ancient greece mediterranean ruler

Chapter 656 Delphi

Agesilaus's brother Teleudias died in the battle on the Chalcedean peninsula, and Agesilaus was deeply affected and fell ill again.

Finally, another Spartan king, Agesipolis, re-raised a large army from the allies in the Peloponnese Peninsula and went to Northern Greece again to attack the Chalcidian League.

As a result, it was midsummer when Agesipolis arrived in northern Greece. Unfortunately, he contracted a fever due to the scorching heat and died of the disease before he could fight the enemy.

After the Spartan Council of Elders hurriedly held the king's funeral, they once again sent the successors of the Chalcidian Alliance on an expedition. After successive hard battles, in the spring of the third year (i.e., 13 years of Dionia, BC 380), forcing Olintus to surrender and disband the alliance, and also forced other city-states on the Chalcidian peninsula to join the Spartan League. The coastal cities of Macedonia were also returned to King Amyntas of Macedonia. Sparta gained supremacy in northern Greece in one fell swoop.

During the fierce battle in Northern Greece, the Spartans adopted a high-pressure policy in the Peloponnese Peninsula. They forced Phleus, a city-state in the middle of the peninsula, to recall the nobles who had been exiled before. As a result, the nobles and civilians broke out. , Sparta supported the nobility.After half a year of siege, Phrius was forced to surrender, and then a new political system was implemented in accordance with Sparta's wishes.

In central Greece, after Sparta controlled Thebes and supported Plataea, it gained the dependence of other city-states in Boeosia. Sparta's power began to expand to the east in the Boeotian region of central Greece. The expansion of Attica and Phocis to the west...

After a rainy spring, there is a hot summer.Polybiadas, the commander of Sparta's northern expedition, led his army back victoriously from northern Greece.Before entering the flat and fertile Boeotian region, they first had to pass through Thessaly, Maris, Doris, Phocis and other regions. There are many places here that are worthy of worship as a Spartan general returning from victory. of.

The first is Oeta. It is said that Hercules, the ancestor of the Spartan royal family, sacrificed himself on a pyre on this mountain and ascended to heaven in flames to join the gods of Mount Olympus. Of extended family.

Secondly, when crossing a narrow pass, the narrowest passage can only accommodate two four-wheeled carriages passing side by side. This passage is called Thermopylae. Its name can resonate strongly among Spartan soldiers because it has been used for hundreds of years. The former Spartan king Leonidas led his 300 guards to fight against the Persian army here, and all of them died in battle, which won immortal glory for the Spartan warriors. Almost every time the Spartan army passed here, they had to fight Worship.

After trekking the rugged mountain road, we entered a small area of ​​lowland known for its richness. It is called the Doris Plain. The name of the Dorians in the Greek population came from this place (the Spartans were also Dorians). ).Hundreds of years ago, Greeks migrating from the inhospitable north first rested temporarily in the plains of Doris and eventually invaded the lowlands surrounded by mountains and scattered along the coastline.Hundreds of years have passed, and they have forgotten their barbarian identity. For example, the Spartans have always claimed that they are the blood of Heracles and the descendants of Menelaus, the former king of Sparta.

South of the Doris Plain, near the Gulf of Corinth, there is also a high mountain known throughout Greece called Parnassus.Legend has it that there was a huge python named Python entrenched on this steep mountain. It was known for its cannibalism. Under the command of Hera, it once hunted down and killed Apollo, the Arthenis brothers and their mother Leto when they were young.When he grew up, Apollo came to this mountain and found this huge monster that was devouring eagles in the lonely and dark canyon. He shot him to death with a deadly bow and arrow, and thus became the master of this area.

Apollo planted laurel trees to purify the sacred land.Later, people cut down the branches of the laurel tree and built temples of Apollo one after another here. This became Delphi, the oracle holy place for all Greeks.

This place has high mountains, dense forests, and poor soil, making it difficult for local residents to make a living.

Apollo said to them: "Guard my temple and give a warm welcome to the people who come to visit me."

So the people of Delphi became priests of Apollo. They built a huge temple complex of Apollo and fairly charged the same fee to everyone who came to seek oracles and worship.It is precisely because of the fairness of the Delphi priests that more and more Greeks trust the Oracle of Delphi, and firmly believe that for nine months every year on Mount Parnassos, where the air is pure, the god Apollo will live there.

And because it is said that when Zeus first ascended the throne to rule the world, he wanted to measure the land he inherited, so he released two eagles to the east and west, flew towards each other, and observed the flying conditions of the two eagles to determine the status of the world. In the center, two eagles met at Delphi, where Zeus left a huge stone egg - Omphale as a mark (this stone egg remains to this day), so Delphi became even more famous, surpassing the Greek race. , known throughout the Mediterranean.To this end, the Delphian priests also welcomed foreigners to come here to pray to the oracle.

When the various warring city-states came to seek the judgment of the Oracle of Delphi, they fully believed in the judgment of the Oracle.Therefore, Delphi's neutrality must be guaranteed, otherwise no one can bear the consequences.

200 years ago, when a nearby powerful city-state, Crisa, tried to annex Delphi, the whole of Greece was shocked and launched an angry counterattack. Many city-states formed a coalition to defend this sacred area, and they even violated Greek tradition of poisoning the rivers that Chrysa drank from, Chrysa was captured and the impious city razed to the ground, the bay that separated mainland Greece from the Peloponnese was originally photographed in This great Phokis city-state was called the Gulf of Crisa, and after the war it was named after Corinth, an important city-state on the isthmus. More than 200 years have passed, and the wilderness where Klisa was is still barren. No one dares to live there because it is a place cursed by God.

After experiencing this most tragic lesson, the city-states around Delphi established a neighboring alliance, the Amphiktione League, which included the Thessalians, Photiotians, Locrians, Phocians, Peotians, Athenians... Later, the city-states on the Peloponnese Peninsula also joined in under the leadership of Sparta.

The main purpose of this alliance is to protect the neutrality of Delphi and not allow any force to harm or annex Delphi. Therefore, this alliance is also called the Holy Alliance.Each alliance provides two representatives as members of the entire alliance meeting. A meeting is held in Delphi every spring and autumn to discuss the governance of the Delphi area, the maintenance of the temple, the hosting of the Pythian Games and the Holy Art of Apollo. management.In this way, the oracle and priestly nobility of Delphi gained an independent status, and Delphi became more prosperous.

On this day, noble priests from all over Delphi stepped on the winding stone steps and came to a steep hillside, where the main temple of Apollo, made of huge stones, was located.With its back against the straight and bare cliffs of Parnassus Mountain and overlooking the deep Prestus Valley in front, it gives people a solemn and solemn feeling.

The nine high-ranking priests of Apollo were representatives of the nine Greek tribes that had lived in Delphi hundreds of years ago. There was also a woman sitting in the temple with the nine priests.

This is an elderly woman with a shriveled body, sagging skin, and ridges on her face.She was not amazing in appearance, but she had great prestige among all the Greeks, because it was she who walked into the oracle, fumigated with the smell of sulfur, and brought Apollo's oracle to the people.She did not have a name of her own, she was called Pythia, and every oracle who issued an oracle on behalf of Apollo was named Pythia.

Ten people sat around the temple with solemn expressions.

The leading old priest was Silsitas, the chief priest of the main temple of Apollo. He said: "An hour ago, I just sent away the Spartan general Polybiadas who conquered Chalcidia. In Before the Spartans went to the north, King Agesilaus of Sparta sent someone to ask for an oracle for his expedition. He came this time to thank Apollo for his guidance. The Spartans paid tribute to Apollo. Enthusiasm, amazing! But—”

Silsitas changed the topic and said in a deep voice: "He brought four fully armed soldiers and let them set foot on the sacred Mount Parnassus. After I protested, he allowed them to Several soldiers came down the mountain!"

"This is blasphemy! People with sharp weapons are not allowed to enter this sacred area. This is a well-known fact. These Spartans should be severely punished!" A priest next to him shouted angrily.

"Severe punishment? The Spartans are famous for their barbarism and rudeness. If they make a fuss, we will be the ones who suffer. You must know that their army is stationed in the Doris Plains not far to the north." Another priest He said helplessly.

"Do the Spartans still dare to lead their troops into Delphi?! If they dare to do that, the whole of Greece will organize another anti-Spartan alliance to completely destroy Sparta just like Chrysa!" Another priest said angrily.

"The Spartans would not do such stupid things. Their respect for Delphi is no less than that of their ancestor Hercules." The chief priest Sitarsis interrupted their quarrel and said worriedly: "But the Greeks The balance of power has been broken. After more and more central Greek city-states relied on Sparta, the Holy Alliance almost became Sparta's sole decision. It was difficult for Delphi to maintain its neutrality. This was very important to Delphi. Our survival is a big threat!”

　A new volume has begun!

　　Thanks to Zhan Billy for the reward!Your support is my biggest motivation for writing! !

　　
　
(End of this chapter)