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But such were not the lessons taught at Thebes, nor such the character formed by the philosophy, or the religion, of the Greeks.

234. The battle of Mantinea was the greatest ever fought in Greece. Great as it was, it was not immediately decisive in relation to the objects of the contending parties. Sparta lost all hope of recovering her ancient supremacy. Thebes, indeed, secured from the allies of Sparta the recognition of the independence of Messenia; but, in the death of Epaminondas, she saw an end to the prospect of the pre-eminence she sought. All were exhausted by the war. In the peace which followed, each republic retained its own possessions; but, as the Spartans kept back from every negotiation that did not restore Messenia to them, they were excluded from this arrangement. They had little fear that any of the rival states would be able to take the place from which Sparta had been cast down: "The sceptre, had indeed been wrested from her hands; but it had, at the same time, been broken in pieces."

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CHAPTER XXII.

REVIVAL OF ATHENS.

Some effects of the Peloponnesian war-Returning supremacy of Athens by seaFeatures of the Athenian character-Cause of their degeneracy-Chares-Insurrection of the Grecian islands-Independence of the states-Conclusion of the war.

235. ATHENS rallied much more than any of the other Grecian states after the battle of Mantinea. We have seen Athens humbled by Sparta, in the Peloponnesian war; Thebes humbled, also, in the invasion of Boeotia by Sparta; and Sparta, at length, humbled by Thebes in the battle of Mantinea; and, after this last event, the general states of Greece, spurning the authority of any dominant city, assembled in the Amphictyonic Council, according to their ancient forms. To Athens was still left a wide scope for ambition, on the sea. Under the command of Chares,

* Thirlwall.

Timotheus, and Iphicrates, (who survived both Epaminondas and Agesilaus,) the Athenian superiority was restored in Euboea, and in several islands along the coasts of Thrace and Asia Minor, from the Bosphorus in the north to Rhodes in the south. Their friendship was sought by the people of Corcyra, and of the Cyclades, and of Byzantium. The greater part of the Athenians were employed in commerce, or in a navy of nearly three hundred ships. With returning prosperity Athens displayed, in greater force than ever, the profligacy of her people and the vices of her government. Private feuds; party rancour; hereditary hatred; the corruption of justice; extravagant delight in festivities provided at the public expense; general dissipation and sensuality among the rich; and extreme poverty among the poor-these were features in the condition of the Athenians which must not be lost sight of in the general brilliancy of their history.

236. Among the signs, and, in some degree, the causes, of Athenian degeneracy, may be mentioned the employment in war of mercenary troops and pirates, rather than their own citizens. This not only led to dangerous and unjust undertakings, but added to the general levity of the Athenian character, and lessened the dignity and earnestness of their public affairs. As, in former times, they had been made the instruments of bold and skilful leaders, such men were not now wanting. While Timotheus, Iphicrates, Chabrias, and Phocion, preserved the ancient character of Athenian statesmen and generals, Chares, a man immeasurably inferior to them in all things but his recklessness and selfish ambition, became the idol of the people. By his influence, the Athenians were induced to supply their wants; whether for war or for pleasure, by the plunder of their colonies and allies. Provoked by this rapacity, the people of Chios, Coos, Rhodes, and Byzantium, declared war against Athens. Chares was sent, at the head of a strong armament, to subdue them. At Chios, they were repelled; and Chabrias lost his life. The Chians, encouraged by their success, attacked the cities of Lemnos and Samos. By laying siege to Byzantium, the Athenians drew the Chians from their islands. A storm arising, when the hostile forces were near each other, Timotheus and Iphicrates refused to venture on a desperate engagement

which was urged by Chares. Chares accused them of cowardice, at Athens; and, his charge being supported by orators in his pay, these illustrious commanders were sentenced to pay each a fine so heavy that it was impossible to raise it. Timotheus retired to Chalcis in Euboea, and then to Lesbos; and Iphicrates to Thrace: neither of them was afterwards employed in the public service of their country. Chares, having thus got rid of the men who acted as a check on his avarice and folly, neglected the interests, and spent the treasures, of Athens in the gratification of his own passions. To raise money for his troops, he entered into the service of Artabazus, the satrap of Ionia; but Ochus, the Persian monarch, against whom Artabazus had revolted with the help of the Athenians, sent an embassy to Athens, complaining of their violation of the peace between Greece and Persia; demanding the removal of their forces from Asia; and threatening, if they refused this, to aid the insurgents against Athens with a fleet of three hundred ships. Alarmed by this threat, and unsuccessful in their attempts to quell the revolted states, the Athenians were compelled to bring the war to an end; and the states which had united for their independence gained their object.

CHAPTER XXIII.

THE SACRED WAR.

Treasury of Apollo-Its guardians-Proceedings of the Amphictyonic CouncilPhilomelus-Siege of Delphi-Close of the war.

237. THE treasury of Apollo at Delphi was regarded by the Greeks as sacred. The Amphictyonic Council were its guardians. During the sway of the states that took the lead in the public affairs of Greece, this venerable Council had been reduced to little more than a shadow; but when the power of those states was broken, the Council revived, and proceeded to exercise its authority, as of old, yet, generally, under the influence of Thebes. They had condemned Sparta to pay a large fine, as a punishment,

nominally, for the seizure of the Theban citadel; but, in all probability, this was done rather to humble Sparta for refusing to acknowledge the independence of Messenia. The next proceeding of the Amphictyons was to call the Phocians to account for cultivating part of the plain which the Council had formerly declared sacred to Apollo.

238. For this offence the Phocians were sentenced to a heavy penalty. As the Phocians took no notice of this sentence, it was decreed that their whole territory should be forfeited to Apollo. Thus threatened, the Phocians elected Philomelus as leader of their forces in their own defence. Philomelus was a bold counsellor: he urged his countrymen to maintain their ancient privileges by taking possession of Delphi, and by their influence over the oracle to reverse the decree of the Amphictyons. He repaired to Sparta, and secured the secret support of Archidamus, son of Agesilaus, king of Sparta. He then marched to Delphi, cut off the Thracidæ, or ruling families who guarded the oracle; but assured the inhabitants of Delphi that he had no hostile intentions towards them, or the sacred temple. The Locrians of Amphissa rushed to the rescue of Delphi ; but they were defeated by Philomelus. The conqueror then destroyed the brazen tablets which recorded the decree against the Phocians; invaded the Locrian territory; forced the Pythia to give an oracle in his favour; and sent envoys to the principal states, to justify his proceedings.

239. Both the Locrians and the Phocians sent embassies to Thebes. The Thebans dismissed the Phocians with indignation, and joined the Locrians. Nearly the whole. of Thessaly, and nothern Greece generally, united with the Locrians and Thebans against Philomelus. Athens, weakened by the war with the revolted confederates; and Sparta, contending against Messene and Megalopolis; were little inclined, and less able, to give their succour. Philomelus then avowed that he would use the sacred treasures of Delphi to reward all that would enter his service. Lured by the tempting prospects, adventurers from every part of Greece flocked to his aid. With recruited forces he defeated the Locrians, Thessalians, and Thebans; and, on the arrival of fresh enemies, he stood on his defence. The Thebans massacred all the prisoners. Philomelus retaliated, by a similar massacre of the prisoners taken by his army.

But when both armies met near Neon, beneath a precipice in one of the craggy valleys of Parnassus, the Phocians were overpowered by superior numbers. Philomelus died, fighting in the thickest of the battle. The Thebans returned home, to watch the effect of this defeat and loss upon the Phocians. The place of Philomelus was taken by his brother Onomachus. While he was pursuing his conquests, the king of Macedon entered on the scene; and, after a series of engagements which belong to the general history of the times, he brought the war to a close, at a season, and in a manner, which suited the views of his own ambition.

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Origin of the Macedonian monarchy-Perdiccas-Archelaus ascends the throne of Persia-Murdered-Succeeded by Orestes-Aeropus-Pausanias-Amyntas the Second-Succeeded by Alexander-Murdered-Ptolemy-Philip-Invades Illyria-Siege of Amphipolis-Foundation of Philippi-Philip attempts to pass Thermopyla-Demosthenes-Attempt at war with Persia-Progress of the designs of Philip-Gains possession of Olynthus-Celebrated by a festivalEschines-The termination of the Sacred War-Philip establishes his footing in Greece-Meditates the invasion of Persia-Celebration of the Pythian Games-Philip establishes his power in the Peloponnesus-Speech of Demosthenes-Advantages gained by Philip during the Sacred War-Embassy to Hegesippus Philip's hostile aggressions-Siege of Selymbria-Phocion-His exploits-Philip at war with Scythia-Battle of Chæronea-Events in the domestic history of Philip-Murder of Philip-Estimate of his characterImmorality of the Greek States- Claims of religion and morality upon

mankind.

240. THE foundations of the Macedonian monarchy were laid by an Hellenic colony from Argos. At the time of the Persian invasion of Greece, the kings of Macedonia were tributaries to Persia; but they were delivered from that yoke by the victories of the Greeks. After the retreat of the Persians, Macedonia was exposed to the attacks of the Thracians by land, and of the Athenians by sea.—In the reign of Perdiccas the Second, Athens supported the claims of his brother Philip against him, and took possession of several of his fortified towns; in which they placed Grecian colonists. At the breaking out of the Peloponnesian war, Perdiccas at first joined with Sparta; but afterwards he concluded a peace with Athens. Archelaus, said to

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