Eleutherae

Archaeological site
name = Eleutherai
name_local = Ελευθεραι

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caption_skyline = Wall of the ancient fortress of "Eleutherai".
country = Greece
region = Attica
elevation = 468
controlling_city = Athens
peak_period = Classical to Hellenistic
lat_deg = 38
lat_min = 10
lat_sec = 46.42
lat_hem = N
lon_deg = 23
lon_min = 22
lon_sec = 32.84
lon_hem = E

Eleutherae ( _el. Ελευθέραι) is a city in the northern part of Attica, bordering the territory of Boeotia. One of the best preserved fortresses of the Ancient Greece stands now on the spot of Ancient Eleutherae with walls of very fine masonry that average 2.6m thick. A stretch of wall 206m long containing six towers stands along the northern edge of the site. The foundations of two more towers are present. Although not as well preserved, the line of the remainder of the fortification circuit is clear, as is the location of four gates. The fortified area is c. 113 by 290m in extent.

Eleuther in Greek mythology is a son of Apollo and Aethusa, the daughter of Poseidon, was regarded as the founder of Eleutherae in Boeotia. In Greek mythology, god Zeus and Antiope made love, and had twins Amphion and Zethus. Dionysis Festival is believed to have been established throughout Greece when "Eleutherae" chose to become part of Attica and presented a statue of god Dionysus to Athens. It was rejected by the Athenians, and, soon after, Athens was hit with a plague. Out of fear for Dionysus, the Athenians celebrated the "Dionysia" festival by running a procession of people carrying phalloi, and saved the city from further destruction. In the 2nd century CE, the periegetic writer Pausanias wrote:

When you have turned from Eleusis to Boeotia you come to the Plataean land, which borders on Attica. Formerly "Eleutherae" formed the boundary (of Boiotia) on the side towards Attica, but when it came over to the Athenians henceforth the boundary of Boeotia was Cithaeron. The reason why the people of "Eleutherae" came over was not because they were reduced by war, but because they desired to share Athenian citizenship and hated the Thebans. In this plain is a temple of Dionysus, from which the old wooden image was carried off to Athens. The image at "Eleutherae" at the present day is a copy of the old one.
Description of Greece 1.38.8

Famous historical figures originate from here, such as Myron of Eleutherae, who was a famous craftsman known primarily for his Discobolus (discus thrower) and his son, Lycius, a sculptor.

ource

* [http://www.nude-male-art.com/Myron.html Myron of Eleutherae]