Thebes

Thebes (pronounced /ˈθiːbz/, us dict: thēbz′; Greek: Θῆβαι, Thēbai, IPA: [tʰɛ̂ːbaɪ]; Modern Greek: Θήβα, Thiva, [ˈθiva]) is a city in Greece, situated to the north of the Cithaeron range, which divides Boeotia from Attica, and on the southern edge of the Boeotian plain. It played an important role in Greek myth, as the site of the stories of Cadmus, Oedipus, Dionysus and others. Archaeological excavations in and around Thebes have revealed a Myce... more

Thebes (pronounced /ˈθiːbz/, us dict: thēbz′; Greek: Θῆβαι, Thēbai, IPA: [tʰɛ̂ːbaɪ]; Modern Greek: Θήβα, Thiva, [ˈθiva]) is a city in Greece, situated to the north of the Cithaeron range, which divides Boeotia from Attica, and on the southern edge of the Boeotian plain. It played an important role in Greek myth, as the site of the stories of Cadmus, Oedipus, Dionysus and others. Archaeological excavations in and around Thebes have revealed a Mycenaean settlement and clay tablets written in the Linear B script, indicating the importance of the site in the Bronze Age. In ancient times, Thebes was the largest city of the region of Boeotia and was the leader of the Boeotian confederacy. It was a major rival of ancient Athens, and sided with the Persians during the 480 BC invasion of Xerxes. Theban forces ended the power of Sparta at the Battle of Leuctra in 371 BC under the command of Epaminondas. The Sacred Band of Thebes (an elite military unit) famously fell at the battle of Chaeronea... less