Description
Delphi – the navel of the earth; a panhellenic center of religion, athletism, culture and politics. The antiquity of its oracle is lost in the depths of prehistory, while according to myth, Apollo took over as its official god after killing the serpent protector of its previous chthonic cult. Since then, its reputation has steadily increased as the most reliable source of prophesies in the world, although experience has taught supplicants that relying on god’s will alone is not always enough – when Athenian emissaries asked for directions after the Battle of Thermopylae, the oracle told them to abandon all hope and head for the hills. The Athenians found the answer unsatisfactory and refused to leave until the god gave them a better one!
The reputation of the oracle has brought it much wealth, either as gifts from impressed rulers, such as the legendary Croesus of Lydia, or as dedications from cities following great victories or fortuitous events. But as the oracle’s influence over political decisions has waned, the influence of the Delphic Amphictyony is still considerable. It is a council representing all the tribes of central Greece, with two representatives from each tribe, be it a tiny one like the Malians or a hugely expanded one, like the Dorians. Members of the Amphictyony are bound by certain rules of war, such as a prohibition on cutting off a city’s water supply or on exterminating one’s enemies, and are responsible for the protection of Delphi. At times when the interests of the city are deemed threatened by another state, a Sacred War can be declared on the offending party, where the normal rules of war may not necessarily apply...
There are significant economic bonuses for whoever controls Delphi, but that comes with increased unrest and the threat of retaliation from members of the Amphictyony.
Ingame
Delphi will be featured in the game as a rebel settlement rather then a faction. It will however be of vital strategic importance, for whichever faction controls it will recieve a large bonus in money, which they can use to raise a powerful mercenary army! This will help to recreate what Phocis did in the lead-up to the Third Sacred war. We still haven't quite worked out the specifics of how this will work yet, but we are certain on including a feature like this in the mod, so expect to see more of Delphi soon...
Despite being largely controlled by the Amphiktyonic Council, Delphi is still an independant, if small, city state, and has a small force of citizen hoplites dedicated to protecting it.