Page:History of Greece Vol XI.djvu/496

 470 HISTORY OF GREECE. lomelus the Phokian, after defeating the Lokrian armed force, was to fortify the sacred precinct of Delphi on its western side, against their attacks ; l and we cannot doubt that their position in close neighborhood to Delphi must have been one of positive suffering as well as of danger, during the years when the Phokian leaders, with their numerous mercenary bands, remained in victorious oc- cupation of the temple, and probably of the harbor of Kirrha also. The subsequent turn of fortune, when Philip crushed the Phokians and when the Amphiktyonic assembly was reor- ganized, with him as its chief, must have found the Amphissian Lokrians among the warmest allies and sympathizers. Resuming possession of Kirrha, they may perhaps have been emboldened, in such a moment of triumphant reaction, to enlarge their occu- pancy round the walls to a greater extent than they had done be- fore. Moreover they were animated with feelings attached to Thebes ; and were hostile to Athens, as the ally and upholder of their enemies the Phokians. Matters were in this condition when the spring meeting of the Amphiktyonic assembly (February or March 339 u. c.) was held at Delphi. Diognetus was named by the Athenians to attend it as Hieromnemon, or chief legate ; with three Pylagorce or vice- legates, jEschines, Meidias, and Thrasykles. 2 We need hardly believe Demosthenes, when he states that the name of JEschines was put up without foreknowledge on the part of any one ; and that though it passed, yet not more than two or three hands were held up in his favor. 3 Soon after they reached Delphi, Diogne- tus was seized with a fever, so that the task of speaking in the Amphiktyonic assembly was confided to -5schines. There stood in the Delphian temple some golden or gilt shields dedicated as an offering out of the spoils taken at the battle of Plataea, a century and a half before, with an inscription to this effect, "Dedicated by the Athenians, out of the spoils of Per- sians and Thebans engaged in joint battle against the Greeks." It appears that these shields had recently been set up afresh (having been perhaps stript of their gilding by the Phokian plunderers), in a new cell or chapel, without the full customary Diodor. xvi. 25. * JEsi^ines adv. Ktesiph. p. 69 1 Demosthcn. DC Coronft, p. 277.