BCEO'TIA, one of the ancient political divisions of Grcece,was bounded on the n. and n.w. by Locris and Phocis, on the e. by the Eulacan channel, ou the s. by Attica and Megaris, and on the w. by the Corinthian gulf. B. had a surface estimated at 1120 sq. miles. The plains inclosed on the s. by Mts. Cithreron and Parnes, on the w. by Mt. Helicon, on the n. by the slopes of Mt. Parnassus and the Opuntian Mts., fall naturally into three divisions—the basin of the lake 'Copais, now called Topolias, that of the Asopus, and the coast-district on the Crissrean sea. The principal stream was anciently called the Cephissus. It entered the country from Phocis at Chwronea; and in the spring, when it was swollen by innumerable torrents, almost converted the Copaic plain into a lake. There were several natural channels for the outlet of the waters that con gregated in this plain, but they were not sufficient to carry off the whole surplus, and the surrounding country was in consequence frequently deluged. In order to guard against this inundation, two tunnels had been cut in the rock for the discharge of the water. One of these tunnels which carried the water to Upper Larym?a—where it emerged in a natural outlet after a subterraneous course of nearly 4 m., whence it flowed above ground a mile and a half to the sea—was no less than 4 m. in length, with about 20 vertical shafts let down into it, some of which were from 100 to 150 feet deep. The other tunnel, which united the Copais lake with that of Hylica, was much shorter, but still an extensive and striking work. The date of these gigantic engineering undertak ings is not precisely known, but they are generally attributed to the Minyre or °mho menus. B. was in ancient times very productive of marble, potters'earth, and iron, be sides abounding in corn and fruits; and it was also particularly celebrated for flute-reeds.
The earliest inhabitants belonged to different races, the two most powerful of which were the Minyw and Caulmeans or each-peones; but were at an early date (about. 60 years after the Trojan war, according to Thucydidesl in part dislodged by the Bwotians, .iEolian people who were driven from Thessaly, and in part incorporated with them. The Bcootians excelled as cultivators of the soil, and were gallant soldiers both on foot and horseback; but they were rude, unsociable, and took little part in the gradual refinement of man ners and intellectual development of the rest of Greece, so that the name became pro verbial for illiteral dullness. This was usually ascribed to their thick damp atmosphere. Yet there have not been wanting amongst them eminent generals, as Epaminondas; and poets and historians, as Ilesiod, Pindar, Corinna, Plutarch, etc. The greater cities, of which the number was about fourteen, Thebes, Haliartus, Thespix, etc.,with their terri tories, formed the Beeotiau League. At the head of this was an archon, and next to him a council which was composed of four persons, and had its head-quarters in Thebes. The executive authority- was intrusted to Bwotarchs, who were elected in popular assem blies of the separate states, and could only hold office for one year. Of this league, a shadow still remained down to the times of the empire; but after the battle of Chreronea, in which Philip established the Macedonian throne on the ruins of Grecian liberty, the political importance of the country declined so rapidly, that about 30 n.c. only two cities, Tanagra and Thespire, were of any consideration.—Along with Attica, B. now forms one of the "nomarchies" of the kingdom of Greece.