The Fall of the Athenian Empire-(A New History of the Peloponnesian War) Donald Kagan - (1987)

THE RETURN OF ALCIBIADES
29 I
important action after his restoration one with deep religious significance.
The festival connected with the Eleusinian mysteries was perhaps
the most solemn and impressive event in the Athenian religious
calendar. 58 Each year, in the middle of the month Boedromion (early
September), a sacred procession made its way by foot along a fixed
route that traversed the fourteen miles between the city and Eleusis
near Attica's northwestern frontier. The climax of the festival occurred
on the fifth day, when the Sacred Objects of Demeter were brought
from the Eleusinion near the Athenian Acropolis escorted by mystai
about to be initiated. They were also accompanied by the image of
Iacchus, represented as a young male deity bearing a torch and attending
the goddesses Demeter and Persephone. The initiates wore
wreaths of myrtle, the priests wore impressive and distinctive robes,
and the vast procession was accompanied by bands of flute and lyre
players as well as choruses singing hymns. It must have been an impressive
and awe-inspiring occasion, but ever since the Spartans had
established their fort at Decelea it had not taken place. Instead, the
initiates and their conductors had been compelled to make the trip by
sea without the splendor and ceremony that were so important to it.
Alcibiades saw the chance to remove his religious problems with a
bold stroke. Revealing his plans in advance to the Eumolpidai and
Kerykes, some of whose members had been reluctant to accept his
restoration to grace, he prepared to celebrate the procession of Iacchus
in the traditional manner. He placed sentries where they could give
notice of an enemy attack and accompanied the procession along its
sacred route with an armed guard. The procession reached Eleusis in
safety and returned the same way." Agis made no attempt to interfere,
whether because he was taken by surprise or because he did not want
to be accused of sacrilege or simply because an attack did not seem
worth the trouble. ' 0 The procession to Eleusis benefited its planner in
several ways. From a religious point of view, it was a demonstration
of his piety that helped undermine the old attacks against him and the
suspicions that still clung to him. As a military demonstration, it
seemed to justify the extraordinary powers recently voted to him and
raised the spirit and confidence of the Athenian army." Politically, it
58
For a discussion of the festival, see H. W. Parke, Festivals of the Athen;anJ (Ithaca,
N.Y. and London, 1977), 55-72.
59 Xen. 1.4.20; Plut. Ale. 34·
60
Hatzfeld, Alcibiode, 299.
61
Plut. Ak. 34.6.