Volume 4: The League of Dionia, Chapter 9: The Shocking Debate on Rebuilding the Temple

The senators of Thurii were hearing Davos’s ambition for the first time and were all quite astonished.

Bourkos’s eyes went wide as he stared in wonder at Davos, who stood at the center of the circle, speaking easily and confidently. He recalled how hard he had worked to invite him to Magna Graecia in the first place, simply because he was a capable mercenary leader. Never did he imagine this young man harbored such grand aspirations—not only to save Thurii but to reshape the political landscape of Magna Graecia. Because if Davos’s meaning held, a six-hundred-seat council chamber meant the alliance would have to merge that many city-states!

The other Thurians were also whispering and murmuring among themselves; some even asked those nearby, “Who is Vespa?”

Some showed doubt, others excitement, but most raised no objection. After all, with the help of Davos’s Amendolara, Thurii and its citizens had been fortunate enough to be reborn. Before they grew familiar with this young magistrate’s style of action, they did not rashly oppose him.

Only Polyxides asked, “There must be a limit to the number of senators. It can’t go on expanding like this indefinitely.”

“Six hundred! This new hall can only hold six hundred! By the day that quota is filled, I trust the situation of our alliance will have changed greatly. By then there may be new laws and a new council chamber!” Davos said without hesitation.

Davos’s confidence made Polyxides intensely envious. He remembered that when they first met, this young man had had to watch his expression just to speak with him. So he could not help saying, “A pity—I fear I won’t live to see that day.”

As these words left his mouth, everyone’s expression changed.

Davos looked at him and said calmly, “Lord Polyxides, I believe you will see it!”

Instantly, Polyxides felt the cloth on his back soaked through with cold sweat. Although Davos had not uttered a single reproach, he felt an invisible pressure. He quickly lowered his head and said no more.

“Lord Magistrate, senatorship is a lifetime position. These outsiders become senators through such means, but how can a citizen of our alliance become a senator?” Kynogoratas hurriedly changed the subject.

“Although your question is no longer related to ‘whether to build a Senate chamber or not,’ I am still willing to tell you my thoughts.” Davos withdrew his gaze, organized his words, and spoke slowly: “Our current public offices are all elected annually. I think this practice is not very appropriate. For example, Amyntas was elected Overseer of Construction—”

Amyntas immediately shouted, “Lord, I have no interest in construction at all!”

Everyone burst into laughter.

“I know, this is just an analogy.” Davos also smiled. “Amyntas knows nothing about engineering and construction. Yet in that position, he must serve the people. So he would have to invest energy to learn and understand. By the time he has a preliminary grasp of construction knowledge and knows the engineering needs of the alliance’s various regions, his term would be almost over. Then, in that year, he would have accomplished almost no effective work. If he were given another year, his work as Overseer of Construction would surely be much better than the first year, because he would have a basic understanding of the entire construction situation of the alliance and know each city’s demand for public buildings. Then in the third year, his work efficiency would be even higher—he would be fully familiar, able to apply to the Senate for funds, and direct architects, craftsmen, laborers, and slaves to build large structures and repair public facilities, and would have achieved some results. Am I right, everyone?”

The crowd nodded thoughtfully.

Amyntas shouted loudly, “Right!!”

Again everyone laughed.

“So having annual elections for alliance offices wastes time and yields low efficiency. We should break this pattern. But exactly how long each office’s term should be, we’ll discuss later. Now, back to Kynogoratas’s question…” Davos faced the crowd and said earnestly, “According to the law we are about to enact, every citizen has the right to hold public office. In my view, a citizen who has just come of age at eighteen and aspires to become a senator must first serve for five years in three or more of the lowest public offices—for example, serving as a patrolman, firefighter, registrar copyist, and so on—and also must join the army and fight in at least two major battles before he is qualified to apply to the Senate for a higher-level office.

“By then he will have rich experience at the grassroots level, a strong body, and familiarity with warfare. The Senate may decide, based on his performance, ability, and specialty, whether to appoint him to mid-level positions such as City Defense Captain, Fire Captain, Registrar, Overseer of Construction, Commercial Officer, Treasurer, or Ephor. This would be around age thirty.

“Then he must have held two or more mid-level offices and served for at least three years as a company commander or even battalion commander in the army. By then he should be at least forty. At that point, his temperament will have become steady, he will be familiar with civic affairs, capable of handling complex situations, and able to lead troops in battle.

“Only at this stage may he apply to join the Senate, and the Senate will decide based on his record whether he can become a senator. And the City Administrator can only be chosen from among the senators. I wonder if you accept this idea?”

“Agreed! Agreed! Young people should definitely get more training!” the senators shouted in unison.

*At least twenty years—we won’t have to worry!* That was the thought of a few mediocre talents.

*Senators chosen this way would surely be the outstanding elites among the citizens. A fool like Neonxis becoming chief general would never happen again in the alliance!* Kynogoratas completely agreed in his heart.

*I’d better take more public offices and accumulate administrative experience so I don’t get looked down on by the young later on!* That was the thought of hardworking individuals like Heilos.

…

The vast majority of senators approved of Davos’s idea, because extending office terms and imposing more restrictions on becoming City Administrator largely protected the interests of the current senators. But some raised objections.

“There are only so many public offices in the alliance. If terms are extended, many people might not get a turn,” Antistanos said with concern.

“For now, there are only these positions. But in the future, some might travel several hundred stades to take office in other cities. By then, each city may need low-level registrars, low-level treasurers, and other low-ranking officials, overseen by high-level registrars, high-level treasurers, and other senior officials under the Senate. Our Senate needs to establish a committee specifically to supervise, manage, and evaluate the performance of these public officials.”

The ambition embedded in Davos’s words stirred some to excitement and left others half in doubt, but overall everyone was pleased. Establishing a new committee gave many idle senators something to do, and with no small amount of power.

Only Mesis was anxious: “In the future there will be that many public offices? How much will their salaries cost!”

Again everyone laughed.

Davos had to say, “We’ll discuss salaries later.”

Having passed the resolution to “build a six-hundred-seat Senate chamber,” the next item was the construction of a temple.

By rights, building a temple required no discussion at all—just rebuild on the original site in the same form as the old one. The senators had little objection to this, and the resolution seemed about to pass smoothly. Then Pleisinas stood up and loudly expressed his opinion: “I oppose rebuilding the Temple of Apollo!”

Everyone was stunned.

Pleisinas was satisfied with the effect of his words. He glanced at Davos, completely ignoring the astonished expressions of the others, and continued loudly, “Because our devotion to Apollo did not earn us the sun god’s protection! The betrayal of the freemen, the occupation of Thurii, the whole city weeping—yet Apollo turned a blind eye to it all. His inaction was so unbearable even the other gods looked away, so his temple was likewise spurned and reduced to ashes in the flames!”

Pleisinas blamed the destruction of Thurii on Apollo, seemingly blaspheming the god. But since Apollo, as Thurii’s patron deity, had failed even to protect his own temple, the senators—who believed in omens—felt unsettled after Pleisinas’s “reminder”: Had Apollo abandoned Thurii?

Davos watched Pleisinas with interest.

“Then who saved Thurii’s citizens and avenged Thurii?! Undoubtedly, it was the citizens of Amendolara! But which deity supported the army of Amendolara?! Look at the banners the brave citizen soldiers held high—was it not the Lord of the Underworld brandishing his bident, bringing death to the men of Croton! It was Hades himself who, at the Hot Spring Swamp, blessed the mercenaries, let the Death god summon the wind of the underworld, and easily swept away eight thousand Lucanian lives! Now Thurii is reborn from the ruins, and Amendolara is united with Thurii. Hades, the protector god of Amendolara’s army, is also the Lord of the Underworld who twice saved Thurii. It is because of him that Apollo had to yield! And we must not forget his grace and protection! Therefore, the new temple of Thurii should be a temple of Hades, to bless Thurii with eternal peace and safety!”

After Pleisinas finished, the senators burst into an uproar.

Kynogoratas turned to steal a glance at Davos and saw that he too looked surprised. *Could this be Pleisinas acting on his own?*

“Pleisinas, you should know that Apollo is one of the main deities worshipped by the city-states of Magna Graecia (the other being Hera). It was with his blessing that our ancestors reached Magna Graecia safely and established one city-state after another. Apollo is very important to the people of Thurii!” Antistanos reminded him.

“Of course I know. The citizens may still build an altar to Apollo and continue to worship him. But as the city’s patron deity, his inaction has ended his mission. We need a new, powerful deity more willing to protect us, to give the people of Thurii peace in these troubled times! So we should build a temple to Hades in our acropolis!” Pleisinas said proudly.

“As far as I recall, there is almost no public temple to Hades anywhere in Greece, let alone one dedicated as a city’s patron deity. Why? Because Hades’s realm is dark and terrifying—people fear him! If we build a temple to Hades, I doubt any citizens would be willing to go to the acropolis! And other city-states would laugh at us!” Polyxides stood up to oppose loudly.