Thebes, Greece
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| + | '''Thebes''' is a city in [[Greece]], situated to the north of the [[Cithaeron]] range, which divides [[Boeotia]] from [[Attica, Greece|Attica]], and on the southern edge of the [[Boeotian plain]]. It played an important role in [[Greek myth]], as the site of the stories of [[Cadmus]], [[Oedipus]], [[Dionysus]] and others. [[archeology|Archaeological]] excavations in and around Thebes have revealed a [[Mycenaean Greece|Mycenaean]] settlement and [[clay tablet]]s written in the [[Linear B]] script, indicating the importance of the site in the [[Bronze Age]]. In ancient times, Thebes was the largest city of the region of [[Boeotia]] and was the leader of the Boeotian confederacy. It was a major rival of ancient Athens, and sided with the Persians during the 480 BC invasion of [[Xerxes I of Persia|Xerxes]]. Theban forces ended the power of [[History of Sparta|Sparta]] at the [[Battle of Leuctra]] in 371 BC under the command of [[Epaminondas]]. The [[Sacred Band of Thebes]] (an elite military unit) famously fell at the battle of [[Battle of Chaeronea (338 BC)|Chaeronea]] in 338 BC against [[Philip II of Macedon|Philip II]] and [[Alexander the Great]]. Prior to its destruction by Alexander in 335 BC, Thebes was a major force in Greek history, and was the most dominant [[city-state]] at the time of the Macedonian conquest of Greece. During the [[Byzantine Empire|Byzantine]] period, the city was famous for its [[silk]]s. The modern city contains an Archaeological Museum, the remains of the [[Cadmea]] (Bronze Age and forward citadel), and scattered ancient remains. Modern Thebes is the largest town of the [[Boeotia Prefecture]]. It is situated at highway E962, some 4 km south of the junction with [[Greek National Road 1|E75]]. | ||
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| + | ===Mythic record=== | ||
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| + | {{for|a discussion of the many mythical kings of Thebes and their individual feats|Theban kings in Greek mythology}} | ||
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| + | The stories of Thebes are mainly tragic tales of death, confusion, war, murder, complete frenzy, and other tragic endings. The record of the earliest days of Thebes was preserved among the Greeks in an abundant mass of legends which rival the myths of [[Troy]] in their wide ramification and the influence which they exerted upon the literature of the classical age. Five main cycles of story may be distinguished: | ||
| + | # The foundation of the citadel Cadmeia by [[Cadmus]], and the growth of the [[Spartoi]] or "Sown Men" (probably an [[aetiological]] myth designed to explain the origin of the Theban nobility which bore that name in historical times); | ||
| + | # The building of a "seven-gated" wall by [[Amphion]], and the cognate stories of [[Zethus]], [[Antiope (mother of Amphion)|Antiope]] and [[Dirce]]; | ||
| + | # The tale of [[Laius]], whose misdeeds culminated in the tragedy of [[Oedipus]] and the wars of the "[[Seven Against Thebes]]," the [[Epigoni]], and the downfall of his house; Laius' [[Pederasty in ancient Greece|pederastic rape]] of [[Chrysippus (mythology)|Chrysippus]] was held by some ancients to have been the first instance of [[homosexuality]] among mortals, and may have provided an etiology for the practice of pedagogic pederasty for which Thebes was famous. ''See [[Theban pederasty]] and [[Pederasty in ancient Greece]] for detailed discussion and background.'' | ||
| + | # The immolation of [[Semele]] and the advent of [[Dionysus]]; and | ||
| + | # The exploits of [[Heracles]]. | ||
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Revision as of 11:16, 26 December 2009
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Thebes is a city in Greece, situated to the north of the Cithaeron range, which divides Boeotia from Attica, and on the southern edge of the Boeotian plain. It played an important role in Greek myth, as the site of the stories of Cadmus, Oedipus, Dionysus and others. Archaeological excavations in and around Thebes have revealed a Mycenaean settlement and clay tablets written in the Linear B script, indicating the importance of the site in the Bronze Age. In ancient times, Thebes was the largest city of the region of Boeotia and was the leader of the Boeotian confederacy. It was a major rival of ancient Athens, and sided with the Persians during the 480 BC invasion of Xerxes. Theban forces ended the power of Sparta at the Battle of Leuctra in 371 BC under the command of Epaminondas. The Sacred Band of Thebes (an elite military unit) famously fell at the battle of Chaeronea in 338 BC against Philip II and Alexander the Great. Prior to its destruction by Alexander in 335 BC, Thebes was a major force in Greek history, and was the most dominant city-state at the time of the Macedonian conquest of Greece. During the Byzantine period, the city was famous for its silks. The modern city contains an Archaeological Museum, the remains of the Cadmea (Bronze Age and forward citadel), and scattered ancient remains. Modern Thebes is the largest town of the Boeotia Prefecture. It is situated at highway E962, some 4 km south of the junction with E75.
Mythic record
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The stories of Thebes are mainly tragic tales of death, confusion, war, murder, complete frenzy, and other tragic endings. The record of the earliest days of Thebes was preserved among the Greeks in an abundant mass of legends which rival the myths of Troy in their wide ramification and the influence which they exerted upon the literature of the classical age. Five main cycles of story may be distinguished:
- The foundation of the citadel Cadmeia by Cadmus, and the growth of the Spartoi or "Sown Men" (probably an aetiological myth designed to explain the origin of the Theban nobility which bore that name in historical times);
- The building of a "seven-gated" wall by Amphion, and the cognate stories of Zethus, Antiope and Dirce;
- The tale of Laius, whose misdeeds culminated in the tragedy of Oedipus and the wars of the "Seven Against Thebes," the Epigoni, and the downfall of his house; Laius' pederastic rape of Chrysippus was held by some ancients to have been the first instance of homosexuality among mortals, and may have provided an etiology for the practice of pedagogic pederasty for which Thebes was famous. See Theban pederasty and Pederasty in ancient Greece for detailed discussion and background.
- The immolation of Semele and the advent of Dionysus; and
- The exploits of Heracles.
