Completed in 1045 a.d. by Theodosius, the Secret History of Massalia was a work begun by an unknown author shortly after Zenon's death, and was dedicated to using first hand accounts and foreign sources to present an unbiased, apolitical, atheistic view of Classical Massalian History.
Echemmon the Sharmat? written in 800 a.d.
Echemmon of Illyria. In Massalian Orthodox Christianity it is held that Jesus was merely the incarnation of Zenon's mercy, and that t God was, of course, Zenon. Needing a devil figure for Jesus to fight, they early Church leaders took Echemmon, his ancient enemy, as a sort of Anti-Christ. Literally the incarnation of the fallen angel Lucifer. Echemmon is specifically known as the Aspect of Hell's brutality. Through years of state propganda it has been ingrained into the Massalian conscious that Echemmon, even the name, means brutality, war, and evil. I am here to present the truth of the man. Echemmon, hero or Sharmat[1]?
First let's look at the classical sources, written by Greek scholars during the Golden Age of the Hellenic League, and afterwards during the Byzantine Period. Aristotle[2], after fleeing Syracuse when Massalia took it over, wrote this of Echemmon "His stature is proud, and his movement graceful. However, in his eyes is the cold of death, his glance is bonechilling. This is not surprising, as during his campaigns in Anatolia and Illyria, he was bound by the Council of Corinth to follow the strategy of Aratus of Sicyon[3], "Settlements would be offered gold and low taxes for 2 centuries if they defect to the Greeks, should they decline 1/4 of men and 1/2 of women are to be slaughtered. All inhabitants that have yet to reach adulthood shall become slaves, and all virgins shall be booty for the men in order to keep up morale." It became evident that such bloodshed began to wear on Echemmon, and after the death of his life long friend ,Gyras of Petra, he became cold and distant, as many of his captured soldiers would later tell.
Historians tell us he was not always this way, during his Illyrian conquest he was quite cherry and lively, often inspiring the men in crucial battles[4]. A statue near the Apollonian Bronze Mines made after the conquest of Illyria, depicts a beautiful and adventurous Echemmon, proud of the glory he had brought his home. It paints a different picture than what the Massalian Bible tells in Luke 4:1-8, : Ensarkó̱no̱[5], full of the Holy Spirit, left the Jordan and was led by the Spirit into the wilderness, To be tempted by The Sharmat for forty days, and he ate nothing in those days, and when he had finished them, at the end he was hungry. Echemmon said to him, "If you are the Incarnate of Zenon, tell this stone to become bread." Ensarkó̱no̱ answered, "It is written: 'Man shall not live on bread alone.'Echemmon led him up to a high place and showed him in an instant all the kingdoms of the world. And he said to him, "I will give you all their authority and splendor; it has been given to me, and I can give it to anyone I want to. If you worship me, it will all be yours." Ensarkó̱no̱ answered, "It is written: 'Worship the Lord our God[6] and serve him only.'"
As is evident from these verses, Echemmon is painted as a trickster and conqueror, a cold being that, as so many evangelists I have ran into have told me, denies the love and glory of our lord Zenon. But all contemporary sources[7] from Echemmon's life list him as a Victim of the Council of Corinth, forced to carry out their ever bloodier and ever more hubric demands. So, dear reader, I will let you decide for yourself. Sincerely [Text Missing] of al-Qusṭanṭiniyah[8]
Footnotes
[1]Sharmat is a term found only in Massalian Orthodox Christianity, meaning devil or deciever. The word is not Greek in origin, and scholars to this day have no idea where it came from.
[2]Aristotle's Secret work known as "Exile in Carthage" details Echemmon's life and downfall
[3]Aratus of Sicyon was a military strategists in the Hellenic League which came up with the brutal "Aratine Strategy" which was adopted by many Greek generals (including Zenon during his Conquest of Carthage)
[4]Battle of Salona and the Battle of the Dalmatian River
[5]Ensarkó̱no̱ means "Incarnate" in Greek, with Jesus' full name being Ensarkó̱no̱ Zeno in Massalian Orthodox Christianity, meaning "Incarnate of Zenon". The term has become outdated in recent years and many younger Massalians merely call him Jesus Christ.
[6]the God referred to here is Zenon (Known also as Zenon the Father, along with Jesus being Zenon the Incarnate and the Holy Spirit being called Zenon the Saint)
[7]This refers to the many historical accounts of Echemmon, the main one being "Exile in Carthage" by Aristotle.
[8]The Arabic name of Byzantion, as the unknown author of this work seems to have moved there during the Arab occupation of the city.