Chaeronea Χαιρώνεια | |
|---|---|
 Location within the regional unit | |
  Chaeronea | |
| Coordinates:38°29′42″N22°50′51″E / 38.49500°N 22.84750°E /38.49500; 22.84750 | |
| Country | Greece |
| Administrative region | Central Greece |
| Regional unit | Boeotia |
| Municipality | Livadeia |
| Area | |
| • Municipal unit | 111.445 km2 (43.029 sq mi) |
| • Community | 26.995 km2 (10.423 sq mi) |
| Elevation | 130 m (430 ft) |
| Population (2021)[1] | |
| • Municipal unit | 993 |
| • Municipal unit density | 8.91/km2 (23.1/sq mi) |
| • Community | 421 |
| • Community density | 15.6/km2 (40.4/sq mi) |
| Time zone | UTC+2 (EET) |
| • Summer (DST) | UTC+3 (EEST) |
| Vehicle registration | ΒΙ |
Chaeronea (English:/ˌkɛrəˈniːə/[2][3]Greek:ΧαιρώνειαChaironeia,Ancient Greek:[kʰai̯rɔ̌ːneːa]) is a village and a former municipality inBoeotia,Greece, located about 35 kilometers east ofDelphi. The settlement was formerly known asKópraina (Κόπραινα), and renamed toChairóneia (Χαιρώνεια) in 1916.[4] Since the 2011 local government reform it is part of the municipalityLivadeia, of which it is a municipal unit.[5] The municipal unit has an area of 111.445 km2, the community is 26.995 km2.[6] Population 993 (2021). It is located nearMount Thourion in theCephissus river valley, NW ofThebes.
First settled in the Prehistoric period at the site now known as Magoula Balomenou (Μαγούλα Μπαλωμένου), its older name was Arne, and it was originally on the shore ofLake Copais (later drained). Chaeronea was subject toOrchomenus which was, beginning in 600 BC, a member of theBoeotian League. In the late 5th century BC, Chaironeia belonged to one of the 11 Boeotian districts along withAcraephnium andCopia.
Chaeronea's importance lay in its strategic position near the head of thedefile which presents the last serious obstacle to an invader in central Greece,[7] and it was the site ofseveral historical battles. The best known isthat of 338 BC, betweenPhilip II of Macedon and a coalition of various Greek states, mainly Thebes and Athens. According toPlutarch, during the battle the elite unit of Theban soldiers known as theSacred Band of Thebes was wiped out completely. In 1818, the so-calledLion of Chaeronea, a nearly 6 m (20 ft) tall funerary monument erected in honor of the Sacred Band, was rediscovered by English travellers. The fragmentary monument was reassembled and installed in 1902 by an organisation called theOrder of Chaeronea atop a pedestal at the site of its discovery.[8] The site of the Theban mass grave was excavated in 1879–80 byPanagiotis Stamatakis, and the prehistoric site of Magoula Balamenou 23 years later by the archaeologist George Soteriadis.[citation needed]
The ancient biographer and essayistPlutarch was born in Chaeronea, and several times refers to these and other facts about his native place in his writings.[9] Plutarch refers to many graves ofAmazons near the stream of Haemon, and assumes that these were casualties during the Amazon journey back home after the conclusion of theAttic War. In hisParallel Lives, he mentions the Greek prophetPeripoltas.[10]
Chaeronea remained inhabited throughout Antiquity, and despite being devastated during the551 Malian Gulf earthquake, probably remained in existence during the following centuries as well, as it is consistently attested among the cities of theTheme of Hellas.[11] Remains of a three-aisled early Christian basilica, dedicated toSaint Paraskevi, survive.[11]
After theFourth Crusade and the foundation of the CrusaderDuchy of Athens, a castle was built in the town, on the site of the ancient acropolis. This was part of an extensive defensive network along the Cephissus valley built by theFrankish Crusaders, and residence of its lord.[11] In Frankish times, the town became known asKapraina (Greek:Κάπραινα,Spanish:la Cabrena), a name first attested in 1381 and used until early modern times.[11] The town came underOttoman rule probably in 1460.[11] Chaeronia returned to Greek rule after theWar of Independence in 1829.
The settlement is served byChaeronea railway station, with local stopping services toAthens andLeianokladi.
One or more of the preceding sentences incorporates text from a publication now in thepublic domain: Chisholm, Hugh, ed. (1911). "Chaeroneia".Encyclopædia Britannica. Vol. 5 (11th ed.). Cambridge University Press. pp. 788–789.