in Ancient Geography, a town of the Phthiotis, a district of Thessaly. Famous for giving name to the Bellum Lamiaicum, waged by the Greeks, on the Macedonians after Alexander's death.

LAMIAICUM BELLUM happened after the death of Alexander, when the Greeks, and particularly the Athenians, incited by their orators, resolved to free Greece from the garrisons of the Macedonians. Leottheneus was appointed commander of a numerous force, and marched against Antipater, who then presided over Macedonia. Antipater entered Thessaly at the head of 13,000 foot and 600 horse, and was beaten by the superior force of the Athenians and of their Greek confederates. Antipater after this blow fled to Lamia, where he resolved, with all the courage and sagacity of a careful general, to maintain a siege with about 8000 or 9000 men that had escaped from the field of battle. Leottheneus, unable to take the city by storm, began to make a regular siege. His operations were delayed by the frequent fallies of Antipater: and Leottheneus being killed by the blow of a stone which he received, Antipater made his escape out of Lamia, and soon after, with the assistance of the army of Craterus brought from Asia, he gave the Athenians battle near Cranion; and though only 500 of their men were slain, yet they became so dispirited, that they sued for peace from the conqueror. Antipater at last with difficulty consented, provided they raised taxes in the usual manner, received a Macedonian garrison, defrayed the expenses of the war, and, lastly, delivered into his hands Demotheneus and Hyperides, the two orators whose prevailing eloquence had excited their countrymen against him. These disadvantageous terms were accepted by the Athenians, yet Demotheneus had time to escape and poison himself. Hyperides was carried before Antipater, by whose orders, his tongue being previously cut out, he was put to death.

LAMAE, a sort of demons who had their existence in the imaginations of the heathens, and were supposed to devour children. Their form was human, resembling beautiful women. Horace makes mention of them in his Art of Poetry. The name, according to some, is derived from lano, "to tear;" or according to others, is a corruption of a Hebrew word signifying to devour. They are also called Larvae or Lemures.

LAMINÆ, in Physiology, thin plates, or tables, whereof any thing consists; particularly the human skull, which are two, the one laid over the other.