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CHAP. 12.—BŒOTIA.

In this country are Anthedon1, Onchestus2, the free town of Thespiæ3, Lebadea4, and then Thebes5, surnamed Bœotian6, which does not yield the palm to Athens even in celebrity; the native land, according to the common notion, of the two Divinities Liber and Hercules. The birth-place of the Muses too is pointed out in the grove of Helicon. To this same Thebes also belong the forest of Cithæron7, and the river Ismenus. Besides these, there are in Bœotia the Fountains of Œdipodia, Psamathe, Dirce, Epicrane, Arethusa, Hippocrene8, Aganippe, and Gargaphie; and, besides the mountains already mentioned, Mycalesos, Hadylius, and Acontius. The remaining towns between Megara and Thebes are Eleutheræ9, Haliartus10, Platææ11, Pheræ, Aspledon12, Hyle13, Thisbe14, Erythræ15, Glissas16, and Copæ17; near the river Cephisus, Larymna and Anchoa18; as also Medeon, Phlygone, Acræphia19, Coronea20, and Chæronea21. Again, on the coast and below Thebes, are Ocalea22, Heleon, Scolos, Schœnos23, Peteon24, Hyriæ25, Mycalesos26, Iresion, Pteleon, Olyros, and Tanagra27, the people of which are free; and, situate upon the very mouth of the Euripus28, a strait formed by the opposite island of Eubœa, Aulis29, so famous for its capacious harbour. The Bœotians formerly had the name of Hyantes.

After them come the Locrians, surnamed Epicnemidii30, formerly called Leleges, through whose country the river Cephisus passes, in its course to the sea. Their towns are Opus31; from which the Opuntian Gulf32 takes its name, and Cynos. Daphnus33 is the only town of Phocis situate on the coast. In the interior of Locris is Elatea34, and on the banks of the Cephisus, as we have previously stated35, Lilæa, and, facing Delphi, Cnemis36 and Hyampolis37. Again, upon the coast of the Locrians, are Larymna38, and Thronium39, near which last the river Boagrius enters the sea. Also, the towns of Narycion, Alope40, and Scarphia41; and then the gulf which receives the name of the Maliac42 from the people who dwell there, and upon which are the towns of Halcyone, Econia, and Phalara43.

1 Its ruins are supposed to be those seen eight miles from Egripo. Lukisi has also been suggested.

2 Its ruins are still to be seen on the S.W. slope of Mount Faga.

3 On the S.E. slope of Mount Helicon. Its ruins are to be seen at the modern Eremo or Rimokastro.

4 Now Livadhia. The celebrated cave of Trophonius stood in its vicinity.

5 Extensive remains of it are still to be seen; but the modern town of Theba or Stiva stands only on the site of its ancient Cadmea or citadel.

6 To distinguish it from places of the same name in Egypt, Phthiotis, and Lucania.

7 On the range of mountains of that name separating Bœotia from Megaris and Attica. The forest abounded in game, and the vicinity was a favourite scene of the poetic legends. Paleovuni is the highest summit of the Heliconian range. Leake fixes the Grove of the Muses at the present church of Saint Nicholas, at the foot of Mount Marandali, one of the summits of Helicon.

8 These fountains or springs are very difficult to identify, but Hippocrene, or the "Iorse-Spring" (said to have been produced by Pegasus striking the ground with his feet), was probably at the present Makariotissa; while Aganippe is the fountain that flows midway between Paleo-panaghia and Pyrgaki.

9 This place was originally a member of the Bœotian confederacy, but joined the Athenians, though it did not become an Attic Demus. Leake thinks that its ruins are those seen at Myupoli. Ross thinks that it stood to the east of Ghyfto-kastro, while other writers are of opinion that it stood more to the west, near the modern village of Kundara.

10 Razed to the ground by the Roman prætor Lucretius, for having espoused the cause of king Perseus. Its remains are seen about a mile from the village of Mazi, on the road from Thebes to Lebadæa.

11 Memorable for the defeat of the Persians under Mardonius, B.C. 479.

12 Distant twenty stadia from Orchomenus. Leake places it at the modern Izamali, Forchhammer at Avro-Kastro.

13 Its site is uncertain. Leake supposes it to be at Paleokastro, between the north end of Lake Hylica and the foot of Mount Palea. Ulrichs places it at the south end of the lake.

14 The modern Kakosia occupies its site.

15 At the foot of Mount Cithæron. Leake places it eastward of Katzula, at the foot of the rocks there.

16 Leake identifies it with the ruins on the torrent of Plataniki, below the mountain of Siamata. Pausanias says it was situate seven stadia beyond Teumessus, and at the foot of Hypatus, now Siamata.

17 On Lake Copaïs. The modern village of Topolia occupies its site.

18 The waters of the Cephisus here burst forth from their subterraneous channel.

19 On Lake Copaïs. Its ruins are at a short distance to the south of the modern Kardhitza.

20 South of Mount Helicon. Its principal remains are those of its theatre, a temple of Hera, and the agora or market-place.

21 On the borders of Phocis; famous for the battles fought in its vicinity between the Athenians and Bœotians, B.C. 447, and between Philip of Macedon and the Athenians and Bœotians, B.C. 338, and that in which Sylla defeated the generals of Mithridates B.C. 86. It stood on the site of the modern village of Kapurna.

22 On the river Copais, at the foot of Mount Tilphusion.

23 On the river of that name, and on the road from Thebes to Anthedon.

24 Its site appears to be unknown.

25 Enumerated by Homer with Aulis. Ancient critics have, without sufficient reason, identified it with Hysiæ.

26 It was sacked by the Athenians, B.C. 413, and in ruins in the time of Pausanias.

27 The modern Grimadha or Grimala occupies its site.

28 The modern channel of Egripo.

29 The place where the Grecian fleet assembled when about to sail for Troy. Leake says that its harbour is now called Vathy, evidently from the Greek βαθὺς, "wide."

30 So called from dwelling near Mount Cnemis.

31 Its ruins are to be seen three miles from the modern Talanti.

32 Now the Golfo di Talanti.

33 On the Eubœan Sea, which here extended to the Corinthian Gulf. It was in ruins in the time of Strabo. Cynus was the chief sea-port of the Locri Opuntii. Its site is marked by a tower called Palæopyrgo, and some ruins to the south of the village of Livanates.

34 The modern village of Lefti stands on its site, and there are some ruins to be seen.

35 In C. iv. of this Book.

36 Or Cnemides, a fortress built on the range of Mount Cnemis, near the modern Nikoraki.

37 Ravaged by Philip of Macedon. Its ruins are near the modern village of Vogdhani.

38 The Lower Larymna. Its ruins are seen between the modern Matzumadi and Martini.

39 Its ruins are to be seen near the modern Andera.

40 Between Daphnus and Cynus. Gell found its ruins on a hill near the sea-shore.

41 Its ruins are to be seen three miles from those of Thronium.

42 Now called the Gulf of Zeitoun. The people from whom it received its name were the Malienses.

43 Its ruins are two leagues from the modern town of Zeitoun.

The Natural History. Pliny the Elder. John Bostock, M.D., F.R.S. H.T. Riley, Esq., B.A. London. Taylor and Francis, Red Lion Court, Fleet Street. 1855.

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    • W. W. How, J. Wells, A Commentary on Herodotus, 8.7
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