DOI Seite / Zitierlink:
https://doi.org/10.11588/diglit.13851#0478
452
OF THE MILITARY AFFAIRS OF GREECE.
and plenty, being an olive-branch covered with wool, and adorned with
all sorts of fruits of the earth.
Kygvxsg, or heralds, are by some thought to differ from tf^Vgeis, or am-
bassadors, in this ; that ambassadors were employed in treaties of peace,,
whereas, heralds were sent to declare war (1) ; but this distinction is
not constant or perpetual, the x^uxsg being frequently taken for per-
sons commissioned to treat about accommodating differences, which may
appear, as from some of the forecited places of Eustathius, so from seve -
ral passages in Homer, and other authors.
Ambassadors were of two sorts, being either sent with a limited com-
mission, which they were not to exceed, or invested with full power of
determining matters according to their own discretion. The former
were liable to be called in question for their proceedings ; the latter
were subject to no after reckoning, but wholly their own masters, and
for that reason stiled IlgsVSsis av~oxga<rogeg, plenipotentiaries (2).
It may be observed, that the Lacedasmonians, as in most other things
their customs were different from the rest of the Greeks, so likewise in
their choice of ambassadors had this peculiar, that for the most part they
deputed men. between whom there was no very good correspondence ;
supposing it most improbable, that such persons should so far trust
another, as to conspire together against the commonwealth. For the
same reason, it was thought a piece of policy in that state to raise dissen-
sions between their kings (3).
Their leagues were of three sorts. 1. A bare tStiovSy, CuW)sjj«), eifyvi},
or peace, whereby both parties were obliged to cease from all acts of
hostility, and neither to molest one another, nor the confederates of either,
2. Eiri/xa^i'a, whereby they obliged themselves to assist one another in
case they should be invaded.
3. SufxjjKx^i'a, whereby they covenanted to assist one another as well
when they made invasions upon others, as when themselves were invad-
ed, and to have the same friends and enemies (4).
All these covenants were solemnly confirmed by mutual oaths ; the
manner of which I have already described in a former book (5) : to the
end they might lie under a greater obligation to preserve them inviolate,
we find it customary to engrave them upon tables, which they fixed up at
places of general concourse, that all the world might be witnesses of their
justice and fidelity Thus we find the articles of treaty between Athens
and Sparta not only published in those cities, but at the places where the
Olympian Pythian, and Isthmian games were celebrated (6). Others ex-
changed certain tessera, in Greek tfu^oXoc, which might be produced on
any occasion, as evidences of the agreement. The covenant itself was
also called by the same name (7). Farther, to continue the remembrance
of mutual agreements fresh in their minds, it was not uncommon for states
thus united, interchangeably to send ambassadors, who, on some appoint-
ed day, when the people assembled in great numbers, should openly re-
peat, and by mutual consent, confirm their former treaty. This we find prac-
tised by the Athenians and Spartans after their fore-mentioned league,
the Spartan ambassadors presenting themselves at Athens upon the fes-
tival of Bacchus, and the Athenians at Sparta on the festival of Hyacin-
thus.
(1) Suidas.
(2) Vide Archasol. noslr. lib. i. cap. 15.
(3) Aristoteles Politic, lib. ft.
(4) Suidas. (5) Lib. ii. cap. 6.
(6) Thucydides de Bello Peloponnes
■7) Harpocratton's JlOuBoAov.
OF THE MILITARY AFFAIRS OF GREECE.
and plenty, being an olive-branch covered with wool, and adorned with
all sorts of fruits of the earth.
Kygvxsg, or heralds, are by some thought to differ from tf^Vgeis, or am-
bassadors, in this ; that ambassadors were employed in treaties of peace,,
whereas, heralds were sent to declare war (1) ; but this distinction is
not constant or perpetual, the x^uxsg being frequently taken for per-
sons commissioned to treat about accommodating differences, which may
appear, as from some of the forecited places of Eustathius, so from seve -
ral passages in Homer, and other authors.
Ambassadors were of two sorts, being either sent with a limited com-
mission, which they were not to exceed, or invested with full power of
determining matters according to their own discretion. The former
were liable to be called in question for their proceedings ; the latter
were subject to no after reckoning, but wholly their own masters, and
for that reason stiled IlgsVSsis av~oxga<rogeg, plenipotentiaries (2).
It may be observed, that the Lacedasmonians, as in most other things
their customs were different from the rest of the Greeks, so likewise in
their choice of ambassadors had this peculiar, that for the most part they
deputed men. between whom there was no very good correspondence ;
supposing it most improbable, that such persons should so far trust
another, as to conspire together against the commonwealth. For the
same reason, it was thought a piece of policy in that state to raise dissen-
sions between their kings (3).
Their leagues were of three sorts. 1. A bare tStiovSy, CuW)sjj«), eifyvi},
or peace, whereby both parties were obliged to cease from all acts of
hostility, and neither to molest one another, nor the confederates of either,
2. Eiri/xa^i'a, whereby they obliged themselves to assist one another in
case they should be invaded.
3. SufxjjKx^i'a, whereby they covenanted to assist one another as well
when they made invasions upon others, as when themselves were invad-
ed, and to have the same friends and enemies (4).
All these covenants were solemnly confirmed by mutual oaths ; the
manner of which I have already described in a former book (5) : to the
end they might lie under a greater obligation to preserve them inviolate,
we find it customary to engrave them upon tables, which they fixed up at
places of general concourse, that all the world might be witnesses of their
justice and fidelity Thus we find the articles of treaty between Athens
and Sparta not only published in those cities, but at the places where the
Olympian Pythian, and Isthmian games were celebrated (6). Others ex-
changed certain tessera, in Greek tfu^oXoc, which might be produced on
any occasion, as evidences of the agreement. The covenant itself was
also called by the same name (7). Farther, to continue the remembrance
of mutual agreements fresh in their minds, it was not uncommon for states
thus united, interchangeably to send ambassadors, who, on some appoint-
ed day, when the people assembled in great numbers, should openly re-
peat, and by mutual consent, confirm their former treaty. This we find prac-
tised by the Athenians and Spartans after their fore-mentioned league,
the Spartan ambassadors presenting themselves at Athens upon the fes-
tival of Bacchus, and the Athenians at Sparta on the festival of Hyacin-
thus.
(1) Suidas.
(2) Vide Archasol. noslr. lib. i. cap. 15.
(3) Aristoteles Politic, lib. ft.
(4) Suidas. (5) Lib. ii. cap. 6.
(6) Thucydides de Bello Peloponnes
■7) Harpocratton's JlOuBoAov.