Neoptolemos stared through the window. He concluded that, finally, another boring day was going to end, as the shadows on small courtyard of the administrative building of the temple of Darron were long and small patches of the western sky were getting dark. Being 20 years old Neoptolemos was not very fond of his work. Yet on the other hand, it was not that bad. However tedious copying of temple bills and lists of possessions was, it was not to be compared with manual labour of slaves and some of foreigners in the port and storehouses of a city.
He himself also was a foreigner, xenos, in this city. His family descended from Epirus, from the lands of the Thesprotoi. In his childhood Neoptolemos many times had been listening to stories of the lost homeland, breathtaking mountains and hills covered with flocks of sheep. Other stories were also told, when he was older. The stories about the honour and greed, an old statesman and an evil king, stories about murder and miraculous escape.
Those stories were mostly centred around his grandfather, also called Neoptolemos, who was an important man among his ethnos. When king Pyrrhos returned from his disastrous campaign in Italy, he ordered to increase taxes and levy new, young men into depleted royal army. He, in his greed and desire for glory, did not understand that his country had already been drained. The best men were dead or incapacitated from their wounds, and others just wanted to live in peace. That was why Neoptolemos senior, in the name of all Thesprotoi tried to convince the king to postpone his aggressive plans. Yet Pyrrhos didn’t want to listen. He killed the old man and ordered that his family should follow. They were saved from the king’s men only by an anonymous leaflet nailed at the door. Packing few personal belongings and a small sum of money his parents fled east.
After dangerous journey through the mountains in late autumn, when the frizzing blow of Boreas was covering the passes with snow they finally reached Pella. This is where the stories ended. Here they settled, and here Neoptolemos grown up. His father, Sostrathos, after trying few other professions, hired himself as mercenary solder in the Macedonian army and from that time he was uncommon guest in the house they rent. Only occasional letters and half of his salary paid by royal official from time to time assured he is alive. Just a year later Pyrrhos was a king of Pella too, but it didn’t last for long – his garrison was thrown away after 2 years by levy force under the command of Halkyoneus, son of Macedonian king Antigonos Gonatas. As the next year’s punitive expedition of Pyrrhos failed (thanks to him falling from horse and braking a few bones) the Macedonia was now secured under Antigonid rule.
That year, first year of 127 Olympiad was to be remembered by Neoptolemos as his first year at schools. His father always insisted on this, and he reserved better part of the money taken from old home to this purpose. Yet the only teacher they were able to hire was an old philosopher, almost constantly drunk. How he was not excluded from Gymnasium because of this was always puzzling Neoptolemos. He recall that the one guy told him that his teacher wrote some book, and become famous because of this, but he was not tempted to believe. Yet his teacher wasn’t that bad tutor, and Neoptolemos was a good student. He liked books, especially those about distant lands and great warriors, and wasn’t bad in arithmetic too. But one thing where he excelled was javelin throwing. He even won a olive wreath once, defeating all those proud Macedonians – a great honour indeed.
From one exercise he, as xenos, was excluded. All Macedonians from the age of 15 trained pike drill. Marching, keeping formation and few basic commands for the efebes (up to 17) and complicated manoeuvres and heavy physical training for older – the neoi. Neoptolemos once held the sarissa, when his friend Pantauchos gave it him for a while. Surprisingly it was much, much lighter than Neoptolemos expected, and very well balanced in battle position (levelled). In upright, marching position it was much bigger problem because of the enormous length, and he could just barely imagine how a man can march 150 stades (28km) in an day, carrying not only a sarissa but also helmet, shield, greaves, knife and supplies. Yet that was what Macedonian neoi were supposed to do.
“By the way, where Pantauchos may be now?” – thought Neoptolemos – “I haven’t seen him for a long while. Maybe he was drafted for the royal army that was fighting in Epirus? I hope he...”
Suddenly he heard somebody shouting. Automatically bent toward the table trying to simulate that he is working “Here you have the punishment for daydreaming” crossed his mind “now the supervisor will get you” But nothing happened, except few more shouts and sound of fast steps on the courtyard. Seconds later door were opened with a force that almost pulled them out from position Neoptolemos glanced toward them – just to see Megakles, the priest and his direct superior. He never had seen him so excited
“Come out” Megakles shouted “Hymnos had called public meeting on the agora, some very important news he has. Some say that king Halkyoneus won a great victory and conquered Epiros!”
Neoptolemos quickly packed few things, and rushed to the courtyard. Here he met few other temple workers already discussing the topic with excitation. Bypassing them and walking through vaulted doorway he entered main part of temple, where three shrines and the sacred, healing spring of Daron were located. Here too people were already discussing the news, both priests and visitors who happened to be in the temple. He responded briefly to some greetings and entered a street. From here he proceeded north through straight roads towards agora. As he was closing the houses became more impressive, being homes for the elite of Pella and for Macedonian nobles. Sometimes through opened door he could see interior walls covered with paintings and marvellous mosaic floors.
“It really must be important news” – Neoptolemos thought – “if it is Hymnos who will deliver message. After all, he is the youngest brother of Halkyoneus and in absence of his older brothers the king’s representative. If it was something minor, he would use herald or leave it to city magistrates.”
The western entrance to agora was passing through columned gate. While still impressive, upon closer examination revealed that it seriously needed repair – not strange since it was erected some 80 years before by the great king Philippos. In many places painted stucco decorations had fallen off showing poros stone that was used in construction. On the contrary steps, made from good quality marble were still in very good condition.
When he entered Agora he saw that quite a sizable crowd gathered there already. People were mainly standing on the north part, as they tried to get as close as possible to buildings of magistrate, where they expected Hymnos to appear. Neoptolemos quickly walked towards the crowds looking around in a search for a nice place to stand. Before long he spotted that the base of so called “Phyrros’s Raider” was not yet occupied. Too high for the kids, it was perfect place to look over the heads of the crowd so he grabbed the occasion and climbed up. Over him towered natural-sized bronze statue of cavalryman charging for battle. Nobody can doubt it was marvellous piece of art, and this was the sole reason it was left standing, as when king Antigonos wanted it removed the city archontes, backed by vote of assembly, rejected offering instead that dedication would be removed and new one inserted at the expense of the city. So now it read “From king Antigonos and the Pellaians to the Zeus Olimpios” but people still called it “Phyrros’s Raider”.
From this elevated position whole agora was visible, with all its statues and with shops surrounding it on the west, east and south side. Below him crowd was thickening as information had spread throughout the city. Slowly also the elites started to gather – nobles in their characteristic yellow cloaks as well as rich citizens in adorned red or blue ones. They obviously hadn’t stopped at the outskirts of crowd, but pushed forward to the first rows.
Finally the trumpet sounded and eyes of everybody concentrated on the building of magistrate. The guards opened the doors and Hymnos walked out, followed by Sosipatros the hypepistates, all fife dikestai – Menandros, Nikodemos, Philodemos, Hippas and Pauson and Protogenes, one of the treasurers. In the silence that allowed the footsteps to be heard everybody waited. Hymnos for a short while seemed to listen to that unusual silence before he finally started reading:
“From the king Halkyoneus to Macedonians. Chairete! In the first regal year, on the 2nd of Daisios (May)...
Spears of Gorgias - Makedonian Story-AAR
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