Thesprotians
The Thesprotians (Greek: Θεσπρωτοί, "Thesprōtoí") were an ancient Greek tribe, akin to the Molossians, inhabiting the kingdom of Thesprotis in Epirus. Together with the Molossians and the Chaonians, they formed the main tribes of the northwestern Greek group. On their northeastern frontier, they neighbored the Chaonians and on their northern frontier they neighbored the kingdom of the Molossians. The poet Homer frequently mentions Thesprotia in the "Odyssey", which had friendly relations with Ithaca and Doulichi. The Thesprotians originally controlled the Dodona oracle, the oldest religious shrine in Greece. Later, they were part of the Epirus until they were annexed  into the Roman Empire. Geography. Strabo puts the Thesprotians' territory, Thesprotis, on the coast of southwest Epirus. Thesprotis stretched between the Ambracian Gulf in the south to the River Thyamis (modern-day Kalamas) in the north, and between the Pindus mountains and the Ionian Sea. According to legend, the nation got its name from the Pelasgian leader and first governor Thesprotos, who built Cichyrus ("Cichorus"), which later was called Ephyra, the capital of Thesprotia. Other important cities of Thesprotia include Pandosia, Titani, Cheimerium, Toryne, Phanote, Cassope, Photice, Boucheta and Batiai. There was a city called Thesprotia sharing the same name  with the tribe itself. Tribe. According to Strabo, the Thesprotians (along with the Chaonians and the Molossians) were the most famous among the fourteen tribes of Epirus, as they once ruled over the whole region. The Chaonians ruled Epirus first while the Thesprotians and Molossians ruled afterwards. Plutarch tells us that the Thesprotians, the Chaonians and the Molossians were the three principal clusters of Greek tribes that had emerged in Epirus, and all three were the most powerful among all other tribes. Strabo also records that the Thesprotians, Molossians, and Macedonians referred to old men as "pelioi" and old women  as "peliai" (PIE: "*pel-" means "grey"; Ancient Greek: "pelitnós" – "grey", "peleia" – "dove", so-called because of its dusky grey color, "poliós" – "grey", and "pollós" – "dark"). Their senators were called "Peligones" (Πελιγόνες), similar to Macedonian "Peliganes" (Πελιγᾶνες). An inscription from Goumani, dated to the second half of the 4th century BC, indicates that the organisation of the Thesprotian state was similar to that of the other Epirotes. Terms for office were "prostates" (Greek: προστάτες) literally meaning "protectors" like most Greek tribal states at the time. Other terms for office were "grammateus" (Greek: γραμματέυς) meaning "secretary", "demiourgoi" (Greek: δημιουργοί) literally meaning "creators , hieromnemones" (Greek: ιερομνήμονες) literally meaning "of the sacred memory" and "synarchontes" (Greek: συνάρχοντες) literally meaning "co-rulers". Subtribes. The Thesprotians were divided into many subtribes that included the Elopes, Graeci, Kassopaeoi, Dryopes, Dodonians (Greek: Δωδωναίοι), Aegestaeoi, Eleaeoi, Elinoi, Ephyroi, Ikadotoi, Kartatoi, Kestrinoi, Klauthrioi, Kropioi, Larissaeoi, Onopernoi, Opatoi, Tiaeoi, Torydaeoi, Fanoteis, Farganaeoi, Parauaei, Fylates and the Chimerioi. Some of these tribes throughout antiquity migrated to and established colonies in Ithaca, Lefkada, Acarnania, parts of southern Greece, Thessaly and Italy. Mythology. According to the "Telegony" ("Epic Cycle"), Odysseus came upon the land of Thesprotia where he stayed for a number of years . He married Thesprotia's queen, Kallidike (Callidice, Kallidice), and had a son with her named Polypoetes. Odysseus led the Thesprotians in the war against the Brygoi (Brygi), but lost the battle because Ares was on the side of the Brygoi. Athena went to support Odysseus, by engaging the war god in another confrontation until Apollo separated them. When Kallidike died, Odysseus returned home to Ithaca, leaving their son, Polypoetes, to rule Thesprotia.