bgr_452158 - BEOTIA - ORCHOMENUS Hemiobole

BEOTIA - ORCHOMENUS

(6th - 5th century BC)

Orchomenus is located in northwestern Boeotia. It owes its name to the eponymous founder of the city who was the son of Zeus. Country of the Minyai, son of Orchomenus, the city was a tributary of Thebes for a long time until the moment when Herakles conquered the city. She fought with the Theban metropolis for the domination of the region. After the Persian Wars, Orchomenus was part of the first Boeotian league. During the Peloponnesian War, the city was a place of resistance to Athens. It retained its importance until the Battle of Chaeronea in 447 BC. After the Battle of Delion in 424 BC, it lost part of its territory. During the Corinthian War, she was an ally of Sparta. After the Battle of Leuctra, it fell under the control of its old rival, Thebes and was destroyed by the latter in 364 BC. Lord of the Third Sacred War, the city was submitted to Delphi, Philip II gave it back to Boeotia after the battle of Chaeronea in 338 BC. The city then declined and lost all importance under Roman domination.