It is said that it has been founded by the Phoenician King Kadmos. Among the heroes of Thebes, which became famous mainly for its adversities, is one of the most tragic figures of mythology, Oedipus, whose story inspired the most illustrious Greek tragedians, Aeschylus ("Seven Against Thebes"), Sophocles ("Oedipus Rex", "Antigone") and Euripides ("Phoenician Women"). Thiva was also the birthplace of Hercules, known for his wondrous feats. Apart from being the homeland of myths and heroes, the city also gave birth to extraordinary men like the poet Pindar, the generals Epaminondas and Pelopidas, and others. Using the town as a base one can visit Plataiai (Platees) and Lefktra, the sanctuary of Kabeirians, the Mycenean Acropolis Gla or Goulas on Mt. Ptoon, Tanagra, renowned for its terra cotta figurines, Vathi Avlidas, Faros and Dilessi.

Two kilometres north of Vathi lay the ruins of ancient Aulis (Avlida), where myth recounts that Agamemnon sacrificed his daughter Iphigenia to the goddess Artemis.