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.)