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blueiskewl · 6 months

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Two Statuettes of Demeter Discovered in Turkey

Two statuettes of Demeter, the Greek goddess of earth and fertility, were discovered in a cistern in the ancient city of Aigai in western Türkiye’s Manisa.

Aigai, also Aigaiai was an ancient Greek, later Roman, city, and bishopric in Aeolis. Aegae is mentioned by both Herodotus and Strabo as being a member of the Aeolian dodecapolis.

It was also an important sanctuary of Apollo. Aigai had its brightest period under the Attalid dynasty, which ruled from nearby Pergamon in the 3rd and 2nd centuries BC. The remains of the city are located near the modern village Yuntdağı Köseler of Manisa Province, Turkey.

The excavation team, led by Professor Yusuf Sezgin, head of the archaeology department at Manisa Celal Bayar University, is actively working in Aigai.

Sezgin, who found a cistern near the road to the “sanctuary of Athena” in the city, said that they made some unexpected discoveries during the excavation.

“The cistern we excavated this year is quite different from others in both its form and the artifacts found within. For example, we discovered a figurine specially placed under what we call the “cistern bracelet,” a recess at the entrance of the cistern. Normally, we don’t find such figurines inside cisterns. This one, specifically placed or laid there, depicts the goddess, Demeter, as we know from Greek mythology.”

“Another interesting point is that this wasn’t the only Demeter figurine; we found another one inside the cistern, also shown in the same posture. The third discovery, which might not be very clear because it’s broken, is a piece of a decorated vase. On its fragments are sheaves of wheat, which we know are associated with the goddess Demeter,” he added.

Sezgin also shared: “Demeter was the goddess of agriculture. She was the one who provided the earth’s fertility and productivity. At the same time, she was the protector of plants. In rural ancient cities like Aigai, she was one of the most important goddesses. Considering how difficult it was to farm on rural land, Demeter was given significant importance. In this regard, there was a very strong cult of Demeter in Aigai.”

Special festivals and rituals for gods and goddesses were common in ancient times. Archaeologists recently discovered a cistern about 50-60 meters away from the Atena sanctuary in Aigai. This cistern might have been used for these rituals.

The cistern’s proximity to the sacred area suggests it may be associated with Demeter festivals. This cistern is unique in that more figurines were discovered inside than in any other cistern.

By Oguz Kayra.

#Two Statuettes of Demeter Discovered in Turkey #ancient city of Aigai #Greek goddess of earth and fertility #ancient artifacts #archeology #archeolgst #history #history news #ancient history #ancient culture #ancient civilizations #greek history #roman history #roman art #greek art

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smbhax · 5 months

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"The Palace of Aigai, built more than 2,300 years ago during the reign of Alexander the Great's father, is seen from above after it fully reopened in ancient Aigai, some 65 kilometers (40 miles) southwest of the port city of Thessaloniki, northern Greece, on Friday, Jan. 5, 2024. It was the largest building of classical Greece: The palace where Alexander the Great was proclaimed king before he launched a conquest that took him as far as modern-day Afghanistan. (AP Photo/Giannis Papanikos)"

#palace of aigai #aigai #alexander the great #greece #palace #thessaloniki #ancient greece #classical greece #archaeology #news #ancient greeks #ap news

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persephoneizm · 9 months

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Aigai Ancient City

#history #archaeology

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jamesgalarza78 · 6 months

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Best Sightseeing In Halkidiki, Greece

Halkidiki is a Greek island in the Aegean Sea. It is famous for its beautiful beaches that are perfect for laid-back vacations. But beyond the golden sands, many cultural and historical sites are just ready to be found. This trip takes you to parts of Halkidiki that have yet to be explored. These parts are where faith, old secrets, and preserving tradition come together to make a fascinating fabric.

Our journey takes us through time, from the holy peace of Mount Athos to the mysterious depths of the Cave of Petrálona. We learn about the secrets of Ancient Olynthus and follow in Aristotle's footsteps in Stágeira. On the shores of Ouranoupolis, the Prosforio Tower stands guard. In Poligiros and Afitos, the Folklore Museums keep the visible sounds of Halkidiki's long past alive. Come with us on a journey with many stops, where each one paints a clear picture of the spirit of this Greek paradise.

Mount Athos: A Spiritual Odyssey

Mount Athos is a self-governing refuge where men are welcome to experience the timeless peace that it offers. This holy area is famous for its old Byzantine churches that stand the test of time. Walking through the sacred grounds, you feel spiritual, like the love that has been felt here for hundreds of years.

Temples with aged exteriors and iconic domes contain rare antiquities and holy objects. Each chapel possesses centuries-old texts and artwork demonstrating the faith that made Mount Athos a spiritual haven. These sacred sites' remote locations on hills or in dense forests add to their atmosphere and transport guests to another realm.

Family cruises across the peninsula are a delightful way to reach Mount Athos, which men cannot visit. A boat ride highlights the coast's splendor and the monastic life that flourishes there. Anyone who wishes to connect with Halkidiki's spiritual past should experience its ideal blend of natural beauty and spiritual progress.

The Cave Of Petrálona: Unveiling Ancient Mysteries

Explore the hidden Cave of Petralona, a timeless natural treasure. This subterranean marvel displays Halkidiki's ancient inhabitants' remains, including a 700,000-year-old cranium. The tunnel's labyrinth of stalactites and stalagmites is complete with old noises.

The Anthropological Museum of Petralona, right next to the cave, keeps the items found there safe. Tools, skeletons, and evidence of past fires show how the first people living in Halkidiki lived their daily lives. The museum is an exciting link between the prehistoric and modern worlds because it lets people touch the threads of Halkidiki's old fabric.

Ancient Olynthus: A Glimpse Into Classical Greece

The Greek city of Ancient Olynthus in Halkidiki is well-kept. It transports you to classical times. Before the exquisite Dion, Aigai, and Pella mosaics, you may walk over the earliest Greek mosaic floor. Olynthos' 1930s historical site displays many periods. Ancient Halkidiki capital.

Near the historic site, the Archaeological Museum of Olynthos enhances the experience. Exhibitions from the digs portray Olynthos residents' everyday life. Having a repair facility in the museum completes the image of Ancient Olynthos. Classical Greece is intriguing because of its diverse art, architecture, and lifestyle.

Stágeira: Aristotle's Homeland

Aristotle was born in Stágeira, full of old thoughts and knowledge sounds. The historical site has an acropolis, walls, an ancient temple, and houses from the Classical and Hellenistic periods. Take in the atmosphere that shaped the mind of Aristotle, a philosopher whose ideas have been studied for thousands of years.

The Archaeological Museum of Poligiros is in Olympiada and for King Aafterander's mother. The museum's displays include artifacts from Stágeira, which give visitors a real link to Aristotle's work. Walk through the halls full of objects. Each tells a story about a different time and how Aristotle's ideas changed the world.

Prosforio Tower: Sentinel Of Ouranoupolis

The Prosforio Tower, right on the beach, is the pride of the village of Ouranoupolis in Halkidiki. This Byzantine tower was built in the 1400s by monks from Mount Athos. It has stood the test of time, showing that the area has been through attacks and has been strong.

The scars of time have worn away at its architectural beauty, leaving a sad image against the Aegean Sea. Prosforio Tower protected the region as a watchtower. Its location near Mount Athos' entrance highlighted its importance in preserving the peninsula's sanctity. Today, it symbolizes Halkidiki's tragic history and resilient attitude.

Folklore Museums: Preserving Halkidiki's Heritage

The Folklore Museum is central to Poligiros. A lovely mansion preserves Halkidiki's heritage. Poligiros residents donated historic furniture, agricultural implements, traditional costumes, and pictures to the museum. Each exhibit describes everyday life, art, and the many cultures that make this place unique.

Halkidiki's rich culture is shown differently in Afitos' Folklore Museum. In an 1800s stone structure, the museum showcases ordinary things, equipment for traditional professions, and garments. Vassilis Pavlis's sculptures complement Afitos's historical study using art. These places show how Halkidiki's culture, crafts, and lifestyle have influenced the island.

Conclusion

Explore Halkidiki's hidden gems. The region contains more than sandy beaches. Faith, secrets, and culture abound. Each Halkidiki location has a unique narrative. Each offers a distinct view of the island's history, from Mount Athos to the Cave of Petrálona and Aristotle's homeland. The Prosforio Tower and Folklore Museums reveal this Greek paradise's history and soul. Enjoy Halkidiki's diversity. Every destination has its history and customs.

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ysbeeview-ysvoice · 11 months

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A beautiful pebble mosaic floor of the Palace of Aigai, which was built during the Phillip II’s reign (359-336 BC). The Palace of Aigai is the largest scale building of the Ancient Greece, located in the city of Vergina, Central Macedonia, Greece.

Photo by © Angeliki Kottaridi, shared via The Mind Circle

▶️ https://themindcircle.com/ancient-mosaics/

#greece #macedonia #Aigai #Palace of Aigai #mosaic

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jeannereames · 3 years

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Is is true that Alexander used to perform dressed as the goddess Artemis? And, if it is, why do you think he did that?

Finally getting to this question. I wanted to double check some things before tackling it.

First, the story of Alexander dressing up as gods comes to us from Ephippos (Athen. 537e-538b). Ephippos of Olynthos was a hostile source, writing On the Death and Burial of Alexander and Hephaistion, which survives only in fragments. He was Greek, not Macedonian, and from the town Philip had razed to the ground in 348. He was probably a contemporary of Alexander, but if the Ephippos mentioned in Arrian is the same guy, he was left behind in Egypt as a superintendent when Alexander left—so he was not hanging out at his court. IOW, his reports are not from a long-term courtier. At most, Ephippos visited Babylon.

Anyway, I wanted to give a little context for who this person is, and that we cannot trust he knew what he was talking about, or had seen any of it first-hand.

Second, remember that Macedonian kings weren’t just military and political leaders, they were also religious symbols and the high priest for their people, required to conduct specific rites related to the health of the kingdom. For instance, he made a libation when leaving or returning to the capital city (whether just Aigai or also Pella is not clear), leaving the bounds of Macedonia, crossing certain rivers, regular morning sacrifices (ATG was still doing them when he could do nothing else prior to his death), etc. Spartans kings had similar roles, as did the elected “king” in other Greek city-states. When kingship ended in S. Greece, the religious role he had filled remained critical, and so they began electing a king by lot each year! We also know that the elected “basileus” (king) of Athens played dress-up as Dionysos at the Anthesteria, where he had sex (?) with his wife (as Ariadne)—although not in front of a crowd! LOL. But the idea of a king performing as a god at a religious rite is common enough. (Similar roles were required of ANE kings.)

We’re told that Alexander dressed up as Hermes, Artemis, Herakles, Dionysos, and Zeus-Ammon. Who they are is significant: especially Hermes, Herakles, and Dionysos, all of whom were important deities in the region, with connections to the Solar Deities (Dionysos) and The Rider, or Hero the Horseman (Herakles/Hermes/even Artemis, as hunters). And, of course, Macedonian kings were descendants of Zeus via Herakles. A lot is made of Alexander as the New Achilles, and he does seem to have courted that at points—but folks, there is TWICE as much about Alexander and Herakles in the sources. In the Hellenistic period, Macedonia had a huge cult to Herakles Kynegnidas, Herakles the Hunter, which almost certainly was older yet. (There was also some sort of office for young men as “hunters” but we have absolutely NO clue what they did, as it doesn’t seem to be actual hunting. Local police force has been suggested.) The Rider below:

We hear a bit about Thracian royal role-playing via Theopompus (Athen. 12.531e-532a), who also doesn’t seem to understand what he witnessed (and likely didn’t care) where a king, as Dionysos, performed a sexual rite with an earth mother figure. Kings as Riders or other divine figures is backed up by some iconographic royal representations. (Check out the work of Thracian scholars Fol and Marazov for more on Thracian religion.)

As noted, the deities Alexander is accused as “dressing up as” have significant connections with The Rider and, of course, Dionysos…also venerated in Macedonia and connected with the kingship. Coin of Alexander I with The Rider below

So almost certainly Ephippos didn’t know what he was talking about, and/or his source didn’t. Instead, it gets used as more proof of Alexander’s growing hubris as an Oriental Tyrant.™ SO many of our Alexander texts have moralizing overtones typical of Greek historiography that we have to be super-duper careful with their assessments of Alexander’s motivations. (Anytime you read something about his corruption by those Evil Oriental/Persian Ways, roll your eyes and move on.) Want a perfect example? Check out Lucian’s Dialogues of the Dead 12: a conversation between dead-Philip and dead-Alexander. Obviously fictional, certainly satire, and rife with anti-Asian bias.

Anyway, even without the moralizing, it’s possible that whoever originally observed whatever Alexander was doing simply didn’t understand it. This isn’t uncommon even in the same religion. If you were raised Southern Baptist and attend mass with your Catholic buddy, you likely won’t have a clue what’s going on half the time—never mind if you attend an Orthodox Shabbat service. Worshiping (basically) the same gods does not equate to the same rites. Greek religion was not homogenous, and all sorts of regional differences existed.

As noted with the Anthesteria, a “king” dressing up as Dionysos isn’t even alien to Athens.

If you’d like to read more about this in particular, let me recommend “Thracian and Macedonian Kingship” chapter 22, section 4 (Ideology and Religion, 344-48) by William Greenwalt in A Companion to Ancient Thrace, Julia Valeva, Emil Nankov, Denver Graninger, eds.

#The Rider #Thracian Religion #Thracian Rider #Macedonian Religion #Alexander the Great #Herakles #Hercules #Dionysos #kings dressing up as gods #Macedonian king as priest #Herakles the Hunter #Its religion not megalomania #William Greenwalt #asks

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alexandros-ho-megas · 6 years

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What places would ya recommend to travel and visit which are associated with the story of your life?

Great question! I travelled quite extensively, but here’s a basic list to get you started on your own epic journey. Pro Tip from Alexander the Greatest: Be careful about drinking the water while traveling. You will get dysentery and shit yourself during a pursuit and then people you thought were your friends will write about it in your biography and you’ll never live it down. That never happened to me, of course.

Turkey/Asia Minor

Go visit Troy.

Cry over the Iliad. Cross the Hellespont and drop a bloody steak into the water since animal sacrifice isn’t looked upon too fondly these days. Lay some wreaths at the tomb of Achilles and Patroklos with your life partner and/or best friend. Strip down. Get oiled up. Run a naked race. Don’t get arrested. (Arrian 1.11-12)

Gordion

See where I untied the Gordian knot and was divinely destined to be the lord of all Asia! (Spoiler alert: Don’t tell anyone, but I actually untied the knot by pulling out the wagon pin. I didn’t cut it, but that makes for a more dramatic story. [Arrian 2.3.7])

Greece/Ancient Macedonia

Pella (My birthplace)

Pella’s a bit of a shit show now, after that ass Kassander razed it. So that’s kind of depressing for me. Like going back to your hometown to find that everything has changed and your favorite restaurant has gone out of business and your childhood home has been bulldozed and some whiny asshat murdered your young son, your mother, and your wife. Is that #relatable ?

It does have a very nice museum, though.

The Nymphaion, Mieza

Come see where my friends hit puberty at the same time and we had to ignore the sounds of Kassander jacking it every night! Fun!

Oh, and where Aristotle instructed us in a very high-brow philosophical way, of course. (Plutarch 7.4)

There are also a bunch of nice wineries around Pella and Mieza. Check those out! Channel me and get trashed on wine! But please don’t kill anyone in any drunken arguments. Be cool.

Aigai

See where my father got murdered in front of me at my sister’s wedding! Fun times for the whole family! (Diodorus 16.94.3)

You can also go see the royal tombs. Which is where I should have been buried if a certain someone hadn’t hijacked my funeral procession and stolen my dead body. Fuck you, Ptolemy. (Diodorus 18.28.3)

Delphi

A lovely site to visit. Pro Tip: Make sure to go on an auspicious day. I went there and certainly didn’t get impatient with any oracles at all… (Plutarch 14.6).

Skyros

Achilles dressed up as a woman here and fathered my ancestor Neoptolemos with Deidameia. Need I say more? It’s also a very scenic and quiet island with a fun hilltop museum.

Egypt and the Middle East/Persia

Alexandria! (The one in Egypt. Since I founded… a fair amount of them)

Damn, what a great name; someone really impressive must have founded this city. While I am horribly disappointed there are no modern shrines to Hephaistion in Alexandria as per my orders (Arrian 7.23-24), it is still somewhere very closely associated with my life. And it’s kind of my baby.

Siwa

Get told your destiny about conquering the world! Be cryptic with your friends about it! Tell everyone about how the priest addressed you as the son of Zeus due to him being shit at Ancient Greek! (Plutarch 27.9)

There are hotels and such there now, and the temple of Ammon is on Google Maps, so you won’t get lost due to shitty guides and need a raven to guide you (Plutarch 27.3-4).

Tyre

Where I changed the literal face of the earth. Not that I’m still bragging about that or anything.

Persepolis

An amazing archaeological site, even after some mistakes were made there. By me. No fires allowed anymore.

Other Sites of Note

Cyropolis

I got a concussion here from being smashed on the head by a rock in battle! Fun! (Arrian 4.3.3)

Cyrus the Great, sharer of my current most popular epithet, founded this city. The modern city has a nice historical museum, too.

The Hydaspes

See where I kicked ass and took names against the Indian king Poros.

Pro tip: Make sure to know how many islands are in a river before crossing. (Arrian 5.13.2)

To avoid:

Don’t go to Ekbatana.

For the love of god, don’t try to cross the Gedrosian Desert. Google Maps will probably fail you like my shit guides did and then you’ll have to find your way out of hell on your powers of intuition alone (Arrian 6.26.4-5)

Have fun on your journey, don’t let whiners make you turn back in India, don’t drink the water, and don’t get typhoid! Safe travels!

#asks #I'm serious about the water thing though kids #Alexander the Greatest #Iliad #Hephaistion #Did I provide too many citations again? OF COURSE NOT.#You can never have too many sources #receipts #no one noticed my wine pun

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arkeonews · 3 years

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#aigai #turkey #archaeology

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wecityguidecom · 4 years

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50 Ancient Cities in Turkey Worth to Visit

Ancient cities in Turkey are part of this unique country's well-known historical treasure where attracts millions of travellers from every corner of the world. Of course, there are more than 50 ancient cities in Turkey but it is really hard to decide which one should be on the list or not. Please don't forget to share your experiences about ancient cities in Turkey to improve the content and quality of this list and also to help the others. In this post, you may find the list of the top 50 ancient cities in Turkey with brief information about each one of them. However, you can use the interactive map to take a look at their location to have an idea about how historically rich country Turkey is. By the way, this list is made alphabetically. Aigai Ancient City (Manisa) Aigai Ancient City was founded by the Aiolians who came from Greece and settled on the northwestern Anatolian shores after 2000 BC. This ancient city was a centre for agricultural and animal husbandry more than a trade. World-famous ancient writer Herodot refers that the Aigai was one of the 12 cities founded by the Aiols. Aigai Ancient City surrounded by strong walls starting from the 6th century BC in order to prevent the city from incoming attacks. The city was also devasted by an earthquake occurred in 17 AD but Emperor Tiberius recovered the city. Especially during the Hellenistic period, many public buildings such as theatre, three-storey agora and parliament building built. Read the full article

#ephesus #knidos #troy

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blueiskewl · 8 months

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Hundreds of Ancient Oil Lamps Discovered in Aigai 'The City of Goats'

During the ongoing excavations in the Aigai Ancient City, located near the Yuntdağı Köseler Village of Manisa province in western Türkiye, hundreds of oil lamps were found, the most recent of which is 1800 years old and the oldest of which is 2500 years old.

Aigai Ancient City, one of the 12 cities founded by the Aiol people, is also known as an important religious site. Spread over 800,000 ha, the wall-surrounded ancient city (asty) was built in the centre of the Aigai land. It was built on Mount Gün, part of a mountain range now known as Mount Yunt, which was referred to as Aspordene in ancient times.

The name “Aigai” is derived from the same root as the ancient Greek word aiga (goat) and means “the land with many goats”. The ancient city, whose name comes from the Greek word “aíga” (goat), is often referred to as “the city of goats”, which is not surprising considering its high altitude and rocky lands. As its name attests, the city’s economy was based on animal husbandry.

This year’s excavations in the ancient city focused on the Athena temple area, the foundations of which were reached in 2021.

Manisa Celal Bayar University Faculty of Science and Letters Archeology Department Lecturer Professor Yusuf Sezgin said that during this year’s excavations, hundreds of oil lamps were found in the ancient city, especially in the pit known as the city’s garbage dump.

The findings suggest that olive oil was used as fuel in hundreds of oil lamps in the ancient city, with the most recent ones being 1,800 years old and the oldest ones dating back 2,500 years.

Prof. Dr. Yusuf Sezgin in his statement, “The 2023 excavation works began in mid-May and are actively ongoing. Excavations have been carried out intensively in the city since 2004. We have come across a large number of lamps in the excavations. One of the most fundamental needs of human beings is shelter, and the corresponding need is actually for lighting. Illuminating homes during the darkness of the night is a basic requirement. Many oil lamps, especially in a garbage pit we excavated in the city in 2015, were found. These lamps had been broken and damaged, and they had been discarded. After restoring them, we obtained many lamps,” he said.

Sezgin continued his remarks by saying, “The fuel used in these lamps is primarily olive oil, which was a fundamental resource in ancient times. Olive oil served two main purposes in antiquity. First, it was used as fuel for lighting in lamps, and second, it was used for body lubrication. It was used less frequently in cooking. These lamps reveal a lot to us. The land of the ancient city is suitable for olive oil cultivation. Besides olive trees, we also encountered a significant presence of pistachio (terebinth) trees in Aigai. Until recent times, there were workshops in many areas near the ancient city that produced pistachio oil. They primarily used pistachio oil in cooking.”

Stating that they have many more well-preserved oil lamps, Professor Sezgin stated that the artifacts will be exhibited when the Manisa Museum opens.

By Leman Altuntaş.

#Hundreds of Ancient Oil Lamps Discovered in Aigai 'The City of Goats'#turkey #Aigai Ancient City #ancient artifacts #archeology #archeolgst #history #history news #ancient history #ancient culture #ancient civilizations

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kesifcagrisi-blog · 6 years

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#manisa #aigai ancient city #aigai antik kenti #antik kent #vacation #holiday #photography #travel #travel blog #traveler #travelblogger #travelaroundtheworld #gezi #seyahat #tatil #türkiye

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jeannereames · 3 years

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Map-making as World-building

Quiz any of my former students, and they can probably confirm my love for maps. My most recent academic article used digital mapping heavily to demonstrate my primary argument. In virtually all my classes, I state (multiple times) that it’s hard to overemphasize the importance of geography on history, particularly in antiquity. Where people build cities, where they make roads, where they sail and trade, what sort of agriculture they could pursue…all are shaped by the land itself.

That same is true for historical fiction, whether genre or not. A recent article in Writer’s Digest gave me Thinky-Thoughts not just about maps, but how I, personally, utilize them in story construction. Perhaps it will be of interest for others, whether readers or (especially) writers, even if you have no intentions of publishing.

As some of you may have noticed, if you read the “fine print,” the lovely map at the front of Becoming (which I wish had also been at the front of Rise) was drawn by my very talented niece, Selena Reames, a professional artist. How cool to have two Reameses in one book? She also put up with her aunt’s rather exacting placement…”No, that’s too far west…that’s too far south.” Ha. Yet working with her helped me understand how much artistry goes into map-making. (Besides in the front of the first book, the map can be found on my website dedicated to the Dancing with the Lion series.)

Although a lot of action in both novels takes place in only three places (Pella, Mieza, and Aigai), a number of other cities and sites do show up, especially in the second book (which is why I wish the map had been put there too). Some readers don’t care, maybe a lot of readers don’t care, but it’s important to know how far away these various places are, which affects how quickly people can move between them.

Maps matter to timing events. To that end, let me share a site that I make copious use of, both for regular historicals as well as historical fantasy.

ORBIS: the Stanford Geospacial Network Model of the Roman World (Use Chrome for best results)

Yes, this is aimed at the Roman world, but can be used for other eras in the Mediterranean, and other areas not in the Mediterranean. While improvements to boats and wagons—not to mention those famous Roman roads—did affect travel speed, as well as where people could go, you can still get a ballpark estimate. Furthermore, this site allows one to choose method of transport (land, ship, riding, walking, cart, etc.), and speed (military, normal/trade, etc.). One may have to think about changes to place names, etc., but a writer can waste…er, spend a lot of time playing there.

It can ALSO be used for historicals and fantasy set in pre-modern periods, even if not in the Mediterranean, or if placed in one’s own world. Analogize. Look at miles/kilometers and terrain. Travel in mountains or forest/jungle/desert is obviously tougher than through fields, and paved roads are better than dirt, which are better than goat tracks. You also need to think about sailing seasons, and not only in cold environments. The threat of storms can make travel impossible for parts of a year.

And don’t forget it’s all general. If you’re traveling by horse with members in the party who aren’t used to day-long riding, that will slow down everybody. An inexperienced rider doesn’t just hop on a horse and go for hours. It’s not a car. I used to be a decent rider as a kid and teen, so I knew how to sit a horse, move with it, etc. But I hadn’t been riding in over two decades when I went for a 2-hour trip on Naxos, and boy, was I sore after! Experience, recent time on horseback, even age matter.

Also, ancient wagons weren’t equipped with shock absorbers, so well-maintained roads sped up travel, while poor roads slowed it down—could even halt it entirely if a wheel got stuck in a rut, came off, the axel broke…not to mention the “stuff” in the wagon (if hauling breakable objects, such as pots) had better be well-packed with straw.

With an historical such as Dancing with the Lion, the map is set. We might be able to add a few fictional places, but for the most part, we describe real space at a particular point in history.

When writing fantasy, even fantasy heavily influenced by real history, maps are unmoored and we have more freedom. Yet that can feel overwhelming to writers who don’t spend as much time as I do with maps (and climate and agriculture and battlefields, etc.).

Yet making maps—as that Writer’s Digest article describes—can help an author think about her story, even shape the plot.

My current MIP (monster-in-progress) is a projected 5-book epic fantasy series with the working title Master of Battles. When I describe it, I’m always torn on HOW to describe it. The elevator pitch is, “A fugitive shaman fleeing his wicked teacher falls over a balcony into the bedroom of a quirky prince, setting off a prophecy that will change their world.” But what I REALLY want to tell you about it the super-cool world. I not only threw up the historical pieces (events/kingdoms) but also the geographical pieces, to see where they landed.

I steal a lot from history, then hang intentionally obscure or less-known names on places and peoples, which will likely amuse Those Who Recognize but mean nothing to those who don’t. Yet I’ve mixed up the time eras, and geography too.

Creating the map was part of the fun, and that, in turn, yielded different possible outcomes.

First, if you look at our globe, you’ll notice landmasses bulk in the northern hemisphere. We’re “top heavy.” I flipped that; their world is “bottom heavy.” I also moved whole continents, in addition to changing the size of them, in order to alter outcomes. Among the biggest reasons for the massive death among indigenous populations when Europeans showed up en masse to the Americas owed to a lack of disease resistance. I think most people are aware of that; what most aren’t aware of is why.

Domesticated animals. As Coronavirus has taught us, disease can jump from animals to us. The Americas did not have horses, cattle, pigs, goats, sheep…all were imported after 1492 as part of the “Columbian Exchange.” (No really, it’s true; most folks don’t realize that.) In return, we gave Europe key crops (maize, potatoes, peppers, squash, chocolate, tobacco). But American natives just had far less resistance to small pox, etc…diseases that Europeans, Asians, and Africans had developed immunity to millennia before.

What if the Americas weren’t isolated, but had those domesticated animals earlier, and thus, disease resistance? Might make conquest harder. Also, landscape affects how warfare is conducted. As Alexander discovered in India, the phalanx doesn’t do well in a jungle, nor does cavalry. Imagine the Macedonian pike- and cavalry army trying to fight in the Amazon.

As much as I love geography and its impact on history, we must beware of geographical determinism, which is a form of proto- and not-so-proto-racism. While geography affects what we develop (sometimes for surprising reasons), as I constantly tell my students, human beings are enormously creative. If we don’t have X available, we develop Y instead, or we just figure a work-around to not having X. Therefore “civilization” should never be defined by what any given group of people has or doesn’t have, technologically speaking. The term “civilization” is problematic in the first place, but I do my best to uncouple it from specific technology (be it the wheel, iron-working, gun powder, etc.).

Take something as “basic” as writing. What is “writing” except “representative reality”? A symbol (or group of them) stands in for a word. The earliest “Old World” writing systems (Sumerian, Egyptian, Harappan, Chinese) developed symbols that were drawn/incised on a flat surface, be it clay, papyrus, stone, silk… But what if the “symbol” isn’t a mark? What if the symbol is, instead, a system of knots tied in a cord? Isn’t that also “representative reality”?

Hello, South American quipu. Or the wampum of the North American Great Lakes people. (And yes, the Chinese used knots for record-keeping, as did the Hawaiians.)

We have to remember to keep our minds open.

Back to my games with maps and continents.

I moved South America across to, roughly, where Africa is—only there’s no isthmus and North America smooshed up all along the southern side (so it’s essentially one big wide continent not unlike Eurasia). Then I moved Africa to where South America is, and the northern areas are a series of larger and smaller island masses (think Australia, New Zealand, Papua New Guinea, Indonesia, Malaysia, Philippines). Europe is truncated all along the north, there’s not much to Siberia at all, and the Mediterranean/Black Sea basins are longer, divided into two seas split by a sizeable archipelago. There are no Himalayas, so China was never cut off from Persia and India. In their world, the really massive empire (Shim) lies in the east, not the west (Rome). And oh, yeah, there’s a huge-ass rain forest on the southern continent full of Very Different People. And different trade.

That’s just a few of the changes I made.

Play with geography, and completely change history.

To make it more fun, on their world, not one but two sub-species of humanity survived: Aphê and Ensāni…one of whom has a functional prehensile tail. (Because who among us has never wished for a third hand?)

Hopefully, that makes readers curious about the Master of Battles series. But also, I hope it inspires other writers to think about the huge impact that geography—and therefore climate, agriculture, contact/trade, and even disease—can have on worldbuilding, and plotting.

#maps #world-building #writing advice #maps in fiction #historical fiction #historical fantasy #fantasy worlds #map-making #affect of geography on history #dancing with the lion #dwtl #master of battles

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nyccoindealer · 5 years

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AIGAI in AIOLIS Ancient Greek City 2nd CentBC Athena Nike Ancient Coin i76088

http://dlvr.it/QzgxY2

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robintrip · 6 years

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Cycle day 12 Bergama to Eski Foca

91k 500m

2 classical sites with Byzantine & later fortifications on them,

Fantastic days cycling with the best coastal scenery since west Albania.

First half of the day very unremarkable on hard shoulder of a dual carriage way but did have wind & gradient with me so made good progress.

Then arrived at Aigai a modern petrochemical port with 100,000 popn had been concerned about how to navigate through it. On the outskirts I came across a brand new red cycle path that went straight through the town centre. Outside the townhall I was stopped by 4 traffic police on bicycles- I wondered what I had done wrong but in fact they wanted to know what I thought of their new cycle path and buy me a cup of Turkish coffee!

Had not intended to visit ancient Kyme but the police insisted I did so went on a smooth cycle way straight through the petrochemical plant (several security checks). The usual beautiful mixture of columns, deciduous trees and blue sea but 100m to the right was a petrochemical plant and 100m to the left a massive container port - I think the ancients would be surprised if they came back.

Also amazingly a eurovelo sign with maps of how to get to Izmir and beyond and a statement saying that Izmir was a European cycling city (I thought I was in Asia)

Then a fantastic 20k of empty road through pine forest with beautiful blue bays (some military areas which explains why they are so unpopulated)

Then Eski Foca quite a culture shock, warm, many tourists of different nationalities, many Pan Mediterranean restaurants, dingies and yachts sailing, a pirate ship and Viking longboat?

I went to the tourist office to get a map and asked ‘do you speak English’ he replied ‘quite well how about you?’ so I put google transate away.

I am sure purists would be dismayed at the lack of pure Turkish ambience but at the end of a days cycling it was nice to have all facilities easily to hand.

Ancient Phocea was a very important town its colonies included Marseille and Cadiz and it has a fine double harbour surrounded by peninsulae and islands so you can’t see the open sea. The hotels have been built over most of the ancient remains but there is a picturesque Genoese castle,

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