The article presents results of the study of the ancient tradition about the Aeolians in general and about the Aeolian migration as a part of this tradition. The ancient literary tradition in the process of its formation, starting from the first scattered references to the Aeolians and ending with data on the territory of settlement, common language, self-name and reasons for finding a new place of residence, included not only historical facts, but, mainly, the ideas of the Greeks about these facts and their interpretation.
