Bosotia

Bosotia, a country of ancient Greece, having the Gulf of Corinth, Megaris, and Attica to the S., Attica and the Euripus to the E., the Locri Opuntii to the N., and Phocis to the W., with an area of about 1,119 sq. m. Pent in to the landward by mountains, Boeotia is roughly divided into the valley of Lake Copais, and the valley of the river Asopus, with the Theban plain between them, and the coast district stretching from Mount Helicon to the Corinthian Gulf. The former valley had no outlet for the waters of the Cephisus except natural underground passages (Katavothra), until some primitive race, probably Minyans, made huge drains into the Euboean Sea. Then the district became noted for its fertility, as were also the Theban plain and the basin of the Asopus, but neglect has now reduced much of the lowlands to marshy water. The heavy moist air was supposed by the ancients to blunt the intellects of the inhabitants, and the name Boeotian was synonymous with blockhead. Still Pindar, Hesiod, and Plutarch were Boeotians. In prehistoric times the country is said to have been possessed by various tribes, but soon after the Trojan war an AEolian immigration swept these away, and established a sort of federal union with Thebes as its centre and a common temple at Coronea, the administration being conducted by elected Boeotarchs. This confederacy existed nominally until the Roman emperors. Thebes, Plataea, Thespiae, Orchomenus, and many other cities flourished in early times, but all had dwindled into insignificance when Rome became supreme. Under the Turks Livadia was erected into the capital. Boeotia now forms one Nomos with Attica, and is largely peopled by Albanians.