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POLITICAL ECONOMY OF THE GREEKS. 135shrine in Europe. 1 ut as they were sacred to the gods,and did not <strong>com</strong>e into circulation, they were, for the mostpart, but unproductive treasures, possessing no other valuethan what they received from the artist. "We could desiremore accurate information respectingthe administration ofthe treasures of the temples for it ;seems hardly credible,that the greatstores of gold and silver, which were notwrought, should have been left entirely unemployed. Butbesides these treasures, the temples drew a large part of2their revenue from lands; which were not unfrequentlyconsecrated to their service.When a new colonial citywasbuilt, it was usual to devote at once a part of its territory3to the gods. But although these resources were sufficientfor the support of the temple,the priests, the various persons employed in the service of the temple, and perhaps thedaily sacrifices, yet the incense and other expenses,the celebration of the festivals with all the costs connected with it,still continued a burden to be borne by the public.Beside the expenses which were required by religion andthe honour of the city,there were others which the administration made necessary. The magistrates,in the propersense of the word, were without salaries; but the stateneeded many inferior servants for the taxes, the police, etc. ;and these must certainly have been paid.4Add to this,that several of the duties of citizens were of such a nature that1The consequences with which the profanation of the Delphic treasuresin the Sacred war, was fraught for Greece, may be learned from Athen. vi.231, etc.2Not only single fields, but whole districts were consecrated to the gods.Beside the fields of Ciirha, it was desired to consecrate the whole of Phocisto Apollo of Delphi. Diod. xvi. p. 245. Brasidas devoted to Pallas the territory of Lecythus, which he had conquered. Thucyd. iv. cap. 116. It is amistake to believe that the consecrated land must have remained uncultivated.That of Cirrha remained so, because a curse rested on it. Pausan. p. 894In other cases it was used sometimes for pasture land, especiallyfor the sacred herds ; Thucyd. v. 53; sometimes it was tilled ; Thucyd. iii. but for68;^the most part let for a rent. Whoever did not pay the rent, /io

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