Page:History of Greece Vol XI.djvu/269

AMPHIKTYONIC COUNCIL. 243 The act here put in accusation was indisputably a gross political wrong ; and a pretence, though a very slight pretence, for bring- ing political wrong under cognizance of the Amphiktyons, might be found in the tenor of the old oath taken by each in eluded city. 1 Still, every one knew that for generations past, the assembly had taken no actual cognizance of political wrong ; so that both trial and sentence were alike glaring departures from un- derstood Grecian custom proving only the humiliation of Sparta and the insolence of Thebes. The Spartans of course did not submit to pay, nor were there any means of enforcement against them. No practical effect followed therefore, except (probably) the exclusion of Sparta from the Amphiktyonic assembly as well as from the Delphian temple and the Pythian games. Indi- rectly, however, the example was most pernicious, as demonstrat- ing that the authority of a Pan-hellenic convocation, venerable from its religious antipathy'; could be abused to satisfy the politi- cal antipathies of a single leading state. In the year 357 B. c., a second attempt was made by Thebes to employ the authority of the Amphiktyonic assembly as a means of crushing her neighbors the Phokians. The latter had been, from old time, border-enemies of the Thebans, Lokrians, and Thessalians. Until the battle of Leuktra, they had fought as allies of Sparta against Thebes, but had submitted to Thebes after that battle, and had continued to be her allies, though less and less cor- dial, until the battle of Mantinea and the death of Epaminondas. 2 Since that time, the old antipathy appears to have been rekindled, especially on the part of Thebes. Irritated against the Phokians probably as having broken off from a sworn alliance, she deter- mined to raise against them an accusation in the Amphiktyonic assembly. As to the substantive ground of accusation, we find different statements. According to one witness, they were ac- cused of having cultivated some portion of the Kirrhasan plain, consecrated from of old to Apollo ; according to another, they 1 jEschines, De Fals. Leg. p. 279. c. 35. 3 Compare Xenoph. Hcllen. vi. 5, 23, and vii 5, 4. About the feud of the Tliessajfans and Phokians, see Herodot. vii. 176, viii. 27 ; -ZEschines, D Fals. Leg. p. 289. c. 43 of the Lokrians and Phokians, Xenoph. Jlellen iii. 5, 3 ; Pausanius, iii. 9, 4.