BOEOTIA, the name of two ancient kingdoms, one of which was founded or rather restored by Cadmus, and named by him Bæstia, from the ox which is said to have directed him to the place where he built the capital of his new kingdom, better known afterwards by the name of Thebes. But as the inhabitants were scarce ever distinguished as a nation by the name of Bæstians, but of Thebans, we refer to the article THEBES for their history, &c.
The other Boeotia was in Thessaly, and is said to have been founded by Boeotus the son of Neptune and brother of Aolus, by Arne the daughter of Aolus king of Aolis. This last, having sent his daughter to Metapontium a city of Italy, she was there delivered of those two sons, the eldest of whom she called after her father's name Aolus; and he possessed himself of the islands in the Tyrrhenian, now the Tuican sea, and built the city of Lipara. Boeotus the younger son went to his grandfather and succeeded him in his kingdom, called it after his own name, and the capital city Arne, from his mother. All that we know of these Boeotians is, that they held this settlement upwards of 200 years; and that the Thessalians expelled them from it; upon which they came and took possession of that country, which till then had been called Cadmeis, and gave it the name of Bæstia. Diodorus and Homer tell us, that these Boeotians signalized themselves at the Trojan war; and the latter adds, that five of Boeotus's grandsons, viz. Penelus, Leitus, Prothenor, Arcefilas, and Clonius, were the chiefs who led the Boeotian troops thither.