Table of Contents
Acknowledgements ix
Note on Spelling xi
Timeline xiii
List of Illustrations xxi
Maps xxiv
Preface xxix
Part I Pre-History
Chapter 1 Introduction: From Myth to History 3
Chapter 2 City of Myth: the Theban Cycle 22
Chapter 3 City of Prehistory and Protohistory: Archaeology, the Linear B Tablets and Homer 32
Part II Archaic Thebes
Chapter 4 Religion 47
Chapter 5 Politics 65
Part III Classical Thebes
Chapter 6 Foreign Affairs 89
Chapter 7 City of Song: Pindar and Athenian Tragedy 110
Chapter 8 The Peloponnesian and Corinthian Wars 132
Chapter 9 Theban Heyday: City of Epaminondas and Pelopidas 184
Part IV Downfall
Chapter 10 Battle of Chaeronea, 338 217
Chapter 11 The Destruction of Thebes, 335 234
Part V Afterlife: The Persistence of Oedipus
Chapter 12 Thebes Rebuilt 243
Chapter 13 Mythic Revivals: the 'pigs' bite back 253
Chapter 14 Conclusion 272
Afterword: A Tribute to Peter Mayer 275
Sources and Further Reading (a selection) 278
Index 287