There are elements showing that Patras was firstly inhabited around the 3rd millenium BC. However Patras under that name was founded by the Achaeans of Sparta who, headed by Preugenes and his son Patreus, came here after being forced out by the Dorians. But similarly the Achaeans of Argos, also forced out by the Dorians, headed by Tisamenos, occupied the eastern Achaia, after besieging Eliki. Up to then, the whole of Achaia was named after the Ions and was called Ionia but was also called Aegialos, either because it was named after the king of Sikyon, Aegialus, either because the whole region spread all along the coast (aegialos). The Ions firstly took to Athens and from there to Asia Minor where they founded twelve cities, the Ionian Dodecapolis, in remembrance of the twelve cities they had left behind.

Preugenes and Patreus made three Ionian market towns into one. Those three were Aroe, Mesatis and Antheia and having as center Aroe they founded a new city that they called Patrae after Patreus. The city's name was in the plural because of the unification of many settlements. So you can see Patras written as "Patrae", "Patra" (modern Greek), "Patras" (English), "Patrasso" (Italian) etc.

Patras has developed thanks to its port and the commerce that takes place through it. Beautiful neo-classic buildings embellish the city whose roads all end up to the sea so that its bracing force is not cut. Artistic and spiritual life is very intense. Today, Patras is one of the most significant cities in Greece and its port is still playing that important role that it had during all its long history. It's the third greater city of Greece (after Athens and Thessalonica) with aproximately 300.000 inhabidants. Patra is also famous as a student city since the 35.000 students are a big percentage to the total population.