Listed 24 sub titles with search on: Information about the place for wider area of: "PLATEES Municipality VIOTIA" .
EFTRISSIS (Ancient city) PLATEES
Eth. Eutresites. An ancient town of Boeotia, mentioned by Homer, and
said to have been the residence of Zethus and Amphion before they ruled over Thebes.
(Hom. II. ii. 502; Eustath. ad loc.; Strab. ix.). In the time of Strabo it was
a village in the territory of Thespiae. Stephanus B. places it on the road from
Thespiae to Plataea; but Leake conjectures that there is an error in the text,
and that for Thespion we ought to read Thisbon, since there is only one spot in
the ten miles between Plataea and Thespiae where any town is likely to have stood,
and that was occupied by Leuctra. We learn from Stephanus that Eutresis possessed
a celebrated temple and oracle of Apollo, who was hence surnamed Eutresites.
Scylax, in his description of the coast of Boeotia, speaks of ho limen
Eutretos kai teichos ton Boioton, and Leake is disposed to identify these places
with Eutresia, which would thus be represented by the ruins at Aliki; but we should
rather conclude, from the words of both Strabo and Stephanus, that Eutresia was
not so far from Thespiae.
This text is from: Dictionary of Greek and Roman Geography (1854) (ed. William Smith, LLD). Cited May 2004 from The Perseus Project URL below, which contains interesting hyperlinks
KITHERON (Mountain) VIOTIA
Cithaeron (Kithairon), a range of mountains, separating Boeotia from
Megaris and Attica, of which a description is given elsewhere. It is said to have
derived its name from Cithaeron, a mythical king of Plataeae, who assisted Zeus
with his advice when Hera was angry with him. Hence the summit was sacred to the
Cithaeronian Zeus, and here was celebrated the festival called Daedala. (Paus.
ix. 2. § 4, 3. § 1, seq.; Diet. of Ant. art. Daedala.) Cithaeron was also sacred
to Dionysus, and was the scene of several celebrated legends, such as the metamorphosis
of Actaeon, the death of Pentheus, and the exposure of Oedipus. The forest, which
covered Cithaeron, abounded in game; and at a very early period, lions and wolves
are said to have been found there. The Cithaeronian lion, slain by Alcathous,
was celebrated in mythology. (Paus. i. 41. § 3.)
KREFSIS (Ancient city) THISVI
Kreousa, Kreousia, Creusa, Kreusis, Eth. Kreusios. A town of Boeotia,
at the head of a small bay in the Corinthian gulf, described by ancient writers
as the port of Thespiae. (Strab. ix.; Paus. ix. 32. § 1; Creusa, Thespiensium
emporium, in intimo sinu Corinthiaco retractum, Liv. xxxvi. 21.) The navigation
from Peloponnesus to Creusis is described by Pausanias as insecure, on account
of the many headlands which it was necessary to double, and of the violent gusts
of wind rushing down from the mountains. Creusis was on the borders of Megaris.
One of the highest points of Mt. Cithaeron projects into the sea between Creusis
and Aegosthenae, the frontier town in Megaris, leaving no passage along the shore
except a narrow path on the side of the mountain. In confirmation of Pausanias,
Leake remarks that this termination of Mt. Cithaeron, as well as all the adjoining
part of the Alcyonic sea, is subject to sudden gusts of wind, by which the passage
of such a cornice is sometimes rendered dangerous. On two occasions the Lacedaemonians
retreated from Boeotia by this route, in order to avoid the more direct roads
across Mt. Cithaeron. On the first of these occasions, in B.C. 378, the Lacedaemonian
army under Cleombrotus was overtaken by such a violent storm, that the shields
of the soldiers were wrested from their hands by the wind, and many of the beasts
of burden were blown over the precipices. (Xen. Hell. v. 4. 16, seq.) The second
time that they took this route was after the fatal battle of Leuctra, in B.C.
371. (Xen. Hell. vi. 4 § 25, seq.) The exact site of Creusis is uncertain, but
there can be no doubt that it must be placed with Leake somewhere in the bay of
Livadhostra.
This text is from: Dictionary of Greek and Roman Geography (1854) (ed. William Smith, LLD). Cited June 2004 from The Perseus Project URL below, which contains interesting hyperlinks
LEFKTRA (Ancient city) VIOTIA
ta Leuktra. A village of Boeotia, situated on the road from Thespiae
to Plataea (Strab. ix.), and in the territory of the former city. (Xen. Hell.
vi. 4. 4). Its name only occurs in history on account of the celebrated battle
fought in its neighbourhood between the Spartans and Thebans, B.C. 371, by which
the supremacy of Sparta was for ever overthrown. In the plain of Leuctra, was
the tomb of the two daughters of Scedasus, a Leuctrian, who had been violated
by two Spartans, and had afterwards slain themselves; this tomb was crowned with
wreaths by Epaminondas before the battle, since an oracle had predicted that the
Spartans would be defeated at this spot (Xen. Hell. vi. 4. 7; Diod. xv. 54; Paus.
ix. 13. § 3; Plut. Pelop. cc. 20, 21). The city of Leuctra, is sometimes supposed
to be represented by the extensive ruins at Lefka (Leuka), which are situated
immediately below the modern village of Rimokastro. But these ruins are clearly
those of Thespiae, as appears from the inscriptions found there, as well as from
their importance; for Leuctra was never anything more than a village in the territory
of Thespiae, and had apparently ceased to exist in the time of Strabo, who calls
it simply a topos. The real site of Leuctra, is very clearly marked by a tumulus
and some artificial ground on the summit of the ridge which borders the southern
side of the valley of Thespiae. The battle of Leuctra was fought probably in the
valley on the northern side of the tumulus, about midway between Thespiae, and
the western extremity of the plain of Plataea. Cleombrotus, in order to avoid
the Boeotians, who were expecting him by the direct route from Phocis, marched
by Thisbe and the valleys on the southern side of Mount Helicon; and having thus
made his appearance suddenly at Creusis, the port of Thespiae, captured that fortress.
From thence, he moved upon Leuctra, where he intrenched himself on a rising ground;
after which the Thebans encamped on an opposite hill, at no great distance. The
position of the latter, therefore, seems to have been on the eastern prolongation
of the height of Rimokastro. The tumulus is probably the place of sepulture of
the 1000 Lacedaemonians who fell in the battle. For a full account of this celebrated
contest, see Grote, Hist. of Greece. In ancient times, the neighbourhood of Leuctra
appears to have been well wooded, as we may infer from the epithet of shady bestowed
upon it by the oracle of Delphi (Leuktra skioenta, Paus. ix. 14. § 3); but at
present there is scarcely a shrub or a tree to be seen in the surrounding country.
This text is from: Dictionary of Greek and Roman Geography (1854) (ed. William Smith, LLD). Cited June 2004 from The Perseus Project URL below, which contains interesting hyperlinks
PLATEES (Ancient city) VIOTIA
Plataeae (Plataia, Plataiai, Eth. Plataieus, Plataeensis). An ancient
city of Boeotia, was situated upon the frontiers of Attica at the foot of Mt.
Cithaeron, and between that mountain and the river Asopus, which divided its territory
from that of Thebes. (Strab. ix. p. 411.) The two cities were about 6 1/2 miles
apart by the road, but the direct distance was little more than 5 geographical
miles. According to the Thebans Plataea was founded by them (Thuc. iii. 61); but
Pausanias represents the Plataeans as indigenous, and according to their own account
they derived their name from Plataea, a daughter of Asopus. (Paus. ix. 1. § 1.)
Plataea is mentioned in Homer among the other Boeotian cities. (Il. ii. 504.)
In B.C. 519 Plataea, unwilling to submit to the supremacy of Thebes, and unable
to resist her powerful neighbour with her own unaided resources, formed a close
alliance with Athens, to which she continued faithful during the whole of her
subsequent history. (Herod. vi. 108; Thuc. iii. 68.) She sent 1000 men to the
assistance of Athens at Marathon, and shared in the glories of that victory. (Herod,
l. c.) The Plataeans also fought at Artemisium, but were not present at Salamis,
as they had to leave the fleet in order to remove their families and property
from the city, in consequence of the approach of the Persian army. (Herod. viii.
44.) Upon the arrival of the Persians shortly afterwards their city was burnt
to the ground. (Herod. viii. 50.) In the following year (B.C. 479) their territory
was the scene of the memorable battle, which delivered Greece from the Persian
invaders. The history of this battle illustrates so completely the topography
of the Plataean territory, that it is necessary to give an account of the different
positions taken by the contending forces (See accompanying Map). Mardonius proceeded
from Attica into Boeotia across Mount Parnes by the pass of Deceleia, and took
up a position on the bank of the Asopus, where he caused a fortified camp to be
constructed of 10 stadia square. The situation was well selected, since he had
the friendly city of Thebes in his rear, and was thus in no danger of falling
short of provisions. (Herod. ix. 15.) The Grecian army crossed over from Attica
by Mt. Cithaeron; but as Pausanias did not choose to expose his troops to the
attacks of the Persian cavalry on the plain, he stationed them on the slopes of
the mountain, near Erythrae, where the ground was rugged and uneven. This position
did not, however, altogether preserve them; but, in an attack made by the Persian
cavalry, a body of 300 Athenians repulsed them, and killed their leader Masistius.
This success encouraged Pausanias to descend into the territory of Plataea, more
especially as it was better supplied with water than his present position. Marching
from Erythrae in a westerly position along the roots of Mt. Cithaeron, and passing
by Hysiae, he drew up his army along the right bank of the Asopus, partly upon
hills of no great height and partly upon a lofty plain, the right wing being near
the fountain Gargaphia, and the left near the chapel of the Plataean hero Androcrates.
(Herod. ix. 25 - 30.) Mardonius drew up his army opposite to them on the other
side of the Asopus. The two armies remained in this position for some days, neither
party being willing to begin the attack. The Persians assailed the Greeks at a
distance with their missiles, and prevented them altogether from watering at the
Asopus. Meantime the Persian cavalry intercepted the convoys of provisions proceeding
to the Grecian camp, and on one occasion drove away the Lacedaemonians, who occupied
the right wing from the fountain Gargaphia, and succeeded in choking it up. This
fountain had been of late the only watering-place of the Greeks; and as their
ground was now untenable, Pausanias resolved to retreat in the night to a place
called the Island (nesos), about 10 stadia in the rear of their present position,
and halfway between the latter and the town of Plataea. The spot selected, improperly
called an island, was, in fact, a level meadow, comprised between two branches
of the river Oeroe, which, rising from distinct sources in Mt. Cithaeron, and
running for some space nearly parallel with one another, at length unite and flow
in a westerly direction into the gulf of Corinth. (Herod. ix. 51.) The nature
of the ground would thus afford to the Greeks abundance of water, and protection
from the enemy's cavalry. The retreat, however, though for so short a distance,
was effected in disorder and confusion. The Greek centre, chiefly composed of
Megarians and Corinthians, probably fearing that the island would not afford them
sufficient protection against the enemy's cavalry, did not halt till they reached
the temple of Hera, which was in front of the town of Plataea. The Lacedaemonians
on the right wing were delayed till the day began to dawn, by the obstinacy of
Amompharetus, and then began to march across the hills which separated them from
the island. The Athenians on the left wing began their march at the same time,
and got round the hills to the plain on the other side on their way to the island.
After marching 10 stadia, Pausanias halted on the bank of the Moloeis, at a place
called Agriopius, where stood a temple of the Eleusinian Demeter. Here he was
joined by Amompharetus, and here he had to sustain the attack of the Persians,
who had rushed across the Asopus and up the hill after the retreating foe. As
soon as Pausanias was overtaken by the Persians, he sent to the Athenians to entreat
them to hasten to his aid; but the coming up of the Boeotians prevented them from
doing so. Accordingly the Lacedaemonians and Tegeatans had to encounter the Persians
alone without any assistance from the other Greeks, and to them alone belongs
the glory of the victory. The Persians were defeated with great slaughter, nor
did they stop in their flight till they had again crossed the Asopus and reached
their fortified camp. The Thebans also were repulsed by the Athenians, but they
retreated in good order to Thebes, being covered by their cavalry from the pursuit
of the Athenians. The Greek centre, which was nearly 10 stadia distant, had no
share in the battle; but hearing that the Lacedaemonians were gaining the victory,
they hastened to the scene of action, and, coining up in confusion, as many as
600 were cut to pieces by the Theban force. Meantime the Lacedaemonians pursued
the Persians to the fortified camp, which, however, they were unable to take until
the Athenians, more skilled in that species of warfare, came to their assistance.
The barricades were then carried, and a dreadful carnage ensued. With the exception
of 40,000 who retreated with Artabazus, only 3000 of the original 300,000 are
said to have escaped. (Herod. ix. 50 - 70.)
As this signal victory had been gained on the soil of Plataea, its
citizens received especial honour and rewards from the confederate Greeks. Not
only was the large sum of 80 talents granted to them, which they employed in erecting
a temple to Athena, but they were charged with the duty of rendering every year
religious honours to the tombs of the warriors who had fallen in the battle, and
of celebrating every five years the festival of the Eleutheria in commemoration
of the deliverance of the Greeks from the Persian yoke. The festival was sacred
to Zeus Eleutherius, to whom a temple was now erected at Plataea. In return for
these services Pausanias and the other Greeks swore to guarantee the independence
and inviolability of the city and its territory (Thuc. ii. 71; Plut. Arist. c.
19 - 21; Strab. ix. p. 412; Paus. ix. 2. § 4.)
Plataea was of course now rebuilt, and its in.. habitants continued
unmolested till the commencement of the Peloponnesian War. In the spring of B.C.
431, before any actual declaration of war, a party of 300 Thebans attempted to
surprise Plataea. They were admitted within the walls in the night time by an
oligarchical party of the citizens; but the Plataeans soon recovered from their
surprise, and put to death 180 of the assailants. (Thuc. ii. 1, seq.) In the third
year of the war (B.C. 429) the Peloponnesian army under the command of Archidamus
laid siege to Plataea. This siege is one of the most memorable in the annals of
Grecian warfare, and has been narrated at great length by Thucydides. The Plataeans
had previously deposited at Athens their old men, women, and children; and the
garrison of the city consisted of only 400 citizens and 80 Athenians, together
with 110 women to manage their household affairs. Yet this small force set at
defiance the whole army of the Peloponnesians, who, after many fruitless attempts
to take the city by assault, converted the siege into a blockade, and raised a
circumvallation round the city, consisting of two parallel walls, 16 feet asunder,
with a ditch on either side. In the second year of the blockade 212 of the besieged
during a tempestuous winter's night succeeded in scaling the walls of circumvallation
and reaching Athens in safety. In the course of the ensuing summer (B.C. 427)
the remainder of the garrison were obliged, through failure of provisions, to
surrender to the Peloponnesians. They were all put to death; and all the private
buildings rased to the ground by the Thebans, who with the materials erected a
sort of vast barrack round the temple of Hera, both for the accommodation of visitors,
and to serve as an abode for those to whom they let out the land. A new temple,
of 100 feet in length (neos hekatompedos), was also built by the Thebans in honour
of Hera. (Thuc. ii. 71, seq., iii. 20, seq., 52, seq., 68.)
The surviving Plataeans were kindly received by the Athenians. They
would appear even before this time to have enjoyed the right of citizenship at
Athens (Athenaion xummachoi kai politai, Thuc. iii. 63). The exact nature of this
citizenship is uncertain ; but that it was not the full citizenship, possessed
by Athenian citizens, appears from a line of Aristophanes, who speaks of certain
slaves, who had been engaged in sea-fights, being made Plataeans (kai Plataias
euthus einai kanai doulon despotas, Ran. 706; comp. Schol. ad Aristoph. Ran. 33;
Bockh, Public Econ. of Athens, p. 262, 2nd ed.). Diodorus, in relating their return
to Athens at a subsequent time, says (xv. 46) that they received the isopoliteia;
but that some of them at any rate enjoyed nearly the full privileges of Athenian
citizens appears from the decree of the people quoted by Demosthenes (c. Neaer.
p. 1380).
In B.C. 420 the Athenians gave the Plataeans the town of Scione as
a residence. (Thuc. v. 32 ; Isocr. Paneg. § 109; Diodor. xii. 76.) At the close
of the Peloponnesian War, they were compelled to evacuate Scione (Plut. Lysand.
14), and again found a hospitable welcome at Athens. Here they were living at
the time of the peace of Antalcidas (B.C. 387), which guaranteed the autonomy
of the Grecian cities; and the Lacedaemonians, who were now anxious to humble
the power of Thebes, took advantage of it to restore the Plataeans to their native
city. (Paus. ix. 1. § 4; Isocrat. Plataic. § 13, seq.) But the Plataeans did not
long retain possession of their city, for in B.C. 372 it was surprised by the
Thebans and again destroyed. The Plataeans were compelled once more to seek refuge
at Athens. (Paus. ix. 1. § § 5 - 8; Diodor. xv. 46.) The wrongs done to the Plataeans
by Thebes are set forth in a speech of Isocrates, entitled Plataicus, which was
perhaps actually delivered at this time by a Plataean speaker before the public
assembly at Athens. (Grote's Greece, vol. x. p. 220.) After the battle of Chaeroneia
(B.C. 338) the Plataeans were once more restored to their city by Philip. (Paus.
ix. 1. § 8, iv. 27. § 11.) It was shortly after this time that Plataea was visited
by Dicaearchus, who calls the Plataeans Athenaioi Boiotoi, and remarks that they
have nothing to say for themselves, except that they are colonists of the Athenians,
and that the battle between the Greeks and the Persians took place near their
town. (Descript. Graec. p. 14, Hudson.)
After its restoration by Philip, the city continued to be inhabited
till the latest times. It was visited by Pausanias, who mentions three temples,
one of Hera, another of Athena Areia, and a third of Demeter Eleusinia. Pausanias
speaks of only one temple of Hera, which he describes as situated within the city,
and worthy of admiration on account of its magnitude and of the offerings with
which it was adorned (ix. 2. § 7). This was apparently the temple built by the
Thebans after the destruction of Plataea. (Thuc. iii. 68.) It is probable that
the old temple of Hera mentioned by Herodotus, and which he describes as outside
the city (ix. 52), was no longer repaired after the erection of the new one, and
had disappeared before the visit of Pausanias. The temple of Athena Areia was
built according to Pausanias (ix. 4. § 1) out of a share of the spoils of Marathon,
but according to Plutarch (Arist. 20) with the 80 talents out of the spoils of
Plataea, as mentioned above. The temple was adorned with pictures by Polygnotus
and Onatas, and with a statue of the goddess by Pheidias. Of the temple of Demeter
Eleusinia we have no details, but it was probably erected in consequence of the
battle having been fought near a temple of Demeter Eleusinia at Argiopius. (Herod.
ix. 57.) The temple of Zeus Eleutherius (Strab. ix. p. 412) seems to have been
reduced in the time of Pausanias to an altar and a statue. It was situated outside
the city. (Paus. ix. 2. § § 5 - 7.)
Plataea is mentioned in the sixth century by Hierocles (p. 645, Wesseling)
among the cities of Boeotia; and its walls were restored by Justinian. (Procop.
de Aedif. iv. 2.)
The ruins of Plataea are situated near the small village of Kokela.
The circuit of the walls may still be traced in great part. They are about two
miles and a half in circumference; but this was the size of the city restored
by Philip, for not only is the earlier city, before its destruction by the Thebans,
described by Thucydides (ii. 77) as small, but we find at the southern extremity
of the existing remains more ancient masonry than in any other part of the ruins.
Hence Leake supposes that the ancient city was confined to this part. He observes
that the masonry in general, both of the Acropolis and of the town, has the appearance
of not being so old as the time of the battle. The greater part is of the fourth
order, but mixed with portions of a less regular kind, and with some pieces of
polygonal masonry. The Acropolis, if an interior inclosure can be so called, which
is not on the highest part of the site, is constructed in part of stones which
have evidently been taken from earlier buildings. The towers of this citadel are
so formed as to present flanks to the inner as well as to the outer face of the
intermediate walls, whereas the town walls have towers, like those of the Turks,
open to the interior. Above the southern wall of the city are foundations of a
third inclosure; which is evidently more ancient than the rest, and is probably
the only part as old as the Persian War, when it may have been the Acropolis of
the Plataea of that age. It surrounds a rocky height, and terminates to the S.
in an acute angle, which is only separated by a level of a few yards from the
foot of the great rocky slope of Cithaeron. This inclosure is in a situation higher
than any other part of the ancient site, and higher than the village of Kokela,
from which it is 500 yards distant to the E. Its walls are traceable on the eastern
side along a torrent, a branch of the Oeroe, nearly as far as the south-eastern
angle of the main inclosure of the city. In a church within this upper inclosure
are some fragments of an inscribed marble. (Northern Greece, vol. ii. p. 325.)
This text is from: Dictionary of Greek and Roman Geography (1854) (ed. William Smith, LLD). Cited June 2004 from The Perseus Project URL below, which contains interesting hyperlinks
EFTRISSIS (Ancient city) PLATEES
A small town in Boeotia between Thespiae and Plataea with a temple and oracle of Apollo, who had therein the name Eutresites. It was said to have once been the home of Zethus and Amphion.
KITHERON (Mountain) VIOTIA
A lofty range of mountains, separating Boeotia from Megaris and Attica. It was sacred to Dionysus and the Muses, and was celebrated for the death of Pentheus (q.v.) and Actaeon (q.v.). Here was celebrated the festival called Daedala (q.v.).
LEFKTRA (Ancient city) VIOTIA
A small town in Boeotia, on the road from Plataeae to Thespiae, memorable for the victory of Epaminondas and the Thebans over the Spartans in B.C. 371.
PLATEES (Ancient city) VIOTIA
(Plataia), more commonly Plataeae (Plataiai). An ancient city
of Boeotia, on the northern slope of Mount Cithaeron, not far from the sources
of the Asopus, and on the frontiers of Attica. It was said to have derived its
name from Plataea, a daughter of Asopus. At an early period the Plataeans deserted
the Boeotian Confederacy and placed themselves under the protection of Athens;
and when the Persians invaded Attica, B.C. 490, they sent 1000 men to the assistance
of the Athenians, and fought on their side at the battle of Marathon. Ten years
afterward (480) their city was destroyed by the Persian army under Xerxes at the
instigation of the Thebans; and the place was still in ruins in the following
year (479), when the memorable battle was fought in their territory in which Mardonius
was defeated, and the independence of Greece secured. In consequence of this victory,
the territory of Plataea was declared inviolable. It now enjoyed a prosperity
of fifty years; but in the third year of the Peloponnesian War (429) the Thebans
persuaded the Spartans to attack the town, and after a siege of two years at length
succeeded in obtaining possession of the place (427). Plataea was now razed to
the ground, but was again rebuilt after the peace of Antalcidas (387). It was
destroyed the third time by its inveterate enemies the Thebans in 374. It was
once more restored under the Macedonian supremacy, and continued in existence
till a very late period.
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THERAPNES (Ancient city) VIOTIA
A town in Boeotia.
KREFSIS (Ancient city) THISVI
In antiquity, the market town for Thespiae. The site is on the N slope
of Mt. Korombili, near the modern town of Livadhostro. The harbor, protected from
the violent local storms by a mole in ancient times, had no importance of its
own in the Classical period, but served as a port for Thebes, and maintained close
relations with Corinth. During the war against Antiochos, the Romans used the
town as a base of operations. Pausanias saw nothing there worth reporting; the
site is now marked by the remains of walls with towers, and a gate 3 m wide. A
bronze statue known as the Livadhostro Poseidon, now in the National Museum, was
found in the sea off nearby Haghios Vasilios at the end of the 19th c.
M. H. Mc Allister, ed.
This text is from: The Princeton encyclopedia of classical sites,
Princeton University Press 1976. Cited Nov 2002 from
Perseus Project URL below, which contains bibliography & interesting hyperlinks.
LEFKTRA (Ancient city) VIOTIA
A village 6 km SE of Thespiai. It is situated slightly N of a hill
(modern village of Parapoungia or Lefktra) overlooking the fertile plain bounded
by the Oeroe river to the S, the Permessos to the W, and the Thespios to the N.
To the E, on a hill, was the important Mycenaean city of Eutresis. Leuktra and
Butresis were komai in the Thespian territory; the former was situated on one
of the roads leading from Thespiai to the port of Kreusis, at the mouth of the
Oeroe. No trace of it has been found up to the present time.
In 371 B.C., to force Thebes to grant the Boiotian cities their independence
in accordance with the Peace of Antalkidas (386), Kleombrotos I, king of Sparta,
advanced his army from Phokis to Thebes. Held up near Koroneia, he walked across
Mt. Helikon, reached the shore of the Gulf of Corinth at Kreusis and once again
climbed up toward Thebes. With his 11,000 men he met 6,000 Boiotians under Epaminondas
in the plain of Leuktra. Epaminondas' victory ensured the hegemony of Thebes.
He had a trophy built on the spot. At the beginning of the 3d c. this trophy was
replaced by a monument that figured on silver Boiotian coins in the period 288-244
B.C. The Greek archaeologist A. Orlandos discovered some of the stones used in
this monument and rebuilt it on the original site. On a round base rebuilt of
Domvraina limestone he replaced the 0.68 mhigh frieze of triglyphs and metopai,
three fragments of which had been preserved; above a cornice 0.26 m high are the
eight trapezoidal blocks, placed in circular courses, each of which has a round
shield about one m in diameter carved in relief on the outer, parabolically curved
face. All these blocks were found in the vicinity of the trophy.
P. Roesch, ed.
This text is from: The Princeton encyclopedia of classical sites,
Princeton University Press 1976. Cited Nov 2002 from
Perseus Project URL below, which contains bibliography & interesting hyperlinks.
PLATEES (Ancient city) VIOTIA
This Boiotian city is situated near the boundary of Attica, between
the last slopes of Mt. Kithairon and the Asopos (Ptol. Geog. 3.15.20; Plin. HN
4.2.6). It was also mentioned by Homer (Il. 2.504).
In 519 B.C. the city obtained the protection of Athens against Thebes,
which was trying to annex it. It remained allied with Athens in the battles of
Marathon, Artemision, and Salamis, and was sacked by the Persians in 479. For
its strenuous resistance to the Persians and for its fidelity to Athens, Plataiai
was honored with a gift of 80 talents for the Temple of Athena Areia. Phidias
executed the cult statue and Polygnotos painted the walls of the pronaos for the
temple. In 431 the Thebans again tried to take over the city. In 429 it was besieged
by Archidamos, but its meager forces finally succeeded in forcing the blockade
and reached refuge in Athens. In 427 it was occupied and rased to the ground although
the temple of Hera was saved and a shelter for visitors was built near it. The
Plataians returned to their city only to have it sacked by the Thebans; they retook
it with the aid of Sparta, but were attacked again in 372 and the Thebans destroyed
the city a second time. From this period until 338 the citizens of Plataiai enjoyed
the hospitality of the Athenians. Philip led them home after Chaironeia, and the
city was rebuilt under Alexander. During the Roman occupation Plataiai was not
molested, in fact Justinian restored its walls. From the end of the 6th c. on
Plataiai was a flourishing cult center of Hera (Paus. 9.3.8), of Demeter (Paus.
9.4.3), of Athena (Paus. 10.4.1), of Zeus Eleutherios (Paus. 9.3.5.7), of Artemis
(Paus. 1.15.4), and of other minor cults as attested by inscriptions and coins.
Few vestiges of the city before 338 are preserved although near the
internal NE corner of the Hellenistic walls there are a few remains of prehistoric
walls, and excavation has brought to light fragments of prehistoric pottery and
Mycenaean vases. The walls are rather complex. The enclosure built after 338 resembles
a bulky polygon with the higher part to the S, where the extremity is defended
by a tower. Behind this spur is a second curtain wall with numerous square towers.
Circular towers protect the NW and NE corners; and two other extensions of the
wall, NW-S and W-E, cross the site of the city. The maximum axes of the circuit
are 1500 by 750 m. The 5th c. walls are rather rude work with a tendency toward
polygonal technique; the 385 B.C. walls is isodomic work with a squared face;
the 338 B.C. walls, restored under Philip, is isodomic trapezoidal work with a
rounded face; later repairs and partial rebuilding under Alexander (?) are in
isodomic technique with a squared and partly chiseled face.
The temple of Hera (49.9 x 16.7 m), was identified in 1891 on a terrace
inside the city wall. To the N of the temple was found the Katagogion, a large
hostel with a square plan and rooms on two stories, erected by the Thebans after
the destruction of the city in 427 B.C. on a site that was later occupied by the
Roman agora (Thuc. Hist. 2.69). Outside the walls to the W and NE are the necropoleis.
Not even the site of the temple of Athena Areia has been identified.
N. Bonacasa, ed.
This text is from: The Princeton encyclopedia of classical sites,
Princeton University Press 1976. Cited Nov 2002 from
Perseus Project URL below, which contains bibliography & interesting hyperlinks.
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