Chapter 1234
However, the Temple of Zeus at the Olympia was one of the oldest and most magnificent temples in the Mediterranean Sea. The Olympia was the oldest Greek Games. Since its inception, the Greek world had its own calendar (based on the number of Olympia Games). The Games were also the largest number of participants and the widest range of city-states. The Olympia and Delphi had always been the Greek cultural symbols that connected the Greek city-states all over the Mediterranean Sea.
Logically speaking, Cloto Catax would use the same method as Delphi to appease the Olympia, but the Olympia worshiped Zeus, the king of gods, while the people of Diónia firmly believed that Hades was the king of the gods. The two were fundamentally opposed, which determined that this would not be a peaceful visit.
As for how to deal with the Olympia, the Devers had personally sent instructions. Cloto Catax found it difficult to accept after reading it. Patroclus had expressed his willingness to carry out the plan on his behalf. After two days of painful thinking, the Prince of Diónia finally decided to go in person because he remembered the words written in his father's letter: "… As a king, he should not only enjoy flowers and wine, but also bear the blame and criticism when necessary. The road to prosperity of the kingdom is never smooth. Iron and blood are indispensable! … "
The Olympia was located in the southern part of the Elis region, at the confluence of the Alfios River and the Clades River. In addition to the Temple of Zeus, the Temple of Hera, the residence of the priests, and a meeting hall for the representatives of the city-states and the winners to gather and celebrate, the rest were places for competitions. There were no villages inhabited by civilians. Sycamore trees, olive trees, willow trees, and pine trees grew luxuriantly in the open space between the buildings, making it full of the atmosphere of the mountains. When there were no major sacrificial activities, the Olympia seemed a little sparsely populated, giving people a feeling of isolation.
The army that followed Cloto Catax to the Olympia was more than twice as large as the one in Delphi. More than half of them were former Helots from the Mersenia and Lagonia region. They surrounded the Olympia, looking murderous.
Cloto Catax forcibly summoned the priests of Zeus, put on a fierce look, and threatened them: The other city-states had confessed that the war between them and Diónia was deliberately instigated by the priests of the Olympia, so Diónia had come to investigate the priests of the Olympia for the war. Unless they were willing to promise that from now on, they would no longer claim Zeus as the king of the gods, and were willing to accept the supervision of the main temple of the Holy Kingdom of Diónia in name of Hades, then they would be absolved of their crimes, and could continue to serve Zeus as noble priests and continue to host the Olympia. Otherwise, they would bear the crime of war criminals, be deprived of their priest status, and be expelled from the Olympia. No city-state of the New Hellenic Union could take them in. (Originally, the Devers asked Cloto Catax to execute the priests of the Olympia who refused to cooperate as a warning to others, but the kind-hearted Cloto Catax changed it to expulsion.)
Zeus was the king of the gods, but the priests of Zeus in the Olympia were not only not strong, they were often bullied. In order to gain control of the Olympia, Alice and Pisa often fought, and from time to time, they also asked the priests of the Olympia to express their stance. They were like grass on the fence, supporting whichever side was strong, and once the situation changed, they would immediately change their stance.
It was the same when the Olympia was held. In the past, when Alice and Sparta had a conflict, Alice used her status as the owner of the Olympia to expel the Sparta athletes, not allowing them to participate in the competition, and the priests did not dare to oppose. Soon after, Sparta led the army to the Olympia, and expelled the Alice people, and then announced that "all the results of the competition will be invalid until the Olympia is reheld." The priests also said yes … Such ridiculous things had happened many times in the past.
It was precisely because of this situation that Cloto Catax dared to accept this task, because he felt that in such an environment, the priests of the Olympia who had been subservient for a long time should not have many tough bones.
His judgment was not wrong. Except for a few young priests who were expelled because of their firm opposition, the other priests chose to submit.
Since then, the two holy lands of the Greek mainland, Delphi and Olympia, like the other Greek mainland city-states, had also submitted to the Holy Kingdom of Diónia.
… …
On this day, after Timotheus led the fleet to patrol the near east coast and returned to Tyre, he found the messenger of the King of Persia waiting at the dock as soon as he disembarked.
"The King wants to see me?"
"Yes, the King has something important to discuss with you!" The messenger said with a solemn expression.
"May I ask what is the important matter?" Timotheus could not help but ask again.
"Don't ask too much. Hurry up and follow us to see the King!" The messenger urged impatiently.
Timotheus looked at the arrogant messenger and the team of Persia royal guards in gorgeous armor behind him. He could not help but curse in his heart, "The pure Persia nobles are all so annoying, treating the Greeks like barbarians."
Timotheus had lived in Persia for many years, so he was already used to it. Even though he had some doubts, he did not hesitate to follow the messenger to the camp of the King of Persia.
The King of Persia's camp was located in Damascus, east of Phoenicia. However, it was not in a town, but in a camp. However, the bustling scene of thousands of soldiers gathered here was no longer there, as the main force of Persia had been fighting in Egypt for nearly two months. Only the King of Persia and his family, attendants, and ministers were still here. Although there were 10,000 elite undead soldiers guarding the camp, it was still too little compared to the huge camp.
At a glance, there were only empty tents everywhere. Timotheus could not help but think: If the Egyptians sent a surprise army to bypass the main force of Persia and ambush this camp, they could burn it to ashes with a single fire.
Timotheus quickly suppressed this strange thought because they were already near the center of the camp, guarded by burly, well-equipped undead soldiers. They always looked at anyone who tried to enter the camp with suspicion. Even with the messenger leading the way, Timotheus still had to go through several strict checks before he was allowed to enter the camp of the King of Persia.
The King of Persia's tent stood in the center of the camp like a mansion. Just the exterior was decorated magnificently, and the royal flag of Persia was erected high in front of it — a golden eagle.
The King of Persia often hosted banquets in the tent, and Timotheus had attended one before. Sumptuous food, graceful dancers, beautiful music … it was memorable. However, at that time, Timotheus still felt a little uneasy. He felt that the King of Persia was a little too optimistic about the war, as though he could conquer Egypt in no time.
Timotheus's premonition was right. The war had been going on for nearly two months, and the huge army had been blocked at the east bank of the Nile River. The warships of the navy had not found the opportunity to break through the forts and water gates at the mouth of the Nile River and enter the core area of the Nile Delta.
At that moment, he heard a roar coming from the tent, and he immediately felt uneasy. Could it be that the King of Persia had called him here because he had been the commander of the fleet for two months and had not achieved any great results? Was he going to reprimand him?!
The more Timotheus thought about it, the more guilty he felt. He even felt that the royal guards outside the tent were looking at him strangely.
"Your Majesty, I have brought the Navy Commander Timotheus!"
"Tie up this Greek who is trying to rebel!" Artaxerxes roared. The well-prepared guards immediately pressed Timotheus to the ground, tied him up, and dragged him in front of Artaxerxes.
Trying to rebel?! Timotheus was dumbfounded as he became a prisoner, and he could only scream in panic.
"Accused?!" Artaxerxes roared angrily. "Aliobazenis has rebelled. He had planned this long ago, so he had you bring so few troops here to deceive me! I was really blind to have appointed you as the commander of the Persia fleet! In the end, you deliberately delayed the war and wasted two months of my time, giving that rebel enough time to prepare! Damn Greek barbarians, and I trusted you so much! … "
The more Artaxerxes spoke, the angrier he became. He stepped forward and kicked Timotheus to the ground. "Drag him out and behead him!"
The guards stepped forward and dragged Timotheus out by his hair.
Timotheus endured the pain and cried out in sorrow, "Aliobazenis framed me! … "
He knew that he had no chance of survival, so he simply shouted, "Artaxerxes, you are a stupid and incompetent king. No wonder your brother wants to usurp the throne, and your ministers want to rebel. As long as you are on the throne, Persia will never be at peace! … "
"Kill him! Kill him! … "Artaxerxes flew into a rage.
A moment later, the head of Timotheus was presented to Artaxerxes. Artaxerxes was still angry and said with hatred, "Cut off his hands and send them to Aliobazenis together with his head!"
This was because Artaxerxes remembered that this was how he dealt with his brother Cyrus the Younger's body. He was so angry that his mother, who loved Cyrus the Younger, fell seriously ill.
He even believed that the rebellion in Asia Minor was caused by his brother. Back then, his father appointed Cyrus the Younger as the military governor of western Persia. As a result, Cyrus the Younger, who was good at winning people's support, not only used the financial resources of Asia Minor to hire a group of Greeks to fight for him, but he also obtained the support of almost all the governors and nobles in Asia Minor. That was why he had the confidence to compete with him for the throne.
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