Mediterranean Hegemon of Ancient Greece Chapter 1: Delphi

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Agsilius’ brother Telutias died in the battle on the Kalkidia Peninsula. Agsilius was hit hard and fell ill again.

Finally, another Spartan king Agcypolis recruited a large army from the allied states of the Peloponnes Peninsula again, and went to North Greece again to attack the League of Kalkidia.

As a result, Agcypolis arrived in North Greece at the height of summer. He unfortunately contracted a fever due to the scorching heat and died of illness before he fought the enemy fiercely.

After the Spartan Council of Elders hurriedly held the funeral of the king, it once again sent out the successor to the League of Calkidia. After repeated bitter battles, in the spring of the third year In 380 BC), Olympus was forced to surrender and disbanded the alliance. At the same time, other city-states on the Kalkidia Peninsula were forced to join the Spartan League. The coastal cities of Macedonia were also returned to the King of Macedonia. Mintas, Sparta gained the supremacy in North Greece in one fell swoop.

During the intense warfare in North Greece, the Spartans adopted a high-pressure policy on the Peloponnese. They forced a city-state in the central part of the peninsula to bring back the nobles who had been exiled before. As a result, the nobles and War broke out among the civilians, and Sparta supported the nobles. After half a year of siege, Frius was forced to surrender, and then a new regime was implemented in accordance with Sparta's wishes.

In Central Greece, after Sparta controlled Thebes and supported Platia, it was attached to other city-states of Piosia. Sparta’s power began in the Piosia region of Central Greece. Expansion to the Attica area in the east and the Fuchs area in the west...

To spend the rainy spring is the hot summer. The commander-in-chief of the Spartan Expedition, Polybiadas, led the army back from Northern Greece. Before entering the flat and fertile area of ​​Piotia, they must first pass through the regions of Sesali, Marlis, Doris, Fokies, etc. There are many places worthy of worship as Spartan generals who have returned from victory. of.

The first is Oeta, where it is rumored that Hercules, the ancestor of the Spartan royal family, sacrificed himself on a cremation pile and ascended into the flames to join Olympus. Of the big family of mountain gods.

Secondly, when crossing the narrow pass, the narrowest passage can only accommodate two horse-drawn carriages passing side by side. This passage is called Wenquan Pass, and its name resonates strongly among Spartan soldiers. , Because a hundred years ago, King Leonidas of Sparta led his 300 guards against the Persian army, and they all died in battle, winning the immortal glory for the Spartan warriors. Almost every time the Spartan army passed by here All worship.

After trekking through the rugged mountain trails, I entered a small piece of lowland known for its fertility. It is called the Doris Plain. The name of the Dorians in the Greek population is derived from this place (the Spartans are also Dorian). Hundreds of years ago, the Greeks who migrated from the desolate north first took a temporary rest in the Doris Plain, and finally invaded the lowlands surrounded by mountains and scattered throughout the coastline. Hundreds of years have passed, they have forgotten their savage identity, such as the Spartans have always claimed to be the blood of Hercules, the descendants of Menelaus, the former king of Sparta.

South of the Doris Plain, close to the Gulf of Corinth, there is also a mountain known throughout Greece called Parnassos. According to legend, there is a giant python named Pitong entrenched on this steep mountain. It is known for eating people. Under the direction of Hera, it used to hunt down Apollo, the brothers and sisters of Artenis and their mother Leto when they were young. The grown-up Apollo came to this mountain and found this huge monster that was devouring eagles in the lonely and dark valley, and shot him to death with a deadly bow and arrow, thus becoming the master of this area.

Apollo planted a laurel tree to purify this sacred land. Later, people cut down the branches of laurel trees and built Apollo temples one after another here, which became the oracle shrine for all the Greeks—Delphi.

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

Apollo said to them: "Guard my temple and warmly welcome the visitors."

So the people of Delphi became priests of Apollo. They built a huge group of temples of Apollo, and justly charged everyone who came to ask for oracles and worship the same fees. It is precisely because of the justice of the Delphi priests that more and more Greeks trust Delphi’s oracle and firmly believe that for nine months a year on the pure air of Parnassos, the **** Apollo will Live there.

Because it is also rumored that when Zeus just ascended the throne to rule the world, he wanted to measure the land he inherited. He released two eagles to the east and the west and flew towards each other to observe the flight of the two eagles. The center of the world was determined, and the two eagles met in Delphi. Zeus left a huge stone egg here—Honfal as a mark (this stone egg has survived to this day). Therefore, Delphi is even more famous and surpassed. The Greek race is well-known throughout the Mediterranean. For this reason, the Delphi priests also welcome foreigners to come here to pray for oracles.

When the fighting city-states came to seek the verdict of the oracle of Delphi, they completely believed in the verdict of the oracle. Therefore, the neutrality of Delphi must be guaranteed, otherwise no one can bear the consequences.

200 years ago, when a powerful neighboring city-state Crisa tried to annex Delphi, the whole of Greece was shaken and an angry counterattack was launched. Many city-states formed coalition forces to defend this sacred area. They even violated Greek tradition by poisoning the rivers that the Krisa people drink. The city of Krisa was breached. This impious city was razed to the ground, and the bay that separated the Greek mainland from the Peloponnesian Peninsula. Originally taken in this great Phokis city-state, it was called Krisa Bay. After the war, it was named after Corinth, an important city-state on the Isthmus. More than 200 years later, the wilderness where Krisa was located is still barren, no one dares to live in it, because this is a place cursed by the gods.

After experiencing this most tragic lesson, the city-states around Delphi established a neighboring alliance, the Amphitone League, which included the Thessari, Phetiotis, and Locke The Rees, Phokes, Piosha, Athenians...Later, the city-states on the Peloponnese also joined in under the leadership of Sparta.

The main purpose of this alliance is to protect Delphi’s neutrality and not allow any forces to harm or annex Delphi, so this alliance is also called the Holy Alliance. Each allied state provides two representatives as a member of the entire league 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 Pitia Games and the Apollo sacred heritage. Management. In this way, Delphi's oracles and priests and nobles gained independent status, and Delphi became more prosperous.

On this day, aristocratic priests from all over Delphi stepped on winding stone steps and came to a steep hillside where the main temple of Apollo, made of huge stones, was located. It is backed by the straight and bare cliffs of Mount Parnassos and overlooks the deep Prestos Valley in front of it, giving it a cold and solemn feeling.

The nine high-ranking priests of Apollo are representatives of nine Greek tribes that have lived in Delphi hundreds of years ago, and there is one woman sitting in the temple with the nine priests.

This is an elderly woman with a dry body, saggy skin, and a ruffled face. She is not amazing in appearance, but she has great prestige among all Greeks, because she walked into the oracle house and brought the oracle of Apollo to the people in the fumigation full of sulfur. She didn't have her own name, she was called Pitya, and every representative of Apollo who issued the oracle was called Pitya.

Ten people are sitting around the temple with solemn expressions.

The old priest headed by Silsitas, the chief priest of the main temple of Apollo, said: "An hour ago, I just sent away the Spartan general Polybiada who conquered Kalkidia. S. Before the Spartans marched north, the Spartan king Agsilius sent someone to obtain an oracle for his conquest. He came this time to thank Apollo for his guidance. The Spartans were right. Apollo’s enthusiasm is amazing! But—"

Sirsitas turned around and said in a deep voice: "He brought four heavily armed soldiers and let them set foot on the sacred Mount Parnassos. After I protested, he Just let these soldiers go down the mountain!"

"This is blasphemy! This sacred area does not allow people with sharp weapons to enter. This is a well-known thing. These Spartans should be severely punished!" A priest nearby shouted angrily.

"Severe punishment? The Spartans are famous for their barbarism and rudeness. In case they quarrel and suffer, we must know that their army is stationed in the plain of Doris not far to the north." A priest said helplessly.

"Does 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 and want to destroy Krisa, completely destroying Sparta Da!" Another priest said angrily.

"The Spartans don't do such stupid things. They respect Delphi as much as their ancestor Hercules." The chief priest Sitarsis interrupted their quarrel and said anxiously: "But the balance of power in Greece has been broken. After the city-states of Central and Greece are increasingly dependent on Sparta, the Holy Alliance has almost become Sparta's sole discretion. Delphi's neutrality is difficult to maintain. This It is a great threat to Delphi’s survival!"