ancient greece mediterranean ruler

Chapter 644 Princess’s Wedding ([-])

Davos nodded and said: "I will send Ansitanos to assist you, because the people who come to Thurii to attend this meeting are all famous scholars from all over Greece, and they have great influence in the Greek city-states. As scholars, Ansitanos will know them better and have some common topics, so he will not neglect them.

In addition, these scholars may make some demands, as long as they are not excessive, we will try our best to meet them.What you need to pay attention to is that after the conference starts, there may be a lot of people attending their lectures. You need to send enough people to maintain order, avoid riots, and protect the safety of these scholars. "

"Your Majesty, don't worry, I will make arrangements carefully." Lysias said with a cautious look.

"We've been discussing it for so long, it's time for lunch." Davos stretched his waist and said with a relaxed look and a smile: "I have one last thing to say, it's my personal matter. .After the Hera celebration tomorrow will be my daughter Cynthia’s wedding. I will hold a celebration banquet at the palace tomorrow night and invite you to attend!”

...............................

This year's Hera marriage celebration was more lively than in previous years, and more people came to watch, because among the newlyweds attending the celebration, there was a special young couple.

They are the daughter of King Davos who is loved by the people of Dionia - Cynthia and the hero of the people of Dionia and the youngest legion captain - Patroclus.

In addition to the halo behind them, they themselves are also quite popular among the people.

As an adult, Cynthia became her mother Christoya's right-hand man, helping with business matters and becoming well-known to the people of Turiyi.She is gentle, generous, virtuous and hard-working, which is exactly the image of excellent women respected in Dionysian culture.

Patroclus was born into a freeman family.After his father was wounded on the battlefield, he did not become decadent. Instead, he actively participated in public affairs. Through his own efforts, he became an outstanding official of the kingdom and made his own contribution to the prosperity of Thurii.Patroclus himself became an excellent warrior and team officer through his studies at the Dionysian school and experience on the battlefield, and became the flag bearer in the triumphal ceremony because of his outstanding performance.As the Dionia of the immigrant country, the success of the Patroclus family is the example of countless families of free people born in the kingdom.

Therefore, even though the celebration is over, the people are still in high spirits because they know that the traditional wedding of the two young people will be held in the evening, and maybe they can see the king and his wife.

At this moment, Cynthia had separated from Patroclus, followed her mother Agnes, and took the slave girl to the Hades Fountain (formerly the Turi Fountain) next to Victory Square, and paid homage to the Pluto couple and Dave in the center of the fountain. After saluting the statue, he filled several jars of clear spring water and returned home.

At this time, the Davos Mansion was already covered in red and colorful decorations, and everyone was dressed in costumes, including the slaves, who were all making careful preparations for the upcoming wedding.

Cynthia quickly returned to the bathroom in the main building, took off her clothes that were almost soaked (wet when she splashed water at Hera's celebration), and used the spring water she brought to scrub her whole body carefully. This was not only to wash away the dirt on her body , according to tradition, symbolically cleansing the relics of one's virginity.

Then she put on a clean robe and came to the backyard garden. Agnes was already waiting beside the statue of Arthenis, the goddess of virgins and protector of children. Sacrificial offerings had been placed in front of the statue and oil lamps were lit.

"Mother Agnes!" Cynthia hurried over.

"Don't be anxious, child." Agnes smiled, took her hand, made her stand in front of the statue, and then stood beside it.

At this time, Agnes was wearing a pure white priest's robe. She was extremely beautiful and slim. Standing with Cynthia, they looked like a pair of sisters. It was impossible to tell that she had given birth to two children and was already 36 years old. Seven-year-old woman.Only if you look closely can you find a few crow's feet in the corners of her eyes.

Agnes looked at the statue of Artemis with a bow and arrow in front of her, and couldn't help but sigh: 20 years ago, when she became a priest of this goddess, she thought she would serve her and grow old alone, but Never thought that in the future I would have a considerate husband, two lovely children, and a big and lively family...

"Come, pray softly with me." Agnes came back to her senses and said softly to Cynthia, and then took the lead in singing in a low voice: "The night falls and the bright moon appears.

Arthenes, you hold a bow and arrow and patrol the world.

Girls and children are under your protection.

......"

Cynthia followed with a devout prayer.

After the prayer was finished, Cynthia's personal slave girl brought some clothes and toys that she had worn when she was a child and lit them in front of the statue.

Looking at the rising white smoke and smelling the pungent smell, Cynthia couldn't help but feel a little sad, because from this moment on, she bid farewell to her childhood career, and at the same time broke away from the blessing of Arthenis, and will transfer To the realm of Aphrodite, goddess of sex, and Hera, goddess of marriage protection.

To do this, she returned to her bedroom, where her other mother, Crystal, was waiting.

"Mom, thank you for your hard work!" Cynthia shouted excitedly.At this time, her bedroom was decorated very gorgeously, and a golden statue of Aphrodite was erected above the bed. This was all the result of Christoya's efforts alone. According to tradition, no one was allowed Outsiders come to intervene.

"Silly child, isn't this what a mother should do!" Christoya said with a smile, then took out a gold-plated apple, handed it to her, and said, "Pray to the God of Love."

In the legend of "Iliad", the Trojan prince Paris gave Aphrodite a golden apple, thinking that she was the most beautiful goddess, so Aphrodite was extremely happy and immediately gave Paris a blessing, making the most beautiful Greek goddess The woman Helen fell in love with him, which triggered the Trojan War.In some Greek city-states in later generations, there was such a wedding custom: if a golden apple was presented to Aphrodite, the bride would receive the blessing of the goddess of love.

Cynthia held the golden apple in her hand and prayed devoutly to Aphrodite.

After a moment of silence, she placed the apple into the outstretched hand of the statue in exchange for a new ornate chest strap that had been stacked in its hand.This is also a custom derived from the legend of the "Iliad": in the legend, the goddess Hera begged Aphrodite to lend her the belt she tied around her chest before uniting with Zeus, the king of gods. , because that chest strap has the magical power of temptation. Sure enough, Zeus was fascinated by Hera, so that Hera successfully achieved her goal.

As a bride, who doesn’t want the groom to pamper her alone, fall in love and enjoy happiness together!
Cynthia shyly picked up the chest strap and tried it on her chest.

Kristoya pulled Cynthia to sit by the bed, pointed to several items on the bed, and said: "This tiara, necklace, and earrings were given to you by your mother Aignis. They were given to you when she married. Jewelry that Turui wore when he came."

Cynthia looked at these pieces of jewelry: the crown was made of gold and silver, inlaid with blue and green garnets, and the style was very exquisite and delicate; and the necklace was made of silver chains and gold tassels. The front end is decorated with a huge orange-red amber, which is very dazzling; the earrings are two small and exquisite silver nails, each strung with a halo of milky white pearls.

Cynthia held it in her hand, looked at it again and again, couldn't put it down, and wished she could wear it on her body right away. She couldn't help but say: "It's so beautiful!"

Kristoya sighed at the side: "Your mother's family is a big noble in Lijim. Her father Atilicruz used a gorgeous fleet to send her to Thurii. Ask your father to hold a grand wedding. Your father took into account my feelings and refused... At that time, your mother Agnes, wearing a set of expensive jewelry, came to your home from the port, surrounded by a huge procession. It attracted the attention of thousands of people along the way, and this wedding is still a topic of conversation among many people in Turii to this day..."

Cynthia then remembered that when Christoya and Davos got married, it was Amendolara that had been recaptured from the Lucanians. Everyone was focused on how to gain a foothold and recover in Amendolara. In terms of emergency matters such as war trauma, the marriage ceremony of the two of them was very simple. They just participated in the first Hera celebration. There was neither a grand wedding nor any banquet. Instead, they followed two oil bottles (that is, she and brother Adoris)…

Thinking of this, Cynthia immediately put down the jewelry and hugged Kristoya with both hands affectionately: "Mom, what is the old thing you gave me?"

"My marriage was simple at that time, and I didn't have many belongings. I only had this one-" Christoya sighed again and picked up a belt from the bed.

Cynthia immediately noticed something special about this belt: although it looked a little old, it felt very good and light, and the patterns embroidered on it were also very exquisite, and the thread used was not ordinary silk. It was something she had never seen before... The entire belt showed a variety of colors, but it was not tacky at all, but rather luxurious.

Kristoya felt quite emotional when she saw Cynthia staring at the belt intently. She stroked the belt with her hand and said faintly: "This is a Persian royal belt. It once protected me from being captured by Persian soldiers. , it blessed me to meet your father, it blessed me to successfully escape from Persia, it blessed me to follow your father to Magna Graecia, and finally marry him... Now I give it to you..."

Kristoya said softly, and countless scenes from the past kept popping up in her mind. The promise Davos made to her back then has now been fulfilled, and the person she once served when she was young is now completely forgotten. What does it look like to be sorry...

(End of this chapter)