Amphictyonic League
Quick Summary
In ancient Greece, an amphictyony was an association of neighboring states centered around a religious site. The most prominent was the Amphictyonic League, initially comprising 12 tribes near Thermopylae. This league was associated with the shrines of Demeter and later Apollo at Delphi.
Twice a year, a council (pylaia) met to manage the shrines' affairs, oversee finances, and organize the Pythian Games. While primarily religious, the league held political sway. Its members swore oaths not to destroy each other's cities or cut off water supplies, with offenders facing sacred war. Other notable amphictyonies included the Delian and Calaurian leagues.1
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Aeschines…provoking the council of the Amphictyonic League to declare a sacred war against the town of Amphissa, in Locris, Aeschines gave Philip a pretext on which to enter central Greece as the champion of the Amphictyonic forces. The eventual result was the establishment of Macedonian hegemony over central Greece (including…
Read More…provoking the council of the Amphictyonic League to declare a sacred war against the town of Amphissa, in Locris, Aeschines gave Philip a pretext on which to enter central Greece as the champion of the Amphictyonic forces. The eventual result was the establishment of Macedonian hegemony over central Greece (including…
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Philip IIPresidency of the Thessalian League…admitted to membership of the Delphic Amphictyony—an association of neighbouring states. The votes of the Thessalians and their clients gave him a control of its council, which could be used on occasion for political and diplomatic ends.
Read More…admitted to membership of the Delphic Amphictyony—an association of neighbouring states. The votes of the Thessalians and their clients gave him a control of its council, which could be used on occasion for political and diplomatic ends.
Read More