HYSIAE (town in Boeotia)
Ancient town of Boeotia, Greece
- Kind of place
- Town
- Region
- Boeotia
- Where
- 38.22° N, 23.34° E
Boeotians claimed oracles were received by drinking from the well. Pausanias 9.2.1 A sacred well is located among the town's ruins. Pausanias 9.2.1 Its ruins contain a half-finished temple dedicated to Apollo. Pausanias 9.2.1
Described in the sources
Hysiae is located in the region of Argolis. Pausanias 2.24.7 +1 Hysiae was situated along the lower slopes of the Cithaeron mountain range. Euripides, Bacchae 728-774 +1 Hysiae was located along the Asopus river in Boeotia. Herodotus 9.15.3 Hysiae is a district located on the borders of Attica. Herodotus 5.74.2 It was formerly a city belonging to the region of Boeotia. Pausanias 9.2.1 Some people claim that Hysiae is another name for the place Hyria. Strabo 9.2.12 Hysiae is described as a celebrated location within the region of Argolica. Strabo 8.6.17 The settlement is described as a colony established by the Hyrienses people. Strabo 9.2.12 There is a separate village named Hysiae located within the Argive territory. Strabo 9.2.12 According to some, Hysiae is located in the territory of Parasopia below Cithaeron. Strabo 9.2.12
Stories and history
The town was reduced to increase the population of Argos. Pausanias 8.27.1 The Lacedaemonians suffered a military defeat at this location. Pausanias 2.24.7 The battle occurred during the archonship of Peisistratus at Athens. Pausanias 2.24.7 Argive soldiers who won the battle were buried in common graves here. Pausanias 2.24.7 The Boeotians captured Hysiae as part of a coordinated military plan. Herodotus 5.74.2 The Athenian Eurybotus won the foot-race in the same year as the battle. Pausanias 2.24.7 The place was founded by Nycteus, who is identified as the father of Antiope. Strabo 9.2.12 The Bacchae fell upon Hysiae, turned everything upside down, and snatched children from their homes. Euripides, Bacchae 728-774
Myths set at Hysiae
- The Rampage of the Bacchae in Thebes. Pentheus plans to hunt Agave down from the mountains to stop her revelry and bind her in iron fetters. The Bacchae, including Agave, rampage through Hysiae and Erythrae, snatching children and wounding armed men while remaining unharmed by fire. Euripides, Bacchae 215-265 +3 Agave