Amphictyonic Council (Amphic`tyonic Council) , a council consisting of representatives from several confederate States of ancient Greece, twelve in number at length, two from each, that met twice a year, sitting alternately at Thermopylæ and Delphi, to settle any differences that might arise between them, the decisions of which were several times enforced by arms, and gave rise to what were called sacred wars, of which there were three; it was originally instituted for the conservation of religious interests.
Definition taken from The Nuttall Encyclopædia, edited by the Reverend James Wood (1907)
Ampère, Jean Jacques * Amphi`on