| Sacred Papyri of Seleucia | |
|---|---|
| |
|
Origin |
Seleucid Empire |
|
Type |
Papyrus |
|
Effects |
Reinforces existing elements |
|
Downsides |
Inverse amounts of internal and external struggle |
|
Activation |
Unknown |
|
Section |
|
| [Source] | |
Origin[]
Seleucia was a major Mesopotamian city, located on the west bank of the Tigris River within the present-day Baghdad Governorate in Iraq. It was founded around 305 BC by Seleucus I Nicator as the first capital of the Seleucid Empire, and remained an important center of trade and Hellenistic culture after the imperial capital relocated to Antioch. The city continued to flourish under Parthian rule beginning in 141 BC; ancient texts claim that it reached a population of 600,000. Seleucia was destroyed in 165 AD by Roman general Avidius Cassius and gradually faded into obscurity in the subsequent centuries. The site was rediscovered in the 1920s by archaeologists.
The Seleucid Empire was a major center of Hellenistic culture. Greek customs and language were privileged; the wide variety of local traditions had been generally tolerated, while an urban Greek elite had formed the dominant political class and was reinforced by steady immigration from Greece. The empire's western territories were repeatedly contested with Ptolemaic Egypt—a rival Hellenistic state. To the east, conflict with the Indian ruler Chandragupta of the Maurya Empire in 305 BC led to the cession of vast territory west of the Indus and a political alliance
The immense size of the empire gave the Seleucid rulers difficulty maintaining order, resulting in a mixture of concessions to local cultures to maintain their own practices while also unifying local elites under the Seleucid banner. The various non-Greek peoples of the empire were still influenced by the spread of Greek thought and culture. The result was times of simultaneous peace and rebellion in various parts of the empire. In general, the Seleucids allowed local religions to operate undisturbed, such as incorporating Babylonian religious tenets to gain support. However, a rare exception proved one of the most heavily documented parts of Seleucid history: the Maccabean Revolt in Judea. While most Seleucid governments had ignored Judaism, under King Antiochus IV the government rather uncharacteristically banned and restricted its practice after a period of favoritism and apparently selling the High Priest position to the highest bidder. The result was the eventual loss of control of Judea, proving the wisdom of the usual policy of not overly interfering with local religious practice.
Effects[]
Makes anything presently affecting a person, place or idea stronger than previously. Will amplify learned behaviors such as disorder, obedience or agreeableness. Can turn any element nearby in moderate amounts, such as weather patterns or economic cycles, into greater forces. Will not change anything with minimal presence. It’s thought the name of the target either needs to be written on or transferred to, such as leaving it in a location or another’s possession.
Exaggerates the relationship between internal and external conflicts. If one has issues with their own self-worth or being, no major events outside their control will affect them. If they are sturdy when faced with misfortune, they begin having physical and mental lapses in their own abilities.
Mentioned in the episode “Burnout” as a candidate artifact for causing the electrical burns found on victims.