Plataea

Plataea is the location of an ancient Boeotian city in central Greece and the site associated with the decisive Battle of Plataea in 479 BCE. The area includes archaeological remains and a landscape long remembered in classical histories.

Visitors to the area can see the exposed remains of city walls, foundations and other archaeological features and walk ground identified with the classical battlefield. The site is of particular interest to those studying the Greco-Persian Wars and classical military history.

Plataea was an independent city-state in antiquity and fought alongside other Greek cities in the coalition that defeated the Persians at the battle of 479 BCE, an event recorded by ancient historians such as Herodotus and Pausanias. Over time the city’s political fortunes changed and its remains fell into ruin in the Hellenistic and Roman periods.

The site lies in the Boeotia region of Central Greece near the modern village of Plataies, in the foothills north of the Cithaeron range and within the agricultural plain that separates Athens from the interior. It is accessible by road from nearby regional centres such as Thebes and local towns.

• Battle of Plataea: Site of the decisive 479 BCE land battle of the Greco-Persian Wars, a turning point in Classical Greek history.

What to See #

• Archaeological site: The open archaeological area and battlefield remains near the modern village of Plataies, containing foundation traces, walls and votive deposits tied to Classical-period ritual activity.
• Battlefield site: The memorial and site associated with the Battle of Plataea in 479 BCE, the decisive land battle of the Greco-Persian Wars where allied Greek city-states defeated the Persian army.