TANAGRA (village in Boeotia)
Modern village in Boeotia, Greece
- Kind of place
- Village
- Region
- Boeotia
- Landmarks
- Sanctuary of Hermes Ram-bearer Pausanias 9.22.1; Sanctuary of Hermes Champion Pausanias 9.22.1; Temple of Themis Pausanias 9.22.1; Temple of Aphrodite Pausanias 9.22.1; Temple of Apollo Pausanias 9.22.1; Sanctuary of Dionysus Pausanias 9.22.1; Statue of Triton Pausanias 9.21.1
- Where
- 38.33° N, 23.54° E
A sanctuary of the Champion Hermes exists within the settlement. Pausanias 9.22.1 A statue of Hermes carrying a ram was made to commemorate his protective act. Pausanias 9.22.1 Sanctuaries are situated apart from the houses in an uninhabited clear space. Pausanias 9.22.2
Described in the sources
The territory of Tanagra is where the battle of Delium took place, where the Thebans defeated the Athenians. Pausanias 1.29.13 +1 Tanagra is located on the left side of the road connecting Thebes and Argos, and it remained in a tolerable condition compared to Thebes. Strabo 9.2.12 +1 The third temple is dedicated to the god Apollo. Pausanias 9.22.1 Pharae is one of four villages located near Tanagra. Strabo 9.2.14 The Attic demus of Phyle borders the area of Tanagra. Strabo 9.2.11 The town's houses are clustered in one specific area. Pausanias 9.22.2 A theater and a portico are located near the sanctuary. Pausanias 9.22.2 An Eretrian fleet from Euboea arrived at this location. Pausanias 9.22.2 Tanagra is located on the coast below Thebes in Boeotia. Pliny, Nat. Hist. 4.12 ¶1 A village named Heleon is part of the Tanagrian territory. Strabo 9.2.12
Gods and worship
The most handsome youth carries a lamb around the walls during Hermes' feast. Pausanias 9.22.1 The inhabitants are considered to have superior arrangements for worshipping gods. Pausanias 9.22.2
Stories and history
The people of Tanagra are described as being free. Pliny, Nat. Hist. 4.12 ¶1 Hermes led the local youths into battle against the Euboeans here. Pausanias 9.22.2 Philip granted the land of Oropus to the Athenians after capturing Thebes. Pausanias 1.34.1 The location gained fame because its fighting birds shed a lustre upon it. Pliny, Nat. Hist. 10.24 ¶2 The people of Tanagra participated in the settlement of the city Heracleia. Pausanias 5.26.7 The people of Tanagra possess a legend that differs from the Theban version. Pausanias 8.36.10 The sanctuary holds remains of a wild strawberry-tree associated with Hermes. Pausanias 9.22.2 Hermes supposedly saved the city from a plague by carrying a ram around its walls. Pausanias 9.22.1 The Lacedaemonians and their allies dedicated a golden shield at Olympia taken from Tanagra. Pausanias 5.10.4 The people of Tanagra lured a Triton with a bowl of wine and a man from Tanagra beheaded the sleeping Triton with an axe. Pausanias 9.20.5
Myths set at Tanagra
- The Battle with the Triton of Tanagra. A sea monster terrorizes the women and livestock of Tanagra, prompting the people to offer him wine. Dionysus defeats the creature after hearing the women's prayers, ending the threat to the town. Pausanias 9.20.4 +1 Triton