Factional Capitals of the EB II time frame

[Jolt]

About Seleucia (Great job once again), how did people traverse the channel passing through the city? Bridges? The channel was actually paved?

[cmacq]

Thanks

I’ve two questions for the EB design team. Is Hecatompylos viewed as the early, and Ctesiphon the late capitals of the Parthian Empire? Additionally, is Seleucia on the Tigris considered the early, and Antioch on the Orontes the late capitals of the Seleucid Empire?

[cmacq]

Seleucia’s Domestic Architecture Apartment House City Blocks

The domestic architecture of Seleucia was based on a rectangular street grid with apartment house blocks measuring approximately 140x70 meters. Aerial photos indicate that more than 350 of these blocks were included within the city’s walls. These apartment house blocks were composed of multistoried rooms grouped around courtyards, narrow corridors, and large plazas.

This type of architecture was common throughout the ancient Near East and Mediterranean world, however the use of the street grid and standardized city blocks is indicative of Hellenistic urban planning. This layout is very similar to that used at Alexandria, except there the city blocks were typically more square-shaped. The view below is a modeled reconstruction of Block G6 (which was located near the city's center; the second block south of the diversionary canal), taken at a very low angle looking from the south towards the north.

The scale of this model is very close to 1:1. One will notice a number of human sized figures standing in the plazas. These are provided for a sense of scale. Translating this form of architecture to fit the EB format, with a scale of about 10:1, around 25 to 35 of these city blocks might be used to represent the Seleucid residential area within the interior city walls. This would provide room for the special buildings. An apartment house city block model may also need to be simplified a bit, as far as variability is concerned.

[||Lz3||]

you know what woulb probably be a shame?...

IIRC in M2TW you can't view the cities unless there's a fight in there... <.<

[eddy_purpus]

you know what woulb probably be a shame?...

IIRC in M2TW you can't view the cities unless there's a fight in there... <.<

veryyyyyyyy true =/

[cmacq]

There would be another reason?

[Martelus Flavius]

Whoa!

[cmacq]

Pella Hellenistic Macedonia

Following the death of Perdiccas in 413 BC, and the ensuing palace intrigues, the reformer Archelaus built a new palace at Pella and there transferred the capital of Macedonia about 22 miles northeast, from the old city of Aigai. Pella was established on a series of low ridges that extended southwest to the edge of Lake Loudiaka (the blue area) and the surrounding wetlands (the green area). By the Hellenistic Period Pella may have had a population of several 100,000 and was composed of four discrete components; including the old quarter, the palace, the new quarter, and the river harbor.

This view is from the northeast at a high angle looking southwest. The old quarter was located on the highest portion of the main ridge (within the walls and left center). The palace was situated on a low promontory island just to the west of the old quarter. Here portions of a large royal palace have been excavated. This area was included with the main city wall, but was separated by a swampy channel and another wall. This island was connected to the new quarter by a wide causeway and a bridge.

The new quarter was located southwest and south of the old quarter and palace. With an Agora (center) that covered about seven hectares, at the center of this area, it was organized using the street grid and city block system. This was the main residential/commercial area, and this method of design was also known as the Hippodamean Plan. At Pella about 176 of these rectangular city blocks were identified, which measured 45x111-152 meters. The view below is from the south at a low angle looking north. The city grid pattern was dominated by one large east-west (which was centered on the Agora) and two north-south (which flank the Agora and lead to the river harbor) running streets.

Immediately south of the new quarter and outside the main fortifications was the river harbor. The current reconstruction of this area is speculative as this it has been largely destroyed by a modern hydraulic drainage project. When functional, the river harbor on Lake Loudiaka managed traffic coming directly up the Loudias River from the Thermaic Gulf. Historically, Lake Loudiaka completely silting in, which in part compelled the founding of a new port city and the initial economic and political decline of Pella.

For a sense of scale one will note a very small figure standing in the opening of the center gate house that opens to the river harbor. This represents an adult human, however its important to remember that in order to fit the EB format, the model’s scale is about 10:1. One will also notice that due to the various natural water obstacles an enemy army could only effectively advance on a very narrow front.

[ziegenpeter]

There would be another reason?

To contemplate those beautiful Cities...

[abou]

Thanks

I’ve two questions for the EB design team. Is Hecatompylos viewed as the early, and Ctesiphon the late capitals of the Parthian Empire? Additionally, is Seleucia on the Tigris considered the early, and Antioch on the Orontes the late capitals of the Seleucid Empire?

Sorry, I completely missed this.

I'm not sure what TPC was planning with Hekatompylos and Ctesiphon, but as far as the Seleukids go I can tell that Seleukeia is considered the early capital and Antioch as the late... in so far as history is concerned. In the game is a different matter, but I think you know what I mean.

So the capital starts as Seleukeia and could probably stay that way the entire time.

Interesting note for those of you who are curious, it is possible that Antioch was not conceived as a possible capital at all, but rather that happened by chance. It seems that Seleukeia in Pieria, also in Syria, was founded to be a capital in the Seleukid network and partly so due to its natural fortifications, but events of the 3rd Syrian War derailed that leaving Antioch to develop.

[paullus]

cmacq, these are great materials!! great work as usual!

[CmacQ2]

Bloody hell,

like a fool it seems I've lost my bloody password, changed my Email address, and the admin won't respond with help, so that I may make a new one.

[Sarcasm]

Two questions:

Can we expect further updates?

And what program are you using for this?

[a completely inoffensive name]

It has been a while since the last update, has this conversation moved to somewhere else I am not aware of?