blacksnail
02-13-2006, 22:54
This thread contains the edits I make to the export_buildings.txt wonders. In all cases I have tried to maintain the author's original intent while providing clarity to the text. I will post them as I finish them in groups.
Unique 1 - Base 1
{base1_barbarian} Cairnaichaeoriam
{base1_barbarian_desc}
Cairnaichaeoriam: The Place of Many Stones\n(later known as "Carnac")\n\nThis giant site of megalithic monuments spreads five miles, its initial purpose unknown. It includes menhir (standing stones), dolmens (a sepulture formed of several stones), cromlech (enclosures of menhir), and tumulus (dirt mounds over Dolmens with no entrance). Much of it may be a star chart related to the religion of the unknown builders, who may have built tombs and graves in alignment with certain stars. Several relics indicate some manner of Celtic worship at the stones, even though the Celts did not arrange them. The Gauls (and later the Bretons) venerated the site, developing their own stories for the stones' placement and existence.\n\nSTRATEGY: Carnac provides an additional law bonus when possessed by the Aedui.
{base1_barbarian_desc_short}
Cairnaichaeoriam (Carnac) is an ancient set of megalithic monuments that spreads for miles.
{base1_greek} Olympias
{base1_greek_desc}
The Olympic Games\n\nBeginning in 776 BC and held every four years for over a millennia, the Olympic Games were considered so important that the Greek calendar system was reckoned by the most recent winners of the stadion race. The games included festivals for Zeus and commemorated the mythical Pelops' chariot victory.\n\nDuring the Games the roads in and out of Olympia were clogged with visitors. The tourism and sanctuary fostered by the games eventually brought athletes and spectators from across the Hellenic world. The Games also brought its hosts and the victors increasing amounts of importance, influence, and wealth. The dedications included countless sacrifices, statues, treasuries, and small temples. The most famous, the Chryselphantine statue of Zeus sculpted by Pheidias, was popularly considered one of the Seven Wonders of the Ancient World.
{base1_greek_desc_short}
The Olympic Games honored Zeus and commemorated the mythical Pelops' chariot victory.
{base1_numidia} Philai, Edfu, & Abu Simbel\n(TRANSLATE ME PLEASE!)
{base1_numidia_desc}
Philai, Edfu, & Abu Simbel\n\nThe ancient Egyptians thought the sacred hill of Biga to be the first mound created out of Chaos, as well as the burial place of Osiris. The earth was so hallowed that only priests and temple servants lived there. The island of Philai located beside Biga was dedicated to Isis, who became immensely popular with the Romans and the Ptolemies during the Hellenistic period.\n\nThe nearby Temple of Horus at Edfu was the second largest of all Egyptian temples (and was the best preserved). The monumental temples of Ammon Re and Hathor at Abu Simbel were cut from rock along the Nile, and were some of the most famous temples in the ancient world.
{base1_numidia_desc_short}
The island of Philai and the temples at Edfu and Abu Simbel were sacred to the ancient Egyptians and eventually the Ptolemies.
{base1_roman} Artemision Ephesou
{base1_roman_desc}
The Temple of Artemis at Ephesos\n\nThe people of Ephesos built a magnificently beautiful temple to honor Artemis, goddess of hunting, nature, and fertility. They built it upon the foundations of a previous temple to Artemis sponsored by King Kroisos of Lydia, whose wealth was vast enough to be considered proverbial. The original temple burned to the ground in 356 BC, on the very night of Megas Alexandros’ birth. The arsonist Herostratos claimed he wanted his own name to be remembered for all time. Plutarchos would later declare the goddess was too busy watching over Alexandros to look after her own temple!\n\nIt was eventually restored in 323 BC, after the death of Alexandros. The sculptors Pheidias, Polykleitos, Kresilas, and Phradmon contributed great works to the temple. Filled with precious treasures and works of art, it continued to attract thousands of visitors and pilgrims from across the ancient world.
{base1_roman_desc_short}
The Temple of Artemis at Ephesos housed many precious treasures and works of art that attracted thousands of visitors and pilgrims from across the ancient world.
{base1_eastern} Ka'bah
{base1_eastern_desc}
All the diverse tribes of Arabia took part in a great pilgrimage to the Ka'bah at Mecca. Such journeys were possible only when peace reigned throughout the land. To ensure this, all tribes prohibited internal warfare during the period from the month before the pilgrimage to the month after. Sacred territory meant that the tribes expected pilgrims to lay aside their weapons upon reaching Mecca. Once they entered the holy territory pilgrims were expected to practice self-denial and abstain from hunting, fighting, and sexual intercourse, amongst other things.\n\nAt the center of a month-long religious ceremony was the Ka’bah, where pilgrims worshipped a myriad of pre-Islamic gods. The Ka'bah itself consisted of a simple, cube-like stone structure with a black stone embedded in one of the walls that was supposedly of meteoric origin. Inside the Ka'bah sat a statue of the god Hubal, a small pit for offering, and statues of numerous other gods worshipped by various Arabic tribes.\n\nThe existence of the Kah’bah as a holy place to all Arabs seems to date to at least the early 1st century BC. Diodorus of Sicily remarks that “a temple has been set-up there, which is very holy and exceedingly revered by all Arabians.” While he doesn't mention the Ka'bah by name, it is the only known place in Arabia to fit such criteria. Further, such use of the Ka'bah in the early 1st century BC seems to justify its importance to pre-Islamic Arabians such as the Sabeans.
{base1_eastern_desc_short}
The Ka'bah was held as holy by the diverse tribes of Arabia. It was the most famous and visited pilgrimage site in the Arabian peninsula, drawing many people even from outside the region.
{base1_egypt} Ba'al Temple Complex\nNEEDS SPLITTING, (TRANSLATE ME PLEASE!)
{base1_egypt_desc}
Four huge and powerful structures in the magnificent city of Carthage stood as examples of Qarthadastim might: the temple districts of Ba’al and Astarte, the harbor, and the triple wall.\n\nThe temple of Ba’al was famed for its cyclopean architecture that blended Greek and Phoenician styles. A massive academy was connected to the temple itself. The learned citizens of Carthage attended what was essentially one of the first universities of antiquity. The priesthood of Ba’al-Hammon was based in this district, where it directly supported the élite fighting force known as the Sacred Band.\n\nThe district of Astarte, as well as the training grounds outside the city, was equally magnificent in both Carthage and its northern neighbor, Utica. Though her temple was less impressive than that of Ba’al, the massive estates controlled by the priesthood allowed a special division of cavalry: Astarte's own Sacred Band.\n\nThe circular harbor was a wonder in and of itself. This marvel of engineering allowed Carthaginian fleets to better prepare and equip themselves than the harbors of their rivals.\n\nThe final wonder was Carthage’s massive triple wall. According to many ancient historians, this defense system could comfortably house 19,000 troops, several thousand horse, and over seventy elephants within its massive structure.\n\nSTRATEGY: The Temple Complex provides additional happiness and troop experience bonuses when possessed by the Qarthadastim.
{base1_egypt_desc_short}
The cyclopean Ba’al Temple Complex prominently displayed Qarthadastim might and directly supported the Sacred Band.
Unique 1 - Base 1
{base1_barbarian} Cairnaichaeoriam
{base1_barbarian_desc}
Cairnaichaeoriam: The Place of Many Stones\n(later known as "Carnac")\n\nThis giant site of megalithic monuments spreads five miles, its initial purpose unknown. It includes menhir (standing stones), dolmens (a sepulture formed of several stones), cromlech (enclosures of menhir), and tumulus (dirt mounds over Dolmens with no entrance). Much of it may be a star chart related to the religion of the unknown builders, who may have built tombs and graves in alignment with certain stars. Several relics indicate some manner of Celtic worship at the stones, even though the Celts did not arrange them. The Gauls (and later the Bretons) venerated the site, developing their own stories for the stones' placement and existence.\n\nSTRATEGY: Carnac provides an additional law bonus when possessed by the Aedui.
{base1_barbarian_desc_short}
Cairnaichaeoriam (Carnac) is an ancient set of megalithic monuments that spreads for miles.
{base1_greek} Olympias
{base1_greek_desc}
The Olympic Games\n\nBeginning in 776 BC and held every four years for over a millennia, the Olympic Games were considered so important that the Greek calendar system was reckoned by the most recent winners of the stadion race. The games included festivals for Zeus and commemorated the mythical Pelops' chariot victory.\n\nDuring the Games the roads in and out of Olympia were clogged with visitors. The tourism and sanctuary fostered by the games eventually brought athletes and spectators from across the Hellenic world. The Games also brought its hosts and the victors increasing amounts of importance, influence, and wealth. The dedications included countless sacrifices, statues, treasuries, and small temples. The most famous, the Chryselphantine statue of Zeus sculpted by Pheidias, was popularly considered one of the Seven Wonders of the Ancient World.
{base1_greek_desc_short}
The Olympic Games honored Zeus and commemorated the mythical Pelops' chariot victory.
{base1_numidia} Philai, Edfu, & Abu Simbel\n(TRANSLATE ME PLEASE!)
{base1_numidia_desc}
Philai, Edfu, & Abu Simbel\n\nThe ancient Egyptians thought the sacred hill of Biga to be the first mound created out of Chaos, as well as the burial place of Osiris. The earth was so hallowed that only priests and temple servants lived there. The island of Philai located beside Biga was dedicated to Isis, who became immensely popular with the Romans and the Ptolemies during the Hellenistic period.\n\nThe nearby Temple of Horus at Edfu was the second largest of all Egyptian temples (and was the best preserved). The monumental temples of Ammon Re and Hathor at Abu Simbel were cut from rock along the Nile, and were some of the most famous temples in the ancient world.
{base1_numidia_desc_short}
The island of Philai and the temples at Edfu and Abu Simbel were sacred to the ancient Egyptians and eventually the Ptolemies.
{base1_roman} Artemision Ephesou
{base1_roman_desc}
The Temple of Artemis at Ephesos\n\nThe people of Ephesos built a magnificently beautiful temple to honor Artemis, goddess of hunting, nature, and fertility. They built it upon the foundations of a previous temple to Artemis sponsored by King Kroisos of Lydia, whose wealth was vast enough to be considered proverbial. The original temple burned to the ground in 356 BC, on the very night of Megas Alexandros’ birth. The arsonist Herostratos claimed he wanted his own name to be remembered for all time. Plutarchos would later declare the goddess was too busy watching over Alexandros to look after her own temple!\n\nIt was eventually restored in 323 BC, after the death of Alexandros. The sculptors Pheidias, Polykleitos, Kresilas, and Phradmon contributed great works to the temple. Filled with precious treasures and works of art, it continued to attract thousands of visitors and pilgrims from across the ancient world.
{base1_roman_desc_short}
The Temple of Artemis at Ephesos housed many precious treasures and works of art that attracted thousands of visitors and pilgrims from across the ancient world.
{base1_eastern} Ka'bah
{base1_eastern_desc}
All the diverse tribes of Arabia took part in a great pilgrimage to the Ka'bah at Mecca. Such journeys were possible only when peace reigned throughout the land. To ensure this, all tribes prohibited internal warfare during the period from the month before the pilgrimage to the month after. Sacred territory meant that the tribes expected pilgrims to lay aside their weapons upon reaching Mecca. Once they entered the holy territory pilgrims were expected to practice self-denial and abstain from hunting, fighting, and sexual intercourse, amongst other things.\n\nAt the center of a month-long religious ceremony was the Ka’bah, where pilgrims worshipped a myriad of pre-Islamic gods. The Ka'bah itself consisted of a simple, cube-like stone structure with a black stone embedded in one of the walls that was supposedly of meteoric origin. Inside the Ka'bah sat a statue of the god Hubal, a small pit for offering, and statues of numerous other gods worshipped by various Arabic tribes.\n\nThe existence of the Kah’bah as a holy place to all Arabs seems to date to at least the early 1st century BC. Diodorus of Sicily remarks that “a temple has been set-up there, which is very holy and exceedingly revered by all Arabians.” While he doesn't mention the Ka'bah by name, it is the only known place in Arabia to fit such criteria. Further, such use of the Ka'bah in the early 1st century BC seems to justify its importance to pre-Islamic Arabians such as the Sabeans.
{base1_eastern_desc_short}
The Ka'bah was held as holy by the diverse tribes of Arabia. It was the most famous and visited pilgrimage site in the Arabian peninsula, drawing many people even from outside the region.
{base1_egypt} Ba'al Temple Complex\nNEEDS SPLITTING, (TRANSLATE ME PLEASE!)
{base1_egypt_desc}
Four huge and powerful structures in the magnificent city of Carthage stood as examples of Qarthadastim might: the temple districts of Ba’al and Astarte, the harbor, and the triple wall.\n\nThe temple of Ba’al was famed for its cyclopean architecture that blended Greek and Phoenician styles. A massive academy was connected to the temple itself. The learned citizens of Carthage attended what was essentially one of the first universities of antiquity. The priesthood of Ba’al-Hammon was based in this district, where it directly supported the élite fighting force known as the Sacred Band.\n\nThe district of Astarte, as well as the training grounds outside the city, was equally magnificent in both Carthage and its northern neighbor, Utica. Though her temple was less impressive than that of Ba’al, the massive estates controlled by the priesthood allowed a special division of cavalry: Astarte's own Sacred Band.\n\nThe circular harbor was a wonder in and of itself. This marvel of engineering allowed Carthaginian fleets to better prepare and equip themselves than the harbors of their rivals.\n\nThe final wonder was Carthage’s massive triple wall. According to many ancient historians, this defense system could comfortably house 19,000 troops, several thousand horse, and over seventy elephants within its massive structure.\n\nSTRATEGY: The Temple Complex provides additional happiness and troop experience bonuses when possessed by the Qarthadastim.
{base1_egypt_desc_short}
The cyclopean Ba’al Temple Complex prominently displayed Qarthadastim might and directly supported the Sacred Band.