ATHENS
The greatest of the Greek city-states, Athens has played a leading role in the affairs and conflicts of Greece for more than a century. Its heyday was during the Persian invasions when the Athenians rallied the Greeks and organised resistance. After this they bound many states together in a defensive treaty (the Delian League), but the Persians never returned and Athens grew richer, mightier and more tyrannical as time passed. The Spartans championed the states that were unhappy with Athens, resulting in the Peloponnesian War. Athens has always been a seafaring city and boasts a powerful navy of triremes (with triple-banked oars). The great harbour of the city is called the Piraeus. Much of Athens wealth comes from the Laurion silver mines (in Attica, the district around Athens) and from overseas dependencies (in the northern Aegean and the Black Sea). In religion the citizens revere Athena, but Demeter is also highly thought-of and a great festival occurs each year with a vast procession to neighbouring Eleusis. The Athenians love free speech and the theatre, holding annual competitions for drama and comedy. The government is an assembly of the city's five hundred free men that vote on issues and are elected to office. They are universally suspicious of any form of government that does not conform to democracy.
SPARTA
The great rival of Athens, Sparta is a very unique Greek city-state. It holds a vast territory in the southern Peloponnese called Laconia and in the past enslaved many inhabitants of near-by Messenia. That state has been free since 371 BC. The Spartans are the only people to retain a kingship; in fact they have two kings and a council of elders (the Gerousia). Affairs of state are overseen by magistrates called ephors. Everything in Sparta is traditionalist and primitive. The citizens who have any say at all are of noble blood, hereditary warriors living in permanent state of military readiness in communal messes. Spartans rarely see their families; to do so is a sign of weakness. Even so, Spartan females are athletic and tough and scandalize their Greek neighbours with their readiness to exercise.Most weak babies are exposed on the mountainsides (hence the increased CON). The early years of a Spartan are one long trial of pain and hardship. By manhood a Spartan is an unflinching warrior, a pursuer of glory in battle and a loyal fighter for Spartan supremacy. So brutally do they treat their slaves (helots) that the Spartans must be ever ready to defend themselves against helot uprisings. Sometimes they massacre helots who show any signs of boldness. Sometimes the paranoid Spartans eject all foreigners from Laconia and are then free to commit atrocities against the helots away from prying eyes. A secret police (krypteia) is crucial in the fight against rebellion.
THEBES
Thebes is the greatest city state of Boeotia, a wide rural landscape that is stifling hot in summer and bitterly cold in winter. The territory is hemmed in by mountain chains on the north and west, and it has access to the Aegean only indirectly by the narrow Gulf of Euboea. A fertile district, the Boeotians are known as uncivilised farmers. There are two major regions of Boeotia; a fertile plain dominated by Thebes, and the slopes of the mountains dominated by the city of Orchomenus. An oligarchy of great landed proprietors rules the state, and like other territories have come together to form a confederacy. There is a common federal currency (bearing the twin-notched Boeotian shield on the reverse - the symbol of the state), a Boeotian army commanded by ten Boeotarchs and a new and vigorous spirit of Boeotian dominance in Greek affairs. With Thebes at the helm, the Boeotian Confederacy continues to go from strength to strength.
THESSALY
A large, flat and fertile territory in northern Greece. Horse-breeding is popular and powerful aristocratic families have made cavalry the backbone of the military. Some of the most powerful autocratic dynasties include the Aleuadae of Larisa and the Scopadae of Crannon. Democracy has barely had a chance in Thessaly, so powerful are the old aristocratic land-owners. In times of war these families unite into a loose alliance (the Thessalian Confederation) commanded by a nominated official, the tagus. The fortunes of this Thessalian Confederation have been, at best, unhappy. Rarely has it proven to be a threat to the rest of Greece, instead it has been split by infighting. Jason, the tyrant of Pherae, was assassinated in living memory, and his successor, Alexander, proved to be just as ambitious and ruthless. The other dynasties called upon the barbaric Macedonians for help against Alexander, but found their presence odious. Instead they turned to the Greek city of Thebes for assistance. Thebes has intervened in Thessalian affairs, treating it as a protectorate. Thessaly contains the mountains Ossa, Pelion and Othrys, and is crossed by the river Peneus that flows through the magical Vale of Tempe.
CORINTH
Corinth sits on a narrow land-bridge (isthmus) connecting the Peloponnese to northern Greece. Because of its site it became first and foremost a commercial city, shipping goods (and even entire ships) across the isthmus, manufacturing pottery and cultivating olive oil and wine on the adjacent plain. In ancient times successful tyrants ruled Corinth. Its rich merchants are reluctant to engage the city in any wars at all. The city was famed for its temple to Aphrodite and its priestesses were prostitutes, serving the countless visitors, traders and adventurers who passed through the city walls.
MACEDONIA
In the 4th century, Macedonia, forever considered a barbaric and primitive kingdom of warrior-heroes, steps into the light. It is a vast northern kingdom ranging across mountain ranges, marshy plains and dense forests with no large cities. In addition, most of Macedonia's rivers do not dry up in summer, making the land very different from the rest of Greece. Its inhabitants speak a language closely related to Greek and the Greeks scorn them for it. The government of Macedon is a kingship, King Philip the Warlord depends on a strata of warrior-heroes and rival tribes in the old Greek tradition, rather than a state bureaucracy. Gift-giving, blood ties and clan loyalties count for everything. Macedonian society depends on agriculture, stock breeding and hunting for revenue. Philip has entered Greek politics with a flourish (and an army of phalangites), won a victory at the Olympic Games and lived for a time in Thebes where he absorbed Greek culture and ideas. Philip understands the weaknesses of the Greeks - and is ready to exploit them!
AMPHICTYONIC LEAGUE
The Amphictyonic League was composed of the states and cities surrounding the sacred shrine of Apollo at Delphi. Each participating state had a vote and was represented by two delegates sent to Delphi called pylagorai and hieromnemones. The league council is responsible for religious ceremonies, administration, the regular athletic games and the other communal festivals held at Delphi. The council tried to abstain from inter-state politics, giving the League a good deal of prestige amongst the Greeks.
PHOCIS
Phocis is a state to the north of the Gulf of Corinth, bordered by Locris to the north, Boeotia to the east and Doris and Locris to the west. The Phocians have fought viciously against the Thessalians in the past. When Persia invaded in 480 BC the Phocians were overwhelmed and forced to co-operate, but at the earliest opportunity Phocis revolted and fought to expel the Persian army. Phocis has periodically controlled Delphi (a shrine of international importance within Phocian territory) but always lost that control. Today it dominates Delphi once more - at a cost in human life. The state is mountainous and its highest (and most famous) peak is Mount Parnassus. The cities of Phocis include Lilaea, Hyampolis, Anticyra, Parapotamii, Panopeus, Daulis and Abe.
DORIS
A small and mountainous state to the north of Mount Parnassus, caught between Phocis, Locris and Aetolia. Its heartland is a fertile valley between Parnassus and Mount Oeta. Considered by most Greeks to be the birthplace of the race.
AETOLIA
This huge mountain state lies north of the Gulf of Corinth and west of Locris and Phocis. The only city of note is Thermum, the rest of the population being scattered through numerous mountain villages. Thermum is home to a very ancient temple of Apollo. Many Greeks consider the Aetolians uncouth barbarians. They are in fact a brave warrior people that often find employment abroad as Barbarian mercenaries.
LOCRIS
A small state in central Greece, famous in ancient times for its archers (who fought in the Trojan War). The chief towns of Locris are Amphissa and Naupactus. Amphissa sits on the popular approach to Delphi and has found itself in difficulties on several occasions with that town. Locris moved in the circles of more important city-states, Thebes in particular.
ACHAEA
Yet another tiny mountain state, this time on the southern coast of the Gulf of Corinth, just north of Arcadia. There are twelve tiny cities in Achaea and these have united to form the Achaean League, the largest of these cities is Dyme, Patrae, Tritaea and Pharae. The symbol of Achaea is a ligature of the letters 'alpha' and 'chi' (a capital A with the legs extending up past the apex).
ACARNANIA
A state facing the island of Ithaca. Acarnania was important during the Corinthian War (391 - 387 BC) but otherwise is a poverty-stricken and remote backwater. One of the larger cities is Oenidae.
ARCADIA
Arcadia is a mountain wilderness in the heart of the Peloponnese, a land inhabited by poor farmers and primitive shepherds. It is an inaccessible region and its people are of an ancient stock, protected from the civilizing influences of Greek culture by the mountains surrounding them. Surrounding city-states have coveted Arcadia as a bridge to other parts of the Peloponnese. Recently, due to the faltering power of Sparta against the armies of Thebes, the Arcadians created an Arcadian League in 370 BC. This caused some friction with neighbouring Elis and a battle was fought at the Olmpic Games of 364, actually in front of the spectators! The symbol of Arcadia is a ligature of the letters 'alpha' and 'rho' (a capital A and an R merging with the right hand leg)
ARGOS
Argos once dominated events in the Peloponnese and has sparred with rivals Sparta many times. It is a very ancient city dominating the coastal plain of Argolis and its lesser cities (Mycenae, Tiryns and others). By the 4th century BC the great days of Argos were over. It still exploits its proximity to the sea as a commercial centre, but greater states have eclipsed once proud Argos. The Argive symbol is the hydra, a water snake (often depicted as just a giant snake).
ELIS
Elis is a state of little political importance in the western Peloponnese. It is famed for the magnificent temple to Zeus at Olympia. Every four years the Olympic Games are held there and these wonderful events draw in crowds from all across the Greek world. Elis lives in the shadow of the other Peloponnesian states.
IONIA
Ionia is the region on the coast of Asia Minor facing the Aegean Sea. Greeks settled here in the distant past, and were known as slightly more genteel, slightly more refined than others of their race. The Ionians are, however, clever businessmen and wily thinkers - many philosophers grew up in Ionian cities, spurred by the intellectual climate. The greatest city-state of the Ionians is Miletus (which has sent out dozens of colonies along the shores of the Black Sea). The Ionian cities have suffered for their proximity to the Persian Empire, and are currently vassals of Persia, paying annual tribute and under the governorship of a Persian satrap (regional governor). The Ionians would welcome liberation (and have conspired with the Greeks to achieve that in the past).
MEGARA
Megara was a city-state with an illustrious past, it sent out numerous colonies in previous centuries, but was so close to Athens that it was often eclipsed. Its disputes with Athens contributed to the Peloponnesian War. Once Sparta had defeated Athens Megara retained its prestige because of its great past.
MAGNA GRAECIA
When the states of Greece sent out colonists over the last few centuries, many settled in southern Italy, in the heel and toe of the peninsula. Naturally these Greeks established city states that quickly resembled those of their homeland. The fertility of the new land and the prospects for trade encouraged even more colonization - soon the city-states had become rivals. In many ways Magna Graecia resembles the feuding city-states of Greece. However, there are more extremes - more land and space, greater possibilities for trade or expansion, fewer entrenched elites, and a more optimistic and free-thinking atmosphere. The greatest cities of Magna Graecia (distant enough from Greece to form a world on their own) include powerful Syracuse on Sicily, Tarentum, Croton, Rhegium, Messene, Metapontum, Locri, Thurii, Heraclea and Hydrus.