Page:History of Greece Vol XI.djvu/277

SUCCESS OF PHILOMKLUS. 251 Though so large a portion of the Grecian name had thus cle clared war against the Phokians, yet none at first appear to have made hostile movements, except the Lokrians, with whom Philo- inelus was fully competent to deal. He found himself strong enough to overrun and plunder their territory, engaging in some indecisive skirmishes. At first the Lokrians would not even give up the bodies of his slain soldiers for burial, alleging that sacri legious men were condemned by the general custom of Greece to be cast out without sepulture. Nor did they desist from their re- fusal until he threatened retaliation towards the bodies of their own slain. 1 So bitter was the exasperation arising out of this deplora- ble war throughout the Hellenic world ! Even against the Lo- krians alone, however, Philomelus soon found himself in want of money, for the payment of his soldiers, native Phokians as well as mercenary strangers. Accordingly, while he still adhered to his pledge to respect the temple property, he did not think him- self precluded from levying a forced contribution on the proper- ties of his enemies, the wealthy Delphian citizens ; and his arms were soon crowned with a brilliant success against the Lokrians, in a battle fought near the Rocks called Phoedriades ; a craggy and difficult locality so close to Delphi, that the Lokrians must evidently have been the aggressors, marching up with a view to relieve the town. They were defeated with great loss, both in slain and in prisoners ; several of them only escaping the spear of the enemy by casting themselves to certain death down the precipitous cliffs. 3 This victory, while imparting courage to the Phokians, proved the signal for fresh exertions among their numerous enemies. The loud complaints of the defeated Lokrians raised universal sympathy ; and the Thebans, now pressed by fear, as well as ani- mated by hatred, of the Phokians, put themselves at the head of the movement. Sending round envoys to the Thessalians and the other Amphiktyonic states, they invoked aid and urged the neces- sity of mustering a common force, " to assist the god," tc vindicate the judicial dignity of the Amphiktyonic assembly, and to put down the sacrilegious Phokians. 3 It appears that a 1 Diodor. xvi. 25. 2 Diodor. xvi. 28. ' Diodor. xvi. 18 il>t<jnoauvuv <?e ruv ' 'K^LKTVOVMV rbv irpbc $uKt>.(