View source for Eleutherae

{{short description|City in the northern part of Attica}}
{{distinguish|EleutherAI}}
{{about|the city in Attica|the town of ancient Lycia|Eleutherae (Lycia)|the island in the Bahamas|Eleuthera}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=April 2020}}
{{Infobox ancient site
  |name = Eleutherae
  |native_name = Ἐλευθεραί
  |alternate_name = 
  |image = Eleutheres1.jpg
  |alt = 
  |caption = Wall of the ancient fortress of Eleutherae, seen from inside of the castle
  |map_type = Greece
  |map_alt = 
  |map_size =
  |coordinates = {{coord|38|10|46|N|23|22|33|E|display=inline,title}}
  |location = [[Oinoi]], [[Attica (region)|Attica]], Greece
  |region = [[Attica]]
  |type = Settlement
  |part_of = 
  |length = {{convert|113|m|abbr=on}} 
  |width = {{convert|290|m|abbr=on}}
  |area = {{convert|3.3|ha|abbr=on}}
  |height = 
  |builder = 
  |material = 
  |built = 
  |abandoned = 
  |epochs = [[Classical Greece|Classical Greek]] to [[Hellenistic period|Hellenistic]]
  |cultures = 
  |dependency_of = [[Athens]]
  |occupants = [[Myron of Eleutherae|Myron]]
  |event = 
  |excavations = 
  |archaeologists = 
  |condition = Ruined
  |ownership = Public
  |management = 3rd Ephorate of Prehistoric and Classical Antiquities
  |public_access = Yes
  |website = [http://odysseus.culture.gr/h/3/eh351.jsp?obj_id=12845 Hellenic Ministry of Culture and Tourism]
  |notes = 
}}
'''Eleutherae''' ({{IPAc-en|I|'|l|j|u|T|@|r|i}}; {{langx|grc|Ἐλευθεραί}}) is a city in the northern part of [[Attica]], bordering the territory of [[Boeotia]].  One of the best preserved fortresses of [[Ancient Greece]] stands now on the spot of an Ancient Eleutherae castle, dated between 370 and 360 BC, with walls of very fine masonry that average 2.6m thick.  A circuit of wall 860 m contained towers, 6 of them still standing along the northern edge of the site, preserved to the height of 4 to 6 m.  The foundations of 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 the one large, double gate (western) and one small (south-eastern) gate. There are two small sally-ports located on the north side.  The fortified area is irregular and c. 113 by 290m in extent.

==History==
{{distinguish|EleutherAI#History}}

[[Eleuther]], in mythology, son of [[Apollo]] and [[Aethusa]], was regarded as the founder of Eleutherae. The feast of the [[Dionysia]] is believed to have been established throughout [[Greece]] when ''Eleutherae'' chose to become part of Attica and presented a statue of the god [[Dionysus]] to Athens. It was rejected by the Athenians, and, soon after, Athens was hit with a plague.{{cn|date=October 2023}} Out of fear for Dionysus, the Athenians celebrated the ''Dionysia'' by running a procession of people carrying [[phalloi]], and saved the city from further destruction.  In the 2nd century CE, the periegetic writer [[Pausanias (geographer)|Pausanias]] wrote:
<blockquote>When you have turned from [[Eleusis]] to Boeotia, you come to the Plataean land, which borders on Attica.  Formerly ''Eleutherae'' formed the boundary (of Boeotia) on the side towards Attica, but when it came over to the Athenians henceforth the boundary of Boeotia was Mount [[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)</blockquote>
Indeed, Eleutherae, like neighboring [[Plataea]], was an independent ''[[polis]]'' on the border between Attica and Boeotia. Frustrated by the perennial belligerence and bullying of the Thebans, the Eleuthereans turned to Athens and volunteered to give up their independence in exchange for incorporation into the Athenian ''polis''.  Given the geopolitical significance of the town, the Athenians eventually acquiesced and the cult of ''Diónysos Eleuthereús'' ("Dionysus the Liberator") was symbolically transferred to Athens.  The feast of the ''[[Dionysia|Dionýsia]]'', originally an Eleutherean festival in celebration of the new wine, was the event that led to the creation of what was then a completely new literary and artistic genre: the theatre; consequently, at the [[Theatre of Dionysus]], the priest of Dionysus Eleuthereus was the principal honoree and his ornate marble throne was center-placed in the front row of the spectator seats.

Famous historical figures originate from here, such as [[Myron]], a famous sculptor known primarily for his ''[[Discobolus]]'' ([[discus thrower]]). His son, [[Lycius (sculptor)|Lycius]], was also a renowned sculptor.

==External links==
{{commons category|Eleutherai}}
*[http://odysseus.culture.gr/h/3/eh351.jsp?obj_id=12845 Official website]
*[https://web.archive.org/web/20110714210836/http://www.nude-male-art.com/Myron.html Myron of Eleutherae]

{{Landmarks of Attica}}{{Castles in Greece}}

[[Category:Greek mythology]]
[[Category:Cities in ancient Attica]]
[[Category:Populated places in ancient Attica]]
[[Category:Former populated places in Greece]]
[[Category:Geography of ancient Attica]]
[[Category:Ancient Greek fortifications in Greece]]
[[Category:Places in Greek mythology]]
[[Category:Ancient Greek archaeological sites in Attica]]