sixwordstories | (no subject)

I take it this is addressed at the mortals in the crowd?

*bows her head*

I am but a mortal myself.

It was directed at all those living in the mortal world who carry little regard for those who sacrificed and died so that they could live.

*sighs*
They do seem to have that habit. And it seems to get worse as the oral traditions have begun to fade. Where legends grew greater in the telling, they are reduced due to over analysis.

*nods*

Yes; the oral traditions carried on a great many legend of times passed. I am always astounded at the way in which modern man waves his hand at the traditions of old.

*a smile is offered*
It is not a pattern found only among modern man. Your people did not hold all the ones before them with high regard. Not that I blame them. It is the way of those who short lives.

No, we did fall fault to that. But we did try harder, at least in comparison, to remember the traditions of days passed. It was why when Leonidas chose to enter into battle during the time of the Carneia that the decision had been so difficult to make; but the imminent invasion and destruction that Persia would bring was much more worthy of our time than a festival.

No doubt. Your people came from a time when the past felt more relevant to every day life. And with less instant technological change, perhaps it was. But the mass dismissal of the past has gained no one anything.
Though that attack was not simply a matter of tradition, was it? It was also a question of religion. And when religion gets involved in things, it alters everything from the floor up.

Yes. The change of today is more rapid than anything I could have ever imagined then.

The attack? Of Persia on Sparta? Or us meeting them at the Hot Gates, despite the advice of the Ephors? The Carneia has a great deal to do with religion, yes. It was in worship of Apollo.

Imagine how it might be for one who was old when your people first built their society.

I refer to the excuses the Ephors gave for their greed, and for the reasons it was difficult for the attack to occur. Religion has a tendency to make things more messy. But I might be a little bias.

*bows her head*

Yes, I can only imagine.

It had nothing to do with religion. The Ephors were a pathetic lot, only interested in the advancement of their own personal greeds and desires. Their eyes glittered at the sight of gold, regardless of the blood stained upon them. Their tongues wagged at the sight of an Oracle, without giving a second thought to the lives that were stolen in being chosen as one.

In all of their self-proclaimed wisdom, they could not see the imminent danger that Persia and Xerxes loomed over our home.

The only reason the Ephors held anything like power in Sparta, where all other corruption in body or form is rejected, is because of religion. Their corruption and perversion would have been rightfully eliminated otherwise. Would any true Spartan given a daughter to those twisted fools or let their king fight a man with a guard of three hundred otherwise?
If I am wrong then perhaps, Sparta is not what I thought it was.

There was a great deal of corruption amongst the Elders and the Forum, as well. But it seemed that little was done about it due to people's either choosing to remain ignorant or simply not realizing.

With due respect, we put our faith in our King and his brave 300 because of our belief that it was necessary. Many saw it as an impossible task, and though we did not claim victory at Thermopylae, we gained something that few obtain in such blood-stained battles: glory.

We knew that fighting Xerxes was the only option Sparta had, lest we fall to a tyrant who was no more immortal than the rest of us.

I do not question your faith in the King or his 300. Especially with the time that has passed, that would be foolish. I do not question your battle. It was the only thing to do at the time. When a mortal claims to have immortality and tries to take control of the world, resistance is the only thing to do.
The faith that I question is the one that left your king in a position to only have those three hundred behind him. That left the Ephors with the power to strip him so. When clearly they were no Spartans.

Do forgive my misunderstanding.

Most had never seen the Ephors. They heard stories of the climb to the top of the mountain, their use of the Oracle, the tales of their great wisdom. And most chose not to pursue further knowledge. They could not see that their hideous physical appearances matched the blackness of their souls.

Many are afraid to break tradition. The Carneia was such a sacred festival that they were worried of the consequences of breaking it. Most could not understand the danger that Xerxes created.

But due to my words and those of Dilios, we were able to sway the good country of Sparta to war. It was too late, of course, for my King and his 300, but we met Xerxes in battle nonetheless. Sparta would remain free.