Menecrates of Elaea (Μενεκράτης ὁ Ἑλαιεύς) was a Greek historian of the 4th century BCE from the city of Elaea in Aeolis, Asia Minor. No details of his life or education survive beyond his name and origin [1].

His sole known work is the Foundations of Cities (Κτίσεις), a prose account now lost and preserved only in fragments. These are collected as number 741 in Die Fragmente der griechischen Historiker (FGrHist) [1].

Menecrates represents the local historiography of Asia Minor. His Foundations belonged to the genre of "ktiseis," which detailed the mythical and historical origins of cities to construct civic identity and connect to Panhellenic tradition. His fragments, cited by later authors like Strabo, served as a source for regional topography and foundation legends, particularly for Aeolis [1][2].

Sources 1. ToposText: Menecrates of Elaea (Author). https://topostext.org/people/1120 2. Perseus Digital Library: Strabo, Geography 13.1.67 (citing Menecrates). http://www.perseus.tufts.edu/hopper/text?doc=Strab.+13.1.67&fromdoc=Perseus%3Atext%3A1999.01.0239