THEBES (0k. eij(Sat. Thebai). The principal city of Bieotia, in ancient Greece, situated in the southeastern part of the country, on the northern slope of a ridge which separates the valley of the Asopus from the plain to the north. The Acropolis or Cadmea, now occupied by the little town of Thiva or Phiva, lay on the high ground between the lsmenus and Dirce. At its greatest extent the ancient city seems to have extended beyond both streams. According to legend, Cadmus (q.v.) was the founder of the city—hence Cadmea as the name of the Acropo lis. The city played a prominent part in the stories of the heroic age, the series of epics (see THEBAN CYCLE) vying in interest with those which gathered about Troy. For these stories, see Oaneus: ANTIGONE ; ETEOCLES AND POLY NICES ; CREON ; AMPHION ; DIRGE. After the Boeotian invasion Thebes seems: gradually to have secured the leading place in the Meotian league, reducing finally the rival city of Orcho menus. Tradition told of the code of laws drawn up for the city in the eighth century B.C. by the Corinthian Philolaus. It is not till near the end of 'the sixth century B.C. that we reach a purely historical period—the earliest well-attested event being the dispute between Thebes and Platlea, which resulted in the latter placing itself under Athenian protection, and the former becoming involved in an unsuccessful war. During the Persian invasion under Xerxes Thebes sided with the invaders, and fought against, the confederated Greeks at Platfea B.c. 479. This conduct greatly weakened for a time the prestige of Thebes, and almost cost her the headship of the Boeotian league. After the battle of Coronea (B.C. 447), however, the tendency to revolt was checked, and from this time Thebes was almost continuously the recognized leader in Bwotia. When the Pelopon nesian war broke out, Thebes took part with Sparta, and at its close was eager for the de struction of Athens. But the policy of victorious Sparta soon aroused distrust, and Thebes gave a friendly welcome and shelter to those Athenians whom the oppression of the Thirty Tyrants (q.v.) compelled to abandon their city. It was from Thebes that Thrasybulus and his band started on their famous expedition for the de liverance of Athens, accompanied by a body of Theban citizens. During the following years the Thehans completely changed their policy toward Sparta. and in the Corinthian War were among the bitterest enemies of their old ally. The Peace of Antalcidas (n.c. 387), as interpreted by Sparta, broke up the Boeotian league, and led to new disputes, culminating in the treacherous seizure of the Cadmea by the Spartans (WC.
382). The expulsion of this garrison by Pelopi das and his associates (n.c. 379) led to renewed hostilities, which culminated in the battle of Leuctra (B.c. 371), where Epaminondas (q.v.) crushed the power of Sparta outside the Pelo ponnesus. Before his death at Mantinea in B.C. 362, Epaminondas had secured for Thebes the su premacy in Greece, though Athens was estranged and even openly hostile. Thebes did not long hold the position thus gained. The quarrel with Athens prevented any union against the growing power of Macedon, until the seizure of Elatea (B.C. 338) furnished an opportunity for Demosthenes to secure by his eloquence a union for which he had long striven. The effort came too late, and in the same year the battle of Clueronea crushed the liberties of Greece.
After Philip's death the Thebans made a fierce but unsuccessful effort to regain their freedom. Their city was taken by Alexander, who leveled it to the ground, sparing, it is said, only the house of the poet Pindar, and sold the entire sur viving population into slavery (mu. 335). For twenty years it remained in utter desolation, but in B.C. 315 it was rebuilt by Cassander, who gathered into it all the Thebans he could find in Greece. It now had a circuit of about five miles, and seems to have prospered. It suffered at the hands of Mummins (n.c. 146) and was severely punished by Sulla for siding with Mithridates. After this it steadily declined, and Pausanias found only the Cadmea inhabited, and the lower city in ruins. It revived under the later Roman Empire. as it was a safer residence than the ex posed coast cities. During the eleventh and twelfth centnries it was the seat of a consider able population engaged in the manufacture of silk, and yielded a rich booty to Norman plunderers in A.D. 1146. Under the Turks it again declined, and even now is only a country town with a population of about 3500. The course of the town walls can be traced in some places, and deep digging has brought to light some remains, but in general there are but few vestiges of the ancient city left. Consult Fabri cius, Thebes (Freiburg, 1890).
THtDENAT, HENRI (1844—). A French archeologist, born in Paris. He studied in the Ecole Pratique des Hautes-Etudes at the Sorbonne, devoting himself especial ly to epigraphy. His publications, in collaboration with heron he Villefosse. include Les cachets d'oculistes ro mains (1S82) and Inscriptions romaines de Fre jus (1885). He also wrote Le Forum romain et les Forums imp6rieux (1898). and Unc car ric're unircrsitaire, Jean-Faix Nourrisson (1901).