Diodorus Siculus

BOOK XVI - The Library of History



Page 505 were many Straw-Beds round about the Temple, and it happen'd that the Fire left in the Tents of those that fled, caught hold of some of them; upon which the Flame so mounted on a sudden, that it consum'd the Temple, with all those that fled into it: For it seems God would not spare the Sacrilegers, notwithstanding all their Supplications.

Archias was then Lord Chancellor of Athens, and Marcus Aemilius and Titus Quinctius were invested with the Consulship at Rome, when the Phocian War (which had continu'd Ten Years) was ended in the manner following: When both the Boeotians and Phocians were brought low with the continual Fatigues of the War, the Phocians, by their Ambassadors, crav'd Aid of the Lacedaemonians, who sent them a Thousand heavy-arm'd Men, under the Command of Archidamus the King of Sparta. In like manner the Boeotians pray'd Assistance from Philip; who thereupon being join'd with the Thessalians, entred Locris with a great Army, where finding Phalecus (restor'd again to his Command) with a considerable Body of Mercenaries, he prepar'd to fight him. Phalecus was then at Nicea, who finding himself not able to engage with Philip, sent Ambassadors to him to treat. Thereupon a Peace was concluded upon these Conditions: That Phalecus, with all those then with him, might march away whither they thought fit. Whereupon Phalecus (after Ratification on both sides) without any further delay, departed with those Forces he had with him, to the number of Eight thousand, into Peloponnesus. And the Phocians now hopeless, gave up themselves into the Power of Philip.

The King having without Fighting unexpectedly put an end to the Sacred War, join'd in a Senate with the Thessalians and Boeotians; in which it was decreed, That the Great Council of the Amphictyons should be assembled, to whose Decision all Matters should be wholly referr'd.

By them afterwards it was decreed, That Philip and his Posterity should be receiv'd as Members into the Council of the Amphictyons, and should have the Privilege of a double Voice, as the Phocians (whom he conquer'd) had before: That the Walls of Three Cities in Phocis should be demolish'd: And, That the Phocians should never after have any thing to do with the Temple, or be Members of the Court of the Amphictyons: That they should never be possess'd of Horse or Arms, until they had made Restitution to the Oracle of the Moneys they had sacrilegiously taken away. Moreover, That the Exiles of Phocis, and whoever they were that were Partners with them in the Sacrilege, should be accounted accurs'd, and driven out of every Place. Likewise, That all the Cities of the Phocians should be ras'd to the Ground, and turn'd into Villages, every one of them not to contain above Fifty Houses, and not to be under one Furlong distant one from another; yet that the Phocians should keep their Lands, but should pay a Tribute to the Oracle every Year of Sixty Talents, 'till they had paid the Sum enter'd in the Registers at the time of the Sacrilege committed: That Philip, with the Boeotians and Thessalians should set forth the Phythian Games, because the Corinthians were Partners in the Impiety with the Phocians: That the Amphictyons, together with Philip, should break in pieces upon the Rocks all the Arms of the Phocians and Mercenaries, and then burn the Remains: And lastly, That they should deliver up all the Horse.

When they had dispatch'd this, they made Laws and Orders for the restoring of the Oracle to its former state, and all other matters relating to Religion and the Publick Peace, and advancing of Amity and Concord amongst the Grecians. All these Decrees of the Amphictyons were allow'd and confirm'd by Philip, who carry'd himself towards them with great Respect in all things, and then march'd back with his Army into Macedonia; and not only purchas'd Honour by his Piety and martial Conduct, but made many Advances towards the future Enlargement of his Dominions: For he had long coveted to gain the Sovereign Command of all Greece, and to make War upon the Persians, which indeed at length happen'd. But of these things we shall hereafter give a particular Account in their due time.

Let us now therefore return to what properly is an Appendant, and in course annex'd to the precedent History: Yet we judge it our Duty first to relate the Judgments inflicted by the Gods upon the Sacrilegious Robbers of the Oracle; for Vengeance overtook all of them in general, not only those who were the chief Ringleaders, but even them that had the least hand in the Sacrilege.

Philomelus, the First and Chief Contriver of seizing the Temple, by a certain Fate of War was brought into such a strait, as that he cast himself headlong from the top a of Rock.

His Brother Onomarchus having taken upon him the Command of the heartless and discourag'd Army, was afterwards, with his Phocians and Mercenaries, totally routed in Thessaly, and he himself taken and crucify'd.


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