerly the territory they possessed was more extensive, although even now the barbarians possess a large part of the country, which, without dispute, is Greece. Macedonia is occupied by Thracians, as well as some parts of Thessaly; the country above Acarnania and Aetolia, by Thesproti, Cassopaei, Amphilochi, Molotti, and Athamanes, Epirotic tribes.
