GREECE CENTRAL GREECE VOIOTIA ORCHOMENOS

Background

Inhabited already in the Neolithic period, Orchomenos was the most important settlement of Early Helladic times in Voiotia (ca. 2600-1900 BC). It was the capital of the thessalian Minyans, who derived their name from the legendary king Minyas. They drained Lake Kopais and built several fortresses in the area, among them Gla. Being one of the most powerful and wealthiest cities in the Mycenaean civilization, its influence extended over vast parts of Voiotia, for some time dominating even Thebes.

Mythology tells that Orchomenos asked an unacceptable tribute of Thebes, where upon Herakles assisted the Thebans and conquered Orchomenos. In any case, the constant rivalry between Orchomenos and Thebes is historic. After Orchomenos had chosen the side of the invaders in the Persian Wars and in 395/394 BC had joined Sparta against Thebes, the Thebans needed only a pretext to march on Orchomenos in 364 BC and to destroy the city. Later, the city was rebuilt, again destroyed and rebuilt. Anyhow, it still existed in Late Roman times.

the "Tholos tomb of Minyas"

The most important monument in Orchomenos is the "Treasury of Minyas", excavated by Heinrich Schliemann in 1880-86. It is one of the greatest tholos tombs, dates to the 14th century BC, and is comparable only to the "Tholos Tomb of Atreus" in Mycenae.

The dromos leads up to a pyramidal gateway (above left) with its massive lintel of dark Levadia marble. The roof of the tholos (diameter 14 m) has fallen in, but eight courses of large stone blocks still stand. - Remains of a burial monument in the center of the tholos belong to the Macedonian period (about 330 BC). - A corridor leads from the tholos to the most exciting part (above right): a side chamber hewn out of the rock (sometimes called thalamos, but this name also refers to the main chamber of a tholos). This is said to be the actual tomb of Minyas. The ceiling of this square chamber (height 2.40 m) is superbly decorated with a relief of spirals, floral motifs and rosettes.

the Church Koimesis tis Theotoku

Within sight of the ancient remains lies the Church Koimesis tis Theotoku. It was the catholicon of a Middle Byzantine monastery, according to an inscription erected in AD 873. It can be seen quite clearly that the whole building consists of column drums and stone blocks taken from the temple of the Charites and the ancient theatre.

The old frescoes in the interior are not conserved, and recently the church suffered from a fire. There are, however, interesting sculptures and reliefs on the outside.