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Thespiae

Not to be confused with Thespeia or Thespia (mythology).
Thespiae
Θεσπιαί
Photograph of an ancient Greek silver coin, showing a shield on one side.
Silver Obol from Thespiae, 431-424 BCE. Obverse: Boeotian shield. Reverse: crescent, ΘΕΣ[ΠΙΕΩΝ] (of the Thespians).
Thespiae is located in Greece
Thespiae
Location of Thespiae in Boeotia, Greece
Coordinates38°17′36″N 23°09′04″E / 38.29333°N 23.15111°E / 38.29333; 23.15111
TypeAncient city
History
FoundedBefore c. 750 BCE
PeriodsArchaic, Classical, Hellenistic, Roman
CulturesAncient Greek
Site notes
Excavation dates1882
ArchaeologistsPanagiotis Stamatakis
ConditionRuined

Thespiae (/ˈθɛspi.iː/ THESP-ee-ee; Ancient Greek: Θεσπιαί, romanized: Thespiaí) was an ancient Greek city (polis) in Boeotia. It sits at the foot of Mount Helicon and near right bank of the Thespius River (modern name Kanavari River).[1][2]

Thespiae was a Boeotian state sporadically involved in the military federal league known as the Boeotian League. The Boeotian League began in 520 BCE under the leadership of Thebes.[3]

During the Second Persian invasion of Greece, Thespiae's 700 hoplites remained with the Spartans in the Battle of Thermopylae, fighting the Persians and allowing the Greek forces to retreat. Centuries later Greece honored them with a monument. Thespiae was one of the few Boeotian cities to stay loyal to Greece after the battle.[4] Thespiae rivaled Thebes and survived through the Roman Empire.[4]

Thespiae was involved in mythical Greek tales depicting creatures such as the Lion of Cithaeron and a dragon that ate people whole.[5][6] Mythical figures like Heracles and Narcissus also interacted with the environment of Thespiae. [7][5]

Thespiae's religious practices included worshiping Eros and the Muses.[8][9] Artists such as Praxiteles and Lysippos honored Eros through sculptures.[8] Citizens held festivals and competitions dedicated to the Muses and Eros.[10][11]

  1. ^ "Dictionary of Greek and Roman Geography (1854), THE´SPIAE". www.perseus.tufts.edu. Retrieved 2025-05-29.
  2. ^ Buck, Robert (1978). A History of Boeotia. University of Alberta Press. p. 10.
  3. ^ Buck, R. J. (1972). "The Formation of the Boeotian League". Classical Philology. 67 (2): 97. ISSN 0009-837X.
  4. ^ a b "Thespiae". Encyclopædia Britannica. Aug 1, 2020. Retrieved April 19, 2024.
  5. ^ a b Cite error: The named reference :1 was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  6. ^ Cite error: The named reference :3 was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  7. ^ Cite error: The named reference :13 was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  8. ^ a b Cite error: The named reference :8 was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  9. ^ Cite error: The named reference :72 was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  10. ^ Cite error: The named reference :14 was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  11. ^ Cite error: The named reference Athenaeus 13.12 EN2 was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
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