Battlefield Chaironeia

The Battle of Chaironeia, of 338BC was the decisive Macedonian victory which opened to way to Macedonian control of all Greek territory to the south. The battlefield is located directly north of Livadia, on the main road noth to Lamia 125 km from Athens just as we turn right for Orchomenos and at the entrance to the wide valley of Boetian Kefissos.

This famous battlefield is where Philip II of Macedon lead an army of 50,000 --30,000 infantry armed with spears and 20,000 cavalry, led by the 18th year old Alexander III (the Great, son of Philip).

The opposing army of Athenians,Thebans and Peloponnesians which they defeated there was led by the Athenian firebrand orator Demosthenes who basically could have avoided the whole encouter by keeping his mouth shut. With this battle the old city states came to an end, their power passing into the hand of the Macedonians, and later the Romans. The fallen Macedonians were buried in a big tumulus; and the Theban members of the Sacred Band in a common tomb called the Polyandiron, but the Athenian corpses were burned and the ashes sent to Athens.

A colossal marble lion , originally part of the funeral monument to the fallen Thebans, sits on the road near the modern town of Chaironeia (Kapraina), which was a monument to the Thebans (some say the Macedonians) who fell in this important battle). It was discovered in 1818 by a party of English travelers, and subsequently, because it sounded hollow, was smashed by a military leader during the Greek War of Independence (Odysseus Andoutso) , who believed that it contained treasure. It was later reassembled by the Greek Archaeological Society and re-erected it in 1902 near the battle site.

There is a small museum next to the site which houses artifacts from both tombs (bones, weapons and vases and terracottas) and Mycenaean remains from Orchomenos, including a fresco from the palace. There is also Neolithic and Proto-Geometric ware from Chaironeia; Neolithic, Early Helladic and Middle Helladic vessels from Elatieia; black figure vases from Abai; finds from Exarkhos and Ayia Marina.

The lion is near a clump of cypress trees. The marble sculpture is 5.5meters/18 feet high, and sits on a plinth. After its reconstruction in 1902 it was set on the ossuary that contained the remains of the Theban Sacred Band killed in the battle. Excavations of the mausoleum turned up 154 skeletons. It was a party of English travelers that found it in 1818, half-buried in the ground.

The battle Demosthenes had worked up anti-Macedonian feeling in the Athenians and made an alliance with Boeotia (pronounced 'Vo-ee-tee-ah'), provoking Philip to attack southern Greece. The army defending it was only slightly smaller in number than his own, and at first barred his way on the plain to the east of the battle sight. The Athenians gained an initial advantage, attacking from the other side, but the Macedonian cavalry, under the young Alexander, overwhelmed the Theban Sacred Band, which fought to the death, while the Athenians were forced to flee. Macedonian supremacy was crystallized the following year at the Synedrion of Corinth (Conference of Corinth). Thebes was treated severely after the battle, but Athens with surprising leniency.

The chief industry of the ancient city was the disillation of unguents from the lily, rose, narcissus, and iris. The Roman biographer Plutarch (50-127AD) was born and died in Chaironeia, and had a school here . Ruins of fortifications for the ancient acropolis , made of polygonal masonry and a theater are nearby. The acropolis is at 270meters , and occupies two summits with a saddle inbetween.

Greece Travelers may take a luxury coach tour, rent a car or empower themselves with a private Oracle tour of their own design. Consider these other popular Greece travel destinations. If its on the Greek mainland Oracle can take you there in air conditioned & non-smoking security!

Athens, Cape Sounion, Ancient Corinth, Delphi & Ossios Lukas, Drama, Florina, Greneva, Chalkidiki, Imathia, Kastoria, Kavala, Kozani, Meteora, Mt. Athos, Mycenaea, Naufplion, Olympia, Pella and Vergina, Phillipi & Kavala, Dion & Mt Olympus, Sparta & Mystras, The Mani and Monemvasia, Thessaloniki,
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