Achaeans (Homer)

The Achaeans (Greek Ἀχαιοί ) or Achaeans were a Greek tribe, who lived in the countryside Achaia in the northwestern Peloponnese and founded several cities. In Homer's epics is the name Danaans and Argives in addition to the Greeks as a whole.

Origin

Much discussed is the question of whether it might be at the Ahhijawa mentioned in Hittite written sources to the Achaeans. Currently, the majority of researchers assumes. A collective term for the Greeks of the Mycenaean period have been - Thus the term Achaeans would not be related to Greeks a particular region, but - as in Homer. Also at the time of Merneptah and Ramses III. mentioned and calculated the so-called Sea Peoples Aqwaiwascha be equated from one part of the research with Ahhijawa and Achaeans.

Some researchers assume that the Achaeans originally lived in Thessaly. Through the so-called Doric Migration they were then displaced to Achaia. This hike is but now controversial in the research.

History

The Achaeans were eponymous for the Achaean Confederation, an aligned against the Macedonian expansion of Cities ( 280-146 BC). The Achaiische covenant temporarily dominated almost the whole Peloponnesus, until it was finally conquered in 146 BC by the Roman Empire.