A first preview of a new building
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NEW FEATURES
Each (new) building will have a composite description.
1) a generic one, that explains what is that building;
2) a historical one, what gives a more deep look into the usage of such building;
3) a strategical one, the most important: it explains the player the cost and the possible future developments, so everyone could think about if is worthy or not to spend money for develop a building in a certain way.
Tech trees:
the techtrees provide the possibility to build up something, and then to choose a possible development for that building.
for example, the gymnasion could develop in a educational structure OR in a gym. each choice has 'pro et contra', and the choiche is up to you!
GREEK FACTIONS
THE GYMNASION
1 Γυμν́ασιον - Gymnàsion
A Gymnàsion is mainly a large plain and open field usually situated outside the city. Obviously, trees or stones were removed, and the field made flat, sometime covered by a short grass or fine sand. When a observant barbarian traveler, Anacharsis, visited Greece, he watched the athletic practices of the Greeks with astonishment and said "In every city of the Greeks there is a designated place where they go mad daily. I mean the gymnàsion"*.
HISTORY: The original function of the gymnasia is evident from the word itself: it was to be a place where youths and men could be γυμνόι (gymnòi), naked, unhampered by clothing, and carry out sports and exercises. As long as they were public buildings, they were administered by a public officer, the γυμνασίαρχος (gymnasiàrchos), who works there as supervisor for not only the cleannes of the building and its provision of olive oil for athlets, but also for all the little things that the running of such a public building requires. In this first stage, a gymnasion has few structures, like a hall for get off clothes, or other spaces for wash up, walking or sitting.
STRATEGY: Quick to built and with a low cost, the Gymnàsion allows further upgrades that has different functions, mainly two: it could upgrade into gymnic structures, used seldom by young levies as a training camp, and so give them a better morale; however, to do so, a small military building must be present. On the other hand, a gymnasion could evolve as a headquarter of higher and adult education, bringing a bonus of law and education into your city, but only if you already have some basic teaching - a didaskaleion paidōn - into your city. The choose is up to you, as well as the city position could suggest that you will need a higher morale for your troops, or that it will be better for you to diffuse the greek philosophy.
Dio Chrysostom, Orationes, XLVIII, 9.
A Gymnàsion is mainly a large plain and open field usually situated outside the city.
2a Παλάιστρα - Palàistra
A Palàistra (from π́αλη, pàlē, wrestling) is a building inside the gymnàsion where people practices sports and exercises, wrestle above all. The usual program of gymnastic training in many cities included or even emphasized exercises of a military charachter, expecially for the έφεβόι (ephebòi), male teenagers in military service age; a gymnàsion with a palàistra has more spaces for exericises and wrestling match than for scholar's discussions.
HISTORY: The main function of palàistrai was to be a wrestling ground. A palàistra consisted usually of a rectangular court surrounded by columns, often forming a porch, and adjoining rooms. In a palàistra, the gymnasiàrchos will make sure that people not exceeds during fighting, even if animosity was quite rare; he would be more watchful to avoid half-illegal bets on fights, because it was often not allowed to carry much money, since the gymnasiàrchos was the responsible in case of theft.
STRATEGY: Quick to built and with a low cost, the Palàistra occupy few space and allows further upgrades that has different functions, mainly two: it could upgrade into a gymnic structure that needs large space, thus blocking further upgrades, but enhances the cohesion and the morale of your young soldiers; or it could evolve into a more elaborate gymnic-oriented structure that will give greater care for your people's health.
A Palàistra is a building inside the gymnàsion where people practices sports and exercises, wrestle above all.
2b Σφαιριστ́ηριον - Sphairistērion
A Sphairistērion (from sphàira, ball) is a large field used for practicing games, ball in particular, but essentially all games that needs open spaces. To have such possibility in a gymnàsion makes people enhance more such structure. Since the sport activities were often linked with religious aspects, games could be related with sacral aspects, like some little sacrifice, to grasp the gods' favour in a competition, or to celebrate a victory.
HISTORY: Sometime, in cities with a φυλακε̃ιον (fylakéion), a small military garrison, to held games in the gymnàsion serve for strenghten the cohesion of troops and improve the phisical skills as well. For example, it has been reported that once the soldiers of a company paid by their own the restoration of the public gymnàsion, because they were among the more interested in the manteinance; citizens thanks them by erecting an έπιγραφ́η (epigrafé), an inscription.
STRATEGY: Requiring few time to built and with a medium cost, the Sphairistērion is very large and need space, thus impeding the further development of the gymnàsion. However, the continuous gaming makes your soldiers more self-confident and phisically trained, since here is possible to practice also activities related to war abilities, like to hurl javelins, or to run in όπλοδρ́ομοι (hoplodromoi), where they challenge each other, also on long distances, with shield and cuirass on.
A Sphairistērion is a large field in the gymnàsion used for practicing games, ball in particular.
2c Σκολ́η - Skolē
A Skolē is a place in a gymnàsion where among chatters is possible to get lessons on various arguments. Those who already get some instructions in the city, or youth from countryside, could indistinctly get involved - and for free - in intellectual discussion lead by sophists. Such spaces used for chatting are intended not for childrens but for youngs and mature men, who have already some basic knowledge of the matters. In fact, is quite hard try to teach philosophy to young analphabetes who actually found some difficulties in speaking even greek, too.
HISTORY: Sophists in late fifth century BC were the first to use these rooms as lecture halls. they observed that the most intelligent youths haunted the gymnàsia during a leisurely part of the day and that they had ears and mind receptive to professorial discourse; so they spent there a good part of their day. There were no seats, as there was not the possibility to get out of the other current discussions in the same hall: in fact, in the same place, there was not just rethoricians, but also people chatting about horse races, girls, sport and music, and it was then quite difficult in that crowd to follow a sppech on the qualities of the soul.
STRATEGY: Fast to built and with a low cost, the Skolē is buildable if is already present a didaskaléion pàidōn; even if seems not to offer significant bonuses, it should not underextimated the possibility of further expand the gymnàsion under an intellectual influence. Future development could made available certain culture building, and, in future, offer valuable skills in administration and influence for your governors.
A Skolē is a place in a gymnàsion where among chatters is possible to get lessons on various arguments.
3a Περ́ιστυλιον - Perìstylion
A Peristýlion is a great columnade all around the gymnàsion, and makes it a nice, net and exclusive place where to spend time. Usually, such columnade will include other pre-existent buildings inside, or make them new and bigger, adding halls for more specific purposes, like an έλαιοθ́ησιον (elaiothésion), a room where olive oil and similar unguents were get upon athlets and other people, or a κονιστ́ηριον (konistérion), a hall used for cover of fine sand or ashes of particular woods the oiled bodies, in spite of giving them an healty treatment; then they took off the oil-sand mix with a particular instrument, the strigile, a sort of little sickle, whose massage with very cold water was regarded as particularly tonificant.
HISTORY: When the gymnàsion became a more distinct place, and his structure became of marble and solid stone instead of cheap bricks or even wood structures, then a greek citizen will look with pride to this building. Non-greeks were consequently banned from the frequentation of such place, with some notable exception, like someone who, being a non-greek, is however a προξ̀ενος (proxenos) of another greek; this bond of close friendship and reciprocal linkages could be the only key for a non-greek to pass the είσκρ́ισις (eiskrìsis), the secret scrutiny used for keep away undesirables.
STRATEGY: Slow to built and expensive, the Peristýlion makes a gymnàsion a magnificent building, worth of resources employed for it. Aside from phisical training and his positive effect on soldiers' morale, is possible for hellens to get better care of their bodies, preventing illness and thus giving an health bonus. The pretty columns and the large halls then will make the citizens happy and proud that the city's money has been spent in a building of such public importance. The possibility of a further - more expensive - upgrade makes the choice of this building worth if the aim is to improve the happiness and if there are no relevant economic problems.
A Perìstylion is a great columnade all around the gymnàsion, and makes it a nice, net and exclusive place where to spend time.
3c Έξ́εδρα - Exédra
An Exédra is a spacious hall, usually of half-circular form, often derived by the depth side of some other building of the gymnàsion. Since ̉ρ́ητοροι (rhétoroi) rhetoricians and φιλ́οσοφοι (philosòphoi), philosophers get their lections in such spaces, exédrai were supposed to have various seats to allow people listening them to sit down; these rooms were sometime filled with tiers of permanent seats, as in present-day classrooms.
HISTORY: Exédrai were the very center of the intellectual life of a gymnàsion, and a fine and natural setting for statuary. It is this part of a gymnàsion that a wealthy benefactor to the educational life of a city chose for his gift of an ́αγαλμα (àgalma), a statue. Such a demonstration of art-loving can only bring honour to the citizen, and often on the basis of the statue was written a small thanking formula.
STRATEGY: Requiring average time to built and with a medium cost, the Exédra allows a better education for your citizens, who could appreciate the new ideas of the intellectuals as well as take profit of them in some way. At least, people in gymnàsion will look more refined, and then they will behave in such way to despise more farmers and peasants. On the other hand, the rational shaping of their mind will help your governor to administrate the city, giving him better administrative skills, and, above all, will bring more respect for laws into the hearths of your citizens. Since people here use lot of books, it will enable - if present - the evolution of a bibliokàpelos into a library.
An Exédra is a spacious hall, usually of half-circular form, often derived by the depth side of some other building of the gymnàsion.
4a Ξ́υστος - Xýstos
4c Άκροατ́ηριον - AkroatérionA Xýstos is a long covered portico in the gymnàsion in which the exercises took place during the winter or in rainy weather. Since athletic training was the main function in a gymnàsion, such extension allows a more deep athletic training. Those who wants to compete in Olympic Games remain night and day in the xýstos: to run, to hurl javelins, to wrestle in better way was regarded with pride by the other fellow citizens, who were happy to pay and mantain this structure for athletic purposes.
HISTORY: While the the gymnàsion is runned by a gymnasiarchos, the xýstos requires a ξυστ́αρχος (xystàrchos) for the training of professional athlets. A xystarch was was always an αγωνοθ́ετης (agonothétēs) and sometimes an athletic official; the charge could have well assigned to senior athlets, that could wore a garland and a purple robe; he had often the priestly duty to offer sacrifices to the gods, and to distribute the oil received by the gymnasiarch, who was also the sole responsible of what happens there. The athlets groups often in σ́υνοδοι (sýnodoi), something more than sport clubs or association, because they receive particular public privileges and were restricted to the athlet group only, but less then a guild. Professional athletes harvested glory and garlands, prizes and plaudits.
STRATEGY: Very slow to built and extremely expensive, the Xýstos is the only possible development of a luxury gymnàsion; since it comprehends all the structures build before, it could seems that, in comparison, it gives a light bonus. However, it should not be unextimated the possibility to have a citizen - even your same governor - that competes in Olympic Games. Hellens number years with olympiades, and if a your citizen wins, the boost of influence he will get could have other bonus implications far more important than expected. The city of Croton had a strong athletic tradition, since Milon won six times the Olympic Games, six times the Delphic Games, nine times the Nemean and ten the Istmic, becaming after his death a demi-god.
A Xýstos is a long covered portico in the gymnàsion in which the exercises took place during the winter or in rainy weather.
An Akroatérion is exentially an auditorium where lectures were attended by organized groups or by the general public. Often the hellenistic architects had such kind of auditorium; such structure allows the gymnasiarchs to receive and take care of numerous traveling lecturers at the same time, providing them a comfortable place where to live and teach. Lessons in a spacious akroatérion were as varied as those of modern lecture platform, and as them included an hour of anointing, signaled by a cymbal-like gong.
HISTORY: While philosophers were perhaps the most numerous lecturers, there were phisicians, astronomers, poets, mathematicians, musicians, and a bewildering array of others. They gave a series of lectures lasting several days, and at the end of these, pupils were supposed to make some επιδέιξεις (epidéixeis), exhibitions on the taught matters, or even αποδέιξεις (apodéixeis), examinations. It was not rare that students received some award; in Athens they were honored in the annual ephebic decree for their "faithful attendance at the lectures of Zenodotus [...] and likewise of all the other philosophers throughout the whole year"*
STRATEGY: Very slow to built and expensive, the Akroatérion is nonetheless the only possible development of a cultural gymnàsion. Even if someone could not find worthy the money for it, a rich and powerful hellenic city will like to became a cultural center, thus bringing to the highest level the mark who differentiate them among the other peoples. The youth who crowds those halls will grow up with a profound knowledge of natural, divine an human laws, and apply them when they get part of the bureaucratic machinery of the state, thus allowing to have better prepared diplomats. The court of your governor will become soon the meeting place of various assorted philosophers, but also phisicians, mathematicians, mechanicians; and some of them could have profitable ideas on how to siege a city, and then build up some war machinery for your purpose.
*Inscriptiones Graecarum, II, 1006, 1, 19.
An Akroatérion is exentially an auditorium where lectures were attended by organized groups or by the general public.
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COLONY
Μικρ̀α Άποικ́ια - Mikra Apoikia
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A Little Colony (Μικρ̀α Άποικ́ια, from the root οικ-, inhabit) is the first step toward the occupation of the territory by the greek folk. This building allows many other hellenic things to be built in your city.
HISTORY: Colonies were sent from the motherland to occupy strategic position for military, economic or commercial purposes, and sometime to avoid excessive growth of population. The first settlers on a foreign land were under the command of a όικιστ̀ος (oikistòs), a colony founder. Once found a place suitable for a city growth, they erect a βωμ́ος (Bōmòs), a simple altar, usually to Άπ́ολλων Άρχηγ́ετος (Apòllōn Archēgètos), that is the appellative of Apollon as protector of colonial foundations. Sometimes colonies were built upon small barbarian settlements, and previous local inhabitants were get in slavery or kicked away in the inland and non-fertile territories.
STRATEGY: Very fast to built, and of medium cost, the little colony is imposed in territories of strategic importance for the purpose of strenghten them, starting the hellenization of the land. It could be built in lands not yet occupied by greeks, but reveals his usefulness on commercial routes and sea cities, just because the inland resources are usually less profitable, as well as the tribes more warlike and prone to revolt to your occupation.
A little colony is the first step toward the occupation of the territory by the greek folk.
Άποικ́ια - Apoikìa
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A Colony (Άποικ́ια, from the root όικ-, inhabit) is a step toward the full occupation of the territory by the greek folk. This building allows many other hellenic things to be built in your city, expanding the greek presence and the influence of the greek culture.
HISTORY: Colonies were sent from the motherland to occupy strategic position for military, economic or commercial purposes, and sometime to avoid excessive growth of population. Once a small group of settlers has estabilished a colony, the μητροπ́ολις (mētropòlis), that is the mother-city, often sent other waves of colonists to increase the consistence of the hellenic population. This settlers were incentivated by the concession of freedom, if they were slaves, or land possession if they were poor peasants. In this way, they will be full citizens of the new colony, who usually mantains linkages with the motherland not only in costumes and laws but also in ethnic composition.
STRATEGY: Very fast to built, and of average cost, the apoikìa is imposed in territories of strategic importance for the purpose of strenghten them, pushing for the hellenization of the land, and the reduction of revolt capablities by the local populations. It could be built to enlarge a pre-existent colony, and reveals his usefulness on commercial routes and sea cities, just because the inland resources are usually less profitable, as well as the tribes there are more warlike and prone to revolt to your occupation.
An apoikìa is a step toward the full occupation of the territory by the greek folk.
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Originally Posted by Zenith Darksea
