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 290 plint's NATUEAL HISTOET. [Book IT. Steria and Brauron^, once towns, fhe borougli of Eham- nus^, the place where Marathon'* stood, the Thriasian^ plain, the town of Melite^, and Oropus-^ upon the confines of Bceotia. CHAP. 12. BCEOTIA. In this coimtry are Anthedon^, Onchestus'^, the free town of Thespise^", Lebadea^ and then Thebes ^^, surnamed Boeotian ^^, which does not yield the palm to Athens even in celebrity ; the native land, according to the common notion, of the two Divinities Liber and Hercules. The birth-place of the Muses too is pointed out in the grove of Helicon. To this same Thebes also belong the forest of Cithseron^'*, on the east coast to the north of Thoricus. Its harbour was probably the modern Dhaskaho ; and the town is placed by Leake at the rums called Paleokastro, to the south of the village of Dardheza. ^ On the east coast, between Prasiee and Brauron. 2 One of the twelve ancient cities of Cecrops, on the eastern coast. Its name is supposed to be preserved in those of the villages Vraona and Paleo Vraona. 3 A Demus belonging to the tribe Mantis. It was famous for its temple of Nemesis, the goddess of retribution. The present Obrio Castro occupies its site. ■* Memorable for the defeat of the Persians by the Athenians, B.C. 490. The site of the ancient town of Marathon is thought not to have been at the modern village of Marathon, but a place called Vrana, to the south of it. ^ The eastern part of the Eleusinian plain was thus called, from the Demus of Thria. Its exact site is uncertain. ^ MeUte was a Denius of the tribe Cecropis, of Athens, west of the Inner Ceramicus. 7 Now Oropo, on the eastern frontiers of Boeotia and Attica, near the Eiu-ipus. It originally belonged to the Boeotians. ^ Its ruins are supposed to be those seen eight miles from Egripo. Lukisi has also been suggested. ^ Its ruins are still to be seen on the S.W. slope of Mount Faga. ^° On the S.E. slope of Mount HeUcon. Its ruins are to be seen at the modern Eremo or Rimokastro, ^1 Now Livadhia. The celebrated cave of Trophonius stood in its vicinity. ^2 Extensive remains of it are stUl to be seen ; but the modem town of Theba or Stiva stands only on the site of its ancient Cadmea or citadel. ^3 To distinguish it from places of the same name in Egypt, Phthiotis, and Lucania, ^* On the range of mountains of that name separating Boeotia from