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Amphictyonic League was an ancient religious
association of Greek tribes formed in the dim past, before the rise of the
Greek poleis. The six Dorian cities of coastal southwest Anatolia, or the
twelve Ionian cities to the north, the dodecapolis forming an Ionian League
emerging in the aftermath of a faintly remembered "Meliac war" in the
mid-7th century, were already of considerable antiquity when the first written
records emerge. An amphictyony consisting of polities under the aegis of
Apollo's shrine at Delos was apparently well-established in the seventh
century, as the Homeric Hymn to Delian Apollo of that approximate date lists
them, those cities and islands that trembled and refused to offer themselves
for the birthplace of Apollo when pregnant Leto went to each in turn; the
Homeric hymn presents an origin myth for the cult of Apollo on Delos. The joint
Ionian festival celebrated there was the Delia. The Delian amphictyony was
recreated in the 4th century as an instrument of Athenian hegemon. Thucydides
made recollection of the Lelantine War, apparently fought in Euboea sometime
between the late 8th century and the first half of the 7th century: "The
war between Chalcis and Eretria was the one in which most cities belonging to
the rest of Greece were divided up into alliances with one side or the
other."
Historians have puzzled over the broader meanings of "alliance" in
such early times. "But comparatively large-scale associations lead more
readily to contacts, to friendships and enmities at a distance than do little
city-like units," George Forrest notes, remarking apropos that Phrygia and
Assyria were at war with each other about 720–710, raising tensions among
interested Greeks. In historic times, an amphictyony might survive as a form of
religious organization enjoined to support specific temples or sacred places;
traditional amphictyonies coordinated Olympic and Pythian Games. Twelve members
would meet at specific times in the same sanctuary to keep religious festivals
and conduct other matters as well. An early amphictyony centered on Kalaureia,
an island close to the coast of Troezen in the Peloponnese sacred to Poseidon,
was noted by Strabo. Archaeology of the site suggested to Thomas Kelly that the
sacred league was founded in the second quarter of the 7th century, c.
680–650; before that date there were virtually no remains at the site,
which could not have been used more than sporadically. Originally a religious
organization, the Amphictyonic League became politically important in the 6th
century, when larger city-states began to use it to apply pressure to the
lesser ones. The Oracle managed to become independent from the city of Krissa,
to which the temple originally belonged. The people of Krissa then imposed a
tax on those who were passing through their area to go to Delphi, causing
strong complaints and reducing the resources of the Oracle. The Amphictyony,
having exhausted all other means to peacefully resolve the crisis, declared the
First Sacred War
(or Cirrhean War) against Krissa that lasted a decade, from 596 to 585. The
result was the destruction of Krissa and the dedication of this country to
Apollo, Leto, Artemis, and Athena Pronaia. After this, the Pythian Games were
held every four years, under the direction of the Amphictyons. In 449-448 the
Phocians, wanting to become masters of the sanctuary, marched against Delphi,
but the Spartans sent an army and restored things, thus causing the
Second Sacred
War. After the Spartans’ departure, the Athenians, led by Pericles,
gave back to the Phocians the rule of Delphi and the management of the Pythian
Games. In 421, after the Peace of
Nicias, Delphi
became autonomous again. It is unlikely, however, that Phocis remained in
control of Delphi after members of the Boeotian League defeated Athens at the
Battle of
Coronea in 447. In 356 the Phocians under Philomelos captured and sacked
Delphi and another sacred war was declared against them. After a ten-year war
the Phocians were expelled from the League in 346 and their two votes were
given to Macedonians who had helped to defeat them. Philip II of Macedonia used
this power to further his expansionist policy in Greece. This ended up in the
Fourth Sacred War
which culminated in the
Battle of Chaeronea
in 338, marking the final domination of the Macedonians over Greece. In 279
the Delphic Amphictyony admitted as new members the Aetolians, who had
successfully defended the sanctuary as well as the rest of mainland Greece
against the Gauls. At this instance the Phocians were also readmitted for
having also participated at the defense of the region.
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