TheThesprotians (Ancient Greek:Θεσπρωτοί,romanized: Thesprōtoí) were anancientGreek tribe, akin to theMolossians, inhabiting the kingdom ofThesprotis inEpirus.^[1][2] Together with the Molossians and theChaonians, they formed the main tribes of the northwestern Greek group.^[3] On their northeastern frontier, they neighbored the Chaonians and on their northern frontier they neighbored the kingdom of the Molossians. The poetHomer frequently mentions Thesprotia in theOdyssey,^[4] which had friendly relations withIthaca andDoulichi. The Thesprotians originally controlled theDodona oracle, the oldest religious shrine in Greece. Later, they were part of the Epirus until they were annexed into theRoman Empire.

Strabo puts the Thesprotians' territory,Thesprotis, on the coast of southwest Epirus. Thesprotis stretched between theAmbracian Gulf in the south to theRiver Thyamis (modern-day Kalamas) in the north, and between thePindus mountains and theIonian Sea. According tolegend, the nation got its name from thePelasgian leader and first governor Thesprotos, who builtCichyrus (Cichorus), which later was called Ephyra, the capital of Thesprotia. Other important cities of Thesprotia includePandosia,^[5]Titani,Cheimerium,Toryne,Phanote,Cassope,^[6]Photice,Boucheta^[7] andBatiai.^[7] There was a city calledThesprotia sharing the same name with the tribe itself.^[8]

According to Strabo, the Thesprotians (along with theChaonians and theMolossians) were the most famous among the fourteen tribes of Epirus, as they once ruled over the whole region. The Chaonians ruled Epirus first while the Thesprotians and Molossians ruled afterwards. Strabo also records that the Thesprotians, Molossians, andMacedonians referred to old men aspelioi and old women aspeliai (PIE:*pel- meansgrey;Ancient Greek:pelitnós – "grey",peleia – "dove", so-called because of its duskygrey color,poliós –grey, andpollós – "dark"). Their senators were calledPeligones (Πελιγόνες), similar toMacedonianPeliganes (Πελιγᾶνες).^[9] An inscription from Goumani, dated to the second half of the 4th century BC,^[10][11] indicates that the organisation of the Thesprotian state was similar to that of the otherEpirotes.^[12] Terms for office wereprostates (Greek: προστάτες) literally meaning "protectors" like most Greek tribal states at the time.^[13] Other terms for office weregrammateus (Greek: γραμματέυς) meaning "secretary",demiourgoi (Greek: δημιουργοί) literally meaning "creators",hieromnemones (Greek: ιερομνήμονες) literally meaning "of the sacred memory" andsynarchontes (Greek: συνάρχοντες) literally meaning "co-rulers".^[14]

The Thesprotians were divided into many subtribes that included the Elopes, Graeci, Kassopaeoi, Dryopes, Dodonians (Greek: Δωδωναίοι), Aegestaeoi, Eleaeoi, Elinoi, Ephyroi, Ikadotoi, Kartatoi, Kestrinoi, Klauthrioi, Kropioi, Larissaeoi, Onopernoi, Opatoi, Tiaeoi, Torydaeoi, Fanoteis, Farganaeoi,Parauaei, Fylates and the Chimerioi. Some of these tribes throughout antiquity migrated to and established colonies in Ithaca,Lefkada,Acarnania, parts of southernGreece,Thessaly andItaly.^[15]

According to theTelegony (Epic Cycle),Odysseus came upon the land of Thesprotia where he stayed for a number of years. He married the Thesprotian queen,Callidice, and had a son with her namedPolypoetes. Odysseus led the Thesprotians in the war against the Brygoi (Brygi), but lost the battle becauseAres was on the side of the Brygoi.Athena went to support Odysseus, by engaging the war god in another confrontation untilApollo separated them. When Callidice died, Odysseus returned home to Ithaca, leaving their son, Polypoetes, to rule Thesprotia.^[16]

• Allied withCorinth in the 5th century BC.
• Allied withAthens and Molossis, 415–404 BC.
• Occupation of Kassopaea,Dodona, east Thesprotia by Molossians 400 BC.
• The Thesprotian League, middle 4th century BC.
• Allied with Macedonia, 343–300 BC.
• Part of the League of Molossis, 300 BC.
• Part of theEpirote League, included Chaonians and Molossians, 220–167 BC.
• Assigned as a district ofMacedonia withinRome, 148–27 BC.
• Assigned as a district ofAchaea within the Roman Empire from 27 BC.

• QueenCallidice of Thesprotia, wife ofOdysseus.
• KingAidoneus ofEphyra, husband ofPersephone.
• Poionos: Admatos; Thesprotoi: Petoas, Simakos; Skepas, Aristodamos from Cassopea; Dioszotos fromPandosia;Theorodokoi inEpidauros, 365 BC.^[17][18]
• Alexandros prostates, mid-4th century BC.^[19]
• Xenarchos son of Xenon from Cassopea (tomb stele), c. 310 BC.^[20]
• Gallithos son of Xenon from Cassopea (tomb stele), c. 275 BC.^[21]
• Sokratis daughter of Sotion from Boucheta (tomb stele), c. 250 BC.^[22]
• Xenias of Cassopeaproxenos in ThyrrheionAcarnania, 3rd century BC.^[23]
• Alkimos (son of Nikandros)proxenos inDelphi, c. 215 BC.^[24]
• Eucharon, Eunostidasproxenoi inThermos (Aetolia), late 3rd century – early 2nd century BC.^[25]
• Milon (son of Sosandros) honoured by Koinon of Epirotes, late 3rd century BC.^[26]
• Opatos dedicated toZeus Naos,Dione, andZeus Bouleus in Dodona, c. 215–210 BC.^[27]
• Simakos (son of Phalakrion) 2nd century BCPancratiast, Epidauria (fined 1000staters, along with other two athletes).^[28]
• Demetrios (son of Machatas) dedicated to Apollon atKourion,Cyprus, 200–193 BC,^[29]Ptolemaic city commander of Kourion.^[30]
• Alkemachos (son of Charops) Diaulos (~400-metre race)Panathenaics, 190/189 BC, nephew of Demetrios.^[30]
• Echenika daughter of Menedamos and Aristokrateia from Kassopa, wife of Lysixenos (tomb stele), 2nd century BC.^[31]

• Chaonia
• Necromanteion
• Ancient Thesprotia

• Thesprotia: A Pleiades Place Resource

• Ancient tribes in Epirus
• Greek tribes

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• Short description is different from Wikidata
• Articles containing Ancient Greek (to 1453)-language text
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