Orchomenus

View more Literature & Language videos

Orchomenus, name of several Greek cities but especially of that in Boeotia on the north of the Copāic plain (known locally as Erchomenus). It became important in the Mycenaean period and was apparently the principal Boeotian city until it was eclipsed by Thebes. Orchomenus was proverbial for its wealth and associated in legend with the Minyans. It has been suggested that its wealth depended upon the fertility of the Copaic plain after the lake was drained, and that its decline is reflected in the story that Heracles, hero of the rival city of Thebes, broke down the drainage system and flooded the plain. Orchomenus was the site of an ancient and famous cult of the Graces. The city was destroyed by a confederacy of Boeotian towns in 364 BC.

Orchomenus (or Orchomenos, Orkhomenos may refer to:

Greek mythology

• Orchomenus, a king, the father of Elara
• Orchomenus, one of the twenty sons of Lycaon
• Orchomenus, son of Zeus and Isonoe, father of Minyas and Kyparissos
• Orchomenus, a son of Athamas and Themisto

Ancient Greek geography

• Orchomenus (Boeotia), also called the Minyean Orchomenus, a city of Boeotia
• Orchomenus (Arcadia), also called the Arcadian Orchomenus, a city of Arcadia

This disambiguation page lists articles associated with the same title. If an internal link led you here, you may wish to change the link to point directly to the intended article.

This entry is from Wikipedia, the leading user-contributed encyclopedia. It may not have been reviewed by professional editors (see full disclaimer)