DOI Page / Citation link:
https://doi.org/10.11588/diglit.1004#0346
POLICY OF ACHAIA. 301
Helice, had been swallowed up by an inundation of the sea. Annually in
the spring and summer, assemblies were convoked of deputies from these
states, for the purpose of consulting concerning war and peace, the framing
of alliances, the creation of magistrates, and the enactment of laws. The
place of their convention was the sacred grove of Jupiter Homagyrius near
the temple of the Panachjean Ceres at j^Igium. Every citizen from any of
the confederate states who had passed his thirtieth year was at liberty to
be present, and to propose measures to the Assembly for their adoption.
The session was limited by law to three days. It is a pleasing proof of the
unanimity prevalent among them, that a common system of weights and
measures was employed by the cities of Achaia; so that they were all, as it
were, members of the same state.
The cities of this province, having combined themselves together in a
federal union, proceeded to increase their power by foreign conquest. They
wrested Corinth from the hands of the Macedonians, and attached
that city to their own body. On this occasion they had Rome for their
ally, and thus, for a temporary gain, they authorized the adoption
of a principle which afterwards proved the cause of their own dis-
solution. They discovered too late that the real victory thus gained was
not a triumph of one Greek over another, but of Rome over the whole of
Greece. Still, however, they pursued the same course: they joined the
Romans in their expeditions into Macedonia against Philip, and fought
under their standard against their own neighbours in ^Etolia: their
resources, thus increased, tempted them to gratify their ancient enmity
against Lacedsemon, which they succeeded in reducing to dependence
upon themselves for a time, and in alienating from them for ever; but
by so doing they paved the way for their own degradation, and for
the ultimate loss of the liberties of their common country. The appeal
of the Lacedaemonians against the overbearing conduct of the Achfeans
towards themselves, was joyfully welcomed by Rome as affording an
occasion for her own interference in the internal affairs of Greece. The
exiles of Sparta were recalled by her orders, and its walls, which had been
thrown down by the Achseans, were rebuilt. On the false accusation of
the traitor Callicrates, more than a thousand of the principal citizens of
Achaia were summoned to Italy under suspicion of collusion with Perseus,
when he was at war with Rome; and it was only when seventeen years
Helice, had been swallowed up by an inundation of the sea. Annually in
the spring and summer, assemblies were convoked of deputies from these
states, for the purpose of consulting concerning war and peace, the framing
of alliances, the creation of magistrates, and the enactment of laws. The
place of their convention was the sacred grove of Jupiter Homagyrius near
the temple of the Panachjean Ceres at j^Igium. Every citizen from any of
the confederate states who had passed his thirtieth year was at liberty to
be present, and to propose measures to the Assembly for their adoption.
The session was limited by law to three days. It is a pleasing proof of the
unanimity prevalent among them, that a common system of weights and
measures was employed by the cities of Achaia; so that they were all, as it
were, members of the same state.
The cities of this province, having combined themselves together in a
federal union, proceeded to increase their power by foreign conquest. They
wrested Corinth from the hands of the Macedonians, and attached
that city to their own body. On this occasion they had Rome for their
ally, and thus, for a temporary gain, they authorized the adoption
of a principle which afterwards proved the cause of their own dis-
solution. They discovered too late that the real victory thus gained was
not a triumph of one Greek over another, but of Rome over the whole of
Greece. Still, however, they pursued the same course: they joined the
Romans in their expeditions into Macedonia against Philip, and fought
under their standard against their own neighbours in ^Etolia: their
resources, thus increased, tempted them to gratify their ancient enmity
against Lacedsemon, which they succeeded in reducing to dependence
upon themselves for a time, and in alienating from them for ever; but
by so doing they paved the way for their own degradation, and for
the ultimate loss of the liberties of their common country. The appeal
of the Lacedaemonians against the overbearing conduct of the Achfeans
towards themselves, was joyfully welcomed by Rome as affording an
occasion for her own interference in the internal affairs of Greece. The
exiles of Sparta were recalled by her orders, and its walls, which had been
thrown down by the Achseans, were rebuilt. On the false accusation of
the traitor Callicrates, more than a thousand of the principal citizens of
Achaia were summoned to Italy under suspicion of collusion with Perseus,
when he was at war with Rome; and it was only when seventeen years