sacred wars

A name given to three great struggles in the history of Greece in which the Amphictyonic Council was concerned. (1) The war waged at the behest of the Amphictyons against the Phocian city of Cirrha (B.C. 595-585), the accusation being that the Cirrhaeans had levied excessive tolls on pilgrims and had maltreated women on their return from the temple at Delphi. As the result of the war, the city was razed to the ground (Aeschin. c. Ctes. p. 68; Strabo, ix. p. 418; Athen. xiii. p. 560).

(2) and (3) See Philippus.