Herodotus’ Tyrsenian Logos as a source of Classical Greek views on the Pelasgians

The perception of the Pelasgians and Tyrsenians by the ancient Greeks is analyzed based on the Tyrsenian Logos, a part of Herodotus’ Histories that claims the Lydian origin of the Tyrsenians. The existing scholarly interpretations of the Tyrsenian Logos are critically evaluated. Particular attention is paid to R. Drews’ theory of the Etruscan migration to the Aegean, which is engraved in the memory of the Hellenes and recorded by Herodotus. The study reveals that Herodotus’ version was not supported by other Classical authors. Therefore, these ideas about the link between the Lydians and the Tyrsenians had no influence on Greek thought before the Hellenistic period. A careful analysis of other parts of the text indicates inconsistencies in Herodotus’ views on the genesis of the Tyrsenians, as well as no concrete proof for the link between the Lydian origin of the Tyrsenians and the Pelasgians of the presumably Tyrsenian Lemnos.