First holy war

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First holy war
date 595 BC Chr. – 585 BC Chr.
place Mainland Greece
output Destruction of Krisa and liberation of Delphi
Parties to the conflict

Amphictyony , Athens , Sikyon

Krisa

Commander

Kleisthenes of Sicyon , Eurylochus, Alkmaion


The First Holy War is one of the wars in the history of Ancient Greece that was waged in the interests of Delphi by a large part of the Amphictyonic States against groups that had in any way harmed the interests of the State or the Sanctuary of Delphi. It was led by Amphictyonia, Athens and Sikyon against the Phocian city ​​of Krisa and ended around 590 BC. With their destruction.

causes

Since the First Holy War, which is said to have lasted either six or even ten years, started in the 7th century BC. The city of Krisa was considered to be flourishing in BC, it is also called Krisaiischer Krieg . The Krisaier (inhabitants of Krisas) dominated important traffic routes that ran from the sea via Amphissa to the north and via Delphi to the east. So they could make Delphi dependent on themselves. They demanded tolls from pilgrims on their way to Delphi . This control of the sanctuary by Krisa was very displeasing to Athens and Sicyon . They allied themselves in this matter with the Thessalians , who at that time directed the amphictyony. As a result, the amphictyons declared war on Krisa. The request was made by the Athenian statesman Solon . As a pretext for declaring war, the levied road tolls or the accusation that the Krisaier had misappropriated the temple treasures may have been used.

course

The Thessalians, under their commandant Eurylochus, were in charge of the war. Alkmaion, who came from the noble family of the Alkmaionids , led the contingent of the Athenians who also took part in the war. The tyrant Kleisthenes of Sicyon also took part in the military conflict. He was given the task of blocking the supplies from the sea side with his fleet. Eurylochos defeated the Krisaier and devastated the villages in their territory. The port of Kirrha was also taken. But it took a longer siege until Krisa himself around 590 BC. By the military coalition formed from Amphictyonia, Athens and Sikyon. Ancient authors provide fabulous details on this. As a stratagem for the conquest of the city, the besiegers are said to have poisoned the water supply routes by adding hellebore and thus incapacitated the Krisaier, who got diarrhea from drinking this water . A large number of Krisa's inhabitants had managed to escape to the heights of the nearby Kirphis Mountains before taking their city . There they are said to have resisted for another six years.

consequences

Krisa was destroyed after his storming, its inhabitants destroyed as evildoers at the Delphic Temple, the territory of the city was declared as the land of Apollo holy and its future agricultural use was forbidden forever by curses. The port of Kirrha was also allegedly cursed. The place was quickly re-established and developed into the port of Delphis. The Pythian Games were donated to commemorate the war .

literature

  • George Forrest: The First Sacred War. In: Bulletin de correspondance hellénique. Volume 80, 1956, pp. 33-52 ( online ),

See also

Remarks

  1. ↑ Scholion zu Pindar , Hypothesis zu Pythiae .
  2. ↑ Callisthenes at Athenaios , Deipnosophistai 13, 560 c.
  3. ↑ Friedrich Schober: Phokis. In: Paulys Realencyclopadie der classischen Antiquity Science (RE). Volume XX, 1, Stuttgart 1941, Col. 474-496 (here: Col. 481).
  4. ↑ Thessalus of Kos , Presbeutikos 6.
  5. ↑ Strabon , Geographika 9, 9, 4, p. 418; Thessalus , Presbeutikos 7.
  6. ^ Pindar, Hypothesis zu Pythiae a.
  7. ↑ Aristotle in Plutarch , Solon 11; Aeschines , Orationes 3, 108.
  8. ↑ Strabon, Geographika 9, p. 418; Pausanias , Description of Greece 10, 37, 5; among others
  9. ^ Pindar, Hypothesis on Pythiae b.
  10. ^ Plutarch, Solon 11.
  11. ↑ Pausanias, Description of Greece 10, 37, 6 and 2, 9, 6; Polyainos , Strategemata 3, 5; Scholion at Pindar, Nemeae 9, 2.
  12. ↑ Thessalus , Presbeuticos 7.
  13. ↑ Slightly different versions of Polyainos, Strategemata 3, 5 and 6, 13; Frontinus , Strategemata 3, 7, 6; Pausanias, Description of Greece 10, 37, 7; Thessalus , Presbeutikos 11-20; among others
  14. ^ Pindar, Hypothesis zu Pythiae d.
  15. ↑ Erich Pieske: Krisa and Kirrha. In: Paulys Realencyclopadie der classischen Antiquity Science (RE). Volume XI, 2, Stuttgart 1922, Col. 1887-1892 (here: Col. 1890).
  16. ↑ Aischines, Orationes 3, 107.
  17. ↑ Friedrich Schober: Phokis. In: Paulys Realencyclopadie der classischen Antiquity Science (RE). Volume XX, 1, Stuttgart 1941, Col. 474-496 (here: Col. 482).
  18. ↑ Erich Pieske: Krisa and Kirrha. In: Paulys Realencyclopadie der classischen Antiquity Science (RE). Volume XI, 2, Stuttgart 1922, Sp. 1887-1892 (here: Sp. 1891).