The
First Sacred War or
Cirraean war, was fought between the
Amphictyonic League of
Delphi and the city of
Kirrha. In the beginning of the 6th century B.C. the attempt of the Pylaeo-Delphic Amphictyony, controlled by the Thessalians, to take hold of the Sacred Land (or Kirrhaean Plain) of Apollo ended up in this war. Its end was marked by the organization of the first
Pythian Games. The conflict arose due to Kirrha's frequent
robbery and mistreatment of
pilgrims going to Delphi and their encroachments upon Delphic land. The war resulted in the defeat and destruction of Kirrha. The war is notable for the use of
chemical warfare at the
Siege of Kirrha, in the form of
hellebore being used to
poison the city's water supply.