Chapter 349
The entire plaza suddenly became deathly silent. The priestess seemed oblivious to the situation outside, and slowly walked to the front of the platform without looking sideways. She used a torch to light the brazier in front of her, the raging flames representing the blessings of the gods.
She then faced the plaza and gently opened her lips. A gentle and penetrating voice that was hard to imagine came from her seemingly frail body, and the crowd could not help but be intoxicated by it.
With her as the leader, the priestesses chanted Hera's Ode together. The song was filled with love for children, concern for women, admonition for marriage, and protection of the family. Thus, the song was neither resounding nor sorrowful, but like that of an elder, unhurried and unhurried.
After the ode ended, the plaza was still quiet, and the people seemed to be immersed in the teachings of the ode.
At this moment, the flames in the brazier suddenly became visibly more vigorous.
"Hera has shown herself! She's paying attention to us! "The crowd immediately clamored, believing this to be a good omen.
The priestess Aegnis smiled slightly, and this smile was like sunlight shining into the hearts of the people, "The great Hera blesses you!"
As soon as she finished speaking, the crowd finally began to cheer, and melodious music began to play.
Couples were let in by the patrol team, and they entered the plaza one after another. The entire plaza quickly became crowded.
They began to clumsily dance to the music. The Greeks were a race that excelled at athletics, but not at dancing. The Devers had made a simple adaptation of social dance from their previous world, and had specially trained couples perform it at the wedding celebration last year. It immediately attracted the admiration of the people, and they all fought to learn it.
This time, everyone held back their energy and entered bravely, showing off the elegance of their families. The couples kept the beat in the narrow space, taking simple steps, looking at each other, turning in circles, and changing their gestures. Although the movements were simple and repetitive, the crowd became happier the more they danced, and even the people outside the plaza began to sing and dance.
In the dance, the wife felt that the husband was even more charming, and the husband felt that the wife was even more beautiful. Everyone was intoxicated, and this was the reason why the Devers had designed this segment. The family was the foundation of the city, and a strong family meant peace.
Even the priestess on the platform could not help but move her delicate body slightly, humming softly.
At this moment, a lively priestess gathered her courage and asked Aegnis in a small voice, "Priestess, this dance was created by the archon. Do you usually dance with him at home?"
The priestess' words caused Aegnis' rosy lips to curl into a smile. She was a more traditional Greek woman. When the Lijim people rejected Dionysius's proposal, no one dared to marry her. She had no complaints and silently entered the Temple of Artemis as a priest. After a few years, she thought that she would live such a plain life and grow old alone. But Artenis took pity on the beautiful girl. Syracuse's power threatened Lijim's survival. Aegnis shouldered the hopes of the entire city and was sent to the unfamiliar land of Turií. She had thought that the legendary famous general, the wise Consul of Diónia, would be a tyrannical person. However, the Devers had surprised her with their gentleness and consideration that transcended this era.
But now, she put on a stern face and berated them, "This is a celebration. By Hera's grace, we must devote ourselves!"
The priestesses all knew that although Aegnis was the chief priest of the Temple of Hera, she had a gentle personality and treated her subordinates kindly. She would not get angry, but they still obediently stopped talking and stood properly.
… …
In the Temple of the Rainbow Goddess Elis, Ephialte was currently excited and nervous. Every moment felt like a year. He looked around and found that most of the men and women were like this. Only a young man attracted his attention, but he was sitting upright on the ground with his eyes closed, as if he was asleep.
Ephialte curiously sized him up, but found that he did not know this person. He did not know that this man's identity was extraordinary. The former Prince of Sparta, Leotychides, was his name. After living in Turií for a few years, Leotychides was now a citizen of Diónia and a captain of the First Legion. Under the urging of his old servant, he had found a partner. However, the aesthetics of the people of Sparta were different from that of ordinary Greeks. They liked women with strong bodies, distinct personalities, and could even be described as valiant. Just like his mother, when Leotychides first went to the battlefield, she had personally given him a newly made bronze shield and told him, 'Either use it to fight, or be carried back by it.' Thus, Leotychides was engaged to a strong-willed Bruti girl from Ciudad Abyssinia.
"Everyone, please line up as soon as possible. The blessing ceremony is about to begin! Once the music starts, follow me into the square slowly, one by one. Understood?! "The priest in charge of guiding the newlyweds reminded them again.
Ephialte's spirits were lifted. 'It's finally starting!'
A soothing, gentle, yet solemn music entered the temple. The priestess holding the flower basket took the lead out of the temple, while Ephialte's fiancée held his arm and followed.
The moment they entered the square, the two were stunned. It was already a sea of flowers! Colourful petals were scattered from the hands of the people at the side of the square, as well as from the hands of adorably dressed children shuttling through the square. They fluttered down and turned into a carpet of flowers for the couple to step on.
Outside the square, thousands of people were still waving colorful cloth and cheering loudly for them. There were even friends and acquaintances who directly called out their names and offered their blessings.
Under the attention of tens of thousands of people, every couple was excited, as if they had already become the happiest couple in the world.
When the music ended, they were already standing at the foot of the steps in front of Hera's temple.
Aegnis waited for the noise outside the square to die down before saying loudly, "Young men and women, Cupid shot you with an arrow of love. Under Aphrodite's guidance, you fell into the river of love, and under Hera's watch, you came here.
Hera asked me to ask the men here, are you willing to become the husband of this beautiful woman beside you? Are you willing to respect her until you grow old? For the new home you are about to build, you won't work, you won't break the law, and you will do your best to become an outstanding citizen of the city, building and protecting your own home?! "
"Yes!" Every man answered loudly without hesitation, because the priest's question was exactly what they were fighting for.
"Women here, Hera asked me to ask you, are you willing to become the wife of this strong man beside you? Are you willing to love him, respect him, and take care of him until you grow old? Are you willing to take care of his house, manage his slaves, and raise his children until they grow up to become outstanding citizens of the city?! "
The delicate women answered with incomparable determination, "Yes!"
Aegnis looked outside the square, "Is there anyone who objects to any of the couples here becoming husband and wife? If there is, please say it now! "
No one objected.
Aegnis exhaled softly, opened her arms, and announced loudly, "I now declare that under Hera's witness, you have become husband and wife. I hope that you will love each other from now on, until the end of time! If anyone destroys your marriage and family, then no matter who it is, they will suffer Hera's wrath and the justice of the Diónia Alliance! Now, every husband on the field can kiss your beautiful wife. "
Just as Aegnis finished speaking, the flames in the brazier beside her suddenly flared up, flashing with sparks.
"Hera! Hera! "The people and newcomers cried out in alarm.
At this moment, the music started. Compared to the solemn and sacred melody that had been played when they entered, this melody was beautiful, warm, sweet, and full of happiness.
Effie Art's wife blushed and closed her eyes. When their lips met, there was only one thought in her mind: Effie Art's insistence on participating in the Turií Marriage Festival was the right decision. She had no regrets in this life! … …
As for Leotychides's wife, she opened her eyes and looked at her husband who was kissing her, her eyes glistening with tears. She couldn't help but be surprised. Her husband, who had always been unyielding, was actually crying?!
She didn't know that Leotychides was thinking of his mother, who had committed suicide due to humiliation, amidst the blessings of tens of thousands of people. At this important moment, he still lacked the blessings of his loved ones! … …
It was already afternoon. The people who had rushed to the temple early in the morning, as well as the newlyweds in the square, were all tired and hungry, but none of them turned around to go home. Instead, they were all eager to try, because the last celebration of the Marriage Festival was about to begin.
When Aegnis said the word "splash water", all the people immediately picked up the earthen jars filled with water from the ground and splashed it at the people nearby. The children who had been in charge of scattering flowers now entered the square and splashed water at the newlyweds, causing the brides to scream and the grooms to stand up to protect them. Among the frolicking children were Cynthia, her younger brother Adoris, and her schoolmates.
For a moment, there was an uproar inside and outside the square, and water splashed everywhere.
The people who had finished splashing water rushed to the Krati River next to the temple, scooped up water, and continued to fight. This was one of the reasons why the Temple of Hera was built by the river.
After the water was poured on the Krati, the men took off their upper clothes and only tied them around their waists, revealing their strong bodies. The Greeks worshipped physical beauty, and the people of Diónia were no exception. Moreover, the population of this newly established city-state alliance was mainly composed of immigrants, and most of the immigrants were still young. Besides working and living, they had received far more military training than the average Greek city-state. They were stronger, more agile, and more willing to display the results of these training.
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