Page:History of Greece Vol XI.djvu/454

428 HISTORY OF GREECK. Grecian world, either in his own time or in that of his pm decessors. 1 It was but two years since the conquest and ruin of Olyntb.ua, and of thirty-two Chalkidic Grecian cities besides, had spread abroad everywhere the terror and majesty of Philip's name. But he was now exalted to a still higher pinnacle by the destruction of the Phokians, the capture of Thermopylae, and the sight of a permanent Macedonian garrison, occupying from henceforward Nikaea and other places cammanding the pass. 2 lie was irxtolled as restorer of the Amphiktyonic assembly, and as avenging champion of the Delphian gad, against the sacrilegious Phokians, That he should have acquired possession of an unassailable pass, dismissed the formidable force of Phalaekus, and become master of twenty-two Phokian cites, all without striking a blow, was accounted the most wonderful of all his exploits. It strengthened more than ever the prestige of his constant good fortune. Having been now, by the vote of the Amphiktyons, invested with the right of Amphiktyonic suffrage previously exercised by the Pho- kians, he acquired a new Hellenic rank, with increased facilities for encroachment and predominance in Hellenic affairs. More- over, in the month of August 346 B. c., about two months after the surrender of Phokis to Philip, the season recurring for cele- brating the great Pythian festival, after the usual interval of four years, the Amphiktyons conferred upon Philip the signal honor of nominating him president to celebrate this festival, in conjunction with the Thebans and Thessalians ; 3 an honorary prominence, 1 Demosth. Fals. Leg. p. 361. 1 Demosth. ad Philipp. Epistolam, p. 153. NtKaiav nlv typovpy 3tc. a Diodor. xvi. 60. riftevai 6e KOI rbv uyuva riJv Ilv&iuv faihimrov peril 'Boturuv Kal QerTahuv, 6itl rb Kopiv&iovf pereaxqicevai Tolf $UKevai "fir elf rb deiov irapavo/jiaf. The reason here assigned by Diodorus, why the Amphiktyons placeo the celebration of the Pythian festival in the hands of Philip, cannot be under stood. It may be true, as matter of fact, that the Corinthians had allied themselves with the Phokians during the Sacred War though there is no other evidence of the fact except this passage. But the Corinthians were never invested with any authoritative character in reference to the Pythian festival. They were the recognized presidents of the Isthmian festival. 1