Editing Cithaeron

{{Short description|Mountain range in Greece}}
{{For|the spider genus|Cithaeron (spider)}}
{{Infobox mountain
| name = Cithaeron
| other_name =
| photo = Κιθαιρώνας και Αιγόσθενα 0372.jpg
| photo_size =
| photo_alt =
| photo_caption = View of Cithaeron from [[Aigosthena]]
| elevation =
| elevation_m = 1,409
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| range =
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| location = [[Attica]], [[Greece]]<br />[[Boeotia]], [[Greece]]
| map = Greece
| map_alt = 
| map_caption = Location of Mount Cithaeron in Greece
| map_size =
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| coordinates = {{coord|38|11|03|N|23|14|57|E|type:mountain_scale:100000|format=dms|display=inline,title}}
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'''Cithaeron''' or '''Kithairon''' (Κιθαιρών, -ῶνος) is a mountain and mountain range about sixteen kilometres (ten miles) long in [[Central Greece (geographic region)|Central Greece]]. The range is the physical boundary between [[Boeotia]] region in the north and [[Attica]] region in the south. It is mainly composed of [[limestone]] and rises to {{convert|1409|m|ft|0}}. The north-east side of the range is formed by the mountain [[Pastra (mountain)|Pastra]].

The range was the scene of many events in [[Greek mythology]] and was especially sacred to [[Dionysus]].<ref name=EB1911>{{cite EB1911|wstitle=Cithaeron|volume=6|page=395|first=Ernest Arthur |last=Gardner}}</ref> In Euripides' ''[[Bacchae]]'', Dionysus carries out his dances and rites with his bacchants, his priestesses, on Cithaeron.<ref>Euripides, ''Bacchae'', 62-63: 'For my part I will go to the glens of Cithaeron, where the bacchants are, and take part with them in their dances.'</ref> [[Oedipus]] was exposed on the mountain, while [[Actaeon]] and [[Pentheus]] were both dismembered on its slopes. It was also the place where [[Heracles]] or [[Alcathous of Elis|Alcathous]] hunted and killed the [[Lion of Cithaeron]].

In historic times, the mountain acted as a backdrop to the [[Battle of Plataea]] of 479 BC<ref name=EB1911/> and was the scene of much skirmishing before the battle itself. In later times, fortifications were built both at [[Plataea]] and [[Erythres|Erythrai]] as the mountain formed the disputed natural border between Athens and [[Ancient Thebes (Boeotia)|Thebes]].

The people of Plataea also personified the mountain as their primal king: "But the Plataeans know of no king except [[Asopos (Boeotia)|Asopus]] and Cithaeron before him, holding that the latter gave his name to the mountain, the former to the river".<ref>[[Pausanias (geographer)|Pausanias]] [https://www.perseus.tufts.edu/hopper/text?doc=Perseus%3Atext%3A1999.01.0160%3Abook%3D9%3Achapter%3D1%3Asection%3D2 9.1.2]</ref> In one tale, Cithairon was said to have engaged in a singing contest against Helikon, which was judged by the Muses. Cithairon won the contest and was adorned with garlands by the Muses, and Helikon became so angry due to his defeat that he smashed one of the large rocks on his slopes.<ref>[[Corinna]], fr. 654 Campbell.</ref>

In the [[Middle Ages]], the village of Myoupolis on its slopes was the site of a monastery founded by [[Meletios the Younger]].<ref>P. Armstrong and A. Kirby, "Text and Stone: Evergetis, Christodoulos and Meletios", in M. Mullett and A. Kirby (eds.), ''The Theotokos Evergetis and Eleventh-Century Monasticism'' (Belfast: Belfast Byzantine Enterprises, 1994), p. 153.</ref>

==References==
{{Reflist}}

==External links==
{{commons category}}
*[http://www.theoi.com/Georgikos/OrosKithairon.html Theoi Project - Kithairon]

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[[Category:Kings in Greek mythology]]
[[Category:Mountains of Central Greece]]
[[Category:Mountain ranges of Greece]]
[[Category:Battle of Plataea]]
[[Category:Landforms of Boeotia]]
[[Category:Landforms of Central Greece]]
[[Category:Landforms of West Attica]]
[[Category:Landforms of Attica]]
[[Category:Mythology of Heracles]]

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