THE SACRED WAR. 289

There was a great Greek council, centuries old,
called the Amphictyonic. It met twice every year,
usually for religious purposes, rarely for political.
But in the time we have now reached this Amphic-
tyonic Council ventured to meddle in politics, and
made mischief of the direst character. Its first
political act was to fine Sparta five hundred talents
for seizing the citadel of Thebes in times of peace.
The fine was to be doubled if not paid within a cer-
tain time. But as Sparta sneered at the fine, and
neither paid it nor its double, the action of the
council proved of little avail.

This was of small importance; it was to the next
act of the council that the mischief was due. The
people of the small state of Phocis, adjoining Delphi,
had been accused of cultivating a part of the Cir-
rhean plain, which was consecrated to Apollo. This
charge, like the former, was brought by Thebes, and
the Amphictyonic Council, having fined Sparta, now,
under Theban influence, laid a fine on the Phocians
so heavy that it was far beyond their means of pay-
ment. But Sparta had not paid; why should they?
The sentence troubled them little.

At the next meeting of the council severer meas-
ures were taken. Sparta was strong; Phocis weak.
It was resolved to seize all its territory and conse-
crate it to Apollo. This unjust sentence roused the
Phocians. <A bold citizen, Philomelus by name, told
them that they must now face war or ruin. The
district of Delphi had once been theirs, and had
been taken from them wrongfully. “Let us assert
our lost rights and scize the temple,” he said. “The

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