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[1349a]
[1]
each
retaining for himself a year's supply. They then granted right of export to any
who desired it, fixing what they deemed a suitable price. At Abydos civil strife had caused the land to
remain uncultivated; while the resident aliens, to whom the city was already
indebted, refused to make any further advances. A resolution was accordingly
passed that anyone who would might lend money to enable the farmers to cultivate
their land, on the understanding that the lender had the first claim on its
produce; others taking from what was then left. The people of Ephesus, being in need of funds, passed a law
forbidding their women to wear gold, and ordering them to lend the State what
gold they had in their possession.They also
offered to any citizen who was willing to pay a fixed sum the right of having
his name inscribed on a certain pillar of their temple1 as the donor
thereof. Dionysius of Syracuse, being desirous of collecting funds, called a public
assembly, and declared that Demeter had appeared to him, and bade him convey all
the women's ornaments into her temple. That he himself had done so with the
ornaments of his own household; and the others must now follow his example, and
thereby avoid any visitation of the goddess's anger. Anyone who failed to comply
would, he declared, be guilty of sacrilege.
[20]
Through fear of the goddess as well as of the despot, all the
citizens brought in whatever they had. Then Dionysius, after sacrificing to the
goddess, removed the ornaments to his own treasury as a loan which he had
borrowed from her. As time went on, the women again appeared with precious
ornaments. Dionysius thereupon issued a decree that any woman who desired to
wear gold should make an offering of a fixed amount in the temple.Intending to build a fleet of triremes, Dionysius knew
that he should require funds for the purpose. He therefore called an assembly
and declared that a certain city was offered to him by traitors, and he needed
money to pay them. The citizens therefore must contribute two staters
apiece.2 The money was paid; but after two or
three days, Dionysius, pretending that the plot had failed, thanked the citizens
and returned to each his contribution. In this way he won the confidence of the
citizens; so that when he again asked for money, they contributed in the
expectation that they would receive it back. But this time he kept it for
building the fleet.On another occasion being in
straits for silver he minted a coinage of tin, and summoning a public assembly,
spoke at length in its favor. The citizens perforce voted that everyone should
regard as silver, and not as tin, whatever he received.
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