The regions of ancient Greece were areas identified
by the ancient Greeks as geographical sub-divisions
of the Hellenic world.
These regions are described in the works of
ancient historians and geographers, and in
the legends and myths of the ancient Greeks.
Conceptually, there is no clear theme to the
structure of these regions.
Some, particularly in the Peloponnese, can
be seen primarily as distinct geo-physical
units, defined by physical boundaries such
as mountain ranges and rivers.
These regions retained their identity, even
when the identity of the people living there
changed during the Greek Dark Ages (or at
least, was conceived by the Greeks to have
changed).
Conversely, the division of central Greece
between Boeotia, Phocis, Doris and the three
parts of Locris, cannot be understood as a
logical division by physical boundaries, and
instead seems to follow ancient tribal divisions.
Nevertheless, these regions also survived
the upheaval of the Greek Dark Ages, showing
that they had acquired less political connotations.
Outside the Peloponnese and central Greece,
geographical divisions and identities did
change over time suggesting a closer connection
with tribal identity.
Over time however, all the regions also acquired
geo-political meanings, and political bodies
uniting the cities of a region (such as the
Arcadian League) became common in the Classical
period.
These traditional sub-divisions of Greece
form the basis for the modern system of regional
units of Greece.
However, there are important differences,
with many of the smaller ancient regions not
represented in the current system.
To fully understand the ancient history of
Greece therefore requires more detailed description
of the ancient regions.
== Central Greece ==
Continental Greece (Greek: Στερεά Ελλάδα
or Χέρσος Ἑλλάς) was (and still
is) a geographic region of Greece.
In English the area is usually called Central
Greece, but the equivalent Greek term (Κεντρική
Ελλάδα, Kentrikí Elláda) is more rarely
used.
=== Acarnania ===
Acarnania (Greek: Ἀκαρνανία) is
a region of west-central Greece that lies
along the Ionian Sea, west of Aetolia, with
the Achelous River for a boundary, and north
of the gulf of Calydon, which is the entrance
to the Gulf of Corinth.
Today it forms the western part of the regional
unit of Aetolia-Acarnania.
The capital and principal city in ancient
times was Stratos.
The north side of Acarnania of the Corinthian
Gulf was considered part of the region of
Epirus.
Acarnania's foundation in Greek mythology
was traditionally ascribed to Acarnan, son
of Alcmaeon.
=== Aeniania ===
Aeniania (Greek: Αἰνιανία) or Ainis
(Greek: Αἰνίς) was a small district
to the south of Thessaly (which it was sometimes
considered part of).
The regions of Aeniania and Oetaea were closely
linked, both occupying the valley of the Spercheios
river, with Aeniania occupying the lower ground
to the north, and Oetaea the higher ground
south of the river.
The boundaries of these two regions were formed
by the arc of high ground running west from
Mount Oeta round to Mount Tymphristos, then
north round to the headwaters of Spercheios,
and then east to the western spur of Mount
Othrys.
The lowland border in the Spercheios valley
with Malis ran approximately north-south along
from Oeta to the western spur of Othrys.
During the Archaic and Classical periods,
the Aenianians (in Greek Αἰνιᾶνες)
were members of the Delphian Amphictyonic
League, and shared two votes on the Amphictyonic
council with the Oetaeans.
=== Aetolia ===
The Achelous River separates Aetolia (Greek:
Αἰτωλία) from Acarnania to the west;
on the north it had boundaries with Epirus
and Thessaly; on the east with the Ozolian
Locrians; and on the south the entrance to
the Corinthian Gulf defined the limits of
Aetolia.
In classical times Aetolia comprised two parts:
Old Aetolia in the west, from the Achelous
to the Evenus and Calydon; and New Aetolia
or Acquired Aetolia in the east, from the
Evenus and Calydon to the Ozolian Locrians.
The country has a level and fruitful coastal
region, but an unproductive and mountainous
interior.
The mountains contained many wild beasts,
and acquired fame in Greek mythology as the
scene of the hunt for the Calydonian Boar.
=== Aperantia ===
Ancient Aperantia (Greek: Ἀπεραντία)
was a small region of Aetolia, south of Dolopia.
=== Attica ===
The name of Attica (Greek: Ἀττική)
was said to be derived from Atthis, daughter
of Cranaus, who was said to have been the
second king of Athens.
Attica is bounded on the east by the Aegean
sea, on the west by Megaris and the Saronic
gulf and on the north by Boeotia.
It is separated from Boeotia by a range of
mountains.
In the Archaic and Classical periods, the
Atticans were members of the Delphian Amphictyonic
League, and shared the two Ionian votes on
the Amphictyonic council with the Euboeans.
=== Boeotia ===
The region of Boeotia (Greek: Βοιωτία),
along with many of the cities that existed
there in the Classical period, is described
in the "catalogue of ships", in the Iliad.
In the Archaic and Classical periods, the
Boeotians were members of the Delphian Amphictyonic
League, and had two votes on the Amphictyonic
council.
=== Dolopia ===
Dolopia (Greek: Δολοπία) was a mountainous
region of Greece, located north of Aetolia.
The Dolopians were members of the Delphian
Amphictyonic League, and shared two votes
on the Amphictyonic council with the Perrhaeboi.
=== Doris ===
In the Archaic and Classical periods, the
Dorians (Greek: Δωριείς; region: Δωρίς)
were members of the Delphian Amphictyonic
League, and shared the two Dorian votes on
the Amphictyonic council with the Laconian
Dorians.
=== Euboea ===
In the Archaic and Classical periods, the
Euboeans were members of the Delphian Amphictyonic
League, and shared the two Ionian votes on
the Amphictyonic council with the Athenians.
=== Locris ===
The region of Locris, primarily the eastern
part ("that dwell over against sacred Euboea"),
is described in the Iliad.
In the Archaic and Classical periods, the
Locrians were members of the Delphian Amphictyonic
League, and had two votes on the Amphictyonic
council.
=== Malis ===
In the Archaic and Classical periods, the
Malians were members of the Delphian Amphictyonic
League, and had two votes on the Amphictyonic
council.
=== Megaris ===
Megaris (Ancient Greek: Μεγαρίς) was
a small but populous state and region of ancient
Greece, west of Attica and north of Corinthia,
whose inhabitants were adventurous seafarers,
credited with deceitful propensities.
The capital, Megara, famous for white marble
and fine clay, was the birthplace of Euclid.
Mount Geraneia dominates the center of the
region.
=== Oetaea ===
Oetaea (Greek: Οἰταία) was a small
upland district located south of Thessaly
(of which it was sometimes considered part).
It was closely linked with the district of
Aeniania, sharing a location in the valley
of the Spercheios (see above).
The Oetaeans were members of the Delphian
Amphictyonic League, and shared two votes
on the Amphictyonic council with the Aenianes.
=== Phocis ===
The region of Phocis, along with some of the
cities that existed there in the Classical
period, is described in the Iliad.
In the Archaic and Classical periods, the
Phocians were members of the Delphian Amphictyonic
League, and had two votes on the Amphictyonic
council, until they were stripped of them
after the Third Sacred War.
== Peloponnese ==
The Peloponnese or Peloponnesos, is a large
peninsula at the southern tip of the Balkans,
and part of the traditional heartland of Greece.
It is joined to the Greek 'mainland' by the
Isthmus of Corinth.
The Peloponnese is conventionally divided
into seven regions, which remain in use as
regional units of modern Greece.
Most of these regions are directly named in
the "catalogue of ships" in the Iliad, suggesting
that this geographic division of the Peloponnese
is very ancient, and stretches back to Mycenaean
Greece.
=== Achaea ===
Geographically, Achaea was (and is) the northernmost
region of the Peloponnese, occupying the coastal
strip north of Arcardia.
To the south, it bordered Arcadia along the
ridge of high ground running from Mount Erymanthos
to Mount Cyllene.
To the east, it bordered Corinthia near to
the city of Sicyon, and to the west the Larissos
river and western ridge of Erymanthos formed
the border with Elis.
Apart from the plain around Dyme, to the west,
Achaea was generally a mountainous region.
=== Arcadia ===
Geographically, ancient Arcadia occupied the
highlands at the centre of the Peloponnese.
To the north, it bordered Achaea along the
ridge of high ground running from Mount Erymanthos
to Mount Cyllene; most of Mount Aroania lay
within Arcadia.
To the east, it had borders with Argolis and
Corinthia along the ridge of high ground running
from Mount Cyllene round to Mount Oligyrtus
and then south Mount Parthenius.
To the south, the border Laconia and Messenia
ran through the foothills of the Parnon and
Taygetos mountain ranges, such that Arcadia
contained all the headwaters of the Alpheios
river, but none of the Eurotas river.
To the south-west, the border with Messania
ran along the tops of Mount Nomia, and Mount
Elaeum, and from there the border with Elis
ran along the valleys of the Erymanthos and
Diagon rivers.
Most of the region of Arcardia was mountainous,
apart from the plains around Tegea and Megalopolis,
and the valleys of the Alpheios and Ladon
rivers.
Due to its remote, mountainous character,
Arcadia seems to have been a cultural refuge.
When, during the Greek Dark Age, Doric Greek
dialects were introduced to the Peloponnese,
the older language apparently survived in
Arcadia, and formed part of the Arcado-Cypriot
group of Greek languages.
Herodotus says that the inhabitants of Arcadia
were Pelasgians, the Greek name for the supposed
'indigenous' inhabitants of Greece, who dwelt
there before the arrival of the 'Hellenic'
tribes.
Whilst Herodotus seems to have found the idea
that the Pelasgians were not 'Greek' far-fetched,
it is clear that the Arcadians were considered
as the original inhabitants of the region.Arcadia
is one of the regions described in the "catalogue
of ships" in the Iliad.
Agamemnon himself gave Arcadia the ships for
the Trojan war because Arcadia did not have
a navy.
There is a modern regional unit of Greece
of the same name, which is more extensive
than the ancient region.
=== Argolis ===
Ancient Argolis (sometimes called 'the Argolid')
occupied the eastern part of the Peloponnesus,
primarily the Argolid peninsula, together
with the coastal region to the east of Arcadia,
and north of Laconia.
To the north, the boundary with the territory
of Corinth was rather more fluid, and these
territories have sometimes been considered
together.
For instance, Pausanias discussed Argolis
and Corinthia together in one book of his
Description of Greece; similarly, in modern
Greece, a prefecture of "Argolidocorinthia"
has existed at various times.
Argolis took its name from the principal city
of the region during the Archaic and Classical
periods, Argos.
Argolis is discussed in the "catalogue of
ships" of the Iliad, without being given that
explicit name, but the major cities of the
region are listed together under the leadership
of Diomedes.
There is a modern regional unit of Greece
of the same name, occupying a smaller area
than the ancient region.
=== Corinthia ===
The territory associated with the city of
ancient Corinth in ancient Greece lay on either
side of the isthmus of Corinth.
On the northern side of the Isthmus, it was
bounded by Mount Geraneia, which separated
it from Megaris.
On the Peloponnesian side of the Isthmus,
Corinthia was bounded by Achaea to the west,
and to the south by the territory of Argolis.
As discussed above, the boundary between Argolis
and Corinthia was rather fluid, and in both
ancient and modern times, the regions have
been considered together.
Corinthia is discussed in the "catalogue of
ships" of the Iliad, without being given that
explicit name, but the major cities of the
region are listed together under the leadership
of Agamemnon.
There is a modern regional unit of Greece
of the same name.
=== Elis ===
Elis occupied the western, and flattest part
of the Peloponnese.
To the north-east, it bordered Achaea along
the Larissos river and western spur of Erymanthos,
and the east the border with Arcadia ran along
the Erymanthos and Diagon rivers to Mount
Elaeum.
From the Elaeum, its border with Messenia
ran along the Neda (river) river to the sea.
Elis is discussed in the "catalogue of ships"
of the Iliad, without being given that explicit
name (Elis is only used for the name of the
city), but the major cities of the region
are listed together.
There is a modern regional unit of Greece
with the same name.
=== Laconia ===
Laconia (also called Lacedaemon; Greek: Λακεδαίμων,
Lakedaimōn), occupied the south-eastern part
of the Peloponnese.
Its principal boundaries were formed by the
Parnon and Taygetos mountain ranges.
Its western boundary, adjoining Messenia,
ran along the Koskaraka river from just south
of the city of Abia, up into the Taygetos
range, and then north along the Taygetos ridge.
The northern border with Arcadia ran amongst
the foothills of Taygetos and Parnon, such
that up Laconia included all the headwaters
of the Eurotas river.
To the north-east of the Parnon range was
the coastal area of Cynuria; this was originally
part of the Argolid, but by the Classical
period had become part of Laconia.
The land between the Taygetos and Parnon ranges
formed the heart of Laconia; the coastal region
east of Parnon, and south of Cynuria was also
part of Laconia.
Lacedaemon is one of the regions described
in the "catalogue of ships" in the Iliad.
In the Archaic and Classical periods, the
Laconians were members of the Delphian Amphictyonic
League, and shared the two Dorian votes on
the Amphictyonic council with the Dorians
from Doris.
There is a modern regional unit of Greece
of the same name.
During the Classical period, Laconia was dominated
by the city of Sparta.
There were other settlements in the region,
and most inhabitants were not full Spartan
citizens (Spartiates), but Lacedaemonians
or Perioeci ("about-dwellers").
However, all these citizens and towns were
part of the Spartan state.
Only after the final eclipse of Spartan power
after the War against Nabis did the rest of
Laconia become free from Spartan domination.
However, Laconia instead fell under the domination
of the Achaean League until the whole of the
Peloponnese was conquered by the Romans in
146 BC.
=== Messenia ===
Messenia occupied the south-western part of
the Peloponnese.
To the north it had a border with Elis along
the Neda river, from whence the border with
Arcadia ran along the tops of Mount Elaeum
and Mount Nomia.
The northern border with Arcadia then ran
amongst the foothills of Taygetos, but all
the headwater of the Alpheios river lay outside
Messenia.
The eastern border with Laconia ran along
the Taygetos ridge up to the Koskaraka river,
and then along that river to the sea, near
the city of Abia.
There is a modern regional unit of Greece
of the same name.
== Thessalia ==
Thessaly or Thessalia was one of the traditional
regions of Ancient Greece.
During the Mycenaean period, Thessaly was
known as Aeolia, a name that continued to
be used for one of the major tribes of Greece,
the Aeolians, and their dialect of Greek,
Aeolic.
=== Achaea Phthiotis ===
The Phtiotic Achaeans were members of the
Delphian Amphictyonic League, and had two
votes on the Amphictyonic council.
=== Magnesia ===
The Magnetes were members of the Delphian
Amphictyonic League, and had two votes on
the Amphictyonic council.
=== Histiaeotis ===
=== Pelasgiotis ===
=== Perrhaebia ===
Perrhaebia was the northernmost district of
ancient Thessaly, where the tribe of Perrhaebi
lived.
Major cities were: Pythion, Doliche, Azorus,
Oloosson and Phalanna the capital.
Perrhaebia was part of Macedonia between 4th
and 1st centuries BC.
=== Thessaliotis ===
== Epirus ==
=== Athamania ===
=== Chaonia ===
Chaonia or Chaon (Greek Χαονία or Χάων)
was the name of the northwestern part of Epirus,
the homeland of the Greek tribe of the Chaonians.
Its main town was called Phoenice.
According to Virgil, Chaon was the eponymous
ancestor of the Chaonians.
=== Dassaretia ===
=== Molossis ===
The Molossians (Greek: Μολοσσοί, translit.
Molossoi) were an ancient Greek tribal state
that inhabited the region of Epirus since
the Mycenaean era.
On their northeast frontier, they had the
Chaonians and on their southern frontier the
kingdom of the Thesprotians; to their north
were the Illyrians.
=== Thesprotia ===
=== Parauaea ===
Parauaea (Greek: Παραυαία) was an
ancient Greek region in Epirus.
=== Tymphaea ===
== Macedonia ==
Macedonia or Macedon (from Greek: Μακεδονία,
Makedonía) was an ancient Greek kingdom and
region, centered in the northeastern part
of the Greek peninsula, bordered by Epirus
to the west, Paionia to the north, Thrace
to the east and Thessaly to the south.
Early geographers put river Strimon as the
eastern border of Macedonia with Thrace.
However, as kingdom of Macedon was expanding
and was pushing east the Thracian tribes,
river Nestos was regarded as the eastern border
of the region and Sintice, Odomantis and Edonis
were included in it.
=== Almopia ===
=== Bisaltia ===
=== Bottiaea ===
=== Chalcidice ===
=== Crestonia ===
=== Edonis ===
Traditionally part of Thrace but after its
annexation by the kingdom of Macedon it was
regarded as part of the region of Macedonia.
=== Elimiotis ===
=== Emathia ===
=== Eordaea ===
=== Lynkestis ===
=== Mygdonia ===
=== Odomantis ===
Traditionally part of Thrace but after its
annexation by the kingdom of Macedon it was
regarded as part of the region of Macedonia.
=== Orestis ===
=== Pelagonia ===
=== Pieria ===
=== Sintice ===
Traditionally part 
of Thrace but after its annexation by the
kingdom of Macedon it was regarded as part
of the region of Macedonia.
== Greek colonies ==
=== Magna Graecia ===
=== Asia Minor ===
==== Aeolis ====
==== Doris (Asia Minor) ====
==== Ionia ====
==== Pontus ====
=== Cyprus ===
=== Crimea ===
=== Cyrenaica ===
== References ==
=== Bibliography ===
Homer, The Iliad
Herodotus, The Histories
Pausanias, Description of Greece
Bunson, Matthew (1994).
Encyclopedia of the Roman Empire.
New York: Facts on File Inc.
