Polis Name: Bennipolis
Demonym: Bennipolitans
Location: Achaia
This is just a temporary image until I upload my other map. Star = Bennipolis
Government: Democracy with a Dipartite Kingship
Halia: Assembly – All Free-born male citizens of Bennipolis – votes on laws, motions, etc.
Bola: Council – Council of 101 (10 “Tribes” provide 10 men each + Basileus Poliaochos) – establishes the agenda of assembly meetings.
Two
Basileis (kings): Takes turns holding two positions every year
-Basileus Polemarchos: king responsible for the military
-Basileus Poliaochos: king responsible for religious and civic duties
History:
The history of Bennipolis begins with the slaying of a draconic serpent, which infested a spring sacred to Bennis, by an Athenian warrior named Eurytios. After the dragon had been slain and after Bennis had nursed Eurytios back to health, Bennis instructed Eurytios to plant the remains of the turtles, which had been consumed by the dragon, in the earth. From the earth sprung fully armed soldiers, called Cheloninoi, or those who were made from tortoise shells. And these men would become the Bennipolitans.
Afterwards, Eurytios and Bennis married, had a daugther, Leucippe, and ruled the land around Bennis’ spring, which would become known as Bennipolis. Under Eurytios’ rule was an early “golden age” for Bennipolis. However, this did not last for long because of the jealousy of the consort of Zeus, Hera. While Eurytios was out on campaign, he was killed in battle against Patras. To add insult to injury, Hera kidnapped Bennis’ daughter, Leucippe. Nevertheless, Bennis eventually rescued her daughter from Hera’s hateful hands.
Leucippe subsequently was named the queen of Bennipolis, along with Lysander, the son of Ephydris, as her co-regent. In Bennipolis, there were two lines of royals. The Bennidae drew their ancestry from Bennis, while the Ephydridae did the same from Ephydris. Therefore, Lysander was appointed the Basileus Polemarchos, while Leucippe held the position of Basilea Poliaochos. This system worked until their children came to power, as Leucippe’s son, Aeacus, desired to hold the position of Basileus Polemarchos, too. Therefore, it was compromised that each king would rotate between each position annually.
Another disaster happened under Aeacus’ rule. Another war broke out between Bennipolis and Patras. So great was this conflict that both Aeacus and Demetrios had to hold the Basileus Polemarchos position together. Once both kings were in the field, a coalition of neighboring cities was able to take Bennipolis by surprise and capture the city. While contemplating what they should do with the populace, the goddess Hera, in the appearance of an Achaian soldier, suggested putting them all to the sword, including the women and children. Once the Bennipolitan kings heard of the capture of Bennipolis, they hastened back as quickly as possible. Nevertheless, they were too late to save their wives, sons, and daughters. Great mourning followed and this event was hereafter called the Massacre of Women.
However, there was one last hope. Herakles was undergoing his next labor, acquiring the girdle of Hippolyta. Due to Bennipolis’ affinity towards Athens and Theseus’ involvement in this affair, the Bennipolitans joined this expedition in mass. Once at the heartland of the Amazons, chaos arises after Hera incites the Amazons to fight back against the Greeks. During this chaos, the Bennipolitans, in a similar fashion as the “Rape of the Sabines”, snatched up as many Amazons as they could carry, including the sister of Hippolyta, Antiope. After the Bennipolitans had sailed for a short distance, their captured Amazons began to revolt, just as the Amazons on the other Greek vessels. The Bennipolitans therefore landed on the nearby shore, where Aeacus explained their plight (no women). He allowed all of the Amazons to leave if they wished. However, after three days, all the Amazons, even Antiope, returned, carrying their possessions along with them. Therefore, the Bennipolitans returned to their city and reclaimed it from their hostile neighbors with the aid of their new wives.
Aeacus and Antiope had three children, the most important of whom was their eldest daughter, Hippolyta, who was named after Antiope’s sister. Currently, Hippolyta holds the regal position reserved for the Bennidae, while Kassandros held the position reserved for the Ephydridae. During the Trojan War, the two royals would take turns every year going to Troy. Currently, it is Hippolyta’s turn.
Society:
The women of Bennipolis are an interesting mix of Greek and Amazon, uniting traditions from both cultures. While the Bennipolitan Amazons have embraced the culture of their new homeland, the women of Bennipolis still retain several of their old traditions. Young girls, especially of the upper class, undergo physical training, along with similar education as their male counterparts. Particularly, this physical training focuses on archery, running, and, if the family could afford it, horsemanship. In addition to this, women, especially the youths, are able to fight alongside the men of Bennipolis. However, they serve in separate units and they only are used within the vicinity of Bennipolis, unless extreme circumstances prove otherwise. When there is a Basilea Polemarchos, the queen of Bennipolis can also bring a group of hand-picked women warriors as her personal guards (hetairai – no prostitute connotation).
However, the Bennipolitan Amazons differed from their Asian kin. Obviously, the Bennipolitan version does not have any enmity against men. Hostility does, however, exists between the Bennipolitan and the Asian groups of Amazons because the original Amazons believe that their Bennipolitan kin have betrayed them because the Bennipolitan Amazons had allowed themselves to be tamed by Greek husbands. Furthermore, the Bennipolitans do not follow the usual Amazonian tradition that grants the Amazons their name (“without a breast”). However, this “tradition” might only be a Greek creation. But those who are fighting in Troy will learn whether the “tradition” exists.
Supporting Gods: Bennis (Eponymous Local Goddess), Athena, Zeus
Functions: Fertility, Sexuality, War, and Water.
History:
The story of Bennis begins with the myth of Europa. Europa was from Tyre, where Astarte was venerated, and, when Zeus kidnapped Europa and took her to Crete, Astarte followed closely behind. Once in Crete, Astarte spirits Europa away temporarily and takes her place. After one night, Astarte conceived Bennis and she immediately returned Europa to Crete. Once Bennis was born, Astarte furtively tricked Zeus and Europa into thinking that Bennis was their daughter. Zeus immediately saw the divine nature that was innate in Bennis and therefore entrusted her to the nymphs on Crete, who raised him when he was hidden from Kronos. Among these nymphs did Bennis meet a young nymph called Ephydris (literally “water spider”).
However, when Zeus’ adultery happens, Hera’s wrath is not far behind. In order to spare his daughter from Hera’s anger, Zeus sent Bennis away to hide amongst Artemis’ band of nymphs. However, Bennis’ problems did not stop there. Bennis’ presence caused the local populations to turn their sacrifices away from Aphrodite and give those offerings to Bennis. Obviously, Aphrodite was not pleased with this and already began to plan how she would punish Bennis. First, Aphrodite sent her son, Eros, to shoot Bennis with one of his arrows, forcing her to fall in love with a local boy. Once Artemis discovered Bennis’ relationship with the mortal, she forbade Bennis from continuing the romance. This devastated Bennis. Once she had cried herself to sleep, Bennis was visited by Aphrodite, who used herbs to make Bennis seem pregnant (although she was not bearing a child). When Bennis woke up, she was terrified by her sudden pregnancy, knowing that Artemis would never tolerate it. Bennis was able to hide her “pregnancy” for several months, until it was quite obvious to any bystander that she was pregnant. Artemis drove out Bennis from her band of nymphs, commanding her companions to chase after Bennis. Bennis called upon Athena for protection and Athena was obligated to do so.
Athena took Bennis to a spring in Achaia. Once there, Athena told Bennis that if she were to enter into the spring and still be pregnant, Athena would take Bennis back to Artemis and leave her to Artemis’ punishment for the breach of her virginity. However, if Bennis’ pregnancy would be revealed to be a hoax, Athena would uphold her protection. After Bennis submerged herself into the spring, it was revealed that the pregnancy was a hoax. Therefore, Athena kept Bennis on this hilltop spring for Bennis’ own protection.
This spring was home to numerous turtles, which became the sacred animal of Bennis. However, soon after Bennis’ arrival at this spring, a giant serpent invaded the nearby countryside. While Bennis was able to prevent it from capturing the spring, she was unable to drive out the serpent from the land. Furthermore, there was a prophecy that if a god would kill the serpent, the god would also die in the battle. Therefore Bennis called upon Athena for aid and in response Athena sent a single warrior from her own patron city, Athens. This warrior was Eurytios.
After a vicious battle, Eurytios slew the draconic serpent. However, it was a pyrrhic victory because Eurytios was severely wounded. Fortunately, Bennis was able to nurse him back to good health. Once Eurytios regained his health and consciousness, Bennis appeared to him in the appearance of a young huntress (cf. Venus in Bk. 1 of the Aeneid). After inquiring whence he came, Bennis discovered that Eurytios had been searching for his sister, but since he found her remains within the beast’s dwelling, he knew he could not return home.
Bennis, still in her human guise, advised Eurytios to bury the remains of the turtles, which had been consumed by the giant serpent. From the ground arose men and women, born from the turtles’ bones (the Cheloninoi). There Eurytios remained and led the Cheloninoi as their ruler. Eurytios raised a temple of Athena Poliouchos, in honor of the patron goddess of his city of origin and a shrine to Bennis on the neighboring hilltop as a sign of thanks for saving him from the brink of death. Bennis eventually became attached to Eurytios (cf. Homeric Hymn to Aphrodite). Therefore, she went before Eurytios in her human guise and asked Eurytios to become her husband, claiming that she herself came from a royal household. Eurytios eventually agreed to her terms. After their marriage, Bennis revealed her divinity to Eurytios (cf. ibid). Eurytios immediately replaced the shrine that was dedicated to her with a grand temple (Bennision).
The early years of Bennipolis were blissful. At least until the wrath of Hera struck. While Eurytios was out on campaign, he was killed in battle against Patras. To add insult to injury, Hera kidnapped Bennis’ daughter, Leucippe. At first, Bennis was devastated at her husband’s death and the kidnapping of her sole daughter, but eventually the goddess pulled herself together, armed herself with her war gear, and she started to search all of Greece for her daughter.
Eventually, Bennis arrived in Crete, where she met her old childhood friend, Ephydris. Bennis was shocked that Ephydris had children who had no father, apparently as a punishment from Hera when Zeus made an unsuccessful advance against Ephydris. Ephydris reported that Hera was heading toward the spring of Salmacis and Bennis’ daughter was with her. At the spring of Salmacis, Bennis rescued her daughter form Hera and returned home. Hera, however, was still furious. Hera went to Circe and inquired about a potent poison worthy of her anger. Once she got what she wanted, Hera departed and arrived at Ephydris’ spring, pouring the poison into the water. When Ephydris entered her own spring, her lower body was transformed into the form of a giant spider (cf. Skylla). Horrified by her transformation, Ephydris hide herself from plain sight.
Bennis returned to Ephydris’ spring in order to thank Ephydris for her aid; however, Bennis could not find her old friend. Eventually, Bennis found Ephydris’ children, who told the goddess where their mother lurked. Bennis eventually convinced Ephydris to return with her to Bennipolis, making sure to clean Ephydris up prior to their arrival at Bennipolis. At Bennipolis, Bennis shared the Bennision with Ephydris, while their children ruled the city.
Equivalent: Astarte/Ishtar (Phoenician/Mesopotamian Goddess of fertility, sexuality, and war); Aphaia (local goddess on Aegina, associated with Athena or Artemis)
Relationship with other gods:
-Good: Athena, Zeus
-Bad: Hera, Aphrodite, Artemis
-Neutral: Rest
Religion:
Zeus, Hera, Poseidon, Demeter, Persephone, Hades, Apollo, Bennis, Athena, Dionysos, Hephaistos and Hestia.
This is the largest temple at Bennipolis. Both Bennis and Ephydris are said to live here and therefore are venerated inside this temple. It is located on the acropolis of Bennipolis.
This temple is dedicated to Athena in her role as the defender of the city. This temple was rebuilt on the acropolis after the first was destroyed during the Massacre of Women.
This temple is dedicated to Zeus in his role as the guardian and savior of the city. This temple is located in the agora of the city.
This temple is dedicated to Bennis in her role as an overseer of journeys over the ocean. This temple is located in a small port town (Chelon) controlled by the Bennipolitans near the sea.
This is the fall festival in honor of Bennis’ birth. On every fourth year, it is declared a Greater Bennisia, where the Bennipolitans host athletic events. Two special events (one closed to all but Bennipolitans) are used as ritualistic reenactments of the union of Bennis and Eurytios. One event is an all-girls event that tests the archery and running skills of the Bennipolitan girls. The second event is for boys only, where there is a tournament-style contest of 1v1 matches. The victors of both contests are shut in the Bennision. In the morning, the priestesses in the Bennision check the cult statue. If the apple, which the statues holds, produced milk during the night, the two victors are destined for marriage. If not, the two youths are returned to their respective households.
Military: -1600 Soldiers (1100 at Troy)
-200 Bennipolitan Amazons (50 at Troy)
-15 Ships (10 at Troy).
Character Sheets:
Name: Hippolyta
Age: 32
Description:
Background:
Patron Deity: Bennis
Class: Amazon (Melee-Focus)
Weapon of Choice: Spear
Stats:
Attributes: Might: 15 (+2) | Luck: 14 (+1) | Wits: 13 (+1) | Skill: 17 (+3) | Will: 17 (+3) | Grace: 10 (+0)
Combat Values: Melee: +6 | Missile: +5 | Initiative: 14 | Defense: 13 (15) | Hits: 14
Saving Rolls: Athletic Prowess: +6 | Physical Vigor: +6 | Danger Evasion: +5 | Mystic Fortitude: +5 | Personal Charisma: +4
Equipment: Total Weight = 15
-Dagger
-Spear
-Round Shield
-Bow
Name: Kassandros
Age: 38
Description:
Background:
Patron Deity: Athena
Class: Noble
Weapon of Choice: Sword
Stats:
Attributes: Might: 19 (+4) | Luck: 17 (+3) | Wits: 17 (+3) | Skill: 14 (+1) | Will: 12 (+0) | Grace: 10 (+0)
Combat Values: Melee: +8 | Missile: +7 | Initiative: 14 | Defense: 15 (22) | Hits: 16
Saving Rolls: Athletic Prowess: +8 | Physical Vigor: +7 | Danger Evasion: +7| Mystic Fortitude: +6 | Personal Charisma: +3
Equipment: Total Weight =17
- Sword
-Dagger
-Round Shield
-Helmet
-Breastplate
Name: Adraändreis
Age: 16
Description:
Background:
Patron Deity: Bennis
Class: Amazon (Ranged-Focus)
Weapon of Choice: Bow
Stats:
Attributes: Might: 15 (+2) | Luck: 13 (+1) | Wits: 11 (+0) | Skill: 17 (+3) | Will: 9 (+0) | Grace: 15 (+2)
Combat Values: Melee: +6 | Missile: +4 | Initiative: 13 | Defense: 13 (14) | Hits: 14
Saving Rolls: Athletic Prowess: +6 | Physical Vigor: +3 | Danger Evasion: +4 | Mystic Fortitude: +1 | Personal Charisma: +3
Equipment: Total Weight = 14
-Dagger
-Spear
-Peltast Shield
-Bow
