Locris (redirected from Lokrís)

Locris (lō`krĭs), region of central Greece. The state was probably in existence before the arrival of the Phocians. The rise of Doris and Phocis split the original region into western and eastern portions. Eastern Locris, along the Malian Gulf (now Maliakós Kolpós) and Gulf of Euboea (now Vórios Evvoïkós Kolpós) between Thermopylae and Larymna, was again split (6th cent. B.C.) by Phocis into Epicnemedian in the west and Opuntian in the east. Western, or Ozolaean, Locris was on the north coast of the Gulf of Corinth and had for its principal towns Amphissa (now Ámfissa) and Naupactus (now Návpaktos). Largely hemmed in by stronger states, the Locrians played a minor role in Greek history. However, they founded (c.700 B.C.) one of the earliest Greek colonies in S Italy, Epizephyrian Locris near the promontory of Zephyrium; it was in the toe of the peninsula. The earliest written legal code in Europe, attributed to Zaleucus (7th cent. B.C.), was used there.

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Locris, Lokris

an ancient region of central Greece

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Locris 

in ancient times, the region in central Greece that was inhabited by Locrian tribes. It consisted of two parts, separated from each other by Phocis and Doris. On the southern coast of the Strait of Euboea and the Malian Gulf lived the Opuntian and Hypocnemedian Locrians, and on the northern coast of the Corinthian Gulf, the Ozolian Locrians. The major cities in Locris were Naupactus, Amphissa (in Ozolian Locris), and Opus. The Opuntian Locrians founded the colony of Locri Epizephyrii in southern Italy in the seventh century B.C. Locris was one of the more backward regions of Greece. Parts of the region were frequently subjugated by Athens, Thebes, the Aetolian League, and other Greek states. In the second century B.C., the Locrian communities united to form the Locrian League, dissolved by the Romans in 146 B.C.