The Dardanoi were a legendary people of the Troad, located in northwestern Anatolia. The Dardanoi were the descendants of Dardanus, the mythical founder of Dardanus, an ancient city in the Troad. A contingent of Dardanians figures among Troy's allies in the Trojan War. Homer makes a clear distinction between the Trojans and the Dardanoi, however, "Dardanoi"/"Dardanian" later became essentially metonymous–– or at least is commonly perceived to be so–– with "Trojan", especially in the works of Vergil such as the Aeneid.
Amycus punished, red-figured Lucanian hydria, end of 4th century BC, Cabinet des Médailles. A prominent Trojan during the Trojan War
Dardanus or Dardanum was an ancient city in the Troad. It was sometimes called Dardania, a term used also for the district around it. Pliny the Elder called it Dardanium. It appears in other sources indirectly as well. The city-ethnic, or appellation of a person from Dardanus, is Dardaneus. Its coin legends are DAR and DARDAN. Its localization is securely marked by an inscription naming itself on the site.
A stater of Dardanos showing the fighting bird on one side.