[center][img=http://i1090.photobucket.com/albums/i374/bensundeitestutho/bennipolisbanner_zps73a54274.png][/center]
[center][b] The City-State of Bennipolis [/b][/center]
[center][b]Chelon[/b][/center]
[center][i]The 10th Eponymous Year of Lysander[/i][/center]

Southeast of Bennipolis lies a port city, which was called Chelon. This city straddled the mouth of the River Ephydris, which is named after the local Artemis-like goddess, Ephydris. This river originated further inland, and it passes nearby the city of Bennipolis itself. Chelon was the doorway into the lands of Bennipolis, or at least if one came by sea. The city had ancient walls that protected the harbor from any invasions from inland. However, this was not the only protection Chelon had from land invasions. An additional set of walls, called the “Long Wall”, stretched from the eastern banks of the Ephydris all the way up to the capital, Bennipolis. Therefore, even if their enemies where at their doorsteps, the Bennipolitans could bring supplies to their besieged city.

Within Chelon, there were three major temples. There was one temple devoted to Zeus Euênemos (of Fair-Winds), one to Poseidon Asphalios (He who Secures Safe Voyage), and one to Bennis Euploea (of Fair Voyages). It was customary for the Bennipolitans to perform sacrifices at the altars of each of these temples in order that they might solicit from these three gods safe passage while on the sea, especially for important voyages. Therefore, it would have been seen as entirely necessary to perform these rites in order for their settlers might reach Aventia safely.

At the Temple of Bennis Euploea, as Ioannes, both the head of the Ioannesidae and the current Basileus Hierateumatikos, was slitting the throat of the sacrificial animal on the altar outside of the temple (as all altars were), a bird flew from out of nowhere and landed on the daughter of Athenakles. Adraändreis had been entirely veiled that day, as she was always whenever she left the safety of Athenakles’ house. Only her eyes were visible. There were many rumors that had spread throughout Bennipolis about why Athenakles forced his daughter into such an ancient practice. There are some who say that Adraändreis’ appearance was so horrendous that Athenakles was ashamed for others to look upon her. Others say that he is just attempting to bring back the olden ways to the nobility. However, no one, even the other royal families, really knows the truth, except for Athenakles and his family.

In response to this omen, Ioannes immediately called for those in Bennipolis who were responsible for augury, that is to say, the priests who specialize in reading the omens from birds. On top of the young royal girl’s head sat a Northern Cardinal, an animal not native to Bennipolis, but indigenous of the lands up in the far north. Once the augurs had read the signs and consulted with their catalogues of omens, the following was the written in these books about this omen:

[i] Until one who comes from Amazon lineage holds the helm of the army, Bennis’ beloved city shall suffer defeats on the battlefield.[/i]

This utterance caused panic amongst the crowd and chaos would have occurred had not Athenakles set everything back in order.

“My fellow Bennipolitans,” Athenakles said, “Have you all forgotten the stories of the early days of our blessed city? Do you not remember when Hera plagued our nation only because she was angry that Bennis was the child of Zeus, but not her own daughter? Do you not remember how Aeacus, descendant of Eurytios and lovely-haired Bennis, and all the Bennipolitan men of that age, deprived of all their womenfolk because of Hera’s wraith, accompanied Herakles on one of his great labors, to retrieve the girdle from the Amazonian Queen. However, unlike the other Hellenes, who took the Amazons whom they could capture as their slaves, Aeacus convinced Areto, an Amazonian princess, and the other Amazons who accompanied her to return with them to Bennipolis not as slaves but as their rightful wives. While in this day of age, the customs of the Amazons are all but dead, the Bennidae still has this Amazonian blood within our veins. Therefore, there is nothing to worry about; there is no great calamity. For this omen has already come true.”

The words of Athenakles pacified the crowd, calming their anxieties. Therefore, the Bennipolitans continued the proper rites in order to ensure safe passage upon the sea. Once these rites had been completed, the colonial vessels departed from the harbor of Chelon, sailing into the deep blue ocean.