Editing Thebes, Greece (section)

===Hellenistic period===
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*End of the Hellenistic period
*Roman Period|date=April 2013}}
Ancient writings tend to treat Alexander's destruction of Thebes as excessive.<ref name="diodorus" /> Plutarch, however, writes that Alexander grieved after his excess, granting them any request of favors, and advising they pay attention to the invasion of Asia, and that if he failed, Thebes might once again become the ruling city-state.<ref>Plutarch's Lives, Volume III, Life of Alexander, Chapter 13</ref> Although Thebes had traditionally been antagonistic to whichever state led the Greek world, siding with the Persians when they invaded against the Athenian-Spartan alliance, siding with Sparta when Athens seemed omnipotent, and famously derailing the Spartan invasion of Persia by [[Agesilaus]]. Alexander's father Philip had been raised in Thebes, albeit as a hostage, and had learnt much of the art of war from [[Pelopidas]]. Philip had honoured this fact, always seeking alliances with the Boeotians, even in the lead-up to Chaeronea. Thebes was also revered as the most ancient of Greek cities, with a history of over 1,000 years. Plutarch relates that, during his later conquests, whenever Alexander came across a former Theban, he would attempt to redress his destruction of Thebes with favours to that individual.

====Restoration by Cassander====
Following Alexander the Great's death in 323 BC, Thebes was re-established in 315 BC<ref name="parianchronicle" /> by [[Cassander]], one of the diadochi who was ruling in Greece.<ref name="Beckett, p.688">Beckett, ''Universal Biography, Vol. 1'' p. 688</ref> In restoring Thebes, Cassander sought to rectify the perceived wrongs of Alexander – a gesture of generosity that earned him much goodwill throughout Greece.<ref name="Thirlwall, p.325">Thirlwall, ''The History of Greece, Vol. 2'' p. 325</ref> In addition to currying favor with the Athenians and many of the Peloponnesian states, Cassander's restoration of Thebes provided him with loyal allies in the Theban exiles who returned to resettle the site.<ref name="Thirlwall, p.325"/>

Cassander's plan for rebuilding Thebes called for the various Greek city-states to provide skilled labor and manpower, and ultimately it proved successful.<ref name="Thirlwall, p.325"/> The Athenians, for example, rebuilt much of Thebes' wall.<ref name="Thirlwall, p.325"/> Major contributions were sent from [[Megalopolis, Greece|Megalopolis]], [[Messene]], and as far away as Sicily and Italy.<ref name="Thirlwall, p.325"/>

Despite the restoration, Thebes never regained its former prominence. The death of Cassander in 297 BC created a power vacuum throughout much of Greece, which contributed, in part, to Thebes' besiegement by [[Demetrius Poliorcetes]] in 293 BC, and [[Siege of Thebes (292-291 BC)|again after a revolt in 292 BC]]. This last siege was difficult and Demetrius was wounded, but finally he managed to break down the walls and to take the city once more, treating it mildly despite its fierce resistance. The city recovered its autonomy from Demetrius in 287 BC, and became allied with [[Lysimachus]], the king of Thrace, and the [[Aetolian League]].