AETOLIA (region)
Mountainous region of western Greece
- Kind of place
- Region
- Where
- 38.62° N, 21.40° E
Aetolus named the country of Aetolia after his own name. Strabo 8.3.33 The Evenus river, formerly called Lycormas, flows through Aetolia. Strabo 7.7.8 The Aetolians are credited with the recent invention of the sling. Strabo 8.3.33
Described in the sources
The Curetes were in possession of Aetolia from the first. Strabo 10.3.3 +3 Aetolia contains a very large mountain named Corax that is contiguous to Oeta. Strabo 10.2.4 +2 Aetolia was named after Aetolus, who settled there after being banished from Eleia. Apollodorus 1.7.6 +2 The river Achelous flows through the region of Aetolia and forms the boundary between the Acarnanes and Aetolia. Pausanias 8.38.10 +2 The town of Olenus is located within the region of Aetolia. Strabo 10.2.22 +1 Oxylus fled to Elis due to a murder and returned to Aetolia after a year. Apollodorus 2.8.3 +1 The territory of the Aetoli extends from the Evenus river to Cape Antirrhium. Pliny, Nat. Hist. 4.3 ¶1 +1 The rocky town of Calydon is situated within the mountainous region of Aetolia. Strabo 10.1.9 +1 The small cities Macynia and Chalcis are situated on the mountains Taphiassus and Chalcis. Pliny, Nat. Hist. 4.3 ¶1 +1 Aetolia was historically divided into two distinct portions called the Old and the Epictetus. Strabo 10.2.3 +1
Stories and history
Aetolus defeated the Curetes in multiple battles, causing them to abandon Aetolia and retreat into Acarnania. Strabo 10.3.2 +2 The Aetolians dedicated a trophy and an image of an armed woman representing Aetolia after punishing the Gauls, who had invaded the region while returning through Thessaly. Pausanias 10.18.7 +1 Only vestiges of the Aetolian town of Olenus remain. Strabo 8.7.4 The country was devastated by conquest through arms. Strabo 10.3.4 The Aetolian charioteer used chestnut colts for his chariot. Sophocles, Electra 680-730 Aetolia supported the Eleans because of a shared kinship bond. Pausanias 8.49.7 The Hyantes abandoned Boeotia and settled among the Aetolians. Strabo 10.3.4 Aetolia sends infantry troops to participate in the war effort. Statius, Achilleid 1.417-444 ¶1 The competitor from Aetolia finished sixth in the chariot race. Sophocles, Electra 680-730 Orestheus ordered the vine stalk to be buried in the ground here. Athenaeus 2.1
Myths set at Aetolia
- The Transformation of Glaucus. hook: Glaucus hunts a hare in Aetolia and discovers a magical herb that restores life. goal: He eats the herb and throws himself into the sea to become a sea deity. outcome: He transforms into a fish-tailed sea god near Anthedon. Athenaeus 7.47 +5 Glaucus
- The Conquest of Aetolia and Acarnania. Alcmaeon joins Diomedes to invade Aetolia after the Epigoni attack Thebes, overthrowing the Epeii and subduing Acarnania. He eventually hands Aetolia to Diomedes to prevent future conflict and invites him to join a war to recover Argos. Apollodorus 1.8.6 +3 Alcmaeon
- The Deeds in Italy. Diomedes marches from Aetolia to assist King Daunus in his war. He establishes new settlements and destroys rival peoples and cities. Euripides, The Suppliants 1196-1231 +3 Diomedes
- The Prophecy of Teiresias. Creon summons the blind prophet Teiresias to Thebes to find a way to save the city from its troubles. He ultimately rejects the prophecy and refuses to sacrifice his son, choosing instead to flee with his family. Euripides, The Phoenician Maidens 834-864 +3 Creon
- The Exile of Odysseus. hook: "Ulysses sends his wife Penelope away after she is seduced by Antinous, or in some versions, kills her for being seduced by Amphinomus." goal: "Ulysses travels to Aetolia to visit Thoas and marries his daughter." outcome: "Ulysses fathers a son, Leontophonus, and later dies in old age after leaving his son behind."} Apollodorus, Epitome 7.38 +2 Odysseus
- The Exile of Oxylus. Oxylus, an outlaw in Aetolia, accidentally kills a man with a quoit and is forced into exile. He returns to Aetolia after spending a year away. Apollodorus 2.8.3 +1 Oxylus