AMPIIICTYONS, the deputies of the principal states of Greece, who formed a general council, similar to the states-general of Holland, or the diet of the German umpire. It is remarkable, that though this institution indicates a high degree of political wisdom, and a cur rett and extensive view of the general interest of Greect , its origin is so remote as to be ins ulved in the obscurity of the fabulous ages. Some suppose, that Amphictyon, the son of Deucalion, was the first founder of this as sembly, which was therefore called by his name ; others ascribe that honour to Acrisius, king of the Argives; while others, tracing its origin to a still more distant period, maintain, that, from the earliest ages, deputies Irons the neighbouring states were wont to assemble at. Delphi, and were called Amphictyons, front cea0r, about. or to dwell ; because they dwelt in the sur rounding countries. An ingenious and plausible account of the institution of this assembly'has been suggested by Dr Doig, who supposes, that the liellenes, the un doubted founders of the oracle of Dodona, may likewise have established that of Delphi. The sanctity of the place, and the high reputation of the oracle, attracted crowds of votaries; and, as the Hellenic tribes beheld with jealousy the growing power of the oriental colo nies, they determined, for their mutual security, to hold stated conventions at Delphi, whose central situation pointed it out as peculiarly convenient for that purpose. Common sacrifices, the most inviolable bond of union, would naturally be accompanied by liberal donations, which would soon form an ample treasury. The charge of this treasure would, of course, be entrusted to offi cers appointed for the purpose ; and such, we are ex pressly informed by Strabo, was one part of the duty of the The members of this council seem, therefore, to have been originally wardens of the temple at Delphi, elected by the suffrage of their re spective tribes. But their mutual honour and safety were objects of as obvious and necessary concern; ano ther class of deputies would therefore be appointed to watch over the civil interests of the confederated states. Thus the Amphictyonic assembly was composed of two distinct classes of members, who gradually united, however, in discharging the sacred and civil functions which had at first been appropriated to them separately.
Even with regard to the number and the names of the states represented in this council, writers have not been able to agree. Some include in the confederacy the twelve following nations : Ionians, Dorians, Per rhxhians, Boynians, Magnesians, Achxans, Phthians,, Melians, Dolopians, ,Enianians, Delphians, and Pho ceeans : such is the enumeration given by Strabo, liar pocration, and Snidas. iEsehines reckons only eleven ; and, instead of Coe Achoeans,./Enianians, Delphians, and Dolopians, substitutes the Thessalians. CEtans, and Lo crians. Ten only are included in the list. of Pausanias ; the Ionians, Dolopians, Thessalians, .Enianians, Mag nesians, Melians, Phthians, Dorians, Phoceeans, and Locrians.
The number of members in this assembly is not bet ter ascertained than that of the states which they repr• seated. If, as we arc infiamed, each city sent two de puties, their number could never have exceeded twenty four; yet Pausanias, who lived under the reign of Antoninus Pius, assures us, that, in his time, the Am phicty onic council contained not fewer than thirty mem bers. Of the two representatives delegated by each
-,tate, one called itQoFev1i av, was appointed to inspect the sacrifices and religious rites ; the other, called zrvAczyclac, to hear and determine private causes and differences. The former was chOsen by lot, the latter by suffrage : both were equally entitled to advise and to vote in what ever concerned the general interests of Greece.
The great political object for which this assembly convened, was to unite in strict amity the states which it represented, and to rouse them to mutual vigilance and activity in preserving the general tranquillity, or promoting the general welfare. In subservience to this great end, the Amphictyons were also constituted the protectors of the oracle of Delphi, the superintendents of the wealth of its temple, and the arbiters of all dis putes that might arise between the Delphians and the votaries who repaired thither for the advice of the god. Before beginning their deliberations, they sacrificed au ox, which they cut into small pieces, as a symbol of their union. Their influence was unlimited ; and from their decisions, which were held sacred and inviolable, there was no appeal. " If any thing," says M. de Valois, in his Histoire de la Premiere Guerre S'acree, " If any thing can give us a just idea of the high elevation of the Amphictyons, it is certainly the absolute power of declaring and waging war when they thought proper ; right which has at all times been regarded as the inse parable prerogative of sovereignty ; as it is that which more especially characterises the unbounded power with which that illustrious association was invested." A solemn oath was administered to the Amphictyons on their admittance; to divest no city of its right of de putation, nor avert its running waters; to wage mortal war against a11 who should make such an attempt; and more especially, in case of any attempt to spoil the tem ple, to employ hands, feet, tongue, and, in short, their whole power to revenge it. Against the violators of this oath, dreadful imprecations were denounced : "May they incur the full vengeance of Apollo, Diana, Latona, and Minerva; may their soil be barren, and their wives produce only monsters; in every law-suit may their ad versary prevail; may they be conquered in war, their houses be demolished, and themselves and their children put to the sword." After the capture of Cirrha, and the defeat of the Crisseans, the Amphictyons revived, with great magni ficence, the Pythian games, which had been so long discontinued as to be almost forgotten. Of these games, which, after that event, were celebrated annually, the Amphictyons, in right of their office, were ogonethze, or judges, till Philip of Macedon usurped the right of presiding, even by proxy, both in their council and at the Pythian games. From that period their respecta bility was destroyed, and their authority rapidly declined ; and, in the time of Augustus, they had sunk into such insignificance, that Strabo regarded the institution as completely annihilated. Strabo, lib. ix. pp. 607, 611, 622. Men. Acad. Lnscr. torn. vii. Potter's ?rch. Gr.rc. Edinb. Trans. vol. iii. p. 150, &c.