Volume 3: The First Croton War, Chapter 13: Hera's Wedding Celebration

Davos suppressed his excitement and said to Mariji, "Right now the city-state is troubled by the treasury having no money. Your return is timely. As the commercial officer of Amendolara, it is your duty to change Amendolara's almost non-existent trade situation and increase tax revenue for the treasury! I hope you will carefully investigate the city-state and think hard, coming up with a good plan!"

"I will do my utmost!" Mariji showed an eager expression.

"But—" Davos started to speak then stopped. It was better to discuss the matter of proposing marriage in a few days, since Mariji had just returned.

Mariji saw Davos had nothing more to say and didn't dare ask, so he said, "By the way, my lord. Two people from the Pythagorean school in Tarentum came along on the ship to Amendolara, saying they were invited by you."

Davos quickly asked, "Where are they now?"

"They should have gone to find you," Mariji said uncertainly.

Soon, Davos met the Pythagorean school members in his own residence: one named Matikoris, and one named Mentotikels. Both looked quite young, probably not over thirty.

Therefore, Davos, who had just returned home, said with a smile, "You look very young!"

This angered Matikoris, who said loudly, "Mathematics is not judged by the level of age! My mental arithmetic is unmatched in Tarentum! Do you think I came to this remote little city of my own free will?"

Davos chuckled, "Look at me, I became a magistrate at a young age. If I were looking down on your youth, wouldn't I also be looking down on myself?!"

Matikoris was taken aback.

"On the contrary, I am very glad that the Pythagorean school has sent young people. Because they are young, they are energetic; because they are young, they have lofty aspirations; because they are young, they dare to break conventions and think what their predecessors dared not! This is especially important in the academic field, isn't it?" Davos said with passion.

Mentotikels, who had been silent before, opened his eyes wide.

Matikoris muttered sheepishly, "What you say makes a lot of sense..."

"Rest assured! I will strongly support your school's development in Amendolara. I will provide you with a large residence for free, for you to live and lecture. As long as you do not violate the laws of Amendolara, you can develop your students in Amendolara without any restrictions. I believe that with your abilities, you will create brilliant achievements here that your classmates in Tarentum cannot achieve! To make up for the regret of your founder Pythagoras!"

Davos's promises and encouragement ignited the passion of the two young men. After bowing respectfully to Davos, they asked him to send someone to take them to the residence. They would rest a little and then immediately start work.

Davos was naturally happy to oblige. As the two walked away, he could still hear Matikoris's voice: "That magistrate is good! Really good! Better than Tarentum..."

"Matikoris, keep your voice down, we are still in someone else's home!"

Davos heard this and couldn't help laughing.

"Are you really going to fully support the development of the Pythagorean school in Amendolara?" Cheiristoya came out from a side room, placing her hand on Davos's shoulder, saying with some worry, "I've heard the Pythagorean school has a bad reputation. They act secretively and do not respect the gods, instead believing that all things are made of numbers... In the past, in the city-states of Magna Graecia, they clashed many times with the Assembly and Council, so nobody welcomes them!"

Davos smiled nonchalantly, "What does it matter? We Greeks are already accustomed to the harmony between humans and gods, aren't we? It won't lead to a situation like the Egyptians, where they are completely ruled by gods and disrespecting the gods brings death. Besides, becoming a disciple of the Pythagorean school is not easy. Except for a few highly educated nobles, ordinary people cannot pass their tests, which is why their school cannot grow. Moreover, they oppose democracy!"

"Oh..." Cheiristoya's eyes glistened. "Do you think they will support you?"

"Whether they support me or not, what difference does it make!" Davos shrugged and said, "But at least it shows they won't be a big trouble. Besides, don't think they only study mathematics. They have in-depth research in philosophy, music, art... And there's something you might be interested in: in academics, they advocate for equality between men and women."

"Really?" Cheiristoya asked in surprise.

"Of course it's true. It is said that Pythagoras's wife was his student. I heard this from Archytas." Davos smiled. "With their arrival, in the future your bank won't lack employees who know how to keep accounts and do arithmetic."

"Didn't you say they can't develop?" Cheiristoya remembered what he said earlier and shot him a glare.

"Of course it won't work if they teach disciples in the current Pythagorean way. But after these two young men hit a wall, I don't believe they won't make changes." Davos said confidently.

In the early morning, wildflowers bloomed all over the hills of Amendolara, a romantic sea of brilliant purples and reds, mostly purple thyme, swaying in the mountain wind, spreading their rich fragrance throughout the city.

Couples dressed in fine clothes came out from their homes and gathered in the square...

Over 1,500 newlywed couples turned the small square into a joyful crowd. The morning sun shone on their happy smiling faces, while their eyes focused intently on the central platform. There stood a statue of Hera brought from the Temple of Hera in Metapontum. The goddess held a scepter in her right hand, gently pinched the hem of her robe with her left, and wore a kind smile, facing the couples below.

Around the statue were several priestesses in pure white robes, performing sacred ritual dances and singing hymns...

After the ceremony, the High Priestess of Hera spoke to the countless couples below with a clear, penetrating voice: "Today is a beautiful day. The great goddess Hera will witness your happy union here! Greeks treasure family most. A happy and fulfilling marriage is a sign of family prosperity and the cornerstone of a stable city-state!..."

The High Priestess stepped forward, leaned in, and asked, "Hera entrusts me to ask all the men present here: Are you willing to shield your wife from wind and rain, love her no matter how great the difficulty, until the end of your life?"

The men, led by Davos, said without hesitation, "Yes!!!"

"Hera entrusts me to ask all the women present: Are you willing to manage the household for your husband, raise children, respect him no matter how great the difficulty, until the end of your life?"

The women, led by Cheiristoya, said sincerely, "Yes!!!"

The High Priestess beamed. "Now the couples may kiss each other!"

Davos and Cheiristoya, Georgios and Dania, Olivus and Mitra (since the Hera priestess procession from Metapontum arrived early yesterday afternoon, Davos hurriedly went to propose marriage to Mariji. To his surprise, Mariji agreed readily. In fact, Mariji, influenced by the Persian monarchy, did not care much about Olivus's reputation or wealth. He cared that Olivus was a close friend of Davos and that Davos himself made the proposal)... Countless couples gazed deeply into each other's eyes and kissed sweetly...

Strombopoli, watching from the side, couldn't bear to look and protested quietly, "This violates Greek tradition! It's too corrupting of customs! Ephor... the ephor should stop them!"

"The ephor has already gone to Tarentum on a visit," Scombrus said with a laugh. "I think this Hera ceremony is rather interesting."

"'A happy marriage is a sign of family prosperity and the cornerstone of a stable city-state.' That saying is really insightful!" Raphias also remarked with emotion.

"I've never seen this kind of ritual for Hera before," Cornelius said with some confusion.

"I heard that the magistrate went to the High Priestess's residence at night and they discussed and decided together. That must have been the magistrate's idea," Protesilaus speculated.

"From what you all say, it seems your magistrate is an interesting young man," said Anocris, the envoy from Heraclea, looking at the square with a smile.

"May the great goddess Hera bless you!" said the High Priestess piously, raising both hands with palms facing heaven.

Several priestesses began to sprinkle holy water toward the crowd, and the couples also sang the hymn to Hera devoutly.

Just as the marriage ceremony ended, the firefighters at the edge of the field began vigorously splashing clean water from their water-filled clay jars into the crowd. Although they had been notified in advance, the women still screamed and hid in their husbands' arms, while the men, while protecting their wives, also tried to snatch the jars from the firefighters. The whole venue was filled with continuous screams, a scene of joyful excitement...

"So fun! So fun!" Protesilaus was excited and suddenly turned and ran back.

"What are you going for?" Tritodemos asked.

"I'm going back to get a water jar!" Protesilaus ran without looking back.

"A jar?" Tritodemos was stunned, then immediately understood. Looking at the lively scene, he was tempted and shouted, "Get a few more jars!"

"That's right, get a few more!" Scombrus also felt a childlike impulse, and he lamented, "Too bad I got married early!"

"Amendolara hasn't been this lively in a long time!" Raphias said with feeling.

Strombopoli was touched by this remark. Watching the mist rising from the water and condensing into a rainbow in the sunlight, he stopped complaining for a moment and murmured, "Isn't it that every year on this day this kind of celebration will be held from now on?!"