BOEOTIA (region in Phthiotis)
Historical region in Central Greece
Described in the sources
The region shares a border with Attica at multiple locations, including the Plataean land and the city of Plataeae. Pausanias 1.38.8 +2 The hilly section of Megaris shares a border with Boeotia. Pausanias 1.44.4 +1 The Euripus strait separates Boeotia from the island of Euboea. Pausanias 9.19.6 +1 Cadmus founded the city of Thebes in Boeotia following an oracle. Diodorus 4.2 +1 Thracians and Pelasgi later ejected the ruling group from the territory. Strabo 10.3.17 +1 The Persian army under Xerxes marched through this region after the naval battle. Herodotus 8.113.1 +1 Boeotia is separated from Attica by a mountainous tract extending from Oropus to Megaris. Strabo 9.1.3 +1 The battle of Leuctra, where the Lacedaemonians suffered a defeat, took place in Boeotia. Pausanias 8.6.2 +1 The river Asopus flows through the region of Boeotia, nourishing its agricultural fields. Aeschylus, Persians 800-842 +1 Aristaeus traveled to Boeotia to marry Autonoe, a daughter of Cadmus, though he felt vexed by the region. Diodorus 4.81 +1
Gods and worship
The country has natural advantages that allow it to obtain supreme command. Strabo 9.2.2 Boeotian tradition claims oracles were once obtained by drinking from the well at Hysiae. Pausanias 9.2.1
Stories and history
Boeotia was bound in chains by the victors. Herodotus 5.77.4 Cadmus stood at the stern of the Boeotian fleet. Euripides, Iphigenia in Aulis 253-264 The Boeotian group was led by a man named Geres. Pausanias 7.3.6 Dionysus founded the city of Eleutherae in Boeotia. Diodorus 4.2 Leitus served as the admiral of the Boeotian ships. Euripides, Iphigenia in Aulis 253-264 Boeotia paid a ransom that was considered expensive. Herodotus 5.77.4 The citizens of Haliartus refused to revolt from Thebes. Pausanias 3.5.3 Boeotia was occupied by the Aones, Temmices, and Hyantes. Strabo 7.7.1 Dionysus freed all the cities located within this region. Diodorus 4.2 Boeotians were expelled from Thessaly along with Aetolians. Strabo 10.3.4
Myths set at Boeotia
- The Search for Europa. Cadmus is ordered by his father to find his abducted sister or face exile, but after failing to locate her, he consults an oracle and decides to stay in Boeotia. He follows a heifer to found a new city, leaving his Phoenician companions behind. Apollodorus 3.1.1 +5 Cadmus
- The Exile and Settlement of Athamas. Athamas is exiled from Boeotia and consults a god to find his new home. He settles in a region where wolves flee from him, naming it Athamantia and establishing settlements like Halus and Teos. Apollodorus 1.9.2 +3 Athamas
- The Migration to Sardinia. Aristaeus, grieving over Actaeon's fate and vexed with Greece, leads colonists from Libya to Sardinia. They fail to build a city but cultivate the waste land with plantings. Diodorus 4.82 +2 Aristaeus