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The League of about 70 city-states was organized by Athens in 378-377 BC after the Corinthian War. It followed the same model as the First Athenian Sea League – the council of the allies (synedrion) met in Athens but was independent from the Athenian state. Again there were contributions in money from the allies, which were called syntaxeis with the purpose not to remind of the controversial “phoros” of the previous league. The Second Athenian Sea League cut Sparta’s claims for hegemony and supported the successes of the Theban League. Soon after that it became clear that Athens strives for hegemony once again and their realtions became hostile. The active naval policy of Athens and its hegemony became the reason, as at the time of the first league, many city-states to fall off the sea league, which led to strong anti-Athenian movements. After the War of the Allies (s.c. Social War) in 355 BC the League dissolved.
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First Athenian Sea league
Athenian-Delian League (Delian Symmachia or Confederacy of Delos) – alliance formed during the Greco-Persian Wars 478 – 477 BC between Athens on one hand and the Greek city-states in Anatolia and the Aegean region on the other. This federation of over 200 sea city-states under the leadership of Athens was organized with the purpose to lead the war against Persians to an end, but Sparta and its supporting city-states refused to take part in it. The allies bound themselves to contribute a certain number of men and ships. Instead of this the smaller city-states had to pay each year a sum (phoros) to the treasury of the League. It was located in the temple of Apollo at Delos and its tribute was about 460 talents a year. The affairs of the First Athenian Sea League were managed by a synod. Gradually Athens gained hegemony in the League. Athens persisted on receiving annual tributes to support the powerful fleet, which was a constant threat to Persia but was also used by Athens against its allies. The oligarchic city-states revolted against the imposed government, as well as the annual contributions. Athens resorted to punitive expeditions against its allies, especially during the Peloponnesian War, when the tributes were raised to 1000 talents. The League came to an end with the victory of Sparta in the Peloponnesian War.
Thracian Horseman
Heros /hero/ – a Thracian god of hunting, fertility, life and death, all-knowing and all-hearing god – all-god.
The cult of the Thracian horseman was widely spread during the Roman Age, which indicates a renaissance of the Thracian religion at that time – something unknown for the other peoples under Roman domination. Its figure is well known thanks to the numerous historical records from the Roman Age, 1st-4th century AD – young horseman with a spear and shield or with killed game in his hands, followed by a servant, dog and a lion. As an all-knowing and all-hearing god he was portrayed with two or three faces. Due to the mixture of various religions the Thracian horseman was often depicted as a Greek god – Apollo, Asclepius, Zeus, Dionysus, etc., and as the Old Iranian god Mithra, as well as with some of their attributes – lyre (Apollo), single snake staff (Asclepius), impressive beard (Zeus), Phrygian cap (conical cap with its top pulled forward – Mithra), etc. The image of the Thracian horseman served as a base for Christian Saint George.
Thracian language
The language of the Thracian tribes on the Balkan peninsula spoken to the 4th century AD. The Thracian language is an Indo-European one, related to the language of the pre-Greek population in Thrace. Many personal and geographic names are known, as well as several short inscriptions, most famous of which is the inscription on the golden ring of the village of Ezerovo, Plovdiv Region, Bulgaria.
The ring was found near the village of Ezerovo
-it has an inscription in Thracian language with Greek letters.
Thracian culture
The culture of the Thracians. The iron was introduced and this was the starting point for the Thracian culture. At the end of the 12th century and beginning of the 11th century BC the usage of iron led to increased production opportunities for the Thracian community and to class differences. The potter’s wheel appeared and incited the development of the Thracian pottery which was used mainly for the everyday necessities and was flat and in different shapes to the 1st century BC. The metal mining, metal working, weaving, goldsmithing, and others grew fast. Records of the Thracian burial traditions are found in the discovered Early Thracian necropoles, tumuli and beehive tombs. The richness of the buried objects is especially meaningful and throws light on the history of the Thracian culture. Some of the beehive tombs are decorated with paintings. Bright, extremely precious examples of the Thracian culture are the treasures whose original workmanship is closely related to the Thracian life and spirit. Many votive tablets and engravings with the figure of the Thracian Horseman , connected with the Thracian religion and believes, were found in the Bulgarian lands. The Thracians were also famous for their singers and musicians. Orpheus is Thracian. The Thracian culture also enriched by the lively cultural exchange with the neighbouring peoples.