The Rise Of An Empire In Ancient Europe-Chapter 155: The Role of the Future Temple of Hades

Pleisinas had clearly prepared thoroughly. He calmly said, "Let us not forget that Hades also presides over the Elysian Fields, a land of blissful meadows bathed in sunlight, free from sorrow, hunger, and pain—a paradise every Greek aspires to after death! And what has he given us? Victory!" freēnovelkiss.com

"Well said! I love Hades!" shouted Amyntas enthusiastically. "I agree with building a Temple of Hades! He has already brought us victory, and he will bring us even more!" "Our Governor is the descendant of Hades! With Hades as our patron Ruler, the alliance will enjoy unparalleled blessings!"

The former mercenaries-turned-senators voiced their support, creating a significant momentum. Polyxenus, frustrated, sank back into his seat, and others hesitated to speak against the proposal at this moment.

Juleios, sitting quietly with his left hand resting on his thigh, observed the scene with a calm demeanor. He had not previously discussed this idea with Pleisinas, nor had he considered it amid the pressing matters of governance. However, Pleisinas’s unexpected proposal offered a pleasant surprise, sparking new ideas in Juleios’s mind.

He quickly weighed the pros and cons before rising to his feet, instantly drawing everyone’s attention. "Fellow senators, in times of helplessness, we pray to the Rulers. In times of confusion, we seek their guidance. The Rulers, with their immense powers, provide us wisdom and solace, shaping the moral fabric of our people.

"Consider this: the righteous will dwell in the Elysian Fields after death, living a blissful life; the wicked, however, cannot escape the judgment of Minos, Rhadamanthus, and Aeacus and will be condemned to suffer in the underworld. Hades is a just and impartial Ruler. If his temple is built in our city-state, it will serve as a constant reminder to the populace: those who escape the law in life will not escape Hades’s justice in death. This will compel wrongdoers to repent and turn toward virtue. At the same time, the righteous will find encouragement in worshipping Hades, remaining steadfast in their goodness despite temporary grievances, for the Elysian Fields await them.

"With this, our citizens’ morality will improve, order in the city-state will strengthen, and relations among citizens will become more harmonious. Don’t you agree?"

"I agree! With a Temple of Hades, my job will be much easier!" exclaimed Antonius, the inspector, loudly and enthusiastically.

Seeing some senators still wavering, Juleios continued, "Regarding the Temple of Hades, I propose a dual structure: a primary and an auxiliary temple. The primary temple should be painted in bright and cheerful colors, depicting scenes of happiness in the Elysian Fields, with Hades portrayed as gentle and kind. The auxiliary temple, however, should evoke fear, with dark imagery and depictions of torment in the underworld, presenting Hades as solemn and impartial.

"Citizens will visit the primary temple for encouragement and solace, while the auxiliary temple will remind them of the consequences of wrongdoing. And let us not forget the brave souls who died for our alliance and the city. I am certain their heroic spirits now accompany Hades in the Elysian Fields!"

Juleios’s heartfelt words, especially his final statement, deeply moved the senators. In the end, they decided to proceed with the construction of the Temple of Hades.

Implementation Juleios proposed that Pleisinas be put in charge of constructing this most important public building of the alliance. The motion passed. Entrusting Pleisinas with this task was not only a way for Juleios to reward his initiative but also ensured that Pleisinas would dedicate himself wholeheartedly to completing the project. After the meeting, when Pleisinas privately came to thank Juleios, the governor reminded him to work closely with Heracleides to ensure smooth execution.

Next Agenda: Land Distribution in Thurii The discussion turned to land redistribution in Thurii. After Melanthius’s slaughter of nobles and wealthy merchants, few large landowners remained among Thurii’s surviving citizens. Apart from a handful of individuals, such as Bourkos, Polyxenus, Oriphis, Enanius, and Massisakus, most citizens were now commoners. With the destruction of the original city, land ownership records were lost. To avoid disputes and ensure fairness, the new Senate decided to redistribute land. Each household would be guaranteed five acres. Most citizens accepted this decision, viewing the return of land as a divine blessing, especially since many previously held less than five acres.

However, some, such as Polyxenus, strongly opposed the plan. His argument was simple: "It’s widely known that my family owned over 500 acres of land before. Now we’re allotted only five acres—this is utterly unfair!"

Juleios’s Strategic Response Juleios discreetly signaled Bourkos to take the lead in declaring his willingness to relinquish his original holdings and accept the new allocation. Simultaneously, Juleios orchestrated public criticism of Polyxenus from allies such as Amyntas, warning him that insisting on linking the new Thurii to the old city could result in an accounting of his actions during Thurii’s downfall. Citizens, they argued, would not merely exile those complicit in their suffering but demand full accountability.

Polyxenus, terrified, quickly withdrew his objections, and others followed suit. The truth was, their greed blinded them to practical realities: the war had left them not only without land or wealth but also without the labor force necessary to work larger plots. Even if granted more land, they lacked the means to cultivate it or sustain a larger population.

Outcome The redistribution law passed. Additionally, citizens of Amendolara who had previously received insufficient land were compensated. The Sybaris Plain, vast and fertile, had much unused land remaining after the citizens’ plots were distributed. Recognizing the dire need for resources, the Senate enacted a Land Lease Law:

All city-state preparatory citizens of the alliance could lease public land, limited to five acres per person.An annual tax of 10% of the land’s income would be levied.

This law addressed the alliance’s immediate needs while ensuring efficient use of the abundant land. Mersis had once suggested that the tax rate for land leases be set at 20%, but Juleios rejected the proposal. Juleios argued, "Since they’ve become preparatory citizens, they should begin to enjoy the alliance’s benefits early. This will encourage other freedmen to eagerly join the alliance."

The Senate also passed a law stating: Preparatory citizens who actively farm and pay taxes diligently could transition smoothly into full citizenship after completing their preparatory period. This idea came from Kunogorata, who believed, "Farming reveals whether a person can endure hardship, demonstrate perseverance, and maintain physical strength. A good farmer is a good citizen of the city-state, making this an effective method of evaluation."

The senators agreed with his perspective, and over time, it became customary: all preparatory citizens were required to lease and farm land for two or three years as a form of assessment.

Land Management and the Creation of Agricultural Officers With the abundance of land, there were many applicants for leasing. Juleios proposed establishing the position of Agricultural Officer to manage the allocation, leasing, and cultivation of alliance lands. The proposal passed, and Juleios nominated Bourkos to fill the position.

Military Preparations Meanwhile, Military Officer Philesius faced significant responsibilities. With three months left before the release of Crotonian prisoners, there was concern that Croton might renege on the agreement upon their return. To prepare, the Tula Alliance had to organize and train its many preparatory citizens, ensuring they could develop basic combat capabilities within this short time. Philesius had to order more veterans to serve as instructors in the training camps on training days.

Juleios then proposed another measure: providing lower-ranking public officials with daily wages of about 2–3 obols to subsidize their living expenses. No sooner had he made this proposal than Mersis jumped to his feet in agitation.

"Governor Juleios, now that every citizen has land and only pays 10% of their income in taxes annually, they have more than enough to sustain their daily lives. Holding public office is both a duty and an honor for city-state citizens. Why should they be paid? Take a simple example: even at 2 obols a day, a public servant would earn 16.7 drachmas a month. That’s no small expense for the treasury! We cannot mimic Athens. They have the Laurion silver mines, producing 3 talents daily, while we are still running a deficit!"

Juleios raised his hand, gesturing for Mersis to calm down. "Take it easy, Mersis. Let’s talk this through." He asked gently, "How many clerks work under you?"

"Five, but they’re all preparatory citizens," Mersis replied.

"Do they work at the treasury every day?"

"No. In the past, when the treasury had little revenue, they only came occasionally when needed to record accounts. The rest of the time, they leased land from citizens to farm."

"And now?"

"Well... now that we have Thurii, along with its markets and ports, daily customs revenues alone are significant. They now follow me daily, shuttling between the treasury, the market, and the port."

"So, do they still have time to farm?"

Melsis glanced at Juleios nervously but still spoke the truth, "I... I gave them a share from the daily rations and supplies distributed to the citizens of the Tu’a Alliance."

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