Abanten

The Abanten ( Greek Ἄβαντες , ábantes ) were a prehistoric ancient Greek tribe that was native to the island of Euboea . He is already mentioned by the oldest Greek authors.

The origin of the Abanten is unclear. They were probably part of a peoples' movement from the mouth of the Asopos across the Euripus Strait to Euboea. There are also various theories about the origin of the name Abanten : Aristotle traced it back to Thracians from the Greek city of Abai , who came to Evia and who are said to have called the inhabitants there Abantes . Others lead the name back to the mythical progenitor Abas , king of Argos , or to other mythical persons of the same name.

The Abanten are portrayed as a warlike people. Originally they had settled around the places Chalkis and Eretria , from where they subjugated the other Euboean peoples (including the Curetes ) until they finally ruled the entire island - apparently already in Homer's time . Euboea is said to have been named Ἀβαντίς after them . Like the curetes, they shaved their forehead and only let their hair grow long on the back of the head so that they could not be held by the hair during close combat. According to Homer, they sent 40 ships under their leader Elephenor against Troy .

The Abanten were displaced or assimilated by the Ionians who invaded Evia . At this point in time, the tribe had already spread in Greece. There are statements that point to an immigration of Abanten to the Greek islands ( e.g. Chios ) and in Asia Minor. Even in the name of one of the phyls of the city of Chalkis, her name was retained until later times.

literature

Johannes Toepffer : Abantes . In: Paulys Realencyclopadie der classischen Antiquity Science (RE). Volume I, 1, Stuttgart 1893, Col. 13-15.
Jessica Priestley: Abantes . In: Roger S. Bagnall et al .: The Encyclopedia of Ancient History. Wiley-Blackwell, Malden (MA) 2013, ISBN 9781405179355 , Vol. 1, p. 1.

Remarks

↑ Homer , Iliad 2,536 ff .; Hesiod , fragment 204, 52 f. ed. West.
↑ Aristotle in Strabo , Geographika 10, p. 445.
↑ Pausanias , Helládos Periēgēsis 2,16,2 and 10,35,1; Libraries of Apollodorus 2,2,1; among others
↑ Homer, Iliad 2,536 ff .; 4.464.
↑ Plutarch , Theseus 5: 2 ff.
↑ Homer, Iliad 2,536-545.
^ Ion by Chios in Pausanias, Helládos Periēgēsis 7,4,9.

[1] Homer , Iliad 2,536 ff .; Hesiod , fragment 204, 52 f. ed. West.

[2] Aristotle in Strabo , Geographika 10, p. 445.

[3] Pausanias , Helládos Periēgēsis 2,16,2 and 10,35,1; Libraries of Apollodorus 2,2,1; among others

[4] Homer, Iliad 2,536 ff .; 4.464.

[5] Plutarch , Theseus 5: 2 ff.

[6] Homer, Iliad 2,536-545.

[7] Ion by Chios in Pausanias, Helládos Periēgēsis 7,4,9.