Plataia

Plataia, also spelled Plataea, is the name of an ancient city-state (polis) in Boeotia, central Greece. It is best known for the Battle of Plataea in 479 BCE, in which a Greek coalition led by Sparta and Athens defeated the Persian army, effectively ending the second Persian invasion of Greece. The battle took place on the plain near Plataia and its outcome contributed to the emergence of Greek military and political influence in the region during the classical period.

Geography and political status: Plataia was situated on the Boeotian plain in central Greece, near the border with Attica, which placed it at a strategic crossroads between Boeotia and the Athens region. As a polis, it maintained its own urban community and local governance while participating in broader alliances during the Persian Wars. Following the war, Plataia remained an active member of regional networks for several decades, but its influence declined in the 4th century BCE amid shifting power dynamics in central Greece, including periods of stronger influence by Thebes and, later, Macedon.

Archaeology and remains: The site of Plataia is identified with archaeological remains on the Boeotian plain. Excavations and surveys have uncovered fortifications, public buildings, and inscriptions that confirm its status as a classical polis and illuminate aspects of civic and military life in the city.

Modern: In modern scholarship Plataia is recognized for its role in the Persian Wars and as a key example of a Boeotian polis. The ancient site is part of the broader Boeotian archaeological landscape in central Greece, and the name Plataia continues to appear in historical and geographic references.