Volume 5: The Hegemon of Southern Italy, Chapter 57: The Completion Ceremony of the Temple of Hades (Part 3)

The chime of the bells ceased. Pleisinas led the holy maidens out of the crowd, and they took up positions on either side of the temple entrance, beginning to sing in chorus.

This time, it was no longer pure melody, but words as well:

“Hades, just and stern.

Your radiance lights the earth.

Our hearts are filled with fervor.

We come to your sanctuary.

Your light shines upon us.

…”

“This… this is a new Hymn to Hades?!” The people were filled with astonishment. The melody was unlike any they had heard, yet so beautiful and magnificent. As the song continued, they were deeply moved by the sanctity and ideals it expressed.

Countless people, in devout reverence, fell to their knees, silently reciting the Hymn to Hades, tears of emotion streaming down their faces…

When the singing ended, some still could not break free from the spell until those around them cheered: “Davos!!!…” Only then did they realize that the Daonian Magistrate and High Priest of the Alliance, Davos, had appeared on a circular altar before the temple, wearing a white robe and white headcloth, holding a torch in his hand. Beside him stood Pleisinas and another male priest, together carrying a large, polished concave bronze mirror.

The people watched with wide-eyed curiosity, for rumors had spread that the senators of the Senate had heatedly debated the “Sacred Fire of the Temple of Hades.” The sacred fire was not only the spiritual anchor of Greek city-state citizens but also a symbol of civilization’s continuity. This was especially true for these Greek city-states of the western Mediterranean—they were colonies. The sacred fire on the acropolis could not be kindled from just any source. It was always brought as a spark from the mother city’s temple by the colony’s founder, preserved until a new temple was built, then used to light the sacred flame that burned for generations, a sign of remembrance of the homeland and the passing of the torch!

Thus, the Thurian-born senators, led by Polyxides, proposed importing the flame from Athens once more. This was met with fierce opposition from Antonios, Amyntas, and others, on the grounds that the old Thurii no longer existed and the new Thurii was not a daughter-city of Athens!

When Cornelius suggested “bringing the flame from the Temple of Zeus in Amendolara,” that too was rejected. The Thurian senators believed the small town of Amendolara was not worthy to represent the entire Daonia Alliance.

The arguments grew heated, until finally Davos made the decision, saying: “Since Daonia is a newly founded league of city-states with no mother city, and the Temple of Hades is almost the only city-state guardian temple in the entire Mediterranean, then I believe Hades himself will grant us the sacred fire on the day of the temple festival, to show his favor upon Daonia!”

That very day, these words spread throughout the city and soon reached the entire alliance. Now, whether ordinary citizens, senators of the Senate, or the distinguished guests who had just received the news, all gazed with curiosity and excitement at the unlit torch in the High Priest’s hand, awaiting the miracle—or perhaps anticipating the greatest joke in Magna Graecia.

Davos faced the temple entrance, knelt solemnly on the altar with his torch raised high.

Pleisinas and the priests stepped back, straining to lift the bronze mirror, slowly turning and adjusting its angle to focus the scorching sunlight onto a bundle of papyrus reeds at the tip of the torch…

The familiar Hymn to Hades rose again from the holy maidens’ lips, soaring into the heavens…

The noonday sun blazed down on everyone, sweat drenching the people, yet they remained oblivious, their attention fixed on the motionless Davos…

Time ticked by, second by second.

The bronze mirror’s light was blinding; the torch stayed unchanged…

“He says Hades will grant the sacred fire. I say he is nothing but arrogant, thinking he can do anything!” Polyxides sneered under his breath. He had done much to ensure Davos’s words at the assembly had spread so widely and so quickly. He hoped to see Davos disgraced in this moment—it would deal a heavy blow to the young Magistrate’s prestige!

Burkes nudged him, kindly reminding him to remain silent.

Polyxides shot him a glare. Burkes had once been his good friend, but now he was one of the strongest supporters of Davos among the Thurian senators in the Senate. If not for certain reasons, Polyxides would have preferred to cut ties with him altogether.

Suddenly, he saw what seemed to be a wisp of smoke rising from the tip of the torch. He thought his eyes were playing tricks on him and blinked vigorously.

Gasps erupted from all directions.

Soon, the smoke became a small, dancing red-yellow flame, quickly igniting the olive oil-soaked linen.

The fire blazed!

“Oh, Hades!!!” The people who witnessed this miracle erupted in cheers like a tsunami, the entire hill seeming to tremble.

Even the distinguished guests exchanged bewildered, incredulous glances: Could Daonia truly be favored by Hades?!

Did Davos truly have Hades’ favor?! The senators gazed at Davos before them with awe. Polyxides’ body trembled slightly; he seemed to see, in the torch held high by Davos, the stern eyes of Hades staring coldly at him.

Davos breathed a quiet sigh of relief. Though he had practiced several times before, specially choosing a clear day and using the square performance to extend the lighting ceremony to noon, his heart had still been anxious. What if, before tens of thousands of people, he failed? All his carefully laid plans and his reputation as the God-Touched One would be destroyed in an instant! But fortunately, Hades blessed him, and he succeeded!

Davos slowly rose to his feet, holding the torch high, and circled once. With a solemn expression, he savored the cheers of the people, like the waves of a storm, repeatedly lifting him to the peak…

Then, accompanied by the priests, he entered the temple and lit the dark bronze braziers before the statue of Hades, one by one. From then on, the sacred flame of the Temple of Hades would burn day and night, blessing Daonia with prosperity and flourishing.

When Davos emerged from the temple, the blare of war trumpets rang out, accompanied by the low beat of war drums. Three legion commanders—Capus, Drax, and Hieronymus—leading eight battalion commanders, all in full armor, carried three stone markers each, escorted by forty platoon leaders, and arrived before the temple.

As most of the people gazed in confusion at the three man-high stone markers, the High Priest’s words, aided by heralds, reached their ears: “The establishment and development of the Daonia City-State League are inseparable from the protection of Hades and from the efforts of our citizens! As we enjoy peace and prosperity today, let us not forget the brave warriors who gave their lives to defend Daonia! Their names are engraved on these three stone markers. Hades, approving of their loyalty and courage toward the Alliance, permits their souls to enter the temple, transform into heroic spirits, continue to defend Daonia, and be venerated and worshipped by the descendants and future generations of the Daonians!” With that, Davos knelt solemnly before the stone markers.

Immediately, the legion commanders, battalion commanders, platoon leaders, and all the soldiers present knelt on one knee before the markers, their expressions solemn.

In the eyes of the people, those stone tablets inscribed with names were no longer cold blocks of stone, but living figures, each with a name and a face…

“Wahhh…” Except for the distinguished guests, the hillsides were covered with kneeling Daonian citizens. In this solemn atmosphere, uncontrollable weeping broke out—those who wept were the families of the fallen soldiers.

“The brave do not die; their spirits live forever!”

“The brave do not die; their spirits live forever!!!”

…

Davos led the people in bowing their heads to the stone markers.

At this moment, even nature seemed to mourn; a great wind arose, and even the sun was obscured by clouds, making the people believe their cries had been answered.

For a long time, the prayers of the people did not cease…

War trumpets and drums played in unison. The officers and commanders marched in orderly steps, carrying the stone markers into the temple, watched by thousands of eyes.

“The Daonians honor their warriors to such an extent!” Lysias had heard before that Daonia held a triumph for its armies returning in victory, but now seeing them place the stone markers of the fallen inside the temple, he was deeply moved.

“With such sacred measures, how can the Daonian citizens be unwilling to fight to the death!” The Croton fleet commander Ascamas, standing to one side, had also lost his mocking demeanor, his expression serious.

He and Lysias exchanged glances, both thinking the same thing: If war with Daonia should break out again in the future, could Croton overcome Daonians with such high morale?

The guests from the South Italy Alliance all felt this to some degree, but for Canios of Elea, Daonia’s strength was exactly what he wanted to see.

After the drums and trumpets faded, the sound of a lyre arose…

Amid the melodious notes, Little Heracleides and Piasikes carried a half-body stone statue to the front of the temple.

“Citizens of Daonia, tell me: Who designed the new city of Thurii? Who led us in building it?” Davos asked loudly.

“… Heracleides.” The answers came haltingly.

“Who designed and built the Temple of Hades?” Davos asked again.

“Heracleides!” This time the reply was more orderly.

“Who, whether building the new city or the temple, always came first and left last, fell gravely ill, yet still poured all his heart and strength into the city he loved, and ultimately gave his life?” Davos asked once more, his voice raised: “Who was that?!”

“Heracleides!!!” The answer echoed across the hills, strong and unified.

“In recognition of the contributions of Heracleides—this master architect—to Daonia, his statue will be placed in the Hall of Worthies within the temple, favored by Hades, so that his talents may continue to build the Elysian Paradise! And in the years to come, whenever any Daonian citizen makes a great contribution to the prosperity and development of Daonia, their statue shall also enter the temple, to be venerated by future generations, their souls enduring together with the Alliance!” Because of the miracle of the sacred fire, Davos seemed as if possessed by Hades himself, and his words naturally inspired the people even more.

Note: Regarding the plausibility of focusing sunlight with a concave bronze mirror to ignite papyrus reeds, I was initially uncertain. But remembering that over a century later, during the Roman siege of Syracuse, Archimedes designed many devices to aid the city’s defense, one of which involved soldiers on the walls holding hundreds of concave bronze mirrors to focus sunlight and set fire to the sails of Roman ships anchored in the bay. Sails could be ignited, so papyrus should be even easier, especially at such close range.