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Initially, approximately 140 cities participated in the League. Athenian tax records show that they were divided into five geographical districts: Ionia, the Hellespont, Thrace, Caria and the islands. The cities were to be autonomous, retaining their laws, and each member was to have the same number of votes so that the decisions of the League would not be influenced only by the most powerful cities. The number of ships that allied cities such as Lesbos, Chios, and Samos were to provide was clearly set out, as was the amount of taxes other cities which did not have a naval force were required to pay. The collection of taxes was assigned to ten treasurers (hellenotamiai), Athenians elected by and answerable to the Assembly of Citizens (Ecclesia). Representatives of the allies met in Delos where the treasury was kept at the temple of Apollo. The reasons for choosing Delos were various. Religious considerations were an important factor as the island was a religious centre for the Ionian cities. Political considerations weighed heavily too; Delos did not have any particular political ambitions. And lastly, there were practical reasons as Delos was a port at a central point in the Aegean. When, the treasury was later transferred to Athens, it was placed in the Parthenon. |
Some scholars have claimed that the establishment of the League was part of Themistocles’ political vision which aimed to build Athens up into the most important naval force in the Aegean. Pericles, who played an important role on the Athenian political scene from the beginning of the |
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