BOEAE
BOEAE (
Βιοαί: Eth.
Βοιάτης), a town in the south of Laconia, situated between the promontories Malea and Onugnathos, in the bay called after it Boeaticus Sinus (
Βοιατικὸς κόλπος).
The town is said to have been founded by Boeus, one of the Heraclidae, who led thither colonists from the neighbouring towns of Elis, Aphrodisias, and Side. (
Paus. 3.22.11.)
It afterwards belonged to the Eleuthero-Lacones, and was visited by Pausanias, who mentions a temple of Apollo in the forum, and temples of Aesculapius and of Sarapis and Isis elsewhere.
At the distance of seven stadia from the town there were ruins of a temple of Aesculapius and Hygieia.
The remains of Boeae may be seen at the head of the gulf, now called
Vatika. (
Paus. 1.27.5,
3.21.7,
3.22.11, seq.;
Scylax, p. 17;
Strab. viii. p.364;
Plb. 5.19;
Plin. Nat. 4.5. s. 9; Boblaye,
Recherches, &c. p. 98.)