City of Thebai
A rival city to Orchomenus in the region of Boiotia, well-guarded Thebai is known as a city of walls and gates. Its defenses were never breached until the War of the Epigoni.
Historicity Notes
The best available estimate puts the population of Boiotian Thebai at around 8,000 in 1320 BCE. Population figures for the 13th Century BCE may have been up to 50% larger, up to 12,000. Our population of 16,000 is at or above the far edge of what was plausible, but not by much. Modern archaeology puts settlement at Thebes by the Early Bronze Age, before 2000 BCE. Mythology puts the foundation with Kadmos, seven generations before the 1200ish BCE destruction of the city. Our version sets the foundation of the city around 1800 BCE with extra generations added between Kadmos and the Epigoni, making the city younger than historical Thebes but older than mythical Thebai.Demographics
A Canaanite royal family and Spartoi noble class rule an indigenous Boiotian peasantry and slaves from many lands. A population of 16,000 includes 113 noble houses.
Government
The king's rule is absolute, but in practice much day-to-day governing is delegated to a bureaucracy.
Departments
The Army
Led by the king's therapon, or champion, the army recruits and trains warriors, maintains barracks in strategic locations, conducts regular patrols through the countryside, and goes to war at the king's request, whether to put down a town or village insurrection, slay a monster, or defend the borders.The Courts
Led by a Chief Magistrate who dispenses justice in cases too mundane to set before the king. The Chief Magistrate is also in charge of a city guard that polices the king's laws within the city limits.The Trade Guild
Led by a chief guildsman who collects tariffs and taxes, distributes rations throughout the kingdom, and conducts trade with other kingdoms at the whim of the king.Defences
Quite formidable walls surround the outer city as well as the citadel/acropolis complex. 160 guardsmen are permanently stationed in the city, plus barracks, garrisons, and training grounds for the king's army.
History
Kadmos the Founder followed a moon-cow to the site of the city, where he battled and defeated a dragon that guarded the sacred wellsprings of the Ismenus. The first generation of Spartoi, sprung from the sown teeth of the defeated dragon, formed his first army and the work crew that assembled the first buildings and city walls.
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