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<p>[QUOTE=&quot;Smojo, post: 2810225, member: 78058&quot;]Thebes, strategially located on a low plateau surrounding the plains of Boeotia, in central Greece.</p><p>[ATTACH=full]657310[/ATTACH]</p><p>Thebes was important to the Mycenaean centre during the bronze age.First inhabited around 3000BCE.</p><p>Was also a powerful military presence during the classical period. A constant rival with Athens and Sparta for regional dominance.</p><p>[ATTACH=full]657308[/ATTACH]</p><p>According to legend Thebes is the birth place of Pan-Hellenic, hero Hercules. And known for some players like Cadmus, Oedipus, and Dionysos.</p><p>I absolutely love military/war history, ancient history was full of it. For that reason and because my coin is military I&#039;m just gonna go with brief Theban battle history.</p><p>In 480 BCE, Thebes sided with Persia when Xerxes invaded Greece. During the second Persian war Thebes surrendered to Peria, then sided with them against Athens. Athens ended victorious.</p><p>During the Peloponnesian War 431-404 BCE, sided with Sparta against Athens. They defeated Athens but Sparta didn&#039;t give Thebes the recognition they felt they deserved. So in 375 BCE Thebes defeated Sparta in the Battle of Tegyra.</p><p>There were two great Generals that were responsible for Thebes military greatness and regional dominance. They were Pelopidas and Epamindonas.</p><p>The Theban army used a rather profound and unusual tactic that brought them &quot;fame&quot;. Founded by the Gorgidas was the &quot;Sacred Bond&quot; made up of 300 infantrymen linked in hemoerotic pairs (say what).</p><p>The idea was that soldiers would fight better if their lovers were at their sides. This method was used for the first time as an independent unit by Pelopidas in 375 BC. At the Battle of Leuktra, the Spartans were defeated. The victory monument built by the Thebans is still visible today. (Wish I could find a photo, sorry)</p><p>364 BC Pelopidos, while victorious was killed during the Battle of Kynoskepephalai. A battle which forced Macedonia to join the Theban led Boeotian League.</p><p>In 362 BC Epamindonas was killed during a Spartan-Athenian led alliance at the Battle of Mantinea.</p><p>With the death of Thebes two great Generals came the Theban down fall.</p><p>The then young future King of Macedonia, Philip who was taken hostage by Pelopidas (before his death). Philip was taken to Thebes were he studied military tactics, only later to defeat Thebes.</p><p>Philip defeated the up til then undefeated Sacred Band in 338 BC.</p><p>Also that same year Thebes joined rivals Corinth and Athens to face the invading Philip, now the Macedonian King at the Battle of Chaironeia.</p><p>Obviously Philips invading force was victorious. Philip installs a Macedonian garrison at Thebes.</p><p>Alexander The Great (cool) destroys Thebes in 335 BC. A show of force to other city-states of Greece who may have revolted against him. Alexander then sold all the Thebans into slavery.</p><p>This is just a quick run down of Theban military history. It&#039;s really an interesting subject and worth looking into.</p><p>[ATTACH=full]657309[/ATTACH]</p><p>Now for one of my newer purchases from the recent Aegean auction. Not a beauty but a type I&#039;ve wanted for sometime and its a Lindgren plate coin. I couldn&#039;t pass at the price either.</p><p>[ATTACH=full]657307[/ATTACH]</p><p>Boeotia, Thebes 379-338 BC, AE10</p><p><br /></p><p>Boeotia, Thebes 379-338 BC, AE10, 1.24g: Obv: Boeotian shield Rev: Trident. Lindgren 1517 (This coin). Lindgren plate coin</p><p><br /></p><p>Please share anything you feel is relative <img src="styles/default/xenforo/clear.png" class="mceSmilieSprite mceSmilie1" alt=":)" unselectable="on" unselectable="on" />[/QUOTE]</p><p><br /></p>

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