[[File:Aliartos-Thespies.png|thumb|Map of Aliartos-Thespies municipality within Boeotia (light green)]]
Aliartos-Thespies (Greek: Αλιάρτος-Θεσπιές) is a municipality in the [[Boeotia]] regional unit, [[Central Greece]], [[Greece]]. The seat of the municipality is the town of Aliartos. The municipality takes its name from the ancient Greek cities of [[Haliartus]] (near modern Aliartos) and [[Thespiae]] (near modern Thespies), both of which were significant historical centers in ancient Boeotia.
Administration
The municipality of Aliartos-Thespies was formed in the 2011 local government reform (Kallikratis Plan) by the merger of the following two former municipalities, which became municipal units:- [[Aliartos]]
- [[Thespies]]
The total area of the merged municipality is 256.5 km2 (99 sq mi).
The municipal unit of Aliartos includes the communities of Aliartos (with the main town of Aliartos), Mavrommati, Neochori, Valsamata, and Ypsilantis. The municipal unit of Thespies includes the communities of Thespies (with the village of Thespies), Askri, Vagia, Leptines, Neokastro, and Paliopanagia.
Geography
The municipality is located in the central part of the fertile Boeotian plain, nestled between Mount Helicon to the south and the former bed of Lake Copais to the north. Its agricultural lands are highly productive, benefiting from the drainage of Lake Copais in the late 19th century, which transformed vast marshlands into arable land.History
The area has a rich history dating back to antiquity, associated with important cities of the Boeotian League.- Haliartus (Ancient Aliartos): Ancient Haliartus was one of the most significant cities in Boeotia, strategically located near the southern shore of Lake Copais. It was a member of the Boeotian Confederacy and played a role in various conflicts of the ancient world. The city was famously destroyed by the Romans in 171 BC during the Third Macedonian War, as it sided with Perseus of Macedon. The modern town of Aliartos developed in the 20th century, becoming a regional agricultural and administrative center, especially after the Copais drainage project.
- Thespiae (Ancient Thespies): Ancient Thespiae was another prominent Boeotian city, perhaps best known for its legendary bravery at the [[Battle of Thermopylae]] in 480 BC. A contingent of 700 Thespian hoplites, led by Demophilus, chose to remain and fight to the death alongside the Spartans under King Leonidas against the invading Persian army. The city was later destroyed by the Persians in retaliation. Thespiae maintained a strong cultural identity and continued to be an important center through the Roman period. The modern village of Thespies is built near the site of the ancient city.
The unification of these two historical regions into a single modern municipality reflects their shared geographical and historical context within Boeotia.