Argonauts, and the expedition of the Seven against Thebes. Reconciled to Adrastus after a quarrel, and wedded to his sister Eriphȳlē, he agrees that any future differences between them shall be settled by her. She, bribed by Polyneicēs with the fatal necklace of his ancestress Harmŏnia, insists on her husband joining the war against Thebes, though he foresees that it will end fatally for him, and in departing charges his youthful sons Alcmæōn and Amphilŏchus (q.v.) to avenge his coming death. His wise warnings are unheeded by the other princes; his justice and prudence even bring him into open strife with the savage Tydéus; yet in the fatal closing contest he loyally avenges his death on the Theban Melanippus. In the flight, just as the spear of Pericly̌mĕnus is descending on him, Zeus interposed to save the pious prophet and make him immortal by cleaving the earth open with his thunderbolt, and bidding it swallow up Amphiaraus, together with his trusty charioteer Batōn, like himself a descendant of Melampus. From that time forth Amphiaraus was worshipped in various places as an oracular god, especially at Orōpus on the frontier of Attica and Bœotia, where he had a temple and a famous oracle for the interpretation of dreams, and where games were celebrated in honour of him.
Amphidrŏmia. At Athens, a family festival, at which newborn infants received religious consecration. See Education.
Amphictyons (Gr. Amphikty̌ŏnĕs). This Greek word meant literally "dwellers around," but in a special sense was applied to populations which at stated times met at the same sanctuary to keep a festival in common, and to transact common business. The most famous and extensive union of the kind was that called par excellence the Amphictyonic League, whose common sanctuaries were the temple of Pythian Apollo at Delphi, and the temple of Demētēr (Cĕrēs) at Anthēla, near Py̌læ or Thermŏpy̌læ. After Pylæ the assembly was named the Pylæan, even when it met at Delphi, and the deputies of the league pylāgŏræ. The league was supposed to be very ancient, as old even as the name of Hellēnĕs; for its founder was said to be Amphictyōn, the son of Deucăliōn, and brother of Hellēn, the common ancestor of all Hellenes. It included twelve populations: Malians, Phthians, Æniānĕs or Œtœans, Dŏlŏpĕs, Magnetians, Perrhœbians, Thessalians, Locrians, Dorians, Phocians, Bœotians, and Ionians, together with the colonies of each. Though in later times their extent and power were very unequal, yet in point of law they all had equal rights. Beside protecting and preserving those two sanctuaries, and celebrating from the year 586 b.c. onwards, the Pythian Games, the league was bound to maintain certain principles of international right, which forbade them, for instance, ever to destroy utterly any city of the league, or to cut off its water, even in time of war. To the assemblies, which met every spring and autumn, each nation sent two hieromnēmŏnĕs (= wardens of holy things) and several pylagoræ. The latter took part in the debates, but only the former had the right of voting. When a nation included several states, these took by turns the privilege of sending deputies. But the stronger states, such as the Ionian Athens or the Dorian Sparta were probably allowed to take their turn oftener than the rest, or even to send to every assembly. When violations of the sanctuaries or of popular right took place, the assembly could inflict fines or even expulsion; and a state that would not submit to the punishment had a "holy war" declared against it. By such a war the Phocians were expelled b.c. 346, and their two votes given to the Macedonians; but the expulsion of the former was withdrawn because of the glorious part they took in defending the Delphian temple when threatened by the Gauls in 279 b.c., and at the same time the Ætolian community which had already made itself master of the sanctuary, was acknowledged as a new member of the league. In 191 b.c. the number of members amounted to seventeen, who nevertheless had only twenty-four votes, seven having two votes each, the rest only one. Under the Roman rule, the league continued to exist; but its action was now limited to the care of the Delphian temple. It was reorganized by Augustus, who incorporated the Malians, Magnetians, Ænianes, and Pythians with the Thessalians, and substituted for the extinct Dolopes the city of Nicŏpŏlis in Acarnania, which he had founded after the battle of Actium. The last notice we find of the league is in the 2nd century a.d.
Amphĭlŏchus. Son of Amphiarāüs and Eriphȳlē, Alcmæōn's brother. He was a seer, and according to some took part in the war of the Epĭgŏni and the murder of his mother. He was said to have founded the Amphilochian Argos (near Neokhori) in
