THE CATALOGUE OF SHIPS IN GREEK MYTHOLOGY
The story of the Trojan War is amongst the most famous of the surviving stories of Greek mythology. There are of course many side stories around the Achaean siege of Troy, with of course the abduction of Helen, wife of Menelaus, being one of the most important.
After her abduction Helen would be referred to as “the woman who launched a 1000 ships”, for it was said that the Greeks would gather a thousand ships of armed men to retrieve Helen from Troy.
After her abduction Helen would be referred to as “the woman who launched a 1000 ships”, for it was said that the Greeks would gather a thousand ships of armed men to retrieve Helen from Troy.
Homer's Catalogue of Ships
The figure of a 1000 ships is one garnered from the “Catalogue of Ships” as written down by Homer in book II of the Iliad.
The Greek writer would write down 29 ethnic groups, 190 places and 46 named captains, and an actual figure of 1186 ships. There is debate as to how many actual men this totals; if each ship comprised the 120 men talked of in the Boeotian force, then a total of 142,320 men would have been amassed, but the ships of Meliboeans under Philoctetes comprised just 50 men, so a lower estimate might be as low as 100,000 men.
Similar lists are to be found in other ancient sources, although names and number differ from Homer’s figures; in the Bibliotheca (Pseudo-Apollodorus) totals of 1013 ships, 43 captains and 30 groups of people, and in Fabulae (Hyginus) a figure of 1154 ships is ascertained.
The Greek writer would write down 29 ethnic groups, 190 places and 46 named captains, and an actual figure of 1186 ships. There is debate as to how many actual men this totals; if each ship comprised the 120 men talked of in the Boeotian force, then a total of 142,320 men would have been amassed, but the ships of Meliboeans under Philoctetes comprised just 50 men, so a lower estimate might be as low as 100,000 men.
Similar lists are to be found in other ancient sources, although names and number differ from Homer’s figures; in the Bibliotheca (Pseudo-Apollodorus) totals of 1013 ships, 43 captains and 30 groups of people, and in Fabulae (Hyginus) a figure of 1154 ships is ascertained.
The Armada of the Catalogue of Ships
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Boeotians (II.494) – 50 ships of 120 men each
Thersander, Peneleus, Leitus, Arcesilaus, Clonius and Prothoenor. Their men came from Hyria, rocky Aulis, Schoenus, Scolus, mountainous Eteonus, Thespeia, Graia, spacious Mycalassus, men holding Harma, Eilesium, Erythrae; men holding Eleon, Hyle, Peteon, Ocalea, the well-built fortress Medeon, Copae, Eutresis, Thisbe, city full of doves; men from Coronea, grassy Haliartus; men from Plataea, Glisas, those who held fortified Lower Thebe and sacred Onchestus, with Poseidon’s splendid grove; men from Arne, land rich in grapes, Midea, sacred Nisa, and distant Anthedon. Minyans (II.511) – 30 ships Ascalpahus and Ialmenus Men from Aspledon and Minyan Orchomenus Phocians (II.517) – 40 ships Schedius and Epistrophus Men from Cyparissus, rocky Pytho, holy Crisa, Daulis, and Panopeus; men from Anemorea and Hyampolis; from around the sacred River Cephisus, from Lilaea, beside Cephisus’ springs. Locrians (II.527) – 40 ships Ajax the Lesser Locrians came from Cynus, Opous, Calliarus, Bessa, Scarphe, lovely Aegeiae, Tarphe, Thronion, and from around the River Boagrius. |
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Abantes (II.536) – 40 ships
Elephenor, then by Acamas and Demophon
The Abantes, soldiers from Euboea, Chalcis, Eretria, wine-rich Histiaea, Cerinthus by the sea, men from the steep fortress Dium, Carystus, and Styra.
Athenians (II.536) – 50 ships
Menestheus
Soldiers came from that well-built fortress Athens.
Salamineans (II.536) – 12 ships
Ajax the Great
From Salamis Ajax commanded twelve ships.
Argives (II.559) – 80 ships
Diomedes, with Sthenelus and Euryalus
Warriors from Argos, fortified Tiryns, Hermione, Asine, both with deep bays, Troezene, Eionae, vine-rich Epidaurus, Achaean youth from Aegina, Mases.
Mycenaeans (II.569) – 100 ships
Agamemnon
Troops from the strong fortress Mycenae, rich Corinth, well-built Cleonae, Orneae, lovely Araethyrea, Sicyon, whose first king was Adrestus, with men from Hyperesia, lofty Gonoesa, Pellene, with Aegium, men from coastal regions and wide Helice
Elephenor, then by Acamas and Demophon
The Abantes, soldiers from Euboea, Chalcis, Eretria, wine-rich Histiaea, Cerinthus by the sea, men from the steep fortress Dium, Carystus, and Styra.
Athenians (II.536) – 50 ships
Menestheus
Soldiers came from that well-built fortress Athens.
Salamineans (II.536) – 12 ships
Ajax the Great
From Salamis Ajax commanded twelve ships.
Argives (II.559) – 80 ships
Diomedes, with Sthenelus and Euryalus
Warriors from Argos, fortified Tiryns, Hermione, Asine, both with deep bays, Troezene, Eionae, vine-rich Epidaurus, Achaean youth from Aegina, Mases.
Mycenaeans (II.569) – 100 ships
Agamemnon
Troops from the strong fortress Mycenae, rich Corinth, well-built Cleonae, Orneae, lovely Araethyrea, Sicyon, whose first king was Adrestus, with men from Hyperesia, lofty Gonoesa, Pellene, with Aegium, men from coastal regions and wide Helice
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Lacedaemonians (II.581) – 60 ships
Menelaus Men from Lacedaemon, land of ravines, Pharis, Sparta, Mesee, where doves congregate, men living in Bryseae, beautiful Augeiae, Amyclae, coastal Helos, men from Laas, from around Oetylus Pylians (II.591) – 90 ships Nestor; and sons Antilochus and Thrasymedes Men came from Pylos, lovely Arene, Thryum, by Alpheus ford, well-built Aipy, Cyparisseis, Amphigenea, Pteleum, Helos, Dorium, Arcadians (II.603) – 60 ships Agapenor Men from Arcadia, from below steep mount Cyllene, near Aepytus’ tomb, where men excel in combat hand to hand, troops from Pheneus, Orchomenus, rich in flocks, Rhipe, Stratie, windy Enispe, Tegea, lovely Mantinea, Stymphelus, Parrhasia Elians (Epeians) (II.615) – 40 ships Amphimachus; Thalpius; Diores; Polyxeinus Soldiers from Bouprasium, fair Elis, those parts bounded by Hyrmine, coastal Myrsinus, the rock of Olene, and Alesium |
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Men of Dulichium (II.625) – 40 ships
Meges
Men from Doulichium, sacred Echiniean islands, living across the sea from Elis
Cephallenians (II.631) – 12 ships
Odysseus
…the Cephallenians, soldiers from Ithaca, well wooded Neritum, Crocylea, rugged Aegilips, from Zacynthus, Samos, both those inhabiting the mainland and those from cities on the facing shore.
Aetolians (II.638) – 40 ships
Thoas
…the Aetolians, men from Pleuron, Olenus, Pylene,coastal Chalchis, and rocky Calydon.
Cretans (II.645) – 80 ships
Idomeneus and Meriones
…the Cretans from Cnossus, fortified Gortyn, Lyctus, Miletus, chalky Lycastus, Phaestus, Rhytium, both populous towns, with other warriors from Crete’s one hundred cities.
Meges
Men from Doulichium, sacred Echiniean islands, living across the sea from Elis
Cephallenians (II.631) – 12 ships
Odysseus
…the Cephallenians, soldiers from Ithaca, well wooded Neritum, Crocylea, rugged Aegilips, from Zacynthus, Samos, both those inhabiting the mainland and those from cities on the facing shore.
Aetolians (II.638) – 40 ships
Thoas
…the Aetolians, men from Pleuron, Olenus, Pylene,coastal Chalchis, and rocky Calydon.
Cretans (II.645) – 80 ships
Idomeneus and Meriones
…the Cretans from Cnossus, fortified Gortyn, Lyctus, Miletus, chalky Lycastus, Phaestus, Rhytium, both populous towns, with other warriors from Crete’s one hundred cities.
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Rhodians (II.653) – 9 ships
Tlepolemus …men from Rhodes, split into three divisions—from Lindus, Ialysus, and chalky Cameirus Symians (II.671) – 3 ships Nireus Nireus brought three well-balanced ships from Syme. Nisyrians (II.676) – 30 ships Pheidippus and Antiphus Men from Nisyrus, Crapathus, Casus, Cos, Eurypylus’ city, the Calydnian islands Pelasgians (Myrmidons) (II.681) – 50 ships Achilles then Neoptolemus All the troops from Pelasgian Argos, Alos, men living in Alope, Trachis, from Phthia, and Hellas, where lovely women live, men called Myrmidons, Hellenes, Achaeans Phulacians (II.695) – 40 ships Protesilaus then Podarces Troops from Phylace, flowering Pyrasus, shrine of Demeter, Iton, where flocks breed, Antrum by the sea, and grassy Pteleum |
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Boebians (II.711) – 11 ships
Eumelus
Troops from Pherae by Lake Boebea, from Boebeïs, Glaphyrae, well-built Iolcus
Meliboeans (II.716) – 7 ships
Philoctetes then Medon
Troops from Methone, Thaumacia, Meliboea, and rugged Olizon,
Oechalians (II.734) – 30 ships
Podalirius and Machaon
Men from Tricca, rocky Ithome, Oechalia, city of Eurytus, the Oechalian,
Ormenians (II.738) – 40 ships
Eurypylus
Troops from Ormenius, from the fount of Hyperea, from Asterius, from Titanus with its white hilltops
Lapiths (II.748) – 40 ships
Polypoetes and Leonteus
Men from Argissa, Gyrtone, Orthe, Elone, the white city Oloösson
Enienes (II.756) – 22 ships
Guneus
… from Cyphus. With him sailed the Enienes and Peraebians, reliable fighting men from cold Dodona, who work by the lovely River Titaressus,
Magnetes (II.760) – 40 ships
Prothous
…the Magnetes, from the region round Peneus and Mount Pelion,
Eurypylus
Troops from Ormenius, from the fount of Hyperea, from Asterius, from Titanus with its white hilltops
Lapiths (II.748) – 40 ships
Polypoetes and Leonteus
Men from Argissa, Gyrtone, Orthe, Elone, the white city Oloösson
Enienes (II.756) – 22 ships
Guneus
… from Cyphus. With him sailed the Enienes and Peraebians, reliable fighting men from cold Dodona, who work by the lovely River Titaressus,
Magnetes (II.760) – 40 ships
Prothous
…the Magnetes, from the region round Peneus and Mount Pelion,
Map of Homeric Greece - PinPin - CC-BY-SA-2.5
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Colin Quartermain - Catalogue of Ships - 26th May 2018