Greek Origins from Homer's Iliad

The Catalog of Ships

The Catalog of Ships is a significant section in Book 2 of Homer's Iliad that lists the contingents of the Achaean (Greek) forces that sailed to Troy. It provides detailed information about the origins of the Greeks, their leaders, and the number of ships each contingent contributed to the war effort.

Below is a comprehensive listing of all 21 Greek contingents mentioned in the Catalog, including their regions, leaders, and ship counts.

Boeotians

Leaders: Peneleos, Leïtus, Arcesilaus, Prothoënor, and Clonius

Regions: Hyria, Aulis, Schoenus, Scolus, Eteonus, Thespeia, Graea, Mycalessus, Harma, Eilesium, Erythrae, Eleon, Hyle, Peteon, Ocalea, Medeon, Copae, Eutresis, Thisbe, Coroneia, Haliartus, Plataea, Glisas, lower Thebe, Onchestus, Arne, Mideia, Nisa, Anthedon

Ships: 50 ships, with 120 young men in each

Minyae

Leaders: Ascalaphus and Ialmenus, sons of Ares

Regions: Aspledon and Orchomenus

Ships: 30 ships

Phocians

Leaders: Schedius and Epistrophus, sons of Iphitus

Regions: Cyparissus, Pytho, Crisa, Daulis, Panopeus, Anemoreia, Hyampolis, along the river Cephisus, Lilaea

Ships: 40 ships

Locrians

Leader: Aias (Ajax) the Less, son of Oïleus

Regions: Cynus, Opus, Calliarus, Bessa, Scarphe, Augeiae, Tarphe, Thronium

Ships: 40 ships

Euboeans/Abantes

Leader: Elephenor, son of Chalcodon

Regions: Euboea, Chalcis, Eretria, Histiaea, Cerinthus, Dios, Carystus, Styra

Ships: 40 ships

Athenians

Leader: Menestheus, son of Peteos

Regions: Athens

Ships: 50 ships

Salaminians

Leader: Aias (Ajax), son of Telamon

Regions: Salamis

Ships: 12 ships

Argives

Leaders: Diomedes, Sthenelus (son of Capaneus), and Euryalus (son of Mecisteus)

Regions: Argos, Tiryns, Hermione, Asine, Troezen, Eïonae, Epidaurus, Aegina, Mases

Ships: 80 ships

Mycenaeans

Leader: Agamemnon, son of Atreus

Regions: Mycenae, Corinth, Cleonae, Orneiae, Araethyrea, Sicyon, Hyperesia, Gonoessa, Pellene, Aegium, Aegialus, Helice

Ships: 100 ships

Lacedaemonians/Spartans

Leader: Menelaus, brother of Agamemnon

Regions: Lacedaemon, Pharis, Sparta, Messe, Bryseiae, Augeiae, Amyclae, Helus, Laas, Oetylus

Ships: 60 ships

Pylians

Leader: Nestor of Gerenia

Regions: Pylos, Arene, Thryum, Aepy, Cyparisseïs, Amphigeneia, Pteleos, Helus, Dorium

Ships: 90 ships

Arcadians

Leader: Agapenor, son of Ancaeus

Regions: Arcadia (under Mount Cyllene), Pheneos, Orchomenus, Rhipe, Stratia, Enispe, Tegea, Mantineia, Stymphalus, Parrhasia

Ships: 60 ships

Epeians

Leaders: Amphimachus and Thalpius (sons of Actor), Diores (son of Amarynceus), and Polyxeinus (son of Agasthenes)

Regions: Buprasium, Elis, Hyrmine, Myrsinus, Olen, Alesium

Ships: 40 ships (10 ships per leader)

Dulichians

Leader: Meges, son of Phyleus

Regions: Dulichium, Echinae islands

Ships: 40 ships

Cephallenians

Leader: Odysseus

Regions: Ithaca, Neritum, Crocyleia, Aegilips, Zacynthus, Samos, mainland opposite the islands

Ships: 12 ships

Aetolians

Leader: Thoas, son of Andraemon

Regions: Pleuron, Olenus, Pylene, Chalcis, Calydon

Ships: 40 ships

Cretans

Leaders: Idomeneus and Meriones

Regions: Cnosus, Gortys, Lyctus, Miletus, Lycastus, Phaestus, Rhytium, and other cities of Crete

Ships: 80 ships

Rhodians

Leader: Tlepolemus, son of Heracles

Regions: Rhodes (divided into Lindos, Ialysus, and Cameirus)

Ships: 9 ships

Symeans

Leader: Nireus, son of Aglaïa and Charops

Regions: Syme

Ships: 3 ships

Calydnians

Leaders: Pheidippus and Antiphus, sons of Thessalus

Regions: Nisyrus, Crapathus, Casus, Cos, Calydnian islands

Ships: 30 ships

Myrmidons/Hellenes/Achaeans

Leader: Achilles (inactive due to his wrath)

Regions: Pelasgian Argos, Alos, Alope, Trachis, Phthia, Hellas

Ships: 50 ships

Total Fleet Size

The combined Greek fleet consisted of approximately 1,186 ships according to the Catalog of Ships.