TROPHONIUS CAVE, or Oracle (anc. geog.), a cave near Lebadia in Beotia, between Helicon and Chaeronea (Strabo): so called from Trophonius, an enthusiastic diviner; who, descending into this cave, pretended to give answers and pronounce oracles; and was hence called Jupiter Trophonius. Such as went down to this cave never after smiled; hence the proverbial saying of a man who has lost his mirth, 'That he is come out of Trophonius's cave.' Though Pantanius, who writes from experience, contradicts this; affirming that persons came out of the cave affected indeed with a stupor, but that they soon after recovered themselves. See ORACLES.