is the law of nature, and prevails in every department of the physical and the intellectual world. Men were not made mentally and physically equal, because diversity and variety is the rule of life and the law of creation. This principle is embodied in the argument of St. Paul, when he says: "There are also celestial bodies and bodies terrestrial. . . . There is one glory of the sun, another glory of the moon, and another glory of the stars; for one star differeth from another star in glory." There is no uniformity in the landscape, in the climate, the sea; in the firmament or in the mountains and valleys of this beautiful planet we inhabit, but a delightful and charming variety always interesting and pleasing to man, for whose enjoyment all things were created. It is true that the government and institutions established by Lycurgus remained intact for nearly five centuries, but this continuity and political integrity of the Commonwealth of Sparta, was not due to the effort to establish political and social equality among its citizens, but to the environment of the Lacedamonians, and their position in the Peloponnese, which made it necessary for them to continue constantly on a war footing to maintain their supremacy among hostile neighbors in Messenia, in Arcadia, in Argos, in Elis, in Argolis, and elsewhere in the peninsula, and to subdue revolts, which occasioned the first, second and third Messenian wars. The latter continued till 455 B. C. Sparta, however, was engaged in war almost continuously or lending aid to its allies, till the beginning of the Peloponnesian war, B. C. 431, which struggle occupied Sparta and her allies for a period of twenty-seven years. The military brotherhood established by Lycurgus owed its prolonged existence mainly to the necessities. occasioned by its situation among warring neighbors, rather than to any idea of social or political equality, although it may be conceded that many of the rules and MILITARY BROTHERHOOD 103 ordinances introduced by Lycurgus were admirably adapted, under the circumstances, to the maintenance and unity of the military brotherhood, known also as the Spartan Commonwealth. CHAPTER VII THE AMPHICTYONIC COUNCIL-ITS INFLUENCE AMONG THE HELLENESE - LACK OF POLIT- T FALL OF GREECE - THE RELIGION AND FESTIVALS HE cause of the failure of the Hellenese to acquire universal supremacy, was the absence among them of political unity. The bond which preserved and distinguished their national character rested on sentiment alone. This bond existed by reason of kinship and propinquity of blood, community of religion and patriotic pride, derived from exclusive participation in their national games and religious festivals, from which all were excluded except those of Hellenic blood. But these sentimental considerations were wholly insufficient, as the sequel shows, to secure that political unity, which is absolutely essential to establish and preserve a nation. Greece was exhausted by intestine wars and civil commotions, resulting from envy and jealousy, and history affords no more striking example of the truth of the maxim frequently exemplified, "united we stand, divided we fall," which is also forcibly expressed by the divine teacher when he said, "a house divided against itself cannot stand." The Amphictyonic Council was of great antiquity, and was the only national assemblage or Congress, of a permanent character known to the Greeks. It was supposed to have been founded by Amphictyon, the son of Deucalion, and brother of Hellen, the common ancestor COUNCIL, HOW COMPOSED 105 of the race. It exercised no political functions or powers. Its duties were confined to the execution of all decrees agreed upon among the states, or the Hellenic tribes, and the care of the temples, where the gods were worshipped and the oracles consulted, and supervision over the national religious games and festivals of the Hellenese. It succeeded the many religious associations or congregations, which had previously existed for the same purpose, who were accustomed to meet at fixed times to offer sacrifices to the god of some common temple. When the first Amphictyonic Council was chosen, the Hellenese were divided into twelve tribes, which comprised the independent cities and states of Greece, including the Thessalians, Beotians, Dorians, Ionians, Perrhæbians, Magnesians, Locrians, Ænianians, Achæans of Phthiotis in Thessaly, Malians, Phocians and Dolopians. The council was composed of twentyfour deputies, two sent by each state or tribe. It met regularly twice a year, in the spring at Delphi in Phocis, in the temple of Apollo; in the autumn at the village of Athela, near Pylæ, or Thermopylæ, in the temple of Demeter (known to the Romans as Ceres). There was a temple also dedicated to Apollo on the island of Delos, the religious metropolis of the Cyclades, where sacred rites were also celebrated. Every member of the council, when elected, was obliged to take what was known as the Amphictyonic oath by which he became obligated as a member, as follows: "We will not destroy any Amphictyonic town, nor cut it off from running water, in war or in peace; if any one shall do so, we will march against him and destroy his city. If any one shall plunder the property of the god, or shall be cognizant thereof, or shall take treacherous counsel against the things of his temple at Delphi, we will punish him with foot and hand and voice and by every means in our power." The Amphictyonic Council conducted the first Sacred War against the city of Cirrha on the Corinthian gulf, the port town of Crissa, on the plain at the foot of Mount Parnassus, on which stood the temple of Delphi. The Cirrhæans were guilty of the crime of levying extortion against those who came to worship and consult the oracle at Delphi. The struggle was tedious and protracted, and covered a period of ten years. The war was finally concluded under the leadership of Solon who, it is said, poisoned the waters of the river Plistus, which flowed through the city into the gulf. The Amphictyonic Council dedicated the spoils taken at Cirrha, in founding the sacred Pythian games, which were periodically celebrated on the plain, at the foot of Parnassus, and acquired celebrity in the odes of Pindar. Phocians were involved in the Second Sacred War, which afforded an opportunity to Philip of Macedon, to interfere in the affairs of Greece. He claimed to be a Greek, and became a member of the Amphictyonic League, which he subsequently made instrumental in destroying the liberties of Greece. The Plutarch, in his life of Cimon, mentions an instance of the interference of the Amphictyonic Council in the affairs of the Dolopians, one of the tribes having representation in that body, and who at that time were established in the island of Scyros. The Dolopians were pirates. But in that early age, Thucydides says the inhabitants on the coast and islands of the Ægean seas had recourse to piracy. These pirates, he says, were commanded by powerful chiefs, who took this means of increasing their wealth, and providing for their poorer followers, for in that age, piracy was regarded as an honorable occupation, and was not then considered disgraceful. These Dolopians descended on a party of merchants from Thessaly who landed on the island, and not only despoiled them of their goods, but also confined them in prison. Imprisonment, it seems, was not customary. The Thessalians escaped, and ap |