Phoenicia: From Tripolis to Sheba
The land of purple dye and Jazbelian cedars is characterized by the semi-autonomy of it's citys. Each of the major cities of Phoencia is different from the other and regionalism is preserving old traditions and habits.
Most cities are reigned by a Prince. In the Phoenician case, these princes are under normal circumstances not related to the King. It is just a title, which shows that the person rules over a city which has the right to send a delegate to the council of the King. This council serves as an 'advisor' to the King, helping him to make the right decisions. However, there are also a number of other government forms.
Realms of Phoenica
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Tripolis
Tripolis is one of the oldest citys in the Levant. It was the third city (hence the name) to join the initial Phoenician confederency, to push back the Philistine invaders. Following this great victory, it was also a founding member of the nation of Phoenicia, as it is known today. The citizens of Tripolis are a very open-minded folk, with a certain dislike for oppressive dictators. This dislike was only strengthened by years of civil war, when war generals and despots tried to gain control of the city. Of course this little peculiarity did often cause conflcit. More then once did a confused trouble minded individual decide, that the people had for far too long endured the slavery of the tyrannical rule of the Prince. One of these revolts was eventually successfull. The current "republic" has remained in power for more then one hundred years, which is quite an achievement in Phoenicia. However critics are complaining for years that the Zemanians, the richest family in the city, have gained way too much power in the city parliament.
The delegates from Tripolis are considered as notorious trouble-makers in the council of the King in Byblos. However it allmost seems as if the delagates are becomming less and less aggressive these days.
Tripolis is also renowned throughout the Mediterranean for its craftsmen's skills at glass making and fabric weaving; and a thriving intellectual class dwelt on poetry, art and philosophy, allmost compareable with the cultural strength of Byblos. The Elist community is quite large and many members of the Parliament are Elists.
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Byblos
The capital of Phoenicia is truely one of the most magnificent cities in the Mediterranean. From here rule the Jerubalids over Phoenicia, and here meets the council of the King, to advice his majesty and to discuss about the future of Phoenicia. Currently Jerubalis IV is sitting on the throne and so far he seems to be strong enough to keep the people and the noblemen under control - atleast inside the walls of his own city. Reigning has become more and more difficult, as intrigue and balance of power politcs are corrupting the council. And there is also the problem of religion, which has lead to some fierce debats. More then once did Elists clash with traditional cultists. There is also a small Solist community. However there is more about Byblos then politics and religion. Byblos is a great cultural centre. In the small but numerous theatres of the city, Greek, Punic and even Aryavartan dramas are regulary performed on the round stages of the city. Additionally philosophers and preachers alike are drafting their documents in the city and the library has grown to respectable proportions. The Jerubalids have never meddled in cultural affairs, which has opened the stage for some most interesting personalities.
Although Sidon overshadows Byblos in the Mediterranean trade network, the warehouses of Byblos are filled with the riches of the west and the east, as Byblos is still the centre of the nation.
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Sidon
The marketplace of the eastern Mediterranean. Here it is where trade routes from all over the world come together. Ships from Knossos, Eliat, Burebistatuza, Carthago, Liguria and the lands of the Pharaohs are anchoring in the greatest harbour of Phoenicia. Goods are loaded and unloaded, bought and sold. Life in Sidon is fast. The days are long and the nights are short, as there is allways work to be done. The city is ruled by a number of wealthy mercantile families, who are using their power and of course their money to strenghten their positions and to gain access to even more riches. In the council of the King, the trade lords of Sidon fight for further autonomy. They don't want to waste their earnestly earned money on military spendings and they absolutely detest taxes. Besides the numerous foreign trade agents, there is also a small Solist community found inside the city walls. However they are outnumbered by the Elists.
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Tyre
The city of the purple phoenix. Among with Ashkelon and Baalbek, Tyre has the strongest fortifications in all of the Levant. Walls stand high to sky and towers armed with catapults and bolt throwers are watching the horizont in search of potential invaders. In the centre of city stands the monument of Hiram the First, King of Tyre, King of Phoenicia, defender of the city. The story of his last stand against the invaders from Egypt and Luca is still remembered in song and tale. But not only the fortifications of Tyre are magnificent. In the harbour of the city anchors the largest part of the war fleet of Phoenicia. The dockyards are allways busy repairing, maintaining and enlarging the fleet of the purple sails. Ruler of Tyre is Prince Karganor. He's able to trace back his line for several centurys, and he is extremly proud of this fact. Being a very determined defender of Phoenicia, he is allways trying to persuate the council of the King to increase military spending.
Although the Cult of Baal is still practiced heavily in Tyre, it is known that the Prince himself is an Elist.
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Ashkelon
The walls of Ashkelon are thick. Every city in the Levant has considerable fortifications, as you would expect in an area, where war has devasted the lands unnumbered times. However those cities that are closer to the border tend to have an extra layer, or two. Although Egypt is currently a major trading partner of Phoenicia, the people of Ashkelon are wary people. Very skilled with the bow, the cities walls are allways patrolled by soldiers of the city watch. Prince Hanaor is a thoughtfull person. Although he ensures that the city is allways ready for an attack, he also is continuosly trying to improve the Egyptian-Phoenician relaitonsship, understanding the importance of the Egyptian markets. The Ashkelons are mostly polytheists, although there is an Elist community.
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Baalbek
Major Stronghold of the Cultists. Maybe the only Phoenician city, where the "new" religions are treated openly disrespectful. The Oracle of Baalbek is a major destination for pilgrims, who seek spiritual enlightment. And it is rumoured, that King himself is sometimes seeking advice, before making an important decision. The people of Baalbek are very traditional people and they are also very nationalistic people. Prince Eshmunazar is a stunch worshipper of Dagon, the God of Grain. The fertile Beqaa Valley is the breadbasket of Phoenicia. The endless grain caravans are passing the three gates of the city regulary, their destinations being the entire Levant.
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Haam
Haam was until recently a lesser known city of farmers and herdsmen. However this has changed in the last decades, when the old iron ore mines were enlarged. Soon a flourishing metal industry has been etablished in Haam. Weapons and tools alike are being crafted in the metal smiths of Haam and from here they are sold to the farmers of the Beqaa Valley and the city guards of Tyre, alike. Additionally the city harbours a small community of Alaans, who fled the war torn steppes of Central Asia, to seek refugee in the peacef.. in Phoenicia. Perhaps these barbarians could be of any use to Phoenicia in the future? Haam is reigned by Prince Jarmut, supported by an council of eldars.
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Jazbal
The city is built upon a small hill, which is also a major religious site for the Elists. Consequently the city is an Elist stronghold. There are several temples of Elo, which is a rare sight in Phoenicia. However most of the people are still cultists, and Prince Hannobaal and his council of elders are all cultists, too. But the large amount of Elists, and their significance to society has made the people tollerant. This has also caused a small community of Solists to settle in the city, who are normally only found in the major cities of Byblos and Sidon. There is a certain tense between the Elists and the Solists, however for now there were no open hostilities. The region of Jazbal is also renown for the quality of its woods. Jazbalese Cedars are praised for their excellent suitability for ocean travelling vessels. Major importers are the dockyards of Tyre, Sidon and Eliat. But Jazbalese Cedars are also an valuable trading good in the entire Mediterranean.
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Eliat
The harbour towards the east. Experienced seafarers, the people of Eliat are proud of the fact, that their vessels are representing Phoenicia in the infinite oceans of the east, the Kalingian sea. Goods from exotic places are unloaded in daily, and either sold directly on the markets of Eliat, or distributed in the harbours of the entire Mediterranean. The trade has made Eliat a rich city, rivalling Sidon in many ways. And Eliat is still a growing city. The harbour is allways a construction site, as new docks are added, and fresh trading vessels are lunched into the Ocean. Being the gate towards the east, Eliat features a small Hindu communty, mostly consisting of Aryavartan merchants and their families. Eliat's government resembles the council of Sidon, however unlike in Sidon, in Eliat there are over a dozen major and numerous lesser mercantile families, who are sharing the power equally.
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Sheba
Southernmost outpost of Phoenicia, Sheba is overshadowed by its northern neighbour, Eliat. Although most of the Eastern trade goes over the harbours of Eliat, some trade ships do anchor in the well-developed ports of Sheba. And next to these trade ships, float the large battleshíps of the Eastern fleet, ready to protect the Gulf of Aqaba and the trade routes towards Aryavarta and the Sile canal. Ruler over this city is Princess Sheba III. Her dynasty has founded the city not too many centuries ago, and up to this day, their rule has remained unchallenged. The people of Sheba are sometimes accused of being somewhat unpatriotic, due to their argueable exotic appearence and behaviour. This however, is allways vehemently denied by emphasizing the importance of the Eastern Fleet. They are also far away from the King in Byblos, which has strenghtened their will for increased autonomy.
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OOC: das, if you have any objections, just say so. Republic in Tripolis for example.
