Drilae ( ka, დრილები, ''Drilebi'') were an ancient western
Georgian tribe, inhabiting mountainous coasts of the southern shores of the
Black Sea
The Black Sea is a marginal sea, marginal Mediterranean sea (oceanography), mediterranean sea lying between Europe and Asia, east of the Balkans, south of the East European Plain, west of the Caucasus, and north of Anatolia. It is bound ...
. In the hinterland of Trapezus dwelt the Drilae (Dri/lai, Dri/llai), a Kartvelian tribe which was chronically at war with the Trapezuntians. In 401 BC their territory were invaded by Greek mercenaries, which is attested in
Anabasis
Anabasis (from Greek ''ana'' = "upward", ''bainein'' = "to step or march") is an expedition from a coastline into the interior of a country. Anabase and Anabasis may also refer to:
History
* '' Anabasis Alexandri'' (''Anabasis of Alexander''), ...
- the work of
ancient Greek
Ancient Greek (, ; ) includes the forms of the Greek language used in ancient Greece and the classical antiquity, ancient world from around 1500 BC to 300 BC. It is often roughly divided into the following periods: Mycenaean Greek (), Greek ...
soldier and historian
Xenophon
Xenophon of Athens (; ; 355/354 BC) was a Greek military leader, philosopher, and historian. At the age of 30, he was elected as one of the leaders of the retreating Ancient Greek mercenaries, Greek mercenaries, the Ten Thousand, who had been ...
. Xenophon records that they were most warlike of the pontic tribes and inhabited mountainous and inaccessible land. He also notes that their capital was so well fortified that even experienced Greek soldiers were unable to take it.
Drillae were mainly
pastoralists
Pastoralism is a form of animal husbandry where domesticated animals (known as "livestock") are released onto large vegetated outdoor lands (pastures) for grazing, historically by nomadic people who moved around with their herds. The anima ...
, but they were skilled in construction as well. The country of the Drilae was “mountainous and difficult to traverse and its inhabitants the most warlike of all that dwell upon the Euxine” (Xenophon, Anabasis, V.ii.2-27). Arrian (2nd century A.D.) claims that Xenophon’s Drilae still existed in his day but were known as “Sanni.” He states that “these too are very warlike, even to this day, and are hostile to the Trapezuntines, live in fortified places, and are a tribe without a king. They were also formerly liable for tribute to the Romans, although, being pirates, they are not anxious to pay their tribute” (Periplus 11.1-2).
References
*''მიქელაძე თ.,'' ქსენოფონტის "ანაბასისი" (ცნობები ქართველი ტომების შესახებ), თბ., 1967;
*''Максимова М. И.,'' Античные города Юго-восточного Причерноморья, М.-Л. 1956;
*''Максимова М. И.,'' Местное население Юго-восточного Причерноморья по "Анабасису" Ксенофонта: дрилы и моссиники, «Вестник древней истории», 1951, № 1;
*''მიქელაძე თ.,'' ქსე, ტ. 3, გვ. 639, თბ., 1978
{{Ancient Georgians
Ancient peoples of Georgia (country)
Tribes in classical historiography
Anabasis (Xenophon)