Ok ok, This Atl is finished but i promised some tribute updates from time to time
So here is the South East Asia update of 50 BC!
50 BC
South East Asia
Eschatia:
Over the following decades(since last update 150 BC), Eschatian sailors continued to explore the coasts and islands of South East Asia, establishing forts/trade hubs as they went. By 50 BC, a string of naval outposts connected Chrysoupoli to Eschatia and thus with the Middle East, India,Massalia and Egypt. This commercial network and trade together with the numerous gold mines in Chrisoupolis region had a substantial positive impact on the Eschatian economic growth. In the great market of Eschatia you could find silk from China,Pepper from South East Asia,olive oil from Crete,Wine from Massalia and Kola nuts from West Africa. Eschatia population reached 100000 by 60 BC. Although a typical hellenistic polis, the population was a blend of Greeks-Hellenised Arabians and local indian population. Protagoras III King of Eschatia was a big supporter of a new sect, blend of Buddhism and Arithmistes*
Hellenistic culture influenced the newly found/conquered territories, and merged with native traditions. This influence extended to the small kingdoms/tribes of Southeast Asia, where contact led to trade and diplomacy.
*
Arithmistes/Αριθμηστἑς(sect in Mesopotamia)
T
his sect/religion, led by the teacher Erasmos, is known for its fascination with numerology and letter theory. This theory of numbers was derived from the Pythagoreans. Arithmistes found significance in the numerical equivalents of words (in Greek, every letter has a numerical value).
Arithmistes used numerology to explain the nature of god. Erasmos also taught of 30 divine beings, called Aeons, derived from the fact that 1+2+3+4+5+7+8 = 30, with the “6” omitted, because it is not a letter of the usual Greek alphabet (“8” represents the “Ogdoad,” the eight primary Aeons). The sect quickly become popular between Greeks and Persians in Mesopotamia and South West Persia.
Culture
A rather small museum“university" was built in Eschatia in 70 BC. Small private libraries were also common within the elite.
Architecture:
A blend of the Massalian order* and Indian architecture, started to form the last years.
* The Massalian Order:
The Massalian Order although have its origin in Ionic order, it was heavily influenced from the Corinthian order and was initially of much the same style and proportion,but around 190-180 BC added a number of refinements and decorative details inspired mostly from Gaul artefacts.
Art:
Tessera mosaic were common in wealthiest homes.
Theatre:
The primary Hellenistic theatrical form of the era was the new tragedy and the classic play of Brenotas* “
Cursed by Sucellos” was quite popular in Eschatia.
*Brenotas, Greek : Βρενὠ
τας (c. 198 – c. 143 BC) a third generation hellenised Gaul from Nemessos, was a tragedian, that followed Euripides “realistic” style of tragedies. He was born in Nemessos around198 BC, with parents Villu(mother) and Dannotalos(father), a retailer who lived in a village near Nemessos. Upon the receipt of a druid oracle saying that his son was fated to win "crowns of victory", Dannotalos insisted that the boy should train for a career in military. He served for a short time as scout and as a torch-bearer at several rites of Epona . His education was not confined to military/athletics: he also studied painting and philosophy. He had two disastrous marriages and both his wives were unfaithful. Afterwards he quitted his work as head of a library in Nemessos and became a “recluse”, making a home for himself in a forest deep inside Aedui lands After a while fascinated by the local myths and stories he built a small library and started to document them. Eventually after some years he returned to Nemossos.
Religion:
The Eschatians continued more or less to worship the same gods with the same sacrifices, dedications, and festivals as in the past. Religious freedom was tolerated and the dominant religions/dogmas was Dodekatheism and various versions of Buddhism blended with local deities. .Greek influences reached the South East Asia as early as 100 BC. Never the less most of
indigenous native beliefs are still animism,shamanism as well ancestral worship.
PS:Since i have some more free days ill make another small local update from another region. What you want? No Massalia i am afraid since its the main theme and need lots of analysis and i cant commit to that atm.
