Foreigner Files will accquaint you with those not born within Eleusian walls.

These dark-skinned nomads famed for their cruelty have been in the regions since 2500bc but had not started expanding their territories until 1814bc. They come from the area that is now Iraq and their most important cities are Ashur and Ninevah. They are ruled by a monarchy and do not allow themselves to mix amongst other races and nations. Itis very rare to see an Assyrian in Eleusia, and usually if they are seen, it is because they are here to trade and move on. Their religion was entirely foreign to the Greeks and they were often misconstrued as worshipping dark forces.

The largest trade today is that between the Egyptians and the Greeks. The Egyptians offer papyrus, linen, perfumes and wine and keep trading posts in the northern Egyptian cities of Naucrais and Daphnae. Egyptians are friendly and very much welcomed in Eleusia. In fact, there are many sailors that have taken Egyptians as their wives and then settled in the city of the Gods. Further, Egyptians are well-known mystics and are seen as bringing good luck to those they cross paths with. Egyptians worship their own Gods and are not allowed in the temples of Eleusia.

The Etruscans were well known as expert sailors and craftsmen and come from the region known as Italy today. Though they were not disliked, they were not liked as much as the Egyptians. Etruscans, having much knowledge of engineering, were often hired as a 'contractor' to help build new areas of the City. They worshipped as many gods as the Greeks did, but these gods had different names and tasks. Etruscans look much like the Greeks, except most are poor and disshevelled.

Lydia is a tiny state of its own in Asia Minor with a capitol of Sardis in today's Turkey. Though they are dark-skinned, they are as well received as the Egyptians within Eleusian walls. Lydians are known for their fancy clothing and delicate hair-stylings and many are hired as servants to wealthy Eleusian families. The Lydians were the first to use coins in exchange for material items. Their gods are completely unlike the Greek gods and they, too, are not allowed in Greek Temples.

The Scythians are a tribe of nomadic horsemen from Central Asia, now part of Russia, who kept herds of sheep and cattle as they moved. They offer much to trade in the form of wheat, salt, hides and slaves, but they offer nothing in the form of company. Known as a terribly barbaric tribe, the Greeks were wary of the group and hardly let them enter any walled city-states. Hated as much as the Persians, the Scythians were only met on their own territory to trade, and even then they were met with much trepidation. No Scythian would ever be seen within the walls of Eleusia. It is both beneith them and completely out of their way to find themselves at the base of Mt. Olympus.

The most successful traders in the Mediterranean were the Phoenicians. They were wealthy with timber, glass, metal, iron, ivory and, most importantly, purple fabrics and dye. Liked as well as the Egyptians, the Phoenicians are seen as stately and graceful and to have a Phoenician as a house guest would bring one luck. They live in the region that is today's Turkey and do not often travel to the Greek mainland. When they do, they are welcomed with open arms. Phoenicians, though they do not worship the Greek Gods, are welcomed into certain Temples in Eleusia. It is well known, however, that they are not welcomed in Hera, Artemis, or Ares Temples and that they dislike Hades' Temple.

Disliked so much that to say their name before the nobility is certain punishment are the people of today's middle east, the Persians. Hard handed, tempermental, and savage, the Persians are not only barred from entering Eleusia, they are also barred from entering most city-states in Greece. To smuggle one in is certain death for the Persian and imprisonment for the Greek. They are cursed whenever the chance to do so is given. A famous Eleusian saying is, "May Demeter never turn east" (as East is the location of the Persian strongholds).

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