Baltic’s Book: Zeus and Europa

Part 2

Chapter 2

Well, and that was the moment when Balticos said “We are on a good way – let’s look around what to do next!” He decided that production of marble should begin, but that was impossible with Hydra occupying the quarry. (Calling Hercules is your best chance against Hydra, my boy, remember that!) Balticos was nobody’s fool, so he built a Hero Hall for Hercules and because he knew that calling a hero is quite expensive, continued to evolve the city slowly. At last Thebes had enough food for everybody, and new immigrants started to pour in. They were put to work as shepherds, farmers and traders (city built a new trading post to export wheat surpluses), and when the profits appeared in the city treasury, Balticos ordered to build a stadium. Hercules would never come to a city that does not have a stadium or excellent gymnasium access! Fortunately Thebes won Olympic games recently, and were still famous enough to be worthy of him, but everybody knew that Thebes must have lots of wine ready before Hercules comes… and wine was not available anywhere. Allies have heard about it, too, did their best, and Calydon was able to get the wine somewhere and gifted it to the city in two shipments. With Hercules on their side, Thebes quickly got rid of the Hydra and began to mine marble. Balticos decreed that everyone in the city must have a chance to buy fleece and make clothes, hired a few olive growers and planted olives near the sheep pasture to produce oil. City was growing and people happily upgraded their houses.

Quarry site was quite a long way from the city, and had to be connected over two bridges. Balticos decided to build masonry shops just between these bridges – stonecutters had to walk comparatively far to the quarry, but then they didn’t go there often and spent most of their worktime at the lodge, hewing smaller blocks from a large one that was brought by an ox team from quarry. Storehouses and trading post selling marble were located across the other bridge, at the mainland, so that traders didn’t have to go too far… and Balticos also planned that he would build sanctuaries to the gods soon, and wanted to have the stone at hand. At first only 3 lodges were working, but two more were needed to achieve the wanted production rate. Competitors from Thebes proved their skills several times during that time, they won Nemean games, Theban games and Isthmian games, and all – allies and rivals alike – regarded them highly. This was the best opportunity to ask for some statues, and 12 were delivered readily by Calydon to be used later for sanctuaries.

Chapter 3

Athena advised Balticos to build a sanctuary to Ares, and he heeded her words. With the aid of allies, who sent needed materials (bronze, statues and wood) of their own accord, the construction was soon complete. Bronze was used to produce armor – Thebes were becoming quite famous and some noblemen decided to settle there, and city needed some better defenses than just rabble. Of course, Ares often visited the city and his dragon and Sparti were present, too… but every city that lusts for glory has to build mighty army sooner or later. Production was running smoothly, only temporarily Thebes lacked some workers, when many started to serve Ares in his sanctuary and more wheat farms were built – but everything was fine again when new immigrants filled the vacancies in freshly evolved townhouses in the second block. Oracle suggested that it is a right time to start a colony in Cydonia; Balticos ordered to set aside some food and oil and start the expedition as soon as he was informed, that Cydonia can supply much needed wine and wood. Everybody was so excited from this development, that the competitors at Theban games couldn’t concentrate and came in only second.