The Rise Of An Empire In Ancient Europe-Chapter 114: Hera’s Wedding Celebration

Juleios, masking his excitement, addressed Marigi with a measured tone. "The city-state is currently troubled by an empty treasury, and your return comes at the perfect time. As Amendolara’s trade officer, it is your duty to change the current situation of almost no trade in Amendolara and increase the tax revenue for the treasury! I hope you carefully investigate the city-state and think hard to come up with a good plan!"

"I will do my best!" Marigi responded eagerly, his expression full of determination.

"And one more thing—" Juleios began, but he hesitated. The matter of matchmaking could wait, especially since Marigi had just returned.

Seeing Juleios pause, Marigi wisely refrained from pressing further and instead said, "By the way, Lord, two members of the Pythagorean school from Tarentum came with me on the ship. They said they came at your invitation."

Juleios’s eyes lit up. "Where are they now?"

"They should be looking for you," Marigi replied uncertainly.

Before long, Juleios welcomed the two members of the Pythagorean school at his residence. One introduced himself as Matikoles, the other as Mentotekales. Both appeared youthful, likely under thirty.

Juleios, his smile warm and welcoming, said, "You both look so young!"

The comment visibly irked Matikoles, who raised his voice. "Mathematics is not judged by age! My speed in calculation is unmatched in Tarentum! Do you think I willingly came to this remote little town?"

Unfazed, Juleios chuckled. "Look at me—I became a consul at a young age. If I despised youth, wouldn’t I also despise myself?"

Matikoles blinked, his indignation faltering.

"On the contrary," Juleios continued, his tone steady, "I am delighted that the Pythagorean school sends young people. Youth means energy, ambition, and the courage to challenge conventions and envision the unimaginable. These qualities are especially valuable in academia, aren’t they?"

Mentotekales, silent until now, widened his eyes in surprise.

Matikoles, now awkward, muttered, "You... you make a fair point..."

"Rest assured!" Juleios declared. "I will fully support the development of your school in Amendolara. You will have a large residence provided free of charge for living and teaching. As long as you abide by the laws of Amendolara, you can teach freely and grow your students without restrictions. We will not let Pythagoras’s legacy be forgotten!"

The passion in Juleios’s voice seemed to ignite a spark in the two men. After saluting him respectfully, they requested someone guide them to their residence to rest before beginning their work.

As they departed, Juleios overheard Matikoles whispering, "That consul is great! Truly great! Better than Tarentum’s..."

"Matikoles! Keep your voice down! We’re still in someone else’s home!"

Hearing this, Juleios couldn’t help but smile.

Cristoya stepped into the room as Juleios lingered in thought. Her hand rested gently on his shoulder. "Are you truly planning to fully support the Pythagorean school’s development in Amendolara?" she asked, her voice tinged with concern.

"I’ve heard they have a bad reputation," she continued. "They’re secretive, they disrespect the gods, and they believe everything is made up of ’numbers.’ They’ve clashed with citizens’ assemblies and councils in other city-states. That’s why no one welcomes them!"

Juleios dismissed her worries with a smile. "So what? We Greeks are accustomed to peaceful coexistence between humans and gods. There won’t be situations like in Egypt, where disobedience to the gods leads to death."

Cristoya’s eyes sparkled with curiosity. "Do you think they’ll support you?"

"What does it matter whether they support me?" Juleios shrugged. "At the very least, they won’t cause significant trouble. And don’t underestimate them—they don’t only study mathematics. They’ve made advances in philosophy, music, art... even more."

"Really?" Cristoya asked, surprised.

"Of course. Did you know Pythagoras’s wife was one of his students? Archita mentioned this to me," Juleios said with a laugh. "With them here, your bank will never run out of skilled accountants."

Cristoya rolled her eyes playfully. "Didn’t you say their methods wouldn’t work?"

"With their current teaching approach, it might not," Juleios admitted. "But after facing a few challenges, I’m sure they’ll adapt."

At dawn, the Amendolara mountains came alive with a riot of wildflowers. Purple thyme dominated the landscape, its fragrance carried on the gentle breeze into the city.

Dressed in their finest, pairs of men and women emerged from their homes, converging in the square. More than 1,500 newlywed couples filled the space with joy and anticipation.

The morning sun illuminated their faces, all turned toward the central platform where a statue of Hera stood. Brought from the temple of Hera in Metapontum, the statue depicted the goddess holding a scepter in her right hand and pinching the corner of her robe with her left. A serene smile graced her face as she gazed upon the couples below.

Around the statue, priestesses in pure white robes performed sacred dances, their hymns resonating across the square.

When the rituals ended, Hera’s high priestess stepped forward. Her clear, resonant voice carried across the crowd. "Today is a beautiful day. The great goddess Hera bears witness to your joyous union! Greeks cherish family above all. A happy and fulfilling marriage is the hallmark of a prosperous lineage and the cornerstone of a stable city-state!"

She bowed solemnly and continued, "Hera has entrusted me to ask all the men present: ’Do you vow to shield your wife from the storms of life, to love and protect her through all hardships until the end of your days?’"

Led by Juleios, the men shouted in unison, "I do!!!"

"And Hera has entrusted me to ask all the women present: ’Do you vow to manage your household, bear and raise children, and honor your husband through all hardships until the end of your days?’"

Cristoya led the women’s response: "I do!!!"

The high priestess smiled broadly. "Now, the newlyweds may kiss each other!" freeweɓnovel-cøm

Juleios and Cristoya, Georgilos and Dania, Oliver and Mitra, and countless other couples turned to one another, sharing heartfelt kisses.

From the sidelines, Stronpolis grimaced. "This goes against Greek tradition! Such behavior is scandalous! Where is the overseer? The overseer should stop this!"

"The overseer is on a diplomatic trip to Tarentum," Skombras replied, chuckling. "I find this Hera ceremony rather amusing."

"A happy marriage is the hallmark of a prosperous lineage," Raphaelias remarked with admiration.

"I’ve never seen such a Hera ritual before," Cornelius admitted.

"I heard the consul rushed to the high priestess’s residence last night and planned this with her," Protesilaus speculated.

Heraclea’s envoy, Anolocles, observed the lively scene and smiled. "Your consul is an interesting young man."

The priestesses concluded the ceremony by sprinkling holy water over the crowd, while the newlyweds sang hymns to Hera.

Just then, the fire brigade stationed at the square’s edge began dousing the crowd with water jars. Women screamed and clung to their husbands, while men tried to wrest the jars away in playful chaos.

"This is so much fun!" Protesilaus shouted as he ran off.

"Where are you going?" Tritodemos called.

"To fetch more jars!" Protesilaus shouted, not looking back.

Amid the laughter and rising mist, even Stronpolis paused his complaints. Watching the joyous celebration, he murmured, "Won’t there be a celebration like this every year from now on?"

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