By Theseustoo

The Council of the Areopagus was the most important decision-making body in Lacedaemonia; it had convened a special meeting to hear Croesus’ messenger. The council chamber was an enormous, circular building, inside of which circular benches, currently full of curious Spartan councillors, arose in concentric tiers around the small, central, speakers’ floor. As he entered the council chamber, the herald could not help but notice a huge bronze vase which stood off to one side just inside the chamber’s entrance.

As he walked by it, the vase towered more than two cubits over his head. He briefly wondered how the metal-workers had managed to cast such a huge item. But, if the size of the vase impressed him, its craftsmanship was superb; with its highly polished outer rim exquisitely decorated with various kinds of animals; all embossed in remarkably lifelike poses.

He regretted that he had no time to examine the huge vase more closely, however, as he was immediately obliged to take the speakers’ floor; a rather small space occupying the centre and lowest level of the chamber; and announce his master’s purpose. The circular shape of the hall and the manner in which the banks of seats rose in circular tiers under a domed roof around this spot, on which the herald now stood, had all been cunningly designed to echo and amplify his voice. Even a voice speaking in normal tones would be carried easily even to the very uppermost bank of seats right at the back of the circular building, next to the outer wall. The herald cleared his throat in what he hoped was a professional manner and then spoke,

“Croesus, king of Lydia and of several other nations, has sent us to speak to you thus…” he began formally, to ritually distance himself from the actual contents of his message, and then gave his message verbatim:

“‘Oh Lacedaemonians, the god has bidden me to make the Greek my friend; I therefore apply to you, in obedience to the oracle, knowing that you hold the first rank in Greece, and desire to become your friend and ally in all true faith and honesty…’” But just as he was about to ask for the help Croesus had sent him to request, the Archon interrupted him gently; like a true friend, saving him the humiliation of having to ask for help by offering it freely.

“Put yourself at ease, herald; for you are among friends.”

The Archon stepped forward and, warmly embracing him, welcomed the Lydian almost as if he were the bearer of valuable gifts, rather than a suppliant sent by a besieged king to beg for help. But Croesus had prepared his ground well, the herald realised, as the Archon continued,

“Well do we remember Croesus’ great kindness to us; and his generosity in supplying us with the gold we needed for the statue of Apollo which even now stands in his temple at Thornax in Laconia.”

The herald was, of course, well aware of this gift and had even planned to remind the Lacedaemonians of it, if they should seem the least bit reluctant to honour the treaty on which they had already agreed. As this was now apparently quite unnecessary; since the Archon had himself chosen to demonstrate Sparta’s gratitude by mentioning it himself; with equal grace the herald simply bowed his acceptance of the Archon’s implicit thanks, as the latter continued,

“And as you have chosen to request our aid before that of all the other Greeks, we are happy to swear oaths of fidelity to your master Croesus, whom we have long admired. We have already heard about the oracle’s reply to his inquiry concerning the duration of his kingdom; and of his need for an ally, so we have been looking forward to your visit. Since everything appears to be favourable and Croesus himself is evidently favoured by the gods, Lydia can count on help from Lacedaemonia.”

At this point the Archon gestured to indicate the huge vase beside the chamber’s entrance and said, “See here this huge vase of bronze, decorated with figures of animals all round the outside of the rim, and large enough to contain three hundred amphorae, which we commissioned as a gift for King Croesus to commemorate our alliance. As you request, the Lacedaemonian army will join Croesus in Sardis in the spring.”

“Many thanks, my Lord Archon!” replied the herald, with immense gratitude and equal relief; shaking the Archon’s right hand with both of his own, thanking him profusely, as he said, “I will inform Croesus of your reply.”

With these words, the grateful herald turned and left the council chamber to return as swiftly as possible to his master in Sardis. Help would surely follow within a day or two; if not with the ebb tide following the one he calculated he could still just catch if he hurried…

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