The Aeolian Migration Tradition of the Dark Ages as a Reflection of the Emerging Identity of the Aeolians of Lesbos

The article analyzes the version of the legendary Greek tradition about the emergence of Aeolian settlements in Asia Minor and Lesbos during the Dark Ages. Like the version about the migration led by Makar in the Late Bronze Age, it is a typical example of the formation of regional self-consciousness of the Aeolians, mainly Lesbians, since it served as a justification for the legitimacy of the dynasty ruling on Lesbos and the rights to the territory occupied. However, at the same time, it fits perfectly into the mainstream of the common legendary Greek tradition, establishing connections with the Trojan heritage, with one of the eponymous progenitors of the Greek tribes, Aeolus, and integrating into the propagated idea of a common past.