The ambassadors were treated with respect: they were well received, given gifts, invited to parties and games. When they returned home, they talked about their mission. If everything was fine, they were given rewards, such as a laurel wreath and an invitation to lunch in a special building. Anyone could express their opinion about the ambassador's work.
One of the main tasks of the ambassadors was to form alliances and sign treaties. In those days, treaties were considered very important and sacred. If someone violated the contract, it was considered bad luck, and a curse could be placed on him. Therefore, oaths and curses were part of the signing of the contract.
If someone violated the agreement, the disputes were referred to a special commission. The perpetrators were punished, for example, by being forced to pay a large sum of money. If the city did not want to pay, military operations could begin. After the agreement was concluded, each party had to carve the text of the contract and the oath on a special stone slab and store it in the main temple. In Athens, it was the temple of Pallas Athena on the Acropolis. The most important treaties were also kept in other important places such as Delphi, Olympia and Delos.
The texts of the agreements were written in several languages so that all parties could understand them. One copy was necessarily left in the state archive. If relations between the countries deteriorated or a war broke out, the slab with the text of the treaty was broken, and the treaty was considered terminated.