Factional Capitals of the EB II time frame

**cmacq** · 09-11-2008, 03:51

Factional Capitals of the EB II Time Frame

An Introduction

As I was yet again hijacking, I’ve moved this information from another thread. The following posts will be views of reconstructed wall plan models of the factional capitals from the EB II time frame. Overall these plans are somewhat modified (simplified), in design, to fit the EB format and changes in scale. The architectural scale is about 10:1, or in other words, the base terrain remains relative, however the structural model is about 10 times larger than their actual size. To the horizon, the angles of view will be both obtuse and acute.

These models are based on satellite photos of the archaeological site location and the available archaeological excavation data superimposed. The reason I’m rescaling these models, is first to better fit the EB format. Also these cities are so large in extent, that all major detail (such as towers and gatehouses) would be diluted when viewing a given city in their entirety. This presents a number of issues, practically the size and relationship of internal port facilities to naval vessels, and the city overall. Any helpful or constructive evaluation, comments, addition information, and/or suggestions are more than welcome.

The reason I’m posting these plan views is first of all, to share some information and provide some sense of what the EB II factional capitals actually looked like. Furthermore, if there is an enterprising individual, or a group of individual modelers out there, that think they can design custom cities for EB II, they’re welcome to the model files, to use as a baseline. I may also add however, that I’m not terribly inclined to provide these files to those that simply want a copy, with the exception of EB team members.

List of EB Factional Capitals and Related Topics

Carthage Punic North Africa
Alexandria Ptolemaic Egypt
Seleucia Early Seleucid Near East

Seleucia’s Domestic Architecture Apartment House City Blocks

Pella Hellenistic Macedonia
Ambracia Hellenistic Epirus
Gergovia Arvernian Gaul

Gergovia’s Defensive Architecture Modified Murus Gallicus Construction

CmacQ

**cmacq** · 09-11-2008, 04:42

Carthage Punic North Africa

The first factional capital is Carthage, Carthago, Karkhedon, or Qart-ḥadast (new town). Within the EB setting and time frame Carthage, with possible half a million residents, was the second largest city in the Mediterranean world, behind only Alexandria. However, at the end of the Third Punic War the Romans effectively removed this factional capital as an urban and commercial center. The following model is the wall plan model of the Late Punic Carthage as viewed from the mainland at the bottom looking at a high angle, towards the east.

One will notice the complexity of the defensive system as an enemy approaching from the west is forced into the narrow isthmus that separated Carthage with its promontory, from the mainland. Historically these walls enclosed a governmental/religious area called Byrsa Hill (center right), a residential/mercantile area with protected harbors (right), and a funerary/lower class residential-commercial area (left). Historically these walls extended about 23 miles (37 km). Its important to note I’ve omitted one of the three landward picket walls (low center). The very small figure at the bottom center of the model, is a large palm tree offered for scale. This view is from the south, looking at a high angle, to the north.

This last view is also from the south, but at a low angle, looking north. For scale one may note a very small human figure just to the left of the seaward entry of the mercantile harbor. Remember this scale is about 10:1, which means the defensive system covers the actual area of the city, however the walls and towers appear about 10 times larger than they should.

This photo provides a better sense of the actual scale and shows the remains of the military and mercantile harbors, looking from the south to the north. Its reported that the circular military harbor could hold over 200 vessels. At the scale I provide, the model military harbor could maybe hold about 20 ships?

**cmacq** · 09-11-2008, 07:08

Alexandria Ptolemaic Egypt

The next factional capital is the Alexandria, of course the city founded by Alexander the Great, in the western Egyptian delta. Throughout most of the EB time frame Alexandria was the largest city in the Mediterranean world, reaching a peak of about 600,000 residents in the 2nd century BC. Below is a model of the reconstructed wall plan of Late Ptolemaic Alexandria, with a view that is high and looking northwest over the city.

Similar to the layout of Late Punic Carthage, historically Alexandria’s walls enclosed a governmental/religious area (the central enclosure, this where the Ptolemaic palace was located), a mercantile area with a protected harbor (outside the central enclosure), and a middle class residential-commercial area (enclosed outside the other two enclosures). Outside this was the lower class residential-commercial area, which was largely unwalled, except for a possible low and very weak picket wall, located southeast of the main fortifications. These ran from the outer enclosure to the large canal south of Alexandria. The area of the city protected by walls was called the Brucheum, and those areas outside the main fortifications were called the Rhakotis.

The grey areas are lower class residential and commercial urban areas set within a grid pattern. These were largely outside the main fortification. One will note a canal that runs from the extreme east end of the model, immediately south of the city and then turns north to exit into the Mediterranean. I believe several bridges crossed this feature from the south and west. We also have the Pharos Island with a Greek fort, a small town in grey, the Heptastadion causeway with bridges at either end, and a second Greek fort immediately to the west on the mainland. Above we also have the lighthouse on a small island, joined by a narrow causeway, to the east end of the Pharos Island. The following view is low and from the Pharos Island looking east towards Alexandria.

A very small dot is located near the center of this view. This is an adult human inserted for a sense of scale. Although the fortifications of Late Ptolemaic Alexandria were not as complex as those found at Late Punic Carthage, the overall topography indicates it would be a nearly impossible nut to crack, if it was well defended. By land it can only be approached on a very narrow front. At a strategic level, its placement in the western delta also suggests it was very difficult to get to by land, when advancing from Asia. As well, one will note my model of the lighthouse is rather simple. Again my scale is 10:1.

Interestingly but not surprisingly, there are several features of design and layout at Alexandria that are very similar to those found at Pella, which will be addressed later.

**Kepper** · 09-11-2008, 14:09

Now this team of moder as working in making cites resemble their real-world counterparts, but the mod as dead and team join it Dominion of the Sword mod.

http://www.twcenter.net/forums/showthread.php?t=122992

But the main problem is building, they are medial age, not ancient.