Palydian civilization

Palydia Paladiya
c. 2096 BC–670 BC
Flag of Palydia Symbol of Tarhuniz, the ancient Palydian national deity
Capital	Tarhunizza (c. 2096–1306 BC) Paladi-Tarmana (c. 1306–1281 BC) Tarhunizza (c. 1281–951 BC) Dalwisa (951–804 BC) Dunabiyas (804–670 BC)
Official languages	Palydian
Religion	Ancient Mesogeian religion
Government	Monarchy
Notable kings
• c. 2096 BC	Tarhunizmalis I (first)
• c. 2035–1995 BC	Tiwarazdas I
• c. 1869–1836 BC	Tiwazaz Ziwanas
• c. 1762–1752 BC	Tarhuntiyas I
• c. 1651–11611 BC	Tarhunizalwis
• c. 1316–1281 BC	Sandasitiya I
• 1114–1076 BC	Salawarazalas I
• 955–931 BC	Ruwalazitis II
• 844–826 BC	Salawarazalas III
• 804–779 BC	Siwanzallis
• 779-730 BC	Tarhunzawi
• 730–690 BC	Armalazitis
• 675-670 BC	Tarhuntiyas IV (last)
Historical era	Bronze Age to Iron Age
• Foundation of Tarhunizza	c. 2500 BC
• Tarhunizza becomes an independent city-state	c. 2096 BC
• Old Palydian period	c. 2096–1650 BC
• Middle Palydian period	c. 1651–984 BC
• Neo-Palydian period	984-760 BC
• Conquest by the Azagartian Empire	670 BC
Preceded by Succeeded by TBA Azagartian Empire

Palydia or the Palydian civilization was a major east-Belisarian civilization that originally emerged as a city-state from the 21st century BC to the 17th century BC, after which it transformed into the the dominant military force and early empire in the region of Masawana (meaning the "middle land" or the "land between" in the native Palydi language in what is present day Mesogeia existing until its conquest by the Azagartian Empire] in 670 BC.

Government and military

Administration

In ancient Palydian society the King or "Tarwanis" was at the very top of the hierarchy with near absolute power, acting as the supreme military commander, judicial authority, high priest, and administrator. The Tarwanis was assisted in his role as monarch by various officials including: the Hassa-Suali ("Chief Counselor"), Hassa-Lawazanti ("Chief Commander"), Hassa-Talwala ("Chief Priest"), Hassa-Tarna ("Chief Judge"), Hassa-Sarnalli ("Chief Treasurer" or "Keeper of the Storehouse") Hassa-Haznati ("Chief Steward"), Hassa-Tuppi ("Chief Scribe"), and the Hassa-Sarlai ("Chief Eunuch"), who collectively formed a council called the Tarwani Panku.

Once the Palydians expanded from their homeland they began dividing their conquered territories into provinces (Sara/Sarani), which were in turn overseen by a governor (Hannuzzi) whos responsibilites included the maintenance of law and order; collection of taxes, tributes, and revenues; overseeing of local building projects and resources. Below the provinces each one was divided into a number of districts (Parku/Parkwi) which had a number cities (hapanza), villages (walma).

The Palydian government developed over the course of a thousand year existense a highly sophisticated relay system for communication; which made use of an extensive network of roads that possessed relay stations situatuated at various intervals along the route intially opened only to imperial couriers bearing the seal of the king. The relay stations enabled mounted messengers to rest and be replaced by fresh riders. The sophistaced communication system was adopted and expanded upon by the Azagartian empire, and later empires

Culture and Society

Social Structure

The social structure of the Palydian civilization from its earliest origins was based on a strict hierarchy with the king at the very pinnacle of the society; below the King were the members of the Royal family, followed by the high-ranking government officials, military commanders, landowners, nobles, and the most prestigious members of the priesthood forming the upper class or aristocracy. A class of skilled craftsmen, artisans, merchants and traders formed the immediate class between the aristocracy and the bulk class of peasant farmers. At the very bottom of the social pyramid were farmers and unskilled laborers who worked the land, tended to livestock, and oftentimes performed manual labor at royal building projects. Outside of the freed farmers their was a healthy percentage of the population that were enslaved whether that was due to debt or captivity they were put to use on a number of tasks including labor, domestic servitude, craftsmenship, attendance and entertainment of ther masters.

Status of Women

Women within the Palydian civilization had various freedoms and privileges not afforded to women in other cultures at the time; with a woman's social, economic, and political status being directly effected by her family's background, marital status and her husband's occupation. So that while upper class women had higher access to education and social benefits, women of the lower classes posseessed limited oppertunites outside of domestic roles in business.

Under the Palydian law women were generally considered to be equal in relation to their husbands and brothers, with women of all classes having the ability to own property, inherit (although inheritence rights favored the son at times), engage in business transactions, initiate legal proceedings (albeit through a male guardian).

Religion and mythology

The religion of Palydia was heavily influenced by its surrounding neighbors such as the Nesilians, Balecians, and the Merdian-Ayars. The ancient Palydians are believed to have passed the worship of a deity associated with the sky and thunder to neighboring Kard-Belisarian peoples.

Aside from the chief deity Tarhuniz who was associated with fertiltiy, the weather and divine justice; other major deities within the pantheon included the sun-god Tiyaz who was god of music, arts, prophecy, and truth; Astanuwa, the goddess of love, beauty, and war; Sapinnu the god of kingship, battle, protection, and masculinity; Ariyanna goddess of civilization, wisdom, stategy, crafts and creativity; and Ruwa the god of vegetation and agriculture; Armas the moon god, were the main deities.

Aside from the main deities the Palydian panthenon consisted of hundreds of other minor deities associated with various aspects. Notably the Palydians worshipped multiple deities asociated with fertility, war, and astronomical objects such as the sun and the moon (with them having both female and male deities associated with both).