Achaean mythology

The mythology Achaean designates the myths and legends Achaean tribes. The Achaeans (in ancient Greek Akhaioí) are one of the first Indo-European peoples to have invaded the Greece, in the second millennium BC. J.-C., chasing the first inhabitants, the Pelasgians thanks to their military supremacy (use of the sword instead of the dagger, use of bronze).

Argolis becomes their stronghold from where they dominate the rest of Greece. Homer thus speaks of "Achaeans" or "Argians" to designate all the Greeks gathered in front Troy. Their main centers are the cities of Argos, Tiryns, Pylos but especially Mycenae, hence the name Mycenaean civilization for the period from the 17th to the 12th century BC. approximately AD (see the corresponding mythology in the Cultural Group). The fall of the Achaean domination is traditionally attributed to the Dorian invasion, but it is now believed that the great invasion was rather a series of small incursions, spaced out in time.

Their eponymous ancestor is Achaïos, son of Xouthos and Créüse, half-brother of Ion (eponymous ancestor of the Ionians).

According to some scholars, the term Hittite Ahhiyawa mentioned in chronicles referred to the Achaeans of the Homeric tradition.

In the North-West of Argolis, a mountainous region called "Achaia", is also held to have sheltered a flurrying development of the Achaean civilization in the cities like Sicyone, Patras, Erymanthe and more in the south, Elis and Olympia.