Parthenon (Doric Temple)
Iktinos
c. 450 BC
Acropolis, Athens

The principal city of Attica. The citadel of Athens was the Acropolis. The town Piraeus, south-west of Athens, was its main port. Athens was named after their patron goddess, Athena.

The first king of Athens was either the earth-born Cecrops or Cranaüs, Cecrops' successor.

It was the kingdom ruled by the great Athenian hero, Theseus. Later in his life, Theseus lost his throne to Menestheus, because of his absence, when he was imprisoned in the Underworld and the Dioscuri and Spartan army invaded Attica.

For more detailed history of the dynasties in Athens, read the House of Athens and the myth of Theseus. See also the House of Athens for the extensive family tree.

Historically, Athens was the leading city during the classical period; a centre of art, science and literature, as well as the city that first created democracy and capital of great naval empire (480-400 BC).

Eleusis was the chief rival city to Athens in Attica. Eleusis lost its independence to Erechtheus of Athens. Eleusis was a centre of cult to Demeter, known as the Eleusinian mysteries, established by Celeüs and his family. See also the Mother Goddesses, for more about Demeter and Persephone.

Thebes was a city of south east of Boeotia, was founded by its first king, Cadmus, descendant of Io and brother of Europa. Thebes was originally called Cadmeia. Later, Cadmeia was name of the citadel, while the entire city was renamed Thebes, named after Thebe, wife of Amphion. Amphion and Zethus (twin brothers) were the builders of Thebes' walls and its famous seven gates.

Another of its famous king was Oedipus, who was in the centre of a scene of one of greatest Greek tragedies (Oedipus Rex). It was also the setting of the famous war against Argos (see Seven Against Thebes).

For more detailed about the history of Thebes, read the House of Thebes. See also the House of Thebes about their family tree.

The city of Orchomenus was situated in northern Boeotia. It was situated west of Lake Copais. Orchomenus was the centre of Minyan power.

The most famous king of Orchomenus was Athamas, an Aeolid from Thessaly, but the city was founded by Andreus. Andreus was the son of the river god Peneius, and he had named the region around Orchomenus in northern Boeotia as Andreis. Andreus shared the kingdom with Athamas, when Andreus married Euippe, daughter of Athamas' son Leucon.

Read the Aeolids in Boeotia, for the history of the city of Orchomenus.

See the Aeolids in Orchomenus (genealogy).

Delphi was a city in Phocis. Delphi was famous for the oracle.

The area and the oracle used to belong or were sacred to Gaea (earth). Later, it was sacred to Themis, a Titaness, who then pass it to her sister Phoebe. Finally Delphi was passed on from Phoebe onto her grandson Apollo, god of prophecy and the oracle. The oracle was hand over to Apollo when the god kill a giant serpent (dragon) called Python, thereafter, each prophetess or high priestess of Delphi, was called Pythia.

Many rulers and heroes sought the oracles about their futures, often about the kingdom or their adventures. However, it often foretold their deaths, which they try to avoid, but the oracle always foretells true.

During the time of Heracles, the Pythia was Xenocleia.

Calydon was a southern city of Aetolia, founded by Calydon, son of Aetolus and brother of Pleuron.

Not much was known about Calydon, except that he married Aeolia, daughter of Amythaon and sister of Melampus and Bias. Calydon became the father of Epicasta who married his nephew, Agenor, son of Pleuron and Xanthippe.

Calydon's most famous king was Oeneus (Oineus). Oeneus was the son of Porthaon and Euryte, and the great-grandson of Calydon. Oeneus married Althaea, daughter of Thestius. Oeneus became the father of Toxenus and the hero Meleager(?), as well as two daughters – Gorge and Deïaneira, who was the last wife of Heracles. Later, Oeneus also married his niece, Periboea, daughter of Hipponous of Olenus. Oeneus became father of Olenias and another hero, Tydeus.

When Oeneus forgot to sacrifice to Artemis, the goddess punished the king by sending a giant boar to ravage the countryside, destroying crops and killing farmers and travellers. It became the scene of the famous Calydonian Boar Hunt (see Atalanta for the story of Calydonian Boar Hunt).

Oeneus lost the throne to his brother, Agrius. Without his sons to protect him, Oeneus's nephews forced him off the throne. Meleager was dead after the Calydonian Boar Hunt, and his other son Tydeus was exiled to Argos, for killing one of his relative (brother or uncle). Oeneus only regained his kingdom, by his grandson Diomedes, the son of Tydeus, when the hero killed Agrius (?) and his sons.

Oeneus was well known for receiving guests and suppliants. Among them were Bellerophon, Heracles, Tyndareus, Agamemnon and Menelaus.

Pleuron was a city of Aetolia, founded by and named after Pleuron, son of Aetolus, and brother of Calydon. Not much was known about Pleuron except that his son, Agenor, married his niece Epicasta, daughter of Calydon.

Phthia was the capital of Phthiotis, a region on the west shore of the Pagasaean (Thessalian) Gulf. Phthiotis was sometimes called Achaea.

Deucalion, along with his son Hellen and grandson Aeolus, ruled in Phthia in succession. Aeolids became the father of many sons who ruled many part of Greece.

Read the Aeolids in Thessaly, for the history of the city of Phthia.

Generations later, the exiled prince and hero, Peleus settled in Phthia, with his followers known as the Myrimidons from the island of Aegina. Peleus married Antigone, daughter of King Eurytion of Phthia. During the Calydonian Boar Hunt, Peleus accidentally killed his father-in-law. Peleus was exiled for one year (he went to Iolcus, entertained by Acastus), before returning to Phthia and became their king. Peleus outlived his son and grandson. See Heroes I for more detail about Peleus' life.

See the family trees for the Aeolids in Phthia and the Aeacids.

Iolcus was a city on the shore of Pagasaean Gulf, near the port-city Pagasae. It is now called Volos.

Cretheus, son of Aeolus founded Iolcus. When he died, his eldest son Aeson (father of Jason) should have inherited the kingdom. Instead, Cretheus' stepson, Pelias (son of Poseidon and Tyro), seized the throne, imprisoned Aeson, and forced his brother and other half-brothers to flee from Iolcus. Iolcus became one of the most powerful kingdoms in Greece. Pelias offered the kingdom to Jason, if the hero could retrieve the Golden Fleece (See Argonauts). Medea, sorceress and wife of Jason, caused Pelias' death.

Acastus succeeded his father (Pelias), but the hero Peleus would later destroy or capture the city.

Read the Aeolids in Thessaly, for the history of the city of Iolcus.

See the family tree for the Aeolids in Iolcus.

Pagasae was the only port in Thessaly. It was situated at the head of Pagasaean (Thessalian) Gulf, near Iolcus. The Argonauts, who sailed on the Argo with Jason, probably departed from Pagasae for Colchis.

Pherae was a city of Thessaly, north of Iolcus and Pagasae. Pheres, son of Cretheus and Tyro, founded the city, and named it after himself. Pheres had to flee from Iolcus, when his half-brother Pelias seized power at his father's death.

Pheres was the father of Admetus, whose wife, Alcestis, sacrificed her own life to saved Admetus. (See Heracles for the story of Admetus and Alcestis).

See the family tree for the Aeolids in Pheres.

Phylace was a Thessalian city west of Pagasaean Gulf.

Phylacus, son of the Aeolid Deïon and Diomede, founded Phylace, and named the city after himself. His son Iphiclus was one of the fastest runners in the world. Iphiclus took part in the quest with Jason, as an Argonaut.

In the myth of Melampus, Phylacus had captured the seer, who had attempted to steal his cattle. Phylyacus released when Melampus cured his son of impotence.

Iphiclus succeeded his father. His two sons, Protesilaüs and Podarce, led the Thessalians from Phylace to Troy.

See the family tree for the Aeolids in Phylace.

Larisa (Larissa) was a Thessalian city on the river Peneius. It was the home of the Lapiths under its king, Peirithoüs, companion of Theseus.

See the family tree for the Lapiths in Thessaly.

Trachis (Τραχις) was the capital of Malis or Trachinia.

Ceÿx was ruling Trachis, when Heracles made it his home with his wife, Deïaneira, and his family. At Heracles' death, his sons known as the Heraclids sought refuge in Trachis, when Eurystheus, king of Mycenae, persecuted his cousin's children. Ceÿx who was not powerful enough to protect Heracles' children told them to seek aid from Athens. (See Eurystheus, Argolis, about the Heraclids). The city's name was then changed to Heraclea (Ἡρακλἣα).

Ceÿx drowned at sea. His wife, Alycone, died of grief. The gods turned the couple into kingfishers.

Ephyra (Ephyre) was the principal city of Thesprotia, a region in southern Epeirus.

Neoptolemus became the king of Ephyra, after the Trojan War. Neoptolemus probabaly ruled all of Epeirus. (See family tree of the Aeacides)

Ambracia was a city of the region also called Ambracia. Ambracia was the major port in the Ambracian Gulf.

Dodona was a city in Epeirus. The city was famous for its forest of oak trees that had oracular power. Oracles were gain through interpretations of the sounds of rustlings and creakings of the trees. It was also one of centres of worship for Zeus.

Buthrotum was a coastal city of northern Epeirus, opposite of the island of Corcyra. After the death of Neoptolemus, king of Epeirus, the Trojan seer, Helenus, son of Priam and Hecuba, founded Buthrotum.

Pella was a city of Macedon, possibly founded by Pierus, who was a follower of the Muses.

Macedon has a more significant role in history, where it was the home of Philip II and his more famous son, Alexander the Great.

Abdera was a city west of the river of Nestus, in Thrace. Heracles founded Abdera during his eighth labour. The city was named after his companion Abderus killed by the mares of Diomedes of Thrace.

Ismarus was a coastal city in southern Thrace, occupied by the Cicones, a Thracian tribe. Odysseus sacked Ismarus in one of his early adventures after the Fall of Troy.