Phillistia (Aegypt) (Judaism)

Great daytime view of Petra



Thanks to: Theslo of Qualon
cf. Neat Pictures: added more! [adultish]

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Died today (8/21) in 1131: Baldwin II of Jerusalem



Thanks to: Theslo of Qualon
cf. Neat Pictures: added more! [adultish]

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A Gold-plated copper reliquary made for one of the innocent children of Bethlehem



Thanks to: Theslo of Qualon
cf. Neat Pictures: added more! [adultish]

Okay, so this may be the coolest find yet.

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Lonely #Roman cavalry #fort at Qasr Bshir in Jordan had mangers for 69 horses...



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The fort occupies an area of about 57 x 54 meters. The curtain walls, which survive in a nearly perfect condition, are about 1½ meters thick and 6 meters high, excluding the crenelated rampart. They connect four heavy, square corner towers, which measure 11 to 12 meters and project some three meters beyond the walls. These three-storied structures used to be more than 10 meters high. Next to the western tower was a small postern gate, less than a meter wide.

The central gate, which faces the shallow valley to the southwest, is flanked by two towers that are about half as large as the corner towers. The building inscription of the fort, a rarity in this part of the limes, survives and mentions the emperors of the First Tetrarchy:

Optimis maximisque principibus nostris Caio Aurelio
Valerio Diocletiano Pio Felici Invicto Augusto et
Marco Aurelio Valerio Maximiano Pio Felici Invicto Augusto et Flavio Valerio Constantio et Galerio Valerio Maximiano nobilissimis Caesaribus Castra Praetorii Mobeni fossamentis Aurelius Asclepiades praeses provinciae Arabiae perfici curavit

In honor of our best and greatest rulers, Gaius Aurelius Valerius Diocletian, our pious, lucky, and unconquered emperor, and Marcus Aurelius Valerius Maximian, our pious, lucky, and unconquered emperor, and to Flavius Valerius Constantius and Galerius Valerius Maximianus, our noblest caesars, has Aurelius Asclepiades, praeses of the province of Arabia, ordered to build Castra Praetorium Mobene from its foundations.note

This inscription allows us to date the construction of the fort to 293-305, when the Romans constructed more forts in this sector of the frontier. Qasr Bshir was in use throughout the fourth century and may have been abandoned in the early fifth century. It was certainly reused in the Umayyad age, because there are traces of a machicolation above the entrance, an invention commonly to postdate the Arabian conquests.

The courtyard, which has two cisterns, is on all sides surrounded by rooms, twenty-three in number, which have been identified as stables. There was a second story, where the soldiers must have slept. The roof of these barracks reached the same height as the rampart walk, creating a really wide fighting platform. One room, opposite the main gate, may have been the headquarters, some kind of sanctuary, or both.

The purpose of the Castra Praetorium Mobene is a bit of a mystery. Because each of the twenty-three stables was used by three horses, and because a cavalry unit of frontier soldiers appears to have numbered between 120 and 150 men, Qasr Bshir cannot have been the base of a full-strength unit. It is remarkable that Mobene is not mentioned in the Notitia Dignitatum and that the building inscription does not refer to the name of the unit or its commander. Perhaps it was not a normal fort, but a place where the provincial governor resided when he needed to discuss matters with the nomads. (There are several tribal graffiti near the entrance.) Alternatively, the castle was used by horsemen patrolling this sector of the Roman frontier, soldiers belonging to a unit that was, according to the Notitia Dignitatum, stationed in nearby Naarsafari (modern Wadi Afaris), the Ala Secunda Miliarensis. These men may have visited Mobene during their patrols only, and may have lived somewhere else.
www.livius.org/articles/place/mobene-qasr-bshir/

Thanks to: Theslo of Qualon
cf. Neat Pictures: added more! [adultish]

Each of the 12 Tribes of Phillistia has an animal totem: rumor has it that the leaders of some or all of these tribes are lycanthropes! Thanks: fp



(source: Lion vs lion by xotz on DeviantArt)

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Beauty & artistry of Nabataean sculpture - the people who built Petra @jordanmuseum



Thanks to: Theslo of Qualon
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Nymphaeum (late 2nd cent), once richly adorned with statuary and green marble, overlooking the Cardo Maximus, Jerash.



Thanks to: Theslo of Qualon
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Zion National Park



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Died today in 1131: Baldwin II of Jerusalem



I don't think Sir Baldwin II knows about the shield on the back rule.....

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It is possible to strap a shield to one's back. If this is done, the shield bonus is applied to the rear of the character, but the character can't use the shield to protect his front. Furthermore, the straps hinder the character's movement, giving him a -2 penalty to his attack roll.

Thanks to: Theslo of Qualon
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Enemy of Rome: Jewish Zealots

Judaea rose against Roman rule in a series of
bloody revolts during the 1st century A.D.A typical
Jewish soldier wore no armor and dressed in a colorful woolen tunic, cloak, and sandals.

40% Light Infantry: 0 Level, Morale 14, no armor,
medium shield (AC 9), shortsword, two javelins.
40% Archers: 0 Level, Morale 14, no armor or
shield (AC l0), composite bow, short sword.
20% Elite Zealots: 1st Level, Morale 15, scale mail,
medium shield (AC 5), short sword
.
The Jewish rebels were religious zealots who
would die rather than surrender. They were most
successful when mounting guerilla raids. Judaea had
several large fortresses (e.g., Jerusalem, Massada) in
which the rebels could hold out, but Roman engineering techniques and siege artillery made resistance
ultimately hopeless. A band of Jewish zealots may
have Jewish priest or rabbi characters with them.

- From HR5 The Glory of Rome

From TESTAMENT, page 30

Qedeshot

"An important player in the fertility religion of the Canaanites was the
qedeshot (“Holy Ones”), the temple servants labeled “prostitutes” by the
Biblical prophets. Referring to them as prostitutes does them disservice,
for unlike common prostitutes who trade sex for money, qedeshot and
qedeshem (their male counterparts) were honored religious figures and
an essential part of the Canaanite community. For all that participating
in Canaanite rituals was forbidden by the god of Israel, large numbers of
Israelites partook of at least this part of Canaanite practice.

Th qedeshot is a variant bard and cleric, a priestess of Asherah (or Ishtar,
for Babylonians) who performs sensual religious acts instead of music. Her
power is derived from spells, dances, and kisses; she can also make people
her thralls through acts of sensuality.

(Note: Obviously the qedeshot is a sensitive topic. Ancient Canaanites
may have thought cultic prostitutes perfectly natural, but modern players
may be much less comfortable with them.)"

Let me know if you want to know more details about the Qedeshot class, I'll be happy to post.

vondan: You were asking about Dagon. According to TESTAMENT, Yes, he was a deity of the Canaanites. As well, the second H.P. Lovecraft is named DAGON && OTHER MACABRE TALES.

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Dagon (Intermediate God)
Patron god of the Philistines, considered by some to be an aspect of
El. Ths god was half-man and half-fish, and worshiped as the slayer of
Lotan (Leviathan).
Dagon’s holy weapon was the trident. His holy animal is a fish.
Dagon’s teraph is often stored aboard Phoenician and Philistine ships in a
small shrine. It grants a +2 competence bonus to all Profession (sailor) checks.
Caster Level: 5th; Prerequisites: Craft Teraphim, creator must have 5
ranks of Profession (sailor); Market Price: 80 gp; Weight: 5 lbs .