Thebes
Thebes names 3 different subjects across the 6 encyclopedias on this shelf. Each is set out below. 2 of them are described by more than one encyclopedia.
Thebes the name of a celebrated Egyptian city
Described by 2 of the 6 encyclopedias.
Collier's New Encyclopedia (1921)
the name of a celebrated Egyptian city, formerly the capital of southern or upper Egypt; called by the Egyptians Tuabu, by the Hebrews No- Amon, by the Greeks Thebæ, and at a later pe period Diospolis Magna. It lies in the broadest section of the valley of the Nile, in about latitude 26° N., at a spot where the desert on the W. sheers away to the girdling range of the Libyan mountains, leaving a broad plain, partly cultivated, on which stand the famous twin statues, one of which is known as the "vocal Memnon," and behind them the temples grouped about the modern district of Kurna and Medînet-Habû. The Nile divides this W. part or Necropolis of Thebes, anciently called "Libyan suburb," from the extensive ruins now known by the names of the villages Luxor (el-Uksur, "the palaces") and Karnak which stand on the E. bank, with the low range of the Arabian hills for a background. The traditional foundation of Thebes goes back to the 1st dynasty, but no buildings have hitherto been found earlier than some slight constructions of the 11th dynasty, 2500 b. c., who appear to have founded the original temple of Amen-Ra, the special god of the city. Its most flourishing period was under the 18th, 19th and 20th dynasties, or from about 1600 to 1100, when it had supplanted Memphis, the ancient capital of the Pharaohs. The central situation of Thebes secured it from the attacks of the N. enemies of Egypt, and contributed to its prosperity; and here the worship of Amen-Ra arose in all its splendor; magnificen cent palaces and temples were built in its different said quarters by the great monarchs of the Theban dynasties, and were added to by later kings, down to the time of the Ptolemies and Antonines, to the 2d century A. D. In the plenitude of its power it sent forth an army of 20,000 war chariots; but about 1100 b. c. the Bubastite and Tanite dynasties removed the capital again to the N., to Sais and Memphis, and thenceforth Thebes declined in importance. At the Persian conquest in the 6th century B. C. Cambyses obtained a spoil of nearly $10,000,000 from the city, and destroyed many of its noblest monuments. The foundation of Alexandria still further injured it; and at the time of Strabo Thebes was only a cluster of small villages. Its temples, tombs, and ruins were frequently visited by Greek and Roman travelers, including the Emperor Hadrian. At a later period a considerable Christian population lived there under the empire; but at the Arab invasion the inhabitants fled to Esné. Thebes is now inhabited only by Fellahîn, by a few officials, and by the migratory visitors to the three hotels at Luxor. Of the monuments on the W. or Libyan side the principal are the three temples of Seti I. and Rameses II. and III., known respectively as El-Kurna, the Rameseum (or Memnonium), and Medînet-Habû. Close to the Rameseum is the fallen and broken colossus of the founder, the largest statue in Egypt, originally nearly 60 feet high. Nearby are also some remains of two temples of Amenoph III. and two colossal statues. Some way behind the Rameseum, on a spur of the hills, iş a terraced temple of Queen Hatasu (18th dynasty), known as Deyrel-Bahri, near which a remarkable series of 39 royal and priestly mummies, papyri, etc., were found by Emil Brugsch in 1881. At Medînet-Habû is a pile of buildings, of which the chief is the great temple of Rameses III. (the Rhampsinitus of Herodotus), with sculptures representing his victories over the Philistines, and a calendar with inscriptions dated in the 12th year of his reign. Near here, to the N. W., are the cemeteries of the sacred apes, and further on the valley of the Tombs of the Queens, consisting of 17 sepulchres, supposed to be the tombs of the Pallacides of Amen, men- V THEBES or THIVA tioned by Diodorus and Strabo. Near them, among the hills, are the Bibân-el- Mulûk, or Tombs of the Kings of the 19th and 20th dynasties, 16 in number. On the E. bank the chief monuments are at Luxor, the beautiful temple of Amenoph III. (18th dynasty), added to by Rameses II., with its well-known obelisk, the fellow of which was removed to the Place de la Concorde at Paris; and the still more magnificent temple, or rather group of temples, at Karnak, the sanctuary of which, built by Osirtasen I. of the 12th dynasty, was added to by the monarchs of the 18th. The most remarkable part of this wonderful mass of pylons, courts, and obelisks is the great hall, 170 feet by 329 feet, built by Seti I. and Rameses II., with its central avenue of 12 massive columns, 62 feet high and 12 feet in diameter, and its 122 other columns, and two obelisks (originally four), one of which is the tallest in Egypt, 108 feet high. On the walls the sculptures tell the glorious history of those two warrior kings. Here, too, is the so-called Portico of the Bubastites, built by Shishak, I., recording his expedition against Jerusalem, 971 b. c. Thebes of to-day (Theva) has a population of about 3,500. The Thebaid, the territory of Thebes, was a term applied to various areas at various times, but generally to one of the three main divisions of Egypt. It is specially familiar to us as being a favorite place place of retreat for Christian hermits.
Aiton's Encyclopedia (1910)
thebz, the name given by the Greeks to an ancient city of Egypt. It was situated on both shores of the Nile, near the southern end of Egypt proper. Karnak and Luxor are suburbs on the eastern shore. The valley is narrow and is hemmed in by lofty cliffs. Thebes was for centuries the residence of the pharaohs. Though now in ruins, the home of wretched villagers, 2000 B. C. it was the capital of the world, capable of sending out 20,000 war chariots. The city was so wealthy that Cambyses, the great Persian conqueror, secured treasure to the value of $10,000,000. Even yet "Thebes, in spite of the ravages of time and of the barbarians, still presents the grandest, the most prodigious assemblage of buildings ever erected by the hand of man." Homer called the city the Hundred-Gated, having reference to the huge stone gateways to the temples, for the city required no walls. Thebes was a city of splendor and power before Rome was even a name. The largest of the ruins is a temple of Ammon, known as the temple of Karnak. A row of stone sphinxes--silent, inscrutable--leads to the main entrance. The gateway or pylon is 360 feet--a city block--in width, and 142 feet high. There are courts within courts and acres of stone roof supported by forests of stone columns. The roof of one hall rests on 134 columns, from forty to seventy feet high and from nine to twelve feet in diameter. The effect is said to fill the spectator with awe. Other temples in the vicinity are hardly less notable. The entrances and walls are decorated with sculpture in low relief, portraying the warlike achievements of the pharaohs. Chariots, battle scenes, sieges, secretaries counting the heads of the slam, and triumphal processions are among the scenes. The work is said to be far superior to that found in the ruins of Assyria and Babylonia. A remarkable statue is that of Rameses II . It is forty feet high and represents the king sitting on his throne. It is cut from a single block of red granite, weighing not less than 887 tons. It came evidently from the quarry of Syene, many miles distant. How it was transported, no one can imagine. Another remarkable work of sculpture is a pair of statues of Memnon, forty-seven feet high. Each is made out of a single stone. One is the celebrated vocal Memnon. In the cliffs are the tombs of the kings. The entrances are adorned with gateways, colossal figures, sculpture, and hieroglyphics. The chambers within are extensive and artistic, and are adorned with inscriptions, paintings, and sculpture. Some of the finest tombs of alabaster have been removed to the British Museum . Other antiquities have found their way to museums in Paris, Berlin, and other capitals of Europe. It is to be regretted that the Arabs have done much damage to the figures as hostile to true religion, and that Christian relic hunters have encouraged their guides to chip and break off mementos. Of late the Egyptian government, possibly under British influence, has become aware of the importance of the antiquities of the country. Guards accompany visitors to see that no effacing is permitted. Learned men, Egyptologists, of different universities, have been provided with laborers to excavate. An effort has been made to restore the old temples to their original condition. Rooms have been fitted to preserve specimens of art. Quite recently laborers in the employ of the Egyptian Service of Antiquities cleaned the Nile mud out of a pit in one of the chambers of the temple of Karnak. They found it a veritable treasure house of articles belonging to the period of the pharaohs and of the Greek Ptolemies of later date. There were no less than 8,000 statues, monuments, busts, coins, decorations, and tableware. These articles are of various materials--gilded bronze, marble, granite, basalt, beryl, and wood, now petrified. They have been cleaned with care and set in the niches of some of the better preserved rooms of the temple. The inscriptions are hailed with delight, and are now being translated. It is hoped they may clear up various obscure points of Egyptian history. Under the influence of European travel and winter tourists, a new town with modern hotels has sprung up in the quarter known as Luxor. See Memnon ; Architecture ; Temple ; Egypt
Thebes or THIVA, the capital of Bœotia in ancient Greece
Described by 2 of the 6 encyclopedias.
Collier's New Encyclopedia (1921)
or THIVA, the capital of Bœotia in ancient Greece; founded, according to tradition, by a colony of Phœnicians, under Cadmus, 1550 b. c., ot 1400 B. C. They were driven out by the Bœotians, 1124 B. c. Platæa, one of the Bœotian cities, revolted from Thebes 510 b. c., and applied for help to Athens. A war ensued between Thebes and Athens, in which the latter was victorious. This caused much animosity between Thebes and Athens, and in the Persian War, 480 B. C., the Thebans deserted the cause of Greece and fought against the Athenians at Platæa, 479 b. c. The Athenians invaded Bœotia, and established a democratic government in Thebes, 456 b. c. The Thebans were allies of the Spartans in the Peloponnesian War, 431 b. c.-404 B. C. Sparta having claimed supremacy over the whole of Greece, the Thebans joined the Athenians, 395 b. c. The peace of Antalcidas put an end to the war, 387 B. C., and deprived Thebes of her supremacy over Bœotia. The Spartans, who treacherously seized the citadel of Thebes 382 B. C., were defeated at Leuctra, in July, 371 B. c.; and the Thebans regained Cyc. Vol. IX THEBES or THIVA their power in Greece. Thebes was razed to the ground by Alexander III., 335 b. C., after which it never again formed an independent state. Cassander restored the city 315 B. c., and it was taken by Demetrius 293 B. C., and again 290 B. C. The Thebans were defeated in an attempt to expel the Bulgarians from Greece in 1040, and their city was plundered by the Normans of Sicily in 1146. It was one of the most flourishing cities of Greece during the 10th and 11th centuries. It was almost wholly destroyed by an earthquake in 1893.
Aiton's Encyclopedia (1910)
a city of Greece. It was situated on a plateau in Boeotia, north of Athens. It was surrounded by a wall having seven strongly fortified gates. According to tradition, it was founded by Phoenicians under Cadmus, the same who sowed dragon's teeth and raised men, and who first brought the alphabet to Greece. Thebes was the reputed birthplace of Bacchus and Hercules. At certain periods, the Thebans played an important part in the history of Greece. During the Persian wars the city fell into disrepute by making its peace with the Persian monarchs. In the Peloponnesian War Thebes sided with the Spartans against Athens. The most celebrated Theban was Epaminondas, under whose leadership the city acquired a supremacy over Athens and Sparta, which came to an end, however, with the battle of Mantinea, 362 B. C. Philip and his son Alexander reduced the city to utter subjection, destroying its walls and illtreating the inhabitants. The Thebans appeared for the last time in history during the war between the Romans and Mithridates. The city chose the losing side of the controversy and was destroyed by the Romans. The ancient site is now occupied by a village of possibly 3,000 inhabitants. See Oedipus ; Epaminondas ; Pindar
Thebes It was here that the use of letters was
1000 Classical Characters (1900)
It was here that the use of letters was first introduced from Phoenicia into western Europe. It was the reputed birthplace of the two great divinities Dionysus ( Bacchus ) and Hercules . It was also the native city of the seer Tiresias , as well as of the great musician Amphion . It was the scene of the tragic fate of Oedipus , and of the war of the Seven against Thebes.
What Has Changed in the Last Century
Collier's, writing in 1921, could list only sixteen royal tombs in the Biban-el-Muluk and reported Thebes "inhabited only by Fellahin, by a few officials, and by the migratory visitors to the three hotels at Luxor." Within a year Howard Carter opened the tomb of Tutankhamun in that same Valley of the Kings, in November 1922, and the find turned the west bank into the most famous archaeological site on earth. Egyptian chronology has also been pulled forward: the 11th dynasty temple builders Collier's placed at 2500 B.C. are now dated to roughly 2100 B.C., and the great age of Thebes under the 18th to 20th dynasties to about 1550-1070 B.C. Luxor and Karnak were inscribed as a UNESCO World Heritage site in 1979, and the town of 3,500 has become a city of several hundred thousand living largely on the tourism those ruins bring; the ancient processional Avenue of Sphinxes between Karnak and Luxor was reopened with ceremony in 2021.
Written for this edition, 2026.