AMPHIC'TYON'IC COUNCIL (from Am phietyon; see below). A celebrated religious congress of the confederated tribes of ancient Greece, which met twice every year, in spring and in autunm, at both Delphi and Thermopylx. The meetings at Delphi took place in the temple of Apollo. those at Therrnopyhe in the temple of Demeter. which was in the village of Anthela. The congress was composed of the deputies of twelve tribes, the list of which is given differently in different authors. The list of the orator iEschiues (containing but eleven names, how ever) is as follows: Thessalians, Bceotians, Dorian, Ionians, Perrluebians, Nagnetes, Lo crians, (Etarans, Phthiots, MaBans, and Phoeians. The twelfth tribe was probably either the Dolo pians or the iEnianians. (See Pausanias, ix. S. and lierodotus, w ii : 132; also Caner in Pauly Wissow's Realeneyelopiidie). Each tribe sent two members, and the twenty-four representa tives possessed equal authority. The origin of the Amphietyonic Council is a matter of legend only. Tradition connects it with the name of Amphictyon, son of Deucalion, or with that of Androtion. We may at least he sure that the in stitution was one of great antiquity. Its impor tance declined in the course of time, and by the third century B.C. it had lost much of its old authority. The duties of the Council were pri
marily religious, and were connected with the care of the temple of Apollo at Delphi and the protection of the holy lands, treasures, and other perquisites of the god. ft was also intrusted with the preparation and direction of the Pythian Games. The duty of protecting the property of Apollo carried with it the power to prosecute and punish all who in any way injured the majesty of the god. Thus the Council pos sessed important judicial rights, and, as it also had power to regulate matters relating to peace and war among the different members of the fed eration, it in time acquired political importance also. The members bound themselves by an oath not to destroy any city of the Amphietyons or cut off their streams in war or peace; also, if any State should break this oath, to unite in proceeding against and destroying such a State. There were in early times various other am phictyonies, or associations of tribes, among the Creeks, as at Argos, Delos, and elsewhere, hut little is known of these. Consult: Tittmann, Ucber den Bend der A mphict yonen (Leipzig, 1880) ; and Freeman, History of Federal Coy crnment (2d ed. London. 1893).