THEBES, or THIVA, the capital of Bceotia in ancient Greece; founded, ac cording to tradition, by a colony of Phoe nicians, under Cadmus, 1550 B. C., or 1400 B. C. They were driven out by the Bceo tians, 1124 B. C. Platma, one of the Boeo tian cities, revolted from Thebes 510 B. C., and applied for help to Athens. A war ensued between Thebes and Athens, in which the latter was victorious. This caused much animosity between Thebes and Athens, and in the Persian War, 480 B. C., the Thebans deserted the cause of Greece and fought against the Athenians at Platma, 479 B. c. The Athenians in vaded Bceotia, and established a demo cratic government in Thebes, 456 B. C. The Thebans were allies of the Spartans in the Peloponnesian War, 431 B. c.-404 B. C. Sparta having claimed supremacy over the whole of Greece, the Thebans joined the Athenians, 395 B. C. The peace
of Antalcidas put an end to the war, 387 B. C., and deprived Thebes of her suprem acy over Bceotia. The Spartans, who treacherously seized the citadel of Thebes 282 B. C., were defeated at Leuctra, in July, 371 D. C.: and the Thebans regained their power in Greece. Thebes was razed to the ground by Alexander III., 335 B. C., after which it never again formed an in dependent state. Cassander restored the city 315 B. c., and it was taken by Deme trius 293 B. c., and again 290 B. C. The Thebans were defeated in an attempt to expel the Bulgarians from Greece in 1040, and their city was plundered by the Normans of Sicily in 1146. It was one of the most flourishing cities of Greece during the 10th and 11th centuries. It was almost wholly destroyed by an earth quake in 1893.