NationStates Jolt Archive

(OOC note:
I'm basing this more on New Kingdom (with dashes of Old/Middle) than the Egypt of 400BC. Naturally there will be some Greek-ish features, but I like the overall 'Egyptian' feel.

Furthermore, work in progress, as always.)

Summary:

Name: The Kingdom of Petbe (Also called, colloquially, New Egypt, the Third Kingdom, The Kingdom of Naxos, and various Greek adaptations of 'Petbe'. Possibly 'you rebel scum' as well.)

Capital: Petbe, on Naxos (called Petbe by the Egyptians)

Language: Primarily Egyptian. Some Greek.

Demographics: %65 Egyptian, %30 Greek, %5 other

Religion: Almost universal worship of the Egyptian pantheon (some of whom have been modified to with Greek aspects)

Currency: Deben

Government: Absolute monarchy

Society: Hierarchical, generally non-discriminatory

Military: Modest standing, professional force, supplemented by levies in the event of war.


Government:
Ruled by the God-King Teppicymon IV, Son-of-the-Sun, Rightful Lord of the Two Lands, Charioteer of the Sun, Delight of the Eye of Ra, Greatest General of Montu, Dispenser of the Wisdom of Ma'at, Favored of Wadj-wer, Favored Craftsman of Ptah, Whose House is Blessed of Bast, Received of the Knowledge of Thoth, His Soul is Protected by Anubis, Servicer of the Sacred Cow of Heaven, Blessed of the Gods, Savior of Egypt, King of Nubia, Slayer of Eastern Barbarians, Conqueror of Naxos,

The Petbe government is, essentially, absolutionist, with all authority resting in the Pharaoh. Typically below the Pharaoh is a Vizier, who managed day-to-day affairs.
Most other government posts are managed by royalty or nobles. While posts are typically assigned by merit, many consider nobility a merit in and of itself.

Preists play a major role in government, with many higher priestly offices (such as the Sacred Wife of Amun) having strong authority over government offices or being advisors to the Pharaoh.

For administrative reasons, the island is divided into two 'sepats', or provinces.

Currency:
Deben: technically a unit of weight, used as the name of the currency. Equal to three ounces, or about 91 grams. Comes in gold, silver, and copper varieties.

Kidet: 1/10th of a Deben

History:
Technically, the history of the Kingdom of Petbe stretches back to the founding of the First Dynasty in 3100 BC, by Scorpion I or Narmer, one of whom was the first to unite Upper and Lower Egypt. Following that we have several thousand years of ups and downs, expansion and contraction, power and weakness. Egypt's history is the history of civilization itself (in the opinion of the Egyptians).

But, that is, unfortunately, in the past.

Roughly seventy years ago, the Samaten Empire found itself rubbing borders with the Two Kingdoms, the sole remaining independent power in the region. The result was, naturally, invasion. The Samaten king various bribed, threatened and conquered his way through the Arab tribes, eventually reaching Egypt. The Egyptian Pharaoh of the time, Psamtik III, had previously hired a number of Greek mercenaries from several states to assist against the Samaten hordes. Unfortunately, on seeing the size of the Samaten army (or, according to some, the size of their purse), the largest group of Greeks switched sides in the midst of the battle. There is some debate as to whether this was a spontaneous event or not. Many Egyptians, especially in Petbe, claim that the Greeks were bribed prior to the battle by Samaten spies.
Regardless, the result was the same. The battle was a major Egyptian defeat, and the Egyptian army was essentially shattered. The Pharaoh retreated to Memphis.
Before he was able to reform the army, Pharaoh Psamtik was besieged in Memphis and, after a two year siege, surrendered. This effectivly ended three thousand years of Egyptian sovereignty.
Shortly afterwards, the Pharaoh orchestrated a rebellion. For many reasons, it was shortlived and, ultimately, its only major effect was the execution of the Pharaoh and all the nobles involved.
With the execution of Pharaoh Psamtik III a large number of Egyptian royalty, nobility, and various upper-classmen fled from Egypt across the Mediterranean to Greece and the Italian peninsular, resulting in what is generally referred to as the 'Egyptian Diaspora'.
Gradually, many of these people gathered to the island of Naxos (so-called by the Greeks), where one Teppicymon, claiming to be a descendant of Psamtik III, had established a kingdom and 'government-in-exile'.

Petbe itself was founded roughly forty years ago by Teppicymon II, theoretical head of the 27th Dynasty of Egypt (discounting the Samaten claimants to the title of Pharaoh). The city was, initially, a small Greek colony with no official name, simply called by the locals after the island itself. The expatriate Pharaoh quickly bribed the local officials with what was either inherited gold or looted booty, gaining himself the rights to the island and having anybody who disagreed thrown down Mt. Zas (which was renamed in honor of the Pharaoh).
The island quickly proved worth the purchase, its fertile soil providing a great income for the Egyptians, who, after some initial failures, managed to develop a farming technique suited to island growing. Petbe proved ideal for a number of Egyptian specialties, such as pomegranates and chickpeas.

After Teppicymon II died at the age of 65, his son, Teppicymon III, took the throne and enjoyed a brief eight year reign before suffering an acute case of hemorrhoids, from which he died. Several prominient physicians in the kingdom came forward to say that this was most certainly the cause of death, and that the knife wound was caused when the Pharaoh fell down the stairs in the basement. While the Pharaoh's Palace doesn't actually have a basement, one was built shortly afterwards, so everything turned out alright.
Teppicymon IV is generally regarded as, if not the best ruler in living memory, certainly an adequate one. He typically keeps his hobbies private and while he maintains the fine tradition of the occasional gruesome public execution, its almost invariably somebody who deserves it. Perhaps his major contribution to Petbe was the formation of a professional corps of phalanx troops, equipped and trained in the Greek manner, to the Petbe army. While the majority of the force is still composed of part-time soldiers and levies, the tough core of Petbe's army is a force to be reckoned with, having subjugated the remainder of Naxos and parts of the surrounding islands. Teppicymon IV seems to be more expansion-minded than his predecessors.

Economy:
The barter system is still popular with the Egyptian populace. In many cases, the Deben retains its original role as a system of evaluating somethings worth, rather than an actual currency.
Workers are typically paid in grain or bread. For example, a common labourer might earn about 400lbs of grain per month. A skilled labourer, such as a foreman, could earn about 550lbs of grain per month.
The Egyptian economy is strongly centralized and all prices are set and fixed by the government, which maintains lists for this purpose. For example, a common shirt costs five copper deben, a cow 140, and so on.

Naxos is one of the most fertile islands in the Aegean, allowing the Egyptian settlers to maintain some remnant of their former farming lifestyle, although, without the rich annual flood, they've been forced to adopt methods more similar to the local methods.

The main exports of Petbe are glass, grain, fruits, linen (and textiles) and papyrus. It also maintains a trade in architects, with, quite possibly, the oldest existing architectural tradition in the world. Egyptian architects and engineers are generally sought after for tombs, palaces, temples, statuary, monuments and fortresses (and essentially any structure which requires the moving of large amounts of stone or brick), typically using methods not dissimilar to ones employed a thousand years ago when Egypt was at its height.
Egyptian glass is highly valued, and typically made with great skill. It comes in a variety of shapes and sizes (both artistic and practical), as well as colors. It can be both opaque and transparent.
The chief export of the island is opium and poppy products, typically for medical purposes. Various other medical instruments and similar are also exported as part of this trade, but currently the main money-maker of the island happens to be poppies.
Less important exports include perfume, cosmetics and jewlery.

Petbe's primary import is knowledge. The Pharaoh employs a number of Greek thinkers, both philosophical and of the more practical bent. A number of blacksmiths, engineers, and shipwrights have found work in Petbe. The island also imports various exotic animals, as well as luxury items and foods, such as silks, incense, gold, exotic foods, and similar.
A great deal of raw cosmetic producing material (like bear testicles) is brought in as well, as the main source of traditional Egyptian cosmetics (Egypt) is currently not avalible.

Petbe is a modestly wealthy state for its size. The Pharaoh and many nobles can afford to live in luxury, and generally the peasantry are rarely dying of starvation, as even during droughts and famines, the state has enough cash stored away to be able to purchase food for some time.
This wealth primarily comes from the system of labor employed by the government. Farmers, rather than paying monetary taxes, supply labor for part of the year. The system, employed in Egypt since the first dynasty, has been modified somewhat in order to account for the lack of a yearly flood.
With its short, mild, winter, Naxos allows for year-round production of food. Farmers are divided into two groups, the Semew ('Summer') farmers, who grow fruit, and the Peret ('Winter') farmers, who grow vegetables and grains. A rotation has been established, allowing for the Semew and Peret farmers to harvest one crop per year. Poppy farmers are exempt from the labor and army levies.
This system means that the standard Egyptian army levy has a smaller maximum size, but allows for a constant inflow of trade.

Slavery is fairly common, although rarely employed for heavy labor. Most slaves serve as servants, carriers, palanquin bearers and other light, unskilled, labor. They also serve as nightsoil men and other jobs which no properly civilized Egyptian would possibly consider doing.

Society:
The arrangement of Egyptian society is as thus:
Farmers and Peasants > Merchants and Shopkeepers > Soldiers > Artisans and Craftsmen > Scribes, preists, nobles > Royalty

All farmers pay a labour tax to the government, spending the flood season working on state projects or in military service. All agricultural production is owned by the state, and farmers receive some portion of their labour per year.
All artisans and craftsmen are employed and paid directly by the state.
The 'white tunic' classes, priests and scribes (so named for their bleached linen clothes), are, again, all employed by the state and 'rented' as required to nobility and soforth.
Nobility, theoretically, administer the property of the Pharaoh in his name. Most of them have at least some agricultural knowledge by now, as two generations of 'plains farming' have left their mark on Egyptian society, now that the soil is no longer renewed every year.

Rather uniquely amoung ancient cultures, Egyptian law views all people (except slaves, foreigners, children, stupid people, and people the Pharaoh doesn't like) as equals. Men and women, nobles and commoners, all are allowed to own and inherit property, serve in government (although it is uncommon for women, as they rarely are taught to read and seldom get anything past a basic education), buy and sell goods, marry and divorce, and are viewed equally under the law.
The 'law' in Petbe is primarily based on the judges sense of 'right' and 'wrong', rather than a codified set of laws.
There are two primary courts. The first is for minor offenses, theft, assault, and suchlike, and is presided over by an appointed official.
The second, for major offenses such as murder or treachery, is presided over by the Pharaoh or another royal.
Punishments include fines, beatings, enslavement, forced labor and execution. Torture is occasionally used, depending on the judge, but is generally avoided when not practical.

Besides its architects, Petbe is also known for its advanced medicine. Many records were carried over from Egypt by fleeing scribes, and a number of medical texts came along as well. The various doctors, dentists and priests promptly set about filling the holes in the records with Greek methods, usually with varying results. Unlike many other physicians, Egyptian doctors tend to specialize, for example, a certain doctor might only treat ailments of the head, another foot issues, eye problems, and so forth.
However, Petbe maintains the only 'official' dentists offices in the West outside of Egypt, although there is less demand for them now that people are eating bred that isn't %20 sand.
Petbe also maintains a small corps of official 'firefighters' in its large cities. These men are definitely not paid by the number of fires put out.

Due to its island nature, the Kingdom of Petbe has remained fairly homogeneous, with relatively few non-Egyptians arriving. Most of the 'native' Greek peoples speak Egyptian and, generally, worship in the Egyptian manner. In terms of demographics, the island is roughly %65 Egyptian, %30 Greek and %5 various others.

Despite the availability of wood, most Petbe peasants prefer the mudbrick-style houses favored in Egypt. Likewise, while the Pharaoh used marble on the construction of his palace, but the majority of the structure is limestone.

Religion:

Religion has undergone some changes as well. The Egyptians tend to adapt well to outside influences, and their gods do likewise. Many Greek citizens of Petbe worship Ra in his aspect as Apollo, while Anubis and Hades have merged somewhat as well. As is usual, exact definitions of a particular god's role are impossible to find, because virtually everybody ascribes a different 'face' to their favored god. All of them have, however, retained their traditional animal forms in addition to some Greek adaptations.

The average Egyptian is deeply religious. The most dire threat one can make to any Egyptian is to threaten cremation, the utter destruction of the body, damning them to wander the world forever. Proper preparation of the dead is still the task of the priests of Anubis, who will happily, for a fine, ensure you a ticket to the afterlife. The full service package includes an high-end 'brain-pulled-through-your-nostrils' accessory and free preservation of your organs in jars.

Deep reverence of the Pharaoh, as the personification of Horus, the son of Ra (and, indeed, Ra himself once he dies), is a key aspect of Egyptian life as well. While citizens typically do not bow down in the street or outright worship the Pharaoh on non-ceremonial occasions, he is regarded as one might regard a combined high priest and king, which is, essentially, what he is. Those not of the nobility are considered too impure to touch the Pharaoh.

Military

Summary:
Total Standing troops: 20,000

Sekhmet Army, based in Khefre, commanded by Prince Teppicymon V (Pteppic)
Light Infantry: 500
Spearmen: 1,000
Heavy Infantry: 1,000
Bowmen: 1,500
Egyptian Charioteers: 300
Heavy Charioteers:100
Phalanx Troops: 500
Total: 5,000

Ptah Army, based in Sais, commanded by General Rahotep
Light Infantry: 200
Spearmen: 1,300
Heavy Infantry: 1,500
Bowmen: 1,000
Egyptian Charioteers: 200
Heavy Charioteers: 150
Phalanx Troops: 500
Total: 4,850

Scorpion Army, based on Paros, commanded by General Tameri
Light Infantry: 250
Spearmen: 1,000
Heavy Infantry: 500
Bowmen: 1,000
Egyptian Charioteers: 50
Heavy Charioteers: 70
Phalanx Troops: 100
Total: 2,970

Ra Army, based in Petbe, commanded by Pharaoh Teppicymon
Light Infantry: 1,000
Spearmen: 500
Heavy Infantry: 2,000
Bowmen: 2,000
Egyptian Charioteers: 500
Heavy Charioteers: 200
Phalanx Troops: 900
Palace Guard: 80
Total: 7,180


Organization:
The Pharaoh is the supreme commander of the army.
Under Pharaoh are four generals, typically taken from the royal family or court favorites. Each of these commands a division, each of which is named according to the generals fancy, typically for the patron god of the commanders home town.
Each division is divided into twenty companies under a commander. Each company is, in turn, divided into five platoons.

Theoretically this results in a very organized army. However, the organization is generally disregarded or changed according to the whims of the general.

A khopesh is a type of sword unique to Egypt, and is, technically, a specialized ax. It consists of an initially straight blade which then turns into a sharply curved sickle which, in turn, ends with a sharp point. Skilled users are capable of using the point as a stabbing weapon, while slashing with the edged part, as well as employing the sickle to pull cavalrymen from their horses or to topple armored foes, pull weapons and shields away, and so forth.

Egyptian axes come in a variety of shapes and sizes. The most basic is, essentially, a semi-circular 'sword' strapped to a haft, typically referred to as a 'slicing' axe. It is most effective against unarmored foes. The 'armor piercing' axe has a very narrow head, almost like a dagger or knife, and is employed against armored foes, typically by striking at the head.
The final type, which is similar to later poleaxes, is more ornamental, consist of of a scalloped head on the end of a long pole. Like the slicing axe, its best used against foes who arent wearing armor.

Armor is a mix of traditional Egyptian leather and scale-mail varieties combined with Greek and Samaten models. Most troops, however, fight unarmored. Levy troops often go into a battle wearing only their bleached state-issued loincloth, although some have been lucky enough to get their hands on a strips of hardened leather (sometimes with bronze or iron studding), and the occasional leather or bronze helmet.
Professional troops are issued with a white headdress, whose primary purpose was to ward of the Egyptian sun, but is now only worn in battle by light troops and archers. Many heavy soldiers have adopted more substantial armor in the face of Greek heavy infantry.
The Pharaoh and his personal guards wear the finest available armor, usually of iron. This is generally of the lamellar style. The Pharaoh himself wears a special crown to battle, known as the 'blue crown', it acts as a handy cover for the iron helmet he wears.

Armories and Fortresses
The Egyptians are great builders. Its essentially the national hobby. Petbe is home to two main fortresses, the so-called 'Kem Djew' or 'Black Mountain'. Named for the black stone of which it was built, it sits outside of the capital city of Petbe and serves as the nations main armory and military forge. It is constructed with techniques which, outside of Egypt, will not be seen until the Middle Ages of Europe, including round, protruding towers, double gateways, and numerous other advances perfected in Egypt. The name 'mountain' is well deserved, indeed, the inner towers of Kem Djew are upwards of 25 meters in height, and its walls are many meters thick.
The second, Dewa Hedj, the 'Bright Morning', is a smaller, but some would say far more strategic, fortress situated at the northern tip of the island. Faced with white marble from Paros, it guards the port-city of Sais, the main portal for trade and commerce in Petbe, and where the majority of its opium is exported from.

Typically weapons are stored in state armories when not in use, from which they can be issued during wartime. Most armories also feature training facilities to ensure that the peasants know which end of the spear to poke the enemy with.

Militia: 50,000-100,000
Militia units are only raised in times of war. The rest of the time they farm.
Figure does not include city guards.

Peasants (http://img148.imageshack.us/img148/1860/egyptianpeasantinfoht6.jpg):
Untrained and equipped primarily with farming implements, these men are even worse off than militia. They have either volunteered or been dragooned into the army on short notice, and are primarily used as cannon fodder. They usually have a veteran 'NCO' of sorts to keep them in line.
There are, however, a lot of them.

Egyptian Levies (http://img81.imageshack.us/img81/2733/levyyn1.png):

The main bulk of the local Petbe army, this primarily consists of peasants/farmers supplied with a basic wooden, reed, or hide shield, an ax or mace (spears are rare), or, if they're lucky, a khopesh. They receive basic training in officer commands, fighting in a group, and not running away. Many carry a simple bow as well.
While generally pious and loyal to the Pharaoh, these are generally simple peasants. Their religious fervor would most likely fade quickly if a battle seems to be going poorly.

City Guards: (http://img143.imageshack.us/img143/7391/egyptiandesertaxemeninfxb1.jpg)
Not technically soldiers, but something of a local militia raised to supplement the police and ensure smooth operation of a city. They usually wear cloth or leather armor, white head cloths and bear a shield. Their weapons are typically a spear, poleaxe, or a sword.

Medjay
Unlike many states, the police force of Petbe is not an extension of the military, but, rather, a separate force created to enforce the laws of the gods and protect the weak from the strong. The Medjay are named for the Nubian tribe who constituted the majority of the Egyptian police from the 18th dynasty onwards. In Petbe the police are typically seen as guardians of a community, rather than a hostile force. The Medjay are highly respected and joining their ranks is considered a very honorable profession for a person of any rank in society.

Professional Soldiers: 20,000
These are standing troops who are employed by the state. They are typically kept on 'reserve' status when not engaged in a war.

Egyptian Bowmen: (http://img504.imageshack.us/img504/6572/egyptianbowmeninfoxm1.jpg)
The best troops of the regular army, Egyptian bowmen would, historically, be remembered even by the Romans. With a tradition of archery dating back to the pre-dynastic period, and having improved their weapons over the course of several thousand years, the Egyptian archery corps is a body to be feared.
These soldiers employ a deadly composite bow, which is, essentially, a copy of whatever bow the Egyptians happen to think is best right now, incorporating the preexisting knowledge of other weapons of similar design in order to improve it. The current design is similar to the Samaten bow.
While, individually, not the greatest archers, the Egyptian army specializes in volley fire. Accuracy is not a concern, but, rather, putting as many arrows into the air as possible. A skilled archer can fire once every few seconds.
Egyptian archers don't wear armor or have shields, but rely on other troops to keep the enemy at bay. They do carry a dagger or small axe for person defense, but generally rely on speed to keep out of the enemies way.

Light Infantry (http://img148.imageshack.us/img148/9232/egyptianskirmishersinfoot7.jpg):
The skirmishers and 'guerrilla' troops of Petbe. These men usually fight with light throwing spears, slings and other light projectile weapons. They wear little or no armor, many fighting in nothing more than a loincloth.
They mainly serve to distract and harass enemy infantry, dragging them into long, running, engagements in the hot Egyptian sun.

Spear Infantry (http://img530.imageshack.us/img530/296/egyptiannilespearmeninfls8.jpg):
Spear units are equipped with a wooden shield, sometimes with a bronze fronting, and scale armor. They carry a heavy spear about six feet in length, with an iron head, as well as three or four lighter, more javelin-like spears. Some have leather or bronze helmets as well.
Their primary role is to ward off cavalry and charioteers, although they are proficient in holding a line against infantry as well. They typically wear slightly heavier armor than their infantry counterparts, as they are expected to act as more of a mobile wall and anti-cavalry formation than to be running around the field.

Heavy Infantry (http://img155.imageshack.us/my.php?image=cityguardpk2.png):
Armored and well armed, these are the shock troops of the Egyptian army. They go into battle wearing mail and wielding a variety of unpleasant weapons, although a khopesh is usually the standard sidearm. A number of various pole arms, swords, spears, maces and axes have been adopted by this unit from various locations, either purchased abroad or emulated by Egyptian smiths.

Charioteers:
Egyptian Chariot (http://img148.imageshack.us/img148/7779/egyptiangeneralearlyinfde7.jpg)
Heavy Chariot (http://img517.imageshack.us/img517/8108/43fi6.jpg)

The iconic symbol of the Egyptian army. While aforetime the mainstay of the army, and, indeed, at one point the only professional soldiers in the Egyptian army, the charioteers have been reduced in role now that the focus has shifted from fighting in the great deserts and plains of Egypt.
Chariots in the Petbe army come in two varieties. The tradition Egyptian War Chariot, which is light, fast, and designed to function as a highly mobile archery platform. This variety is drawn by two horses and has a crew of two, a driver and an archer. The archer is equipped with a bow and five or six spears, and is strapped to the side of the chariot.
These charioteers typically wear mail shirts, but leave their legs unarmored, as the chariot itself shields them. This variety of chariot requires great skill to drive, not only to ensure that the archer has a stable position to fire from, but also to make sure that it doesn't hit a rock and flip over. As they are much lighter than other varieties of chariot, they tend to be much more unstable if handled poorly. The driver also carries a shield to defend himself and the bowman.

Heavy chariots, adopted from Samaten and other Easterly sources, are, as their name implies, heavier. Sometimes equipped with scythes, these are crewed by either two or three men, who are armed with a variety of weapons, ranging from long spears to bows and more. Their main role is to break open paths in the enemy lines for the Egyptian infantry to exploit.

All varieties are typically heavily decorated, the horses usually having armor or cloth padding bearing the owners crest, as well as various plumes, flags and ribbons.

When in battle, the Pharaoh typically rides in a chariot, usually in the role of archer.

Phalanx troops (http://img152.imageshack.us/img152/381/38ik5.jpg):
In the finest tradition of Egypt, desperate times have resulted in the import of foreign military ideas. Greek-style phalanxes are a significant part of the infantry of Petbe's army. These men are still equipped in the Egyptian fashion, however, and are, thus, much more lightly armored than their stereotypical Greek counterparts, usually wearing only a helmet and leg guards by way of armor, relying on their hoplon-style shield for torso protection. They carry a spear very similar to the Greek doru, as well as a sword.

Palace Guards:

More for display than actual fighting, the armor and weaponry of the palace guards is designed more with intent to hold back crowds of civilians during formal occasions, or, at most, dispatch the occasional assassin. Despite this, it is of very high quality. They are basically bodyguards, and would be out of place in the thick of battle. While they are certainly capable soldiers, they are not up to par with the regular infantry when it comes to open battle.

Mercenaries:
The betrayal of the Greek mercenaries employed by the last reigning Egyptian Pharaoh has led to a significant antipathy towards mercenaries in general, and, as a result, few find employment with Petbe's forces.

Naval forces:
The navy of Petbe takes the traditional Egyptian route when it comes to naval warfare, using ships with high fore- and aftcastles, as well as high sides, to support a large compliment of archers and marines. Most Egyptian war vessels carry roughly fifty marines. While generally not quite as sturdy when it comes to ramming, these vessels are significantly faster and more maneuverable than Greek vessels.
The larger ships, some carrying up to 250 men, are much stronger and much slower, but of basically similar design.
The Petbe navy also incorporates several foreign vessels purchased or taken as prizes of war.

Well, seeing as how you'll be playing a city-state of the Samaten empire (if I'm not mistaken), then he should give you a population.

Factbook approved.

Independant, actually. A group of Egyptians that fled Egypt before, during, and after the Persian invasion and ended up on the island of Naxos.

Then, Population: 350,000

Gratse.

Updated the military section.