Talk:List of ancient Greek cities

Mistitled in an inept way
Most of the places on this list were not (and never have been) cities. They were merely villages, towns, (or even hamlets). A much more honest and correct title would be List of ancient Greek cities, towns, and villages  —Preceding unsigned comment added by 98.81.6.61 (talk) 14:59, 13 September 2010 (UTC)
 * This is an interesting point. The term city is a representation of ancient Greek polis, the city-state. Every village belonged to a polis, no matter how small. Sometimes we use city-state. Of course our city does not in any way resemble the polis, and if we lived then we would't call them cities. But how are we to translate polis? There is an unbridgeable cultural disconnect. The long-standing convention is to call every polis a city. It is not a dishonety. Rather, city in this context necessarily means something else. The convention is understood in the classics game.Botteville (talk) 14:41, 24 October 2018 (UTC)
 * We should call them city-states, or simply poleis, since there is already an article on them... The list is indeed deeply flawed as it contains many settlements that were not poleis, and belong to other eras (such as Minoan settlements). I am preparing a revision of the list, that would only contain poleis and be organised geographically. You can see an excerpt on the Magna Graecia article: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Magna_Graecia#List_of_Hellenic_Poleis_in_Italy  T8612  (talk) 14:57, 24 October 2018 (UTC)

Scope
What is considered "Ancient", what is considered "Greek" and what is considered "a city"? All of these things affect the scope of this list. For example, Knossos was a center of Minoan culture but I am not sure about later Greek inhabitation. Are Minoan centers considered Greek? What about Mycenaean? Mycenae itself was inhabited by a small population at least until the Persian wars. What is the cutoff date for "Ancient"?
 * Ho, ho, ho. Your grandfather is an ancient.Seriously, there is no unambiguous meaning of ancient. It is opposed to modern. I suppose ancient leaves off where mediaeval begins. Classicists have no problem with it.Botteville (talk) 14:50, 24 October 2018 (UTC)

What about Alexander? Since he captured Babylon, should that be considered a "Greek" city?

Delphi was an important sactuary, but was not really a city. Is the Piraeus consided a city separate from Athens?

Using the greek term of "polis" may be slightly less ambiguous for this article.

Also, since this is a list of Greek cities, the ancient Greek names should probably be used when possible. --

Possibilities:

Organize list by modern country

Organize list by mother city (for colonies) -- Unless I am greatly misinformed, there were never any Greek cities in Japan. Especially the ancient kind. Unless somebody shows some evidence I am going to revert that last edit.--SkiDragon 20:09, 28 February 2007 (UTC)

Please explain to my how Macedon could possibly be considered a "city". Especially a "Greek city".--SkiDragon 06:49, 2 May 2007 (UTC)


 * Also, what qualifies as a "city"? Delphi was the site of an oracle, a religious site, not a city in the usual sense. Some islands are included; how do these qualify? Surely Delos was not a normal settlement? I do not argue against inclusion, although a universal list of ancient Greek sites would lack focus, but the scope needs to be understood. Folks at 137 (talk) 08:51, 8 March 2009 (UTC)

Cities/definition: City should be in this context, the urban center, from village size to large urban metropolis(in the old days); though Delphi/Delphos is mostly a sanctuary in Classical Antiquity it would have a very small population in or around, during those centuries when it held the prophecy temple; there was also a theatre which attests to a population coming to the temple-complex or staying for a while; I think there should not be any doubt that ancient peoples/tribes/ethnic groups that dwelt in cities (like Mycenae) became in the VIII century b.C. the Hellenes, the classical Greeks and eventually the modern Greeks, and so their cities are cities of the greek civilization.GFlusitania (talk) 23:54, 13 August 2009 (UTC)

There are other Greek cities (founded by Greeks) including Massalia>Marsailles and Kalais>Calais in France, Emporio in Spain, The Pillars of Hercules>The Straights of Gibraltar in Portugal, there are numerous cities in modern Italy, including, Neapolis>Naples, Sybaris, Syracuse, Poseidonia>Paestum, etc.

What about a page including the following: MYTHOLOGY IN MODERN SOCIETY

PLACES IN THE UNITED STATES NAMED FROM MYTHOLOGY


 * No, NOT from mythology, because most of the places listed below were/are actual places. Also, in particular, Troy was not a mythological place, and archaeological diggings have shown that Troy was a real place in Asia Minor.98.81.6.61 (talk) 15:04, 13 September 2010 (UTC)

Mythology is everywhere! There are hundreds of places in the United States (and Canada, not to mention the entire world!) named from Greek Mythology. Odds are you'll find a few good examples right in your own state, wherever you live.

Consider that there are at least 16 cities named Athens in the United States! Or, even more amazing, there exist no less than 26 American cities that contain Troy in their names!

I've researched each of the 50 States and have put together a huge list of American cities whose names relate to mythology. Let me know if I've missed any and I'll be happy to add them.

Athens, the capital city of Greece, is named after the goddess Athena:

Athens, Georgia

Athens, Ohio

Athens, Alabama

Athens, Indiana

Athens, Maine

Athens, New York

Athens, Pennsylvania

Athens, Tennessee

Athens, Texas

Athens, West Virginia

Athens, Wisconsin

Athens, Louisiana

Athens, Michigan

Athens, Illinois

Athens, Pennsylvania

New Athens, Illinois

Athens County, Ohio

Athens, Wisconsin

Attica, New York

Athena's Roman equivalent was Minerva:

Minerva, Kentucky

Minerva, New York

Minerva, Ohio

Achilles was the greatest warrior of the Trojan War, killed only when an arrow struck his heel, the only vulnerable spot on his body:

Achille, Oklahoma (a reader mentioned that this is a Native American derivation, not Greek)

Achilles, Virginia

Ajax was the name of two famous warriors of the Trojan War:

Ajax, South Dakota

Apollo was another Olympian, the god of music and light. After him is named:

Apollo, Pennsylvania

North Apollo, Pennsylvania

Apollo Beach, Florida

Apollo Annex, Florida

Apollo Theater, Chicago

Apollo Theater, New York

Amazons in Greek mythology were a ferocious race of warrior women:

Amazonia, Missouri

Arcadia was a famous place in ancient Greece:

Arcadia, California

Arcadia, Florida

Arcadia, Indiana

Arcadia, Iowa

Arcadia, Kansas

Arcadia, Louisiana

Arcadia, Michigan

Arcadia, Missouri

Arcadia, Nebraska

Arcadia, Pennsylvania

Arcadia, South Carolina

Arcadia, Wisconsin

Ares was one of the 12 Olympians, the despised god of war:

Ares Peak, New Mexico

Argo was the name of the famous ship that Jason and the Argonauts used to sail on their voyage to get the Golden Fleece.

Argo, Texas

Argos was the hundred-eyed watchman of Hera, slain by the Greek messenger god Hermes:

Argos, Indiana

Arion was the poet tossed overboard by Pirates who was saved by a dolphin:

Arion, Iowa Arion, Ohio

Atlas was the hapless Titan who was doomed to support the heavens on his shoulder forever. Many variations of his name have given us a number of American place names:

Atlantic Beach, Florida

Atlanta, Georgia

Atlanta, Idaho

Atlanta, Illinois

Atlanta, Indiana

Atlantic, Iowa

Atlanta, Kansas

Atlas, Kansas

Atlanta, Louisiana

Atlanta, Michigan

Atlas, Michigan

Atlanta, Missouri

Atlanta, Nebraska

Atlantic City, New Jersey

Atlanta, New York

Atlantic Beach, New York

Atlantic, North Carolina

Atlantic Beach, North Carolina

Atlantic, Pennsylvania

Atlasburg, Pennsylvania

Atlanta, Texas

Atlantic, Virginia

Aurora was the Roman goddess of the dawn, similar to the Greek Eos:

Aurora, Colorado

Aurora, Illinois

Aurora, Indiana

Aurora, Iowa

Aurora, Kansas

Aurora, Kentucky

Aurora, Maine

Aurora, Minnesota

Aurora, Missouri

Aurora, Nebraska

Aurora, New York

East Aurora, New York

Aurora, North Carolina

Aurora, Ohio

Aurora, Oregon

Aurora, South Dakota

Aurora, Utah

Aurora, West Virginia

Daphne was a beautiful woman who was pursued by the god Apollo. She turned into a laurel tree in order to escape from his amorous advances. After her is named:

Daphne, Alabama

Castor and Polux were famous twins of Greek mythology:

Castor, Louisiana

The Nymph Calypso was a witch who tried to convince the hero Odysseus to stay with her on her island, rather than sailing home:

Calypso, North Carolina

Cassandra was the seer who was cursed by Apollo, so that her prophecies were never believed:

Cassandra, Pennsylvania

Ceres was the Roman goddess of the harvest, similar to the Greek goddess Demeter:

Ceres, California

Ceres, Virginia

Clio was one of the nine Muses of Greek mythology:

Clio, Alabama

Clio, California

Clyo, Georgia

Clio, Iowa

Clio, Michigan

Clio, South Carolina

Clio, West Virginia

Corinth was a famous place in Greek mythology, figuring in numerous myths:

Corinth, Kentucky

Corinth, Mississippi

Corinth, New York

Corinth, Texas

Corinth, Vermont

East Corinth, Vermont

Crete was the island where Zeus was raised as a baby while hiding from the wrath of his father, Cronus:

Crete, Illinois

Crete, Nebraska

Diana was the Roman name for the Greek Artemis, goddess of the forest and the hunt:

Diana, Texas

Diana, West Virginia

Fortuna was the Roman goddess of luck, similar to the Greek Tyche:

Fortuna Ledge, Alaska

Fortuna, California

Fortuna, Missouri

The Oracles in mythology were respected seers who foretold the future:

Oracle, Arizona

The most famous Oracle was Apollo's, at a place called Delphi:

Delphi, Indiana

Delphia, Kentucky

Delphi Falls, New York

Hector was a brave warrior who fought on the Trojan side against the Greeks during the Trojan War. He was killed by Achilles:

Hector, Arkansas

Hector, California

Hector, New York

Homer was the ancient poet and writer who gave us the famous books the Iliad and the Odyssey:

Homer, Alaska

Homer, Georgia

Homerville, Georgia

Homer, Illinois

Homer, Indiana

Homer, Louisiana

Homer, Nebraska

Homer, New York

East Homer, New York

Homer, Ohio

Homerville, Ohio

Hymera was the Greek personification of the Day:

Hymera, Indiana

Hesperia was the Greek goddess who personified the Evening:

Hesperia, California

Hesperus was the elusive god who personified the Evening:

Hesperus, Colorado

Irene was the ancient Greek personification of Peace:

Irene, South Dakota

Irene, Texas

Iris was the Greek goddess of the Rainbow:

Iris, South Carolina

Ithaca was the island home of the Trojan War hero, Odysseus; the Odyssey by Homer detailed his voyage back home to Ithaca:

Ithaca, Nebraska

Ithaca, New York

Ithaca College, New York

Ithaca, Ohio

The Parthenon in Athens was the splendid temple at the Acropolis, built in honor of the great goddess Athena:

Parthenon, Arkansas

Dike (or Dyke, pronounced DEE-key) was the Greek mythological personification of Justice:

Dike, Iowa

Dike, Texas

Dyke, Virginia

Echo was the beautiful maiden who fell in love with the vain Narcissus and was reduced to just an echo:

Echo Lake, California

Echo, Louisiana

Echo, Minnesota

Echo, Oregon

Echo, Texas

Echo, Utah

The Elysian Fields was the final resting place of famous heroes:

Elysian, Minnesota

Elysian Fields, Texas

Eros was the Greek god of love, similar to the mischievous Roman Cupid:

Eros, Louisiana

Eros, Arizona

Flora was the Roman name for the Greek Chloris, goddess of plants and vegetation:

Flora, Illinois

Flora, Indiana

Flora, Louisiana

Flora, Mississippi

Glen Flora, Texas

Glen Flora, Wisconsin

The Griffin was a mythical creature with the face, beak, talons and wings of an eagle and the body of a lion:

Griffin, Georgia

Griffin, Indiana

Hades was the feared god of the Underworld:

Hades Creek, Washington

Hercules (Heracles) was the greatest hero of ancient Greece. He performed the famous 12 labors:

Hercules, California

Luna was the Roman goddess of the moon, equivalent to the Greek goddess Selene:

Luna, New Mexico

The city of Marathon was the setting for a magnificent battle, and where we get the modern day race called the marathon:

Marathon, New York

Mars was the Roman god of war, the equivalent of the Greek god Ares:

Mars Hill, Maine

Mars, Pennsylvania

Medusa was the monster who would turn to stone whomever happened to look upon her:

Medusa, New York

Mentor was a famous tutor/teacher in ancient Greek mythology:

Mentor, Minnesota

Mentor, Ohio

Mercury was the Roman name for the Greek god Hermes, winged messenger to the gods:

Mercury, Nevada

Mount Olympus was the lofty home of the ancient gods. From Olympus we get place names such as:

Olympic Valley, California

Olympia Heights, Florida

Olympia Fields, Illinois

Olympia, Kentucky

East Olympia, Virginia

Olympia, Washington

The nine Muses in Greek mythology were the ones who inspired the arts, sciences, music and all things cultural:

Muse, Pennsylvania

Neptune was the Roman name for Poseidon, Greek god of the sea:

Neptune Beach, Florida

Neptune, New Jersey

Neptune City, New Jersey

Orestes was the tragic figure who killed his mother, Clytaemnestra, and was pursued by the Furies, in the tragedy Oresteia by Aeschylus:

Orestes, Indiana

Pandora (all-gifted) was the first mortal woman. Her curiosity made her open up a jar (box), which unleashed all the world's evils upon the earth:

Pandora, Ohio

Pandora, Texas

Paris was the Trojan prince who ran away with beautiful Helen, an act which caused the famous Trojan War:

Paris, Tennessee

Paris, Texas

Penelope was the faithful wife to Odysseus, of Trojan War and Odyssey fame:

Penelope, Texas

Sparta was a famous city state in ancient Greece, renowned for its highly disciplined and ferocious warriors:

Sparta, Georgia

Sparta, Illinois

Sparta, Kentucky

Sparta, Michigan

Sparta, Mississippi

Sparta, New Jersey

Sparta, New York

East Sparta, Ohio

Sparta, Tennessee

Sparta, Virginia

Sparta, Wisconsin

Thebes was another famous city state, with a storied mythical history:

Thebes, Illinois

Troy was the ancient mythological city where the famous Trojan War took place. Many US places are named Troy:

Troy, Alabama

Troy, Idaho

Troy, Illinois

Troy Grove, Illinois

Troy, Indiana

Troy Mills, Iowa

Troy, Kansas

Troy, Maine

Troy, Michigan

New Troy, Michigan

Troy, Missouri

Troy, Montana

Troy, New Hampshire

Troy, New York

Troy, North Carolina

Troy, Ohio

Troy, Pennsylvania

Troy, South Carolina

Troy, Tennessee

Troy, Texas

Troy, Vermont

North Troy, Vermont

Troy, Virginia

Troy, West Virginia

East Troy, Wisconsin

Venus was the Roman name for gorgeous Aphrodite, Greek goddess of Love:

Venus, Florida

Venus, Pennsylvania

Venus, Texas

Vesta was the Roman name for the Greek goddess Hestia, ancient goddess of the home and hearth. Her attendants were called the Vestal virgins:

Vesta, Minnesota

Vesta, Virginia

Vestal, New York

Victoria was Roman for the Greek Nike, winged goddess of Victory:

Victoria, Minnesota

Victoria, Mississippi

Victoria, Texas

Victoria, Virginia

Vulcan was the Roman name for Hephaestus, Greek god of the forge:

Vulcan, Michigan

Vulcan, Missouri

Vulcan, West Virginia

Zephyr was one of the wind gods, the West Wind:

Zephyrhills, Florida

Zephyr Cove, Nevada

Zephyr, Texas

Notus was another wind god, this one the South Wind:

Notus, Idaho

Orion was a giant in Greek mythology who was placed in the stars as the Constellation Orion:

Orion, Illinois

Orion, Michigan

Juno was the Roman name for Hera, wife to Zeus, the supreme Greek Olympian:

Juno Beach, Florida

Jupiter was the Roman name for the King of the Olympians, Zeus:

Jupiter, Florida

Helen of Troy was the most beautiful woman on earth, and the cause of the Trojan War:

Lake Helen, Florida

Helen, Georgia

Helena, Georgia

Helen, Maryland

Helena, Missouri

Helena, Montana

Helena, New York

Helena, Oklahoma

Helen, West Virginia

Helenville, Wisconsin

Marathon was another famous Greek place and the scene of a decisive ancient battle. We get the modern 26 kilometer Marathon Race from this city:

Marathon, Florida

Marathon Shores, Florida

Marathon, Iowa

Marathon, Texas

Marathon, Wisconsin

The Phoenix was the legendary bird that would perish every few hundred years, only to be reborn from the ashes:

Phoenix, Arizona

Phoenix, Maryland

Phoenix, New York

Phoenix, Oregon

Phoenixville, Pennsylvania

Phenix, Virginia

Ulysses was the Roman name for Odysseus, hero of Homer's epic saga The Odyssey:

Ulysses, Kansas

Ulysses, Kentucky

Ulysses, Nebraska

Ulysses, Pennsylvania

Urania was the one of the nine Muses, the Greek Muse of astronomy, astrology and Universal love.

Urania, Louisiana

Uranus (Sky) was an original Titan, husband to Gaea (Mother Earth):

Uranus, Alaska

CHECK OUT THE STATES TRIVIA PAGE! (includes a mythological city for each State)

[back to modern allusions] [homework help]

Web, myth narration & graphics created & maintained by Nick Pontikis Copyright © 1995 - 2010 Thanasi's Olympus Greek Restaurant The Myth Man persona © 1988 Nick Pontikis —Preceding unsigned comment added by 115.131.3.3 (talk) 08:55, 25 July 2010 (UTC)
 * Well, this is very interesting but I don't know why you put it here. If it is your copyright it can't go on WP, and if you donate it to WP you can't put it here as it is off-topic.Botteville (talk) 14:54, 24 October 2018 (UTC)

Hellenese not "Greeks"
"Greek" is a derogatory term NEVER used in ancient Hellas, not even officially today (see Hellenic Republic. What are today (outside of modern Hellas) called "the ancient Greeks" were Hellenistic tribes who shared a common language and cultural ties. --Nikoz78 (talk) 01:48, 22 September 2010 (UTC)
 * Your native culture is obviously not English so I will help you out here lest you think you can out-English the English. Hellenese is a neologism you just coined. It is not in general use, so we can't use it. Greek comes from Latin Graeci and has been in English for centuries. The only people I ever saw take offense at it were some not-really-anglicized immigrants from Greece who felt isolated in some prejudicial contexts. And there are those nasty jokes about the Greek wedding. My advice is not to identify with gutter English but hold yourself better than that. If you don't see any problem, most likely there will not be one. Accents are fine in America anyway. We like accents - something new and interesting in the hinterland. You can't use Hellenistic, either. The term is reserved in history for the period of Alexander and after until the Romans. Hellenes is good - the native ancient Greek term for themselves. But in non-scholarly English you would not be understood. The who? I would say, don't tell us what to say, instead find out what we say and accept it. There are of course some exceptions.Botteville (talk) 15:13, 24 October 2018 (UTC)

The question of inclusion
This is obviously a matter of judgement. Apparently if a settlement once spoke Greek then it is in, even though it may not have spoken it long and even though it may have been far from Greece. I'm having more of a problem with Akrotiri, which probably never spoke Greek at any period. The site is now part of Hellas however. What do you think?Botteville (talk) 15:19, 24 October 2018 (UTC)
 * In case you were talking to me, I will only add the cities listed in the Inventory of Archaic and Classical Poleis by Mogens Herman Hansen. There should be separate lists for ancient Minoan and Mycenaean settlements.  You cannot mix different civilisations together.  T8612  (talk) 16:11, 24 October 2018 (UTC)

Unexaplained tagging
There is no need for tagging this list as soon as the correspodent articles are fine and sourced.Alexikoua (talk) 17:49, 28 October 2020 (UTC)
 * The main problem of this article is that its scope is not clearly defined. T8612  (talk) 19:06, 28 October 2020 (UTC)