Chaonians

The Chaonians () were an ancient Greek tribe that lived in the region of Epirus that is today part of northwestern Greece and southern Albania.; ; ; ; ; . It was part of the northwestern group of Greek tribes together with the Molossians and the Thesprotians.

Name
The Greek names "Chaonia" (Χαονία) and "Chaones/Chaonians" (Χάονες) both come from "Chaon" (Χάων, *χαϝ-ών) meaning "place with gorges".

History
The Chaonians are first mentioned by the Greek historian Thucydides in the 5th century BC. 

The Greek historian Strabo says that the Chaonians and the Molossians were the most famous tribes of Epirus, because they once ruled all of Epirus.Strabo. The Geography, 7.7.5. 

The Periplus of Pseudo-Scylax refers to the Chaonians as separate from the Illyrians.

The Greek historian Polybius says that the Illyrians raided the Chaonian city of Phoenice in 230 BC. Many Italian traders who were at the city when the raid happened were killed or enslaved resulting in the Roman Republic starting the Illyrian Wars the next year.

Politics and culture
The Chaonians were settled Kata Komas (), meaning in a group of villages, and established a tribal state in the 5th century BC. 

The Greek historian Thucydides says that their leaders were chosen yearly and names two such leaders: Photius and Nikanor.Thucydides. History of the Peloponnesian War, 2.80.5.

They were connected to other Greek tribes in Epirus () such as the Thesprotians and Molossians. The Chaonians joined the Epirote League, a federation of Greek tribes founded in 325/320 BC that ruled Epirus until the Romans conquered the region in 170 BC.

The Chaonians participated in the ancient Olympic games and festivals where only Greeks were allowed to attend.

List of Chaonians
Photius and Nicanor, leaders of the Chaonians in the Peloponnesian War (circa 431–421 BC).
Doropsos , theorodokos in Epidauros (circa 365 BC).IG IV2,1 95 col I.1 Line 29.
Antanor (son of Euthymides), proxenos in Delphi (325–275 BC).FD III 4:409 II.7
Peukestos, proxenos in Thyrrheion, Acarnania (3rd century BC) .IG IX,12 2:243.
Myrtilos, officer who gave proxeny decree to Boeotian Kallimelos (late 3rd century BC)..
Boiskos (son of Messaneos), prostates (late 3rd century BC)SEG 38:468. (the Greek word prostates means "ruler").
Lykidas (son of Hellinos), prostates (circa 232–168 BC).SEG 48:683 (Manumission Record).
-tos (son of Lysias), winner in Pale (wrestling) Panathenaic Games (194/193 BC).IG II2 2313 col II.8 Line 34.
Charops, father of Machatas, father of Charops the Younger - philoroman politicians (2nd century BC).

References
Citations

Sources

Further reading

Category:Greek people