Artemisya

Artemisya is a commonwealth located in Thuadia. Formed in 74 BCE, the nation has had a largely peaceful past, being neutral for over a millennium. It is headed by two Consuls, elected by a Senate, who are elected every 5 years by the General Public. The country derives its name from Artemis, the patron god of the nation.

The Commonwealth of Artemisya κοινοπολιτείας της Αρτεμισίας (Artemisyan)
Flag Coat of arms
Motto: 'elior est gutta sapientiæ quam mare aureumy' The drop of wisdom is better than the golden sea
Anthem: 'Hymn to Artemis'
Capital and City	Diana
Official languages	Greek, English
Recognised national languages	English
Other languages	Artemisyan (96%), English (4%)
Ethnic groups	Artemisyan (97%), North Artemisyan (2%), Other (1%)
Religion	Hellenism
Government	Unitary assembly-independent diarchic directorial republic
• Consul	Adrian Lianopolis Aeson Julianous
Legislature	Senate
Establishment
• Migration Era	1000 BCE
• The Cold Winter	660-653 BCE
• Triple Alliance	100-74 BCE
• Commonwealth of Artemisya	74 BCE - Present
Area
•	401,413 km2 (154,986 sq mi)
Population
• 2022 estimate	11,000,000
• 2018 census	10,989,964
GDP (PPP)	2021 estimate
• Per capita	51,492
GDP (nominal)	estimate
• Total	566 Billion
Currency	Drachma
Time zone	UTC-5 (AMT)
• Summer (DST)	UTC-4 (AST)
	April 1st to October 31st
Date format	dd/mm/yy
Driving side	left
Calling code	+7

History

Proto-Artemisya

Historians estimate that the first humans arrived in the region around 1000 BCE, judging by current archeological records. Society at the time was largely focused on hunting and a nomadic lifestyle, and during this time, the many tales of Hellenism likely sprouted from different groups interacting and sharing stories with each other. Around 800 BCE, the first evidence of archeological settlements were discovered on the sight of modern day Dionysium. Much of this was discovered during the cities underground railway construction. Not long after, evidence of group communion and worship have been dated to 779 BCE, implying some level of formalized religion. By 700 BCE, the city states of the time, names currently lost to history, were trading, and largely focused in the south. 660 BCE would bring an end to these early city states however, with The Cold Winter. A seven year long drought coupled with the reliance of localised goods meant a major collapse happened. 655 BCE is when, according to legend, Artemis herself guided a small group of lost settlers to what would become Diana, though at the time, it was called Dianthium. The cold finally went in 653 BCE, and for just over 500 years, the glorious age of the city states existed. During this time the Hunters of Artemis and the Huntress herself formed as head of the faith, with Huntydon being settled during the early part of the era. During this time, city states were very independent and largely fought eachother, or specialised in certain goods. Dianthium was a merchant port and fishing hub, whilst in comparison, the northern city of Arysian was more warrior based.

The Great Struggle

This all came to an end around 150 BCE, where reports on clay tablets from the time indicate a first sighting of Sivuk ships from what is now Neuweland. Despite this, many at the time disbelieved them due to their isolation, coupled with the story being spread across the region as almost a fable. Sivuk ships landed in Persephonia in 120 BCE, where their languages were figured out, and for a short ten years, trade with these mysterious people from the sea was common, until a surprise invasion in 110. The lack of unity between the city states meant that there was a huge push into the north. By 100 BCE, Athene had fallen to the invaders. The leaders of Dianthium, Dionysium and Polokeania met to challenge this foe, least they all be destroyed. The Three States Alliance was born, and despite the odds, the ships of Dianthium, the minds of Dionysium and the manpower of Polokeania were able to fight off the invaders, though Dianthium was razed to the ground during the conflict. A decisive blow said to be a sign of the Gods where a "wall of water" destroyed the enemy fleet and ravaged the land occurred at Dionysium. Modern day historians believe this to have been a severely bad storm surge, or perhaps a tsunami that was caused by a freak earthquake. A treaty in 82 BCE divided the continent, with the modern day equivalents of Periochi XIII-XIX being under Sivuk control, and Dianthium was rebuilt as Diana in 80 BCE.

In 74 BCE, the TSA reformed into the Commonwealth of Artemisya to act as a strong buffer state, inadvertently kicking off the Great Unification War, a period where many city states fought each other in an attempt to rival Sivuk or Artemisya. Periochi IV, containing Huntydon, joined in 69 BCE, which got a lot of the public to support the Commonwealth, despite government reservations. During this time, Artemisya slowly expanded across the contintent, sometimes through diplomacy, othertimes war, with the occasional truce with the smaller states to stop Sivuk attacks. By 10 CE, the initial twelve Periochis were annexed, the group often being collectively referred to as "The Olympians" or "The South". Sivuk declined any further expansion due to how costly it would be, and for just over 700 years, an uneasy truce existed. The famed Temple at Olympia was constructed in 54 CE, and is seen as one of the greatest constructions in the nation. Skirmishes between Sivuk and Artemisya occasionally happened, ramping up after 600 CE, where the Treaty of Dionysium officially ended. In 720 CE, the Huntress had a vision of war, supposedly from Artemis herself, and called upon the country to act, kickstarting the Great Northern War. This bloody, fifty year long conflict saw the north finally liberated from Sivuk control, and it is seen as many to be one of the deciding factor's in the later collapse of the Sivuk Empire. The final city to fall was Persephonia, which required heavy reconstruction after the war.

The Millennium of Peace

A policy of assimilation and cultural conversion was strictly enforced by the victors, wanting a unified state. The north, under Sivuk rule, had taken on aspects of Sivuk culture, despite keeping their religious identity. This was pioneered by a series of Consuls, though ended in 1000 CE officially, with the Petition of the North being delivered. This, from a group of Northern Artemisyans, asked for a space to freely live without this forced conversion. The more peaceful minded Senate and Consuls agreed, and Hestion, Periochi XIX, was formed. Despite this, Northern Artemisyan culture continued to die, and now, only 2% of the population choose to identify as it. In 1105, Polokeania experienced a great, terrible plague that decimated its population, forcing a quarantine. Nobody knows the exact cause, though theories of bacteria spread from the south are the most common. 1100 saw the call of the Kleistíchóra, or "Closed Country" in an attempt to ward of the plague, allowing nobody in or out for twenty years, though this was revoked following the plague vanishing, and the Huntress disapproving. Polokeania never fully recovered, and from then on Diana was the most populous city. In 1332, the Great Fire of Dionysium saw an edict passed mandating that all city buildings be made of stone. Many pieces of artwork that survived centuries were destroyed, and it is seen as a cultural disaster due to this.

The ideals of the Enlightenment hit the area in 1522, and it encouraged more freedom and expression for the people. Perhaps the most important change came in 1605, where two Consuls decided to allow Women equal rights. Women were well off compared to the rest of the world before this, being allowed to serve in the army, own land and drink, but they couldn't vote or stand for Consulship. The move was popular, and 1632 saw Ariadne Alianos become the first female Consul. 1753 saw the construction of The Everlight, a huge statue of the Sun God, Helios, holding up a lantern. Built by Persephonia, it marks the eastern entrance to the strait between Artemiysa and Neuweland. 1813 saw Hermes' Wings, the first train and train line, constructed, connecting Diana and Dionysium. Such rails would spread across the country, though not everyone approved, in particular, the religious parts of society, seeing it as disrupting nature. The late 1800's saw an increase in tourism due to Artemisya's natural beauty, and the region profited immensely. In 1895, a new Huntress decided, alongside the Senate and Consuls, who were very liberally minded, to remove religion from power, no longer actively persecuting those who were atheists or non-hellenic followers. With the Great War kicking off in 1905 , Artemisya re-affirmed its neutrality, refusing to take part, despite many of its neighbours joining. Post-War, the country was relatively stable despite the rest of the world seeing conflicts, with the creation of TV Stations and Radios. It was during this time that a very limited road network was set up, though Car ownership is severely discouraged to to its damage of the environment , with high costs to run them, and effective public transport, only the rich use cars. In 2001, the Spring Crisis occurred, perhaps the largest threat to the current system since 1895. Both Consuls were found guilty of corruption and arrested. The 2002 election just never happened, and the Senate, for a period of six years, were in an emergency government. It was unprecedented, and as such, many people and parties, including the new Huntress, weighed in on what was best to do. In the end, the historical system was kept, though the Consuls were now more accountable to the public and the senate, with transparency on economic affairs paramount. Since then, the country has been quite stable, with a focus on improving the nation, science and exploration.

Religion

See Article: Hellenism