Dawn of Atlantis™

Mesopotamia

Mesopotamia is one of the geographical regions in Dawn of Atlantis™.  It is based on the region of ancient Babylonia, and will retain many of that nation's historical features, including its religion, art, politics, and so on.

Following is a "Creation Myth" for at least one tribe of Mesopotamians.

Out of Chaos, the Supreme Creator forged Ki, who is Earth; Anu, who is the Heavens; Utu, who is the Sun; and Enki, who is the Waters; there followed Reshef, Lord of the Underworld, and next was Kotharat, Love.  But Creation was without form, until Marduk was made and Order was imposed over all.  And then the Creator rested.

This was the First Genesis.

From Enki, Marduk created Adad, Rain; Nahar, Rivers; and Yam, Oceans; and from Ki he made Tammuz, Nature.  He then arranged the Waters on the Earth, wrapped her in the Heavens, and placed the Sun in its proper place in the Heavens.  His work done, he slept.

Kotharat, seeing he was alone – and she being alone – slipped into his bed; from this First Union was born the Divine Twins: Ishtar, Beauty, and Nabu, Knowledge.   From the Sacred Union of Ki and Anu was born Teshub, the Winds, and likewise Sin, the Moon, was born of Anu and Kotharat.  When Utu met Kotharat, Shachar, Light was made, and when Ki visited the realm of Reshef, so arose Shalim, the Darkness.

Thus ended the Second Genesis.

Then, when some of the Children of the Second Genesis met, they were overcome by Kotharat; from the Blessed Unions of Adad and Tammuz came Ashera, who was Fertility and female, while at the same time Telepinu, male Fertility, was born of Nahar and Tammuz.   Tammuz, who was wanton, then had union with Teshub, and thus were born Ramman, Storms, and Nanna, the Seasons.  She then had consort with Nabu, and begat Enkmidu, who made all the Animals in Creation.

The gods were satisfied with their creations, especially the Supreme Creator, who was pleased with all the Children of Genesis.

But before long Ashera and Telepinu had unlawful knowledge of one another, and from this Lawless Union the first Humans were born.

The Supreme Creator was outraged by this transgression, and ordered the abominations be destroyed.  But their Divine Ancestors, recognizing them as noble animals, were intrigued by these new beings, and so they defied the Creator and gave them gifts instead.

First, Adad, Nahar, and Yam, being the eldest, together gave them Strength and Courage.   Tammuz, seeing that they were still not as strong as many of her child Enkmidu’s Animals, gave them Stealth, so that her child’s creatures might not harm them.  Nabu then gave them Tools with which to use these first gifts, while Ishtar gave them Arts, with which to temper them.  Sin gave them Astronomy, so, like her, they would know their place in the Heavens.  Shachar, seeing that they were naked and hairless, and unlike other Animals could not see well when he slept, stole for them from his grandfather the Sun a lock of his hair, so they might see and keep warm, and also cook their food, so that they would be further elevated above all other Animals.   Teshub promised to blow the Humans Luck, so they might find fortune in their new world, and even Enkmidu, recognizing the superiority of this new creation over his own, gave the Humans Husbandry, by which certain of his creatures might serve the noble animals.

Finally the Humans’ parents bestowed upon them Mysticism, so they might recognize and pay homage to all their Ancestors.

All except Shalim; he alone obeyed the Supreme Creator and sent them Death.

Seeing all this, the Creator was very angry; but, since the Creator had not the power to take the gifts away, instead punished the Children by forbidding them contact with the infant noble animals.  All except Shalim and Shachar.  For his act of thievery Shachar was banished to the Underworld, and thus his brother Shalim was allowed dominance over Creation to do evil in the world.

But after a time, taking pity on the noble animals, and seeing how the other Children loved them and mourned their loss, the Creator relented and changed Death into Plague, and restored Humans and their Divine Ancestors to Creation.  Even so the Creator forbade the Children any direct contact with Humans, who must now and forever communicate only through avatars.

As further punishment, from the Animals the Creator took Speech and gave it instead to the Humans, and so this is why Humans speak and Animals do not.  Shachar was then allowed to look upon Creation for part of each day, while the rest was given over to Shalim.  And this is why, having spent so much time alone with Darkness, with no Light to find their way, it is hard for Humans to resist the evil ones, even in the light of day.

And having known Death, the noble animals would now not be able to dismiss him from the world, nor would they ever be safe from Shalim, who will keep trying to send all of Creation back into Chaos – because that is what he believes has been decreed by the Creator.

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Nations of Mesopotamia

This section gives a very brief summary of the Player-Nations of the realm of Mesopotamia, including a sampling of a few of their starting locations or "sites", and the main features of same.  Please note that the geographical locations of these sites are not intended to be wholly accurate, either currently or historically.  (Remember that DoA is set 20,000 years ago, before the end of the last Ice Age when much of the Mediterranean basin is assumed to be above present sea level, and also that these sites generally represent a much larger area than their actual locations.)

The Nations of Mesopotamia are for now divided into five tribal regions or provinces, each of which will start the game in a more or less random site in their respective province.  The nations, with a general description of the geography of their starting territory, follow:

Akkad

The Akkadi have been given the northern portion of the fertile Mesopotamian Delta by Ishtar, the Goddess of Love and Beauty.  They can use her gifts to create an empire based on harmony and diplomacy.

In the foothills of the Kassite (Zagros) Mountains on a tributary of the mighty River Tigris is a site of some military importance as well as a source of timber, game, and other foodstuffs.

In the heart of Akkadian territory where another tributary of the Tigris and the Tigris itself form a confluence can be found an ideal spot for a centre controlling routes east to Persia, south to Sumer and Chaldea, north to Assyria, and west to Babylonia.

East of Akshak on the frontier with Persia lies Awan, a perfect site for a stronghold in the foothills of the Kassite Mountains; small deposits of copper, and larger ones of stone and timber, are perhaps no less important.

Midway between Akkad and Akshak is a fertile site on the River Tigris with vast fields of grain, especially flax, as well as fruit and vegetables that could support a huge population.

Assyria

From their patron Reshef, the Assyrians have had military and magical gifts bestowed upon them along with the northern Mesopotamian plains and foothills.

Fields of grain and wild animals teem across the alluvial plain roughly in mid-course of the River Tigris, making a good location for a relatively populous religious centre.

On the broad, flat upper plain almost exactly mid-way between the Tigris and Euphrates Rivers lies a low hill that would ideally suit a fortress of some kind -- either military, magical, or both.

High up in the Kassite Mountains on the shore of a large lake (L. Urmia) are deposits of silver and tin, as well as a vast forest suitable for timber harvesting.

North of Ashur is another relatively fertile site, this time strategically located to establish a fortified religious centre on its modest reserves of magical power.

Babylonia

Enki, Lord of the Waters, has granted the Babylonians the fertile mid-plains of the River Euphrates, as well as artistic endowments to create a nation of refined scholars.

One of the most fertile and strategic locations in the known world is a site on the River Euphrates; game, fish, grain, religious and magical power combine to create a centre of potentially unequalled grandeur and might.

Up the River Euphrates from Babylon is a site of peaceful splendour and a moderate cornucopia of resources including a little game, grain, flax, and especially a substance called bitumen, for which a use might be found in brick-making...

To the west of Hit up the River Euphrates, as far again as Babylon in the other direction, is Mari, at the western boundary of Babylonian territory.  Clay deposits and game abound there -- including lions -- but primarily its desirability lies in its strategic value.

The lower alluvial plain between the Rivers Euphrates and Tigris offers game, grain, and a moderately strategic location, as well as decent spiritual and magical power.

Chaldea

Inanna, Goddess of the Seasons, has blessed her children with the ability to use diplomacy to influence their neighbours in subtle ways, perhaps through trade, and/or artistic or other cultural pursuits.

On the ancient coast of the Lower Sea (Persian Gulf), where the Mesopotamian plain begins to yield to the desert of Muskat (modern Kuwait), is a spot where a curious sea snail lives that exudes a dark liquid that tends to stain a brilliant purple...

The frontier shared with both Sumer and Babylonia is formed by this site on a fork of the River Euphrates; unfortunately, in spite of its fertility it isn't a particularly defensible location.

North of Eridu near the mouths of both the Euphrates and the Tigris is a deep harbour with resources aplenty on a magical site suitable for a fortified port.

Not far north of Ur, and just a little farther south of Eridu, in the Euphrates Delta in the middle of a reedy swamp, is a site ideally suited to a fortress city.

Sumer

The Sumerians' gifts from their patron Enkmidu are the middle territory of the delta formed by the Rivers Tigris and Euphrates, along with an affinity for animals that could serve them in building a pastoral nation of herders and traders.

On the River Tigris not far from Nippur and Shuruppak lies a location almost matched in strategic value by its magical and spiritual auras and a proliferation of wildlife.

In the fertile swampy delta of the River Tigris the ubiquitous papyrus reed grows, as well as grains and especially flax, plus a modest variety of game animals.

North of Ur and just a little south of Lagash lies a site on a plain of singular fertility and bountiful wildlife; magical power is somewhat less apparent.

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Last updated: March 02, 2000.