the country of the three Grecian tribes, the Locri Ozola, the Locri Epicnemidii, and the Locri Opuntii, is supposed by Niebuhr to have extended originally from the Corinthian Gulf on the W., to the Eubean Sea on the E., until broken up into two parts by the immigration of the Dorians and Phocians. The Locrians thus became two distinct tribes, differing in manners and civilization, and separated by Doris and Phocia. The eastern tribe, the Locri Epicnemidii and Opuntii, were the more civilized; the western, the Locri Ozola, are represented by Thucydides as semi-barbarians even at the time of the Peloponnesian war.

The territory of the Locri Epicnemidii and Opuntii extended along the shore of the Eubean Sea, from the pass of Thermopylae to the mouth of the River Cephissus, and was divided into two parts by a narrow slip of Phocis that runs down to the sea-coast. The southern part was inhabited by the Opuntii, so called from Opus, their chief city. The Epicnemidii held the northern part, and derived their name from Mount Cnemis, the boundary between their country and Boeotia. The towns of the Opuntii were,—Alope, Cyrus, Opus, Hala, Larymna, Calliarus, Naryx, and Corseia; those of the Epicnemidii were,—Alpenus, Nicaea, Scarpole, Thronium, Cnemis, Tarpele (afterwards Phryge), and Augias. Homer mentions the eastern Locrians as following Ajax, the son of Oileus, to the Trojan war with forty ships. In the Persian war the Opuntii fought on the side of Leonidas at Thermopylae, and sent their contingent of seven ships to the Grecian fleet. They also joined the Epimenidii in an alliance with Sparta during the Peloponnesian war.

Locri Ozolae occupied a district on the Corinthian Gulf, bounded on the E. by Phocis, on the N. by Doris and Aetolia, and on the W. by Aetolia. The origin of their name is uncertain. Different authors severally derive it from the smell (σκότος) emitted by the sulphur-springs at the foot of Mount Taphassus, from the fragrance of the asphodel that abounded in the country, and from the undressed skins (σκότος) worn by the primitive inhabitants. The Locrians themselves traced it to the branches (σκότος) of a vine peculiar to that district. The country is rendered mountainous by offsets from Mount Parnassus in Phocis, and from Mount Ceraunus in Aetolia. The only river worthy of note is the Hylethias (Mornos). Amphiessa, lying near the borders of Phocis, was the most important town of the Ozolae. The other towns were,—Molycria, Naupactus, Enone, Anticyra, Eupalamium, Erythras, Tolophion, Hessus, Ceanthe, Ippus, Chalcum, Egitium, Hylo, Crocyleium, Messapia, Myonia, Olps, Potidania, Teichium, and Tritrea.