Tyre was a bustling metropolis, full of people, markets, merchants, animals, and structures. Throughout the small avenues one could look up and see high mud brick apartments that, on their roofs, also had streets and markets. Everywhere there were markets - that gave the nickname to Tyre - the City of Wealth. Markets from Israel, the Hittites, Babylon, Sumer, Arabia - the international city has a variety of goods from throughout the known world. Even a distinct Mycanean market was present, and a market from a people known only as the Medes had a small market, but was full of luxury and exotic goods.
This is the city that Hertus lived in. His home was in the north corner, ontop of three other homes, and leaning against a cliff. The roof-avenue outside his window had a long history of Hittite trading, and almost half of his house was made of Hittite goods. He still lived with his family - mother and father and five siblings - and they were, as one could say, well off in money. His father had been a wealthy merchant, and one of the few that were able to venture to the Hittites and gain appreciation by their king to trade in the lands. From his first visit he brought back fortunes that would last into his grandson's grandson. His family would never have to work again.
While most would like this ability to just coast through life, Hertus was not satisfied. He wanted to earn something for himself, anything. And if it weren't money that he needed, he wanted fame. To be the first man in his house to sail on a boat, he declared himself a sailor and soon enlisted on the first boat in the nation, the Tyre, which would colonize the Mediterranean. He was ready to serve his King, and he was ready to gain fame that nobody could yet top in his family.
To be continued...