Volume 6: The Meeting of Two Heroes, Chapter 6: Riots in Crimisa

“But Hades does not just kidnap anyone. Persephone possesses the earth goddess power of her mother Demeter, which helps Hades control the produce of the underworld. Moreover, Persephone is beautiful and kind, capable of soothing the restless souls of the dead... And as it turns out, Hades and his wife Persephone have always respected and loved each other, far surpassing Zeus and Hera, Poseidon and his queen. They rule the underworld with justice and clarity, rewarding good and punishing evil. Because people fear punishment after death, they do not indulge themselves too much in life, and thus our city-state society becomes stable! Therefore, Hades is the deity who helps us humans the most!” Cerdias said devoutly.

Cerdias’s words completely overturned Lycasus’s understanding of the gods. He wanted to argue, but he also found some truth in what Cerdias had said. After a long pause, he murmured, “Are you a priest of Hades?”

“I wish I were, but unfortunately I am not yet!” Cerdias said regretfully.

“I am a merchant. A year ago, I went to Thurii for business and fell seriously ill, almost unconscious. My despicable slave even stole my money pouch. I thought I would quietly go to the Underworld in a foreign land...” Cerdias was immersed in memories: “...But when I woke up, I found myself on a warm bed in the side hall of the Temple of Hades. A holy maiden in white robes served me meals and medicine. The kindly priest often came to visit and comfort me, and I quickly recovered. The priest of Hades not only did not ask for money from me but even gave me travel expenses to go home... It was great Hades who saved my life!” Cerdias choked up, his eyes moist. “Later I learned that the Temple of Hades does this not just for me. They treat every Greek facing danger with the same mercy! Tell me, which other deity’s temple treats the people as well as the Temple of Hades?!”

“...None.” After hearing Cerdias’s words, Lycasus too felt a longing for the Temple of Hades in Thurii.

“So this time I have decided to go to Thurii and serve Hades!” Cerdias said with a resolute expression. “Later, I will return to Scylletium and build a temple for Hades!”

...

At dusk, Nicostratus and his party reached the south bank of the River Umbria. They crossed the wooden bridge over the river and entered the city of Crimissa.

“I’ve asked at all the inns here, and they are all fully booked. How is it on your side?” Nicostratus saw Stasippus approaching with a dejected expression. He feared the worst but asked with a glimmer of hope.

Stasippus shook his head. “The inns in the northern city are the same—no vacant rooms. I heard it’s because the Daonian Marriage Festival is approaching. Many engaged couples from Asperustum are heading to the Temple of Hera in Thurii for the marriage ceremony, so the rooms are all booked up...”

It was almost dark. They were anxious but helpless.

Were they going to have to sleep on the streets tonight?! At this thought, Nicostratus unconsciously hugged his thin body.

“I have an idea.” Just then, a voice came from behind him. Nicostratus saw that the speaker was that man from Scylletium whom he didn’t particularly like. Setting aside his pride, he asked, “What idea?”

“Follow me.” Cerdias smiled mysteriously and led them to a place.

“Is this a temple?” Nicostratus looked doubtfully at the building before him. Its shape was somewhat similar to temples he had seen, yet somewhat different, and there were no surrounding walls.

“This is the Temple of Hades.” Stasippus had spent some time in Thurii and recognized it.

“What are we doing here?” Nicostratus suddenly felt nervous. That grim and fearsome Lord of the Underworld was the master of the night.

“Lodging.” After saying this, Cerdias walked straight in.

Lycasus, both excited and curious, followed closely behind.

After learning their situation, the temple priest gladly allowed them to rest in the temple. However, the spare rooms in the side hall were already occupied, so the priest led them to the main hall.

Nicostratus and the others were still a bit uneasy: would they disturb the Lord of the Underworld, Hades?

The priest smiled and said, “Hades is merciful and happy to help those in need, as long as you do not defile the temple environment.”

In fact, some people were already lying on bedrolls resting in the main hall. Nicostratus and his party relaxed. The priest even had the faithful provide them with blankets and hot water, to the extent that Nicostratus, who had never before had contact with the Temple of Hades, repeatedly praised Hades’ benevolence.

That night, they slept quite peacefully. Of course, the part of the hall they slept in was the side painted with the Elysian Paradise; no one dared to sleep on the other side of the hall, which depicted the Underworld.

Early the next morning, after thanking the priest, the group left the Temple of Hades.

Since Nicostratus’s back still hadn’t improved, Stasippus suggested taking a carriage, so they went to the carriage rental.

Unexpectedly, business there was also booming. There were no available carriages until a carriage from Asperustum dropped off four passengers, and they were able to pay and board.

In the carriage were already a young man and woman. The woman was intimately holding the man’s arm and did not let go even when strangers boarded.

This greatly shocked the conservative Nicostratus, who cursed under his breath: the Daonians were barbaric, unfamiliar with proper Greek customs.

Cerdias, however, often traveled within Daonia and was used to seeing Daonian women appearing in public. Instead, he started a conversation with them. After exchanging pleasantries, they learned that the man was called Ephialtes. He had only become a full Daonian citizen last year and lived in Asperustum. The woman was a native of Asperustum. When Daonia had signed the peace treaty with Croton, her family was one of the few who chose to stay. She seemed to be doing quite well now.

This made the Crotonians in the carriage feel a bit uncomfortable.

The carriage had just traveled a short distance when it stopped. Loud noises could be heard from outside.

Stasippus lifted the canvas cover at the front of the carriage and asked the driver what was happening.

“Up ahead is the square. Those damned rich and nobles have gathered a bunch of people to make trouble there, and they’ve blocked the road completely!” the driver said angrily. “We’ll have to take a detour!”

After Stasippus sat back down and explained the situation, Nicostratus became interested. “Why are the Crimissans making trouble?”

“I know a little about it.” Cerdias thought for a moment and said, “Since last autumn, a few residents of Crimissa started protesting outside the City Hall near the square, demanding that the Assembly be reconvened and that citizens be given the right to participate in government... Unexpectedly, this year, so many people have come to protest in the square!”

“Daonian citizens should have done this long ago! Which Greek city-state does not hold an Assembly? Only Daonia is the exception!” Nicostratus said with satisfaction.

Lycasus blurted out, unexpectedly, “Syracuse doesn’t either.”

“Shut up!” Nicostratus glared at him fiercely, then continued his exposition loudly: “A city-state without an Assembly, where the people have no right to participate in politics, is a tyranny! A tyranny cannot last long. Of course, citizens should rise up and even overthrow...”

Stasippus tugged at his arm to stop him from continuing. After all, they were only here for the forum to exchange medical knowledge; it was unwise to speak recklessly and get involved in Daonia’s internal strife.

Ephialtes, who had been holding back until his face turned red, retorted loudly, “Only foolish Crimissans would do such a stupid thing! No one makes trouble in Asperustum, no one in Amendolara, no one in Thurii, not even in Grumentum! It is precisely because of Lord Davos’s rule that we went from being refugees to citizens, that we got land, that we gained peace! The priest of Hades was right—we must know gratitude! The same goes for you people from Croton. I hear the war in Greece has been going on for a year, and the people live in hardship. Why have we in Magna Graecia enjoyed such a long peace? It’s because of our great commander, Davos, the scion of Hades!!”

Ephialtes’ heartfelt words were impassioned. Although Nicostratus was sharp-tongued, he was only a doctor, not an orator, and not good at heated arguments. Seeing the young man across from him bristling, he backed down and muttered under his breath, “...Another Dionysius...”

With that, the atmosphere in the carriage became subdued.

The carriage bypassed the square, exited through the southern gate, and returned to the main road.

The public carriage they were riding in was a four-wheeled carriage pulled by two horses. It could seat up to six people. The carriage was covered with a leather canopy, with a small window on each side, so it was well lit. The wooden seats were padded with soft cloth and fur, which slightly absorbed the vibrations from the friction between wheels and road. Even though the roads built by Daonia were far superior to those of other Greek city-states, the jolting of the carriage was still unavoidable. What troubled the passengers most was the noise. The wooden wheels were bound with iron hoops on the outside to prevent the wheel from cracking with prolonged use. When the wheels turned, the iron bands scraped against the stone pavement, producing a considerable racket.

Of course, in the eyes of the engineers who built the carriages, this was Davos’s overly high—even picky—demands. For the common people, the introduction and popularization of public carriages had already greatly facilitated their travel.