Thebes

Thebes is the name of several ancient cities. The most prominent are Thebes in Boeotia, Greece, and Thebes in ancient Egypt, known as Waset. The modern Egyptian city of Luxor occupies much of the site of ancient Thebes; the Greek Thebes lies near the modern town of Thiva, about 80 kilometers northwest of Athens.

Thebes, Boeotia: Situated on the Ismenus River, Thebes rose to prominence in the classical period as the leading city of the Boeotian League. Mythic tradition traces its founding to Cadmus; the city became a center of cults, notably of Dionysus, and a setting for the Theban Cycle of myths (including Oedipus and Antigone). Politically, Thebes challenged Athens and later Sparta during the classical era. The rise of Theban hegemony culminated with Pelopidas and Epaminondas, who defeated Sparta at Leuctra in 371 BCE, ending Spartan dominance. The Thebans established leadership of Boeotia but declined after 362 BCE and were overwhelmed by Macedonian power at Chaeronea in 338 BCE. The Cadmea, the citadel, remained a symbol of its ancient power.

Thebes, Egypt: Thebes, called Waset in ancient Egyptian, was a major religious capital of Upper Egypt during the Middle and New Kingdoms. It housed the temples of Karnak and Luxor and the Theban Necropolis, including the tombs of pharaohs in the Valley of the Kings. The city remained influential through later periods, but declined under foreign rule and was ultimately absorbed into the Hellenistic and Roman worlds. Today its monuments are among the most visited archaeological sites in Egypt and a UNESCO World Heritage site.