Mark's Great Adventure: The Underworld of Eternal Darkness | The Flash of Time
<<Summary of Previous Episodes>>
A giant appeared before us as we wandered through the wilderness. His name is Achilles. It seems he is an acquaintance of Mark's and is owed a few favors. In return for those favors, Achilles says he will guide us. It is a welcome offer for us, who were lost in the vast wilderness, but is such a good deal really possible? Can he truly be trusted? However, I had no choice but to follow them, so I decided to trail behind the two.
After walking for a while guided by Achilles, a massive structure came into view. Beneath a pediment supported by numerous large pillars, there were stairs leading inside.
"Does the Underworld also have temples dedicated to Hades?"
Mark asked Achilles, who was walking beside him. I walked along, watching the backs of the two as they walked side by side. We then climbed the stairs leading into the building and went inside.
"This is just a fraction of it. There are mountains of Hades temples here. His wealth rivals the riches that flow into Thebes in Egypt. That is why, valued for the strength I had when I was alive, I am now a gatekeeper for this temple. People like Heracles are also serving as gatekeepers for Hades temples in other places."
The riches that flow into Thebes in Egypt
These are the words spoken by Achilles in Homer's epic, the 'Iliad'. When Achilles clashed with Agamemnon over his reward and withdrew from the battlefield, Odysseus mediated negotiations to bring Achilles back. However, Achilles replied, 'Not even if he gave me all the wealth that flows into Egyptian Thebes would I obey Agamemnon.' From the 'Iliad', one can also glimpse the prosperity of Egypt from the Greek perspective.
"Rivaling the riches that flow into Thebes in Egypt? What do you mean?"
I wondered about the meaning of the metaphor Achilles used.
"Hades holds the title of the wealthiest one. He obtains all the wealth of the underworld and all the property dedicated to the dead. That is why, in terms of wealth, it rivals Thebes, the capital of the golden land of Egypt."
Mark said that.
"I see. Still, that is certainly a staggering number of coins."
I was surprised to see the coins piled up like mountains inside the temple. The piles of coins shone like a galaxy, emitting a sparkle. I picked up one of the coins lying on the floor and looked at it.
"It's a tetradrachm silver coin from the Seleucid Empire of Syria."
Mark said, looking at the coin I had picked up.
Issued 120 BC - 119 BC
Seated Zeus holding a great eagle and a scepter
"Basileus Kleopatras Theas kai Basileos Antiokhou. Queen Cleopatra Thea and King Antiochus, huh?"
I read the characters inscribed on the coin, speaking them aloud somewhat aimlessly.
"Huh!? What did you just say?"
"What is it?"
"How can you read that?"
Mark looked at me as if puzzled.
"What do you mean, 'how'?"
"I mean, ordinary people can't read ancient Greek characters. Because you're not an ancient Greek, right? Unless you've received special training, modern people shouldn't be able to read them."
"Huh? Now that you mention it..."
At that moment, along with a sudden dizziness, images like a flashback raced through my mind.
"What's wrong? Are you okay?"
"Ah..."
"Did you remember something!?"
"..."
"Even if you say there are more than in Ancient Egyptian, there are few schools in Japan where you can learn Classical Greek. You said you came from Tokyo. A place in Tokyo, not Tsukuba or Osaka, where you can learn Classical Greek. It's unbelievable, but could it be that you are... The ivy-covered brick school building, the Ark classroom, and the Maria stained glass."
When I heard the words Mark spoke, those images surfaced vividly in my mind.
"That's right, the atrium circle building, the five libraries, and the great clock tower..."
Following Mark's words, strangely, those words came out of my own mouth.
"No way. Seriously? A comrade? Was that it?"
"Where is this memory from..."
"It's the school you attend."
"School?"
"Yes, we went to the same school. We probably weren't there at the same time, but you would likely be my junior. I see, a comrade. Then that changes things. I'm sorry I called you an ordinary person earlier. As a junior, I welcome you warmly."
"Is that so? Still, you're changing your tune quite quickly."
"If you're a comrade, that's a different story. So, is there anything else you can remember?"
"Only the images of the campus. Other than that, I don't know."
"Well, there's no need to force yourself to remember right now. You might remember something else later, triggered by something."
To Be Continued...
Issued 120 BC - 119 BC
Cleopatra Thea and Antiochus VIII Grypus
On the reverse side of the coin that appeared in this episode, the portraits of the mother and son of the Syrian royal family are depicted. This coin is a 4-drachma silver coin issued during the joint reign of Antiochus VIII Grypus and Cleopatra Thea. Since Antiochus was a child at the time of his accession, the real power was held by his mother. Although Antiochus is a king of the Seleucid Empire of Syria, he also carries the blood of the Ptolemaic dynasty of Egypt. His mother, Cleopatra Thea, is the daughter of Ptolemy VI.
Cleopatra Thea is a queen of the Seleucid Empire of Syria. She was a princess of Ptolemaic Egypt but married into the Seleucid Empire for a political alliance. She was a cunning and ambitious woman.
Antiochus VIII Epiphanes is the son of Demetrius II Nicator, King of the Seleucid Empire of Syria, and Cleopatra Thea. He clashed with his mother, who held the real power, assassinated her, and ascended to the throne alone. He is also known by the nickname Grypus (hook-nosed), which describes his appearance, and he is more often called by the name Antiochus VIII Grypus than his formal name, Antiochus VIII Epiphanes.
Shelk🦋