bgr_1034754 - BEOTIA - THESPIAI Obole

BEOTIA - THESPIAE

(4th century BC)

Thespies located at the foot of Mount Helikon served as a refuge for the Muses. Placed to the west of the city of Thebes, the city dedicated a cult to Apollo while the cult of Aphrodite Melainis was respected. The goddess was identified by the crescent. Thespies was long allied with Thebes. During the Persian Wars, the city was destroyed by Xerxes for having sent a contingent to Thrmopyles. Thespiae took part in the battle of Plataea in 479 BC. After the defeat of Delion in 424 BC, during the Peloponnesian War, Thebes accused him of collusion with Athens. Thespies allied with Sparta. Defeated at Leuctra, Thespies was razed shortly after and its inhabitants forced into exile..