CHAP. 12.—BŒOTIA.
In this country are Anthedon[1], Onchestus[2], the free town
of Thespiæ[3], Lebadea[4], and then Thebes[5], surnamed
Bœotian[6], 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 Cithæron[7],
and the river Ismenus. Besides these, there are in Bœotia
the Fountains of Œdipodia, Psamathe, Dirce, Epicrane,
Arethusa, Hippocrene[8], Aganippe, and Gargaphie; and, besides
the mountains already mentioned, Mycalesos, Hadylius,
and Acontius. The remaining towns between Megara and
Thebes are Eleutheræ[9], Haliartus[10],
Platææ[11], Pheræ, Aspledon[12], Hyle[13], Thisbe[14],
Erythræ[15], Glissas[16], and Copæ[17]; near
the river Cephisus, Larymna and Anchoa[18]; as also Medeon,
Phlygone, Acræphia[19], Coronea[20], and
Chæronea[21]. Again,
on the coast and below Thebes, are Ocalea[22], Heleon, Scolos,
Schœnos[23], Peteon[24], Hyriæ[25],
Mycalesos[26], Iresion, Pteleon,
Olyros, and Tanagra[27], the people of which are free; and,
situate upon the very mouth of the Euripus[28], a strait formed
by the opposite island of Eubœa, Aulis[29], so famous for its
capacious harbour. The Bœotians formerly had the name
of Hyantes.
After them come the Locrians, surnamed Epicnemidii[30],
formerly called Leleges, through whose country the river
Cephisus passes, in its course to the sea. Their towns are
Opus[31]; from which the Opuntian Gulf[32] takes its name, and
Cynos. Daphnus[33] is the only town of Phocis situate on the
coast. In the interior of Locris is Elatea[34], and on the
banks of the Cephisus, as we have previously stated[35], Lilæa,
and, facing Delphi, Cnemis[36] and Hyampolis[37]. Again, upon
the coast of the Locrians, are Larymna[38], and Thronium[39],
near which last the river Boagrius enters the sea. Also, the
towns of Narycion, Alope[40], and Scarphia[41]; and then the
gulf which receives the name of the Maliac[42] from the people
who dwell there, and upon which are the towns of Halcyone,
Econia, and Phalara[43].
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 baqu\s, "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.