Page:The New International Encyclopædia 1st ed. v. 19.djvu/234

* THEBES. 190 THEINEB. the southeastern part of the country, on the northern slope of a ridge which separates the valley of the Asopus from the plain to the north. The Acropolis or Cadmea, now occupied by the little town of Thiva or Phiva, lay on the high ground between the Ismenus and Dirce. At its greatest extent the ancient city seems to have extended beyond both streams. According to legend, Cadmus (q.v.) was the founder of the city — hence Cadmea as the name of the Acropo- lis. The city played a prominent part in the stories of the heroic age, the series of epics (see Theban Cycle) vying in interest with those which gathered about Troj'. For these stories, see OSdipus; Antioone; Eteocles and Poly- NICES; Creon ; Ampiiiox; Dirce. After the Boeotian invasion Thebes seems gradually to have secured the leading place in the Boeotian league, reducing finally the rival city of Orcho- menus. Tradition told of the code of laws drawn up for the city in the eighth century B.C. by the Corinthian Philolaus. It is not till near the end of 'the sixth century B.C. that we reach a purely historical period — the earliest well-attested event being the dispute between Thebes and Plataea, which resulted in the latter placing itself under Athenian protection, and the former becoming involved in an unsuccessful war. During the Persian invasion under Xer.xes Thebes sided with the invaders, and fought against the confederated Greeks at PlatiPa B.C. 479. This conduct greatly weakened for a time the prestige of Thebes, and almost cost her the headship of the Boeotian league. After the battle of Coronea (B.C. 447), however, the tendency to revolt was cheeked, and from this time Thebes was almost continuously the recognized leader in Bceotia. When the Pelopon- nesian war broke out. Thebes took part with Sparta, and at' its close was eager for the de- struction of Athens. But the policy of victorious Sparta soon aroused distrust, and Thebes gave a friendly welcome and shelter to those Athenians whom the oppression of the Thirty Tyrants (q.v.) compelled to abandon their city. It was from Thebes that Thrasybulus and his band started on their famous expedition for the de- liverance of Athens, accompanied by a body of Theban citizens. During the following years the Thebans completely changed their policy toward Sparta, and in the Corinthian War were among the bitterest enemies of their old ally. The Peace of Antalcidas (B.C. 387), as interpret.ed by Sparta, broke up the Boeotian league, and led to new disputes, culminating in the treacherous seizure of the Cadmea by the vSpartans (B.C. 382). The expulsion of this garrison by Pelopi- das and his associates (B.C. 379) led to renewed hostilities, which culminated in the battle of Leuctra (B.C. 371), where Epaminondas (q.v.) crushed the power of Sparta outside the Pelo- ponnesus. Before his death at Mantinea in B.C. 362, Epaminondas had secured for Theljes the su- premacy in Greece, though Athens was estranged and even openly hostile. Thebes did not long hold the position thus gained. The quarrel with Athens prevented any union against the growing power of Macedon, until the seizure of Elatea (B.C. 338) furnished an opportunity for Demosthenes to secure by his eloquence a union for which he had long striven. The effort came too late, and in the same year the battle of Cha-ronca crushed the liberties of Greece. After Philip's death the Thebans made a fierce but unsuccessful effort to regain their freedom. Their city was taken by Alexander, who leveled it to the ground, sparing, it is said, only the house of the poet Pindar, and sold the entire sur- viving population into slavery (B.C. 335). For twenty years it remained in utter desolation, but in B.C. 315 it was rebuilt by Cassander, who gathered into it all the Thebans he could find in Greece. It now had a circuit of about five miles, and seems to have prospered. It suffered at the hands of Mummius (B.C. 140) and was severely punished by Sulla for siding w'ith ilithridates. After this it steadily declined, and Pausanias found only the Cadmea inhabited, and the lower city in ruins. It revived under the later Roman Empire, as it was a safer residence than the ex- posed coast cities. During the eleventh and twelfth centnries it was the seat of a consider- able population engaged in the manufacture of silk, and yielded a rich booty to Xorman plunderers in A.D. 1146. Under the Turks it again declined, and even now is only a country town with a population of about 3500. The course of the town walls can be traced in some places, and deep digging has brought to light some remains, but in general there are but few vestiges of the ancient city left. Consult Fabri- cius, Theben (Freiburg, 1890). THE'DENAT, ta'dc-na', Henri (1844—). A French archu-ologist. born in Paris. He studied in the Ecole Pratique des Hautes-Etudes at the Sorbonne, devoting himself especially to epigraphy. His publications, in collaboration with Heron de Villefosse, include Les cachets d'ocuUstes ro- mains (1882) and Inscriptions romaines de Frc- jus (1885). He also wrote Le Forum romain et les Forums impcrieux (1898), and Une car- riere universntaire, Jean-Felix Nourrisson (1901). THEFT. See Larceny. THEINE. See Caffeine. THEINER, ti'ner. ArcrsTiN (1804-74). A German Roman Catholic historian and canonist. He was born at Breslau and educated there and at Halle, where he took his degree as doctor of law in 1829. His intercourse in Paris with Lamen- nais (q.v.) seems to have disturbed his religious views, but he was reconciled with the Church at Eome in 1833, and became a teacher in the Col- lege of the Propaganda. After his ordination to the priesthood, he entered the Congregation of the Oratory, and published several historical and critical works. In 1850 he was placed in charge of the Vatican archives. In 1870 he was removed from the position of archivist, apparent- ly in consequence of ■ the charge that he had supplied documents with which to combat the theory of the infallibility of the Pope. His most important work was the new edition of the Annals of Baronius and his continuators. with three supplementary volumes. Important also are the collections of documents on the ecclesias- tical history of various countries and of the Council of Trent. In his Geschichte des Pontifi- cates Clemens XIT. (1853). he attacked the Jesuits and roused fresh suspicions of his loyalty to the Church, which were confirmed bv his Bistoire des deux concordats de la r&puhlique