232 Angela Ganter, née Kühr
other Boiotian super-power in the Bronze Ages and in early Archaic times. Apart from
these two exceptions, the whole book is little more than a description of the Theban
sphere of influence (Frazer 1898, Vol. I: xxiii–xxiv; Hutton 1995: 105–25). The history
and the myths of the Boiotianethnosare summarized in two sentences while the history,
myths, and spaces of the Boiotianpoleisoccupy a whole book. Apparently, they and their
relations to each other are the focus of interest, not the Boiotian ethnos. Altogether,
Boiotia is depicted as an extension or annex of Thebes.
A different picture emerges in theCatalogue of Ships, the very first document we have
concerning the social organization of the Greek world. The transmitted version was
probably fixed during the seventh centuryBCand describes the Greek contingents par-
ticipating in the War against Troy (Visser 1997). Concerning the later region of Boiotia,
there are two contingents involved—the forces of the Boiotians and the forces of the
Minyans, the mythical rulers of the BoiotianpolisOrchomenos:
Of the Boeotians Peneleos and Leïtus were captains,
and Arcesilaus and Prothoënor and Clonius;
these were they that dwelt in Hyria and rocky Aulis
and Schoenus and Scolus and Eteonus with its many ridges,
Thespeia, Graea, and spacious Mycalessus;
and that dwelt about Harma and Eilesium and Erythrae;
and that held Eleon and Hyle and Peteon,
Ocalea and Medeon, the well-built citadel,
Copae, Eutresis, and Thisbe, the haunt of doves;
that dwelt in Coroneia and grassy Haliartus,
and that held Plataea and dwelt in Glisas;
that held lower Thebe, the well-built citadel,
and holy Onchestus, the bright grove of Poseidon;
and that held Arne, rich in vines, and Mideia
and sacred Nisa and Anthedon on the seabord.
Of these there came fifty ships, and on board of each
went young men of the Boeotians an hundred and twenty.
And they that dwelt in Aspledon and Orchomenus of the Minyae
were led by Ascalaphus and Ialmenus, sons of Ares,
whom, in the palace of Actor, son of Azeus, Astyoche,
the honoured maiden, conceived of mighty Ares,
when she had entered into her upper chamber;
for he lay with her in secret.
And with these were ranged thirty hollow ships.
(Hom. Il. 2, 494–516; translation by A. T. Murray)Evidently, theethnosof the Boiotians was already well known at the beginning of the
seventh centuryBC.In theCatalogue of Ships, they belong to the very fewethnewho
are introduced with their name emphatically put at the beginning of the verse, whereas
many others do not even have a group name. In addition, the Boiotians stand out by the
number of their leaders, and theirpoleis, thus, present a particular case concerning the
relation betweenethnosandpoleis.
Apart from the fact that Orchomenos is not included in the contingent of the Boiotoi,
their region is the same as they would inhabit centuries later. Geographically, the