The following is an excerpt from a new project I am working on. It is about the history of Western thought written like a novel.
Prologue
Mount Parnassus
Delphi, Greece
548 BC
The messenger followed Sacred Way up the steep mountainside. Even though it was early morning, the string of supplicants was long and followed the steep and twisted road. The messenger forced himself to be patient even though he knew his master would want an answer as soon as possible. He took his proper place at the end of the line. It would not be wise to antagonize Pythias, the Priestess of Apollo. Was there anything he had forgotten? The proper offerings made? Yes. The proper sacrifices completed? Yes. His master had also deposited great amounts of money in the Lydian Treasury for the use of Apollo.
His master could well afford the vast expenses. Croesus was the richest king in the world. With tribute from the Greek mainland paid to his capital, Sardis, on the Western coast of Asia Minor, Croesus had become wealthy beyond measure. With Persia, the mighty empire under Cyrus the Great, in turmoil from an internal revolt, Croesus knew that if he were ever going to extend his empire eastward now would be the time. But Croesus did not become so wealthy by careless actions. He decided to consult the Oracle at Delphi.
As the line of beseechers moved slowly, the messenger reviewed the question his master wanted. It was a simple question after all: What will happen if Croesus attacks the Persians?
Yes, a simple question requiring a simple answer. Much depended on the answer. The Oracle of Delphi honoring the god Apollo never lied. Apollo was the god of light, reason, and clarity. His wisdom was sought by all far and wide. If one followed the advice of the Priestess who spoke for Apollo, one couldn't go wrong.
The man moved past the Athenian Treasury and the Corinthian Treasury. Finally it passed the Lydian Treasury containing the vast riches of Croesus sent weeks earlier. The sun rose higher in the sky, and the messenger began to sweat as the morning coolness disappeared.
At last he completed the final turn and the temple lay before him. He approached it with proper respect and courtesy and waited as an attendant announced his arrival.
He entered an outer court and after a short wait was led into a smaller, dimly lit chamber where the Pythias sat in her famous tripod, the three-legged stool. Under the tripod a deep cleft in the rock produced vapor, steam, and fumes. The heat of the room, the soaring pillars, frescoed ceilings and gilt furniture overwhelmed the messenger.
"Approach, my child. What is it you seek? Why do you seek the wisdom of the powerful god, Apollo? Come and your questions shall be answered and your concerns relieved. Speak and you shall be heard."
"Great Pythias, powerful seer of the Great God Apollo. My master, Croesus, seeks the wise and eternal wisdom of the speaker of truth and the bringer of light, Phobos Apollo, whose word is law and whose wisdom is known far across the mighty seas and distant lands. It is of him I ask this question for my master, Croesus."
"Ask and you shall be answered."
"Oh Wondrous Priestess, my master's question is plain. It is this: What will happen if my Master, Croesus, attacks the Persians? May the great god Apollo answer clearly."
The Pythias frowning turned to an attendant. "Have the proper tributes and sacrifices been paid?"
"They have."
The Pythias spoke to the messenger. "Return tomorrow and I will have an answer." The messenger bowed and left.
The next morning, the messenger was summoned into the holy room. He waited expectantly. The Pythias sat on the sacred tripod. After several minutes, she spoke in a dark liquid voice with a brooding and echoing quality.
"Phobos Apollo, teacher, revealer of all mysteries, knower of all secrets of Heaven and of the earth; Apollo, speak to me now. Speak your holy voice so that all may know your wisdom and truth. Speak that the world may see your knowledge. Speak that the mighty Croesus will understand the truth you give. Speak oh mighty one." The Pythias fell silent as she breathed of the blessed fumes.
The messenger waited as a hard fist of fear suddenly knotted and writhed in his stomach. A chill grabbed him. A dark premonition fell on him. He held his breath.
The Pythias tightened. She threw back her head and screamed a guttural cry of terror. Her body became rigid and her wise little eyes clouded with hazy sadness as she finally spoke. "Oh noble and kind messenger, Apollo has spoken. Know what he has revealed. Death and destruction will come to a mighty army and to a mighty man. A great army shall fall and a great kingdom shall be destroyed. The noble fields shall bear no more grain; weeping mothers shall not bear; afflictions shall have no end. If Croesus crosses the Halys River, he shall destroy a mighty kingdom. This is the truth of Apollo. Know that he has spoken. You are now dismissed."
East of the Halys River
Asia Minor
546 BC
"Have reports come from the battle?" Croesus turned his horse to his youngest son.
"We await the arrival of messengers from the generals," The young man turned to the East and shifted position on his horse. Prickles of tightness pinched his heart. "I think the messenger is arriving now." He pointed to a cloud of dust hanging over the horizon. Both men waited with anticipation as the messenger approached.
The messenger jumped from his horse. "Your majesty, I bring news from the battle." The messenger bowed.
"Well speak, man. How goes the battle?"
"Oh mighty King. Our armies fought valiantly. They inflicted many wounds and deaths on the enemy. Nevertheless, it was to no avail. Great disaster has fallen on your armies. Our horses which have always gained victory over our enemies were thwarted by the camels of Cyrus. The odorous beasts upset our horses and they reared and refused to ride against the camels of the enemy. All is lost. Even now Cyrus approaches the Halys. Flee mighty King. Flee."
"How can this be? Apollo never lies and has told me that a great army would be destroyed if I attacked the Persians. Didn't you tell me that he said that? How can this be?" Croesus shouted at the messenger with sudden raw and angry words.
"Father, he did report Apollo's message word for word. He even wrote it down."
"Apollo told me that a great army would be destroyed," answered Croesus.
"But Father, a great army was destroyed." Croesus' son answered. They dismissed the messenger.
As the messenger left he thought to himself that maybe the King asked the wrong question.
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