эолийцы

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.

The article analyses the ancient legendary tradition mentioning the events which were credited both by the ancient authors and modern scholars as a reason for the appearance of the Aiolian Greeks in Lesbos. The author has demonstrated that the development and transformation of local Lesbian legendary and genealogical accounts and their integration into panhellenic tradition started from the late the 7th − early 6th cent. BC.