Page:The Ancient City- A Study on the Religion, Laws, and Institutions of Greece and Rome.djvu/241

 X)HAP. IX. TUE KING. 235 2. Political Authority of the King. Just as ill the family the authority was inherent in the priesthood, and the father, as head of the domestic worship, was at the same time judge and raastei', s(» the high priest of the city was at the same time its political chief. The altar — to borrow an expression of Aristotle — conferred dignity and power upon him. There is nothing to surprise us in this confusion of the priesthood and the civil power. We find it at the beginning of almost all societies, either because during the infancy of a people nothing but religion will com- mand their obedience, or because our nature feels the need of not submitting to any other power than that of a moral idea. We have seen how the religion of the city was mixed up with everything, Man felt himself at every moment dependent upon his gods, and consequently upon this priest, who was placed between them and himself. This priest watched over the sacred fire ; it was, as Pindar says, his daily worship that saved the <5ity every day.' He it was who knew the formulas and prayers which the gods could not resist ; at the moment of combat, he it was who slew the victim, and drew upon the army the protection of the gods. It was very natural that a man armed with such a j^ower «hould be accepted and recognized as a leader. From the fact that religion had so great a part in the gov- ernment, in the courts, and in war, it necessarily fol- lowed that the priest was at the same lime magistrate, judge, and military chief. " The kings of Sparta," says Aristotle,' "have three attributes: they perform the ' Pindar, Nem., XI. 5. * Aristotle, Politics, III. 9.