Mediterranean Hegemon of Ancient Greece - Chapter 657

[Chapter 2 The Holy Alliance and the Oracle]

Silcitas sighed: “The last time the messenger of Agesilaus came here to ask for the oracle, he also made a request to me, ‘I hope that when the hostile city-states of Sparta come here to ask for the oracle’ When the time came, we were able to quietly tell the Spartans what they were asking for…”

“It’s more than that.” Patmos, who was in charge of the sacred library, said angrily: “After Polybiadas left the temple, he still He went to my place on purpose to go around, and he said, intentionally or unintentionally, ‘This time, their expedition to Northern Greece consumed a lot of materials, and they also owed more than a thousand mercenaries in the team’s salary’…”

“Sba Daren is so arrogant!” The priest in charge of the Pythian Games, Kabatas, shouted angrily: “We must teach them a lesson to dispel their ambitions for Delphi!”

“Teach Sparta a lesson? It Now it is the overlord of Greece, with the support of Persians behind it. If it angers it, I am afraid it will be even worse for us in Delphi…” Patmos said with some worry.

At this time, the chief priest Sitarsis said what he had thought for a long time: “Who said we are going to confront Sparta head-on! We can invite a powerful force to join the Holy Alliance to balance Sparta in the alliance. The absolute advantage occupied.” The

priests’ eyes lit up.

Patmos thought for a while and said, “Who would be better to invite? Macedonia?”

“Macedonia!” Kabatas snorted: “The Spartans expedition to northern Greece was to help Macedonia. Macedonians are grateful to Sparta. It’s too late, how can we fight against it! What’s more, although the territory of Macedonia is vast, it does not have enough strength, even barbarians cannot defeat it, how can it be possible to fight against the powerful Sparta!”

At this time, another priest, Ke Leitimene gave an “oh” and said hesitantly, “I am afraid that the only Greek force that can fight against Sparta is Dionia… Do we want to invite it?”

He just finished speaking, Kabatas He protested loudly: “No! No! Dionia is a savage kingdom, not a Greek force at all!”

“How could the kingdom of Dionia be a barbaric country? At the All-Greek Scholars Conference held there last year and this year, many scholars went to Turii, and they all praised the academic atmosphere there. What’s more, Dionysus Turii, Tarantum, Lokli, Cilitin, Crotone, Lijim, Catanai under the sub-Kingdom… These cities were famous Greek city-states in the Western Mediterranean more than ten years ago. Delphi Sanctuary contributed a lot of gold and silver…” Cretimene defended.

“The Holy Alliance has never invited any Greek city-states in the Western Mediterranean to join the tradition, because they are all colonies.” Kabatas still objected.

Cretimene sighed: “Everyone,

it’s not decades ago, everything depends on the strength of the city-state, traditions have been broken one by one, and the covenant of the Holy Alliance also said, ‘Destruction is not allowed. Any city-state in the alliance.’ But do you see that there are few examples of Sparta destroying Mandinia and Platia! And Dionia is the most powerful Greek country in the Western Mediterranean, and probably the whole of Greece The most powerful force in the world, even the Spartans have taken the initiative to negotiate a covenant in Turii many times. Only by inviting Dionia to join the alliance will the domineering Sparta be afraid and restrain his behavior. .”

Cretimene’s words made everyone ponder.

Patmos said embarrassedly: “Even if we intend to invite Dioria to join the Holy Alliance, will Dionia agree? You must know that over the years, we, like Olympia, have been as staunchly against Dionia’s participation in the competition, because It never offered gold and silver to the Holy Treasure of Delphi, but secretly preached the barbarism of Dionia, hoping that the Greek free people would not immigrate to Dionia…” The

priests all looked a little unnatural, and they did all these things. Pass.

Kabatas complained: “Dionia highly respects Hades, so that fewer and fewer people of Dionia come to Delphi to seek oracles… If this continues, I am afraid that the Greeks in the entire Western Mediterranean will be See Delphi as nothing.”

His words resonated with the priests, and everyone began to complain.

At this time, the priest Silcitas said: “It seems that you have all confirmed that the Greek country you want to invite is Dionia. As for the issue of the Temple of Hades, I don’t think you need to worry. Although the Temple of Hades in Onia is very important in the hearts of the people of Dionia, the Temple of Hades does not seem to be very important in divination and issuing oracles, which is exactly what we at Delphi are good at. The realm, and the only realm!” Sircitas emphasized and emphasized.

He knew very well in his heart that the reason why Hades was able to develop so rapidly in Dionia must be the impetus of the powerful king who claimed to be the “descendant of Hades”, and Delphi should not be so stupid as to scratch the tiger’s whiskers : “Delphi and the Temple of Hades do not conflict with each other. I think the centuries-old oracle tradition of Delphi will make the people of Dionia who are in difficulty hope to get the guidance of Apollo. And we can also guide The Greek freedmen who were living in difficulties went to the Italian peninsula to find a new life…”

“Even if Dionia is willing to join the Holy Alliance, I am afraid that Sparta will not agree to join him. After all, we only have the right to make suggestions, not to decide. !” Patmos reminded.

Sircitas sighed: “This is what worries me the most. I heard that in the covenant signed by Dionia and Sparta, there is a treaty about ‘Dionia shall not be involved in Eastern Mediterranean affairs’ .Although this shows that Sparta is afraid of Dionia, it also proves that the Spartans are full of vigilance against Dionia, and Sparta will definitely oppose Dionia joining the Holy Alliance.”

“But The Holy Alliance does not have the right to interfere in the affairs of other city-states, it is just an organization to protect Delphi, I don’t think Sparta will react so violently.” Cretimene relieved.

At this time, Silcitas came up with an idea that he had already thought of: “My suggestion is… can we send someone to Turii quietly to discuss with King Dionia, and let them take the initiative to make a request to the Holy Alliance. , and we have privately contacted Athens, Corinth, Argos, Megara and other city-states that have gaps with Sparta, and such double-sided pressure, I believe that Sparta must also consider carefully…”

After listening to all the priests, they all felt that this idea was a good idea, and no one raised objection, ‘What if Dionia does not want to join the Holy Alliance?

‘, because it seemed to them that Dionysus would be ecstatic to be invited to Delphi, the holy place of the Greeks.

Patmos looked at Pitia, who had been closing his eyes, and asked respectfully, “What does Apollo’s oracle say about this time?” For

something as important as this, he must have consulted the Apollo’s god beforehand. An edict, without any hope of success, could not have been raised at a council of priests.

Everyone’s eyes were focused on Pitia.

This old woman in maiden attire (this kind of dress is required by the Temple of Apollo, she is a symbol of chastity) opened her turbid eyes and sang in her hoarse and low voice: “O hot sun

, Exhausted its splendor and

fell under the mountains, the

dark night has come, and

the blazing bonfires

have illuminated it like day,

. . . ”

As the priests pondered the profound meaning of this oracle, Silcitas said, “Since Dionysus made Hades the protector of the kingdom, the lord of darkness, I think the oracle of Apollo was saying, ‘The sun represented by Sparta It’s about to fall, and Dionia will take its place. As for those bonfires, I haven’t figured it out yet, maybe it’s another emerging power…”

Oracles are always obscure, just like the gods themselves. well.

Although it was difficult for the priests to understand for a while, it did not affect their implementation of this matter, because it seemed that at least the general direction was right

…

…

The king of Bada, Agesiporis.

This summer has been a huge test for Dionia.

At the Dionysian Palace, King Davos, Minister of Commerce Marigi, Minister of Finance Mersis, and the five rotating chairmen of the Senate were all listening solemnly to the report of Burgos, Minister of Agriculture.

UU Reading www.sonicmtl.com

“Actually last year, the rain in spring and summer was less than before. But this year, from February to July, the southern Italian region has not experienced rain for more than five months. A rain, Lucania, Apulia (this area includes Messapi, Puchetti and Dawney), Greater Greece, Bruti are all facing severe water shortages, like Cisno The small rivers such as the River and the Saraceno River have basically exposed their riverbeds and turned into small streams. The large rivers such as the Krati River, the Lamato River, and the Neto River also have narrowed their rivers and their water levels have dropped…

If It is not the large-scale application of waterwheels. Large areas of wheat seedlings may have died on the Subari Plain, Croton Plain, Euphemia Plain, and Cosenza Plateau. However, if such a drought continues for a month, it may be During the autumn harvest, the entire southern Italian region will have a serious harvest failure. Judging from the current situation, the possibility of such a bad situation happening is very high! …”

“It’s not just the problem of the grain failure. The dry weather continues like this. After such a long time, the pastures in the mountains have also died, and a lot of livestock fed by the herdsmen have died!” Vespa lamented.

“I remember that the last time there was a drought in southern Italy was 25 years ago. The weather has been good for the past few years, and the kingdom and the people have benefited a lot. I’m afraid many people did not take any precautions against this!” Lycias said solemnly.