Creating history and identity in Asia Minor: the case of Aeolian Kyme.

This paper presents a reconstruction of history and traditions linked to Aeolian identity in Asia Minor, concentrating on the archaiologiai and other mythical accounts about the Aeolian cities and with a primary focus on creating and reconstructing Kyme's history. The origins of these poleis are connected with the so-called "Aeolian migration", whose tradition is reported by Herodotus (1.149-151) and Strabo (13.1.3): this account is linked to the origins of Kyme too and it is based on the Aeolian founders who landed on the new territory, previously populated by an autochtonous ethnos (Pelasgians). The literary sources attest another account concerning the origins of this polis, which is based on the role of the Amazons (who represent the "otherness") as founders and eponymous of the city (Hecat., FGrHist 1 F226; Strabo 11.5.4; 12.3.21; 13.3.6; Mela 1.18.90; Steph. Byz., s.v. Κύμη). The identity of the Aeolians in Asia Minor alternatively is constructed on these traditions, which are interpreted by modern scholars as piece of "intentional and perceived history": such accounts would be a literary creation, composed of the memories and perceptions of the Aeolian ethnos, who needed to represent its origins at certain moment of its history. Following the current historiographical methodologies, this paper will examin the literary sources about the foundation stories and mythical accounts relating to the Aeolian city of Kyme and will try to give a reconstruction of its history and identity. Moreover, considering a wider perspective, the paper will focus on the creation of early historiographical representations of Aeolians' past and will investigate the mechanisms with which the Aeolian history and identity have been elaborated by the ancient authors. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]