Chapter 381
"Yes, this is the original manuscript of Herodotus' History, as well as the diary and information he recorded during his travels. When Tuliyi was burned down, his family didn't take anything with them. They only took these precious documents and escaped from the fire. Now they have donated all of them to the library! "Ancitanos exclaimed excitedly.
"Can … can I have a look?" Lysias had never begged anyone when he was in Athens even though his family was poor. But now he looked at Ancitanos eagerly.
Ancitanos shook his head. "I'm sorry, Lysias. The original manuscript of Herodotus' History and materials are the most precious treasures of Diónia. Precious materials like this are stored upstairs and guarded by special people. " Ancitanos pointed to the second floor of the library. "Only the senators of the Senate and scholars of the Diónia Academy are allowed to access the precious and confidential materials due to their duties and research needs. They are not allowed to take the books out.
"If you join Diónia, you will become the dean of the Faculty of Arts according to Lord Devers's promise. Then it will be easy for you to access any books and materials in the library."
Lysias stood there, his expression changing. Although he had only stayed in Diónia for about two days, he was greatly shocked. This short-lived city-state alliance was not only full of vitality and rapid development, but also attached great importance to knowledge and culture. It had formulated many systems and built many facilities to highlight its importance and ensure its development and inheritance. For example, the Diónia Academy, the Pantheon, and the newly built library … Even Athens, with its splendid culture, did not have such systems and facilities, nor did Diónia put so much respect for knowledge and scholars. This was a paradise for scholars!
Lysias thought about it and finally made up his mind. "After I return to Athens, I will discuss with my family and decide when to come to Turín."
"That's great!" Ancitanos was overjoyed. He stepped forward and put his hand on Lysias's shoulder. "Lord Devers will be very happy to know that Diónia has another famous scholar in Greece! Believe me, you will only be better off in Diónia than in Athens! "
"Shh!" The librarian poked his head out from behind the registration desk and made a shushing gesture.
Ancitanos nodded apologetically.
At this moment, Lysias said with a complicated expression, "Ancitanos, as far as I know, you're the dean of the Faculty of Arts."
"Studying history is what I'm interested in. The only reason I reluctantly agreed to the Administrator's request to be in charge of the Faculty of Liberal Arts was because there really wasn't anyone qualified at the time. This had already wasted too much time that I should have spent on writing books. Now that there's someone who's better than me and has more literary attainments than me, I'm more than happy … "Ancetanos blurted out a bunch of words without hesitation.
"Thank you, my friend!" Lysias smiled and bowed to Ancitanos. He had finally made a decision. His heart suddenly became abnormally relaxed. He looked at the countless rows of bookcases in front of him that extended to the depths of the hall. The air was filled with the strange fragrance of wood and paper. He took a deep breath and was a little intoxicated. He would spend the rest of his life here!
"Ancitanos, if it's convenient, please take me to meet the 'Favored' you speak of, the undefeated General Devers. I want to see how great a person is who founded the Diónia Academy and built the library." His eyes were full of curiosity and yearning.
… …
When the ship of the Carthage messengers sailed into the circular military port of Carthage that was famous throughout the Mediterranean Sea, and when the messengers came out of the port, the people of Carthage swarmed up and surrounded them to learn about the negotiations.
When the people of Carthage learned that the peace agreement had been signed, and that Carthage only needed to pay a certain amount of food and gold, they could continue to own several cities including Lillebeer, Eryx, and a small part of the west of Sicily. Many people cheered, and some shed tears …
The Sicilian War lasted for several years. Not only did Carthage spend a lot of money, but thousands of people also died in this long and cruel war.
This was especially so during the first battle with Dionysius, the tyrant of Syracuse. The army led by Sophie Simir won a great victory at the beginning, and even attacked the city of Syracuse. However, due to the outbreak of the plague, their strength was greatly reduced, and in the end, they suffered a crushing defeat. Only a dozen or so ships were left struggling to sail back to the port.
At that time, the people of Carthage who heard of this tragic situation gathered at the port to inquire about the news of their loved ones. When they learned that fifty to sixty thousand soldiers (not including mercenaries) had either died in Sicily or were captured, the cries and screams of the bereaved rang through the entire coastline. That was the darkest day of Carthage, and the whole city fell into grief.
The people wore black veils, closed their doors, refused visitors, stopped commercial activities, and closed the temples …
Correspondingly, in the political circles of Carthage, the aristocrats of the aristocrats, came from Carthage's mother state, the Tyr royal family of the Phoenician city, the Magonid family, which had monopolized the political circles of Carthage for nearly 200 years, and their ruling position was finally threatened. Seventy years ago, after the defeat of the Carthage army organized by the patriarch of the Magonid family, Hamilka, and the tyrant of Syracuse, Dillon, in the battle of Himera, the name of the Magonid family was once again associated with the failure of the overseas expedition. This time, the situation was even more serious. The army of Carthage was almost completely annihilated, and Simir did not die on the battlefield like his ancestors. Instead, he abandoned his comrades and soldiers and fled back alone. According to the laws of Carthage, such an act of desertion should have been punished by "crucifixion". Since the Magonid family had a king-like status in the city of Carthage, the patriarch of the Magonid family was temporarily exempted from the criminal law. But the storm was not over. The elites of Carthage, who had long been dissatisfied with the Magonid family, used the grief and anger of the citizens to promote the reform of the system.
Simir, the loser who had humiliated his family, realized that the situation was extremely disadvantageous to the Magonid family, so he wore cheap and shabby linen robes every day and wandered around the main temple of Carthage's Melekat, complaining to God of his blasphemy, praying to God to punish him, hoping to redeem something in this way. But in the end, the pressure of the situation and the ridicule and humiliation of the citizens finally caused him to have a mental breakdown. Half a year later, he locked himself in his home and committed suicide. This public act of atonement was still not enough to guarantee the power of the Magonid family.
Not long after, a new political organization of Carthage was established — the 104-member court. This was an organization formed by members of the noble class. Its responsibility was to supervise the actions of the officials and military officers of Carthage. At the same time, it also had the responsibility of the high court. However, no one from the Magonid family was elected to this organization.
In order to revive the power of the Magonid family in Carthage and win back the prestige of the people, the new patriarch of the Magonid family, Mago, who was the younger brother of Simir, used the family's still great influence in the Senate. Taking advantage of the opportunity when the tyrant of Syracuse, Dionysius, attacked the son of Carthage, Bonsolus, he once again pushed for Carthage's third Sicilian War against Syracuse.
However, things were different now. The greatly weakened Carthage army fought against the increasingly powerful Syracuse army, but they lost more than they won. Mago still persisted, but the people of Carthage were tired of the war. In a situation where there was no chance of victory, they were even more afraid of another fiasco. So, the citizens of Carthage called for a ceasefire.
In the end, an agreement was reached, but Mago still had to bear the responsibility of the defeat. When the envoy of Carthage who was in charge of negotiations with Syracuse returned, the whole city was cheering for the arrival of peace. Only one family was lonely, even sad.
In a huge mansion not far from the Citadel of Carthage, the people of the Magonid Family were holding a memorial service because today was the day of Himilco's death. However, the constant noise of music and the cheers of the people outside the mansion had obviously seriously destroyed the mournful atmosphere.
Drubal knew that it was the people of Carthage worshipping and celebrating the Greek goddess of harvest, Demeter, and her daughter, Persephone.
The citizens of Carthage were actually worshiping the Greek gods?! That's right. In Sicily, because the Greek city-states and the Phoenician colonies had a deep relationship with Carthage, they lived together for hundreds of years and had a deep influence on each other. The two goddesses, Demeter and Persephone, were not only welcomed by the Greeks in Sicily, but also gradually accepted by the Phoenicians. The Sicilians even believed that Hades, the King of Hades, was the abducted Persephone in Sicily. This cultural influence seeped into Carthage. There were temples for the two goddesses in Carthage, but the reckless actions of Simir's army made them even more prominent among the gods of Carthage. This was because when Simir led his army to attack Syracuse, his soldiers looted the temples of the two goddesses on the southern slope of Epipola. Not long after that, a plague broke out in the Carthage barracks, leading to the final defeat. Therefore, the people of Carthage thought that this was the punishment of the goddesses for blaspheming the gods of Carthage. After all, Persephone was the queen of the underworld.
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