Kitap 2
19
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.
19
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 templeThis temple, dedicated to Artemis, was restored with great magnificence after its destruction by fire in 356 B.C. For its fame see Acts 19. Portions of the sculptured pillars are to be seen in the British Museum. as the donor thereof.
20
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. 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.
