Age of Mythology (PC) &
The Titans (PC)
The Complete Strategy Guide
Version: 0.7 - 03/03/05
By Jim Chamberlin
red_phoenix_1@hotmail.com
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<< Disclaimer >>
This document may be freely distributed so long as it is not edited or
or altered in any way, I am given credit, you do not charge for viewing
this guide; this includes, but is not limited to websites, cds, dvds,
magazines, etc.
This document was made for personal use only. No part of this document may
be copied or used in any form of media without the express written consent
of Jim Chamberlin. Unauthorized use of any information herein is a direct
violation of Copyright Law, and legal action will be taken.
This document is Copyright © 2005 Jim Chamberlin. All Rights Reserved.
Microsoft, Age of Mythology, and Ensemble are either registered trademarks
or trademarks of Microsoft Corporation in the United States and/or other
countries/regions.
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<< Online References >>
Microsoft's Official Site http://www.microsoft.com/games/ageofmythology
Ensemble Studios http://www.ensemblestudios.com/
Through The Ages http://www.throughtheages.com/
Age of Mythology Heaven http://aom.heavengames.com/
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Contacting Me
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I am NOT hiding any information, however if your question has not been
properly answered in this FAQ, email me. Be sure to read through the FAQ
(Frequently Asked Questions) section, as that is where I answer questions
that either will or have made me answer multiple times. When emailing me,
put "Age of Mythology" or "AOM" in the Subject. Doing that will get you a
faster reply...hint, hint.
If you don't want to use email, an alternative is a message board. Below
is an address for the Age of Mythology and Titans message boards on
GameFAQs. There are others who visit that forum, who I am sure
can and will help answer any question you may have.
http://boards.gamefaqs.com/gfaqs/gentopic.php?board=476277
http://boards.gamefaqs.com/gfaqs/gentopic.php?board=914617
I would also recommend checking out Age of Mythology Heaven and
Through The Ages (web addresses listed in the "Online References" section
just above) for additional help. They have their own message boards with
more gamers than that of GameFAQs.
If you have a strategy or tip for Age of Mythology, please feel free to
submit it, by emailing me. As mentioned above, please include "Age of
Mythology" or "AOM" in the Subject Line. If your tip is used in this
guide, you will be given credit. If you don't want your Email-Address
listed in this guide, for fear of getting SPAM, please mention this in
your email, and I'll happily just include your name/alias.
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Author's Notes
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Over time, links or URLS (Uniform Resource Locators) may become out-of-
date. Unfortunately, this does tend to happen with the Internet, so I
must remind you that the addresses originally in this document did in
fact work. If you find a link that doesn't work properly, please let
me know, and I'll see if I can either find a replacement for it, or
include some sort of notice stating the problem.
Also, over time, Ensemble Studios releases patches, which can cause
some changes to things like the stats of units, buildings, etc. Please
take this into account when looking at them; I am not likely going to be
able to keep up with all of the patches.
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Revision History
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Version 0.7 - Mar 03, 2005 - 747 KB
Added a Frequently Asked Question, and added two stategies from Hiram
Jones.
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Table of Contents
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Overview
Age of Mythology Features
Age of Mythology: The Titans Features
Basics
Resources
Titans
Cultures
Greek Mythology
Egyptian Mythology
Norse Mythology
Atlantean Mythology
Greek Buildings
Egyptian Buildings
Norse Buildings
Atlantean Buildings
Greek Units
Egyptian Units
Norse Units
Atlantean Units
General Technologies
Tips and Strategies
Relics
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
Appendices
Hotkeys
Cheats
Links
Revision History
Final Words...
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Overview
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Ensemble Studios released Age of Mythology on October 29, 2002 as yet
another great title. Some call this a sequel to Age of Empires II - it
kind of is and isn't. While the technology and ideas within Age of
Mythology are certainly greater in comparison to that of Age of Empires
II: Age of Kings, it does not follow the time line where AoE II left
off; it's for this reason, and this reason only that I don't consider
Age of Mythology, or AoM, a sequel to AoE II.
After a successful launch of Age of Mythology, Ensemble Studios developed
and released an expansion pack, called "The Titans", which only further
added to the addictive and exciting gameplay of that found in Age
of Mythology. A little further down in this guide, you'll be able to
learn about what was added with the expansion pack.
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Age of Mythology Features
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Age of Mythology preserves the familiar elements popular in previous
Age of Empires games. Wonders, civilization bonuses, technology trees,
resource gathering, empire building, and large armies clashing on
fields of battle are all at the heart of the game. At the same time, a
number of entirely new gameplay features are introduced, making for a
fresh, original experience:
* God Powers - These rare and powerful gifts grant players the powers
of the gods several times during each game.
* Mythological Units - Each with their own special ability, these
scarce units can be added to a player's armies to change the
character of the fighting force.
* Multiple Ways To Advance Ages - Players now get to choose different
ways to advance though the ages, each providing a different set of
bonuses.
* Highly Differentiated Civilizations - Age of Mythology builds on
the civilization differentiation featured in Age of Kings and
features civilizations that play dramatically different from one
another.
* Graphics worthy of the gods – Age of Mythology features beautiful
environments, buildings, units and special effects rendered in full
3-D using Ensemble’s revolutionary game engine. Hundreds of unit
animations bring the game world to life, as players see units
fighting using a variety of attack and defense maneuvers. In
addition to beautiful cascading waves and lifelike terrain, the
special effects in Age of Mythology include waterspouts, infernos,
lava, tornadoes, earthquakes and smoke with astonishing levels of
detail.
* A game for everyone – Age of Mythology offers diverse game modes
and a variety of settings for novice and experienced real-time
strategy fans alike. In-game cinematic scenes create a seamless,
story-based and character-driven campaign. In addition, Age of
Mythology is easy to learn and use with an intuitive, streamlined
interface.
* Replayability - The game offers more than 15 map types, 13 game
variants and five starting conditions in its multiplayer lineup.
Nine highly differentiated civilizations and the inclusion of a
random map generator keep gamers coming back to play.
* To Hades and back – Players can now petition the gods for favors
in the game. Persuade Ra to strike an enemy’s city center with
a meteor; enlist Thor to trap opponents in a snow squall; or beg
Poseidon to swamp an attacking fleet. Players reinforce their
armies with Minotaurs, griffons, giants, Cyclops and many other
mythological creatures. In addition, players can seek out hidden
treasures like the Golden Fleece and Hades’ Helm of Invisibility
while traveling through underworld domains, rough seas or a vast
desert.
* Divine gameplay true to the Ages – Age of Mythology preserves
many familiar elements from the Age of Empires games – including
wonders, technology trees, ages and civilization bonuses – while
enabling skill-based combat decisions. Smarter units allow
players to make better use of inherent strengths and terrain
advantages.
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Age of Mythology: The Titans Features
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Age of Mythology: The Titans adds a fourth mythology, the Atlanteans,
to the existing Greek, Egyptian and Norse mythologies in Age of
Mythology. A new single-player campaign will add yet another chapter
to the expansive panoply of ancient folklore along with the addition
of new scenarios. Atlantean players will be able to call upon the
might of the Titan gods (such as Atlas and Cronus) multiple times
throughout the game, and may also upgrade human units to heroes. The
expansion pack will introduce 12 new god powers, 15 new human units
and 12 formidable myth units to the game.
* Atlantean mythology - Take advantage of unique cultural attributes,
god powers, myth units and much more to dominate your opponents.
Use your Titan god powers multiple times to demolish the opposition,
promote selected units within the culture to hero status, and reap
the benefits of a culture with new features, such as the ability
to control time and space. Explore new maps and expand the
"playground of the gods."
* An extended story line - The Titans adds new scenarios to explore
and conquer. In-game cinematics help to integrate and further
enrich the game’s story.
* A new victory condition - Create a Titan unit that dwarfs everyone
else; wreak havoc and rain destruction on enemy civilizations.
* Additional powers, heroes and mythological units - The Titans
brings the ancient world to life in more detail than ever before
with exciting gameplay elements and characters. The expansion
pack will unveil the incredible powers of the Titan gods, which
can be unleashed by the Atlanteans who worship them. In addition,
new myth units and human units allow gamers to build their
civilization and go into battle in a nearly infinite number of
ways.
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Basics
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This section is or those of you who have never played an "Age" game, as
this is a very basic summary of the game.
In Age of Mythology, you start off with a few villagers and some
resources (food, gold, and wood). You may also get a scout or military
unit, depending on what culture you choose at the beginning of the game.
You also have God Powers. What God Powers you have will not only
depend on what culture you choose, but what Gods you choose. The God
Powers can range from a power that can damage buildings and units, to
one that will create a large gold mine.
You take your villagers and create an economy, which at the very
beginning is often limited to food, gold, and wood. Your villagers can
chop wood, kill animals to get food, and mine for gold. Over time you
will expand your empire, creating towers, walls, and military units,
advance in Ages allowing you to choose new Gods and gain access to new
units and technologies to further advance your empire.
There are obviously a variety of strategies you can take on, but I'll
get into that a bit later in this guide.
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Resources
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A person's resources are the single most important thing in Age of
Mythology. If you don't have sufficient resources, you cannot build
an effective economy to support any sort or military force, or even
advance to the next Age. AOM has four main resources: food, wood, gold,
and Favor. Each culture has its own advantages and disadvantages when
it comes to collecting these resources.
FOOD
----
Food is a universally needed resource in the game. The food is needed
to build nearly all units, especially the ever-important villagers
who do the gathering of the resources. Food can be collected in
several ways, such as farms, hunting, foraging, fishing, and herding.
Most of these are pretty self-explanatory, but the herding should be
elaborated on a bit.
The herdable animals are spread around on your map. I recommend
using either a scout or fast military unit (cavalry, preferably),
depending on what you have. Your enemy can steal your animals,
so keep an eye on them. The herdables tend to fatten up over time,
so once you've gotten them back to your Town Center, don't kill
them immediately - wait a bit. Here's a few figures which show how
much food you can gather from them.
ANIMAL INITIAL AMT FATTENED AMT
Goat 50 300
Pig 50 300
Cow 75 400
GOLD
----
Much like food, gold is needed quite often, usually with researching
technologies and military units. Building a large military force can
be quite expensive!
Your villagers gather gold from mines, which do tend to vary on size.
If you choose Thor, you have the ability to create your own mine,
instead of relying on natural ones. Norse Dwarves gather gold
faster than most units for other cultures.
WOOD
----
Wood isn't needed as quite as much as Food and Gold, but is with
respect to buildings and some military units. The military units
that require large amounts of wood, are Archers and Siege Weapons.
FAVOR
-----
Favor is the new resource in the game. Favor is needed for your
Mythological units as well as for the improvements/technologies
offered by the Gods. Each culture gains Favor in their own unique
ways. You can learn about this in the "Mythology" sections below.
As you can see, the various types of resources are unique in the way
they are obtained, but also when it comes to be used. I can't tell you
which resources you need to focus on in each game, because it's impossible.
Your strategy for any given game will dictate the way you will need to
focus your economy. This will likely be discussed further along in this
guide.
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Titans
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The most unique unit of the game was added in the expansion pack, the
Titan. Each culture has their own Titan. They're pretty much unstopp-
able unless you use another Titan, although mythological units and Heroes
can do a bit of damage since the Heroes have bonuses.
Gaia, the Mother Earth goddess, created Oranos, the god of the sky, and
mated with him, thereby producing the first immortals - the Titans. The
twelve Titans were equally divided between males (Lapetus, Hyperion,
Oceanus, Coeus, Creus, and Kronos) and females (Phoebe, Rheia, Theia,
Mnemosyne, Tethys, and Themis). In addition, Gaia gave birth to other
creatures, including the Cyclops and the Hecatoncheired (hundred-headed
giants).
Oranos hated Gaia's children, however, and hid them within Mother Earth,
causing her great pain and suffering. Kronos, the youngest of the Titans,
eventually overthrew his father and freed his siblings, though he kept
the other creatures imprisoned. The Titans and their children (including
Prometheus, Atlas, Hekate, Selene, and Helios) then ruled the universe. At
this time humankind was created and Atlantis was founded. All was not
harmonious, however.
Kronos took his sister Rheia as his wife. Fearing a prophecy that his own
offspring would turn on him, as he had turned on Oranos, Kronos swallowed
his children as they were born. Rheia gave birth to her sixth child, Zeus,
in the dead of night and fooled Kronos by giving him a stone to swallow.
Zeus was then entrusted to Gaia until grown, at which point he returned and
forced Kronos to regurgitate the five older children (and the stone).
A war, called the Titanomachy, broke out between Zeus and his generation
against many of the older Titans. At the request of Gaia and to aid his
cause, Zeus freed the Cyclops, who forged Zeus' thunderbolts, Hades' helmet
of invisibility, and Poseidon's trident. The struggle raged for ten years,
and the earth shook and burned as huge rocks crashed into it and
thunderbolts ignited forests. Some surmise that Atlantis was destroyed in
this struggle, perhaps for siding with the Titans against Zeus'
confederacy.
As the climax of the war approached, Zeus recalled the wishes of Gaia and
returned to the Underworld to free the Hecatoncheired. Maddened by their
long imprisonment at the hands of the Titans - first Oranos, and then
Kronos - they unleashed a storm of rocks that ended the war. Zeus
condemned to Tartarus, the Titans who stood against him and the Cyclops,
fashioned a series of gates and walls to hold them. Zeus also placed the
Hecatoncheires as their guards. Zeus and his generation took over the
universe and ruled from Olympus.
Thus all the gods of the universe were the progeny of the Titans and ruled
in peace only so long as the Titans remained imprisoned. But there
remained in the world both mortals and immortals who continued to plot
revenge.
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Cultures
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In Age of Mythology, we have three different cultures to choose to play
with, the Greeks, Egyptians, and Norse. The expansion pack, Titans,
added an additional culture, the Atlanteans. Each of these cultures
is unique in many, many ways.
In each of the cultures, as you progress through the Ages, you have
are given options as to which Gods you choose to play with. Each God
brings different bonuses and abilities to your culture. All four
cultures have three Major Gods in the beginning to choose from, and as
you progress, are able to choose from a variety of Minor Gods.
Greeks
------
Of the four cultures, the Greeks are one of the easiest to learn.
I found that it was the easiest to transition to, from Age of
Empires II. Villagers construct buildings and gather resources,
just as in AoE II.
The Greeks have a very diverse military compared to the other
cultures. The military units are very strong, but a bit on the
expensive side (you get what you pay for, eh?).
The Greeks start off with a free Kataskopos, a cavalry scout
unit. Put him to good use early on in your game(s) by looking for
settlements, new food and gold sources, enemy locations, and
perhaps even steal enemy domesticated animals.
Each Major Greek God gives you four (or in the case of Poseidon,
five) Heroes. Heroes are created at the Town Center. You
get a new Hero with each Age-advance.
The Greeks are the only culture to have direct control over the
rate at which they can gain Favor from the Gods. Greeks gain
Favor by worshipping at a Temple; the more worshippers, the
faster your Favor will increase. The Temple allows you to
research several units and technologies, which require Favor,
in addition to the typical calls for Gold & Food. If you choose
Zeus, you start off with Favor, gain Favor faster, and have an
increased Favor cap of 200.
Egyptians
---------
When you think of Egyptian history, you're more likely to think of
things made of gold than wood. This is something the developers of
Age of Mythology took into consideration (you won't need to do a
whole lot of wood chopping, compared to other cultures). In
fact, you'll find that several Egyptian buildings are Free, but
the Egyptians build them slower. The Pharaoh can empower the
building to increase the building speed. Unlike the Greeks, for
instance, the Egyptians can begin farming in the Archaic Age,
as opposed to the Classical Age.
The Egyptians have several benefits that encourage a defensive
game style. The Egyptians have a unique military unit, the
Mercenary, which is a great fighter, but will die after 30
seconds or so.
The Egyptians have two Heroes, the Pharaoh and Priest. The
Pharaoh features several unique abilities, the most important
being the ability to empower a building. This empowerment acts
as a bonus of sorts, but the effect really depends on the building
that is empowered at the time. A Monument, for instance, will
gain Favor much faster than if it weren't empowered.
Norse
-----
With the Greek culture, its villagers gather the resources, but
with the Norse culture, they have two groups (gatherers and
Dwarves) to collect the Wood, Food, and Gold. Greek villagers
also are tasked with constructing the various buildings needed,
but the Norse are a bit different here as well. The Norse
infantry, who not only have to fight battles, are tasked with
the construction of the buildings.
The Norse have a rather unique unit, the Ox Cart. Instead of
building a stationary resource drop-off point, such as a Storehouse,
or Lumber Camp, for instance, the Ox Cart acts as a mobile
resource drop-off point. The Ox Cart can save you time and
resources this way; just imagine the time and cost it would
save you from using the Ox Cart as opposed to building the
numerous stationary resource drop-off points around your big
piece of land.
Instead of worshipping at a Temple to gain Favor, like the
Greeks, the Norse gains Favor by hunting and engaging in war.
Norse Hero, the Hersir, is able to gain Favor faster than the
other units.
Atlanteans
----------
The Atlanteans, much like the Norse, benefit in resource gathering
because the villagers don't need to walk to a resource drop-
off point, because they have pack donkeys to drop their resources
in (Norse have Ox Carts). To balance this, the developers have made
the Atlantean villagers more expensive to create.
Unlike the other cultures, the Atlanteans don't have the Hero
units but rather have the ability to turn a unit into a Hero. This
is, however, a very expensive thing to do, so you will want to use
this power sparingly. Try to use this when its incredibly
important, such as you're being attacked by a large force of
Mythological units; your newly-upgraded (Hero) units will benefit
from their bonus damage against those Mythological units.
Unlike the other cultures, the Atlanteans don't gain Favor from
the Gods by worshipping at a Temple, for example, but rather
by constructing new Town Centers atop Settlements. If you build
two new Town Centers you will gain Favor faster than you build
just one, so you should consider expansion.
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Greek Mythology
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Each Major Greek God gives you four (or in the case of Poseidon, five)
Heroes. Heroes are created at the Town Center. You get a new Hero with
each Age-advance.
The Greeks are the only culture to have direct control over the rate at
which they can gain Favor from the Gods. Greeks gain Favor by
worshipping at a Temple; the more worshippers, the faster your Favor
will increase. The Temple allows you to research several units and
technologies, which require Favor, in addition to the typical calls
for Gold & Food. If you choose Zeus, you start off with Favor, gain
Favor faster, and have an increased Favor cap of 200.
Gaea, or the earth, was the first deity of the Greek cosmological order,
born of the chaos that reigned before life. She gave birth to Uranus
(the heavens), and together they conceived giants, cyclopses, and titans.
Uranus was not pleased with his monstrous offspring, so he locked all his
children away deep within the earth.
And Gaea was not pleased with Uranus for this. So she enlisted the titan
Kronos to attack his ungrateful father and seize power. But Kronos was an
even less tolerant father than Uranus, and was soon dealt the same blow by
his own son Zeus. And with Zeus' ascension to power, so begins the Greek
era of the Olympians.
Now controlling the entire cosmos, Zeus decided to divide the spoils
between his brothers Poseidon and Hades. The drawing of lots decided that
Zeus would retain his title as ruler of the gods, while Poseidon would take
possession of the seas. Hades was left with control of the underworld, and
felt slighted, but there he ruled nonetheless, an angry and jealous deity.
Meanwhile, Zeus' marriage to Hera (the goddess of marriage and community)
was not going well. His many affairs left her as angry and jealous as
Hades, but she never openly challenged Zeus, and took her frustrations out
upon other enemies instead.
Still, the pair had many children. Zeus showed open favoritism toward
Athena, who became the goddess of wisdom and warfare. Unlike her brother
Ares (the god of warfare), Athena was judicious and benevolent, choosing
her battles to promote civilization and advancement. To Ares it was
irrelevant which side prevailed in a battle; he only wanted ample
bloodshed to assuage a violent nature. Ares even took his children -
Phobos (fear), Deimos (terror), and Enyo (horror) - into battle with him.
But Ares was cowardly and quick to flee when things turned against him,
and was even publicly mocked by his own brother Hephaestus.
Hephaestus (god of the forge and blacksmiths) had caught Ares having an
affair with his wife. While said to be the ugliest of all deities, somehow
Hephaestus married Aphrodite, the very goddess of love and beauty. But she
rarely reciprocated his love, preferring instead the war god, Ares.
Meanwhile, Zeus continued to have extramarital trysts of his own, many
of which bore offspring - most famously Artemis (goddess of archery) and
Apollo. God of wisdom, truth, music, the sun and among other things,
healing, Apollo proved to be one of the most revered Olympians. A
childhood act of goodwill set the precedent for Apollo: a giant serpent
called Python greedily guarded the Oracle at Delphi (a well from which
sprang prophecies of the future). The serpent ravaged the nearby
countryside, poisoning rivers and wells, destroying crops, and razing
entire villages. The young Apollo defeated Python and liberated the
Oracle.
Despite his good nature, Apollo was not always treated with respect,
especially by his half-brother Hermes. Fleet of foot with winged sandals,
Hermes was the messenger to all Olympian gods. But he was mischievous as
well - and even while still wrapped in swaddling, he stole cattle from
Apollo. Apollo demanded their return, but ended up giving in to Hermes as
a result of his skill of the lyre. Hermes thus became the god of music.
In any case, Zeus did not limit his trysts to goddesses - mortal women also
appealed to him. One such mortal was Semele, whom Zeus "visited" in the
night as a divine presence. Semele did not know who the father was, but
was pleased to have coupled with deity, and bore the child Dionysus, god
of wine and celebration.
This naturally disturbed Hera, whose jealousies over Zeus' affairs never
abated. She convinced Semele to uncover who the father was, even while
knowing that no mortal woman could survive an encounter seeing Zeus in the
flesh. Semele was killed.
But Hera was not yet satisfied, and even had Dionysus murdered. Rhea
brought him back to life and Zeus was forced to enrage Hera further by
extending Dionysus divine protection.
The following chart reveals the Minor Gods from which you must choose,
according to your Major Gods, at each Age advance.
MAJOR GOD CLASSICAL AGE HEROIC AGE MYTHIC AGE
Zeus Athena, Hermes Apollo, Dionysus Hephaestus, Hera
Poseidon Ares, Hermes Aphrodite, Dionysus Artemis,
Hephaestus
Hades Ares, Athena Aphrodite, Apollo Artemis,
Hephaestus
Below are the Greek Major & Minor Gods.
ZEUS
----
Description: The youngest son of the Titans Kronos and Rheia, he was
hidden by his mother when Kronos learned of the prophecy that one of
his sons would supplant him as ruler of the world. When fully grown,
Zeus forced his father to regurgitate his other children that he had
swallowed, and then Zeus led a revolt against the Titans, who were
banished to Tartarus, below even the underworld. Zeus and his two
brothers drew lots to decide each god’s part of the world. Zeus drew
the heavens, and supreme rule over all the gods and humankind.
Zeus was always considered a weather god, with lightning, thunder,
rain, and thunderstorms attributed to him. Later he became associated
with justice and the law. He could shape-shift, taking the shape of
any object or living thing, and he used this ability in his
seductions. Although he took his sister Hera as his wife, he seduced
many other goddesses and mortal women, siring many children who
became prominent in Greek mythology. There were many statues erected
in Zeus’ honor, the most magnificent being the colossal statue of
Zeus at Olympia, one of the Seven Wonders of the Ancient World. The
Olympic Games were held originally in his honor.
Bonuses: Greeks start with 15 Favor with a cap at 200
Villagers generate Favor 37.5% faster
Hoplites move 12% faster
Infantry do twice the damage to buildings
Bolt God Power - Bolt of lightning that kills single unit instantly
|_ Zeus's God Power calls a bolt from the heavens to smite any single
unit, except for Titans, Transports, and Ox Carts.
To use Bolt, select the Bolt icon at the top of the screen, and
then left-click the unit that you want the bolt to strike. You
must have line of sight to the unit.
Olympic Parent Improvement - Heroes receive 25% Hit Point Bonus
|_ Many Greek heroes were half-mortal children of the Olympians,
the Greek gods. Zeus was the most notorious philanderer in the
Greek pantheon and sired many of the gods themselves -- and
some of the most famous heroes of Greek mythology: Heracles,
Perseus, the twin Argonauts Castor and Pollux. These heroes
accomplished amazing tasks because of their divine heritage,
but often faced divine wrath when the gods fought amongst
themselves, as they often did, striking out at the children of
their enemies.
ATHENA - Classical Age
------
Description: The goddess of wisdom, crafts, justice, and war, she is
often associated with a shield for war, the owl for wisdom, or the olive
tree. When Athena and Poseidon vied to be the patron of a prominent
city, they held a contest to see who could give the city the finest
gift. Poseidon provided a well, but it produced salty water. Athena
gave the olive tree that provided food, oil, and wood. The city took
the name Athens.
Athena had a prominent role in Homer’s epics, the Iliad and the Odyssey,
serving as Odysseus’ patron throughout his long voyage. In addition to
sponsoring warriors and heroes, she introduced many skills necessary
for civilization. In an unusual but not unique birth, she sprang from
Zeus’ head fully grown and ready for battle. Legends say that Zeus had
prevented a normal birth of a son with Athena’s abilities, who he
feared would unseat him. Although she was a protector of human heroes,
she maintained a distance from male gods whom she perhaps found
unworthy of her. Athena’s companion was Nike, the goddess of victory.
Restoration God Power - Heals friendly units/buildings in the target area.
|_ Athena's healing touch affects all allied units and buildings in
a small area. As long as the light shines down, units in the area
will regain hitpoints.
To use Restoration, left click on the Restoration icon, then target
anywhere on the map. Using Restoration during a fight can prolong
the life of your armies. Using it while a town is under attack
can save your buildings.
"Of Pallas Athena, guardian of the city, I begin to sing. Dread is
she, and with Ares she loves deeds of war, the sack of cities and
the shouting and the battle. It is she who saves the people as
they go out to war and come back. Hail, goddess, and give us good
fortune with happiness!"
-- Homeric Hymn to Athena
Minotaur Mythological Unit
|_ King Minos prayed to Poseidon to send him a snow-white bull as
a sign he was fit to rule Crete. He promised to sacrifice
the animal, but when it appeared, he kept it for his own. In
retribution, Poseidon caused Minos' wife to fall in love with
the bull. Their offspring was the Minotaur, a beast with the
head of a bull and the body of a man. Minos had a huge labyrinth
constructed under Crete where the Minotaur could be kept. Each
year seven boys and seven girls were sent into the maze to be
eaten by the beast. Eventually the Minotaur was slain by Theseus
who unraveled a ball of twine as he moved into the labyrinth so
he could find his way out.
The legend of the minotaur may have originated because of the
important of the bull in Minoan ritual. Minoan buildings were
adorned with bull horns, and their hourglass shields covered
with bull hide. Early frescoes show Minoan youths leaping over
the horns of bulls as a form of sport.
Aegis Shield Improvement - Infantry have -10% Pierce Vulnerability
|_ The Aegis was a magical shield that officially belonged to
Zeus, but he usually allowed his favorite child, Athena, to
carry it. The shield was fringed and covered with scales and
often adorned with a medusa head. It may have been the shield
Perseus used to reflect the Medusa's image, thereby avoiding
her gaze. Some myths depict the Aegis as a cloak, or a shield
that could convert to a cloak. Like much of the armament of
the Olympians, it was forged by Hephaestus.
Sarissa Improvement - Hoplites have -10% Hack Vulnerability
|_ Although often referred to as the goddess of wisdom, Athena's
realm more accurately extended to technology, and the
development of the sarissa qualifies as one of the greatest
achievements in military technology. While Greek infantry
used 8-10' long spears for centuries, Alexander the Great
refined its use for the Greek phalanx, creating a 16-20'
long, two-handed pike called a sarissa. Macedonian phalanxes
armed with sarissas dominated Mediterranean warfare until
the rise of Rome.
Labyrinth of Minos Improvement - Minotaurs cost -25% Food and have +40% HP
|_ Minos, the Minoan king of Crete, imprisoned the minotaur in a
complex labyrinth designed by Daedalus, the famous Athenian
inventor. The labyrinth was so skillfully designed that none
could escape before they were devoured by the minotaur. None but
Theseus, that is, who, aided by Minos' daughter Ariadne, was able
to find his way by unraveling thread to mark his route. Minos
was so enraged that he imprisoned Daedauls in the labyrinth, but
Daedauls escaped by fashioning bird wings of wax. Upon his death,
Minos was made one of the judges of Hades.
The Minoan palace at Knossos had an elaborate floorplan and may
have led to the myth of the labyrinth.
HERMES - Classical Age
------
Description: The messenger of the gods, Hermes wore a winged cap and
winged shoes. He presided over shepherds, trade, land travel, literature,
athletics, oratory, and even thieving -- any activity requiring agility.
He was known for his cunning and shrewdness, and as the inventor of the
lyre, the flute, and the pan-pipes. He is credited with the invention of
foot-racing, wrestling, and boxing. He guided the souls of the dead
to the underworld. In early accounts he is a patron of fertility or
luck. Later he was associated with roads. Road markers, called herms,
bore a representation of Hermes. Similar markers outside homes
warded off evil. He used his ingenuity to save heroes on several
occasions, including Odysseus twice.
Ceasefire God Power - Stops all combat for 60 seconds
|_ Ceasefire prevents all combat on the entire map for its duration.
Enemy units will not be able to damage your units or buildings.
In addition, no one can build any building that attacks, though
other types of buildings are allowed.
To call a temporary Ceasefire, left click the Ceasefire icon and
then left click anywhere on the map.
Centaur Mythological Unit
|_ Half-man and half-horse, Centaurs are usually seen with
torso and head of a man and the body of a horse, but different
descriptions exist. They were notorious for showing up uninvited
to outdoor celebrations (for a creature that large they seemed to
have had trouble holding their liquor) and for abducting women,
especially young maidens. Because of their drunkenness and
inclination toward violence, most were driven to the mountains
of Thessaly. Chiron, the centaur that educated Achilles was an
exception. Centaurs are usually depicted carrying a bow.
Spirated Charge Improvement - Cavalry have +10% Speed/Attack
|_ Hermes was known for his speed and athleticism and was said to
have invented the race as a competitive sport. Statues of Hermes
were positioned at gymnasiums and stadiums throughout Greece.
Greek cavalry could not truly charge, as their saddles did not
have the stirrups which allowed later medieval cavalry to brace
the impact of a lance against the weight of a mount.
Sylvan Lore Improvement - Centaurs have +25% HP, +30% Speed
|_ Although Hermes was associated more with music and travel than
with sylvan environment, he was the father of Pan (with Dryope),
who was the Greek god of wooded areas and fields. Pan's mother
fled at the sight of him, but Hermes took Pan up to Olympus,
where he entertained the gods as a jester.
Winged Messenger Improvement - Pegasus costs 0 Food, has +6 LOS, Trains 50%
| Faster
|_ Hermes was the messenger of the gods, a job made easier by the
winged sandals that Hermes wore. He lent the sandals to Perseus
when the hero fought the sea monster that threatened Andromeda.
APOLLO - Heroic Age
------
Description: The god of music, archery (only as sport), medicine,
colonization, herds, and divination, he represents many of the better
qualities of humankind, including order, intelligence, rationalization,
and an appreciation for the finer things. He could cause or cure the
plague. He established the oracle at Delphi and perhaps the city of
Troy. He is often perceived as the perfect male. Apollo and his twin
sister Artemis were fathered by Zeus and born of the Titan Leto,
necessarily incurring the wrath of Zeus’ wife Hera, who did all she
could to prevent the twins from being born. Apollo was also well
known for his love affairs with beautiful mortals of both sexes, including
among them Calliope, Coronis and Daphne. Apollo's Oracle at Delphi
was well known throughout the Mediterranean. Apollo is closely
associated with the sun, or at least with Helios, the Greek sun god.
Underworld Passage God Power - Allows units to travel between two points
| on the map instantly
|_ Apollo's God Power creates a permanent (until destroyed) tunnel
through the Underworld, which may be used to travel almost
instantly from one point to another on the map.
To use the Underworld Passage, left click on the Underworld Passage
icon, then left click where you want one end of the passage to be.
Left click again in a different location to place the other end of
the Underworld passage.
Place one end in your town and the other end in an ally's town to
allow quick reinforcements and speedy retreats. Use it to circumvent
walls and defenses or even place one end deep in enemy territory
for a sneak attack. The passage remains in place as long as the
entrance and exit are intact.
Manticore Mythological Unit
|_ The Manticore probably came into Greek mythology from
Persia and originated in tales about far away and exotic India.
The beast had the body of a red lion, a human face (with blue eyes
and human ears), three rows of teeth, a stinging poisonous tail,
and poisonous spines that could be shot like arrows in any
direction. Its voice was like a mixture of pipes and trumpets.
It was fast and capable of great leaps. When villagers vanished
without a trace, it was believed they were devoured by a manticore.
Oracle Improvement - All units and buildings gain +6 LOS
|_ One of the reasons for Apollo's prominence in Greek mythology
was his Oracle at Delphi, who could predict the future. Apollo
established the oracle when he rid Delphi of the serpent,
Python. Apollo dedicated a bronze tripod to the sanctuary
there, and bestowed divine powers on the priestess. The
priestess, known as the Pythia, would chew on laurel leaves and
inhale the hallucinating vapors issuing from the temple floor,
while mumbling prophecies that had to be translated by attendant
male priests.
Sun Ray Improvement - Archers, Centaurs and Manticores gain +10% attack
|_ Apollo was known as "Phoebus," the "radiant," and had a close
connection to Helios, the sun god. Apollo is often shown holding
a bow and arrow symbolizing the sun's rays, as he was the god of
archery (as art, not for warfare or hunting).
Temple of Heating Improvement - Temples heal a single unit at a time
|_ Idle units heal much faster than those moving or engaged in
combat. Some units, such as undead, Titans, or the dragon,
Nidhogg, cannot be healed.
Apollo was the father of Asclepius, the god of medicine, whose
symbol, the cadeuses, is still used as a symbol for medicine
today (though is often portrayed as the winged staff of Hermes's,
not the serpent-entwined staff of Asclepius).
"I begin to sing of Asclepius, son of Apollo and healer of
sicknesses. In the Dotian plain fair Koronis, daughter of King
Phlegyas, bare him, a great joy to men, a soother of cruel
pangs. and so hail to you, lord: in my song I make my prayer to
thee!"
--Homeric Hymn XVI
DIONYSUS - Heroic Age
--------
Description: The god of wine, the theater, agriculture, the fertility
of nature, and mysteries, he is usually seen with grape vines, ivy, or
a panther. Unlike most Greek gods, who are normally portrayed as bright
creatures of the light, Dionysus is mysterious and shadowy. His followers
revel in mad behavior, drunkenness, and death. Because of his differences,
Dionysus may have been a melding of Greek and Asian attributes.
He was the patron of the Maenads, wild women who worshipped him and
roamed the mountains shouting and hunting wild animals. He was also
the patron of mystery cults, of which we know very little today. The
greatest mystery associated with Dionysus is that at one point he
was believed slain, but then reborn, a very unusual circumstance for
an immortal god.
Bronze God Power - Increases the armor of mortal units for a little while
|_ This Heroic Age God Power temporarily armors units in the area
with solid bronze, making them nearly invulnerable to enemy weapons
for a short time. Enemies are not affected.
To use Bronze, select the Bronze icon at the top of the screen and
left click near the units you want bronzed.
Hydra Mythological Unit
|_ Another of the fierce offspring of Echinda and Typhon,
the Hydra was a large serpent with multiple heads and poisonous
breath. Killing the Hydra near the city of Lerna in Argolis was
the second of Heracles’ twelve tasks. Each time he cut off one
of the Hydra’s heads, however, two more grew back. A nephew
helped him by cauterizing each wound as a head was lopped off.
The last head was immortal, so Heracles buried it under a large
rock. Once the beast’s body was dead, Heracles dipped his
arrowheads into its blood, giving them extra potency.
Scylla Mythological Unit
|_ A terrifying sea monster with six serpent heads and a ring
of barking dogs around her waist, Scylla guarded one side of the
straits of Messina, between Sicily and Italy. The dogs alerted her
when a ship was passing so she could seize sailors. Scylla was
originally a beautiful nymph who was transformed by the jealous
sorceress Circe.
Anastrophe Improvement - Pentekonters have +20% attack, move 10% faster
| and train 25% faster
|_ The anastrophe was a surprise maneuver used by Trireme captains
to suddenly change directions and attempt to ram.
Bacchanalia Improvement - Improves the HP of all units by 5%
|_ As god of wine, Dionysus' festivals with his followers were full
of joy and celebration. However, there was a darker side to these
events as well. Dionysus was also representative of untamed
natural forces, and in a drunken, wild state, Dionysus' followers
would be driven to bloody deeds and kill with their bare hands.
Thracian Horses Improvement - Cavalry have +20% HP
|_ When Dionysus was young and wandered Earth as a mortal, his growing
cult was opposed by King Lycurgus of Thrace. Dionysus drove Lycurgus
mad, so that he chopped up his own son with an axe, believing he
was pruning a vine. Eventually his own subjects caused Lycurgus to
be torn to pieces by wild horses.
HERA - Mythic Age
----
Description: The queen of the Olympian deities. She is a daughter of
Cronus and Rhea, and wife and sister of Zeus. Hera was mainly worshipped
as a goddess of marriage and birth. It is said that each year Hera's
virginity returns by bathing in the well Canathus. The children of
Hera and Zeus are the smith-god Hephaestus, the goddess of youth
Hebe, and the god of war Ares. According to some sources, however,
her children were conceived without the help of a man, either by
slapping her hand on the ground or by eating lettuce: thus they were
born, not out of love but out of lust and hatred.
She punished her rivals and their children, among both goddesses and
mortals, with implacable fury. She placed two serpents in the cradle
of Heracles; she had Io guarded by a hundred-eyed giant; she drove
the foster-parents of Dionysus mad, and tried to prevent the birth
of Apollo and Artemis. Even Zeus usually could not stand up to her.
Sometimes when he got angry, he chained her to the mountain of Olympus
by fastening anvils to her feet. However, most of the time Zeus
resorted to stratagems: he either hid his illegitimate children, or
he changed them into animals.
Hera's main sanctuary was at Argos in the Peloponnesus, where she was
worshipped as the town goddess. Also, in this town the Heraia, public
festivities, were celebrated. Other temples stood in Olympia, Mycene,
Sparta, Paestum, Corinth, Tiryns, Perachora, and on the islands of
Samos and Delos.
Lightning Storm God Power - Damages large numbers of units over a wide area
|_ Hera's God Power calls down a storm of lightning bolts that strike
all enemy units in the area. In addition, the bolts may strike
buildings or trees, but do much more damage against units. Quick
enemies may be able to escape the storm, which covers a large area
but does not move.
To call this mighty storm, left click on the Lightning Storm icon
at the top of the screen, then left click where you want the storm
to strike. You must have line of sight to the targeted area.
Carcinos Mythological Unit
|_ During Heracles' battle with the hydra, Hera summoned a crab to
attack Heracles and aid the hydra. Although Heracles defeated
both hydra and crab, Hera rewarded the crustacean by placing it
as a constellation up in the night sky. Latin for "crab" is
"cancer," and in Greek it is "Karkinos" -- from where derives
the word "carcinogen."
Medusa Mythological Unit
|_ Medusa was one of three sisters known as the Gorgons, children
of sea gods with live sea snakes for hair, scaly necks, boar-like
tusks, golden hands, and bronze wings. One tale is that Medusa
was once a beautiful maid who boasted of being more beautiful
than Athena, who turned her into a monster so ugly that those
who gazed upon her were turned to stone. She was killed by
Perseus, with the help of Athena and Hermes. From her blood
was created the winged horse, Pegasus. Her head was used as
a weapon to kill the sea monster Cetus and then the head was
mounted on Athena's shield.
Athenian Wall Improvement - Increases the HP of all buildings by 30%,
| walls by 10%
|_ The Long Walls of Athens are attributed to the architect
Callicrates. The Long Walls stretched from Athens itself to the
harbor at Piraeus, a distance of over 7 miles. The walls were
formed of large blocks of stone stacked over 60' high and 12'
thick. In the absence of powerful siege artillery, Athens was
virtually impregnable except by the sea, which was defended
by the famous Athenian navy.
Face of the Gorgon - Medusa gains +33% HP
|_ While Medusa is the most famous of the Gorgons, there were
actually many of them, though only three are named in Greek
mythology: Medusa, Euryale and Stenno. Only Medusa was mortal.
The Gorgons were monstrous creatures covered with scales, hair
of living serpents, hands of brass, and sharp fangs. It is not
always clear if it was seeing the horrid visage of a Gorgon or
meeting their gaze that could turn the viewer to stone. The
Gorgons lived far to the west where they guarded an entrance
to the underworld.
Monstrous Rage Improvement - All myth units gain +25% to all damage types
|_ Hera's implacable fury was well-known, especially against the
various extramarital lovers of Zeus and their children. She placed
serpents in the cradle of Heracles, sent a hundred-eyed giant to
watch over Io, and tried to prevent the births of Athena and
Artemis. As punishment for the madness she imbued upon Heracles
that caused him to kill his parents, Zeus chained Hera to Olympus
with anvils tied around her ankles.
HEPHAESTUS - Mythic Age
----------
Description: The god of fire, volcanoes, blacksmiths, and metal working,
he had a strong following in the cities where his skills were important to
commerce and war. He is usually seen with an axe. In one account he
sided with his mother Hera against Zeus who threw him so far that he
fell all day and limped thereafter. Hephaestus was associated with
Mt. Etna on the island of Sicily. In his workshop he fashioned many
wondrous things for the gods, including thunderbolts for Zeus,
Athena’s shield, arrows for Eros, and the chariot with which Helios
the sun god rode across the sky. He also helped create the first
human woman from clay, named Pandora, who released the evils of the
world on humankind from her magic jar.
Plenty God Power - Creates a vault which constantly generates food, wood,
| and gold.
|_ Hephaestus' God Power creates a wondrous, mythical Vault that
grants a constant flow of Food, Wood, and Gold.
To erect the Vault of Plenty, left click on the Plenty icon, then
left click where you wish to place the Vault. The gods favor the
strong -- if an enemy has more units or buildings near the vault
than you, then you will lose control of the vault and the enemy
will get the flow of resources. Place the Vault carefully, and
then defend it well.
Colossus Mythological Unit
|_ The Great Colossus at Rhodes was one of the Seven Wonders of the
Ancient World. It stood over 150 ft. high on a 50 ft. white
marble base. It was mostly hollow, with a skin of bronze
welded to a skeleton frame of stone and metal. Though it
was destroyed by an earthquake after standing for only about
fifty years, such was its enormity that people came to Rhodes
just to see its ruins, just as people today visit the ruins of
other Greek monuments, buildings and temples.
Forge Of Olympus Improvement - Armory technologies cost 75% less
|_ As the smith of the Greek gods, Hephaestus forged many great items
for the other gods, such as the thunderbolts of Zeus, Aegis Shield,
arrows of Eros, chariot of Helios and armor of Achilles. He even
helped to create the first woman, Pandora, of clay. Hephaestus
also created items used against the gods when he was wronged,
such as a throne that held Hera prisoner when she cast him out
of Olympus for being so ugly, and a chain-link net used to trap
his wife, Aphrodite, when he suspected her of cheating on him
with Ares.
Hand of Talos Improvement - Colossus gains +100 HP
|_ One of Zeus' many lovers was a mortal woman named Europa. In
the form of a white bull, Zeus spirited her away to the isle
of Crete, where she had 3 sons. Zeus had Hephaestus forge a
giant of iron to defend Europa and the island. Talos was
powered by a single blood vein that ran from his throat to
his ankle. The vein was sealed with a pin at the ankle.
Shoulder of Talos Improvement - Colossus gains +200 HP, -20% hack damage
| Vulnerability
|_ On the return voyage of Jason and the Argonauts, they needed to
stop and resupply on the Isle of Crete, but the sorcerous Medea
warned them of Talos. When Talos appeared and began to throw
rocks at the Argo, Medea played her lyre to coax him to sleep.
She then pulled out the bronze pin that held in his blood and
the giant collapsed. Jason and his men could then collect food
and water before continuing their voyage.
Weapon of the Titans Improvement - Unique units gain +10% attack
|_ The Titans created and ruled the Earth before their children,
the Olympians, overthrew them. They wielded the raw power of
the elements: Light, Earth, Time, Water, Fire. The children
of the Titans, the Olympians, wielded fantastic, if more
conventional, weapons forged by the club-footed god Hephaestus
or cyclops smiths.
-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-
POSEIDON
--------
Description: The third son of Kronos and the brother of Zeus and Hades,
he drew the seas as his domain to rule. He was known also as the god of
earthquakes and the god of horses. The symbols most often associated
with Poseidon were the trident and dolphin. Sailors relied upon him
for favorable winds and safe voyages, but he was moody. Despite
sacrifices including drowned horses, he could cause storms, bad
winds, and earthquakes at a whim. Like Zeus, he projected his power
and masculinity on women, fathering many children.
In a famous contest between himself and Athena to decide which of
the two would be the patron god of Athens, he threw a spear into
the ground to create the Spring of the Acropolis. Athena surpassed
him, however, by creating the olive tree. He often used water and
earthquakes to exact revenge, but could be cooperative as well. He
greatly aided the Greeks in the Trojan War, but took years of
revenge on Odysseus, who had harmed one of Poseidon's Cyclops
offspring.
Bonuses: Cavalry cost 10% less
Stables cost 25% less
Market use cost only 10%
When Poseidon's buildings are destroyed, miltia emerge from
the rubble
Gains a Hippocampus at the dock when a temple is built
Lure God Power - Draws animals closer for villagers to hunt.
|_ Poseidon's God Power creates a mythical stone to which animals
are drawn. The magnet draws huntable, herdable and predatory
animals alike, so be cautious when placing it close to your
Villagers. It will only summon a certain amount of Food, so
once a maximum number of animals reaches the Lure, it will
crumble to pieces. Careful placement of the Lure can ensure
that the Food bonanza it provides gets to you quickly.
To use Lure, left click the icon at the top of the screen,
then left click where you want the stone to appear. Be
careful where you place it because any predators that arrive
may attack your Villagers.
Lord of the Horses Improvement - Cavalry have +4 LOS
|_ In addition to his more familiar role as lord of the sea, Poseidon
was also the god of horses. He sometimes adopted the form of a
horse when pursuing mortal women, which may account for the fact
that some of his children were horses, including Arion, one of
the steeds of Achilles. It is not known if Poseidon appeared as
a horse when he seduced Medusa, but when she was killed, she
produced the winged horse, Pegasus.
"Lord Poseidon, from you this pride is ours. The strong horses,
the young horses, and also the rule of the deep." -- source Unknown
ARES - Classical Age
----
Description: The Greek god of war, he is usually seen with a spear, the
preferred weapon of Greek Hoplites. He was tall and handsome, but vain
and cruel. He was preoccupied with war and battles, quick to rush into
a fight, reveled in bloodshed, and heedless of who won or lost. He was
worshipped most strongly in regions like Thrace, where the people were
particularly fierce. There was one exception to his obsession with
war: he was smitten by Aphrodite and had a long running affair with
her. Homer recounts in the Odyssey a tale of the sun god Helios spotting
the pair enjoying each other’s charms and reporting their tryst to
Hephaestus, Aphrodite’s husband. The great smith fashioned a special
net in which he caught the pair locked in their passionate embrace. He
offered to exhibit the netted pair to the gods of Olympus, but the women
demurred. Homer says that many of the male gods offered to switch places
with Ares.
Pestilence God Power - Halt production at enemy buildings in the target area
|_ This Classical Age God Power called by Ares prevents enemy military
buildings from training new soldiers within its area of effect.
Enemies can still train new units outside of the area of effect.
Allied units are not affected, and neither are economic buildings,
such as Town Centers.
To invoke a Pestilence, left click on the Pestilence God Power at
the top of the screen, and then left click anywhere on the map.
You must have line of sight to use this power.
Cyclops Mythological Unit
|_ Giants with one central eye, the Cyclopes were storm gods in
early Greek mythology. In some tales they became smiths and
worked with Hephaestus on Zeus’ thunderbolts. In other tales
there were only three Cyclopes, representing thunder, lightning,
and a thunderbolt. In classical Greece, the "lesser cyclopes" were
seen as the sons of Poseidon, bestial and violent, who were avoided
and feared. There were also wise and powerful "elder Cyclopes" that
were the sons of Kronos.
Deimos' Sword Improvement - Hypaspists have +15% attack
|_ Deimos, also called Fear, was one of the sons of Ares and
Aphrodite. He followed Ares in battle, along with his brother,
Phobos. Deimos is a personification of emotion and does not
appear as an actual character in any Greek myths.
Enyo's Bow Improvement - Toxotes have +10% attack
|_ Enyo, the personification of strife and discord, was also known
as Eris, and was the daughter of Ares. She delighted in bloody
battlefields, and was known as the Sacker of Cities, and appeared
in Troy when the city fell to the Greeks. In some myths, Enyo
produced the Golden Apple that began the Trojan War.
"Yet these charged forth -- they could not choose but so, for
Strife and deadly Enyo in their midst stalked, like the fell
Erinyes to behold, breathing destruction from their lips like
flame."
-- Quintus, The Fall of Troy
Phobos' Spear Improvement - Hoplites have +10% attack
|_ Phobos, or Terror, was one of the sons of Ares and Aphrodite.
He accompanied his father into battle. Phobos is more of an
abstraction than an actual god and does not appear in any Greek
myths.
"In the centre was Phobos (Fear) worked in adamant, unspeakable,
staring backwards with eyes that glowed with fire. His mouth was
full of teeth in a white row, fearful and daunting, and upon his
grim brow hovered frightful Eris (Strife) who arrays the throng
of men ..."
-- Hesiod, Shield of Heracles
Will of Kronos Improvement - Cyclopes have +50% hack damage, double
| crush damage, train 25% faster
|_ Greek mythology makes a distinction between the "lesser" Cyclopes,
who were the sons of Poseidon, and the "elder" Cyclopes, who were
children of Kronos. Their names were given as Arges, Brontes,
Steropes, Euryalos, Elatreus, Trakhios and Halimedes. The Elder
Cyclopes were known as craftsmen and builders, and were so feared
for their great strength that they were kept locked in Tartarus.
"After ten years of fighting Ge prophesied a victory for Zeus if
he were to secure the prisoners down in Tartarus as his allies.
He thereupon slew their jail-keeper Kampe, and freed them from
their bonds. In return the Cyclopes gave Zeus thunder, lightning,
and a thunderbolt, as well as a helmet for Hades and a trident
for Poseidon. Armed with these the three gods overpowered the
Titans, confined them in Tartaros, and put the Hekatonkheires
in charge of guarding them."
-- Apollodorus
HERMES - Classical Age
------
Description: The messenger of the gods, Hermes wore a winged cap and
winged shoes. He presided over shepherds, trade, land travel, literature,
athletics, oratory, and even thieving -- any activity requiring agility.
He was known for his cunning and shrewdness, and as the inventor of the
lyre, the flute, and the pan-pipes. He is credited with the invention of
foot-racing, wrestling, and boxing. He guided the souls of the dead
to the underworld. In early accounts he is a patron of fertility or
luck. Later he was associated with roads. Road markers, called herms,
bore a representation of Hermes. Similar markers outside homes
warded off evil. He used his ingenuity to save heroes on several
occasions, including Odysseus twice.
Ceasefire God Power - Stops all combat for 60 seconds
|_ Ceasefire prevents all combat on the entire map for its duration.
Enemy units will not be able to damage your units or buildings.
In addition, no one can build any building that attacks, though
other types of buildings are allowed.
To call a temporary Ceasefire, left click the Ceasefire icon and
then left click anywhere on the map.
Centaur Mythological Unit
|_ Half-man and half-horse, Centaurs are usually seen with
torso and head of a man and the body of a horse, but different
descriptions exist. They were notorious for showing up uninvited
to outdoor celebrations (for a creature that large they seemed to
have had trouble holding their liquor) and for abducting women,
especially young maidens. Because of their drunkenness and
inclination toward violence, most were driven to the mountains
of Thessaly. Chiron, the centaur that educated Achilles was an
exception. Centaurs are usually depicted carrying a bow.
Spirated Charge Improvement - Cavalry have +10% Speed/Attack
|_ Hermes was known for his speed and athleticism and was said to
have invented the race as a competitive sport. Statues of Hermes
were positioned at gymnasiums and stadiums throughout Greece.
Greek cavalry could not truly charge, as their saddles did not
have the stirrups which allowed later medieval cavalry to brace
the impact of a lance against the weight of a mount.
Sylvan Lore Improvement - Centaurs have +25% HP, +30% Speed
|_ Although Hermes was associated more with music and travel than
with sylvan environment, he was the father of Pan (with Dryope),
who was the Greek god of wooded areas and fields. Pan's mother
fled at the sight of him, but Hermes took Pan up to Olympus,
where he entertained the gods as a jester.
Winged Messenger Improvement - Pegasus costs 0 Food, has +6 LOS, Trains 50%
| Faster
|_ Hermes was the messenger of the gods, a job made easier by the
winged sandals that Hermes wore. He lent the sandals to Perseus
when the hero fought the sea monster that threatened Andromeda.
Aphrodite - Heroic Age
---------
Description: The goddess of love, beauty, and sexual rapture, her name
derives from the word for sea foam. In one story, she was born when
Kronos the Titan was castrated and his genitals were thrown into the
ocean. The sea began to roil and from the foam Aphrodite took shape.
In contrast, Homer says she was the daughter of Zeus and Dione.
Regardless of her ancestry, she was beautiful beyond words.
Seeking Olympian tranquility, Zeus gave Aphrodite in marriage to
hard-working and reliable Hephaestus. With his metal working skills
he fashioned for her wonderful jewels, including a golden magical
girdle. The combination of her personal charms and her jewels made
her irresistible. She took advantage of her gifts, loving glamour and
flirting, and was not particularly happy with a dirty, boring husband.
She took many lovers, including Adonis, and bore several children,
including Eros. The festival of Aphrodisiac was celebrated, especially
in Athens and Corinth. Coupling with her priestesses was a form of
Aphrodite worship.
Curse God Power - Turn several enemy units into pigs
|_ Aphrodite's God Power turns a random number of Villagers and human
soldiers into Pigs. The weaker the units affected, the more units
can be affected.
To use Curse on your enemies, select the Curse icon at the top of
the screen, then left click near the enemy units you want to turn
into pigs. You must have line of sight to the enemy units you
wish to Curse.
Nemean Lion Mythological Unit
|_ A large and ferocious lion that lived on the plains of Nemea, it
terrorized the area and could not be killed by normal men, who
ran in fear from its mighty roar. The first labor of Heracles
was to kill the Nemean Lion. When Heracles discovered his arrows
and other weapons had no effect on the beast, the hero closed with
it and used his incredible strength to strangle it. He skinned
the beast and returned with its skin as a cloak. Heracles was
thereafter depicted wearing the cloak of the Nemean Lion.
Divine Blood Improvement - Villagers move 20% faster, carry 10 more
| resources, and construct buildings 20% faster
|_ Aphrodite's name means "foam-born," and according to mythology,
she rose from the sea near Cyprus after Oranos the Titan's severed
body parts were hurled into the ocean by Kronos. As the goddess of
beauty and passion, Aphrodite engaged in many trysts with mortals,
much like her foster father, Zeus. Prominent among these was
Aeneas, who would escape the burning city of Troy to eventually
found Rome.
Golden Apples Improvement - Villagers gather favor 15% faster
|_ Enyo, or Strife, the daughter of Ares decided to sow discord by
producing a golden apple inscribed "to the fairest". The goddesses
Athena, Hera and Aphrodite immediately began squabbling over for
which one of them the apple was intended. A shepherd named Paris
was chosen to answer the question. Athena offered him wisdom.
Hera offered him power. Aphrodite offered him the most beautiful
woman in the world. Paris chose Aphrodite. The most beautiful
woman in the world turned out to be Helen, wife of a prominent
Greek king, and her abduction began the Trojan War.
Roar of Orthus Improvement - Nemean Lion -50% pierce damage vulnerability,
| 20% hack damage vulnerability
|_ Echidna was a half-woman, half-snake mother of many monstrous
progeny, including Ladon (a dragon), the Hydra, the Chimera,
Orthus (a multi-headed dog) and Cerberus (the multi-headed dog
that guards the gates to Erebus). Echidna and Orthus had their
own foul brood, including the Greek Sphinx and Nemean Lion.
Orthus was guarding the cattle of Geryon when he was strangled
by Heracles.
DIONYSUS - Heroic Age
--------
Description: The god of wine, the theater, agriculture, the fertility
of nature, and mysteries, he is usually seen with grape vines, ivy, or
a panther. Unlike most Greek gods, who are normally portrayed as bright
creatures of the light, Dionysus is mysterious and shadowy. His followers
revel in mad behavior, drunkenness, and death. Because of his differences,
Dionysus may have been a melding of Greek and Asian attributes.
He was the patron of the Maenads, wild women who worshipped him and
roamed the mountains shouting and hunting wild animals. He was also
the patron of mystery cults, of which we know very little today. The
greatest mystery associated with Dionysus is that at one point he
was believed slain, but then reborn, a very unusual circumstance for
an immortal god.
Bronze God Power - Increases the armor of mortal units for a little while
|_ This Heroic Age God Power temporarily armors units in the area
with solid bronze, making them nearly invulnerable to enemy weapons
for a short time. Enemies are not affected.
To use Bronze, select the Bronze icon at the top of the screen and
left click near the units you want bronzed.
Hydra Mythological Unit
|_ Another of the fierce offspring of Echinda and Typhon,
the Hydra was a large serpent with multiple heads and poisonous
breath. Killing the Hydra near the city of Lerna in Argolis was
the second of Heracles’ twelve tasks. Each time he cut off one
of the Hydra’s heads, however, two more grew back. A nephew
helped him by cauterizing each wound as a head was lopped off.
The last head was immortal, so Heracles buried it under a large
rock. Once the beast’s body was dead, Heracles dipped his
arrowheads into its blood, giving them extra potency.
Scylla Mythological Unit
|_ A terrifying sea monster with six serpent heads and a ring
of barking dogs around her waist, Scylla guarded one side of the
straits of Messina, between Sicily and Italy. The dogs alerted her
when a ship was passing so she could seize sailors. Scylla was
originally a beautiful nymph who was transformed by the jealous
sorceress Circe.
Anastrophe Improvement - Pentekonters have +20% attack, move 10% faster
| and train 25% faster
|_ The anastrophe was a surprise maneuver used by Trireme captains
to suddenly change directions and attempt to ram.
Bacchanalia Improvement - Improves the HP of all units by 5%
|_ As god of wine, Dionysus' festivals with his followers were full
of joy and celebration. However, there was a darker side to these
events as well. Dionysus was also representative of untamed
natural forces, and in a drunken, wild state, Dionysus' followers
would be driven to bloody deeds and kill with their bare hands.
Thracian Horses Improvement - Cavalry have +20% HP
|_ When Dionysus was young and wandered Earth as a mortal, his growing
cult was opposed by King Lycurgus of Thrace. Dionysus drove Lycurgus
mad, so that he chopped up his own son with an axe, believing he
was pruning a vine. Eventually his own subjects caused Lycurgus to
be torn to pieces by wild horses.
ARTEMIS - Mythic Age
-------
Description: The goddess of the hunt and the protector of children, she
is often seen with her bow and with wild animals, or wandering in the
woods accompanied by nymphs. She and her twin brother, Apollo, were
children of Zeus and the Titan Leto. Artemis was said to be aloof and
free-spirited, free of husband and home, and forever a virgin. She
exacts complete and deadly retribution for those who transgressed
against the gods or herself. She turned the hunter Actaeon into a
stag that was torn apart by his own hunting dogs, all for accidentally
seeing her bathing. She was also believe to be responsible for the
deaths of women in childbirth.
Earthquake God Power - Damages enemy buildings and units
|_ Artemis calls forth the wrath of nature in a mighty Earthquake.
Every unit in the area is affected, though enemies take more
damage, and buildings are hurt much more than units. Farms take
very little damage.
To unleash the devastation, left click on the Earthquake icon at
the top of the screen, then left click where you want the center
of the Earthquake to be. You must have line of sight to target
Earthquake.
Chimera Mythological Unit
|_ The chimera is one of the varied offspring of Echidna (with the
torso of a beautiful woman and a horrible serpent below the
waist) and Typhon (a fire-breathing giant with 100 serpent
heads). The Chimera is a fire-breathing beast, usually depicted
with the body of a goat, the head of a lion, and tail of a
serpent. The Corinthian hero, Bellerophon, defeated the original
Lycian (a Greek kingdom in Asia Minor) chimera by flying into
battle on the winged horse, Pegasus.
Flames of Typhon Improvement - Chimerae have +30% attack, +20% HP,
| special attack does 30% more damage
|_ Typhon was a fire-breathing monster that dripped venom from his
eyes. The battle between the gods and Typhon was so destructive
that most of life on earth was killed. In the end, Typhon hurled
Mount Aetna at Zeus, but Zeus struck it with a hundred well-aimed
thunderbolts and pinned Typhon beneath the rubble. The monster
was never entirely killed, though, which is why Mount Aetna
still rumbles with earthquakes and lava. Typhon had many
offspring with the equally monstrous Echidna, including the Chimera.
Shafts of Plague Improvement - Arrows Archers have +15% attack
|_ Like her brother, Apollo, Artemis was said to be able to cause
plague by firing her arrows. The family of Niobe met with such a
death. Niobe made the foolish claim that she was superior to the
mother of Apollo and Artemis, Leto, for she had borne seven sons
and seven daughters, and Leto only two. Apollo then shot all
seven sons and Artemis all seven daughters.
Trierarch Improvement - Triremes have -20% crush damage vulnerability
|_ The Trierarch was the highest ranking officer on a trireme, and
also responsible for the cost and maintenance of his ship. He
was assisted by the Pentekontrarchos, who maintained the ship's
purse and records, the Kubernator, or pilot, and the Auletes,
who played a flute to keep rowers in rhythm.
HEPHAESTUS - Mythic Age
----------
Description: The god of fire, volcanoes, blacksmiths, and metal working,
he had a strong following in the cities where his skills were important to
commerce and war. He is usually seen with an axe. In one account he
sided with his mother Hera against Zeus who threw him so far that he
fell all day and limped thereafter. Hephaestus was associated with
Mt. Etna on the island of Sicily. In his workshop he fashioned many
wondrous things for the gods, including thunderbolts for Zeus,
Athena’s shield, arrows for Eros, and the chariot with which Helios
the sun god rode across the sky. He also helped create the first
human woman from clay, named Pandora, who released the evils of the
world on humankind from her magic jar.
Plenty God Power - Creates a vault which constantly generates food, wood,
| and gold.
|_ Hephaestus' God Power creates a wondrous, mythical Vault that
grants a constant flow of Food, Wood, and Gold.
To erect the Vault of Plenty, left click on the Plenty icon, then
left click where you wish to place the Vault. The gods favor the
strong -- if an enemy has more units or buildings near the vault
than you, then you will lose control of the vault and the enemy
will get the flow of resources. Place the Vault carefully, and
then defend it well.
Colossus Mythological Unit
|_ The Great Colossus at Rhodes was one of the Seven Wonders of the
Ancient World. It stood over 150 ft. high on a 50 ft. white
marble base. It was mostly hollow, with a skin of bronze
welded to a skeleton frame of stone and metal. Though it
was destroyed by an earthquake after standing for only about
fifty years, such was its enormity that people came to Rhodes
just to see its ruins, just as people today visit the ruins of
other Greek monuments, buildings and temples.
Forge Of Olympus Improvement - Armory technologies cost 75% less
|_ As the smith of the Greek gods, Hephaestus forged many great items
for the other gods, such as the thunderbolts of Zeus, Aegis Shield,
arrows of Eros, chariot of Helios and armor of Achilles. He even
helped to create the first woman, Pandora, of clay. Hephaestus
also created items used against the gods when he was wronged,
such as a throne that held Hera prisoner when she cast him out
of Olympus for being so ugly, and a chain-link net used to trap
his wife, Aphrodite, when he suspected her of cheating on him
with Ares.
Hand of Talos Improvement - Colossus gains +100 HP
|_ One of Zeus' many lovers was a mortal woman named Europa. In
the form of a white bull, Zeus spirited her away to the isle
of Crete, where she had 3 sons. Zeus had Hephaestus forge a
giant of iron to defend Europa and the island. Talos was
powered by a single blood vein that ran from his throat to
his ankle. The vein was sealed with a pin at the ankle.
Shoulder of Talos Improvement - Colossus gains +200 HP, -20% hack damage
| Vulnerability
|_ On the return voyage of Jason and the Argonauts, they needed to
stop and resupply on the Isle of Crete, but the sorcerous Medea
warned them of Talos. When Talos appeared and began to throw
rocks at the Argo, Medea played her lyre to coax him to sleep.
She then pulled out the bronze pin that held in his blood and
the giant collapsed. Jason and his men could then collect food
and water before continuing their voyage.
Weapon of the Titans Improvement - Unique units gain +10% attack
|_ The Titans created and ruled the Earth before their children,
the Olympians, overthrew them. They wielded the raw power of
the elements: Light, Earth, Time, Water, Fire. The children
of the Titans, the Olympians, wielded fantastic, if more
conventional, weapons forged by the club-footed god Hephaestus
or cyclops smiths.
-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-
HADES
-----
Description: The brother of Zeus, Hades drew the underworld as his to
rule when the Titans were overthrown and banished to Tartarus. He
shared rule of the underworld with Persephone, whom he had abducted
from above. Although required to release her, she was tricked and
forced to remain with him. Hades sat on an ebony throne and wore a helmet
that made him invisible. There he ruled the dead and accepted
those newly arrived from above. Hermes brought the souls of the
dead to the River Styx where Charon, the ferryman, carried them
across. The three-headed watchdog, Cerberus, prevented any
escape. Most souls remained on the empty Plain of Asphodel. A
lucky few of extraordinary merit went on to the blessed islands
of Elysium. The unlucky were sentenced to unending torment
further down in Tartarus. In rare instances, Hades allowed
living mortals, such as Odysseus, to enter the underworld and
then leave again. Even more rarely did Hades free the dead to
return to the living. He was the richest of the gods, possessing
all the mineral wealth in the Earth.
Bonuses: Archers have 10% more attack
Buildings have 25% more hit points and 20% more attack
When human soldiers are killed, there is a 20% chance a shade
will be generated at the player's temple
Sentinel God Power - Creates four statues at a target town center which
| will attack any enemies within range
|_ Hades grants this God Power that causes 4 stony guardians to rise
from the ground and protect a Town Center belonging to you or an
ally.
To summon the Sentinels, left click on the Sentinel icon at the
top of the screen, then left click on a Town Center. If there is
not space for all 4 Sentinel statues, some may appear red. You
may use the God Power anyway and create fewer statues, or you can
try to remove the obstructions (such as deleting a building), or
just use the power on a different Town Center.
The Sentinels are affected by improvements that make buildings
stronger.
Vaults of Erebus Improvement - Increases Gold production by 0.75 gold/second
|_ Although Hades was the god of the dead, he was also considered
the god of wealth because precious minerals came from beneath the
ground. Hades' realm was divided into two parts, Erebus, where the
dead first entered the underworld, and the deeper region of
Tartarus, where the Titans were imprisoned. The underworld was
divided from the world of the living by 5 rivers: Acheron, the
river of woe; Lethe, the river of forgetfulness; Styx, the river
of unbreakable oaths; Phlegethon, the river of fire; and Cocytus,
the river of lamentations.
ATHENA - Classical Age
------
Description: The goddess of wisdom, crafts, justice, and war, she is
often associated with a shield for war, the owl for wisdom, or the olive
tree. When Athena and Poseidon vied to be the patron of a prominent
city, they held a contest to see who could give the city the finest
gift. Poseidon provided a well, but it produced salty water. Athena
gave the olive tree that provided food, oil, and wood. The city took
the name Athens.
Athena had a prominent role in Homer’s epics, the Iliad and the Odyssey,
serving as Odysseus’ patron throughout his long voyage. In addition to
sponsoring warriors and heroes, she introduced many skills necessary
for civilization. In an unusual but not unique birth, she sprang from
Zeus’ head fully grown and ready for battle. Legends say that Zeus had
prevented a normal birth of a son with Athena’s abilities, who he
feared would unseat him. Although she was a protector of human heroes,
she maintained a distance from male gods whom she perhaps found
unworthy of her. Athena’s companion was Nike, the goddess of victory.
Restoration God Power - Heals friendly units/buildings in the target area.
|_ Athena's healing touch affects all allied units and buildings in
a small area. As long as the light shines down, units in the area
will regain hitpoints.
To use Restoration, left click on the Restoration icon, then target
anywhere on the map. Using Restoration during a fight can prolong
the life of your armies. Using it while a town is under attack
can save your buildings.
"Of Pallas Athena, guardian of the city, I begin to sing. Dread is
she, and with Ares she loves deeds of war, the sack of cities and
the shouting and the battle. It is she who saves the people as
they go out to war and come back. Hail, goddess, and give us good
fortune with happiness!"
-- Homeric Hymn to Athena
Minotaur Mythological Unit
|_ King Minos prayed to Poseidon to send him a snow-white bull as
a sign he was fit to rule Crete. He promised to sacrifice
the animal, but when it appeared, he kept it for his own. In
retribution, Poseidon caused Minos' wife to fall in love with
the bull. Their offspring was the Minotaur, a beast with the
head of a bull and the body of a man. Minos had a huge labyrinth
constructed under Crete where the Minotaur could be kept. Each
year seven boys and seven girls were sent into the maze to be
eaten by the beast. Eventually the Minotaur was slain by Theseus
who unraveled a ball of twine as he moved into the labyrinth so
he could find his way out.
The legend of the minotaur may have originated because of the
important of the bull in Minoan ritual. Minoan buildings were
adorned with bull horns, and their hourglass shields covered
with bull hide. Early frescoes show Minoan youths leaping over
the horns of bulls as a form of sport.
Aegis Shield Improvement - Infantry have -10% Pierce Vulnerability
|_ The Aegis was a magical shield that officially belonged to
Zeus, but he usually allowed his favorite child, Athena, to
carry it. The shield was fringed and covered with scales and
often adorned with a medusa head. It may have been the shield
Perseus used to reflect the Medusa's image, thereby avoiding
her gaze. Some myths depict the Aegis as a cloak, or a shield
that could convert to a cloak. Like much of the armament of
the Olympians, it was forged by Hephaestus.
Sarissa Improvement - Hoplites have -10% Hack Vulnerability
|_ Although often referred to as the goddess of wisdom, Athena's
realm more accurately extended to technology, and the
development of the sarissa qualifies as one of the greatest
achievements in military technology. While Greek infantry
used 8-10' long spears for centuries, Alexander the Great
refined its use for the Greek phalanx, creating a 16-20'
long, two-handed pike called a sarissa. Macedonian phalanxes
armed with sarissas dominated Mediterranean warfare until
the rise of Rome.
Labyrinth of Minos Improvement - Minotaurs cost -25% Food and have +40% HP
|_ Minos, the Minoan king of Crete, imprisoned the minotaur in a
complex labyrinth designed by Daedalus, the famous Athenian
inventor. The labyrinth was so skillfully designed that none
could escape before they were devoured by the minotaur. None but
Theseus, that is, who, aided by Minos' daughter Ariadne, was able
to find his way by unraveling thread to mark his route. Minos
was so enraged that he imprisoned Daedauls in the labyrinth, but
Daedauls escaped by fashioning bird wings of wax. Upon his death,
Minos was made one of the judges of Hades.
The Minoan palace at Knossos had an elaborate floorplan and may
have led to the myth of the labyrinth.
ARES - Classical Age
----
Description: The Greek god of war, he is usually seen with a spear, the
preferred weapon of Greek Hoplites. He was tall and handsome, but vain
and cruel. He was preoccupied with war and battles, quick to rush into
a fight, reveled in bloodshed, and heedless of who won or lost. He was
worshipped most strongly in regions like Thrace, where the people were
particularly fierce. There was one exception to his obsession with
war: he was smitten by Aphrodite and had a long running affair with
her. Homer recounts in the Odyssey a tale of the sun god Helios spotting
the pair enjoying each other’s charms and reporting their tryst to
Hephaestus, Aphrodite’s husband. The great smith fashioned a special
net in which he caught the pair locked in their passionate embrace. He
offered to exhibit the netted pair to the gods of Olympus, but the women
demurred. Homer says that many of the male gods offered to switch places
with Ares.
Pestilence God Power - Halt production at enemy buildings in the target area
|_ This Classical Age God Power called by Ares prevents enemy military
buildings from training new soldiers within its area of effect.
Enemies can still train new units outside of the area of effect.
Allied units are not affected, and neither are economic buildings,
such as Town Centers.
To invoke a Pestilence, left click on the Pestilence God Power at
the top of the screen, and then left click anywhere on the map.
You must have line of sight to use this power.
Cyclops Mythological Unit
|_ Giants with one central eye, the Cyclopes were storm gods in
early Greek mythology. In some tales they became smiths and
worked with Hephaestus on Zeus’ thunderbolts. In other tales
there were only three Cyclopes, representing thunder, lightning,
and a thunderbolt. In classical Greece, the "lesser cyclopes" were
seen as the sons of Poseidon, bestial and violent, who were avoided
and feared. There were also wise and powerful "elder Cyclopes" that
were the sons of Kronos.
Deimos' Sword Improvement - Hypaspists have +15% attack
|_ Deimos, also called Fear, was one of the sons of Ares and
Aphrodite. He followed Ares in battle, along with his brother,
Phobos. Deimos is a personification of emotion and does not
appear as an actual character in any Greek myths.
Enyo's Bow Improvement - Toxotes have +10% attack
|_ Enyo, the personification of strife and discord, was also known
as Eris, and was the daughter of Ares. She delighted in bloody
battlefields, and was known as the Sacker of Cities, and appeared
in Troy when the city fell to the Greeks. In some myths, Enyo
produced the Golden Apple that began the Trojan War.
"Yet these charged forth -- they could not choose but so, for
Strife and deadly Enyo in their midst stalked, like the fell
Erinyes to behold, breathing destruction from their lips like
flame."
-- Quintus, The Fall of Troy
Phobos' Spear Improvement - Hoplites have +10% attack
|_ Phobos, or Terror, was one of the sons of Ares and Aphrodite.
He accompanied his father into battle. Phobos is more of an
abstraction than an actual god and does not appear in any Greek
myths.
"In the centre was Phobos (Fear) worked in adamant, unspeakable,
staring backwards with eyes that glowed with fire. His mouth was
full of teeth in a white row, fearful and daunting, and upon his
grim brow hovered frightful Eris (Strife) who arrays the throng
of men ..."
-- Hesiod, Shield of Heracles
Will of Kronos Improvement - Cyclopes have +50% hack damage, double
| crush damage, train 25% faster
|_ Greek mythology makes a distinction between the "lesser" Cyclopes,
who were the sons of Poseidon, and the "elder" Cyclopes, who were
children of Kronos. Their names were given as Arges, Brontes,
Steropes, Euryalos, Elatreus, Trakhios and Halimedes. The Elder
Cyclopes were known as craftsmen and builders, and were so feared
for their great strength that they were kept locked in Tartarus.
"After ten years of fighting Ge prophesied a victory for Zeus if
he were to secure the prisoners down in Tartarus as his allies.
He thereupon slew their jail-keeper Kampe, and freed them from
their bonds. In return the Cyclopes gave Zeus thunder, lightning,
and a thunderbolt, as well as a helmet for Hades and a trident
for Poseidon. Armed with these the three gods overpowered the
Titans, confined them in Tartaros, and put the Hekatonkheires
in charge of guarding them."
-- Apollodorus
APOLLO - Heroic Age
------
Description: The god of music, archery (only as sport), medicine,
colonization, herds, and divination, he represents many of the better
qualities of humankind, including order, intelligence, rationalization,
and an appreciation for the finer things. He could cause or cure the
plague. He established the oracle at Delphi and perhaps the city of
Troy. He is often perceived as the perfect male. Apollo and his twin
sister Artemis were fathered by Zeus and born of the Titan Leto,
necessarily incurring the wrath of Zeus’ wife Hera, who did all she
could to prevent the twins from being born. Apollo was also well
known for his love affairs with beautiful mortals of both sexes, including
among them Calliope, Coronis and Daphne. Apollo's Oracle at Delphi
was well known throughout the Mediterranean. Apollo is closely
associated with the sun, or at least with Helios, the Greek sun god.
Underworld Passage God Power - Allows units to travel between two points
| on the map instantly
|_ Apollo's God Power creates a permanent (until destroyed) tunnel
through the Underworld, which may be used to travel almost
instantly from one point to another on the map.
To use the Underworld Passage, left click on the Underworld Passage
icon, then left click where you want one end of the passage to be.
Left click again in a different location to place the other end of
the Underworld passage.
Place one end in your town and the other end in an ally's town to
allow quick reinforcements and speedy retreats. Use it to circumvent
walls and defenses or even place one end deep in enemy territory
for a sneak attack. The passage remains in place as long as the
entrance and exit are intact.
Manticore Mythological Unit
|_ The Manticore probably came into Greek mythology from
Persia and originated in tales about far away and exotic India.
The beast had the body of a red lion, a human face (with blue eyes
and human ears), three rows of teeth, a stinging poisonous tail,
and poisonous spines that could be shot like arrows in any
direction. Its voice was like a mixture of pipes and trumpets.
It was fast and capable of great leaps. When villagers vanished
without a trace, it was believed they were devoured by a manticore.
Oracle Improvement - All units and buildings gain +6 LOS
|_ One of the reasons for Apollo's prominence in Greek mythology
was his Oracle at Delphi, who could predict the future. Apollo
established the oracle when he rid Delphi of the serpent,
Python. Apollo dedicated a bronze tripod to the sanctuary
there, and bestowed divine powers on the priestess. The
priestess, known as the Pythia, would chew on laurel leaves and
inhale the hallucinating vapors issuing from the temple floor,
while mumbling prophecies that had to be translated by attendant
male priests.
Sun Ray Improvement - Archers, Centaurs and Manticores gain +10% attack
|_ Apollo was known as "Phoebus," the "radiant," and had a close
connection to Helios, the sun god. Apollo is often shown holding
a bow and arrow symbolizing the sun's rays, as he was the god of
archery (as art, not for warfare or hunting).
Temple of Heating Improvement - Temples heal a single unit at a time
|_ Idle units heal much faster than those moving or engaged in
combat. Some units, such as undead, Titans, or the dragon,
Nidhogg, cannot be healed.
Apollo was the father of Asclepius, the god of medicine, whose
symbol, the cadeuses, is still used as a symbol for medicine
today (though is often portrayed as the winged staff of Hermes's,
not the serpent-entwined staff of Asclepius).
"I begin to sing of Asclepius, son of Apollo and healer of
sicknesses. In the Dotian plain fair Koronis, daughter of King
Phlegyas, bare him, a great joy to men, a soother of cruel
pangs. and so hail to you, lord: in my song I make my prayer to
thee!"
--Homeric Hymn XVI
Aphrodite - Heroic Age
---------
Description: The goddess of love, beauty, and sexual rapture, her name
derives from the word for sea foam. In one story, she was born when
Kronos the Titan was castrated and his genitals were thrown into the
ocean. The sea began to roil and from the foam Aphrodite took shape.
In contrast, Homer says she was the daughter of Zeus and Dione.
Regardless of her ancestry, she was beautiful beyond words.
Seeking Olympian tranquility, Zeus gave Aphrodite in marriage to
hard-working and reliable Hephaestus. With his metal working skills
he fashioned for her wonderful jewels, including a golden magical
girdle. The combination of her personal charms and her jewels made
her irresistible. She took advantage of her gifts, loving glamour and
flirting, and was not particularly happy with a dirty, boring husband.
She took many lovers, including Adonis, and bore several children,
including Eros. The festival of Aphrodisiac was celebrated, especially
in Athens and Corinth. Coupling with her priestesses was a form of
Aphrodite worship.
Curse God Power - Turn several enemy units into pigs
|_ Aphrodite's God Power turns a random number of Villagers and human
soldiers into Pigs. The weaker the units affected, the more units
can be affected.
To use Curse on your enemies, select the Curse icon at the top of
the screen, then left click near the enemy units you want to turn
into pigs. You must have line of sight to the enemy units you
wish to Curse.
Nemean Lion Mythological Unit
|_ A large and ferocious lion that lived on the plains of Nemea, it
terrorized the area and could not be killed by normal men, who
ran in fear from its mighty roar. The first labor of Heracles
was to kill the Nemean Lion. When Heracles discovered his arrows
and other weapons had no effect on the beast, the hero closed with
it and used his incredible strength to strangle it. He skinned
the beast and returned with its skin as a cloak. Heracles was
thereafter depicted wearing the cloak of the Nemean Lion.
Divine Blood Improvement - Villagers move 20% faster, carry 10 more
| resources, and construct buildings 20% faster
|_ Aphrodite's name means "foam-born," and according to mythology,
she rose from the sea near Cyprus after Oranos the Titan's severed
body parts were hurled into the ocean by Kronos. As the goddess of
beauty and passion, Aphrodite engaged in many trysts with mortals,
much like her foster father, Zeus. Prominent among these was
Aeneas, who would escape the burning city of Troy to eventually
found Rome.
Golden Apples Improvement - Villagers gather favor 15% faster
|_ Enyo, or Strife, the daughter of Ares decided to sow discord by
producing a golden apple inscribed "to the fairest". The goddesses
Athena, Hera and Aphrodite immediately began squabbling over for
which one of them the apple was intended. A shepherd named Paris
was chosen to answer the question. Athena offered him wisdom.
Hera offered him power. Aphrodite offered him the most beautiful
woman in the world. Paris chose Aphrodite. The most beautiful
woman in the world turned out to be Helen, wife of a prominent
Greek king, and her abduction began the Trojan War.
Roar of Orthus Improvement - Nemean Lion -50% pierce damage vulnerability,
| 20% hack damage vulnerability
|_ Echidna was a half-woman, half-snake mother of many monstrous
progeny, including Ladon (a dragon), the Hydra, the Chimera,
Orthus (a multi-headed dog) and Cerberus (the multi-headed dog
that guards the gates to Erebus). Echidna and Orthus had their
own foul brood, including the Greek Sphinx and Nemean Lion.
Orthus was guarding the cattle of Geryon when he was strangled
by Heracles.
ARTEMIS - Mythic Age
-------
Description: The goddess of the hunt and the protector of children, she
is often seen with her bow and with wild animals, or wandering in the
woods accompanied by nymphs. She and her twin brother, Apollo, were
children of Zeus and the Titan Leto. Artemis was said to be aloof and
free-spirited, free of husband and home, and forever a virgin. She
exacts complete and deadly retribution for those who transgressed
against the gods or herself. She turned the hunter Actaeon into a
stag that was torn apart by his own hunting dogs, all for accidentally
seeing her bathing. She was also believe to be responsible for the
deaths of women in childbirth.
Earthquake God Power - Damages enemy buildings and units
|_ Artemis calls forth the wrath of nature in a mighty Earthquake.
Every unit in the area is affected, though enemies take more
damage, and buildings are hurt much more than units. Farms take
very little damage.
To unleash the devastation, left click on the Earthquake icon at
the top of the screen, then left click where you want the center
of the Earthquake to be. You must have line of sight to target
Earthquake.
Chimera Mythological Unit
|_ The chimera is one of the varied offspring of Echidna (with the
torso of a beautiful woman and a horrible serpent below the
waist) and Typhon (a fire-breathing giant with 100 serpent
heads). The Chimera is a fire-breathing beast, usually depicted
with the body of a goat, the head of a lion, and tail of a
serpent. The Corinthian hero, Bellerophon, defeated the original
Lycian (a Greek kingdom in Asia Minor) chimera by flying into
battle on the winged horse, Pegasus.
Flames of Typhon Improvement - Chimerae have +30% attack, +20% HP,
| special attack does 30% more damage
|_ Typhon was a fire-breathing monster that dripped venom from his
eyes. The battle between the gods and Typhon was so destructive
that most of life on earth was killed. In the end, Typhon hurled
Mount Aetna at Zeus, but Zeus struck it with a hundred well-aimed
thunderbolts and pinned Typhon beneath the rubble. The monster
was never entirely killed, though, which is why Mount Aetna
still rumbles with earthquakes and lava. Typhon had many
offspring with the equally monstrous Echidna, including the Chimera.
Shafts of Plague Improvement - Arrows Archers have +15% attack
|_ Like her brother, Apollo, Artemis was said to be able to cause
plague by firing her arrows. The family of Niobe met with such a
death. Niobe made the foolish claim that she was superior to the
mother of Apollo and Artemis, Leto, for she had borne seven sons
and seven daughters, and Leto only two. Apollo then shot all
seven sons and Artemis all seven daughters.
Trierarch Improvement - Triremes have -20% crush damage vulnerability
|_ The Trierarch was the highest ranking officer on a trireme, and
also responsible for the cost and maintenance of his ship. He
was assisted by the Pentekontrarchos, who maintained the ship's
purse and records, the Kubernator, or pilot, and the Auletes,
who played a flute to keep rowers in rhythm.
HEPHAESTUS - Mythic Age
----------
Description: The god of fire, volcanoes, blacksmiths, and metal working,
he had a strong following in the cities where his skills were important to
commerce and war. He is usually seen with an axe. In one account he
sided with his mother Hera against Zeus who threw him so far that he
fell all day and limped thereafter. Hephaestus was associated with
Mt. Etna on the island of Sicily. In his workshop he fashioned many
wondrous things for the gods, including thunderbolts for Zeus,
Athena’s shield, arrows for Eros, and the chariot with which Helios
the sun god rode across the sky. He also helped create the first
human woman from clay, named Pandora, who released the evils of the
world on humankind from her magic jar.
Plenty God Power - Creates a vault which constantly generates food, wood,
| and gold.
|_ Hephaestus' God Power creates a wondrous, mythical Vault that
grants a constant flow of Food, Wood, and Gold.
To erect the Vault of Plenty, left click on the Plenty icon, then
left click where you wish to place the Vault. The gods favor the
strong -- if an enemy has more units or buildings near the vault
than you, then you will lose control of the vault and the enemy
will get the flow of resources. Place the Vault carefully, and
then defend it well.
Colossus Mythological Unit
|_ The Great Colossus at Rhodes was one of the Seven Wonders of the
Ancient World. It stood over 150 ft. high on a 50 ft. white
marble base. It was mostly hollow, with a skin of bronze
welded to a skeleton frame of stone and metal. Though it
was destroyed by an earthquake after standing for only about
fifty years, such was its enormity that people came to Rhodes
just to see its ruins, just as people today visit the ruins of
other Greek monuments, buildings and temples.
Forge Of Olympus Improvement - Armory technologies cost 75% less
|_ As the smith of the Greek gods, Hephaestus forged many great items
for the other gods, such as the thunderbolts of Zeus, Aegis Shield,
arrows of Eros, chariot of Helios and armor of Achilles. He even
helped to create the first woman, Pandora, of clay. Hephaestus
also created items used against the gods when he was wronged,
such as a throne that held Hera prisoner when she cast him out
of Olympus for being so ugly, and a chain-link net used to trap
his wife, Aphrodite, when he suspected her of cheating on him
with Ares.
Hand of Talos Improvement - Colossus gains +100 HP
|_ One of Zeus' many lovers was a mortal woman named Europa. In
the form of a white bull, Zeus spirited her away to the isle
of Crete, where she had 3 sons. Zeus had Hephaestus forge a
giant of iron to defend Europa and the island. Talos was
powered by a single blood vein that ran from his throat to
his ankle. The vein was sealed with a pin at the ankle.
Shoulder of Talos Improvement - Colossus gains +200 HP, -20% hack damage
| Vulnerability
|_ On the return voyage of Jason and the Argonauts, they needed to
stop and resupply on the Isle of Crete, but the sorcerous Medea
warned them of Talos. When Talos appeared and began to throw
rocks at the Argo, Medea played her lyre to coax him to sleep.
She then pulled out the bronze pin that held in his blood and
the giant collapsed. Jason and his men could then collect food
and water before continuing their voyage.
Weapon of the Titans Improvement - Unique units gain +10% attack
|_ The Titans created and ruled the Earth before their children,
the Olympians, overthrew them. They wielded the raw power of
the elements: Light, Earth, Time, Water, Fire. The children
of the Titans, the Olympians, wielded fantastic, if more
conventional, weapons forged by the club-footed god Hephaestus
or cyclops smiths.
===========================================================================
Egyptian Mythology
===========================================================================
The Egyptians have two Heroes, the Pharaoh and Priest. The Pharaoh
features several unique abilities, the most important being the
ability to empower a building. This empowerment acts as a bonus
of sorts, but the effect really depends on the building that is
empowered at the time. A Monument, for instance, will gain Favor
much faster than if it weren't empowered.
Before there was air, earth, or even sky, there was only water - turbulent,
bubbling water from which the first God, Ra, arose.
Ra transformed into a new element in the cosmos, the sun. But the paucity
of other life soon weighed heavily upon him, and so through communion
with his own shadow, he sired a daughter, Tefnut. She also was a new
element - moisture. And Ra's other child, Shu, became the air. They in
turn had offsping of their own, Geb and Nut (the earth and sky). Soon an
enture cosmological order had been established. But with it came
unforseen challenges.
Soon Ra found himself forced into daily battle with the serpent Apep for
control of the atmosphere. Enlisting the help of wife and daughter Bast
(goddess of cats and fertility), Ra was successful on most days. But on
days when Apep prevailed, storms and foul weather were the rule.
This was the mere beginning of whar Ra would contend with. The frustrations
of lording over a human population that was prone to complaint and rebellion
once led Ra, in a fit of anger, to cast one of his eyes out and hurl it
toward the earth. The eye transformed into the goddess of vengeance,
Sekhmet, a force so destructive toward humanity that a remorseful Ra had
to recall her via trickery. Ra ordered his servants to create thousands
of vessels of beer. The beer would be mixed with pomegranate juice to
appear like the blood of her human victims and used to flood the field
surrounding her earthly abode.
The plan worked. When Sekhmet next emerged to finish slaughtering human-
kind, she caught her reflection in the gruesome red lake, fell in love with
it, and drank the mixture, falling asleep harmlessly. It worked so well
that she was eventually made the wide of Ptah (the very god of creation).
And later, ironically, she transformed into Hathor, goddess of love and
celebration.
Still, taking responsibility for the entire cosmos was beginning to tax
Ra's vitality. As he grew older, Ra looked for a replacement for his
duties overseeing the earth. It would be his great-grandson, Osiris.
Osiris (along with Isis, Set, and Nephthys) had been brought into the
world through the union of Geb and Nut. But when Ra left dominion of the
world to Osiris, the first sibling rivalry in cosmos history took place-
and what a rivalry!
Osiris had been a benevolent dictator - under his rule the men of Egypt
became civilized. But brother Set (the god of chaos and storms) was
jealous of the favor shown Osiris, and mirdered him. He constructed
an elaborate chest and held a party, telling all his siblings that
whoever fit into it could keep it for their own. But he had built the
beautiful casket with but one of them in mind: Osiris. And when Osiris
climbed in, Set had it sealed and his conspirators sent it down the Nile,
hoping it would never be seen again.
Thus Osiris was the first God in history to die, and became the first God
of the underworld. When Nephthys told her sister, Isis of the murder,
Isis became grief-stricken, for Osiris was her husband as well as her
brother. She found the body and was even successful in reviving Osiris,
and together they had a son, Horus. But Set soon discovered this, and
enraged, ripped Osiris into 14 pieces, scattering the parts over Egypt
so that even Isis could not piece them together. Anubis, inventor of
embalming and son of Osiris, performed the funeral in the great pyramid.
Set was now lord of the world, and given his proclivity for chaos and
violence, it seemed as if all of Osiris' works would soon be reversed.
Set was even said to be plotting an overthrow of his father Ra.
In response, Ra and Horus amassed a great army to overthrow Set's rule.
They enlisted Thoth, god of wisdom and truth, who transformed Horus into
a sun-disk with a heat so intense it confounded Set's armied, and they
destroyed one another.
But Set himself was nowhere to be found. He had gone into hiding a great
distance away, where he was free to form yet another force with which to
defeat Ra and Horus.
But it was not to be. And with eventual defeat, Horus dismembered Set
much the way his father had been. Thus Horus came to rule the world and
set the precedent for the pharaohs who followed.
The following chart reveals the Minor Gods from which you must choose,
according to your Major Gods, at each Age advance.
MAJOR GOD CLASSICAL AGE HEROIC AGE MYTHIC AGE
Ra Bast, Ptah Hathor, Sekhmet Horus, Osiris
Iris Anubis, Bast Hathor, Nephthys Osiris, Thoth
Set Anubis, Ptah Nephthys, Sekhmet Horus, Thoth
Below are the Egyptian Major & Minor Gods.
RA
--
Description: As one of the earliest and most successful agricultural
cultures on Earth, the ancient Egyptians gave their sun god, Ra, supremacy,
recognizing the importance of sunlight in producing food. The
Pharaohs of Egypt believed they were descendants of Ra.
The daily rise, overhead passage, and setting of Ra greatly impressed
the Egyptians. At dawn, Ra was seen as a newborn child, issuing from
the sky or a heavenly cow. By midday, Ra was thought of as a flying
bird or sailing boat. At sunset, Ra was seen as an old man descending
to the land of the dead. Overnight, Ra as a boat sailed eastward
through the underworld in preparation for the next day’s ascent.
Along the way he had to battle or evade Apep, the great serpent of
the underworld that sought to devour him. Part of the worship of
Ra involved creating magic to aid or protect Ra in his nightly
struggle with Apep, helping to assure the return of the sun.
Later in the ancient Egyptian period, Ra was diminished by being
forced to reveal to Isis his name, thereby giving her access to
some of his magical power. Despite the uplifting of other gods by
some cults, however, worship of the sun remained paramount in
ancient Egypt. Ra was often combined with other deities to
enhance the prestige of the latter, as in Ra-Atum or Amun-Ra.
Bonuses: Camels, Chariot Archers Have 10% More Hp And Move 10% Faster
Monuments Cost 25% Less And Have 20% More Hit Points
Priests Can Empower Buildings, But At A Reduced Rate (10% Not 20%)
Pharaoh Empowering Yields 25% More Resources Instead Of 20%
Rain God Power - Farms and fishing boats work 300% faster, allies and
| enemy's farms/fishing boats work 200% faster
|_ Ra calls down a rainstorm to allow your crops to grow. During the
Rain, all Farms near Town Centers will produce Food at a faster
rate, but your own Farms will produce even faster than other
players' Farms. A Villager must be working on a Farm to gain the
benefit. During the Rain, no other God Powers may be used on the map.
To call the showers, left click on the Rain icon, then left click
anywhere on the map.
Skin of Rhino Improvement - Villagers have 30% more hack/pierce armor,
| 10% more attack
|_ The skin of the rhinoceros is deeply-folded or plaited, and
studded with rivet-like tubercles on the shoulders, flanks and
legs that gives it the appearance of being armor-plated. There
is some truth to the myth that rhino skin is resistant to
projectiles.
PTAH - Classical Age
----
Description: The cult center of Ptah was at Memphis, one of the older
cities of ancient Egypt, and his importance grew as that city became
the capital for many dynasties. He was usually depicted as a shaven-
headed mummy holding a scepter or working with tools. He may have
originally been a fertility god, and for a time was held to be the
creator of all gods and religious practices. As other cults and
gods rose in importance, he became a protector of the arts and crafts,
a shaper of all things.
Shifting Sands God Power - Teleport units to a different point on the map
|_ Ptah's Shifting Sands can be used to transport allied or enemy
units from one location on the map to another. All allied units
are affected, but not every enemy unit in the area will be moved.
To summon the sandstorm, left click on the Shifting Sands icon.
Targeting the sand storm requires two left clicks, the first is
near the units you wish to transport, the second is where you want
those units transported. You must have line of sight to both
clicked areas. A good use for sandstorm is to shift an invading
army out of your town or to transport quickly past some defenses
for a surprise attack.
Wadjet Mythological Unit
|_ The Wadjet is named for the serpent goddess who appears in snake
form on the crown of the pharaoh. Her name means "papyrus-
colored-one". The serpent Wadjet can spit venom at a long range,
though the vestigial wings are used only to lift the heavy cobra
hood above the sand.
Electrum Bullets Improvement - Slingers +10% attack
|_ Ptah was a god of technology, so his mythological improvements
bring better armor and weapons to the Egyptians.
Electrum is a naturally occurring alloy of gold and silver. Though
weaker than other metals available at the time, the mystical,
spiritual and psychological properties of the metal were more
important than its strength. The great Pharaoh Ramses rode into
combat on his chariot wearing a helmet of electrum.
Leather Frame Shield Improvement - Spearmen -10% Pierce Vulnerability
|_ The Egyptians favored a round-topped, leather-covered wooden
shield. Leather over a wooden frame offered a cheap, light and
easy-to-work covering that was, in many cases, more resilient
than heavy and expensive metal coverings. A lighter shield meant
that troops carrying them could move more quickly and wield
them more effectively.
Scalloped Axe Improvement - Axemen +10% attack
|_ The Egyptians were fond of the axe as a weapon and tool. Heavily
ornamented axes have been discovered with the burial goods of
important mummies. Scalloping added surface area to the head of an
axe, making it stronger and able to deal more damage.
Shaduf Improvement - Farms cost 33% less, are built twice as fast
|_ Ptah was a god of technology, so his mythological improvements
benefit the economy of the Egyptians.
The shaduf was a simple, but important invention, consisting of
a container made of animal skins or clay attached to a lever
counterbalanced by stones. The container was used to lift water
from the Nile River and dumped into canals for irrigation.
BAST - Classical Age
----
Description: A daughter of Ra, Bast was the goddess of the cat,
considered a sacred animal in ancient Egypt. She was usually
associated with the moon, perhaps because cat eyes can shine in
moonlight. A special necropolis at her cult center in Bubastis
held huge numbers of mummified cats. Together, Bast and the
lioness-headed Sekhmet killed the great serpent Apep that tried to
swallow Ra and turn the world into darkness.
Eclipse God Power - Increase the power of your myth units, prevents
| other GP's from being used
|_ The Eclipse God Power temporarily improves the attack of all your
Myth Units on the map. While the sun is blocked out, they will
fight with magically-boosted strength.
To invoke the Eclipse, left click on the Eclipse icon at the top
of the screen, then left click anywhere on the map.
Sphinx Mythological Unit
|_ "Sphinx" was originally a Greek word ("to strangle") that was
applied to the pharaoh-headed lion statues that the Greeks saw
in Egypt, that Herodotus named "androsphinx". The Greek sphinx
was a monstrous brood of Typhon and Echidna, usually depicted
as a winged lion with a female head. She sat on a rock near
Thebes and asked passersby the now famous question, "What animal
is that which in the morning goes on four feet, at noon on two,
and in the evening upon three?" Those who could not answer were
eaten. Oedipus knew the correct answer (humans) and caused the
sphinx so much consternation that she cast herself from her
rock and died.
However, the sphinx as a monster probably predates Greek
mythology. Assyrian myths have sphinxes guarding temple
entrances. Sphinx-like creatures appear in Phoenician and Persian
art as well.
The Egyptians called their sphinxes "Hu". In addition to the
man-headed androsphinx, they also depicted ram-sphinxes that
Herodotus named "criosphinxes" and falcon-headed sphinxes
named "hieracosphinxes".
Adze of Wepwawet Improvement - Villagers knock down trees in one hit,
| gather wood 10% faster
|_ Wepwawet's sacred adze allows your Laborers to fell a tree in
a single blow, though they still must gather the wood from the
fallen trunk.
Wepwawet was a minor Egyptian god of the funerary cult. He used
his adze (a precursor of the plane tool) to break open the mouth
of the deceased in the "opening of the mouth" ceremony.
Egyptians depicted him as a jackal, though later Greeks
associated him with wolves, and named his sacred town of Zawty
"Lycopolis".
Criosphinx Improvement - Sphinx +50 HP, +20% hack/+50% crush damage
|_ The ram-headed Criosphinx was a guardian of sacred Egyptian
sites. The Temple at Karnak was once connected to Luxor and
the Nile by the Avenue of the Sphinx – a road flanked by dozens
upon dozens of the implacable riddle keepers.
"And yet the riddle was not to be solved by guess-work but
required the prophet's art; wherein thou wast found lacking;
neither birds nor sign from heaven helped thee, but I came,
the simple Oedipus; I stopped her mouth by mother wit, untaught
of auguries."
-- Oedipus, Oedipus Rex
Hieracosphinx Improvement - Sphinx +20% move rate, +20% hack/+50% crush
| damage
|_ Instead of a human head, the Hieracosphinx has the fierce head of
a hawk, a nasty disposition and a razor-sharp beak – all the
better to eviscerate those who cannot answer its riddles. It is
a much more aggressive and pitiless Sphinx than its more
peaceable cousins, the Criosphinx and Androsphinx.
"Say, sirrah, hast thou ever proved thyself a prophet? When the
riddling Sphinx was here why hadst thou no deliverance for this
folk?"
-- Oedipus, Oedipus Rex
Sacred Cats Improvement - Villagers farm 10% faster
|_ Bubastis was the center for worship of Bast, the cat-headed
Egyptian goddess of fertility. Initially, her worship included
the cats that inhabited her Temples, but eventually extended to
all cats. Cat worship was pragmatic for the Egyptians, for the
cats protected their grain stores and homes from vermin and
venomous creatures. Killing a cat was considered murder; a
Roman living in Alexandria discovered this when he accidentally
killed a cat and was subsequently pulled from his home into
the street and lynched by an angry mob of Egyptians.
SEKHMET - Heroic Age
-------
Description: The lion-headed wife of Ptah was a goddess of war and
the heat of the desert. Her name means "powerful." She rose to
prominence during the second millennium BC, when Egypt engaged in
many wars extending its domain and was a leading power in the
world. The Egyptians of the era readily worshipped a goddess who
was a fierce hunter. Together with Bast, the cat goddess, Sekhmet
destroyed Apep, the underworld serpent that attempted to swallow
Ra. In one myth, she is sent to wage war on those who thought Ra
was getting feeble. She was so effective in spreading ruin that
Ra had to trick her into drinking a lake of what appeared to be
blood, but was actually beer dyed with pomegranate juice. Sekhmet
became intoxicated and humanity was saved.
Citadel God Power - Turn a friendly town center into a mighty Citadel
|_ This defensive God Power transforms a Town Center into a mighty
Citadel, with great hit points and attack. The Citadel otherwise
acts like a normal Town Center. You can use Citadel on allied
Town Centers, even if they are Atlantean, Greek or Norse.
To erect the Citadel, left-click the Citadel icon, then
left-click on your own or an allied Town Center. In a swirl of
sand the Citadel arises to protect your lands.
Scarab Mythology Unit
|_ Scarab beetles are a diverse group of insects that live in South
America and Egypt. Egyptians adopted the scarab as sacred, and
used it to represent Ra, who rolled the sun across the sky each
day. The most famous scarab beetles roll dung into a ball, and
then proceed to roll their treasure back to their tunnels.
Egyptians depicted scarabs in a variety of artwork, including
amulets and "heart scarabs" which were large pieces hung on the
neck or as a pectoral.
"You are my soul which is in my body, the god Khnum who makes
my limbs sound. When you go forth to the Hereafter, my name
shall not stink to the courtiers who create people on his behalf.
Do not tell lies about me in the presence of the Great God!"
-- inscription found on a heart scarab in the Temple of Amun
Bone Bow Improvement - Chariot Archer +4 range
|_ The bow and crossed arrows were symbols of Neith, a goddess
considered old even by the ancient Egyptians. Neith was a goddess
of war, hunting, protection and creation. She was often depicted
holding a bow and arrows or crowned by a star over which a bow
curved.
Bows could be constructed of very simple materials, wood and
sinew or more complex, sturdier materials, horn, soft and hard
woods and sinew. Arrowheads were made out of stone, bone and
metals.
Ram of the West Wind Improvement - Siege Tower +20% HP and attack
|_ Rams were the first siege engines used to breach walls. They
were simply large weapons that were carried or wheeled up to
a wall and used to smash the stone or brick. As walls evolved,
rams became larger and offered more defense for those bearing
it into battle, such as protective mantlets or eventually mobile
towers.
Slings of the Sun Improvement - Slingers do +30% damage to Infantry &
| Throwing Axemen
|_ Ancient hunters used slings to kill or stun small prey and
while sling stones had the capacity to maim or kill, soldiers
often used them simply to distract or harass enemies. Because
archers relied on their range and aim, slingers could be very
effective against them. Slingers didn’t have to approach
archers on foot, a deadly prospect, and the stones they hurled
into a formation of archers wounded many, killed others and
certainly broke their concentration and threw off their aim.
Stones of Red Linen Improvement - Catapult, War Barge +20% attack
|_ Sekhmet is sometimes called "lady of red linen," referring to
the blood-soaked garments of her victims. While she was a
destructive force, she generally used her powers to annihilate
evil. While she was a bringer of plagues, her priests were
also known for their medical skills.
HATHOR - Heroic Age
------
Description: A goddess of the sky and fertility, Hathor was
portrayed as a cow, a woman with the head of a cow, or as a woman
with a headdress of cow’s horns and a sun disk. She may have been
a daughter of Ra, who relies on her in several myths. In other
myths, she and Sekhmet are portrayed as the same goddess. Hathor
was popular as the goddess of love, and associated with festivals
of music and dance. Worship of her spread into other nearby cultures,
although her name was changed.
Locust Swarm God Power - Destroy enemy farms, stealing food in the process
|_ This Heroic Age God Power summons a swarm of locusts that will
destroy enemy Farms or Fishing Ships. Because both of these are
expensive to establish, you can strike a blow against an enemy
economy. The Locusts cannot be attacked, and do only minor damage
to Villagers.
To plague your enemies with locusts, left click on the Locust
Swarm icon, then left click it near where you want the locusts
to swarm. You must have line of sight to the area to target the
swarm.
Petsuchos Mythological Unit
|_ The Petsuchos is a magic crocodile that can focus the beams of
sunlight into deadly searing rays. Like many ranged units, the
Petsuchos is weak when fighting at close range, but his beams
fire with perfect accuracy at distance.
"Petsuchos" is the Greek rendering of an Egyptian word meaning
"he who belongs to Suchos," the crocodile god also known as
Sobek. The Petsuchos was the sacred crocodile of Suchos kept in
a private lake in the city of Crocodopolis. He was an old,
pampered beast who wore golden rings in his ears and riveted
bracelets on his forelegs.
Roc Mythological Unit
|_ Reports of the Roc, a giant bird, come to us from the Arabian
Nights and the reports of Marco Polo. Sinbad describes the Roc
as being enormous with 16 yard long wings and a bulky body. In
one tale, a Roc carries Sinbad to safety after a shipwreck and
in another, Rocs destroy ships by dropping huge boulders on them.
Marco Polo tells of Rocs from Madagascar and how an envoy from
there presented a huge Roc feather to the Chinese court. A very
large flightless bird may actually have survived on the island
until the 16th century before going extinct.
Crocodopolis Improvement - Petsuchos has +4 range
|_ The crocodile god, known as Suchos or Sobek, was said to aid
fertility. The Greeks named his oasis of Fayoum near Lake Qarun
"Crocodopolis" or "city of the crocodile," where was kept a sacred
crocodile in his own private lake.
Medjay Improvement - Mercenaries live 30 seconds longer
|_ For the Medjay, Nubian nomads, long service alongside the military
forces of Egypt became service as a police force in parts of Thebes.
Around 200 B.C. they protected the construction of the royal
necropolis at Deir el-Medina. There they ensured that the workers
worked, were kept safe and they even pitched in to help in the
construction itself. Eventually the Medjay people and their culture
were totally absorbed by Egypt.
Sun Dried Mud Brick Improvement - Buildings have 10% more HP, cost 15% less
|_ Plentiful, easy to work, strong and an excellent barrier to heat,
sun-dried mud brick was one of the most common construction materials
in ancient Egypt. Straw and other debris added to the bricks gave
them better tensile strength. Plaster, woven straw coverings and
stone foundations often protected mud brick walls from the
elements. Stone was used preferentially for monuments and tombs
because it would better survive the elements without such protections,
lending a material immortality to the intended spiritual immortality
of the nobles and notables buried therein.
OSIRIS - Mythic Age
------
Description: Inheriting the rule of Egypt when his father abdicated,
the god Osiris taught his subjects how to make tools, cultivate crops,
brew beer, and make music. He brought civilization to the Nile Valley
by instituting laws and founding religion. He incurred the jealousy of
his brother Set, however, who had him trapped and exiled, then murdered
and cut into pieces. Osiris’ wife Isis was able to reassemble most of
his body, however, and resurrect him. Forgoing the opportunity to rule
Egypt once again, he chose instead to go west following the sun and
rule the land of the dead. In preparation for his journey and new life,
Isis embalmed him. Thereafter, the dead came to Osiris to be judged for
admission to the underworld where their souls could reside safely
forever. The heart of each petitioner was weighed against the feather
of truth. The final judgment could be influenced by magic or by temple
offerings. The promise of eternal life was a powerful lure, and Osiris
drew many followers. Osiris is usually portrayed wrapped in embalming
linens.
Son of Osiris God Power - Turns the Pharaoh into a lightning wielding
| demi-god
|_ This Mythic Age God Power transforms your Pharaoh into the
falcon-headed, lightning-wielding Son of Osiris. This unit has
all the powers of a normal Pharaoh, such as countering Myth Units,
healing and empowering, but is much more powerful in combat. He
is under your control and lasts until killed. He cannot be healed.
If he is killed, you will regain a normal Pharaoh.
Guard the Son of Osiris carefully; he will almost certainly become
your enemy’s favorite target.
To turn your Pharaoh into a demigod, left click on the Son of Osiris
icon at the top of the screen, then left click on your Pharaoh. If
you cannot locate your Pharaoh, use the banner button at the top
right of the screen to center your view on him.
Mummy Mythological Unit
|_ Heroes prepared for the afterlife were turned into Mummies by
embalming and special rites. Among their duties in the next life
might be the defense of sacred sites if robbers or other evil
doers disturbed their rest. Then the Mummies would arise and
destroy their enemies.
Atef Crown Improvement - Mummy +20% HP, +40% attack; Minions live twice
| as long
|_ Osiris was often depicted wearing this conical white crown topped
by the solar disk and flanked by two red ostrich plumes. The white
crown was the crown of Upper Egypt, the solar disk was a sun symbol
of kingship and the red feathers were symbols of the two truths -–
life and death. The feather was also a symbol of Ma’at, the goddess
of truth and justice.
Desert Wind Improvement - Camelry +20% speed, attack and HP
|_ Dromedaries (one-humped camels) are remarkably adapted to life
in the harsh desert environment. They can go for days without
water, lose almost half of their body weight without adverse
effects, and carry hundreds of pounds. Their flat feet and
pacing gait allow them to move at a good, rocking clip across
the desert sands.
Funeral Barge Improvement - Kebenits do damage x2 vs arrow ships
|_ Each morning Ra, the sun god, was reborn and rode across the
sky on the Manjet-Barge, the "Barge of a Million Years." At
sunset, when Ra died and became Auf, the barge turned into the
Mesektet-Barge, the "Night Barge," and carried him through the
hours of darkness until his rebirth.
New Kingdom Improvment - Gives you two pharoahs instead of one
|_ Lower Egypt, the fertile Black Lands, and Upper Egypt, the arid
Red Lands, were united when the ruler of Upper Egypt, King Menes,
conquered Lower Egypt, founding the 1st Dynasty around 3100 B.C.
"The living Heru; Who prospers the Two Lands; the Two Ladies:
Who prospers the Two Lands; the Golden Heru: Who prospers the
Two Lands; King of Upper and Lower Chem: Neferkare; the Son of
Re: Sha[baka], beloved of Ptah-South-of-his-Wall, who lives
like Re forever."
–- From the Shabaka Stone
HORUS - Mythic Age
-----
Description: The mystical son of Isis and Osiris, he was raised in
secrecy in the Nile swamps to avoid being discovered by Set, who
had killed his father, Osiris. When he reached adulthood he sought
to avenge his father and kill Set. After a lengthy contest in which
he lost an eye, he triumphed and his reward was the rule of Egypt.
He gave the lost eye to Osiris and wore instead a serpent on his
head to replace it. All pharaohs thereafter wore this serpent as a
symbol of authority and their ability to see and know all.
"Horus, strong Bull, steady at heart as the son of Nut, victorious
king! / He sets up all his borders at each place according to his
desire. / He spends the time of ploughing in Egypt. / He brought to
its knees the land of the people of Retenue / when he felled their
trees / and destroyed their cities ..."
-- rock stela by Qasr Ibrim on the banks of the Nile
Tornado God Power - Wreak havoc on enemy buildings and units
|_ Horus unleashes his wrath in a twisting funnel cloud. The Tornado
can sweep up entire armies, or turn cities into piles of rubble.
The Tornado moves around randomly, and can damage allied units or
buildings if it gets too close, though it does more damage to enemy
units and buildings.
To summon the Tornado, left click on the Tornado icon at the top
of the screen, then left click where you want the Tornado to appear.
Just be careful where you target it.
Avenger Mythological Unit
|_ Because the Avenger is so deadly fighting hand-to-hand, it is best
to combat him with ranged units. In combat, the Avenger periodically
attacks as a whirlwind, damaging all enemy units around him.
Horus was the child of Osiris and Iris who, upon reaching adulthood,
was known as Her-nedj-tef-ef, "Horus, Avenger of his Father," whose
role it was to seek venegance and cast out the evils of Set.
"Behold, the fire riseth in Abydos and it cometh; I cause it to
come, the Eye of Horus. It is set in order upon thy brow, O Osiris
Khenti-Amenti; it is set in the shrine and riseth on thy brow." --
The Pyramid Texts
Axe of Vengeance Improvement - Axemen have damage x3 vs Buildings
|_ The Egyptians favored two different forms of axe: one that
hacked and one that pierced. The earlier, hacking axe had a
long cutting edge and was better against unarmored foes. The
piercing axe could punch through armor, helmets and skulls alike,
as the mummy of Sekenere Tao II, a 17th Dynasty ruler of Thebes,
reveals.
Greatest of Fifty Improvement - Spearmen -10% hack vulnerability, damage
| multiplier vs cavalry increased by 1
|_ The invasion of the Hyksos at the end of the 14th Dynasty spurred
the peaceful Egyptians to organize what had, to that point, been
a rather informal army. The Pharaoh often led his armies into
battle. The chain of command ran from the Pharaoh and princes to
other nobles and officers, down to the "Greatest of Fifty." The
Greatest of Fifty commanded fifty soldiers, one of four such groups
under the command of a Standard Bearer. Soldiers under a Standard
Bearer all carried the same arms and armament.
Spears on the Horizon Improvement - Spearmen +10% attack, +30% HP
|_ Horus set out to vanquish Set. He stood at the prow of a barge
protected by the spells of Isis. He had a chained spear fashioned
for the hunt, and Thoth laid great spells upon Horus’ splendid
weapon. The spear flashed and glittered. Set, in the form of a
great, red hippopotamus, attacked the barge of Horus, but the spells
of Isis held, and the barge was untouched. With a mighty heave,
Horus cast the shining spear into the neck of the hippopotamus and
Set, murderer of Osiris and enemy of Ra, was destroyed.
-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-
SET
---
Description: The brother of Osiris (the god who brought civilization
to Egypt), Set was a god of storms in Upper Egypt. Set became jealous
of Osiris and worked unceasingly to destroy him. Through trickery,
Set trapped Osiris in a coffin that was hidden in the Middle East.
When Isis recovered the barely living Osiris, an enraged Set killed
him and cut him into pieces that were scattered. His actions turned
most of the other gods against him, but he felt his power was
unassailable. Horus, the son of Isis and Osiris, eventually killed
Set, and Set became identified as a god of evil.
Set is associated closely with animals such as the dog, crocodile and
scorpion. He is the god of chaos, the desert, and foreign lands. In
the Book of the Dead, Set is called "Lord of the Northern Sky" and
is held responsible for storms and cloudy weather. The tale of the
long conflict between Set and Horus is seen by some as a representation
of a long struggle between cults in Egypt. The winning cult may have
portrayed the god of the enemy’s cult the evil one.
Bonuses: Priests can convert wild animals
Pharaoh can summon animals at the cost of Favor
Starts with a Hyena scout, additional animals are summoned at
the temple on each age advance
Slinger and Chariot Archer trained 20% faster
Slingers have 10% more HP and 10% less hack vulnerability
Migdol Stronghold costs 25% less
Vision God Power - Reveals a large area in the fog of war for 20 seconds
|_ Set's God Power grants you brief line of sight to any part of the
map, even if you have not explored there.
To invoke Vision, left click on the Vision icon, then left click
anywhere on the map that you wish to see. Vision is best targeted
on areas of the black map, especially when you learn something
about where and what your enemy is building. Vision has another
somewhat sneaky use. Because it can be targeted anywhere on the
map, you can use Vision to give you line of sight long enough to
target another God Power without having to rely on a fragile
scout to make it into position.
Feral Improvements - Converted animals have 10% more HP, hack armor and
| pierce armor, have 50% more attack
|_ Set is associated with several animals, including pigs, crocodiles,
scorpions and donkeys. His long-eared, droop-nosed visage is probably
an aggregate of many of these animals rather than any one of them.
He is also depicted as a male hippopotamus, considered by the
Egyptians to be a destructive, dangerous creature.
PTAH - Classical Age
----
Description: The cult center of Ptah was at Memphis, one of the older
cities of ancient Egypt, and his importance grew as that city became
the capital for many dynasties. He was usually depicted as a shaven-
headed mummy holding a scepter or working with tools. He may have
originally been a fertility god, and for a time was held to be the
creator of all gods and religious practices. As other cults and
gods rose in importance, he became a protector of the arts and crafts,
a shaper of all things.
Shifting Sands God Power - Teleport units to a different point on the map
|_ Ptah's Shifting Sands can be used to transport allied or enemy
units from one location on the map to another. All allied units
are affected, but not every enemy unit in the area will be moved.
To summon the sandstorm, left click on the Shifting Sands icon.
Targeting the sand storm requires two left clicks, the first is
near the units you wish to transport, the second is where you want
those units transported. You must have line of sight to both
clicked areas. A good use for sandstorm is to shift an invading
army out of your town or to transport quickly past some defenses
for a surprise attack.
Wadjet Mythological Unit
|_ The Wadjet is named for the serpent goddess who appears in snake
form on the crown of the pharaoh. Her name means "papyrus-
colored-one". The serpent Wadjet can spit venom at a long range,
though the vestigial wings are used only to lift the heavy cobra
hood above the sand.
Electrum Bullets Improvement - Slingers +10% attack
|_ Ptah was a god of technology, so his mythological improvements
bring better armor and weapons to the Egyptians.
Electrum is a naturally occurring alloy of gold and silver. Though
weaker than other metals available at the time, the mystical,
spiritual and psychological properties of the metal were more
important than its strength. The great Pharaoh Ramses rode into
combat on his chariot wearing a helmet of electrum.
Leather Frame Shield Improvement - Spearmen -10% Pierce Vulnerability
|_ The Egyptians favored a round-topped, leather-covered wooden
shield. Leather over a wooden frame offered a cheap, light and
easy-to-work covering that was, in many cases, more resilient
than heavy and expensive metal coverings. A lighter shield meant
that troops carrying them could move more quickly and wield
them more effectively.
Scalloped Axe Improvement - Axemen +10% attack
|_ The Egyptians were fond of the axe as a weapon and tool. Heavily
ornamented axes have been discovered with the burial goods of
important mummies. Scalloping added surface area to the head of an
axe, making it stronger and able to deal more damage.
Shaduf Improvement - Farms cost 33% less, are built twice as fast
|_ Ptah was a god of technology, so his mythological improvements
benefit the economy of the Egyptians.
The shaduf was a simple, but important invention, consisting of
a container made of animal skins or clay attached to a lever
counterbalanced by stones. The container was used to lift water
from the Nile River and dumped into canals for irrigation.
ANUBIS - Classical Age
------
Description: Usually depicted with the head of a jackal or as a black
dog, Anubis was associated with funerary rites. His mother Nephthys
had tricked Osiris, then ruler of Egypt, into giving her a son because
she had no children by her evil husband Set. When Set overthrew
Osiris, the baby Anubis was hidden in the Nile swamps to preserve him
from Set’s wrath. There he was found by Isis, who adopted him. When
Osiris chose to go west to rule the underworld, Anubis performed the
embalming with the help of Isis’ magic. Prior to the rise of Osiris
as ruler of the underworld, Anubis had been a principal guardian of
the dead. Anubis carried on as a guardian under Osiris, guiding the
dead to the site of judgment and helping to weigh their souls.
Plague of Serpents God Power - Summons friendly serpents to guard an area
| from enemies
|_ Anubis' God Power summons a nest of Serpents to defend an area.
The animals are not under your control and will not leave the area
in which they are summoned, even if chasing fleeing enemies. They
last until slain, however. Serpents are not very strong against
Villagers and won't attack buildings.
To summon the serpents, left click on the Plague of Serpents icon,
then left click anywhere you have line of sight. Because you
cannot give commands to the Serpents, it is important to place
them where they will do the most damage or intercept the most
attackers. If used over the water, Sea Snakes are summoned instead.
They won't attack Fishing Ships, but will attack warships.
Anubite Mythological Unit
|_ Anubis' priests, the "stm", wore jackal masks during the
mummification rituals. Anubis was among the oldest deities of
Egyptian mythology and his role changed as the myths matured,
passing from the main god of the underworld to the judge of the
dead once Osiris took over the former role. Anubis' association
with jackals was probably the result of jackals prowling around
graveyards. He was colored black because embalmed corpses are
pitch black in color. Although Anubis was often identified as
"sab" a jackal, rather than "iwiw" a dog, there was still much
confusion over which animal Anubis actually was. Some Egyptologists
refer to the "Anubis animal" to represent the unknown species that
he was supposed to represent. Cities dedicated to Anubis were known
for their great number of dog mummies and whole cemeteries.
"We, known as the Jackals, the Priests of Anubis, are guardians
of their glorious tombs, or of their humble graves. We are the
keepers of the dead. We are the servants of Anubis. We are
Cynopolis." -- Chapter of the Dead, Book of Ma'at
Feet of the Jackal Improvements - Anubite has +50 HP, +20% attack,
| jump attack does +7 damage, jump attack
| has 6 longer range
|_ After his murder at the hands of Set, Osiris usurped Anubis’
position as chief god of the dead. Anubis thereafter took on varied
duties related to caring for the Ka, or souls, of the dead in the
afterlife – one of which was the swift transport of souls to the
Hall of Maat, the Hall of Judgment, where he was responsible for
weighing the hearts of the dead.
Necropolis Improvements - Monuments gather favor 10% faster
|_ The ancient city of Syut was a center of worship for Anubis and
Wapwawet. Syut was later renamed Lycopolis – City of the Wolf -
by the Greeks for its importance to the two "wolf-headed" gods.
Today the city of Asyut is an important agricultural center for
cotton and grains, but the tombs of its ancient necropolis tell
of its significance as a center of Anubis – god of the dead and
guardian of the necropoli.
Serpent Spear Improvements - Spearmen have +10% attack
|_ Horus set out to vanquish Set. He stood at the prow of a barge
protected by the spells of Isis. He had a chained spear fashioned
for the hunt, and Thoth laid great spells upon Horus’ splendid
weapon. The spear flashed and glittered. Set, in the form of a
great, red hippopotamus, attacked the barge of Horus, but the
spells of Isis held, and the barge was untouched. With a mighty
heave, Horus cast the shining spear into the neck of the
hippopotamus and Set, murderer of Osiris and enemy of Ra, was
destroyed.
SEKHMET - Heroic Age
-------
Description: The lion-headed wife of Ptah was a goddess of war and
the heat of the desert. Her name means "powerful." She rose to
prominence during the second millennium BC, when Egypt engaged in
many wars extending its domain and was a leading power in the
world. The Egyptians of the era readily worshipped a goddess who
was a fierce hunter. Together with Bast, the cat goddess, Sekhmet
destroyed Apep, the underworld serpent that attempted to swallow
Ra. In one myth, she is sent to wage war on those who thought Ra
was getting feeble. She was so effective in spreading ruin that
Ra had to trick her into drinking a lake of what appeared to be
blood, but was actually beer dyed with pomegranate juice. Sekhmet
became intoxicated and humanity was saved.
Citadel God Power - Turn a friendly town center into a mighty Citadel
|_ This defensive God Power transforms a Town Center into a mighty
Citadel, with great hit points and attack. The Citadel otherwise
acts like a normal Town Center. You can use Citadel on allied
Town Centers, even if they are Atlantean, Greek or Norse.
To erect the Citadel, left-click the Citadel icon, then
left-click on your own or an allied Town Center. In a swirl of
sand the Citadel arises to protect your lands.
Scarab Mythology Unit
|_ Scarab beetles are a diverse group of insects that live in South
America and Egypt. Egyptians adopted the scarab as sacred, and
used it to represent Ra, who rolled the sun across the sky each
day. The most famous scarab beetles roll dung into a ball, and
then proceed to roll their treasure back to their tunnels.
Egyptians depicted scarabs in a variety of artwork, including
amulets and "heart scarabs" which were large pieces hung on the
neck or as a pectoral.
"You are my soul which is in my body, the god Khnum who makes
my limbs sound. When you go forth to the Hereafter, my name
shall not stink to the courtiers who create people on his behalf.
Do not tell lies about me in the presence of the Great God!"
-- inscription found on a heart scarab in the Temple of Amun
Bone Bow Improvement - Chariot Archer +4 range
|_ The bow and crossed arrows were symbols of Neith, a goddess
considered old even by the ancient Egyptians. Neith was a goddess
of war, hunting, protection and creation. She was often depicted
holding a bow and arrows or crowned by a star over which a bow
curved.
Bows could be constructed of very simple materials, wood and
sinew or more complex, sturdier materials, horn, soft and hard
woods and sinew. Arrowheads were made out of stone, bone and
metals.
Ram of the West Wind Improvement - Siege Tower +20% HP and attack
|_ Rams were the first siege engines used to breach walls. They
were simply large weapons that were carried or wheeled up to
a wall and used to smash the stone or brick. As walls evolved,
rams became larger and offered more defense for those bearing
it into battle, such as protective mantlets or eventually mobile
towers.
Slings of the Sun Improvement - Slingers do +30% damage to Infantry &
| Throwing Axemen
|_ Ancient hunters used slings to kill or stun small prey and
while sling stones had the capacity to maim or kill, soldiers
often used them simply to distract or harass enemies. Because
archers relied on their range and aim, slingers could be very
effective against them. Slingers didn’t have to approach
archers on foot, a deadly prospect, and the stones they hurled
into a formation of archers wounded many, killed others and
certainly broke their concentration and threw off their aim.
Stones of Red Linen Improvement - Catapult, War Barge +20% attack
|_ Sekhmet is sometimes called "lady of red linen," referring to
the blood-soaked garments of her victims. While she was a
destructive force, she generally used her powers to annihilate
evil. While she was a bringer of plagues, her priests were
also known for their medical skills.
NEPHTHYS - Heroic Age
--------
Description: Her name means "lady of the castle." She was another
daughter of Geb and Nut, and the wife of the evil Set. Denied a
child by Set, she tricked Osiris into fathering a son, Anubis. She
was associated with funerary rites, one of the key rituals in
ancient Egyptian life. She normally appears as a woman with mummy
wrappings for hair.
"Nephthys saith unto the Osiris Ani, whose word is truth:- I go
round about thee to protect thee, O brother Osiris. I have come
to be a protector unto thee. My strength shall be near thee, my
strength shall be near thee, for ever. Ra hath heard thy cry,
and the gods have made thy word to be truth. Thou art raised up.
Thy word is truth in respect of what hath been done unto thee.
Ptah hath overthrown thy foes, and thou art Horus, the son of Hathor."
-- the Papyrus of Ani
Ancestors God Power - Summons an army of Minions to serve the player for
| a short period of time
|_ This third age god power calls forth Ancestral Warriors to fight
alongside your armies for a short while.
To call the Ancestors left click on the Ancestors icon and left
click anywhere you have line of sight. This god power is similar
to Plague of Serpents god power except that the Ancestors can be
commanded just like normal military units. Ancestors can be
useful with a fighting army, as a disruption to an enemy's economy
or as a defense against a surprise attack. They will go back to
their eternal rest in a short while - be sure to summon them to a
place where they will be useful.
Leviathan Mythological Unit
|_ The word "Leviathan" ("twisted animal" in Hebrew) has been adopted
to mean any gigantic monster, but was perhaps originally cited
in the Bible and described in great detail. The leviathan was
a fire-breathing creature that boiled the ocean when it swam
near the surface. Its skin was covered with heavy armored plates
like shields, and its belly was encrusted with broken pottery.
There is speculation that the word is a corruption of the
seven-headed serpent "Lotan", a monster from Canaanite legend
that was killed by Baal.
Scorpion Man Mythological Unit
|_ Scorpions understandably had a large influence on Egyptian
mythology. Ra's daughter, Selket, was associated with the scorpion,
which graced her crown. In order to make her son, Horus, strong,
Isis exposed him to scorpion stings in the desert. Scorpions were
also associated with Set, along with other "wicked" animals of the
desert.
There was indeed even a King Scorpion, a predynastic ruler known
only from a few surviving artifacts such as the "scorpion mace".
It is unclear whether the ruler's name or title were "scorpion"
but the kingly figure on the mace is labeled as SQRT along with
hieroglyphics of a clearly drawn scorpion sign.
City of the Dead Improvement - Pharaoh +20% attack, +30% HP, returns
| from dead faster
|_ Egyptians were buried in tombs. People of lesser importance might
be buried together in large groups, while aristocrats, priests,
and pharaohs had their own private tombs for their families. The
most powerful pharaohs were enshrined in pyramids, or in massive
caves like those at Karnak. Tombs of the wealthy were carefully
hidden and fitted with false chambers and concealed doors to
discourage thieves. While few important tombs escaped robbers, that
of Tutankhamen was discovered in 1922 virtually intact and yielded
a wealth of treasure, over 3500 items in all.
"The Osiris Ani, whose word is truth, saith: I am the serpent Sata
whose years are infinite. I lie down dead. I am born daily. I am
the serpent Sa-en-ta, the dweller in the uttermost parts of the
earth. I lie down in death. I am born, I become new, I renew my
youth every day."
-– the Papyrus of Ani
Funeral Rites Improvement - Pharaoh, Priest damage multiplier vs Myth
| units increased by 4
|_ When an ancient Egyptian of importance died, his or her body was
carried in procession to its tomb and then the ceremony of the
opening of the mouth was performed. This ceremony, performed on
statues of the gods, was designed to endow the statue with the
living ka of the deceased for the journey to the afterlife. The
deceased was then mummified, important organs were placed in their
own canopic jars, offerings were made to the gods, and then the
deceased was ready to face judgment.
"Nephthys saith unto the Osiris Ani, whose word is truth: I go
round about thee to protect thee, O brother Osiris. I have come
to be a protector unto thee. My strength shall be near thee, my
strength shall be near thee, for ever. Ra hath heard thy cry,
and the gods have made thy word to be truth. Thou art raised up.
Thy word is truth in respect of what hath been done unto thee.
Ptah hath overthrown thy foes, and thou art Horus, the son of
Hathor."
-– The Papyrus of Ani
Spirit of Ma'at Improvement - Pharaohs, Priest double healing rate,
| Priests -20% cost
|_ Ma'at was an early Egyptian goddess who went on to become a
personification of the spiritual ideal of the ancient Egyptians.
Ma'at represented cosmic harmony, justice, balance, order and
peace.
ENTERING INTO THE HALL OF MA'AT TO PRAISE OSIRIS KHENTI AMENTI
"_I have seen the Hidden One who is therein. I was hidden, but
I found the boundary. I journeyed to Nerutef, and he who was
therein covered me with a garment. I have myrrh of women, together
with the shenu powder of living folk. Verily he (Osiris) told me
the things that concerned himself. I said: Let thy weighing of me
be even as we desire."
–- The Papyrus of Ani
THOTH - Mythic Age
-----
Description: A patron of learning and invention, Thoth was the chief god
of the city of Khmun and a divine scribe. He served as a loyal advocate
and supporter of Osiris, defending him against charges by Set, helping
Isis resurrect him as lord of the underworld, helping to keep Horus
hidden from Set until the son reached adulthood, and then helping Horus
regain his inheritance. Thoth then assisted Osiris by recording the past
deeds of all who sought to enter the Underworld. He read the scales when
the hearts of those seeking entrance were weighed versus the feather of
truth. Thoth grew in importance as people sought his help in proving
their innocence at judgment time. The priests of Thoth enhanced his
reputation as a magician and claimed he had access to spells that gave
him domination over the natural world and the gods themselves. Thoth
is usually depicted with the head of an ibis or baboon.
"Thereupon shall come Thoth, who is equipped with words of power in
great abundance, and shall untie the fetters, even the fetters of the
god Set which are over my mouth."
-- From the Papyrus of Ani
Meteor God Power - Wreak havoc on enemy buildings and units
|_ Thoth calls down a barrage of flaming Meteors upon an area.
Everything in the area will take damage if struck by the Meteors,
though allied units tend to get thrown rather than take significant
damage. Both units and buildings can be struck and damaged by
Meteors.
To call down this strike from the heavens, left click on the Meteor
icon at the top of the screen, then left click the area on the map
you would like to incinerate. You must have have line of sight to
use this power.
Phoenix Mythological Unit
|_ An eagle-like bird with feathers of gold and red, the Phoenix was
associated with the Sun and fire. It was long-lived and had the
ability to reproduce or reincarnate itself after death. In some
traditions, it built its own funeral nest before dying and then a
young Phoenix would issue from the dead body. After Christianity
began to spread, the tale of the Phoenix changed so that the bird
turned its funeral nest into a pyre and self-immolated. After a
period of time, usually three days, a new Phoenix rose from the
ashes. The Phoenix became a symbol for both immortality and life
after death.
"And at the five hundred years' end, the priests array their altar
honestly, and put thereupon spices and sulphur vif and other things
that will burn lightly; and then the bird phoenix cometh and burneth
himself to ashes. And the first day next after, men find in the
ashes a worm; and the second day next after, men find a bird quick
and perfect; and the third day next after, he flieth his way." --
The Travels of Sir John Mandeville
Sea Turtle Mythological Unit
|_ The Egyptians considered the turtle a creature of night and dark
water, and therefore became associated with Set and an enemy of the
sun god, Ra. They were not to be eaten or used in medicine.
"May Ra live and the turtle die." -- ancient Egyptian epithet
Book of Thoth Improvement - Villagers gather gold, wood, and food from
| farms 10% faster
|_ Thoth was the Egyptian god of wisdom, and his magical Book was
said to contain a collection of spells that would enable the
reader to know the language of the animals and to enchant the
sky and the earth itself.
"The Book of Thoth lies beneath the middle of the river, near
Coptos, in an iron box. In the iron box is a box of bronze; in
the bronze box is a sycamore box; in the sycamore box is an
ivory and ebony box; in the ivory and ebony box is a silver box;
in the silver box is a golden box - and in that lies the Book
of Thoth. All around the iron box are twisted snakes and scorpions,
and it is guarded by a serpent who cannot be slain."
-– From the tale of Setna Khaemwese and the Book of Thoth
Tusks of Apedemak Improvement - War Elephants +20% HP, +10% attack
|_ Lion-headed Apedemak was a Nubian god of war and victory. He was
often depicted standing on the backs of elephants. Elephants and
cattle were revered at Apedemak’s center of worship, Musawwarat
es-Sufra, to the north of the Sixth Cataract, where elephants
had military and religious significance.
Valley of the Kings Improvement - Migdol Stronghold units train 66% faster
|_ Centuries of Pharaohs were buried in the famous Valley of Kings,
including the mighty general Thutmose III, the last of the great
Pharaohs, Ramses III, and of course, the child Pharaoh Tutankamen.
The inhabitants of Deir el-Medina constructed many of the tombs in
the Valley. Skilled tomb-builders sometimes lived in isolated
communities so that the secrets of the tombs they built could be
kept safe.
HORUS - Mythic Age
-----
Description: The mystical son of Isis and Osiris, he was raised in
secrecy in the Nile swamps to avoid being discovered by Set, who
had killed his father, Osiris. When he reached adulthood he sought
to avenge his father and kill Set. After a lengthy contest in which
he lost an eye, he triumphed and his reward was the rule of Egypt.
He gave the lost eye to Osiris and wore instead a serpent on his
head to replace it. All pharaohs thereafter wore this serpent as a
symbol of authority and their ability to see and know all.
"Horus, strong Bull, steady at heart as the son of Nut, victorious
king! / He sets up all his borders at each place according to his
desire. / He spends the time of ploughing in Egypt. / He brought to
its knees the land of the people of Retenue / when he felled their
trees / and destroyed their cities ..."
-- rock stela by Qasr Ibrim on the banks of the Nile
Tornado God Power - Wreak havoc on enemy buildings and units
|_ Horus unleashes his wrath in a twisting funnel cloud. The Tornado
can sweep up entire armies, or turn cities into piles of rubble.
The Tornado moves around randomly, and can damage allied units or
buildings if it gets too close, though it does more damage to enemy
units and buildings.
To summon the Tornado, left click on the Tornado icon at the top
of the screen, then left click where you want the Tornado to appear.
Just be careful where you target it.
Avenger Mythological Unit
|_ Because the Avenger is so deadly fighting hand-to-hand, it is best
to combat him with ranged units. In combat, the Avenger periodically
attacks as a whirlwind, damaging all enemy units around him.
Horus was the child of Osiris and Iris who, upon reaching adulthood,
was known as Her-nedj-tef-ef, "Horus, Avenger of his Father," whose
role it was to seek venegance and cast out the evils of Set.
"Behold, the fire riseth in Abydos and it cometh; I cause it to
come, the Eye of Horus. It is set in order upon thy brow, O Osiris
Khenti-Amenti; it is set in the shrine and riseth on thy brow." --
The Pyramid Texts
Axe of Vengeance Improvement - Axemen have damage x3 vs Buildings
|_ The Egyptians favored two different forms of axe: one that
hacked and one that pierced. The earlier, hacking axe had a
long cutting edge and was better against unarmored foes. The
piercing axe could punch through armor, helmets and skulls alike,
as the mummy of Sekenere Tao II, a 17th Dynasty ruler of Thebes,
reveals.
Greatest of Fifty Improvement - Spearmen -10% hack vulnerability, damage
| multiplier vs cavalry increased by 1
|_ The invasion of the Hyksos at the end of the 14th Dynasty spurred
the peaceful Egyptians to organize what had, to that point, been
a rather informal army. The Pharaoh often led his armies into
battle. The chain of command ran from the Pharaoh and princes to
other nobles and officers, down to the "Greatest of Fifty." The
Greatest of Fifty commanded fifty soldiers, one of four such groups
under the command of a Standard Bearer. Soldiers under a Standard
Bearer all carried the same arms and armament.
Spears on the Horizon Improvement - Spearmen +10% attack, +30% HP
|_ Horus set out to vanquish Set. He stood at the prow of a barge
protected by the spells of Isis. He had a chained spear fashioned
for the hunt, and Thoth laid great spells upon Horus’ splendid
weapon. The spear flashed and glittered. Set, in the form of a
great, red hippopotamus, attacked the barge of Horus, but the spells
of Isis held, and the barge was untouched. With a mighty heave,
Horus cast the shining spear into the neck of the hippopotamus and
Set, murderer of Osiris and enemy of Ra, was destroyed.
-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-
ISIS
----
Description: The daughter of the earth god Geb and the sky goddess
Nut, Isis became the mother goddess of Egypt. When Osiris, her
brother and husband, inherited the rule of Egypt, she worked together
with him to bring civilization to the Nile Valley. She taught cloth
making and curing the sick, and introduced the concept of marriage.
She ruled Egypt wisely while Osiris traveled the world spreading
civilization elsewhere. Isis was able to resurrect Osiris after
he had been killed and dismembered by Set. She assisted at Osiris’
embalming in preparation for his journey to his new kingdom in the
land of the dead, thereby helping to create the Egyptian rituals
of burial. She secreted her son by Osiris, Horus, until he was
able to seek revenge in a long contest that eventually saw the
end of Set. The magic of Isis was a very powerful aid in attaining
a favorable judgment from Osiris. Her magic abilities improved
greatly when she took advantage of Ra’s agedness to trick him into
revealing his name, giving her access to some of his power. She is
often portrayed suckling the child Horus.
Bonuses: All technologies cost 10% less food, wood, and gold
Monuments prevent god powers from being targeted nearby
Town Centers support +3 maximum pop
Priests summon outposts 60% faster, outposts cost 33% less
Prosperity God Power - Double gold gathering rate for 50 seconds
|_ Isis' God Power makes your Villagers gather Gold at double rate
for a short period of time. Make sure you are in a good position
to maximize your Gold mining while this God Power is in use.
To invoke the blessing of the gods, left click on the Prosperity
icon, then left click anywhere on the map, but preferably close
to a Mining Camp or Town Center.
"The galleries which they dig ... are not straight, but run in
the direction of the metal containing vein, and as the workers
are in the dark in these winding tunnels, they carry torches
which are affixed to their foreheads ... non nubile children
enter these underground galleries ... and lift with great pains
the loosened chunks of ore and carry them outside."
-- Diodorus
Flood of the Nile Improvement - Generates 0.75 food/second
|_ The Black Land, another name for Lower Egypt, refers to the
deposits of rich, black soil that the regular flooding of the
Nile left behind. This rich, black soil was excellent for farming
and, coupled with irrigation and inventions like the shaduf,
allowed ancient Egyptians to survive and prosper in an otherwise
harsh environment. The Egyptians’ whole way of life depended
upon these floods. The Nile today no longer floods as it once
did. A series of dams and hydro-electric plants, like the one
at Aswan, control its flooding and generate electrical energy.
Such damming is a subject of great controversy in Northern
Africa for many social and environmental reasons.
ANUBIS - Classical Age
------
Description: Usually depicted with the head of a jackal or as a black
dog, Anubis was associated with funerary rites. His mother Nephthys
had tricked Osiris, then ruler of Egypt, into giving her a son because
she had no children by her evil husband Set. When Set overthrew
Osiris, the baby Anubis was hidden in the Nile swamps to preserve him
from Set’s wrath. There he was found by Isis, who adopted him. When
Osiris chose to go west to rule the underworld, Anubis performed the
embalming with the help of Isis’ magic. Prior to the rise of Osiris
as ruler of the underworld, Anubis had been a principal guardian of
the dead. Anubis carried on as a guardian under Osiris, guiding the
dead to the site of judgment and helping to weigh their souls.
Plague of Serpents God Power - Summons friendly serpents to guard an area
| from enemies
|_ Anubis' God Power summons a nest of Serpents to defend an area.
The animals are not under your control and will not leave the area
in which they are summoned, even if chasing fleeing enemies. They
last until slain, however. Serpents are not very strong against
Villagers and won't attack buildings.
To summon the serpents, left click on the Plague of Serpents icon,
then left click anywhere you have line of sight. Because you
cannot give commands to the Serpents, it is important to place
them where they will do the most damage or intercept the most
attackers. If used over the water, Sea Snakes are summoned instead.
They won't attack Fishing Ships, but will attack warships.
Anubite Mythological Unit
|_ Anubis' priests, the "stm", wore jackal masks during the
mummification rituals. Anubis was among the oldest deities of
Egyptian mythology and his role changed as the myths matured,
passing from the main god of the underworld to the judge of the
dead once Osiris took over the former role. Anubis' association
with jackals was probably the result of jackals prowling around
graveyards. He was colored black because embalmed corpses are
pitch black in color. Although Anubis was often identified as
"sab" a jackal, rather than "iwiw" a dog, there was still much
confusion over which animal Anubis actually was. Some Egyptologists
refer to the "Anubis animal" to represent the unknown species that
he was supposed to represent. Cities dedicated to Anubis were known
for their great number of dog mummies and whole cemeteries.
"We, known as the Jackals, the Priests of Anubis, are guardians
of their glorious tombs, or of their humble graves. We are the
keepers of the dead. We are the servants of Anubis. We are
Cynopolis." -- Chapter of the Dead, Book of Ma'at
Feet of the Jackal Improvements - Anubite has +50 HP, +20% attack,
| jump attack does +7 damage, jump attack
| has 6 longer range
|_ After his murder at the hands of Set, Osiris usurped Anubis’
position as chief god of the dead. Anubis thereafter took on varied
duties related to caring for the Ka, or souls, of the dead in the
afterlife – one of which was the swift transport of souls to the
Hall of Maat, the Hall of Judgment, where he was responsible for
weighing the hearts of the dead.
Necropolis Improvements - Monuments gather favor 10% faster
|_ The ancient city of Syut was a center of worship for Anubis and
Wapwawet. Syut was later renamed Lycopolis – City of the Wolf -
by the Greeks for its importance to the two "wolf-headed" gods.
Today the city of Asyut is an important agricultural center for
cotton and grains, but the tombs of its ancient necropolis tell
of its significance as a center of Anubis – god of the dead and
guardian of the necropoli.
Serpent Spear Improvements - Spearmen have +10% attack
|_ Horus set out to vanquish Set. He stood at the prow of a barge
protected by the spells of Isis. He had a chained spear fashioned
for the hunt, and Thoth laid great spells upon Horus’ splendid
weapon. The spear flashed and glittered. Set, in the form of a
great, red hippopotamus, attacked the barge of Horus, but the
spells of Isis held, and the barge was untouched. With a mighty
heave, Horus cast the shining spear into the neck of the
hippopotamus and Set, murderer of Osiris and enemy of Ra, was
destroyed.
BAST - Classical Age
----
Description: A daughter of Ra, Bast was the goddess of the cat,
considered a sacred animal in ancient Egypt. She was usually
associated with the moon, perhaps because cat eyes can shine in
moonlight. A special necropolis at her cult center in Bubastis
held huge numbers of mummified cats. Together, Bast and the
lioness-headed Sekhmet killed the great serpent Apep that tried to
swallow Ra and turn the world into darkness.
Eclipse God Power - Increase the power of your myth units, prevents
| other GP's from being used
|_ The Eclipse God Power temporarily improves the attack of all your
Myth Units on the map. While the sun is blocked out, they will
fight with magically-boosted strength.
To invoke the Eclipse, left click on the Eclipse icon at the top
of the screen, then left click anywhere on the map.
Sphinx Mythological Unit
|_ "Sphinx" was originally a Greek word ("to strangle") that was
applied to the pharaoh-headed lion statues that the Greeks saw
in Egypt, that Herodotus named "androsphinx". The Greek sphinx
was a monstrous brood of Typhon and Echidna, usually depicted
as a winged lion with a female head. She sat on a rock near
Thebes and asked passersby the now famous question, "What animal
is that which in the morning goes on four feet, at noon on two,
and in the evening upon three?" Those who could not answer were
eaten. Oedipus knew the correct answer (humans) and caused the
sphinx so much consternation that she cast herself from her
rock and died.
However, the sphinx as a monster probably predates Greek
mythology. Assyrian myths have sphinxes guarding temple
entrances. Sphinx-like creatures appear in Phoenician and Persian
art as well.
The Egyptians called their sphinxes "Hu". In addition to the
man-headed androsphinx, they also depicted ram-sphinxes that
Herodotus named "criosphinxes" and falcon-headed sphinxes
named "hieracosphinxes".
Adze of Wepwawet Improvement - Villagers knock down trees in one hit,
| gather wood 10% faster
|_ Wepwawet's sacred adze allows your Laborers to fell a tree in
a single blow, though they still must gather the wood from the
fallen trunk.
Wepwawet was a minor Egyptian god of the funerary cult. He used
his adze (a precursor of the plane tool) to break open the mouth
of the deceased in the "opening of the mouth" ceremony.
Egyptians depicted him as a jackal, though later Greeks
associated him with wolves, and named his sacred town of Zawty
"Lycopolis".
Criosphinx Improvement - Sphinx +50 HP, +20% hack/+50% crush damage
|_ The ram-headed Criosphinx was a guardian of sacred Egyptian
sites. The Temple at Karnak was once connected to Luxor and
the Nile by the Avenue of the Sphinx – a road flanked by dozens
upon dozens of the implacable riddle keepers.
"And yet the riddle was not to be solved by guess-work but
required the prophet's art; wherein thou wast found lacking;
neither birds nor sign from heaven helped thee, but I came,
the simple Oedipus; I stopped her mouth by mother wit, untaught
of auguries."
-- Oedipus, Oedipus Rex
Hieracosphinx Improvement - Sphinx +20% move rate, +20% hack/+50% crush
| damage
|_ Instead of a human head, the Hieracosphinx has the fierce head of
a hawk, a nasty disposition and a razor-sharp beak – all the
better to eviscerate those who cannot answer its riddles. It is
a much more aggressive and pitiless Sphinx than its more
peaceable cousins, the Criosphinx and Androsphinx.
"Say, sirrah, hast thou ever proved thyself a prophet? When the
riddling Sphinx was here why hadst thou no deliverance for this
folk?"
-- Oedipus, Oedipus Rex
Sacred Cats Improvement - Villagers farm 10% faster
|_ Bubastis was the center for worship of Bast, the cat-headed
Egyptian goddess of fertility. Initially, her worship included
the cats that inhabited her Temples, but eventually extended to
all cats. Cat worship was pragmatic for the Egyptians, for the
cats protected their grain stores and homes from vermin and
venomous creatures. Killing a cat was considered murder; a
Roman living in Alexandria discovered this when he accidentally
killed a cat and was subsequently pulled from his home into
the street and lynched by an angry mob of Egyptians.
NEPHTHYS - Heroic Age
--------
Description: Her name means "lady of the castle." She was another
daughter of Geb and Nut, and the wife of the evil Set. Denied a
child by Set, she tricked Osiris into fathering a son, Anubis. She
was associated with funerary rites, one of the key rituals in
ancient Egyptian life. She normally appears as a woman with mummy
wrappings for hair.
"Nephthys saith unto the Osiris Ani, whose word is truth:- I go
round about thee to protect thee, O brother Osiris. I have come
to be a protector unto thee. My strength shall be near thee, my
strength shall be near thee, for ever. Ra hath heard thy cry,
and the gods have made thy word to be truth. Thou art raised up.
Thy word is truth in respect of what hath been done unto thee.
Ptah hath overthrown thy foes, and thou art Horus, the son of Hathor."
-- the Papyrus of Ani
Ancestors God Power - Summons an army of Minions to serve the player for
| a short period of time
|_ This third age god power calls forth Ancestral Warriors to fight
alongside your armies for a short while.
To call the Ancestors left click on the Ancestors icon and left
click anywhere you have line of sight. This god power is similar
to Plague of Serpents god power except that the Ancestors can be
commanded just like normal military units. Ancestors can be
useful with a fighting army, as a disruption to an enemy's economy
or as a defense against a surprise attack. They will go back to
their eternal rest in a short while - be sure to summon them to a
place where they will be useful.
Leviathan Mythological Unit
|_ The word "Leviathan" ("twisted animal" in Hebrew) has been adopted
to mean any gigantic monster, but was perhaps originally cited
in the Bible and described in great detail. The leviathan was
a fire-breathing creature that boiled the ocean when it swam
near the surface. Its skin was covered with heavy armored plates
like shields, and its belly was encrusted with broken pottery.
There is speculation that the word is a corruption of the
seven-headed serpent "Lotan", a monster from Canaanite legend
that was killed by Baal.
Scorpion Man Mythological Unit
|_ Scorpions understandably had a large influence on Egyptian
mythology. Ra's daughter, Selket, was associated with the scorpion,
which graced her crown. In order to make her son, Horus, strong,
Isis exposed him to scorpion stings in the desert. Scorpions were
also associated with Set, along with other "wicked" animals of the
desert.
There was indeed even a King Scorpion, a predynastic ruler known
only from a few surviving artifacts such as the "scorpion mace".
It is unclear whether the ruler's name or title were "scorpion"
but the kingly figure on the mace is labeled as SQRT along with
hieroglyphics of a clearly drawn scorpion sign.
City of the Dead Improvement - Pharaoh +20% attack, +30% HP, returns
| from dead faster
|_ Egyptians were buried in tombs. People of lesser importance might
be buried together in large groups, while aristocrats, priests,
and pharaohs had their own private tombs for their families. The
most powerful pharaohs were enshrined in pyramids, or in massive
caves like those at Karnak. Tombs of the wealthy were carefully
hidden and fitted with false chambers and concealed doors to
discourage thieves. While few important tombs escaped robbers, that
of Tutankhamen was discovered in 1922 virtually intact and yielded
a wealth of treasure, over 3500 items in all.
"The Osiris Ani, whose word is truth, saith: I am the serpent Sata
whose years are infinite. I lie down dead. I am born daily. I am
the serpent Sa-en-ta, the dweller in the uttermost parts of the
earth. I lie down in death. I am born, I become new, I renew my
youth every day."
-– the Papyrus of Ani
Funeral Rites Improvement - Pharaoh, Priest damage multiplier vs Myth
| units increased by 4
|_ When an ancient Egyptian of importance died, his or her body was
carried in procession to its tomb and then the ceremony of the
opening of the mouth was performed. This ceremony, performed on
statues of the gods, was designed to endow the statue with the
living ka of the deceased for the journey to the afterlife. The
deceased was then mummified, important organs were placed in their
own canopic jars, offerings were made to the gods, and then the
deceased was ready to face judgment.
"Nephthys saith unto the Osiris Ani, whose word is truth: I go
round about thee to protect thee, O brother Osiris. I have come
to be a protector unto thee. My strength shall be near thee, my
strength shall be near thee, for ever. Ra hath heard thy cry,
and the gods have made thy word to be truth. Thou art raised up.
Thy word is truth in respect of what hath been done unto thee.
Ptah hath overthrown thy foes, and thou art Horus, the son of
Hathor."
-– The Papyrus of Ani
Spirit of Ma'at Improvement - Pharaohs, Priest double healing rate,
| Priests -20% cost
|_ Ma'at was an early Egyptian goddess who went on to become a
personification of the spiritual ideal of the ancient Egyptians.
Ma'at represented cosmic harmony, justice, balance, order and
peace.
ENTERING INTO THE HALL OF MA'AT TO PRAISE OSIRIS KHENTI AMENTI
"_I have seen the Hidden One who is therein. I was hidden, but
I found the boundary. I journeyed to Nerutef, and he who was
therein covered me with a garment. I have myrrh of women, together
with the shenu powder of living folk. Verily he (Osiris) told me
the things that concerned himself. I said: Let thy weighing of me
be even as we desire."
–- The Papyrus of Ani
HATHOR - Heroic Age
------
Description: A goddess of the sky and fertility, Hathor was
portrayed as a cow, a woman with the head of a cow, or as a woman
with a headdress of cow’s horns and a sun disk. She may have been
a daughter of Ra, who relies on her in several myths. In other
myths, she and Sekhmet are portrayed as the same goddess. Hathor
was popular as the goddess of love, and associated with festivals
of music and dance. Worship of her spread into other nearby cultures,
although her name was changed.
Locust Swarm God Power - Destroy enemy farms, stealing food in the process
|_ This Heroic Age God Power summons a swarm of locusts that will
destroy enemy Farms or Fishing Ships. Because both of these are
expensive to establish, you can strike a blow against an enemy
economy. The Locusts cannot be attacked, and do only minor damage
to Villagers.
To plague your enemies with locusts, left click on the Locust
Swarm icon, then left click it near where you want the locusts
to swarm. You must have line of sight to the area to target the
swarm.
Petsuchos Mythological Unit
|_ The Petsuchos is a magic crocodile that can focus the beams of
sunlight into deadly searing rays. Like many ranged units, the
Petsuchos is weak when fighting at close range, but his beams
fire with perfect accuracy at distance.
"Petsuchos" is the Greek rendering of an Egyptian word meaning
"he who belongs to Suchos," the crocodile god also known as
Sobek. The Petsuchos was the sacred crocodile of Suchos kept in
a private lake in the city of Crocodopolis. He was an old,
pampered beast who wore golden rings in his ears and riveted
bracelets on his forelegs.
Roc Mythological Unit
|_ Reports of the Roc, a giant bird, come to us from the Arabian
Nights and the reports of Marco Polo. Sinbad describes the Roc
as being enormous with 16 yard long wings and a bulky body. In
one tale, a Roc carries Sinbad to safety after a shipwreck and
in another, Rocs destroy ships by dropping huge boulders on them.
Marco Polo tells of Rocs from Madagascar and how an envoy from
there presented a huge Roc feather to the Chinese court. A very
large flightless bird may actually have survived on the island
until the 16th century before going extinct.
Crocodopolis Improvement - Petsuchos has +4 range
|_ The crocodile god, known as Suchos or Sobek, was said to aid
fertility. The Greeks named his oasis of Fayoum near Lake Qarun
"Crocodopolis" or "city of the crocodile," where was kept a sacred
crocodile in his own private lake.
Medjay Improvement - Mercenaries live 30 seconds longer
|_ For the Medjay, Nubian nomads, long service alongside the military
forces of Egypt became service as a police force in parts of Thebes.
Around 200 B.C. they protected the construction of the royal
necropolis at Deir el-Medina. There they ensured that the workers
worked, were kept safe and they even pitched in to help in the
construction itself. Eventually the Medjay people and their culture
were totally absorbed by Egypt.
Sun Dried Mud Brick Improvement - Buildings have 10% more HP, cost 15% less
|_ Plentiful, easy to work, strong and an excellent barrier to heat,
sun-dried mud brick was one of the most common construction materials
in ancient Egypt. Straw and other debris added to the bricks gave
them better tensile strength. Plaster, woven straw coverings and
stone foundations often protected mud brick walls from the
elements. Stone was used preferentially for monuments and tombs
because it would better survive the elements without such protections,
lending a material immortality to the intended spiritual immortality
of the nobles and notables buried therein.
OSIRIS - Mythic Age
------
Description: Inheriting the rule of Egypt when his father abdicated,
the god Osiris taught his subjects how to make tools, cultivate crops,
brew beer, and make music. He brought civilization to the Nile Valley
by instituting laws and founding religion. He incurred the jealousy of
his brother Set, however, who had him trapped and exiled, then murdered
and cut into pieces. Osiris’ wife Isis was able to reassemble most of
his body, however, and resurrect him. Forgoing the opportunity to rule
Egypt once again, he chose instead to go west following the sun and
rule the land of the dead. In preparation for his journey and new life,
Isis embalmed him. Thereafter, the dead came to Osiris to be judged for
admission to the underworld where their souls could reside safely
forever. The heart of each petitioner was weighed against the feather
of truth. The final judgment could be influenced by magic or by temple
offerings. The promise of eternal life was a powerful lure, and Osiris
drew many followers. Osiris is usually portrayed wrapped in embalming
linens.
Son of Osiris God Power - Turns the Pharaoh into a lightning wielding
| demi-god
|_ This Mythic Age God Power transforms your Pharaoh into the
falcon-headed, lightning-wielding Son of Osiris. This unit has
all the powers of a normal Pharaoh, such as countering Myth Units,
healing and empowering, but is much more powerful in combat. He
is under your control and lasts until killed. He cannot be healed.
If he is killed, you will regain a normal Pharaoh.
Guard the Son of Osiris carefully; he will almost certainly become
your enemy’s favorite target.
To turn your Pharaoh into a demigod, left click on the Son of Osiris
icon at the top of the screen, then left click on your Pharaoh. If
you cannot locate your Pharaoh, use the banner button at the top
right of the screen to center your view on him.
Mummy Mythological Unit
|_ Heroes prepared for the afterlife were turned into Mummies by
embalming and special rites. Among their duties in the next life
might be the defense of sacred sites if robbers or other evil
doers disturbed their rest. Then the Mummies would arise and
destroy their enemies.
Atef Crown Improvement - Mummy +20% HP, +40% attack; Minions live twice
| as long
|_ Osiris was often depicted wearing this conical white crown topped
by the solar disk and flanked by two red ostrich plumes. The white
crown was the crown of Upper Egypt, the solar disk was a sun symbol
of kingship and the red feathers were symbols of the two truths -–
life and death. The feather was also a symbol of Ma’at, the goddess
of truth and justice.
Desert Wind Improvement - Camelry +20% speed, attack and HP
|_ Dromedaries (one-humped camels) are remarkably adapted to life
in the harsh desert environment. They can go for days without
water, lose almost half of their body weight without adverse
effects, and carry hundreds of pounds. Their flat feet and
pacing gait allow them to move at a good, rocking clip across
the desert sands.
Funeral Barge Improvement - Kebenits do damage x2 vs arrow ships
|_ Each morning Ra, the sun god, was reborn and rode across the
sky on the Manjet-Barge, the "Barge of a Million Years." At
sunset, when Ra died and became Auf, the barge turned into the
Mesektet-Barge, the "Night Barge," and carried him through the
hours of darkness until his rebirth.
New Kingdom Improvment - Gives you two pharoahs instead of one
|_ Lower Egypt, the fertile Black Lands, and Upper Egypt, the arid
Red Lands, were united when the ruler of Upper Egypt, King Menes,
conquered Lower Egypt, founding the 1st Dynasty around 3100 B.C.
"The living Heru; Who prospers the Two Lands; the Two Ladies:
Who prospers the Two Lands; the Golden Heru: Who prospers the
Two Lands; King of Upper and Lower Chem: Neferkare; the Son of
Re: Sha[baka], beloved of Ptah-South-of-his-Wall, who lives
like Re forever."
–- From the Shabaka Stone
THOTH - Mythic Age
-----
Description: A patron of learning and invention, Thoth was the chief god
of the city of Khmun and a divine scribe. He served as a loyal advocate
and supporter of Osiris, defending him against charges by Set, helping
Isis resurrect him as lord of the underworld, helping to keep Horus
hidden from Set until the son reached adulthood, and then helping Horus
regain his inheritance. Thoth then assisted Osiris by recording the past
deeds of all who sought to enter the Underworld. He read the scales when
the hearts of those seeking entrance were weighed versus the feather of
truth. Thoth grew in importance as people sought his help in proving
their innocence at judgment time. The priests of Thoth enhanced his
reputation as a magician and claimed he had access to spells that gave
him domination over the natural world and the gods themselves. Thoth
is usually depicted with the head of an ibis or baboon.
"Thereupon shall come Thoth, who is equipped with words of power in
great abundance, and shall untie the fetters, even the fetters of the
god Set which are over my mouth."
-- From the Papyrus of Ani
Meteor God Power - Wreak havoc on enemy buildings and units
|_ Thoth calls down a barrage of flaming Meteors upon an area.
Everything in the area will take damage if struck by the Meteors,
though allied units tend to get thrown rather than take significant
damage. Both units and buildings can be struck and damaged by
Meteors.
To call down this strike from the heavens, left click on the Meteor
icon at the top of the screen, then left click the area on the map
you would like to incinerate. You must have have line of sight to
use this power.
Phoenix Mythological Unit
|_ An eagle-like bird with feathers of gold and red, the Phoenix was
associated with the Sun and fire. It was long-lived and had the
ability to reproduce or reincarnate itself after death. In some
traditions, it built its own funeral nest before dying and then a
young Phoenix would issue from the dead body. After Christianity
began to spread, the tale of the Phoenix changed so that the bird
turned its funeral nest into a pyre and self-immolated. After a
period of time, usually three days, a new Phoenix rose from the
ashes. The Phoenix became a symbol for both immortality and life
after death.
"And at the five hundred years' end, the priests array their altar
honestly, and put thereupon spices and sulphur vif and other things
that will burn lightly; and then the bird phoenix cometh and burneth
himself to ashes. And the first day next after, men find in the
ashes a worm; and the second day next after, men find a bird quick
and perfect; and the third day next after, he flieth his way." --
The Travels of Sir John Mandeville
Sea Turtle Mythological Unit
|_ The Egyptians considered the turtle a creature of night and dark
water, and therefore became associated with Set and an enemy of the
sun god, Ra. They were not to be eaten or used in medicine.
"May Ra live and the turtle die." -- ancient Egyptian epithet
Book of Thoth Improvement - Villagers gather gold, wood, and food from
| farms 10% faster
|_ Thoth was the Egyptian god of wisdom, and his magical Book was
said to contain a collection of spells that would enable the
reader to know the language of the animals and to enchant the
sky and the earth itself.
"The Book of Thoth lies beneath the middle of the river, near
Coptos, in an iron box. In the iron box is a box of bronze; in
the bronze box is a sycamore box; in the sycamore box is an
ivory and ebony box; in the ivory and ebony box is a silver box;
in the silver box is a golden box - and in that lies the Book
of Thoth. All around the iron box are twisted snakes and scorpions,
and it is guarded by a serpent who cannot be slain."
-– From the tale of Setna Khaemwese and the Book of Thoth
Tusks of Apedemak Improvement - War Elephants +20% HP, +10% attack
|_ Lion-headed Apedemak was a Nubian god of war and victory. He was
often depicted standing on the backs of elephants. Elephants and
cattle were revered at Apedemak’s center of worship, Musawwarat
es-Sufra, to the north of the Sixth Cataract, where elephants
had military and religious significance.
Valley of the Kings Improvement - Migdol Stronghold units train 66% faster
|_ Centuries of Pharaohs were buried in the famous Valley of Kings,
including the mighty general Thutmose III, the last of the great
Pharaohs, Ramses III, and of course, the child Pharaoh Tutankamen.
The inhabitants of Deir el-Medina constructed many of the tombs in
the Valley. Skilled tomb-builders sometimes lived in isolated
communities so that the secrets of the tombs they built could be
kept safe.
===========================================================================
Norse Mythology
===========================================================================
Instead of worshipping at a Temple to gain Favor, like the Greeks, the
Norse gains Favor by hunting and engaging in war. Norse Hero, the
Hersir, is able to gain Favor faster than the other units.
In the beginning, Norse legend has it that there was nothing but fire
and ice. Slowly these two forces forged two beings: Ymir the giant and
Audhimia the cow. Audhumia subsisted by licking the salty ice, while
Ymir survived off Audhumia's milk. Eventually the cow's incessant licking
freed up a creature from the ice, the god Bor. Bor would father many
other deities, but none would be more important than Odin.
Odin was to become the ruler of all Norse gods - as well as the embodiment
of all knowledge. This he accomplished by trading his right eye with a
giant called Mime in exchange for access to the fountains of wisdom. Later,
when Mime was decapitated in battle, Odin anointed the skull with herbs
and revived it, keeping Mime's severed head at his side for his invaluable
counsel.
While Odin sired many children, it was the consummation of his marriage
to the goddess of Frigg that produced the greatest diversity of gods, from
the stately and eloquent Bragi (god of poetry) to the most powerful of
all Norse deities - Thor, god of thunder.
Thor was fearless in battle, owing largely to his choice of weaponry -
an astonishingly powerful hammer he called Mjoinir. When thrown, Mjoinir
would always trturn to Thor, but not before casting great swaths of
lightning across the northern skies.
When Thyrm, king of all giants in the faraay land of jotunheim, heard of
the hammer, he had to possess it. But the vengeance for stealing Thor's
hammer would be quick and merciless. Thyrm had demanded ransom for the
hammer's return - and the ransome was the goddess Freyja, Thor's mother.
Thor was enraged, but Heimdall, guardian of the Rainbow Bridge and keeper
of the keenest senses of all gods, had a plan: Thor would wear a woman's
dress to jotunheim, land of the giants, and convince Thyrm that he was
Freyja. Thor at first refused but eventually put on one of Freyja's
gowns and went to jotunheim. When a very pleased Thyrm presented the hammer
in trade to whom he thought was Freyja, Thor swung it so mightly that the
great giant was slain in a single blow. No one would again attempt such
a ploy on the powerful Thor.
Although ruthless in battle, Thor was a protective warrior, having inherited
his war-god status from Tyr (the most heroic and benevolent of all Norse
war deities). Thor's rage might be terrible and absolute, but it was
generally directed at those who would threaten humankind or the gods.
Baldr, on the other hand, couldn't have been a more different son for Odin
than Thor. Temperate and gently, Baldr was considered the god of beauty
and wisdom. But he was plagued with nightmares and fears of death to the
extent that his mother, the goddess Frigg, demanded that everyone and
every living thing on earth swear to never do him harm. But Frigg forgot
to tell the tiny, seemingly insignificant plant mistletoe, and this was to
be Baldr's undoing.
As the story goes, the god Loki constructed an arrow of mistletoe, and then
tricked Baldr's own brother (the blind war god, Hod) into slaying Baldr.
For this Loki was imprisoned beneath a giant serpent, which dripped acidic
poison down onto his face. (The pain was so intense that Loki's writhing
shook the earth, thus creating earthquakes.) Meanwhile, Frigg petitioned
Hel, daughter of Loki and goddess of the underworld, to restore Baldr's
life. Hel declared that first every thing on earth must shed tears for his
death, in the same manner Frigg had demanded they protect him.
It certainly was possible. After all, Baldr was a popular god - the winter
goddess Skadi was duped into an unhappy union with another god while trying
to win Baldr's hand.
Yet despite his popularity, Hel's declaration never came to pass. Yet Baldr
had a son, Forseti, the god of justice. From the elaborately decorated
halls of his gold and silver palace, Forseti settled all disputes and
continued to uphold the legend of his beloved father, Baldr.
The Norse gods were destined to be destroyed on the day of Ragnarok in
battle against their enemies, the giants.
The following chart reveals the Minor Gods from which you must choose,
according to your Major Gods, at each Age advance.
MAJOR GOD CLASSICAL AGE HEROIC AGE MYTHIC AGE
Odin Freyja, Heimdall Njord, Skadi Baldr, Tyr
Thor Forseti, Freyja Bragi, Skadi Baldr, Tyr
Loki Forseti, Heimdall Bragi, Njord Hel, Tyr
Below are the Norse Major & Minor Gods.
ODIN
----
Description: The oldest and chief of the Norse gods, Odin had risen
to prominence in the pantheon because of his love of battle. This
made him popular with the Vikings when they began raiding out of
Scandinavia. To his great fortress hall Valhalla he gathered those
slain in battle. Called the einherjar (glorious dead), these warriors
were preserved by Odin to supplement the gods in their final battle
against the giants at Ragnarok.
Odin was not a warrior himself, but inspired warriors into going
berserk in battle, feeling and fearing nothing. Sacrificial hangings
were part of the worship of Odin, and suicide by hanging was thought
to be a shortcut to Valhalla. Odin was held in high regard by jarls
and other Norse nobility, while the common people feared Odin and
worshipped Thor. Odin was also the god of wisdom. He had thrown one
of his eyes into Mimir’s well in trade for a drink of wisdom. He
hung himself from the cosmic tree, Yggdrasil, to learn the knowledge
of the dead, and then was revived by magic. He was kept informed
about events elsewhere by his two ravens that scouted the world and
reported back. Odin was to be killed during Ragnarok by Fenrir, the
wolf spawned by Loki. Worship of Odin diminished as the Vikings gave
up raiding for more peaceful pursuits. The Anglo-Saxons gave his
name (Woden) to the fourth day of their week, Wednesday.
"Odin gives whatever meat is set before him on the table to his two
wolves, Geri and Freki, for he himself requires no food. For Him,
mead is both meat and drink."
-- Glyfaginning 39
Bonuses: Hunters gather 10% faster
Gains two Raven scouts on advancing to the Classical Age
Human soldiers constantly regenerate hit points
Huskarls, Portable Rams, Ballistae +20% hit points
Jarls +10% hit points
Great Hunt God Power - Increases the number of animals in the target area
|_ Odin is the master of the Great Hunt, and can use his God Power
to double a random number of animals in the area. Find an area
with a herd of animals in the area, bring your own herd animals
nearby, and then use this God Power to increase their numbers in
order to provide plenty of extra Food.
To call the Great Hunt, left click on the Great Hunt icon, then
left click on a group of animals (the larger the better).
Lone Wanderer Improvement - Ulfsarks +10% move speed
|_ It was Odin’s custom to go in disguise amongst giants and men. He
went by many names in his wanderings: Vegtam, ("The Wayfarer"),
Ygg ("The Terrible'), Vafhudr ("Wind"), and Blindi ("The Blind"),
to name just a few.
"He alone knows who wanders wide, and has much experienced, by
what disposition each man is ruled, who common sense possesses."
-- The Poetic Eddas, The High One’s Lay
HEIMDALL - Classical Age
--------
Description: The White God, he sat beside the entrance to the rainbow
bridge, keeping watch for giants or other monsters trying to gain
entrance to the fortress of the gods. He needed very little sleep
and was so perceptive that he could detect the sound of grass growing
in the earth or wool growing on a sheep’s back. The legends say he
could see a hundred miles. He carried the horn Gjall, with which he
could warn the gods when Ragnarok began. During Ragnarok, he was to
be the last to fall, in single combat with Loki.
Undermine God Power - Increase in damage to walls, towers, and fortresses
|_ This Classical Age God Power reduces enemy walls and towers into
rubble. It will damage any shooting building, but will absolutely
destroy even multiple walls in its area. The Undermine always moves
towards the closest enemy wall, so target it carefully for maximum
effect.
To Undermine an enemy’s defenses, left click on the Undermine icon,
then left click near the walls and towers you want to attack. Only
fully upgraded walls and towers can stand up to the power of Undermine.
Einherjar Mythological Unit
|_ The Einherjar were the dead heroes gathered by the Valkyries and
taken to Asgard where they lived with Odin. The Valkyries culled
only the best and most heroic warriors. While living in Asgard,
the Einherjar feasted all night and battled all day, with any
wounds being magically healed. Thus they prepared endlessly for
the time when Odin called for them to fight with the gods at
Ragnarok.
Arctic Wind Improvement - Longboats have +10% speed and attack
|_ Viking sailors routinely crossed the North Atlantic from Scandinavia
and Britain to Iceland, with only simple navigational tools and no
compass, despite the constant presence of heavy storms. The distance
of 700 nautical miles could be crossed in as little as four days and
nights given a steady wind.
"It is the great north wind that made the Vikings." -- Scandinavian
proverb.
Elhrimnir Kettle Improvement - Einherjar have +6 hack damage and +10% HP
|_ The Elhrimnir Kettle was used by the cook Andhrimnit ("Sooty face")
to cook the boar, Saehrimnir, which was used to feed the hungry
Einherjar in Valhalla every night. Odin himself abstained from eating.
"For meat, they all feast on the boar Saehrimnir for, although the
boar is boiled every morning, he becomes whole again every night."
-- Gylfaginning 39
Safeguard Improvement - Walls and Towers have double HP, Towers cost 25%
| less
|_ Heimdall was the watchman and guardian of the gods. He could hear
the grass growing in the fields and needed even less sleep than a
bird. It was his duty to give warning when enemies of the gods
attacked. He alerted his fellow Aesir by blowing the horn Giallarhorn,
which could be heard across the world. According to the Lay of Rig,
he became the father of humanity by creating the three social
classes: karl, jarl and thrall.
FREYJA - Classical Age
------
Description: Daughter of Njord, the sea god, Freyja was the goddess
of love and lust. She was portrayed as blue-eyed with a voluptuous
figure. The legends say that she was continually searching heaven
and earth for Odur, her lost husband, while shedding tears that turned
to gold on land and amber in the sea. (Odur may have been Odin.) In
the Germanic tradition, Freyja and two other Vanir (fertility gods)
moved to Asgard to live with the Aenir (war gods) as a token of
friendship following a war. She wore the Brisings necklace, a treasure
of great value and beauty that she obtained by sleeping with the four
dwarves who had made it. She also split the war dead with Odin. His
share went with him to Valhalla and her share went to live in her
great hall.
Forest Fire God Power - Sets enemy's forest ablaze
|_ Freyja's God Power will completely destroy an entire forest. Use
this ability to deny an enemy access to Wood, to remove a barrier
that protects an enemy city, or to damage Villagers and buildings
near the forest.
To spark the fires, left click on the Forest Fire icon, then left
click on the forest you want to burn down. You must have line
of sight to the trees you wish to burn.
Valkyrie Mythological Unit
|_ The Valkyries were blonde, blue-eyed warrior maidens who assisted
Odin by choosing which newly slain warriors would enter Valhalla.
Here the chosen would fight each day and feast and drink each night
in preparation for Ragnarok, when they would help defend Asgard in
the final battle in which the gods would die. The Valkyries rode
through the air in glistening armor and helped determine the victor
of battles and the course of wars. The Valkyries also served Odin
as messengers, and when they rode forth on such errands, their
armor would sparkle, causing the strange atmospheric phenomena
known as the Northern Lights.
The original Valkyries were Brynhild ("mail of battle"), Sigrun
("victory rune"), Kara, Mist, Skogul ("battle"), Prour ("power"),
Herfjotur ("war fetter"), Raogrior ("god's peace"), Gunnr ("battle
spear"), Skuld ("she who is becoming"), Sigrdrifa ("victory
blizzard"), Svava, Hrist ("the shaker"), Skeggjold ("wearing a war
axe"), Hildr ("battle"), Hlokk ("din of battle"), Goll ("battle
cry"), Randgrior ("shield of peace"), Reginleif ("heritage of the
gods"), Rota ("she who causes turmoil") and Gondul ("enchanted wand"
or "Werewolf").
"On all sides saw I Valkyries assemble, Ready to ride to the ranks
of the gods; Skuld bore the shield, and Skogul rode next, Guth,
Hild, Gondul, and Geirskogul. Of Herjan's maidens the list have ye
heard, Valkyries ready to ride o'er the earth." -- The Poetic Edda
Aurora Borealis Improvement - Valkyrie +50% hack damage, +20% crush damage,
| +33% healing rate
|_ The aurora borealis, or "northern lights," consist of flickering
rainbow colors that can be seen in clear skies at high latitudes.
The lights were said by the Norse to be caused by the glittering
armor of the Valkyries as they rode across the northern night sky.
Thundering Hooves Improvement - Cavalry +10% speed, +20% HP. Valkyrie
| +20% speed, +10% HP
|_ The Norse had many splendid horses throughout their mythology.
Svaldifari, the horse that built the walls of Asgard. Skinfaxi
and Hrimfaxi, who drew the Sun and Moon across the skies. Grani,
Sigurd’s horse, a son of Sleipnir – Grani feared nothing, not even
fire and was "the best of all horses."
"Three troops of maidens;
though one maid foremost rode,
bright, with helmed head.
Their horses shook themselves,
and from their manes there sprang
dew into the deep dales,
hail on the lofty trees,
whence comes fruitfulness to man.
To me all that I saw was hateful."
-- The Poetic Eddas, The Lay of Helgi Hiorvard's Son
NJORD - Heroic Age
-----
Description: One of the Vanir, or fertility gods, he chose to live
in Asgard with the Aesir when the two factions made peace. Njord was
a god of the sea. Those who worshiped him received safe passage at
sea, as well as good fortune in owning land and having sons. He was
perceived as a kindly old soul who calmed seas that were often
raised up by the more tempestuous god, Aegir. Njord was known to
particularly love the seacoast bays that were home to the seagulls,
swans and other birds sacred to him. He was popular with fishermen
and was thought to aid ships in distress. He was the source of
summer rain showers. Skadi chose Njord as her husband because he
had beautiful feet.
Walking Woods God Power - Makes trees come alive to attack nearby enemy
| units
|_ This God Power transforms a forest into an army of fighting trees.
You can only invoke this God Power near trees. If you target a lone
tree, you may get a lone monster, so you are better off using this
power near forests.
The trees are not under your control, but they will persist until
killed and will not leave the general area in which they are
summoned. They are much stronger against buildings than against
units.
To invoke Walking Woods, left click on the Walking Woods icon,
then target it on a forest near the enemy you want to attack.
You must have line of sight to at least one tree in the forest
you are targeting.
Kraken Mythological Unit
|_ A creature from the sea so large that on the surface it was mistaken
for a chain of islands, the Kraken is found in Norse mythology.
Seamen were often lost when they camped on what they thought was
an island, only to be drowned when the creature swam back to the
bottom of the sea. It had large tentacles and suckers with which
it could seize large ships and drag them down. The Norse believe
the Kraken would rise to the surface at the end of the world.
Mountain Giant Mythological Unit
|_ The giants, also known as jotun, were known for their great
strength and stupidity. They were antagonistic and destructive.
Remarkably, several of the giantesses (who were perhaps not as
bestial as the males of their species) had trysts with some of
the Norse gods. Thor, Odin, Tyr and Heimdall had a giant for a
parent. Both of Loki's parents were giants, yet he was still
considered an Aesir god.
Some of the more colorful giants included Hrungnir, whose head
and heart were made of stone (and pinned Thor when the Thunderer
killed him), Gerd, a giantess who married Freyr (Freyja's brother),
Hrimthurs, who built the walls around Asgard in six months on a
bet (and was also killed by Thor), and Gunnlod, a giantess who
Odin had to sleep with for three nights before he could drink
her father's mead.
Long Serpent Improvement - Longboats have +20% Attack and -20% Crush Damage
| Vulnerability
|_ King Olaf Tryggvason raided England in the late 900s. With the loot
he garnered, he constructed the Long Serpent, perhaps the largest
Norse ship ever constructed, a vessel supposedly over 120 ft. long
that could carry 500 men.
"The ship was a dragon...but this ship was far larger, and more
carefully put together in all her parts. The king called this
ship the Long Serpent... The Long Serpent had thirty-four benches
for rowers. The head and the arched tail were both gilt, and the
bulwarks were as high as in sea-going ships. This ship was the
best and most costly ship ever made in Norway."
-- Snorri Sturluson, Heimskringla
Ring Giver Improvement - Jarls have +25% HP
|_ Norse kings, or thanes, gave out rings to favored subjects as
tokens of esteem. Ring giver is a kenning (a poetic expression)
that means King.
"The ring too I will give thee, which was burnt with the young
son of Odin. Eight of equal weight will from it drop, every
ninth night."
-- The Poetic Eddas, The Lay of Skinir
Wrath of the Deep Improvement - Krakens have +200 HP
|_ Aegir was a god of the ocean and his anger caused the seas to
storm. He and his wife Ran hosted the rest of the Aesir in
their hall quite frequently. Aegir and Ran had nine daughters:
Bara, Blodughadda, Bylgia, Dufa, Himinglaeva, Hefring, Hronn,
Kolga and Unn. These daughters were the waves of the ocean.
"Higher still bade Helgi
the deep sail be hauled.
No port gave shelter
to the crews;
when Aegir´s
terrific daughter
the chieftains’ vessels
would o’erwhelm."
-- The Poetic Eddas, The First Lay of Helgi Hundingcide
SKADI - Heroic Age
-----
Description: She was the goddess of winter from whom Scandinavia
takes its name, and a hunter who used a bow. She was the daughter
of the giant Thiazi. When Thiazi was killed by the gods, she marched
on Asgard to exact revenge. Fearing the contest with the goddess of
winter, the god of Asgard offered to put her father’s eyes into
heaven as stars and allow her a god for a husband. She had to
choose her mate by examining feet only, and hoped to select Baldr.
She chose Njord, a god of the sea, instead, guessing the feet
incorrectly. They were not suited for each other and eventually
separated. Some say she married Ull, the god of skiing and archery,
and others say she bore Odin several sons.
Frost God Power - Freezes enemy units
|_ Skadi's God Power freezes enemy units within solid ice. The ice
prevents the units from moving and attacking, but it also protects
them from combat. Therefore, you cannot usually eliminate an enemy
army with Frost, but you can delay it long enough to train your
own soldiers or flee the area.
To invoke Frost, left click on the Frost icon at the top of the
screen, then left click on the enemy units that you want to freeze.
Frost Giant Mythological Unit
|_ The thurses, also called frost or rime giants, were among the
first of the giants created when the world began. As opposed to
the brutish Jotun, or mountain giants, the frost giants were
ancient beings, symbolizing the time before the gods existed.
They lived in the realm of Jotunheim, one of the Nine Worlds
of Norse mythology, along with Muspellheim and Midgard. Jotunheim
was the land of giants, and their leader was the frost giant jarl,
Thrym ("uproar"). He was an archenemy of Thor, and once stole his
hammer, Mjolnir, and also demanded Freyja for a wife.
As the tale goes, Thor dressed up as Freyja and went to retrieve
his hammer. During the feast, the giants were amazed that "Freyja"
ate an ox, several salmon, and large tankards of mead. Loki made
the excuse that "Freyja" had not eaten in days because she was so
excited to be married to the king of the giants. When Thrym peeped
under "Freyja's" veil and saw Thor's beard, Thor threw off his
disguise.
"Thor's heart laughed within him when he saw his hammer. First
he struck down Thrym, the King of the Thurse, and then he slew
all the giant's kin. He also killed the giant's poor sister who
had begged for a bridal gift. Instead of shillings she received
blows and instead of rings, a hammer hit. And thus Odin's son
retrieved his hammer." -- Thrym's Lay from the Poetic Edda
Huntress's Axe Improvement - Throwing Axeman have 20% more attack
|_ Skadi was so fierce a warrior, as were many of the Jotun, that
the Aesir thought it better to turn aside her rage with gifts
than face her in battle.
"Then came a maid from heaven, helmed, from above - the clash
of arms increased - for the king’s protection."
-- The Poetic Eddas, The First Lay of Helgi Hundingcide
Rime Improvement - Frost Giants have 33% more HP, 20% more attack,
| and special attack recharges 25% faster
|_ When Skadi came to confront the Aesir for killing her father,
they offered her three things: one, to make her laugh, two,
that she be allowed to chose a husband from among the Aesir,
three, that her father’s eyes would be cast into the heavens
as stars. The fierce frost giantess accepted and winter’s
wrath was turned aside.
"From Elivagar sprang venom drops, which grew till they became
a Jötun; but sparks flew from the south-world: to the ice the
fire gave life."
-- The Poetic Eddas, The Lay of Vafthrudnir
Winter Harvest Improvement - Farmers gather food from farms 20% faster
|_ Skadi was a great huntress, traveling her icy home of Thrymheim
on snowshoes and carrying a bow with which she brought down much
game. After her stormy and eventually dissolved marriage to the
Aesir Njord, she married Ull, the god of justice, skiing and
agriculture.
"A seventh I will sing to thee. If on a mountain high frost should
assail thee, deadly cold shall not thy carcase injure, nor draw thy
body to thy limbs.”
-- The Poetic Eddas, The Lay of Hyndla
TYR - Mythic Age
---
Description: The son of Odin and Frigg, Tyr was the war god,
renowned for strength and valor. Like Odin, he received sacrifices
of hanged men. His story is bound to that of Fenrir, the wolf-son
of Loki. Tyr was assigned the difficult task of feeding Fenrir, but
Odin perceived that Fenrir was growing ever more powerful and
dangerous. The gods chose to bind Fenrir underground, where he could
do no harm. To convince him that a magic chain around his neck was
harmless, Tyr had to place his right hand in the wolf’s mouth. When
Fenrir realized the chain was unbreakable, he bit off Tyr’s hand.
The loss of his hand reduced Tyr in the eyes of the other gods, who
laughed at his pain. He was destined to fight the great hound Garm,
watchdog at the gates of Hel, during Ragnarok. In this final
confrontation, Garm was to leap at Tyr’s throat and both would die
in the struggle. The god Tyr was petitioned before battle and his
rune was engraved on swords. Tyr may have been the chief god in
early Norse pantheons, but his importance diminished as worship
of Odin increased. The Anglo-Saxons called him Tiw and gave his
name to the third day of their week, Tuesday.
Fimbuwinter God Power - Summons wolves to attack enemy villagers and
| town centers all over the map
|_ Fimbulwinter darkens the sky, summons a blizzard, and fills the
map with wolves. The fierce Fimbulwinter wolves will attack enemy
Town Centers and surrounding units. Unlike many Mythic Age God
Powers, Fimbulwinter is not targeted on a specific area, but
will always affect 4 Town Centers across the map, regardless
of the number of enemies. The wolves are not under your control
and go away when the God Power has ended.
To call the Fimbulwinter down, left click the Fimbulwinter icon,
then left click anywhere in your line of sight. Wolves will
swarm out of the darkness and the swirling snow to attack enemy
Town Centers.
Fenris Wolf Brood Mythological Unit
|_ The original Fenrir (of which these monsters are just the
offspring) was the product of Loki and the giantess Angrboda.
The gods raised the wolf in Asgard, but only Tyr had the
courage to feed it. Unfortunately, the wolf grew larger and
larger until nothing could chain him down. Finally the dwarves
made a chain out of the roots of a mountain, silence of a
moving cat, and the breath of a fish. In order to trick Fenrir
into moving close enough to be chained, Tyr offered him food,
and in retribution, the wolf bit off his arm. Fenrir then
began to howl until the gods stuck a sword in his mouth as
a gag.
At Ragnarok, Fenrir is fated to break his chains and kill Odin.
Jormund Elver Mythological Unit
|_ The original Jormundgard, of which these creatures are just
the elvers (another word for baby eels), was a monstrous sea
serpent and the offspring of Loki and the giant Angrboda. Odin
threw the serpent into the seas of Midgard when it was small,
but it grew so large that it could surround the earth by biting
its own tail. During Ragnarok, Thor was fated to finally slay
the serpent, but he would drown in the dying serpent's venom.
Berserkergang Improvement - Ulfsarks have 20% more HP and 10% more attack
|_ There is disagreement about whether "berserk" referred to "bare
shirt", going shirtless, or "bear shirt", wearing a bear skin into
battle, in the same way the ulfsarks wore wolf coats. These
warriors would enter a rage in combat, where it is said their skin
turned aside weapons. Some modern scholars suggest that the
berserker rage may have been induced by consuming hallucinogenic
mushrooms.
"A third I know, if great is my need Of fetters to hold my foe;
Blunt do I make mine enemy's blade, Nor bites his sword or staff."
-- The Poetic Edda
Bravery Improvement - Huskarls have +20% attack and do 1.5x damage vs
| buildings
|_ The first recorded Viking raid was an AD 793 surprise attack on
the monastery of Linidisfarne, England. The raiders looted the
monastery, killed any monks who got in their way, then loaded up
their ships and sailed home to Scandinavia. Within 100 years,
they were sailing all the way to the Mediterranean to attack
Italy and sailing down the Volga to raid the Black Sea.
"I have, in all, the death-stroke given to foes of mine at least
eleven; Two more, perhaps, if I remember, may yet be added to this
number, I prize myself upon these deeds, my people such examples
needs. Bright gold itself they would despise, or healing leek-herb
underprize, if not still brought before their eyes."
-- King Harald Hardraada
BALDR - Mythic Age
-----
Description: Son of Odin and Frigg, and father of Forseti, Baldr
spread goodwill and peace wherever he went, making him one of the
best loved of the gods. His popularity and innate goodness attracted
the ire of Loki, who plotted mischief. Baldr was tormented by
nightmares, a sign of impending death, and this disturbed the gods.
After much trouble, Odin determined Baldr’s fate and then took steps
to prevent it. Loki intervened, however, and Baldr was killed by a
branch of mistletoe thrown by his blind brother Hodr, as had been
foretold. Attempts to ransom Baldr back from Hel were thwarted by
Loki. Nevertheless, Baldr was expected to return after a great world
catastrophe and rule a rejuvenated world. The similarity of these
expectations may have aided the initial spread of Christianity among
the Norse.
Ragnarok God Power - Converts all gatherers and dwarves into Hersir
|_ This Mythic Age God Power readies your entire empire for battle
as all your Gatherers and Dwarves trade their spades and hoes for
hammers and helmets and become mighty Norse heroes.
To begin the Last Battle, left click on the Ragnarok icon, then
left click anywhere on the map. This God Power is a double-edged
sword, for you sacrifice your economy in order to have a
formidable army. Make sure you replace those Gatherers who went
off to fight.
Fire Giant Mythological Unit
|_ The fire giants, or muspilli, are eager participants at Ragnarok
and believe in the fiery destruction of the cosmos. The most
famous of the fire giants was Surtr ("black"), a jarl who guarded
the gates to Muspellheim. He had burning hair, skin of boiling
lava and carried a flaming sword. Muspellheim was one of the
"middle levels" of the Nine Worlds, along with Midgard and
Jotunheim.
Arctic Gate Improvement - Dragon Boats +20% speed, -30% Hack Vulnerability
|_ When Baldr, the most beloved of the Aesir, died, he was placed on
his fine boat Hringhorni. The boat was set alight and pushed out to
sea by the giantess Hyrrokin.
"Who ride yonder,
on Raevil's horses,
the towering billows,
the roaring main:
the sail-steeds are
with sweat bedewed,
the wave-coursers will not
the wind withstand."
-- The Poetic Eddas, The Second Lay of Sigurd Fafnicide
Dwarven Auger Improvement - Portable Rams train 50% faster, have +20%
| attack and speed
|_ Portable Rams train 50% faster, have +20% attack and speed.
Sons of Sleipnir Improvement - Raiding Cavalry have their bonus damage
| increased vs Archers and vs Throwing Axemen
|_ Sleipnir was Odin’s horse, a son of Loki’s, by the great builder
Svaldifari. Sleipnir had eight legs and was the swiftest horse
ever known.
"Yggdrasil’s ash is
of all trees most excellent,
and of all ships, Skidbladnir,
of the Aesir, Odin,
and of horses, Sleipnir,
Bifrost of bridges,
and of skalds, Bragi,
Habrok of hawks,
and of dogs, Garm
Brimir of swords."
-- The Poetic Eddas, The Lay of Vafthrudnir
-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-
THOR
----
Description: The thunder god, Thor was the son of Odin and Fjorgyn,
the goddess of earth. He was large for a god, immensely strong, and
a big eater (a cow could be a single meal). He loved contests of
strength and was the main champion of the gods against their enemies,
the frost giants. Farmers who appreciated his simple honesty and
revulsion of evil worshiped him, rather than Odin, who was more
attractive to those with the raiding spirit. Thor’s weapon was a
magic war hammer (bolts of lightning) with a huge head and short
handle that never missed its target. He wore magic iron gauntlets
to handle the white-hot hammer shaft and a belt that doubled his
strength.
Thor enjoyed the company of Loki despite the trickster’s penchant
for getting them both in trouble. The tales of their adventures
are some of the richest in Norse mythology. In the Norse pantheon,
Thor was the destroyer of evil. At Ragnarok, Thor was aligned
against his friend Loki who had gone over to the side of the evil
frost giants. Thor was destined to kill the grim serpent
Jormungand, spawn of Loki, but die in the struggle. Anglo-Saxons
gave Thor’s name to the fifth day of their week, Thursday.
Bonuses: Starts with 2 dwarves instead of 2 gatherers.
Dwarves cost 10 less gold
Can build Dwarven Foundry instead of Armory
Dwarven Foundry technologies cost less gold
Dwarven Mine God Power - Creates a gold mine at any location
|_ By mining the strongest ore and using special forging techniques
that only the Dwarven forge offers, the Dwarves have perfected
special armor to protect them during their constant struggle
against giants in the Norselands.
Pig Sticker Improvement - Villagers have +5 attack vs animals, gather
| food from hunting 10% faster
|_ Tanngnjostr ("Teeth-grinder") and Tanngrisnir ("Teeth-barer")
were the names of the two goats that drew Thor’s chariot. Every
night, if he wished, Thor could slaughter and eat these two for
dinner. If he saved and buried their bones, the two goats would
be fully restored when he awoke in the morning.
"She set forth salvers full, adorned with silver, on the table
game and pork, and roasted birds. In a can was wine; the cups
were ornamented. They drank and talked; the day was fast departing,
Rig would counsel give to them both."
-- The Poetic Eddas, The Lay of Rig
FORSETI - Classical Age
-------
Description: The son of Baldr, he was the god of justice and a force
for peace. He sat in his hall, dispensing justice and resolving the
disputes of both gods and men. The legends say that he never failed
to bring disputing parties to agreement or pass judgment that all
agreed was fair.
Healing Spring God Power - Creates a spring which heals all friendly
| units within range
|_ This Classical Age God Power creates a pool of healing water to
seep up from the ground. Nearby allied units are healed of their
wounds. Units that are standing still will heal faster than those
who are moving or attacking.
The Healing Spring cannot be destroyed. However, be careful; if
an enemy has more units near the area than you do, then the
Healing Spring will belong to them and will heal their units.
The Spring may change hands many times.
To call forth the healing waters, left click on the Healing
Spring icon, then left click where you want to place it. You
must have line of sight to target this God Power and it requires
a large space.
Troll Mythological Unit
|_ Trolls are dim-witted, man-eating creatures that live in caverns
beneath hills and mountains. They are allies of the giants, and
will fight against the gods during Ragnarok. Trolls are strong,
and have long lifespans, but are not known for their beauty.
Trolls could be turned to stone if exposed to daylight. Some
are known to steal women and children, and might leave a
changeling in exchange for a kidnapped child. Some trolls had
magical powers, particularly divination of the future.
Hall of Thanes Improvement - Hersir +10% HP and speed
|_ The hall was a center of social interaction for the Norse,
especially Norse rulers. They gathered there, held court, ate,
told stories, drank beer. It was a display of a king’s, or
thane’s, wealth if he had a splendidly decorated hall.
"I was nurtured
in the kingly hall,
I was the joy of many
in the council of men.
Life I enjoyed,
and my father’s wealth,
five winters only,
while my father lived."
-- The Poetic Eddas, Oddrun’s Lament
Hamarrtroll Improvement - Trolls +50% HP, +2 range, +20% attack
|_ Fearsome night-stalking creatures, trolls inhabited the
Ironwood - a forest filled with witches and werewolves. Sometimes
multiheaded giants, sometimes goblins, they are most often
portrayed as nasty, destructive creatures. The touch of sunlight
turns a troll into stone, so they tend keep to their caverns and
caves during the day. Other myths show them as mysterious
lore-keepers who will share their lore… for a price.
Mithril Breastplate Improvement - Ulfsarks have -10% hack damage
| Vulnerability
|_ Easy to work and harder than steel, a mithril breastplate was a
treasure indeed. Conventional weapons could not pierce the
untarnished, silvery metal.
"Shields ye there can choose, and smooth-shaven spears, gold-red
helms, and of Huns a multitude, silver-gilt saddle-cloths, sarks
gory-red, the dart’s obstruction, and bit-gripping steeds."
-- The Poetic Eddas, The Lay of Atli
FREYJA - Classical Age
------
Description: Daughter of Njord, the sea god, Freyja was the goddess
of love and lust. She was portrayed as blue-eyed with a voluptuous
figure. The legends say that she was continually searching heaven
and earth for Odur, her lost husband, while shedding tears that turned
to gold on land and amber in the sea. (Odur may have been Odin.) In
the Germanic tradition, Freyja and two other Vanir (fertility gods)
moved to Asgard to live with the Aenir (war gods) as a token of
friendship following a war. She wore the Brisings necklace, a treasure
of great value and beauty that she obtained by sleeping with the four
dwarves who had made it. She also split the war dead with Odin. His
share went with him to Valhalla and her share went to live in her
great hall.
Forest Fire God Power - Sets enemy's forest ablaze
|_ Freyja's God Power will completely destroy an entire forest. Use
this ability to deny an enemy access to Wood, to remove a barrier
that protects an enemy city, or to damage Villagers and buildings
near the forest.
To spark the fires, left click on the Forest Fire icon, then left
click on the forest you want to burn down. You must have line
of sight to the trees you wish to burn.
Valkyrie Mythological Unit
|_ The Valkyries were blonde, blue-eyed warrior maidens who assisted
Odin by choosing which newly slain warriors would enter Valhalla.
Here the chosen would fight each day and feast and drink each night
in preparation for Ragnarok, when they would help defend Asgard in
the final battle in which the gods would die. The Valkyries rode
through the air in glistening armor and helped determine the victor
of battles and the course of wars. The Valkyries also served Odin
as messengers, and when they rode forth on such errands, their
armor would sparkle, causing the strange atmospheric phenomena
known as the Northern Lights.
The original Valkyries were Brynhild ("mail of battle"), Sigrun
("victory rune"), Kara, Mist, Skogul ("battle"), Prour ("power"),
Herfjotur ("war fetter"), Raogrior ("god's peace"), Gunnr ("battle
spear"), Skuld ("she who is becoming"), Sigrdrifa ("victory
blizzard"), Svava, Hrist ("the shaker"), Skeggjold ("wearing a war
axe"), Hildr ("battle"), Hlokk ("din of battle"), Goll ("battle
cry"), Randgrior ("shield of peace"), Reginleif ("heritage of the
gods"), Rota ("she who causes turmoil") and Gondul ("enchanted wand"
or "Werewolf").
"On all sides saw I Valkyries assemble, Ready to ride to the ranks
of the gods; Skuld bore the shield, and Skogul rode next, Guth,
Hild, Gondul, and Geirskogul. Of Herjan's maidens the list have ye
heard, Valkyries ready to ride o'er the earth." -- The Poetic Edda
Aurora Borealis Improvement - Valkyrie +50% hack damage, +20% crush damage,
| +33% healing rate
|_ The aurora borealis, or "northern lights," consist of flickering
rainbow colors that can be seen in clear skies at high latitudes.
The lights were said by the Norse to be caused by the glittering
armor of the Valkyries as they rode across the northern night sky.
Thundering Hooves Improvement - Cavalry +10% speed, +20% HP. Valkyrie
| +20% speed, +10% HP
|_ The Norse had many splendid horses throughout their mythology.
Svaldifari, the horse that built the walls of Asgard. Skinfaxi
and Hrimfaxi, who drew the Sun and Moon across the skies. Grani,
Sigurd’s horse, a son of Sleipnir – Grani feared nothing, not even
fire and was "the best of all horses."
"Three troops of maidens;
though one maid foremost rode,
bright, with helmed head.
Their horses shook themselves,
and from their manes there sprang
dew into the deep dales,
hail on the lofty trees,
whence comes fruitfulness to man.
To me all that I saw was hateful."
-- The Poetic Eddas, The Lay of Helgi Hiorvard's Son
BRAGI - Heroic Age
-----
Description: Son of Odin and a female giant, Bragi was the god of
poetry and eloquence. He was portrayed as an old bearded man playing
a harp. He spoke bluntly to Loki, following the death of Baldr,
telling him he was unwelcome in Asgard. Loki became enraged and
called Bragi a "braggart." Bragi threatened to rip off Loki’s head
to end his lies. Loki then fled Asgard, prophesizing that the gods
would all fall. Bragi is considered a late addition to the Norse/Germanic
pantheon, possibly in recognition for the newly high status of bards
and poets as wise men passing on knowledge and truth. Solemn oaths
were sworn over the Cup of Bragi.
Flaming Weapons God Power - Increases the attack of all human units for a
| while
|_ This God Power engulfs the weapons of human soldiers in flames for
a short time. It only affects your units, but affects all of your
units on the entire map. Flaming weapons do extra damage.
To sheathe the blades of your soldiers in flame, left click on
the Flaming Weapons icon at the top of the screen, then left
click near a group of allied soldiers.
Battle Boar Mythological Unit
|_ The European wild boar feeds on roots, bulbs, tubers, nuts,
turnips, corn and potatoes. They will sometimes eat larvae, small
animals and carrion.
The domestic pig is a direct descendant of the boar, and like pigs,
boars wallow in mud to keep cool. Boar herds usually consist of
sows. Males are solitary or found in small groups, except during
the breeding season.
Sows generally have one litter per year of 5-10 piglets, and are
dedicated mothers. Sows are generally more aggressive than the
males except during the rut. All adult boars are dangerous because
of their large size and tusks, but generally won't attack unless
provoked.
Call of Valhalla Improvement - Ulfsarks +20% HP
|_ Valhalla, the "Hall of the Slain", was Odin's banquet hall in
Gladshiem. Its rafters were crafted from giant spears, and its
roof shingled in shields. It had 540 doors capable of allowing
hundreds of warriors to enter shoulder to shoulder. At the head
of the hall was Hlidskalf, Odin's throne, where he heard the
whispers of his Ravens and fed his uneaten dinner to his wolves.
"The fifth is Glathsheim, and gold-bright there Stands Valhall
stretching wide; And there does Othin each day choose The men
who have fallen in fight."
-- The Poetic Eddas
Swine Array Improvement - Ulfsark have damage x2 vs Cavalry
|_ The swine array, or svynfylking, was a formation used by the
Vikings and originally credited to Odin. Men would form a
triangle, with the most heavily armored warriors in front, and
perhaps archers in the rear ranks. The array could position
spears against charging cavalry, or move forward to drive a
wedge through enemy ranks. The array could be used alone, or
in multiples with the rear ranks connecting to form a zig-zag
frontage.
Thurisaz Rune Improvement - All myth units move 12% faster
|_ This is the rune of frost giants, a group of fierce icy Jotun.
It is also called Thurs (not like Thursday) and also Thorn.
"I saw those men
who much envy harbour
at another's fortune;
bloody runes
were on their breasts
graved painfully."
-- The Poetic Eddas, The Song of the Sun
SKADI - Heroic Age
-----
Description: She was the goddess of winter from whom Scandinavia
takes its name, and a hunter who used a bow. She was the daughter
of the giant Thiazi. When Thiazi was killed by the gods, she marched
on Asgard to exact revenge. Fearing the contest with the goddess of
winter, the god of Asgard offered to put her father’s eyes into
heaven as stars and allow her a god for a husband. She had to
choose her mate by examining feet only, and hoped to select Baldr.
She chose Njord, a god of the sea, instead, guessing the feet
incorrectly. They were not suited for each other and eventually
separated. Some say she married Ull, the god of skiing and archery,
and others say she bore Odin several sons.
Frost God Power - Freezes enemy units
|_ Skadi's God Power freezes enemy units within solid ice. The ice
prevents the units from moving and attacking, but it also protects
them from combat. Therefore, you cannot usually eliminate an enemy
army with Frost, but you can delay it long enough to train your
own soldiers or flee the area.
To invoke Frost, left click on the Frost icon at the top of the
screen, then left click on the enemy units that you want to freeze.
Frost Giant Mythological Unit
|_ The thurses, also called frost or rime giants, were among the
first of the giants created when the world began. As opposed to
the brutish Jotun, or mountain giants, the frost giants were
ancient beings, symbolizing the time before the gods existed.
They lived in the realm of Jotunheim, one of the Nine Worlds
of Norse mythology, along with Muspellheim and Midgard. Jotunheim
was the land of giants, and their leader was the frost giant jarl,
Thrym ("uproar"). He was an archenemy of Thor, and once stole his
hammer, Mjolnir, and also demanded Freyja for a wife.
As the tale goes, Thor dressed up as Freyja and went to retrieve
his hammer. During the feast, the giants were amazed that "Freyja"
ate an ox, several salmon, and large tankards of mead. Loki made
the excuse that "Freyja" had not eaten in days because she was so
excited to be married to the king of the giants. When Thrym peeped
under "Freyja's" veil and saw Thor's beard, Thor threw off his
disguise.
"Thor's heart laughed within him when he saw his hammer. First
he struck down Thrym, the King of the Thurse, and then he slew
all the giant's kin. He also killed the giant's poor sister who
had begged for a bridal gift. Instead of shillings she received
blows and instead of rings, a hammer hit. And thus Odin's son
retrieved his hammer." -- Thrym's Lay from the Poetic Edda
Huntress's Axe Improvement - Throwing Axeman have 20% more attack
|_ Skadi was so fierce a warrior, as were many of the Jotun, that
the Aesir thought it better to turn aside her rage with gifts
than face her in battle.
"Then came a maid from heaven, helmed, from above - the clash
of arms increased - for the king’s protection."
-- The Poetic Eddas, The First Lay of Helgi Hundingcide
Rime Improvement - Frost Giants have 33% more HP, 20% more attack,
| and special attack recharges 25% faster
|_ When Skadi came to confront the Aesir for killing her father,
they offered her three things: one, to make her laugh, two,
that she be allowed to chose a husband from among the Aesir,
three, that her father’s eyes would be cast into the heavens
as stars. The fierce frost giantess accepted and winter’s
wrath was turned aside.
"From Elivagar sprang venom drops, which grew till they became
a Jötun; but sparks flew from the south-world: to the ice the
fire gave life."
-- The Poetic Eddas, The Lay of Vafthrudnir
Winter Harvest Improvement - Farmers gather food from farms 20% faster
|_ Skadi was a great huntress, traveling her icy home of Thrymheim
on snowshoes and carrying a bow with which she brought down much
game. After her stormy and eventually dissolved marriage to the
Aesir Njord, she married Ull, the god of justice, skiing and
agriculture.
"A seventh I will sing to thee. If on a mountain high frost should
assail thee, deadly cold shall not thy carcase injure, nor draw thy
body to thy limbs.”
-- The Poetic Eddas, The Lay of Hyndla
TYR - Mythic Age
---
Description: The son of Odin and Frigg, Tyr was the war god,
renowned for strength and valor. Like Odin, he received sacrifices
of hanged men. His story is bound to that of Fenrir, the wolf-son
of Loki. Tyr was assigned the difficult task of feeding Fenrir, but
Odin perceived that Fenrir was growing ever more powerful and
dangerous. The gods chose to bind Fenrir underground, where he could
do no harm. To convince him that a magic chain around his neck was
harmless, Tyr had to place his right hand in the wolf’s mouth. When
Fenrir realized the chain was unbreakable, he bit off Tyr’s hand.
The loss of his hand reduced Tyr in the eyes of the other gods, who
laughed at his pain. He was destined to fight the great hound Garm,
watchdog at the gates of Hel, during Ragnarok. In this final
confrontation, Garm was to leap at Tyr’s throat and both would die
in the struggle. The god Tyr was petitioned before battle and his
rune was engraved on swords. Tyr may have been the chief god in
early Norse pantheons, but his importance diminished as worship
of Odin increased. The Anglo-Saxons called him Tiw and gave his
name to the third day of their week, Tuesday.
Fimbuwinter God Power - Summons wolves to attack enemy villagers and
| town centers all over the map
|_ Fimbulwinter darkens the sky, summons a blizzard, and fills the
map with wolves. The fierce Fimbulwinter wolves will attack enemy
Town Centers and surrounding units. Unlike many Mythic Age God
Powers, Fimbulwinter is not targeted on a specific area, but
will always affect 4 Town Centers across the map, regardless
of the number of enemies. The wolves are not under your control
and go away when the God Power has ended.
To call the Fimbulwinter down, left click the Fimbulwinter icon,
then left click anywhere in your line of sight. Wolves will
swarm out of the darkness and the swirling snow to attack enemy
Town Centers.
Fenris Wolf Brood Mythological Unit
|_ The original Fenrir (of which these monsters are just the
offspring) was the product of Loki and the giantess Angrboda.
The gods raised the wolf in Asgard, but only Tyr had the
courage to feed it. Unfortunately, the wolf grew larger and
larger until nothing could chain him down. Finally the dwarves
made a chain out of the roots of a mountain, silence of a
moving cat, and the breath of a fish. In order to trick Fenrir
into moving close enough to be chained, Tyr offered him food,
and in retribution, the wolf bit off his arm. Fenrir then
began to howl until the gods stuck a sword in his mouth as
a gag.
At Ragnarok, Fenrir is fated to break his chains and kill Odin.
Jormund Elver Mythological Unit
|_ The original Jormundgard, of which these creatures are just
the elvers (another word for baby eels), was a monstrous sea
serpent and the offspring of Loki and the giant Angrboda. Odin
threw the serpent into the seas of Midgard when it was small,
but it grew so large that it could surround the earth by biting
its own tail. During Ragnarok, Thor was fated to finally slay
the serpent, but he would drown in the dying serpent's venom.
Berserkergang Improvement - Ulfsarks have 20% more HP and 10% more attack
|_ There is disagreement about whether "berserk" referred to "bare
shirt", going shirtless, or "bear shirt", wearing a bear skin into
battle, in the same way the ulfsarks wore wolf coats. These
warriors would enter a rage in combat, where it is said their skin
turned aside weapons. Some modern scholars suggest that the
berserker rage may have been induced by consuming hallucinogenic
mushrooms.
"A third I know, if great is my need Of fetters to hold my foe;
Blunt do I make mine enemy's blade, Nor bites his sword or staff."
-- The Poetic Edda
Bravery Improvement - Huskarls have +20% attack and do 1.5x damage vs
| buildings
|_ The first recorded Viking raid was an AD 793 surprise attack on
the monastery of Linidisfarne, England. The raiders looted the
monastery, killed any monks who got in their way, then loaded up
their ships and sailed home to Scandinavia. Within 100 years,
they were sailing all the way to the Mediterranean to attack
Italy and sailing down the Volga to raid the Black Sea.
"I have, in all, the death-stroke given to foes of mine at least
eleven; Two more, perhaps, if I remember, may yet be added to this
number, I prize myself upon these deeds, my people such examples
needs. Bright gold itself they would despise, or healing leek-herb
underprize, if not still brought before their eyes."
-- King Harald Hardraada
BALDR - Mythic Age
-----
Description: Son of Odin and Frigg, and father of Forseti, Baldr
spread goodwill and peace wherever he went, making him one of the
best loved of the gods. His popularity and innate goodness attracted
the ire of Loki, who plotted mischief. Baldr was tormented by
nightmares, a sign of impending death, and this disturbed the gods.
After much trouble, Odin determined Baldr’s fate and then took steps
to prevent it. Loki intervened, however, and Baldr was killed by a
branch of mistletoe thrown by his blind brother Hodr, as had been
foretold. Attempts to ransom Baldr back from Hel were thwarted by
Loki. Nevertheless, Baldr was expected to return after a great world
catastrophe and rule a rejuvenated world. The similarity of these
expectations may have aided the initial spread of Christianity among
the Norse.
Ragnarok God Power - Converts all gatherers and dwarves into Hersir
|_ This Mythic Age God Power readies your entire empire for battle
as all your Gatherers and Dwarves trade their spades and hoes for
hammers and helmets and become mighty Norse heroes.
To begin the Last Battle, left click on the Ragnarok icon, then
left click anywhere on the map. This God Power is a double-edged
sword, for you sacrifice your economy in order to have a
formidable army. Make sure you replace those Gatherers who went
off to fight.
Fire Giant Mythological Unit
|_ The fire giants, or muspilli, are eager participants at Ragnarok
and believe in the fiery destruction of the cosmos. The most
famous of the fire giants was Surtr ("black"), a jarl who guarded
the gates to Muspellheim. He had burning hair, skin of boiling
lava and carried a flaming sword. Muspellheim was one of the
"middle levels" of the Nine Worlds, along with Midgard and
Jotunheim.
Arctic Gate Improvement - Dragon Boats +20% speed, -30% Hack Vulnerability
|_ When Baldr, the most beloved of the Aesir, died, he was placed on
his fine boat Hringhorni. The boat was set alight and pushed out to
sea by the giantess Hyrrokin.
"Who ride yonder,
on Raevil's horses,
the towering billows,
the roaring main:
the sail-steeds are
with sweat bedewed,
the wave-coursers will not
the wind withstand."
-- The Poetic Eddas, The Second Lay of Sigurd Fafnicide
Dwarven Auger Improvement - Portable Rams train 50% faster, have +20%
| attack and speed
|_ Portable Rams train 50% faster, have +20% attack and speed.
Sons of Sleipnir Improvement - Raiding Cavalry have their bonus damage
| increased vs Archers and vs Throwing Axemen
|_ Sleipnir was Odin’s horse, a son of Loki’s, by the great builder
Svaldifari. Sleipnir had eight legs and was the swiftest horse
ever known.
"Yggdrasil’s ash is
of all trees most excellent,
and of all ships, Skidbladnir,
of the Aesir, Odin,
and of horses, Sleipnir,
Bifrost of bridges,
and of skalds, Bragi,
Habrok of hawks,
and of dogs, Garm
Brimir of swords."
-- The Poetic Eddas, The Lay of Vafthrudnir
-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-
LOKI
----
Description: The son of giants, Loki was the fire god, but also
a mischievous trickster and shape-changer who grew bored with
the repetitive life of the gods. Many of his exploits caused
great damage or hurt, but he was usually quick enough to restore
order and prevent complete disaster. In one case, he caused the
gods to temporarily lose the source of their immortality. In
another situation, he tricked Thor into a threatening situation
for his own gain, but later devised the clever plan to recover
Thor’s stolen hammer.
His tricks became increasingly nasty and evil, peaking when he
caused the death of Odin’s son Baldr. When he tormented and insulted
the gods at a great banquet, the gods turned on him and he escaped
temporarily by changing into a salmon. He could not escape Odin’s
all-seeing vision, however, and Loki was bound up in a dark cave.
Loki’s first marriage to a giant produced three fearsome and evil
creatures: Fenrir the wolf, the great serpent Jormungand, and
Hel, the partially decomposed goddess of the underworld. He had
two sons, Vali and Narvi, by a second marriage. At the time of
Loki’s imprisonment, Vali was changed into a wolf that killed
Narvi. The dead man’s intestines were used to bind Loki in the cave
beneath the mouth of a giant snake, dripping venom, where he waited
for Ragnarok. Loki was destined to lead the army of evil at that
final battle with the gods, where he would be killed by Heimdall.
Bonuses: Hersir summon myth units after fighting for long enough
Hersir move 10% faster
Myth units cost 10% less favor
Longhouse units train 10% faster
Ox Carts move 50% faster and cost 50% less, but have 25% less HP
Spy God Power - Grants you the line of sight of an enemy unit
|_ Loki's God Power allows you to share line of sight with an
enemy unit. Unlike most God Powers, the enemy receives no
notification when you use this power and has no way to determine
if a unit is being spied. If the unit dies, however, you can no
longer see what it sees. Because you share line of sight with
allies, they can see the spied unit as well. The spied unit is
marked with the Laguz rune, a symbol for Loki.
To Spy on your enemies, left click on the Spy icon, then left
click on any enemy unit. You may choose to use Spy to keep an
eye on your enemy’s town or to get line of sight to target a
God Power without your opponent’s knowledge.
Eyes in the Forest Improvement - Infantry have +3 line of sight
|_ Loki was a mischievous prankster and spy amongst the Aesir.
He took many forms to hide or trick others, mortal and immortal
alike. No one was safe from his prying eyes and dangerous wit.
"Harm seldom befalls the wary;
With his hears listens,
And with his eyes observes:
So explores every prudent man."
-- The Poetic Eddas, The High One’s Lay
HEIMDALL - Classical Age
--------
Description: The White God, he sat beside the entrance to the rainbow
bridge, keeping watch for giants or other monsters trying to gain
entrance to the fortress of the gods. He needed very little sleep
and was so perceptive that he could detect the sound of grass growing
in the earth or wool growing on a sheep’s back. The legends say he
could see a hundred miles. He carried the horn Gjall, with which he
could warn the gods when Ragnarok began. During Ragnarok, he was to
be the last to fall, in single combat with Loki.
Undermine God Power - Increase in damage to walls, towers, and fortresses
|_ This Classical Age God Power reduces enemy walls and towers into
rubble. It will damage any shooting building, but will absolutely
destroy even multiple walls in its area. The Undermine always moves
towards the closest enemy wall, so target it carefully for maximum
effect.
To Undermine an enemy’s defenses, left click on the Undermine icon,
then left click near the walls and towers you want to attack. Only
fully upgraded walls and towers can stand up to the power of Undermine.
Einherjar Mythological Unit
|_ The Einherjar were the dead heroes gathered by the Valkyries and
taken to Asgard where they lived with Odin. The Valkyries culled
only the best and most heroic warriors. While living in Asgard,
the Einherjar feasted all night and battled all day, with any
wounds being magically healed. Thus they prepared endlessly for
the time when Odin called for them to fight with the gods at
Ragnarok.
Arctic Wind Improvement - Longboats have +10% speed and attack
|_ Viking sailors routinely crossed the North Atlantic from Scandinavia
and Britain to Iceland, with only simple navigational tools and no
compass, despite the constant presence of heavy storms. The distance
of 700 nautical miles could be crossed in as little as four days and
nights given a steady wind.
"It is the great north wind that made the Vikings." -- Scandinavian
proverb.
Elhrimnir Kettle Improvement - Einherjar have +6 hack damage and +10% HP
|_ The Elhrimnir Kettle was used by the cook Andhrimnit ("Sooty face")
to cook the boar, Saehrimnir, which was used to feed the hungry
Einherjar in Valhalla every night. Odin himself abstained from eating.
"For meat, they all feast on the boar Saehrimnir for, although the
boar is boiled every morning, he becomes whole again every night."
-- Gylfaginning 39
Safeguard Improvement - Walls and Towers have double HP, Towers cost 25%
| less
|_ Heimdall was the watchman and guardian of the gods. He could hear
the grass growing in the fields and needed even less sleep than a
bird. It was his duty to give warning when enemies of the gods
attacked. He alerted his fellow Aesir by blowing the horn Giallarhorn,
which could be heard across the world. According to the Lay of Rig,
he became the father of humanity by creating the three social
classes: karl, jarl and thrall.
FORSETI - Classical Age
-------
Description: The son of Baldr, he was the god of justice and a force
for peace. He sat in his hall, dispensing justice and resolving the
disputes of both gods and men. The legends say that he never failed
to bring disputing parties to agreement or pass judgment that all
agreed was fair.
Healing Spring God Power - Creates a spring which heals all friendly
| units within range
|_ This Classical Age God Power creates a pool of healing water to
seep up from the ground. Nearby allied units are healed of their
wounds. Units that are standing still will heal faster than those
who are moving or attacking.
The Healing Spring cannot be destroyed. However, be careful; if
an enemy has more units near the area than you do, then the
Healing Spring will belong to them and will heal their units.
The Spring may change hands many times.
To call forth the healing waters, left click on the Healing
Spring icon, then left click where you want to place it. You
must have line of sight to target this God Power and it requires
a large space.
Troll Mythological Unit
|_ Trolls are dim-witted, man-eating creatures that live in caverns
beneath hills and mountains. They are allies of the giants, and
will fight against the gods during Ragnarok. Trolls are strong,
and have long lifespans, but are not known for their beauty.
Trolls could be turned to stone if exposed to daylight. Some
are known to steal women and children, and might leave a
changeling in exchange for a kidnapped child. Some trolls had
magical powers, particularly divination of the future.
Hall of Thanes Improvement - Hersir +10% HP and speed
|_ The hall was a center of social interaction for the Norse,
especially Norse rulers. They gathered there, held court, ate,
told stories, drank beer. It was a display of a king’s, or
thane’s, wealth if he had a splendidly decorated hall.
"I was nurtured
in the kingly hall,
I was the joy of many
in the council of men.
Life I enjoyed,
and my father’s wealth,
five winters only,
while my father lived."
-- The Poetic Eddas, Oddrun’s Lament
Hamarrtroll Improvement - Trolls +50% HP, +2 range, +20% attack
|_ Fearsome night-stalking creatures, trolls inhabited the
Ironwood - a forest filled with witches and werewolves. Sometimes
multiheaded giants, sometimes goblins, they are most often
portrayed as nasty, destructive creatures. The touch of sunlight
turns a troll into stone, so they tend keep to their caverns and
caves during the day. Other myths show them as mysterious
lore-keepers who will share their lore… for a price.
Mithril Breastplate Improvement - Ulfsarks have -10% hack damage
| Vulnerability
|_ Easy to work and harder than steel, a mithril breastplate was a
treasure indeed. Conventional weapons could not pierce the
untarnished, silvery metal.
"Shields ye there can choose, and smooth-shaven spears, gold-red
helms, and of Huns a multitude, silver-gilt saddle-cloths, sarks
gory-red, the dart’s obstruction, and bit-gripping steeds."
-- The Poetic Eddas, The Lay of Atli
NJORD - Heroic Age
-----
Description: One of the Vanir, or fertility gods, he chose to live
in Asgard with the Aesir when the two factions made peace. Njord was
a god of the sea. Those who worshiped him received safe passage at
sea, as well as good fortune in owning land and having sons. He was
perceived as a kindly old soul who calmed seas that were often
raised up by the more tempestuous god, Aegir. Njord was known to
particularly love the seacoast bays that were home to the seagulls,
swans and other birds sacred to him. He was popular with fishermen
and was thought to aid ships in distress. He was the source of
summer rain showers. Skadi chose Njord as her husband because he
had beautiful feet.
Walking Woods God Power - Makes trees come alive to attack nearby enemy
| units
|_ This God Power transforms a forest into an army of fighting trees.
You can only invoke this God Power near trees. If you target a lone
tree, you may get a lone monster, so you are better off using this
power near forests.
The trees are not under your control, but they will persist until
killed and will not leave the general area in which they are
summoned. They are much stronger against buildings than against
units.
To invoke Walking Woods, left click on the Walking Woods icon,
then target it on a forest near the enemy you want to attack.
You must have line of sight to at least one tree in the forest
you are targeting.
Kraken Mythological Unit
|_ A creature from the sea so large that on the surface it was mistaken
for a chain of islands, the Kraken is found in Norse mythology.
Seamen were often lost when they camped on what they thought was
an island, only to be drowned when the creature swam back to the
bottom of the sea. It had large tentacles and suckers with which
it could seize large ships and drag them down. The Norse believe
the Kraken would rise to the surface at the end of the world.
Mountain Giant Mythological Unit
|_ The giants, also known as jotun, were known for their great
strength and stupidity. They were antagonistic and destructive.
Remarkably, several of the giantesses (who were perhaps not as
bestial as the males of their species) had trysts with some of
the Norse gods. Thor, Odin, Tyr and Heimdall had a giant for a
parent. Both of Loki's parents were giants, yet he was still
considered an Aesir god.
Some of the more colorful giants included Hrungnir, whose head
and heart were made of stone (and pinned Thor when the Thunderer
killed him), Gerd, a giantess who married Freyr (Freyja's brother),
Hrimthurs, who built the walls around Asgard in six months on a
bet (and was also killed by Thor), and Gunnlod, a giantess who
Odin had to sleep with for three nights before he could drink
her father's mead.
Long Serpent Improvement - Longboats have +20% Attack and -20% Crush Damage
| Vulnerability
|_ King Olaf Tryggvason raided England in the late 900s. With the loot
he garnered, he constructed the Long Serpent, perhaps the largest
Norse ship ever constructed, a vessel supposedly over 120 ft. long
that could carry 500 men.
"The ship was a dragon...but this ship was far larger, and more
carefully put together in all her parts. The king called this
ship the Long Serpent... The Long Serpent had thirty-four benches
for rowers. The head and the arched tail were both gilt, and the
bulwarks were as high as in sea-going ships. This ship was the
best and most costly ship ever made in Norway."
-- Snorri Sturluson, Heimskringla
Ring Giver Improvement - Jarls have +25% HP
|_ Norse kings, or thanes, gave out rings to favored subjects as
tokens of esteem. Ring giver is a kenning (a poetic expression)
that means King.
"The ring too I will give thee, which was burnt with the young
son of Odin. Eight of equal weight will from it drop, every
ninth night."
-- The Poetic Eddas, The Lay of Skinir
Wrath of the Deep Improvement - Krakens have +200 HP
|_ Aegir was a god of the ocean and his anger caused the seas to
storm. He and his wife Ran hosted the rest of the Aesir in
their hall quite frequently. Aegir and Ran had nine daughters:
Bara, Blodughadda, Bylgia, Dufa, Himinglaeva, Hefring, Hronn,
Kolga and Unn. These daughters were the waves of the ocean.
"Higher still bade Helgi
the deep sail be hauled.
No port gave shelter
to the crews;
when Aegir´s
terrific daughter
the chieftains’ vessels
would o’erwhelm."
-- The Poetic Eddas, The First Lay of Helgi Hundingcide
BRAGI - Heroic Age
-----
Description: Son of Odin and a female giant, Bragi was the god of
poetry and eloquence. He was portrayed as an old bearded man playing
a harp. He spoke bluntly to Loki, following the death of Baldr,
telling him he was unwelcome in Asgard. Loki became enraged and
called Bragi a "braggart." Bragi threatened to rip off Loki’s head
to end his lies. Loki then fled Asgard, prophesizing that the gods
would all fall. Bragi is considered a late addition to the Norse/Germanic
pantheon, possibly in recognition for the newly high status of bards
and poets as wise men passing on knowledge and truth. Solemn oaths
were sworn over the Cup of Bragi.
Flaming Weapons God Power - Increases the attack of all human units for a
| while
|_ This God Power engulfs the weapons of human soldiers in flames for
a short time. It only affects your units, but affects all of your
units on the entire map. Flaming weapons do extra damage.
To sheathe the blades of your soldiers in flame, left click on
the Flaming Weapons icon at the top of the screen, then left
click near a group of allied soldiers.
Battle Boar Mythological Unit
|_ The European wild boar feeds on roots, bulbs, tubers, nuts,
turnips, corn and potatoes. They will sometimes eat larvae, small
animals and carrion.
The domestic pig is a direct descendant of the boar, and like pigs,
boars wallow in mud to keep cool. Boar herds usually consist of
sows. Males are solitary or found in small groups, except during
the breeding season.
Sows generally have one litter per year of 5-10 piglets, and are
dedicated mothers. Sows are generally more aggressive than the
males except during the rut. All adult boars are dangerous because
of their large size and tusks, but generally won't attack unless
provoked.
Call of Valhalla Improvement - Ulfsarks +20% HP
|_ Valhalla, the "Hall of the Slain", was Odin's banquet hall in
Gladshiem. Its rafters were crafted from giant spears, and its
roof shingled in shields. It had 540 doors capable of allowing
hundreds of warriors to enter shoulder to shoulder. At the head
of the hall was Hlidskalf, Odin's throne, where he heard the
whispers of his Ravens and fed his uneaten dinner to his wolves.
"The fifth is Glathsheim, and gold-bright there Stands Valhall
stretching wide; And there does Othin each day choose The men
who have fallen in fight."
-- The Poetic Eddas
Swine Array Improvement - Ulfsark have damage x2 vs Cavalry
|_ The swine array, or svynfylking, was a formation used by the
Vikings and originally credited to Odin. Men would form a
triangle, with the most heavily armored warriors in front, and
perhaps archers in the rear ranks. The array could position
spears against charging cavalry, or move forward to drive a
wedge through enemy ranks. The array could be used alone, or
in multiples with the rear ranks connecting to form a zig-zag
frontage.
Thurisaz Rune Improvement - All myth units move 12% faster
|_ This is the rune of frost giants, a group of fierce icy Jotun.
It is also called Thurs (not like Thursday) and also Thorn.
"I saw those men
who much envy harbour
at another's fortune;
bloody runes
were on their breasts
graved painfully."
-- The Poetic Eddas, The Song of the Sun
TYR - Mythic Age
---
Description: The son of Odin and Frigg, Tyr was the war god,
renowned for strength and valor. Like Odin, he received sacrifices
of hanged men. His story is bound to that of Fenrir, the wolf-son
of Loki. Tyr was assigned the difficult task of feeding Fenrir, but
Odin perceived that Fenrir was growing ever more powerful and
dangerous. The gods chose to bind Fenrir underground, where he could
do no harm. To convince him that a magic chain around his neck was
harmless, Tyr had to place his right hand in the wolf’s mouth. When
Fenrir realized the chain was unbreakable, he bit off Tyr’s hand.
The loss of his hand reduced Tyr in the eyes of the other gods, who
laughed at his pain. He was destined to fight the great hound Garm,
watchdog at the gates of Hel, during Ragnarok. In this final
confrontation, Garm was to leap at Tyr’s throat and both would die
in the struggle. The god Tyr was petitioned before battle and his
rune was engraved on swords. Tyr may have been the chief god in
early Norse pantheons, but his importance diminished as worship
of Odin increased. The Anglo-Saxons called him Tiw and gave his
name to the third day of their week, Tuesday.
Fimbuwinter God Power - Summons wolves to attack enemy villagers and
| town centers all over the map
|_ Fimbulwinter darkens the sky, summons a blizzard, and fills the
map with wolves. The fierce Fimbulwinter wolves will attack enemy
Town Centers and surrounding units. Unlike many Mythic Age God
Powers, Fimbulwinter is not targeted on a specific area, but
will always affect 4 Town Centers across the map, regardless
of the number of enemies. The wolves are not under your control
and go away when the God Power has ended.
To call the Fimbulwinter down, left click the Fimbulwinter icon,
then left click anywhere in your line of sight. Wolves will
swarm out of the darkness and the swirling snow to attack enemy
Town Centers.
Fenris Wolf Brood Mythological Unit
|_ The original Fenrir (of which these monsters are just the
offspring) was the product of Loki and the giantess Angrboda.
The gods raised the wolf in Asgard, but only Tyr had the
courage to feed it. Unfortunately, the wolf grew larger and
larger until nothing could chain him down. Finally the dwarves
made a chain out of the roots of a mountain, silence of a
moving cat, and the breath of a fish. In order to trick Fenrir
into moving close enough to be chained, Tyr offered him food,
and in retribution, the wolf bit off his arm. Fenrir then
began to howl until the gods stuck a sword in his mouth as
a gag.
At Ragnarok, Fenrir is fated to break his chains and kill Odin.
Jormund Elver Mythological Unit
|_ The original Jormundgard, of which these creatures are just
the elvers (another word for baby eels), was a monstrous sea
serpent and the offspring of Loki and the giant Angrboda. Odin
threw the serpent into the seas of Midgard when it was small,
but it grew so large that it could surround the earth by biting
its own tail. During Ragnarok, Thor was fated to finally slay
the serpent, but he would drown in the dying serpent's venom.
Berserkergang Improvement - Ulfsarks have 20% more HP and 10% more attack
|_ There is disagreement about whether "berserk" referred to "bare
shirt", going shirtless, or "bear shirt", wearing a bear skin into
battle, in the same way the ulfsarks wore wolf coats. These
warriors would enter a rage in combat, where it is said their skin
turned aside weapons. Some modern scholars suggest that the
berserker rage may have been induced by consuming hallucinogenic
mushrooms.
"A third I know, if great is my need Of fetters to hold my foe;
Blunt do I make mine enemy's blade, Nor bites his sword or staff."
-- The Poetic Edda
Bravery Improvement - Huskarls have +20% attack and do 1.5x damage vs
| buildings
|_ The first recorded Viking raid was an AD 793 surprise attack on
the monastery of Linidisfarne, England. The raiders looted the
monastery, killed any monks who got in their way, then loaded up
their ships and sailed home to Scandinavia. Within 100 years,
they were sailing all the way to the Mediterranean to attack
Italy and sailing down the Volga to raid the Black Sea.
"I have, in all, the death-stroke given to foes of mine at least
eleven; Two more, perhaps, if I remember, may yet be added to this
number, I prize myself upon these deeds, my people such examples
needs. Bright gold itself they would despise, or healing leek-herb
underprize, if not still brought before their eyes."
-- King Harald Hardraada
HEL - Mythic Age
---
Description: The daughter of Loki and a frost giantess, Hel was
banished by Odin to the netherworld, which took its name, Helheim,
from her. In her hall, Eljudnir, she ruled over those who died of
sickness, old age, or capital punishment. While in her realm, Hel's
power was such that she could defy other gods, including Odin. She
was described as having half the body of a living woman and the
other half of a corpse. Her throne was known as the sick bed.
Christians later adopted Hel and her domain of unending suffering
as the name of their destination for the damned.
Nidhogg God Power - Summons the dragon Nidhogg to aid you
|_ Only Loki, through his servant Hel, can summon the mighty dragon
Nidhogg from his lair beneath the roots of the world ash, Yggdrasil.
Nidhogg flies slowly, but his flaming breath can destroy enemy
units and buildings alike. He can only be attacked by ranged units,
or by God Powers such as Zeus' Bolt. He cannot be healed. Nidhogg
persists until killed and is under your control.
To summon Nidhogg, left click on the Nidhogg icon, then left click
anywhere you have line of sight.
Fire Giant Mythological Unit
|_ The fire giants, or muspilli, are eager participants at Ragnarok
and believe in the fiery destruction of the cosmos. The most
famous of the fire giants was Surtr ("black"), a jarl who guarded
the gates to Muspellheim. He had burning hair, skin of boiling
lava and carried a flaming sword. Muspellheim was one of the
"middle levels" of the Nine Worlds, along with Midgard and
Jotunheim.
Frost Giant Mythological Unit
|_ The thurses, also called frost or rime giants, were among the
first of the giants created when the world began. As opposed to
the brutish Jotun, or mountain giants, the frost giants were
ancient beings, symbolizing the time before the gods existed.
They lived in the realm of Jotunheim, one of the Nine Worlds
of Norse mythology, along with Muspellheim and Midgard. Jotunheim
was the land of giants, and their leader was the frost giant jarl,
Thrym ("uproar"). He was an archenemy of Thor, and once stole his
hammer, Mjolnir, and also demanded Freyja for a wife.
As the tale goes, Thor dressed up as Freyja and went to retrieve
his hammer. During the feast, the giants were amazed that "Freyja"
ate an ox, several salmon, and large tankards of mead. Loki made
the excuse that "Freyja" had not eaten in days because she was so
excited to be married to the king of the giants. When Thrym peeped
under "Freyja's" veil and saw Thor's beard, Thor threw off his
disguise.
"Thor's heart laughed within him when he saw his hammer. First
he struck down Thrym, the King of the Thurse, and then he slew
all the giant's kin. He also killed the giant's poor sister who
had begged for a bridal gift. Instead of shillings she received
blows and instead of rings, a hammer hit. And thus Odin's son
retrieved his hammer." -- Thrym's Lay from the Poetic Edda
Mountain Giant Mythological Unit
|_ The giants, also known as jotun, were known for their great
strength and stupidity. They were antagonistic and destructive.
Remarkably, several of the giantesses (who were perhaps not as
bestial as the males of their species) had trysts with some of
the Norse gods. Thor, Odin, Tyr and Heimdall had a giant for a
parent. Both of Loki's parents were giants, yet he was still
considered an Aesir god.
Some of the more colorful giants included Hrungnir, whose head
and heart were made of stone (and pinned Thor when the Thunderer
killed him), Gerd, a giantess who married Freyr (Freyja's brother),
Hrimthurs, who built the walls around Asgard in six months on a
bet (and was also killed by Thor), and Gunnlod, a giantess who
Odin had to sleep with for three nights before he could drink
her father's mead.
Granite Blood Improvement - Frost, Fire and Mountain Giants all have +100 HP
|_ Ymir was the first Frost Giant. Odin, Vili and Ve killed him and
created the world with his body. He is somewhat akin to the Titans
of Greek Mythology in his violent cruelty and the fact that he
was overthrown by younger gods.
"From Ymir’s flesh
the earth was formed,
and from his bones the hills,
the heaven from the skull
of that ice-cold giant,
and from his blood the sea."
-- The Poetic Eddas, The Lay of Vafthrudnir
Rampage Improvement - Myth units train 95% faster
|_ Hel's terrible realm of Helheim was located in the depths of
Niflheim, beyond the impassable river, Gjoll. Any who enter
Helheim, including the gods, can never leave again. The entrance
is guarded by the monstrous hound, Garm, and the undead giantess,
Modgud, who demands a toll in blood before passing. Hrimgrimir
("frost shrouded") and many other giants also guard Hel's gates.
"Trembles Yggdrasil’s
ash yet standing;
groans that aged tree,
and the jötun is loosed.
Loud bays Garm
before the Gnupa-cave,
his bonds he rends asunder;
and the wolf runs."
-- The Poetic Eddas, The Vala´s Prophecy
===========================================================================
Atlantean Mythology
===========================================================================
Unlike the other cultures, the Atlanteans don't gain Favor from the
Gods by worshipping at a Temple, for example, but rather by
constructing new Town Centers atop Settlements. If you build two
new Town Centers you will gain Favor faster than you build just
one, so you should consider expansion.
One of the great myths of the ancient world is the story of Atlantis, a
very advanced civilization that prospered on an island in the Atlantic
Ocean 11,000 years ago. The only reference to Atlantis that has survived
from ancient times is found in the Dialogues of Plato, written around
360 BC. Plato describes an Idyllic land of bountiful crops, abundant
natural resources, and a rich and varied wildlife (including elephants).
A contented population lived principally in a large city that was a center
for trade and commerce.
Although the Atlanteans lived harmoniously for many generations, they
gradually became more corrupted by greed and power. This moral collapse
drew the attention of Zeus and the gods of Olympus, leading ultimately
to the sudden and catastrophic destruction of the island and its
civilization.
Whether Plato was recounting facts passed down to him from unknown sources
or created the story himself as a cautionary take for the Greeks of his
day has been debated since. No generally accepted physical evidence of a
lost advance civilization or island has been found in the Atlantic,
although many people believe they have located the site of Atlantis there
or elsewhere. The story is compelling, however, and continues to live. It
has been furthered and embellished by many writers following after Plato,
including quasi-historians, novelists, and even filmmakers.
All Atlantis stories assert that Atlantis was the first great civilization
on Earth, and that it was wealthy and very technically advanced. Modest
advances claimed for Atlantis include irrigation, canal building, and
writing (perhaps a half dozen millennia before writing appeared again in
the Middle East). At the extreme, more modern proponents of Atlantis claim
they developed to the point of having electricity, robots, and flying
machines.
All proponents agree that Atlantis was suddenly destroyed, probably by
natural disaster. Atlantean refugees (or colonists) escaped from the
disaster, however, to found colonies elsewhere around Europe, the
Mediterranean, and the Middle East. These in turn grew into what are now
recognized as many of the first great civilizations on Earch, such as the
Mycenaens, Egyptians, and Sumerians. Thus the Atlanteans are seen as the
precursors of western civilization, though most of their technology was lost
in the dark age following their destruction.
The following chart shows what Minor Gods your Major God choices allows
at each Age advance:
MAJOR GOD CLASSICAL AGE HEROIC AGE MYTHIC AGE
Gaia Leto, Oceanus Rheia, Theia Atlas, Hekate
Kronos Prometheus, Leto Hyperion, Rheia Helios, Atlas
Oranos Oceanus, Prometheus Theia, Hyperion Hekate, Helios
Below are the Atlantean Major & Minor Gods.
KRONOS
------
Description: The youngest of the Titans, his name meant time. Kronos
became king of the gods after he castrated his father, Oranos, with
the help of his mother, Gaia, who wished to free her children whom
Oranos had imprisoned. Kronos ruled over a time of prosperity known
as the Golden Age.
Kronos and his wife/sister Rheia produced six children, including
Zeus, Poseidon, and Hades. Fearing a revolt similar to his own,
Kronos attempted to swallow all of his children at their birth, but
Zeus avoided that fate and ultimately freed his siblings and banished
the Titans to Tartarus.
Bonuses: Can Timeshift buildings within own Line of Sight
Siege Weapons Cheaper
Myth Units Cheaper
Deconstruction Improvement - You deconstruct an enemy building
|_ Usually only able to affect smaller buildings, the Deconstruct
Wonder God Power is strong enough to disassemble Wonders and even
Odin's Tower. Kronos grants this God Power only to his most
faithful servants.
Focus Improvement - Oracle has +10% Speed, -1.0 Seconds LOS Speed
|_ Oracles studying the mysteries of Kronos learned methods of
meditation that sent them visions much more quickly. By slipping
into the future they could see more clearly, more quickly than
other Oracles. As they advanced in their studies and drew further
and further away from their normal time, these Oracles lost the
ability to communicate their visions. Eventually they slipped
entirely away, lost to their visions of the future.
PROMETHEUS - Classical Age
----------
Description: The son of the Titan Lapetus, Prometheus was born a
mortal. He shaped humankind out of water and clay (and Athena
breathed life into the form). After siding with Zeus against the
Titans, he tricked the king of the gods into taking animal bones
as sacrifices, leaving the good meat for humans. In spite, Zeus
removed fire from the world, bringing great suffering to all. To
relieve the people he had created, Prometheus stole fire from the
Sun and gave it back to the world. In retaliation, a furious Zeus
sentenced Prometheus to be chained to a rock for 30,000 years,
while an eagle daily tore out his liver (which grew back each
night). By giving warning to Zeus of a prophecy of his downfall,
he won a reprieve and was allowed to trade his mortality to Chiron
(doomed to an eternity of agony) and thereafter joined the
immortals on Olympus.
Valor Improvement - Transforms a group of general units into heroes
|_ Prometheus was the Titan of daring thoughts and turns daring
thoughts into daring deeds by making heroes out of ordinary units.
This power works best on your armies, but will work on Citizens
as well. If you expect your enemies to summon a lot of myth
units, it is a good idea to use Valor before you go into battle.
To send the blessing of Prometheus on your units, left-click the
Valor icon, and then left-click near a group of your units. This
power works best on military units.
Promethean Mythological Unit
|_ Prometheans are slow but have pretty good armor and a decent
attack. When they are destroyed, two smaller Prometheans are formed
from the clay of the first.
Prometheus was one of the few Titans who sided with the Olympians
in the Titanomachy. He and his brother Epimetheus were tasked with
the creation of humans. These first people were formed from clay
and called Prometheans. Seeing their frail mortal forms struggle
he gave his creations the gift of fire so that they could become
strong. This angered Zeus and the god bound Prometheus to the side
of a mountain where he was attacked and partially devoured every
day.
Alluvial Clay Improvement - Promethean +30% HP
|_ Prometheus formed his Prometheans from the clay in river banks
and beds. This clay, deposited by running water, had bits of rock,
other minerals and even gold in it. These bits of debris formed a
tight matrix, almost like a skeleton, inside the Prometheans and
made them much stronger, sturdier creatures.
Heart of the Titans Improvement - Hero Upgrades cost -20% Wood, Food & Gold
|_ The Titan Prometheus, god of daring thoughts, loved his creations -
humankind. He sought always to make their troubled lives better,
even in spite of other gods at times. He even bestowed upon his
favorite mortals the secrets of the Titans, giving birth to a line
of heroes who would rattle the foundations of Olympus.
LETO - Classical Age
----
Description: The daughter of Titans, Leto was known as the hidden one,
and her name came to be used for the Moon. She bestowed her qualities
of being unnoticed or unobserved upon the beasts of earth. Her beauty
caught the eye of Zeus, however, by whom she gave birth to the twin
gods Artemis and Apollo. This act made her an enemy of Hera, Zeus's
wife. She was principally worshipped in Greek Asia Minor, and usually
together with her twin children.
Spider Lair God Power - Spider burrow which will hatch when enemy units
| come near
|_ The shy and secretive Titan Leto grants several Trap Door Spiders
who lurk and wait, unseen, for enemies to unwittingly pass near
their burrows. The burrows appear first as fragile, easily destroyed
eggs. Soon after the eggs hatch and the deadly spiders wait
underground to haul unsuspecting enemies to their deaths. The
spiders will not attack heroes, Villagers, Laborers, Gatherers,
or Citizens.
To summon the spiders, left-click the Spider Lair icon, and then
left-click anywhere you have line of sight. This power randomly
places several spider burrows. Try to target it where you think
enemy soldiers will pass - or lure soldiers into the burrows.
Automaton Mythological Unit
|_ Automata are tough, especially in groups, because they can repair
one another. If you face Atlantean Automata, use heroes against
them and try to destroy them all or they will be back.
The Atlanteans placed a high value on personal freedom. They never
practiced slavery. They created the Automata to perform the tasks
for which many other cultures used slaves. As the sophistication
of these Automata grew, some in Atlantis wanted them to become
Citizens. Others opposed that notion. A civil war erupted and
plunged the Atlantean Empire into a dark age that lasted thousands
of years. During this time many Atlantean colonies regressed or
revolted and became independent nations. Automata were never
inducted into Atlantean society and Atlantis, though vastly more
advanced than other nations, never again reached the heights of
its Golden Age.
Hephaestus Revenge Improvement - Automaton +30% HP, +1.0 Second Regeneration
| Speed
|_ During the god Hephaestus' exile from Olympus, the lame smith was
more than willing to offer his services to the highest bidder - and
if he could serve the enemies of the family that had rejected him
in the process, so much the better. Hephaestus taught the Atlanteans
many interesting tricks; among them was a smelting technique that
dramatically improved the longevity of their mechanical servants,
the Automata.
Volcanic Forge Improvement - Automaton -20% Pierce Damage Vulnerability
|_ After Hephaestus was hurled from Olympus by his mother Hera, he
was willing to offer his services to the highest bidder - even if
the bidders were the Atlantean followers of Leto, daughter of the
Titans Phoebe and Coeus. The volcanic forges found in many
Atlantean towns are one legacy of this partnership between
Titan-worshippers and the Olympian god of smiths. The forges draw
their power from the eternal flames that burn in the depths of
Tartarus.
HYPERION - Heroic Age
--------
Description: A Titan and god of watching, he fathered Helios (the sun),
Eos (the dawn), and Selene (the moon). His name means "he who goes
before the sun," related possibly to being the father of Helios or
the visibility that precedes the sun’s approach.
Chaos God Power - Changes the sentiment of a group of enemy units
|_ Chaos surrounded the Titans - this power snares the weak-minded
and turns them against everyone, wreaking havoc and confusion in
the ranks of your enemies. This power forces the units caught in
it to attack anyone. Use it carefully, because units under the
effects of Chaos have no allies and will attack you just as
eagerly as they attack your enemies.
To confuse enemy minds with Chaos, left-click the Chaos icon,
and then left-click a group of enemy units.
Nereid Mythological Unit
|_ Nereids may be trained at the Dock. They are a powerful Heroic
Age myth unit capable of devastating attacks to ships.
The Nereids were the fifty nymphs of the sea. Many of them had
important roles in mythology. They, like most nymphs, are
beautiful creatures. The Nereids were often accompanied by hosts
of sea creatures in their roving. But when the gentle nymphs went
into battle, they rode fierce sharks who carried their mistresses
tirelessly.
Satyr Mythological Unit
|_ Satyrs are a ranged myth unit with reasonable speed and range. They
are strong against infantry and other human units, but are weak
against heroes.
Satyrs were just one of the creatures among the entourage of the
god Dionysos. Goat-legged and horned they are notoriously fond
of revelry in every possible form with a special weakness for
Nymphs. Silenus, the oldest Satyr, was the instructor of the god
Dionysos. Silenus and other satyrs rode donkeys into battle
against the Heka Gigantes, the donkeys were terrified when they
saw the enemy, braying loudly. The Heka Gigantes in turn were
terrified by the braying donkeys and fled the cacophony. In spite
of their shocking victory, satyrs never developed a taste for
combat, turning back to drunken song and revelry.
Gemino Improvement - Doubles the number of Javelins thrown by Satyrs
|_ Satyrs were not warriors or soldiers, though they fought fiercely
when threatened, deprived of wine, sleep or nymphs. They rode
timid donkeys into battle and carried javelins crafted for them
by dryads. The eldest Satyr, Silenus, could throw two javelins
at a time and from time to time would teach other satyrs the
trick of it.
Heroic Renewal Improvement - Allows Heroes to regenerate
|_ "Hekate then gave her infusion to Helios for his help in finding
Persephone. Helios, renewed daily, had no need of this restorative
and gave it to his father, Hyperion. Hyperion, far-sighted and
all-seeing, smeared it upon the eyes of worthy mortals in their
sleep. When these favored mortals awoke to sight and consciousness
they found themselves rejuvenated."
-- Voices of the Oracles, the Lay of Ioleta
RHEIA - Heroic Age
-----
Description: Rheia was a Titan married to her brother Kronos, by whom
she gave birth to Zeus and his sibling gods. By rescuing Zeus from her
husband, she set in motion the dethroning of Kronos and the ascendance
of Zeus to Olympus. In Asia Minor she was known as an Earth Goddess
and worshipped with orgiastic rites. Her name means "flow," apparently
in reference to female menstruation, and "ease," perhaps in reference
to easy childbirth. Following the rise of her son Zeus to status as
king of the gods, she disputed her portion of the world and ended up
retreating to the mountains where she surrounded herself with wild
creatures. She is usually associated with lions or with a chariot
pulled by lions.
Traitor God Power - Converts an enemy unit into a Traitor
|_ The Titan Rheia turns the heart of an enemy, converting it to
your side. Rheia was betrayed by Kronos when he ate all of their
children after learning that one of them would be his downfall.
Rheia had secretly fed Kronos a swaddled rock, saving one of her
children, the infant god Zeus. Zeus grew to adulthood, and after
freeing his brothers and sisters he imprisoned his father Kronos
in the deepest parts of Tartarus. Betrayal surrounded Rheia and
she keenly understands its power.
To steal the allegiance of an enemy, left-click the Traitors
icon, and then right-click the unit you wish to convert. This is
very powerful when used on expensive myth units.
Behemoth Mythological Unit
|_ Behemoths are living siege weapons. They regenerate, making them
even tougher to kill than the Scarabs of the Egyptians. Use them
against buildings, but keep them away from enemy heroes.
"The Titans languished in Tartarus. The Olympians who trapped them
there wished to punish us, worshippers of the Titans. They hunted
us, but we hid in the shadow of Behemoth who was as tall as the
mountains and twice as long. He protected us, bellowing as Zeus's
lightning struck his thick armor. Caladria blessed Behemoth and
healed him after every stroke of Zeus's lightning. The Olympians
could not break tireless Behemoth and they returned to Olympus.
We were safe."
-- Oaths of the Oracles, The Lay of Ioleta
Horns of Consecration Improvements - +10% Favor gathering rate
|_ The Titan Rheia was the mother of Zeus and other Olympians. She
was an earth goddess and surrounded herself with wild creatures.
While she is usually associated with lions, like those which
pulled her chariot, the Minoans worshipped her, with other gods,
with rites and rituals involving bulls. The Minoans consecrated
their buildings by decorating them with sculpted representations
of horned bulls. These decorations were thought to please the
gods.
Mail of Orichalkoss Improvements - Archers have -10% Hack Damage
| Vulnerability
|_ The Atlantean followers of Rheia were blacksmiths of unsurpassed
skill who mastered a unique method of distilling zinc ore. When
the distillation was mixed with brass, the result was the silvery
metal orichalkos. Strong enough to stop the heaviest of blows,
mail of orichalkos is also extremely lightweight when quenched
in sea water - the perfect armor for archers and other missile
troops.
Rheia's Gift Improvements - -25% Favor for Mythological Improvements
|_ As the children of Kronos and Rheia were born, Kronos swallowed
them one by one. When Rheia gave birth to Zeus, she hid the infant
and fed Kronos a stone instead, risking her husband's wrath to
save her youngest son. Rheia is held in high regard by both the
Olympians and the Titans, and her son Zeus - her gift to the
world - is honored by all.
HELIOS - Mythic Age
------
Description: The god of the sun, he rose from the ocean at dawn to
drive his chariot across the sky, carrying the sun and descending at
night into the west. He saw all and knew all, and was often called
upon by other gods to be a witness. He was the god of the measurement
of time, and goddesses of the day, month, seasons, and year waited
upon him. Two of his mortal lovers were converted into the plants
heliotrope (whose head always turns toward the sun) and frankincense.
These plants were sacred to Helios. He is portrayed usually in a
chariot with a whip and surrounded by a halo. Animals sacred to him
were the rooster and eagle. The great Colossus of Rhodes was built
in his honor, as he was married to Rhode, a daughter of Poseidon.
Vortex God Power - Teleport all your military units to single point
|_ Oranos, Kronos, and Helios, Titans and gods of the sky, time,
and sun, allow all of your armies to rally in one place.
To whisk your armies through time and the skies, left-click the
Vortex icon, and then left-click where you want your armies to
appear. You must have line of sight to target this power. Your
armies will fly up into the sky and drop down on the targeted
spot. This power is very useful when you need all of your
military might in one place - fast.
Hekagigantes Mythological Unit
|_ The Heka Gigantes are strong against human soldiers, sending them
flying with their many-handed strikes. They are weak against heroes.
One hundred arms and fifty heads grew out of the shoulders of the
Hekatonkheires. They were the sons of Oranos and Gaia and were so
terrible that Oranos ordered them imprisoned in Tartarus. A fate
he himself would suffer at the hands of his grandsons Zeus,
Poseidon, and Hades.
Man O'War Mythological Unit
|_ This monstrous siphonophore was actually a collection of creatures
that cooperated to move and feed and fight. The 100 foot long
tentacles produced a toxin that is almost as potent as cobra venom
which the organism used to stun prey. For defense the creature
could generate and direct an electric bolt, like a stroke of
lightning. Physalia mantalos propelled itself by raising and
lowering its crest to catch wind like a sail.
Halo of the Sun Improvements - Fire Siphons have +25% Crush Damage, and
| Fire Ships have +20% Hack Damage
|_ "Thereafter, because they had so honored Helios, the Titan returned
to Atlantis, and in his great temple there set a flame that could
be extinguished by neither wind nor water. The Atlanteans carried
this flame to every land they conquered and with it, the light of
Atlantean wisdom."
-- Voices of the Oracles, the Lay of Ioleta
Petrified Improvements - Siege Units -15% Hack Damage Vulnerability
|_ "...were made of a strange and very hard wood. And as Helios's
searing gaze beats down onto all things, so too did these
giant-crafted siege weapons, rock-hurlers and arrow-throwers,
lay waste to the shining capital of Lemuria. They reduced our
beloved city to rubble in a matter of hours, but Chalu was not
afraid."
-- The Inverada, The Siege at Murinca
ATLAS - Mythic Age
-----
Description: The son of the Titan Lapetus and the nymph Clymene,
Atlas was thought to be king of the legendary Atlantis. His attack
on Olympus during a failed attempt by the Titans to overthrow Zeus
resulted in being condemned to forever carry the heavens upon his
shoulders. He is usually portrayed, however, bearing a globe on
his shoulders. He was relieved of his burden temporarily by Heracles
during one of that hero’s 12 labors, but Atlas was tricked into
taking the heavens back onto his shoulders. According to some he
was later released of his burden and made guardian of the Pillars
of Hercules, upon which the heavens were set in his stead, and
which also were the gateway to the ocean home of Atlantis. His
name has come to mean "bearer" or "endurer."
Implode God Power - Causes damage to units and buildings
|_ The Titan Atlas sends a deadly maelstrom that sucks in units and
warps buildings. The surviving units are blasted out at the height
of the implosion with a devastating shockwave that damages
buildings and flattens trees.
To invoke the implosion, left-click the Implode icon, and then
right-click where you wish to target the power. The more units
that get sucked into the center, the more damage the implosion
does when it detonates. You must have line of sight to target
this power.
Argus Mythological Units
|_ Argus is an amorphous creature covered with bulbous eyes. When
threatened, the Argus forcefully excretes a sticky blob of acid
from its many specialized tear ducts. Creatures trapped in the
Argus acid have little hope of survival. The Argus also uses
this acid to partially pre-digest its food.
Hera's Argus served her faithfully until he was killed by the
god Hermes. Zeus had commanded Hermes to trick Argus and slay
him so that the philandering god could recapture one of his
lovers, Io, from his jealous wife. Hera honored the sacrifice
of Argus by placing his eyes on the tail of her sacred peacock.
Io, who had endured all this in the form of a pure white cow,
was saved only to plunge into what is now called the Ionian Sea.
Eyes of Atlas Improvement - +9 LOS of Myth Units
|_ As a punishment for rebelling against Zeus, the Titan Atlas,
first king of Atlantis, was condemned to bear the weight of the
heavens on his shoulders. When Atlas turns his gaze to the
burden on his back, it is said that those who follow the Titans
see all that he sees with his eyes.
Io Guardian Improvement - Argus +5 LOS, -20% Recharge time
|_ Zeus transformed his lover Io into a white cow to protect her
from the wrath of his jealous wife Hera. But Hera saw through
the ruse, and requested the cow as a gift. She then sent her
servant Argus, a giant with a hundred eyes, to guard the cow.
Eventually, Zeus sent Hermes to trick and slay Argus. To
honor the memory of her fallen servant, Hera placed the eyes
of Argus on the tail of the peacock.
Titan Shield Improvement - Buildings have -15% Hack & Crush Damage
| Vulnerability
|_ The Atlanteans were always closely connected to the Titans, and
the raw power of the ancient gods is locked deep within the stones
of Atlantis itself. While Atlas still bears the burden of the
heavens, the Atlanteans can draw on the might of his sturdy
shoulders to strengthen their buildings and walls.
-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-
GAIA
----
Description: Gaia was the Mother Earth, born from Chaos, the great
void of space. She gave birth without male intervention to Oranos
(the sky) and Pontus (the sea), and took Oranos as her mate.
Together they produced the Titans, and other gods and creatures.
After the emasculation of Oranos, she mated with Pontus and
protected Zeus prior to his overthrow of the Titans. As the goddess
Mother Earth she was worshipped as the force behind all things in
the world, living and inanimate.
Bonuses: Lush Terrain surrounds buildings (enemies cannot build on Lush)
Buildings regenerate hitpoints
Fishing ships, Caravans more hitpoints & cheaper
Economic bonuses cheaper
Gaia's Forest God Power - Generates a Forest
|_ Gaia causes a stand of aspen to grow. These trees will sprout and
rapidly grow to full height, after which they may be chopped for
wood. Gaia's aspen trees yield more wood than regular trees and much
more quickly. Another use of Gaia's Forest is to plug a breach in
walls, a temporary fix to be sure, but useful.
To grow the Gaia Forest, left-click the Gaia Forest icon, and
then left-click anywhere on the map that you have line of sight.
Channels Ability Improvement - +20% Villager Speed
|_ The capital city of Atlantis was ringed by nine great canals.
These canals allowed citizens, soldiers, and goods to be
transported quickly around the huge city. The Theocrats of the
city decreed that the water be kept very clean. Anyone caught
sullying the water faced a stiff fine or possible imprisonment.
When Atlanteans left their beloved city, they would toss coins,
even jewelry, into the waters of the canal for good luck and a
safe return.
LETO - Classical Age
----
Description: The daughter of Titans, Leto was known as the hidden one,
and her name came to be used for the Moon. She bestowed her qualities
of being unnoticed or unobserved upon the beasts of earth. Her beauty
caught the eye of Zeus, however, by whom she gave birth to the twin
gods Artemis and Apollo. This act made her an enemy of Hera, Zeus's
wife. She was principally worshipped in Greek Asia Minor, and usually
together with her twin children.
Spider Lair God Power - Spider burrows which will hatch when enemy units
| come near
|_ The shy and secretive Titan Leto grants several Trap Door Spiders
who lurk and wait, unseen, for enemies to unwittingly pass near
their burrows. The burrows appear first as fragile, easily destroyed
eggs. Soon after the eggs hatch and the deadly spiders wait
underground to haul unsuspecting enemies to their deaths. The
spiders will not attack heroes, Villagers, Laborers, Gatherers,
or Citizens.
To summon the spiders, left-click the Spider Lair icon, and then
left-click anywhere you have line of sight. This power randomly
places several spider burrows. Try to target it where you think
enemy soldiers will pass - or lure soldiers into the burrows.
Automaton Mythological Unit
|_ Automata are tough, especially in groups, because they can repair
one another. If you face Atlantean Automata, use heroes against
them and try to destroy them all or they will be back.
The Atlanteans placed a high value on personal freedom. They never
practiced slavery. They created the Automata to perform the tasks
for which many other cultures used slaves. As the sophistication
of these Automata grew, some in Atlantis wanted them to become
Citizens. Others opposed that notion. A civil war erupted and
plunged the Atlantean Empire into a dark age that lasted thousands
of years. During this time many Atlantean colonies regressed or
revolted and became independent nations. Automata were never
inducted into Atlantean society and Atlantis, though vastly more
advanced than other nations, never again reached the heights of
its Golden Age.
Hephaestus Revenge Improvement - Automaton +30% HP, +1.0 Second Regeneration
| Speed
|_ During the god Hephaestus' exile from Olympus, the lame smith was
more than willing to offer his services to the highest bidder - and
if he could serve the enemies of the family that had rejected him
in the process, so much the better. Hephaestus taught the Atlanteans
many interesting tricks; among them was a smelting technique that
dramatically improved the longevity of their mechanical servants,
the Automata.
Volcanic Forge Improvement - Automaton -20% Pierce Damage Vulnerability
|_ After Hephaestus was hurled from Olympus by his mother Hera, he
was willing to offer his services to the highest bidder - even if
the bidders were the Atlantean followers of Leto, daughter of the
Titans Phoebe and Coeus. The volcanic forges found in many
Atlantean towns are one legacy of this partnership between
Titan-worshippers and the Olympian god of smiths. The forges draw
their power from the eternal flames that burn in the depths of
Tartarus.
OCEANUS - Classical Age
-------
Description: Oceanus was the personification of all oceans, or a
great river that flowed in a circle around the earth. He was a
source of all fresh water. In later time he personified the seas
outside the Pillars of Hercules (the Straights of Gibraltar), or
what we know today as the Atlantic Ocean. The oldest of the Titans,
he fathered other gods who personified all rivers, lakes, and ponds
with his sister/wife Tethys. Oceanus is portrayed as a horned god
with the tail of a serpentine fish. He did not fight with Kronos
in the Titanomachy.
Carnivora Improvement - Generates plants which eat enemy units
|_ Oceanus sends his man-eating plant, the Carnivora, to defend his
followers. A Carnivora may be placed on land or in the water and
feeds by attacking prey with its long, spined feeding vines. Prey
is snared, choked, and dropped into the Carnivora's "mouth."
Between meals the Carnivora attacks enemies with its feeding
vines.
To summon the Carnivora, left-click the Carnivora icon, and then
left-click anywhere you have line of sight. Carnivorae are immobile
so make sure to place it somewhere within reach of enemies.
Caladria Mythological Unit
|_ Caladriae are flying healers. They make decent scouts but will
fall easily to enemy towers and missiles. Making two Caladriae
will allow them to heal one another so they can continue healing
Atlantean armies.
"...Caladria died and was entombed. Theocrat Osphoru built a
temple of healing over her tomb. Many thought his decision
blasphemous, but all who suffered and were sick grew strong and
hale again under the care of temple's healers. Blessed were the
armies accompanied by these followers of Caladria, for they were
healed, inspired and protected."
-- Voices of the Oracle, The Lay of Ioleta
Servant Mythological Unit
|_ Servants of Oceanus are aquatic healers. They heal nearby units,
even those on shore. They can fight, though not very well and are
very weak against heroes.
A creature of water and will, the Servant of Oceanus was the
embodiment of the nurturing aspects of the ocean. Servants of
Oceanus appeared as human torsos atop a column of water. They
were summoned by the Theocrats of Atlantis in times of sickness
or war to aid the Atlantean people.
Bite of the Shark Improvement - Murmillo has +15% Hack Damage
|_ Some companies of Murmillo would dedicate themselves to one
particular Titan. Most commonly this was Oceanus and these
Murmillo carried shark teeth as a symbol of their devotion. Some
companies entered a bloody rage, like the berserkers of the
Norse, others carried serrated swords with which they savaged
their enemies.
Weightless Mace Improvement - Katapeltes has +10% Speed & +15% Hack Damage
|_ Atlanteans worshipping Oceanus discovered another odd property of
the metal orichalkos. When quenched in salt water (preferably sea
water collected near a temple venerating Oceanus), weapons forged
from this otherwise very heavy, dense metal became virtually
weightless. Never surprised by the amazing properties of orichalkos,
the Atlanteans quickly adapted this to their heaviest weapons, the
deadly maces of the Katapeltes.
RHEIA - Heroic Age
-----
Description: Rheia was a Titan married to her brother Kronos, by whom
she gave birth to Zeus and his sibling gods. By rescuing Zeus from her
husband, she set in motion the dethroning of Kronos and the ascendance
of Zeus to Olympus. In Asia Minor she was known as an Earth Goddess
and worshipped with orgiastic rites. Her name means "flow," apparently
in reference to female menstruation, and "ease," perhaps in reference
to easy childbirth. Following the rise of her son Zeus to status as
king of the gods, she disputed her portion of the world and ended up
retreating to the mountains where she surrounded herself with wild
creatures. She is usually associated with lions or with a chariot
pulled by lions.
Traitor God Power - Converts an enemy unit into a Traitor
|_ The Titan Rheia turns the heart of an enemy, converting it to
your side. Rheia was betrayed by Kronos when he ate all of their
children after learning that one of them would be his downfall.
Rheia had secretly fed Kronos a swaddled rock, saving one of her
children, the infant god Zeus. Zeus grew to adulthood, and after
freeing his brothers and sisters he imprisoned his father Kronos
in the deepest parts of Tartarus. Betrayal surrounded Rheia and
she keenly understands its power.
To steal the allegiance of an enemy, left-click the Traitors
icon, and then right-click the unit you wish to convert. This is
very powerful when used on expensive myth units.
Behemoth Mythological Unit
|_ Behemoths are living siege weapons. They regenerate, making them
even tougher to kill than the Scarabs of the Egyptians. Use them
against buildings, but keep them away from enemy heroes.
"The Titans languished in Tartarus. The Olympians who trapped them
there wished to punish us, worshippers of the Titans. They hunted
us, but we hid in the shadow of Behemoth who was as tall as the
mountains and twice as long. He protected us, bellowing as Zeus's
lightning struck his thick armor. Caladria blessed Behemoth and
healed him after every stroke of Zeus's lightning. The Olympians
could not break tireless Behemoth and they returned to Olympus.
We were safe."
-- Oaths of the Oracles, The Lay of Ioleta
Horns of Consecration Improvements - +10% Favor gathering rate
|_ The Titan Rheia was the mother of Zeus and other Olympians. She
was an earth goddess and surrounded herself with wild creatures.
While she is usually associated with lions, like those which
pulled her chariot, the Minoans worshipped her, with other gods,
with rites and rituals involving bulls. The Minoans consecrated
their buildings by decorating them with sculpted representations
of horned bulls. These decorations were thought to please the
gods.
Mail of Orichalkoss Improvements - Archers have -10% Hack Damage
| Vulnerability
|_ The Atlantean followers of Rheia were blacksmiths of unsurpassed
skill who mastered a unique method of distilling zinc ore. When
the distillation was mixed with brass, the result was the silvery
metal orichalkos. Strong enough to stop the heaviest of blows,
mail of orichalkos is also extremely lightweight when quenched
in sea water - the perfect armor for archers and other missile
troops.
Rheia's Gift Improvements - -25% Favor for Mythological improvements
|_ As the children of Kronos and Rheia were born, Kronos swallowed
them one by one. When Rheia gave birth to Zeus, she hid the infant
and fed Kronos a stone instead, risking her husband's wrath to
save her youngest son. Rheia is held in high regard by both the
Olympians and the Titans, and her son Zeus - her gift to the
world - is honored by all.
THEIA - Heroic Age
-----
Description: A Titan, Theia was married to her brother Hyperion, by
whom she gave birth to three gods: Helios (the sun), Eos (the dawn),
and Selene (the moon). She was the goddess of sight. Since the
ancient Greeks believed that sight was a beam emitted by the eyes
in a manner similar to the sun’s rays or the moon’s rays, she was
thought to endow gold, silver, and gems with their luster and beauty.
Her children were all associated with light.
Hesperides God Power - Generates a tree where you can create Dryads
|_ The Hesperides were Dryads (nymphs) who guarded and tended the Tree
of Golden Apples. This Tree may be placed anywhere you wish, and
you may summon the Dryads to protect it, though only six Dryads at
a time may be summoned. If an enemy has more units or buildings
near the Tree than you, then you will lose control of the Tree
and the enemy will gain the ability to summon the Hesperides. The
Tree also blocks the use of God Powers, so place the Tree of Golden
Apples carefully and defend it well.
To plant the Tree of Golden Apples, left-click the Hesperides icon,
and then left-click where you want the Tree to grow.
Stymphalian Bird Mythological Unit
|_ The Stymphalian Bird is a formidable Heroic Age myth unit. Only
ranged units and buildings can attack it - ranged heroes are the
strongest against the birds of Stymphalos.
For his sixth labor, Heracles slew the Stymphalian Birds. These
birds were aggressive and hunted in flocks, much like lions or
wolves. They ravaged the countryside around their lakeside nesting
grounds, killing and carrying off livestock and occasionally
children. They had very keen senses and especially keen hearing.
Heracles used their keen hearing against them when, instead of
venturing into their dangerous nesting grounds, he stood on a
mountain top and clashed a pair of god-crafted brass krotala
(castanet-like noise makers). It made such a racket that the
birds could not bear to stay near and as they flew away, Heracles
shot them with his bow.
Lance of Stones Improvements - Contarius Hereos have +15% Hack Damage
|_ A Contarius distinguished in battle, upon returning to Atlantis,
was presented with a lance made from petrified wood found in one
of Atlantis’s most distant western colonies. When the stone lance
of a Contarius broke, the soldier’s name was carved on its shaft
and the fragments were returned in honor to Atlantis. These
fragments were arranged in a palisade around the Palace of the
Theocrat. It did not take long for the competitive Contarii to
begin seeking out targets that would most swiftly break their
lances - namely buildings.
Lemurian Descendants Improvements - +9 LOS of all human soldiers
|_ The Titan Theia, goddess of sight, ruled over Lemuria, the most
loyal and advanced of Atlantean colonies. The Lemurians were
tall and lithe, but were best known for their keen vision - a
boon from their patron goddess. They were employed as scouts
alongside Oracles for much of the Atlantean empire. The island
of Lemuria was destroyed when the brother giants Ephialtes and
Otus piled up mountains to reach Olympus, including the
mountainous Lemuria.
Poseidon's Secrets Improvements - Cavalry +10% Speed & +15% Hack Damage
|_ Theia, wife of Hyperion and mother of the sun, moon, and dawn, was
the Titan most interested in learning from the upstart Olympians.
Poseidon had much to teach his aunt, most importantly a method for
breeding the finest steeds the world had ever seen. Whether Theia
stole Poseidon's knowledge of horses or Poseidon simply volunteered
to help the Atlanteans is unclear - but Poseidon's secret now
belongs to the followers of Theia.
ATLAS - Mythic Age
-----
Description: The son of the Titan Lapetus and the nymph Clymene,
Atlas was thought to be king of the legendary Atlantis. His attack
on Olympus during a failed attempt by the Titans to overthrow Zeus
resulted in being condemned to forever carry the heavens upon his
shoulders. He is usually portrayed, however, bearing a globe on
his shoulders. He was relieved of his burden temporarily by Heracles
during one of that hero’s 12 labors, but Atlas was tricked into
taking the heavens back onto his shoulders. According to some he
was later released of his burden and made guardian of the Pillars
of Hercules, upon which the heavens were set in his stead, and
which also were the gateway to the ocean home of Atlantis. His
name has come to mean "bearer" or "endurer."
Implode God Power - Causes damage to units and buildings
|_ The Titan Atlas sends a deadly maelstrom that sucks in units and
warps buildings. The surviving units are blasted out at the height
of the implosion with a devastating shockwave that damages
buildings and flattens trees.
To invoke the implosion, left-click the Implode icon, and then
right-click where you wish to target the power. The more units
that get sucked into the center, the more damage the implosion
does when it detonates. You must have line of sight to target
this power.
Argus Mythological Units
|_ Argus is an amorphous creature covered with bulbous eyes. When
threatened, the Argus forcefully excretes a sticky blob of acid
from its many specialized tear ducts. Creatures trapped in the
Argus acid have little hope of survival. The Argus also uses
this acid to partially pre-digest its food.
Hera's Argus served her faithfully until he was killed by the
god Hermes. Zeus had commanded Hermes to trick Argus and slay
him so that the philandering god could recapture one of his
lovers, Io, from his jealous wife. Hera honored the sacrifice
of Argus by placing his eyes on the tail of her sacred peacock.
Io, who had endured all this in the form of a pure white cow,
was saved only to plunge into what is now called the Ionian Sea.
Eyes of Atlas Improvement - +9 LOS of Myth Units
|_ As a punishment for rebelling against Zeus, the Titan Atlas,
first king of Atlantis, was condemned to bear the weight of the
heavens on his shoulders. When Atlas turns his gaze to the
burden on his back, it is said that those who follow the Titans
see all that he sees with his eyes.
Io Guardian Improvement - Argus +5 LOS, -20% Recharge time
|_ Zeus transformed his lover Io into a white cow to protect her
from the wrath of his jealous wife Hera. But Hera saw through
the ruse, and requested the cow as a gift. She then sent her
servant Argus, a giant with a hundred eyes, to guard the cow.
Eventually, Zeus sent Hermes to trick and slay Argus. To
honor the memory of her fallen servant, Hera placed the eyes
of Argus on the tail of the peacock.
Titan Shield Improvement - Buildings have -15% Hack & Crush Damage
| Vulnerability
|_ The Atlanteans were always closely connected to the Titans, and
the raw power of the ancient gods is locked deep within the stones
of Atlantis itself. While Atlas still bears the burden of the
heavens, the Atlanteans can draw on the might of his sturdy
shoulders to strengthen their buildings and walls.
HEKATE - Mythic Age
------
Description: Hekate was a goddess of the night, ghosts, and magic,
and she was associated with crossroads. A three-faced statue of
Hekate, showing a dog, a lion (or snake), and a mare, was placed
where three roads met. She was said to appear when the Moon went
into eclipse and was accompanied by two ghost dogs. From her
parents, the Titans Perses and Asteria, she inherited powers over
the earth, sea, and heavens. Her three heads were thought to
represent Luna in heaven, Artemis on Earth, and Persephone in
the underworld. She assisted Demeter in her search for Persephone
and after their reunion became Persephone’s companion in Hades.
She is often portrayed carrying two torches.
Tartarian Gate God Power - Generates a gate to the Underworld which creates
| creatures who attack everybody
|_ Hekate uses her powers to breach the realm of Tartarus and summons
forth some of the foul creatures trapped within. These fearsome
creatures, Gatespawn, will attack anyone who nears the Gate,
including the player who summoned them - place it carefully.
Gatespawn will not stray far from their Gate, because if it is
destroyed the Gatespawn are banished back into the depths of
Tartarus.
To open the Gate to Tartarus, left-click the Tartarian Gate icon,
and then left-click where you wish to place the Gate. You must
have line of sight to target this power. Placing it along an
enemy trade route is a nasty use of this power. It is also useful
as a way to attack an enemy's economy without committing your armies.
Lampades Mythological Unit
|_ These nymphs were the attendants of Hecate, an unbound Titaness,
gifts from Zeus for her allegiance in the Titanomachy. The Lampades
served their mistress unflinchingly, bearing torches for her
through the dark places of the earth and underworld. The light of
their torches brought visions to mortals and often the visions
brought madness. The Lampades defended Hecate with their torches
just as the Titaness herself fought in the wars of the gods.
Asper Blood Improvement - Lampades +25 Pierce area damage
|_ The Lampades, torch-bearing nymphs devoted to Hekate, drank from
the waters of Phlegethon and their blood became like the fire of
their torches. The deaths of these Lampades was a spectacular
spray of blood and flame, burning long after the bodies of the
Lampades were consumed.
Celerity Improvement - -40% Training rate of Myth Units
|_ Hekate, the goddess of night and magic, was later the companion of
Persephone in the underworld. Those that follow Hekate have a deep
understanding of how quickly life can slip away. They learn to make
each second count, for wasted time only brings them closer to death.
Mythic Rejuvenation Improvement - 2.0 HP/second Myth Unit regeneration rate
|_ "Hekate collected the blood of Behemoth under a new moon and added
to it honey, rain and wine. This she poured into the mouths of her
most favored creatures. These creatures thereafter healed swiftly
from even the most grievous wounds."
-- Voices of the Oracles, the Lay of Ioleta
-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-
ORANOS
------
Description: Oranos was the solid dome of the sky and one of the
ancient element gods from which all life proceeded. He was the
first son of Gaia and became her husband. Together they produced
the 12 Titans and other offspring that included the Cyclops. Shocked
by some of his hideous offspring, he attempted to hide them deep in
the bowels of Gaia (Earth), causing her increasingly intense pain.
To relieve her suffering, she encouraged her son Kronos to castrate
Oranos. Following this emasculation, Oranos (the sky) separated
from Gaia (the Earth) and Kronos took over the kingdom of the gods.
Bonuses: Ability to build numerous Sky Passages
Human Military Units move faster
Shares visibility to all settlements with allies
Shockwave God Power - Generates a shockwave which stuns your enemies' units
|_ Lord of the Sky, the Titan Oranos sends a Shockwave to knock your
enemies off of their feet. This power is best used on tight groups
of enemy units. The Shockwave damages enemies and sends them
flying, stunning them when they hit the ground. Use this power
to soften up a group of invaders before they reach your buildings
or to knock them into the range of one of your towers.
To call the Shockwave, left-click the Shockwave icon, and then
left-click enemy units.
Safe Passage Improvements - Sky Passages have -25% wood cost, -20% gold
| cost, +1 ranged attack & +6 LOS
|_ The sacred Sky Passages of Oranos were identified by the enemies
of Atlantis as very dangerous buildings logistically because they
could transport armies and Citizens instantaneously. These buildings
were attacked and destroyed before all others. In response,
Atlanteans began building the Sky Passages more soundly and
defending them from within. The Sky Passages were holy sites
first and did not lend themselves to strong defense, the
Atlanteans continued to rely on other structures and the troops
transported by the Passages to defend them.
OCEANUS - Classical Age
-------
Description: Oceanus was the personification of all oceans, or a
great river that flowed in a circle around the earth. He was a
source of all fresh water. In later time he personified the seas
outside the Pillars of Hercules (the Straights of Gibraltar), or
what we know today as the Atlantic Ocean. The oldest of the Titans,
he fathered other gods who personified all rivers, lakes, and ponds
with his sister/wife Tethys. Oceanus is portrayed as a horned god
with the tail of a serpentine fish. He did not fight with Kronos
in the Titanomachy.
Carnivora Improvement - Generates plants which eat enemy units
|_ Oceanus sends his man-eating plant, the Carnivora, to defend his
followers. A Carnivora may be placed on land or in the water and
feeds by attacking prey with its long, spined feeding vines. Prey
is snared, choked, and dropped into the Carnivora's "mouth."
Between meals the Carnivora attacks enemies with its feeding
vines.
To summon the Carnivora, left-click the Carnivora icon, and then
left-click anywhere you have line of sight. Carnivorae are immobile
so make sure to place it somewhere within reach of enemies.
Caladria Mythological Unit
|_ Caladriae are flying healers. They make decent scouts but will
fall easily to enemy towers and missiles. Making two Caladriae
will allow them to heal one another so they can continue healing
Atlantean armies.
"...Caladria died and was entombed. Theocrat Osphoru built a
temple of healing over her tomb. Many thought his decision
blasphemous, but all who suffered and were sick grew strong and
hale again under the care of temple's healers. Blessed were the
armies accompanied by these followers of Caladria, for they were
healed, inspired and protected."
-- Voices of the Oracle, The Lay of Ioleta
Servant Mythological Unit
|_ Servants of Oceanus are aquatic healers. They heal nearby units,
even those on shore. They can fight, though not very well and are
very weak against heroes.
A creature of water and will, the Servant of Oceanus was the
embodiment of the nurturing aspects of the ocean. Servants of
Oceanus appeared as human torsos atop a column of water. They
were summoned by the Theocrats of Atlantis in times of sickness
or war to aid the Atlantean people.
Bite of the Shark Improvement - Murmillo has +15% Hack Damage
|_ Some companies of Murmillo would dedicate themselves to one
particular Titan. Most commonly this was Oceanus and these
Murmillo carried shark teeth as a symbol of their devotion. Some
companies entered a bloody rage, like the berserkers of the
Norse, others carried serrated swords with which they savaged
their enemies.
Weightless Mace Improvement - Katapeltes has +10% Speed & +15% Hack Damage
|_ Atlanteans worshipping Oceanus discovered another odd property of
the metal orichalkos. When quenched in salt water (preferably sea
water collected near a temple venerating Oceanus), weapons forged
from this otherwise very heavy, dense metal became virtually
weightless. Never surprised by the amazing properties of orichalkos,
the Atlanteans quickly adapted this to their heaviest weapons, the
deadly maces of the Katapeltes.
PROMETHEUS - Classical Age
----------
Description: The son of the Titan Lapetus, Prometheus was born a
mortal. He shaped humankind out of water and clay (and Athena
breathed life into the form). After siding with Zeus against the
Titans, he tricked the king of the gods into taking animal bones
as sacrifices, leaving the good meat for humans. In spite, Zeus
removed fire from the world, bringing great suffering to all. To
relieve the people he had created, Prometheus stole fire from the
Sun and gave it back to the world. In retaliation, a furious Zeus
sentenced Prometheus to be chained to a rock for 30,000 years,
while an eagle daily tore out his liver (which grew back each
night). By giving warning to Zeus of a prophecy of his downfall,
he won a reprieve and was allowed to trade his mortality to Chiron
(doomed to an eternity of agony) and thereafter joined the
immortals on Olympus.
Valor Improvement - Transforms a group of general units into heroes
|_ Prometheus was the Titan of daring thoughts and turns daring
thoughts into daring deeds by making heroes out of ordinary units.
This power works best on your armies, but will work on Citizens
as well. If you expect your enemies to summon a lot of myth
units, it is a good idea to use Valor before you go into battle.
To send the blessing of Prometheus on your units, left-click the
Valor icon, and then left-click near a group of your units. This
power works best on military units.
Promethean Mythological Unit
|_ Prometheans are slow but have pretty good armor and a decent
attack. When they are destroyed, two smaller Prometheans are formed
from the clay of the first.
Prometheus was one of the few Titans who sided with the Olympians
in the Titanomachy. He and his brother Epimetheus were tasked with
the creation of humans. These first people were formed from clay
and called Prometheans. Seeing their frail mortal forms struggle
he gave his creations the gift of fire so that they could become
strong. This angered Zeus and the god bound Prometheus to the side
of a mountain where he was attacked and partially devoured every
day.
Alluvial Clay Improvement - Promethean +30% HP
|_ Prometheus formed his Prometheans from the clay in river banks
and beds. This clay, deposited by running water, had bits of rock,
other minerals and even gold in it. These bits of debris formed a
tight matrix, almost like a skeleton, inside the Prometheans and
made them much stronger, sturdier creatures.
Heart of the Titans Improvement - Hero Upgrades cost -20% Wood, Food & Gold
|_ The Titan Prometheus, god of daring thoughts, loved his creations -
humankind. He sought always to make their troubled lives better,
even in spite of other gods at times. He even bestowed upon his
favorite mortals the secrets of the Titans, giving birth to a line
of heroes who would rattle the foundations of Olympus.
THEIA - Heroic Age
-----
Description: A Titan, Theia was married to her brother Hyperion, by
whom she gave birth to three gods: Helios (the sun), Eos (the dawn),
and Selene (the moon). She was the goddess of sight. Since the
ancient Greeks believed that sight was a beam emitted by the eyes
in a manner similar to the sun’s rays or the moon’s rays, she was
thought to endow gold, silver, and gems with their luster and beauty.
Her children were all associated with light.
Hesperides God Power - Generates a tree where you can create Dryads
|_ The Hesperides were Dryads (nymphs) who guarded and tended the Tree
of Golden Apples. This Tree may be placed anywhere you wish, and
you may summon the Dryads to protect it, though only six Dryads at
a time may be summoned. If an enemy has more units or buildings
near the Tree than you, then you will lose control of the Tree
and the enemy will gain the ability to summon the Hesperides. The
Tree also blocks the use of God Powers, so place the Tree of Golden
Apples carefully and defend it well.
To plant the Tree of Golden Apples, left-click the Hesperides icon,
and then left-click where you want the Tree to grow.
Stymphalian Bird Mythological Unit
|_ The Stymphalian Bird is a formidable Heroic Age myth unit. Only
ranged units and buildings can attack it - ranged heroes are the
strongest against the birds of Stymphalos.
For his sixth labor, Heracles slew the Stymphalian Birds. These
birds were aggressive and hunted in flocks, much like lions or
wolves. They ravaged the countryside around their lakeside nesting
grounds, killing and carrying off livestock and occasionally
children. They had very keen senses and especially keen hearing.
Heracles used their keen hearing against them when, instead of
venturing into their dangerous nesting grounds, he stood on a
mountain top and clashed a pair of god-crafted brass krotala
(castanet-like noise makers). It made such a racket that the
birds could not bear to stay near and as they flew away, Heracles
shot them with his bow.
Lance of Stones Improvements - Contarius Hereos have +15% Hack Damage
|_ A Contarius distinguished in battle, upon returning to Atlantis,
was presented with a lance made from petrified wood found in one
of Atlantis’s most distant western colonies. When the stone lance
of a Contarius broke, the soldier’s name was carved on its shaft
and the fragments were returned in honor to Atlantis. These
fragments were arranged in a palisade around the Palace of the
Theocrat. It did not take long for the competitive Contarii to
begin seeking out targets that would most swiftly break their
lances - namely buildings.
Lemurian Descendants Improvements - +9 LOS of all human soldiers
|_ The Titan Theia, goddess of sight, ruled over Lemuria, the most
loyal and advanced of Atlantean colonies. The Lemurians were
tall and lithe, but were best known for their keen vision - a
boon from their patron goddess. They were employed as scouts
alongside Oracles for much of the Atlantean empire. The island
of Lemuria was destroyed when the brother giants Ephialtes and
Otus piled up mountains to reach Olympus, including the
mountainous Lemuria.
Poseidon's Secrets Improvements - Cavalry +10% Speed & +15% Hack Damage
|_ Theia, wife of Hyperion and mother of the sun, moon, and dawn, was
the Titan most interested in learning from the upstart Olympians.
Poseidon had much to teach his aunt, most importantly a method for
breeding the finest steeds the world had ever seen. Whether Theia
stole Poseidon's knowledge of horses or Poseidon simply volunteered
to help the Atlanteans is unclear - but Poseidon's secret now
belongs to the followers of Theia.
HYPERION - Heroic Age
--------
Description: A Titan and god of watching, he fathered Helios (the sun),
Eos (the dawn), and Selene (the moon). His name means "he who goes
before the sun," related possibly to being the father of Helios or
the visibility that precedes the sun’s approach.
Chaos God Power - Changes the sentiment of a group of enemy units
|_ Chaos surrounded the Titans - this power snares the weak-minded
and turns them against everyone, wreaking havoc and confusion in
the ranks of your enemies. This power forces the units caught in
it to attack anyone. Use it carefully, because units under the
effects of Chaos have no allies and will attack you just as
eagerly as they attack your enemies.
To confuse enemy minds with Chaos, left-click the Chaos icon,
and then left-click a group of enemy units.
Nereid Mythological Unit
|_ Nereids may be trained at the Dock. They are a powerful Heroic
Age myth unit capable of devastating attacks to ships.
The Nereids were the fifty nymphs of the sea. Many of them had
important roles in mythology. They, like most nymphs, are
beautiful creatures. The Nereids were often accompanied by hosts
of sea creatures in their roving. But when the gentle nymphs went
into battle, they rode fierce sharks who carried their mistresses
tirelessly.
Satyr Mythological Unit
|_ Satyrs are a ranged myth unit with reasonable speed and range. They
are strong against infantry and other human units, but are weak
against heroes.
Satyrs were just one of the creatures among the entourage of the
god Dionysos. Goat-legged and horned they are notoriously fond
of revelry in every possible form with a special weakness for
Nymphs. Silenus, the oldest Satyr, was the instructor of the god
Dionysos. Silenus and other satyrs rode donkeys into battle
against the Heka Gigantes, the donkeys were terrified when they
saw the enemy, braying loudly. The Heka Gigantes in turn were
terrified by the braying donkeys and fled the cacophony. In spite
of their shocking victory, satyrs never developed a taste for
combat, turning back to drunken song and revelry.
Gemino Improvement - Doubles the number of Javelins thrown by Satyrs
|_ Satyrs were not warriors or soldiers, though they fought fiercely
when threatened, deprived of wine, sleep or nymphs. They rode
timid donkeys into battle and carried javelins crafted for them
by dryads. The eldest Satyr, Silenus, could throw two javelins
at a time and from time to time would teach other satyrs the
trick of it.
Heroic Renewal Improvement - Allows Heroes to regenerate
|_ "Hekate then gave her infusion to Helios for his help in finding
Persephone. Helios, renewed daily, had no need of this restorative
and gave it to his father, Hyperion. Hyperion, far-sighted and
all-seeing, smeared it upon the eyes of worthy mortals in their
sleep. When these favored mortals awoke to sight and consciousness
they found themselves rejuvenated."
-- Voices of the Oracles, the Lay of Ioleta
HEKATE - Mythic Age
------
Description: Hekate was a goddess of the night, ghosts, and magic,
and she was associated with crossroads. A three-faced statue of
Hekate, showing a dog, a lion (or snake), and a mare, was placed
where three roads met. She was said to appear when the Moon went
into eclipse and was accompanied by two ghost dogs. From her
parents, the Titans Perses and Asteria, she inherited powers over
the earth, sea, and heavens. Her three heads were thought to
represent Luna in heaven, Artemis on Earth, and Persephone in
the underworld. She assisted Demeter in her search for Persephone
and after their reunion became Persephone’s companion in Hades.
She is often portrayed carrying two torches.
Tartarian Gate God Power - Generates a gate to the underworld which creates
| creatures who attack everybody
|_ Hekate uses her powers to breach the realm of Tartarus and summons
forth some of the foul creatures trapped within. These fearsome
creatures, Gatespawn, will attack anyone who nears the Gate,
including the player who summoned them - place it carefully.
Gatespawn will not stray far from their Gate, because if it is
destroyed the Gatespawn are banished back into the depths of
Tartarus.
To open the Gate to Tartarus, left-click the Tartarian Gate icon,
and then left-click where you wish to place the Gate. You must
have line of sight to target this power. Placing it along an
enemy trade route is a nasty use of this power. It is also useful
as a way to attack an enemy's economy without committing your armies.
Lampades Mythological Unit
|_ These nymphs were the attendants of Hecate, an unbound Titaness,
gifts from Zeus for her allegiance in the Titanomachy. The Lampades
served their mistress unflinchingly, bearing torches for her
through the dark places of the earth and underworld. The light of
their torches brought visions to mortals and often the visions
brought madness. The Lampades defended Hecate with their torches
just as the Titaness herself fought in the wars of the gods.
Asper Blood Improvement - Lampades +25 Pierce area damage
|_ The Lampades, torch-bearing nymphs devoted to Hekate, drank from
the waters of Phlegethon and their blood became like the fire of
their torches. The deaths of these Lampades was a spectacular
spray of blood and flame, burning long after the bodies of the
Lampades were consumed.
Celerity Improvement - -40% Training rate of Myth Units
|_ Hekate, the goddess of night and magic, was later the companion of
Persephone in the underworld. Those that follow Hekate have a deep
understanding of how quickly life can slip away. They learn to make
each second count, for wasted time only brings them closer to death.
Mythic Rejuvenation Improvement - 2.0 HP/second Myth Unit regeneration rate
|_ "Hekate collected the blood of Behemoth under a new moon and added
to it honey, rain and wine. This she poured into the mouths of her
most favored creatures. These creatures thereafter healed swiftly
from even the most grievous wounds."
-- Voices of the Oracles, the Lay of Ioleta
HELIOS - Mythic Age
------
Description: The god of the sun, he rose from the ocean at dawn to
drive his chariot across the sky, carrying the sun and descending at
night into the west. He saw all and knew all, and was often called
upon by other gods to be a witness. He was the god of the measurement
of time, and goddesses of the day, month, seasons, and year waited
upon him. Two of his mortal lovers were converted into the plants
heliotrope (whose head always turns toward the sun) and frankincense.
These plants were sacred to Helios. He is portrayed usually in a
chariot with a whip and surrounded by a halo. Animals sacred to him
were the rooster and eagle. The great Colossus of Rhodes was built
in his honor, as he was married to Rhode, a daughter of Poseidon.
Vortex God Power - Teleport all your military units to single point
|_ Oranos, Kronos, and Helios, Titans and gods of the sky, time,
and sun, allow all of your armies to rally in one place.
To whisk your armies through time and the skies, left-click the
Vortex icon, and then left-click where you want your armies to
appear. You must have line of sight to target this power. Your
armies will fly up into the sky and drop down on the targeted
spot. This power is very useful when you need all of your
military might in one place - fast.
Hekagigantes Mythological Unit
|_ The Heka Gigantes are strong against human soldiers, sending them
flying with their many-handed strikes. They are weak against heroes.
One hundred arms and fifty heads grew out of the shoulders of the
Hekatonkheires. They were the sons of Oranos and Gaia and were so
terrible that Oranos ordered them imprisoned in Tartarus. A fate
he himself would suffer at the hands of his grandsons Zeus,
Poseidon, and Hades.
Man O'War Mythological Unit
|_ This monstrous siphonophore was actually a collection of creatures
that cooperated to move and feed and fight. The 100 foot long
tentacles produced a toxin that is almost as potent as cobra venom
which the organism used to stun prey. For defense the creature
could generate and direct an electric bolt, like a stroke of
lightning. Physalia mantalos propelled itself by raising and
lowering its crest to catch wind like a sail.
Halo of the Sun Improvements - Fire Siphons have +25% Crush Damage, and
| Fire Ships have +20% Hack Damage
|_ "Thereafter, because they had so honored Helios, the Titan returned
to Atlantis, and in his great temple there set a flame that could
be extinguished by neither wind nor water. The Atlanteans carried
this flame to every land they conquered and with it, the light of
Atlantean wisdom."
-- Voices of the Oracles, the Lay of Ioleta
Petrified Improvements - Siege Units -15% Hack Damage Vulnerability
|_ "...were made of a strange and very hard wood. And as Helios's
searing gaze beats down onto all things, so too did these
giant-crafted siege weapons, rock-hurlers and arrow-throwers,
lay waste to the shining capital of Lemuria. They reduced our
beloved city to rubble in a matter of hours, but Chalu was not
afraid."
-- The Inverada, The Siege at Murinca
===========================================================================
Greek Buildings
===========================================================================
In Age of Mythology, buildings train units, serve as resource drop sites,
and are where improvements can be researched. Buildings are built by
Villagers or Norse Infantry.
Building foundations are vulnerable to attack, especially from other
buildings. Therefore it is difficult to build too close to an enemy
army.
If a building foundation is destroyed or deleted, you will get all the
resources spent on the building refunded.
Attack buildings with siege weapons.
Economic Buildings
------------------
* Town Center: The Town Center trains Villagers and hero units, stores
resources, and acts as the hub of a city. Town centers can only be
built on settlements. Additional Town Centers can be built starting
in the Heroic Age. If a player claims all the settlements on a map,
this is a win under victory conditions.
The rise of agriculture provided a food surplus that had to be
collected and stored to be available in winter months and other
periods when food was scarce. The need to collect, store, and
protect food surpluses gave rise to the first towns as administrative
centers. Towns quickly became engaged in many additional activities,
including the gathering and storage of other resources, centers of
manufacturing, population concentration points, and centers of trade.
Cost: 300W/300G Armor: H55%/P95%/C10%
Build Time (sec.): 90 Range (min - max): 20
Line of Sight: (m): 5 Age: Archaic
Garrison: 25 Hit Points: 2800
Militia: 6
* Market: At the Market in Age of Mythology, you may sell Food and
Wood for Gold or buy Food and Wood with Gold. You may also research
trade improvements and create Caravans to trade with Town Centers.
In each sizable town, residents created a trading center, or
Market, where food items and craft goods were exchanged. In larger
towns the markets became the center of trade with other towns.
Markets such as the Greek agora became also a place for the
exchange of ideas, entertainment (bards, acrobats, musicians),
and the spreading of news.
Cost: 300W Armor: H30%/P95%/C10%
Build Time (sec.): 37 Range (min - max): N/A
Line of Sight: (m): 9 Age: Heroic
Garrison: 10 Hit Points: 1200
Militia: 4
* House: You may build a limited number of Houses. Each House and
Town Center supports a fixed number (10) of population units (villagers,
soldiers, boats, mythological creatures, and trade carts). No new
units can be created above this limit.
When agriculture made possible a less nomadic lifestyle, humans
began creating more permanent living quarters near their farms,
rather than occupying transitory camp sites near hunting grounds
or natural shelters like caves. Well built housing improved the
quality and longevity of life.
Cost: 50W Armor: H30%/P95%/C5%
Build Time (sec.): 14 Range (min - max): N/A
Line of Sight: (m): 9 Age: Archaic
Garrison: N/A Hit Points: 450
Militia: 4
* Storehouse: The Storehouse acts as a drop off point for wood and
gold. It is also where you can upgrade your wood cutting and
mining technologies!
Cost: 50W Armor: H30%/P95%/C5%
Build Time (sec.): 14 Range (min - max): N/A
Line of Sight: (m): 9 Age: Archaic
Garrison: N/A Hit Points: 400
Militia: 4
* Granary: In Age of Mythology, the Granary is a collection point
for all types of food. In addition you may research here many
improvements to speed the collection of food.
The Granary represents the place where agricultural societies
stored their grain surpluses so food would be available during
the winter months. It might be a large brick or stone silo, or
a building sheltering smaller jars or barrels of grain. Without
proper storage, grain would spoil and the farmers would have to
resume nomadic hunting and gathering to avoid starvation before
the next harvest.
Cost: 50W Armor: H30%/P95%/C5%
Build Time (sec.): 14 Range (min - max): N/A
Line of Sight: (m): 9 Age: Archaic
Garrison: N/A Hit Points: 400
Militia: 4
* Farm: A Farm is a building that provides food when a Villager
is assigned to gather there. Farms have an unlimited lifespan
and resources once built, but may be destroyed or captured by
enemy Villagers. The food production of a Farm may be increased
by improvements.
The ability to farm was one of the great advancements in human
progress, because agriculture made possible large, renewable food
supplies that could be stored and consumed year-round. The
availability of food plants, rich soils, a mild climate, and
dependable water determined where farming was possible and where
early civilizations arose. Improvements such as the plow,
irrigation, and fertilization increased yields.
Cost: 75W Armor: H30%/P80%/C5%
Build Time (sec.): 9 Range (min - max): N/A
Line of Sight: (m): 6 Age: Class.
Garrison: N/A Hit Points: 150
Militia: N/A
Military Buildings
------------------
* Temple: At the Temple you may build mythological units and
research improvements that require the Favor of the gods to be
implemented. Greeks may pray at their Temples to gain Favor.
Most early civilizations invested considerable wealth in their
religious life, including the construction of temples or places
where rites and ceremonies were conducted, where religious leaders
were trained, and where beliefs were refined and passed on.
Temples were often dedicated to one or more gods and acted as
points of communication between humans and deities. At the
Temple, believers might petition the gods for help and offer
prayer, tribute or sacrifices to improve the reception of pleas.
Temples were often magnificent buildings that overshadowed
anything else in a city.
Cost: 100W/100G Armor: H30%/P95%/C5%
Build Time (sec.): 37 Range (min - max): N/A
Line of Sight: (m): 9 Age: Archaic
Garrison: 5 Hit Points: 1200
Militia: 4
* Academy: For most of their classical age, Greek armies were
purely infantry. A town’s adult male population served in the
ranks, fighting with long spear and sword, carrying the round
hoplon shield, and wearing the crested helmet, a breastplate,
and greaves (on the shins). Although hoplite battle was
generally simple, and usually brief because of its violence,
it required firm discipline and some training. Moving and
fighting in dense formations with heavy equipment and weapons
required practice. Training and drill took place regularly
at an Academy, or school, or similar institution.
Cost: 100W Armor: H30%/P95%/C5%
Build Time (sec.): 23 Range (min - max): N/A
Line of Sight: (m): 9 Age: Class.
Garrison: 5 Hit Points: 1200
Militia: 3
* Stable: At the Stable, Greek players may build mounted units,
improve the quality of these units, and research improvements
to make them more effective.
Mounted warriors brought new dimensions to war and combat.
They could move quickly as raiders and on the battlefield.
In pursuit they could ride down retreating enemies. Men
charging on large animals were terrifying to men on foot.
The rise in importance of mounted warriors created demand for
large numbers of horses, which were bred and maintained at the
Stable. Mounted warriors trained at the Stable, as well, learning
the skills of fighting from horseback.
Cost: 100W* Armor: H40%/P95%/C5%
Build Time (sec.): 23 Range (min - max): N/A
Line of Sight: (m): 9 Age: Class.
Garrison: 5 Hit Points: 1200
Militia: 3
* = Poseidon's Stables cost +10W
* Archery Range: In Age of Mythology, Greek civilizations may
produce at the Archery Range soldiers trained to fight with
missile weapons. They may also raise the quality of these
units and research improvements to make them more effective.
By the time of Philip and Alexander of Macedon, pure Hoplite
infantry armies were at a major disadvantage when fighting
against mixed armies of infantry, archers, and cavalry.
Thereafter, most effective ancient armies combined all arms.
Soldiers using missile weapons like the bow and javelin required
substantial skill and training to be effective, however. To
reach a minimum level of proficiency they practiced at the
Archery Range.
Cost: 100W Armor: H30%/P95%/C5%
Build Time (sec.): 23 Range (min - max): N/A
Line of Sight: (m): 9 Age: Class.
Garrison: 5 Hit Points: 1200
Militia: 3
* Fortress: The Greek Fortress is a strong defensive building that
can be garrisoned by troops. Garrisoned units add to the firepower
of the Fortress. You may also train unique units, heroes and
siege weapons and research military improvements at the Fortress.
The first great civilization in Greece, the Mycenaean of Trojan
War fame, was a collection of city-states, each centered on a
hilltop fortress. The competition between the city-states for
farm and orchard lands, plus the threat of barbarian raids from
the north, made strong defense critical for survival. The typical
Fortress used cliffs, stone walls, strong gates, and winding,
exposed approaches to create a powerful defensive position. In
addition, the Fortress functioned as a palace, armory, and
administrative center for many cities.
Cost: 300W/300G/10Fv Armor: H30%/P95%/C5%
Build Time (sec.): 100 Range (min - max): 4-20
Line of Sight: (m): 30 Age: Heroic
Garrison: 10 Hit Points: 2100
Militia: 6
* Dock: The Dock in Age of Mythology is where you build fishing
boats and where they drop off the food they gather. Additionally,
all types of warships and naval Myth Units are constructed. You
may also raise the quality of your ships and research improvements
for them here.
Long before written history begins, humans were building boats
and venturing out onto the seas to trade and fish. Boat building
became an important skill for civilizations that had access to the
sea for commerce and food gathering. Boat building was usually
centered at waterside workshops in sheltered harbors. Here also
the fishing boats would unload their catch.
Cost: 100W Armor: H30%/P95%/C5%
Build Time (sec.): 100 Range (min - max): N/A
Line of Sight: (m): 22 Age: Archaic
Garrison: 10 Hit Points: 1600
Militia: 2
* Armory: At the Armory building you may research improvements that
make your soldiers more effective in combat and provide them with
better armor.
The Armory was a specialized metal works where iron and other
materials were manufactured into tools, weapons, shields, and
armor. Armory craftsmen also experimented, searching for ways to
improve their wares, because armies with superior equipment could
have a significant advantage in battle.
Cost: 150W Armor: H30%/P95%/C5%
Build Time (sec.): 37 Range (min - max): N/A
Line of Sight: (m): 9 Age: Class.
Garrison: N/A Hit Points: 1200
Militia: 4
* Tower: Towers start out as Sentry Towers. They have a significant
line of sight, but cannot fire upon enemies. With the Watch Tower
improvement, Towers gain the ability to fire arrows. (Egyptians
receive this improvement automatically.) The Guard Tower
improvement further increases the range and strength of Tower
attacks. The final Tower improvement, Ballista Towers, is available
only to the Egyptians.
Tower ranged attacks cannot attack units directly beneath them.
Research Boiling Oil to attack units beneath Towers, Fortresses,
Hill Forts and Migdol Strongholds. Ranged attacks have difficulty
hitting fast-moving targets, such as cavalry. Research Crenellations
to improve the chance to hit such units.
Cost: 200W/100G Armor: H30%/P85%/C5%
Build Time (sec.): 45 Range (min - max): 4-20
Line of Sight: (m): 24 Age: Class.
Garrison: 5 Hit Points: 550
Militia: 1
* Walls: Walls prevent movement of any ground based units. Only
flying units may cross Walls, although friendly units may pass
through Walls at Gates.
Wherever humans developed agriculture and created surpluses of
food, there were less fortunate or prudent neighbors who wanted
those riches and were willing to fight for them. The bounty of
agriculture thus needed protection almost immediately. The
earliest and most simple defensive structure was the wall. The
earliest towns so far discovered are walled for defense. Strong
walls prevented easy movement into a town and provided cover if
enemies attacked. Walls were made with whatever materials were
handy and useful. Wall building has continued for thousands of
years, and is still carried on today.
Cost: 3-15G Armor: H65%/P95%/C5%
Build Time (sec.): 3-15 Range (min - max): N/A
Line of Sight: (m): 24 Age: Archaic
Garrison: N/A Hit Points: 600
Militia: N/A
* Gate: Gates may be built as part of a Wall. Click on a Wall
section to replace it with a Gate. Your units and those of
allies ordered to move to the other side of a Gate will
automatically open and close the Gate. Enemy troops can not
pass through or open a Gate and must destroy it like any wall
section to pass through.
Gates were provided in walls to allow access to fortifications.
Because Gates could be the most vulnerable part of a defensive
position, extra care was taken to make them strong. This might
include a long and exposed approach to the gate itself and
exposed passageways behind the gate leading to more gates.
Cost: 15G Armor: H65%/P95%/C5%
Build Time (sec.): N/A Range (min - max): N/A
Line of Sight: (m): 5 Age: Archaic
Garrison: N/A Hit Points: 500
Militia: N/A
Wonders
-------
* Wonders: Each culture in Age of Mythology has the ability to
construct one unique building, its Wonder of the World. Wonders
are expensive and take a long time to build, but mark a
civilization as one of outstanding achievement. Building a
Wonder counts significant points toward your civilization score,
and may result in a win, depending on the victory conditions for
a game.
A distinguishing cultural characteristic of the great
civilizations was architecture. Buildings in all parts of the
world looked quite different and employed different construction
techniques. In many cases, particularly noteworthy buildings
stood as icons for the building civilization, marking it for all
time as a culture that achieved greatness, if only temporarily.
Examples of such cultural icons are the Pyramids at Giza and the
Parthenon at Athens.
Cost: 1000W/1000G/1000F/50Fv Armor: H30%/P95%/C5%
Build Time (sec.): 1640 Range (min - max): N/A
Line of Sight: (m): 9 Age: Mythic
Garrison : N/A Hit Points: 9999
Militia: 10
===========================================================================
Egyptian Buildings
===========================================================================
In Age of Mythology, buildings train units, serve as resource drop sites,
and are where improvements can be researched. Buildings are built by
Villagers or Norse Infantry.
Building foundations are vulnerable to attack, especially from other
buildings. Therefore it is difficult to build too close to an enemy
army.
If a building foundation is destroyed or deleted, you will get all the
resources spent on the building refunded.
Attack buildings with siege weapons.
Economic Buildings
------------------
* Town Center: The Town Center trains Villagers and hero units, stores
resources, and acts as the hub of a city. Town centers can only be
built on settlements. Additional Town Centers can be built starting
in the Heroic Age. If a player claims all the settlements on a map,
this is a win under victory conditions.
The rise of agriculture provided a food surplus that had to be
collected and stored to be available in winter months and other
periods when food was scarce. The need to collect, store, and
protect food surpluses gave rise to the first towns as administrative
centers. Towns quickly became engaged in many additional activities,
including the gathering and storage of other resources, centers of
manufacturing, population concentration points, and centers of trade.
Cost: 400G Armor: H55%/P95%/C10%
Build Time (sec.): 150 Range (min - max): 20
Line of Sight: (m): 24 Age: Archaic
Garrison : 25 Hit Points: 2800
* Market: At the Market in Age of Mythology, you may sell Food and
Wood for Gold or buy Food and Wood with Gold. You may also research
trade improvements and create Caravans to trade with Town Centers.
In each sizable town, residents created a trading center, or
Market, where food items and craft goods were exchanged. In larger
towns the markets became the center of trade with other towns.
Markets such as the Greek agora became also a place for the
exchange of ideas, entertainment (bards, acrobats, musicians),
and the spreading of news.
Cost: Free Armor: H30%/P95%/C5%
Build Time (sec.): 150 Range (min - max): N/A
Line of Sight: (m): 24 Age: Heroic
Garrison : 10 Hit Points: 1200
* House: You may build a limited number of Houses. Each House and
Town Center supports a fixed number (10) of population units (villagers,
soldiers, boats, mythological creatures, and trade carts). No new
units can be created above this limit.
When agriculture made possible a less nomadic lifestyle, humans
began creating more permanent living quarters near their farms,
rather than occupying transitory camp sites near hunting grounds
or natural shelters like caves. Well built housing improved the
quality and longevity of life.
Cost: Free Armor: H30%/P95%/C5%
Build Time (sec.): 28 Range (min - max): N/A
Line of Sight: (m): 9 Age: Archaic
Garrison : N/A Hit Points: 450
* Lumber Camp: The Lumber Camp is an Egyptian collection point for
Laborers gathering wood. Place it adjacent to a source of wood
you wish to utilize. You may research improvements at the Lumber
Camp to increase Wood gathering rates. You will gain more Wood
if a Pharaoh empowers the Lumber Camp.
Wood was a relatively scarce resource for the ancient Egyptians,
partly because the only dependable water supply was the Nile
River, and partly because few of the native tree species provided
wood that could be worked. The Egyptians compensated by establishing
Lumber Camps far up the Nile or by trading for the famous cedar of
Lebanon. Because of the rarity and expense of wood, most
construction in Egypt was of stone or mud brick.
Cost: Free Armor: H30%/P95%/C5%
Build Time (sec.): 28 Range (min - max): N/A
Line of Sight: (m): 9 Age: Archaic
Garrison : N/A Hit Points: 400
* Mining Camp: The Mining Camp is an Egyptian collection point for
Gold. Place it adjacent to a Gold Mine that you wish to utilize.
Improvements for mining may be researched at the Mining Camp.
Empowering a Mining Camp with a Pharaoh increases the Gold you
can gather.
The deserts surrounding ancient Egypt were rich in minerals,
especially salt, copper, and gold. To harvest these resources,
the Egyptians built mines, mainly open pit mines, often operated
by slave labor.
Cost: Free Armor: H30%/P95%/C5%
Build Time (sec.): 28 Range (min - max): N/A
Line of Sight: (m): 9 Age: Archaic
Garrison : N/A Hit Points: 400
* Granary: In Age of Mythology, the Granary is a collection point
for all types of food. In addition you may research here many
improvements to speed the collection of food.
The Granary represents the place where agricultural societies
stored their grain surpluses so food would be available during
the winter months. It might be a large brick or stone silo, or
a building sheltering smaller jars or barrels of grain. Without
proper storage, grain would spoil and the farmers would have to
resume nomadic hunting and gathering to avoid starvation before
the next harvest.
Cost: Free Armor: H30%/P95%/C5%
Build Time (sec.): 22 Range (min - max): N/A
Line of Sight: (m): 9 Age: Archaic
Garrison : N/A Hit Points: 400
* Farm: A Farm is a building that provides food when a Villager
is assigned to gather there. Farms have an unlimited lifespan
and resources once built, but may be destroyed or captured by
enemy Villagers. The food production of a Farm may be increased
by improvements.
The ability to farm was one of the great advancements in human
progress, because agriculture made possible large, renewable food
supplies that could be stored and consumed year-round. The
availability of food plants, rich soils, a mild climate, and
dependable water determined where farming was possible and where
early civilizations arose. Improvements such as the plow,
irrigation, and fertilization increased yields.
Cost: 70G Armor: H30%/P80%/C5%
Build Time (sec.): 9 Range (min - max): N/A
Line of Sight: (m): 6 Age: Archaic
Garrison : N/A Hit Points: 150
* Obelisk: Although Priests are not fast scouts and do not have a
great line of sight, they can construct these Obelisks, which do
have a good line of sight, to help explore the map.
The obelisk, or "tejen" in Egyptian, was synonymous with
protection. The four-sided stone column was thought to draw evil
up from the ground and disperse it up into the sky. At the top of
the obelisk was the pyramidon, a small pyramid that symbolized
the sun. Obelisks are often inscribed with hieroglyphics. The
word is Greek in origin and refers to a roasting spit.
Cost: 15G Armor: H30%/P90%/C5%
Build Time (sec.): 20 Range (min - max): N/A
Line of Sight: (m): 30 Age: Archaic
Garrison : N/A Hit Points: 50
* Monument: Monuments are special buildings available to Egyptian
players only. There are five different monuments, each of
increasing size and cost. Each monument provides a continual
stream of favor. Players can build all five monuments to obtain
a maximum income of favor from their gods.
Ancient Egypt was a wealthy civilization largely isolated from
external enemies and this allowed a lavish expenditure for Monuments
and other edifices that glorified gods and pharaohs. For several
thousand years, major construction projects were underway almost
continually, for the glorification of some god or ruler. The Nile
Valley today is dotted with Monuments of all sizes. The most famous
of these are the Pyramids, the ultimate tombs, and the Sphinx.
[There are several different monuments, I'm not including their stats]
* Lighthouse: The Egyptian Lighthouse acts in Age of Mythology as a
giant outpost, providing a large line of sight.
The Pharos Lighthouse at Alexandria, Egypt, was one of the seven
wonders of the ancient world and remarkable for its architecture
and size. It warned mariners at night of shoal waters along the
tricky coast. It was actually built by Greek rulers of Egypt who
had gained control of the country after the death of Alexander and
the breakup of his brief empire. The list of seven wonders was
made by a Greek and heavily favored Greek artifacts. Most had
relatively short lives, including the lighthouse, which was
felled by an earthquake.
Cost: 300G Armor: H30%/P90%/C5%
Build Time (sec.): 272 Range (min - max): N/A
Line of Sight: (m): 30 Age: Mythic
Garrison : 10 Hit Points: 1400
Military Buildings
------------------
* Temple: At the Temple you may build mythological units and
research improvements that require the Favor of the gods to be
implemented. Greeks may pray at their Temples to gain Favor.
Most early civilizations invested considerable wealth in their
religious life, including the construction of temples or places
where rites and ceremonies were conducted, where religious leaders
were trained, and where beliefs were refined and passed on.
Temples were often dedicated to one or more gods and acted as
points of communication between humans and deities. At the
Temple, believers might petition the gods for help and offer
prayer, tribute or sacrifices to improve the reception of pleas.
Temples were often magnificent buildings that overshadowed
anything else in a city.
Cost: 100G Armor: H30%/P95%/C5%
Build Time (sec.): 48 Range (min - max): N/A
Line of Sight: (m): 9 Age: Archaic
Garrison : 5 Hit Points: 1200
* Barracks: Click the Barracks to train a new Egyptian soldier or
to research improvements in the quality of soldier available.
The capability of the soldier that can be produced is determined
partly by improvements in armor and weapons, which can be
researched at the Armory.
All civilizations the world has so far seen have had the need to
train soldiers for at least defense, if not aggression, against
their neighbors. For many this training took place at a barracks,
which served as both a living quarters and training ground. New
recruits were assigned to the barracks and after a training period
they were ready for service. At the barracks they learned the
mechanics of their weapons, the drill of battlefield movements,
and the discipline required to obey orders in combat.
Cost: 75G Armor: H30%/P95%/C5%
Build Time (sec.): 42 Range (min - max): N/A
Line of Sight: (m): 9 Age: Class.
Garrison : 5 Hit Points: 1200
* Siege Works: Around 700 BC, Egyptian siege tactics had been
heavily influenced by advancements made in the Middle East.
Armies attacking a fortress might be equipped with raised platforms
so archers could fire into ramparts, and sappers could be protected
by shelters. Covered or simple ladders could be used to scale
walls. By 400 BC, the catapult was in use, and all Mediterranean
powers incorporated them into their armies.
"Then they fought against Tetehen, great in might. They found it
filled with soldiers, with every valiant man of the Northland.
Then the battering-ram was employed against it, its wall was
overthrown, and a great slaughter was made among them of unknown
number; also the son of the chief of Me, Tefnakhte."
-- the Piankhi stela
Cost: 25G Armor: H30%/P95%/C5%
Build Time (sec.): 90 Range (min - max): N/A
Line of Sight: (m): 9 Age: Heroic
Garrison : 5 Hit Points: 1200
* Migdol Stronghold/Fortress: The Egyptian Migdol Fortress is a very
strong defensive building with a strong attack. At the Fortress
you may build a variety of military units, including chariots,
camel cavalry, and war elephants. You may also research a variety
of military improvements here.
Although the ancient Egyptians were largely isolated by expansive
deserts, they were still open to attack from the Middle East, the
sea, and up the Nile Valley from the south. Where they were
vulnerable they built large fortresses. The name Migdol comes
from a fortress with attached towers found in northern Egypt near
a town thought to have been named Migdol. Other fortresses
incorporating similar towers are sometimes characterized as being
in the Migdol style.
Cost: 400G/10Fv Armor: H30%/P95%/C5%
Build Time (sec.): 132 Range (min - max): 4-20
Line of Sight: (m): 30 Age: Heroic
Garrison : 10 Hit Points: 2100
* Dock: The Dock in Age of Mythology is where you build fishing
boats and where they drop off the food they gather. Additionally,
all types of warships and naval Myth Units are constructed. You
may also raise the quality of your ships and research improvements
for them here.
Long before written history begins, humans were building boats
and venturing out onto the seas to trade and fish. Boat building
became an important skill for civilizations that had access to the
sea for commerce and food gathering. Boat building was usually
centered at waterside workshops in sheltered harbors. Here also
the fishing boats would unload their catch.
Cost: 50G Armor: H30%/P95%/C5%
Build Time (sec.): 34 Range (min - max): N/A
Line of Sight: (m): 22 Age: Archaic
Garrison : 10 Hit Points: 1600
* Tower: Towers start out as Sentry Towers. They have a significant
line of sight, but cannot fire upon enemies. With the Watch Tower
improvement, Towers gain the ability to fire arrows. (Egyptians
receive this improvement automatically.) The Guard Tower
improvement further increases the range and strength of Tower
attacks. The final Tower improvement, Ballista Towers, is available
only to the Egyptians.
Tower ranged attacks cannot attack units directly beneath them.
Research Boiling Oil to attack units beneath Towers, Fortresses,
Hill Forts and Migdol Strongholds. Ranged attacks have difficulty
hitting fast-moving targets, such as cavalry. Research Crenellations
to improve the chance to hit such units.
Cost: 200G Armor: H30%/P85%/C5%
Build Time (sec.): 90 Range (min - max): 4-20
Line of Sight: (m): 24 Age: Class.
Garrison : 5 Hit Points: 550
* Walls: Walls prevent movement of any ground based units. Only
flying units may cross Walls, although friendly units may pass
through Walls at Gates.
Wherever humans developed agriculture and created surpluses of
food, there were less fortunate or prudent neighbors who wanted
those riches and were willing to fight for them. The bounty of
agriculture thus needed protection almost immediately. The
earliest and most simple defensive structure was the wall. The
earliest towns so far discovered are walled for defense. Strong
walls prevented easy movement into a town and provided cover if
enemies attacked. Walls were made with whatever materials were
handy and useful. Wall building has continued for thousands of
years, and is still carried on today.
Cost: 3-15G Armor: H65%/P95%/C5%
Build Time (sec.): 3-15 Range (min - max): N/A
Line of Sight: (m): 5 Age: Archaic
Garrison : N/A Hit Points: 600
* Gate: Gates may be built as part of a Wall. Click on a Wall
section to replace it with a Gate. Your units and those of
allies ordered to move to the other side of a Gate will
automatically open and close the Gate. Enemy troops can not
pass through or open a Gate and must destroy it like any wall
section to pass through.
Gates were provided in walls to allow access to fortifications.
Because Gates could be the most vulnerable part of a defensive
position, extra care was taken to make them strong. This might
include a long and exposed approach to the gate itself and
exposed passageways behind the gate leading to more gates.
Cost: 15G Armor: H65%/P95%/C5%
Build Time (sec.): N/A Range (min - max): N/A
Line of Sight: (m): 5 Age: Archaic
Garrison : N/A Hit Points: 500
Wonders
-------
* Wonders: Each culture in Age of Mythology has the ability to
construct one unique building, its Wonder of the World. Wonders
are expensive and take a long time to build, but mark a
civilization as one of outstanding achievement. Building a
Wonder counts significant points toward your civilization score,
and may result in a win, depending on the victory conditions for
a game.
A distinguishing cultural characteristic of the great
civilizations was architecture. Buildings in all parts of the
world looked quite different and employed different construction
techniques. In many cases, particularly noteworthy buildings
stood as icons for the building civilization, marking it for all
time as a culture that achieved greatness, if only temporarily.
Examples of such cultural icons are the Pyramids at Giza and the
Parthenon at Athens.
Cost: 1500G/1000F/50Fv Armor: H30%/P95%/C5%
Build Time (sec.): 1640 Range (min - max): N/A
Line of Sight: (m): 9 Age: Mythic
Garrison : 10 Hit Points: 9999
===========================================================================
Norse Buildings
===========================================================================
In Age of Mythology, buildings train units, serve as resource drop sites,
and are where improvements can be researched. Buildings are built by
Villagers or Norse Infantry.
Building foundations are vulnerable to attack, especially from other
buildings. Therefore it is difficult to build too close to an enemy
army.
If a building foundation is destroyed or deleted, you will get all the
resources spent on the building refunded.
Attack buildings with siege weapons.
Economic Buildings
------------------
* Town Center: The Town Center trains Villagers and hero units, stores
resources, and acts as the hub of a city. Town centers can only be
built on settlements. Additional Town Centers can be built starting
in the Heroic Age. If a player claims all the settlements on a map,
this is a win under victory conditions.
The rise of agriculture provided a food surplus that had to be
collected and stored to be available in winter months and other
periods when food was scarce. The need to collect, store, and
protect food surpluses gave rise to the first towns as administrative
centers. Towns quickly became engaged in many additional activities,
including the gathering and storage of other resources, centers of
manufacturing, population concentration points, and centers of trade.
Cost: 300W/300G Armor: H55%/P95%/C10%
Build Time (sec.): 90 Range (min - max): 20
Line of Sight: (m): 24 Age: Archaic
Garrison : 10 Hit Points: 2800
* Market: At the Market in Age of Mythology, you may sell Food and
Wood for Gold or buy Food and Wood with Gold. You may also research
trade improvements and create Caravans to trade with Town Centers.
In each sizable town, residents created a trading center, or
Market, where food items and craft goods were exchanged. In larger
towns the markets became the center of trade with other towns.
Markets such as the Greek agora became also a place for the
exchange of ideas, entertainment (bards, acrobats, musicians),
and the spreading of news.
Cost: 240W Armor: H30%/P95%/C5%
Build Time (sec.): 37 Range (min - max): N/A
Line of Sight: (m): 9 Age: Heroic
Garrison : 10 Hit Points: 960
* House: You may build a limited number of Houses. Each House and
Town Center supports a fixed number (10) of population units (villagers,
soldiers, boats, mythological creatures, and trade carts). No new
units can be created above this limit.
When agriculture made possible a less nomadic lifestyle, humans
began creating more permanent living quarters near their farms,
rather than occupying transitory camp sites near hunting grounds
or natural shelters like caves. Well built housing improved the
quality and longevity of life.
Cost: 40W Armor: H30%/P95%/C5%
Build Time (sec.): 14 Range (min - max): N/A
Line of Sight: (m): 9 Age: Archaic
Garrison : N/A Hit Points: 360
* Farm: A Farm is a building that provides food when a Villager
is assigned to gather there. Farms have an unlimited lifespan
and resources once built, but may be destroyed or captured by
enemy Villagers. The food production of a Farm may be increased
by improvements.
The ability to farm was one of the great advancements in human
progress, because agriculture made possible large, renewable food
supplies that could be stored and consumed year-round. The
availability of food plants, rich soils, a mild climate, and
dependable water determined where farming was possible and where
early civilizations arose. Improvements such as the plow,
irrigation, and fertilization increased yields.
Cost: 75W Armor: H30%/P80%/C5%
Build Time (sec.): 9 Range (min - max): N/A
Line of Sight: (m): 6 Age: Class.
Garrison : N/A Hit Points: 150
Military Buildings
------------------
* Temple: At the Temple you may build mythological units and
research improvements that require the Favor of the gods to be
implemented. Greeks may pray at their Temples to gain Favor.
Most early civilizations invested considerable wealth in their
religious life, including the construction of temples or places
where rites and ceremonies were conducted, where religious leaders
were trained, and where beliefs were refined and passed on.
Temples were often dedicated to one or more gods and acted as
points of communication between humans and deities. At the
Temple, believers might petition the gods for help and offer
prayer, tribute or sacrifices to improve the reception of pleas.
Temples were often magnificent buildings that overshadowed
anything else in a city.
Cost: 80W/100G Armor: H30%/P95%/C5%
Build Time (sec.): 37 Range (min - max): N/A
Line of Sight: (m): 9 Age: Archaic
Garrison : 5 Hit Points: 960
* Longhouse: Because of the harsh climate, the Norse were forced
indoor much of the year. Therefore their winter combat training
and weapons practice took place in large communal buildings
called Longhouses. These often doubled as meeting halls, communal
food halls, and craft workshops.
Cost: 110W Armor: H30%/P95%/C5%
Build Time (sec.): 28 Range (min - max): N/A
Line of Sight: (m): 9 Age: Class.
Garrison : 5 Hit Points: 1200
* Hill Fort: The local strongmen of Norse societies built strongholds
for their base of operation. This was a strong defensive structure
that they could defend and where they could store their food and
treasure. Such strongmen surrounded themselves with elite warriors,
like Huskarls and Jarls, which they supported with booty and land.
The earliest castles found in northern Europe, and especially
Britain, were called motte and baileys. The motte was a hill,
sometimes manmade, and the bailey was a courtyard with a palisade
wall around the motte. The motte was defended by a wooden tower
that eventually evolved into the keep that was the central building
in later medieval castles.
Cost: 250W/250G/5Fv Armor: H30%/P95%/C5%
Build Time (sec.): 90 Range (min - max): 4-18
Line of Sight: (m): 26 Age: Heroic
Garrison : 10 Hit Points: 1200
* Armory: At the Armory building you may research improvements that
make your soldiers more effective in combat and provide them with
better armor.
Thor's Armory is special, for it enables all the improvements in
the Archaic Age, though more powerful armor and weapons still
require early ones as prerequisites, and the costs may be
prohibitive. Thor also has access to additional improvements
beyond the iron level.
The dwarves of Norse mythology were master smiths, and constructed
virtually all of the legendary weapons, including Odin's spear,
Gungnir, and Thor's hammer, Mjolnir.
Cost: 150W Armor: H30%/P95%/C5%
Build Time (sec.): 37 Range (min - max): N/A
Line of Sight: (m): 9 Age: Class.
Garrison : N/A Hit Points: 1200
* Dwarven Foundry/Forge: At this Dwarven forge you may research special
improvements that make your soldiers more effective in combat
and provide them with better armor, especially against giants.
Cost: 75W Armor: H30%/P95%/C5%
Build Time (sec.): 37 Range (min - max): N/A
Line of Sight: (m): 9 Age: Archaic
Garrison : N/A Hit Points: 1200
* Dock: The Dock in Age of Mythology is where you build fishing
boats and where they drop off the food they gather. Additionally,
all types of warships and naval Myth Units are constructed. You
may also raise the quality of your ships and research improvements
for them here.
Long before written history begins, humans were building boats
and venturing out onto the seas to trade and fish. Boat building
became an important skill for civilizations that had access to the
sea for commerce and food gathering. Boat building was usually
centered at waterside workshops in sheltered harbors. Here also
the fishing boats would unload their catch.
Cost: 120W Armor: H30%/P95%/C5%
Build Time (sec.): 34 Range (min - max): N/A
Line of Sight: (m): 22 Age: Archaic
Garrison : 10 Hit Points: 1280
* Tower: Towers start out as Sentry Towers. They have a significant
line of sight, but cannot fire upon enemies. With the Watch Tower
improvement, Towers gain the ability to fire arrows. (Egyptians
receive this improvement automatically.) The Guard Tower
improvement further increases the range and strength of Tower
attacks. The final Tower improvement, Ballista Towers, is available
only to the Egyptians.
Tower ranged attacks cannot attack units directly beneath them.
Research Boiling Oil to attack units beneath Towers, Fortresses,
Hill Forts and Migdol Strongholds. Ranged attacks have difficulty
hitting fast-moving targets, such as cavalry. Research Crenellations
to improve the chance to hit such units.
Cost: 200W/100G Armor: H30%/P85%/C5%
Build Time (sec.): 45 Range (min - max): 4-20
Line of Sight: (m): 24 Age: Class.
Garrison : 5 Hit Points: 550
* Walls: Walls prevent movement of any ground based units. Only
flying units may cross Walls, although friendly units may pass
through Walls at Gates.
Wherever humans developed agriculture and created surpluses of
food, there were less fortunate or prudent neighbors who wanted
those riches and were willing to fight for them. The bounty of
agriculture thus needed protection almost immediately. The
earliest and most simple defensive structure was the wall. The
earliest towns so far discovered are walled for defense. Strong
walls prevented easy movement into a town and provided cover if
enemies attacked. Walls were made with whatever materials were
handy and useful. Wall building has continued for thousands of
years, and is still carried on today.
Cost: 3-15G Armor: H65%/P95%/C5%
Build Time (sec.): 3-15 Range (min - max): N/A
Line of Sight: (m): 24 Age: Archaic
Garrison : N/A Hit Points: 600
* Gate: Gates may be built as part of a Wall. Click on a Wall
section to replace it with a Gate. Your units and those of
allies ordered to move to the other side of a Gate will
automatically open and close the Gate. Enemy troops can not
pass through or open a Gate and must destroy it like any wall
section to pass through.
Gates were provided in walls to allow access to fortifications.
Because Gates could be the most vulnerable part of a defensive
position, extra care was taken to make them strong. This might
include a long and exposed approach to the gate itself and
exposed passageways behind the gate leading to more gates.
Cost: 15G Armor: H65%/P95%/C5%
Build Time (sec.): N/A Range (min - max): N/A
Line of Sight: (m): 5 Age: Archaic
Garrison : N/A Hit Points: 500
Wonders
-------
* Wonders: Each culture in Age of Mythology has the ability to
construct one unique building, its Wonder of the World. Wonders
are expensive and take a long time to build, but mark a
civilization as one of outstanding achievement. Building a
Wonder counts significant points toward your civilization score,
and may result in a win, depending on the victory conditions for
a game.
A distinguishing cultural characteristic of the great
civilizations was architecture. Buildings in all parts of the
world looked quite different and employed different construction
techniques. In many cases, particularly noteworthy buildings
stood as icons for the building civilization, marking it for all
time as a culture that achieved greatness, if only temporarily.
Examples of such cultural icons are the Pyramids at Giza and the
Parthenon at Athens.
Cost: 1000W/1000G/1000F/50Fv Armor: H30%/P95%/C5%
Build Time (sec.): 1640 Range (min - max): N/A
Line of Sight: (m): 9 Age: Mythic
Garrison : N/A Hit Points: 9999
===========================================================================
Atlantean Buildings
===========================================================================
In Age of Mythology, buildings train units, serve as resource drop sites,
and are where improvements can be researched. Buildings are built by
Villagers or Norse Infantry.
Building foundations are vulnerable to attack, especially from other
buildings. Therefore it is difficult to build too close to an enemy
army.
If a building foundation is destroyed or deleted, you will get all the
resources spent on the building refunded.
Attack buildings with siege weapons.
Economic Buildings
------------------
* Town Center: The Town Center trains Villagers and hero units, stores
resources, and acts as the hub of a city. Town centers can only be
built on settlements. Additional Town Centers can be built starting
in the Heroic Age. If a player claims all the settlements on a map,
this is a win under victory conditions.
The rise of agriculture provided a food surplus that had to be
collected and stored to be available in winter months and other
periods when food was scarce. The need to collect, store, and
protect food surpluses gave rise to the first towns as administrative
centers. Towns quickly became engaged in many additional activities,
including the gathering and storage of other resources, centers of
manufacturing, population concentration points, and centers of trade.
Cost: 100F/275W/275G Armor: H45%/P96%/C10%
Build Time (sec.): 120 Range (min - max): 18
Line of Sight: (m): 24 Age: Archaic
Garrison : 25 Hit Points: 2100
* Market: At the Market in Age of Mythology, you may sell Food and
Wood for Gold or buy Food and Wood with Gold. You may also research
trade improvements and create Caravans to trade with Town Centers.
In each sizable town, residents created a trading center, or
Market, where food items and craft goods were exchanged. In larger
towns the markets became the center of trade with other towns.
Markets such as the Greek agora became also a place for the
exchange of ideas, entertainment (bards, acrobats, musicians),
and the spreading of news.
Cost: 300W Armor: H30%/P96%/C5%
Build Time (sec.): 40 Range (min - max): N/A
Line of Sight: (m): 9 Age: Heroic
Garrison : N/A Hit Points: 1200
* Manor: You may build a limited number of Manors. Each Manor,
Township and Town Center supports a fixed number of population
units (Villagers, soldiers, boats, mythological creatures, and
trade carts). No new units can be created above this limit.
Atlanteans may take shelter in their Manors, as if it were a
Town Center or Tower.
When agriculture made possible a less nomadic lifestyle, humans
began creating more permanent living quarters near their farms,
rather than occupying transitory camp sites near hunting grounds
or natural shelters like caves.
At its height, Atlantis was home to millions. Atlanteans built
sturdy homes of wood, stone, and plaster. These houses were
large family Manors and several generations of Atlanteans would
live together under one roof. Between campaigns Atlantean soldiery
were taken in, fed, clothed, and treated as family.
Cost: 80W/25G Armor: H30%/P96%/C5%
Build Time (sec.): 28 Range (min - max): N/A
Line of Sight: (m): 9 Age: Archaic
Garrison : N/A Hit Points: 1000
* Guild: The Guild is the Atlantean repository for most economic
advancements. Click your Guild building to see what improvements
are available.
Historically Guilds were associations of like crafts and services
that united together to solve common problems and support one
another. Problems with the system arose from the strict
dependencies of one part of craft on another. Guilds developed
rules that established roles of members and codes of behavior.
Some kept members from poaching talented workers from one another,
others were mandates to help fellow guild members with money or
craft, still others set the prices at which members could sell
their crafts or services.
Atlantean Guilds elected three overseers who sat on the Council,
a body of government that was led by the Theocrat. The crafts
of Atlantis were so valuable and so prized that these overseers
wielded significant power over the politics of Atlantis.
Cost: 150W Armor: H30%/P96%/C5%
Build Time (sec.): 33 Range (min - max): N/A
Line of Sight: (m): 9 Age: Archaic
Garrison : N/A Hit Points: 1200
* Farm: A Farm is a building that provides food when a Villager
is assigned to gather there. Farms have an unlimited lifespan
and resources once built, but may be destroyed or captured by
enemy Villagers. The food production of a Farm may be increased
by improvements.
The ability to farm was one of the great advancements in human
progress, because agriculture made possible large, renewable food
supplies that could be stored and consumed year-round. The
availability of food plants, rich soils, a mild climate, and
dependable water determined where farming was possible and where
early civilizations arose. Improvements such as the plow,
irrigation, and fertilization increased yields.
Cost: 200W Armor: H30%/P80%/C5%
Build Time (sec.): 10 Range (min - max): N/A
Line of Sight: (m): 6 Age: Class.
Garrison : N/A Hit Points: 150
Military Buildings
------------------
* Temple: At the Temple you may build mythological units and
research improvements that require the Favor of the gods to be
implemented. Greeks may pray at their Temples to gain Favor.
Most early civilizations invested considerable wealth in their
religious life, including the construction of temples or places
where rites and ceremonies were conducted, where religious leaders
were trained, and where beliefs were refined and passed on.
Temples were often dedicated to one or more gods and acted as
points of communication between humans and deities. At the
Temple, believers might petition the gods for help and offer
prayer, tribute or sacrifices to improve the reception of pleas.
Temples were often magnificent buildings that overshadowed
anything else in a city.
Cost: 100W/100G Armor: H30%/P96%/C5%
Build Time (sec.): 40 Range (min - max): N/A
Line of Sight: (m): 9 Age: Archaic
Garrison : 5 Hit Points: 1200
* Barracks: Click the unit icons in the Military Barracks to train
a new Atlantean soldier or to research improvements in the quality
of soldier available. The capability of the soldier that can be
produced is determined partly by improvements in armor and weapons,
which can be researched at the Armory.
All civilizations the world has so far seen have had the need to
train soldiers for at least defense, if not aggression, against
their neighbors. For many this training took place at a barracks,
which served as both a living quarters and training ground. New
recruits were assigned to the barracks and after a training period
they were ready for service. At the barracks they learned the
mechanics of their weapons, the drill of battlefield movements,
and the discipline required to obey orders in combat.
Cost: 75W/35G Armor: H30%/P96%/C5%
Build Time (sec.): 45 Range (min - max): N/A
Line of Sight: (m): 9 Age: Class.
Garrison : 5 Hit Points: 1200
* Counter Barracks: Click on unit icons in the Counter Barracks
to train a new Atlantean soldier or to research improvements
in the quality of soldier available. The soldiers available
here are very strong against one type of unit only. The
capability of the soldiers that can be produced is determined
partly by improvements in armor and weapons, which can be
researched at the Armory.
All civilizations the world has seen so far have had the need
to train soldiers for defense, at least, if not aggression
against neighbors. For many this training took place at a
barracks, which served as both a living quarters and training
ground. New recruits were assigned to the barracks and after
a training period they were ready for service. At the barracks
they learned the mechanics of their weapons, the drill of
battlefield movements, and the discipline required to obey orders
in combat.
Cost: 100W/25G Armor: H40%/P96%/C5%
Build Time (sec.): 35 Range (min - max): N/A
Line of Sight: (m): 9 Age: Class.
Garrison : 5 Hit Points: 1200
* Armory: At the Armory building you may research improvements
that make your soldiers more effective in combat and provide
them with better armor.
The Armory was a specialized metal works where iron and other
materials were manufactured into tools, weapons, shields, and
armor. Armory craftsmen also experimented, searching for ways
to improve their wares, because armies with superior equipment
could have a significant advantage in battle.
Cost: 150W Armor: H30%/P96%/C5%
Build Time (sec.): 40 Range (min - max): N/A
Line of Sight: (m): 9 Age: Class.
Garrison : N/A Hit Points: 1200
* Palace: The Atlantean Palace is a strong defensive building that
can be garrisoned by troops. Garrisoned units add to the firepower
of the Palace. You may also train the Destroyer, the Fanatic, and
the Fire Siphon from the Palace.
The Palaces of Atlantis were one of its many wonders. Originally
fortresses, these tall, stone structures defended Atlantean temples
and cities. Nine Great Palaces sat atop cliffs overlooking the
harbors of Atlantis. No rulers lived in these nine Palaces - they
served as gathering places for the Citizens of Atlantis, training
grounds for the military and a safe place for all Atlanteans to
shelter during storms and war.
Cost: 300W/300G/8Fv Armor: H30%/P96%/C20%
Build Time (sec.): 80 Range (min - max): 4-20
Line of Sight: (m): 30 Age: Heroic
Garrison : 12 Hit Points: 2000
* Dock: The Dock in Age of Mythology is where you build fishing
boats and where they drop off the food they gather. Additionally,
all types of warships and naval Myth Units are constructed. You
may also raise the quality of your ships and research improvements
for them here.
Long before written history begins, humans were building boats
and venturing out onto the seas to trade and fish. Boat building
became an important skill for civilizations that had access to the
sea for commerce and food gathering. Boat building was usually
centered at waterside workshops in sheltered harbors. Here also
the fishing boats would unload their catch.
Cost: 125W Armor: H30%/P96%/C20%
Build Time (sec.): 30 Range (min - max): 20
Line of Sight: (m): 22 Age: Archaic
Garrison : 10 Hit Points: 1600
* Tower: Towers start out as Sentry Towers. They have a significant
line of sight, but cannot fire upon enemies. With the Watch Tower
improvement, Towers gain the ability to fire arrows. (Egyptians
receive this improvement automatically.) The Guard Tower
improvement further increases the range and strength of Tower
attacks. The final Tower improvement, Ballista Towers, is available
only to the Egyptians.
Tower ranged attacks cannot attack units directly beneath them.
Research Boiling Oil to attack units beneath Towers, Fortresses,
Hill Forts and Migdol Strongholds. Ranged attacks have difficulty
hitting fast-moving targets, such as cavalry. Research Crenellations
to improve the chance to hit such units.
Cost: 200W/100G Armor: H30%/P85%/C5%
Build Time (sec.): 50 Range (min - max): 4-20
Line of Sight: (m): 24 Age: Class.
Garrison : 5 Hit Points: 2000
* Mirror Tower: Mirror Towers are available to the Atlantean Titans
Kronos and Oranos through Helios, Titan of the Sun. The towers
use mirrors to focus sunlight into a burning beam that is especially
strong against ships.
Archimedes of Syracuse is credited in legend with the invention of
large, hexagonal mirrors mounted in towers to burn invading Roman
ships to ash. There is some evidence that these towers were copied
from similar towers that defended the harbors of Atlantis.
Atlantean mirror towers used highly polished orichalkos mirrors
which could focus beams much further and hotter than the mirrors
of Syracuse.
Cost: 300W/150G/5Fv Armor: H30%/P85%/C5%
Build Time (sec.): 50 Range (min - max): 4
Line of Sight: (m): 30 Age: Mythic
Garrison : 5 Hit Points: 1100
* Walls: Walls prevent movement of any ground based units. Only
flying units may cross Walls, although friendly units may pass
through Walls at Gates.
Wherever humans developed agriculture and created surpluses of
food, there were less fortunate or prudent neighbors who wanted
those riches and were willing to fight for them. The bounty of
agriculture thus needed protection almost immediately. The
earliest and most simple defensive structure was the wall. The
earliest towns so far discovered are walled for defense. Strong
walls prevented easy movement into a town and provided cover if
enemies attacked. Walls were made with whatever materials were
handy and useful. Wall building has continued for thousands of
years, and is still carried on today.
Cost: 3-15G Armor: H65%/P96%/C5%
Build Time (sec.): 3-15 Range (min - max): N/A
Line of Sight: (m): 5 Age: Archaic
Garrison : N/A Hit Points: 600
* Gate: Gates may be built as part of a Wall. Click on a Wall
section to replace it with a Gate. Your units and those of
allies ordered to move to the other side of a Gate will
automatically open and close the Gate. Enemy troops can not
pass through or open a Gate and must destroy it like any wall
section to pass through.
Gates were provided in walls to allow access to fortifications.
Because Gates could be the most vulnerable part of a defensive
position, extra care was taken to make them strong. This might
include a long and exposed approach to the gate itself and
exposed passageways behind the gate leading to more gates.
Cost: 15G Armor: H65%/P96%/C5%
Build Time (sec.): 10 Range (min - max): N/A
Line of Sight: (m): 5 Age: Archaic
Garrison : N/A Hit Points: 500
* Sky Passage: The Sky Passage allows armies or Citizens, through
the power of the Titan Oranos, to travel instantly across vast
distances.
To use the power of the Sky Passage, select a unit or group of
units and select the garrison button on the lower part of the
screen (it looks like an opening door with an arrow pointing
through it). Your units will go inside the Passage and be able
to step out of any other Sky Passage (select another Sky Passage
and click the garrison button again to release your units).
Remember that you must have at least two Sky Passages to use
this ability. If you have more than two Sky Passages your units
may step out of any one of them.
Cost: 250W/150G/3Fv Armor: H20%/P80%/C5%
Build Time (sec.): 65 Range (min - max): 15
Line of Sight: (m): 11 Age: Archaic
Garrison : 30 Hit Points: 1000
Wonders
-------
* Wonders: Each culture in Age of Mythology has the ability to
construct one unique building, its Wonder of the World. Wonders
are expensive and take a long time to build, but mark a
civilization as one of outstanding achievement. Building a
Wonder counts significant points toward your civilization score,
and may result in a win, depending on the victory conditions for
a game.
A distinguishing cultural characteristic of the great
civilizations was architecture. Buildings in all parts of the
world looked quite different and employed different construction
techniques. In many cases, particularly noteworthy buildings
stood as icons for the building civilization, marking it for all
time as a culture that achieved greatness, if only temporarily.
Examples of such cultural icons are the Pyramids at Giza and the
Parthenon at Athens.
Cost: N/A Armor: H30%/P96%/C5%
Build Time (sec.): 1800 Range (min - max): N/A
Line of Sight: (m): 9 Age: Archaic
Garrison : N/A Hit Points: 9999
===========================================================================
Greek Units
===========================================================================
The Greeks have a large number of units at their disposal, more than all
of the other cultures, if I remember correctly. Below, you'll find
detailed information on each of the Greek units, military and otherwise.
Foot Soldiers (Units)
---------------------
* Hoplite: Greek infantry are more expensive than those of other
cultures, but they are also more powerful. The general-purpose
Hoplite should form the backbone of any Greek army. They are
particularly good at defeating cavalry, but are weak against
archers. Hoplites are not fast, and some opponents may be able
to outrun them.
The predominate Greek soldier of antiquity was the Hoplite, named
after the great round shield he carried into battle. Hoplites wore
helmets, leg armor, and chest armor, and carried a great long
spear. They fought in dense columns with the spear points from
several ranks projecting out from the formation. They thus
presented a formidable block bristling with spears held above the
shoulder. In battle they would close with the enemy as a pushing
wall of shields, stabbing with their spears over the shields. Men
behind would push those in front and stab over them. This fighting
was face-to-face and terrifying, requiring high skill and discipline.
Battles were usually short but deadly. Before the rise of the
Hoplite, most army fighting had been more long-range archery and
posturing. The Greeks made war personal and intense, and Hoplites
dominated ancient battlefields for centuries.
Cost: 50F/40G Attack: 8H
Build Time (sec.): 14 Armor: H35%/P15%/C99%
Line of Sight: (m): 16 Range (min - max): 0
Prerequisite: Academy Speed (ms): 4.2
Strong vs: Inf./Mounted Pop Slots: 2
Weak vs: Ranged God: All
Hit Points: 115 Age: Class.
Upgrades: Medium, +10%HP and attack;
Heavy, +15%HP, 10% attack;
Champion, +20%HP, +10% attack.
Improvements: Armory (Weapons +10% attack, Armor -10%H, Shields -10%P)
Academy (Levy/Conscript, trains 20% faster.)
Ares (Sarissa, -10%H vulnerability.)
Athena (Aegis Shield, -10%P vulnerability.)
Dionysus (Bacchanalia, +5%HP.)
Apollo (Oracle, +6% line-of-sight.)
Bonuses: Zeus (+12% speed increase, 1.5x to damage to
buildings.)
* Toxotes: Greek Toxotes are strong against infantry, but weak
against fast-moving units such as cavalry. Like all archers, they
are more effective when fighting in groups.
After centuries of warfare that was decided by Hoplite battle, the
Greeks began using a variety of units weapons after the superiority
of combined arms was demonstrated convincingly by Philip’s
Macedonian army. The Greeks added light troops, mainly Peltasts
and cavalry. They were slower to add archers, whom they called
Toxotes, because they did not have the long tradition of archery
practice that created bowmen of sufficient quality for the
battlefield.
Cost: 55W/25G Attack: 6.5P
Build Time (sec.): 15 Armor: H15%/P15%/C99%
Line of Sight: (m): 19 Range (min - max): 15
Prerequisite: Archery Range Speed (ms): 4.0
Strong vs: Infantry Pop Slots: 2
Weak vs: Mounted/Ranged God: All
Hit Points: 60 Age: Class.
Upgrades: Medium, +10%HP and attack, +1 line-of-sight;
Heavy, +10%HP and attack, +1 line-of-sight;
Champion, +10%HP and attack, +1 line-of-sight.
Improvements: Armory (Weapons +10% attack, Armor -10%H,
Shields -10%P, Burning Pitch 3x damage to buildings
and 1.5x to ships.)
Archery Range (Levy/Conscript, trains 20% faster.)
Ares (Enyo's Bow of Horror, +10% attack.)
Athena (Aegis Shield, -10%P vulnerability.)
Dionysus (Bacchanalia, +5%HP.)
Apollo (Oracle, +6% line-of-sight; Sun Ray, +10% attack)
Artemis (Shafts of Plague, +15% attack.)
Bonuses: Hades (+10% attack.)
* Hypaspist: Greek infantry are more expensive than those of other
cultures, but they are also more powerful. The Hypaspist excels
at fighting enemy infantry.
Alexander’s great army of conquest included three regiments of
Hypaspists. These were apparently the best of his peasant infantry
and of equal status and ability to his Foot Companions, most of
noble blood. The Hypaspists were capable of fighting as traditional
Hoplite infantry, or could switch to javelins and lighter armor for
rapid movement in rough terrain. They were used to rapidly close
with the enemy and distract them, allowing the Companion cavalry to
hit the enemy from a side or the rear.
Cost: 60F/25G Attack: 5H
Build Time (sec.): 9 Armor: H35%/P10%/C99%
Line of Sight: (m): 16 Range (min - max): 0
Prerequisite: Academy Speed (ms): 4.3
Strong vs: Infantry Pop Slots: 2
Weak vs: Mounted/Ranged God: All
Hit Points: 85 Age: Heroic
Upgrades: Medium, +10%HP and attack;
Heavy, +15%HP, 10% attack;
Champion, +20%HP, +10% attack.
Improvements: Armory (Weapons +10% attack, Armor -10%H, Shields -10%P)
Academy (Levy/Conscript, trains 20% faster.)
Ares (Deimos Sword of Dread, +15% attack.)
Athena (Aegis Shield, -10%P vulnerability.)
Dionysus (Bacchanalia, +5%HP.)
Apollo (Oracle, +6% line-of-sight.)
Bonuses: Zeus (1.5x attack on buildings.)
* Peltast: The Peltast is good at countering other archers, such as
Toxotes and Chariot Archers, but is weak against most other unit
types.
Peltasts were light troops originally from Thrace (modern Serbia)
who took their name from their light, hide-covered shield called a
pelte. They wore no armor, allowing them to move rapidly on the
battlefield. Each man carried several javelins, usually one meter
in length. Their battlefield role was to close with heavy and slow
enemy formations, throw javelins into their midst, and pull back
before the enemy could catch them. If peltasts could attack
phalanxes on the right (unprotected side), they could cause
casualties and disrupt the formation before hoplite battle was
joined. The increasing use of light troops like Peltasts eventually
made obsolete armies composed entirely of Hoplites.
Cost: 55W/35G Attack: 3P
Build Time (sec.): 9 Armor: H15%/P20%/C99%
Line of Sight: (m): 30 Range (min - max): 16
Prerequisite: Archery Range Speed (ms): 4.0
Strong vs: Ranged Pop Slots: 2
Weak vs: Inf./Mounted God: All
Hit Points: 70 Age: Heroic
Upgrades: Medium, +10%HP and attack, +1 line-of-sight;
Heavy, +10%HP and attack, +1 line-of-sight;
Champion, +10%HP and attack, +1 line-of-sight.
Improvements: Armory (Weapons +10% attack, Armor -10%H,
Shields -10%P, Burning Pitch 3x damage
to buildings and 1.5x to ships.)
Archery Range (Levy/Conscript, trains 20% faster.)
Dionysus (Bacchanalia, +5%HP.)
Apollo (Oracle, +6% line-of-sight; Sun Ray, +10% attack)
Artemis (Shafts of Plague, +15% attack.)
Bonuses: Hades (+10% attack.)
* Myrmidon: Myrmidons are strong against Atlantean, Egyptian, and
Norse human soldiers.
When the city of Aegnia was depopulated by a plague, Aeacus, its
king, prayed to the gods that the ants infesting an oak tree be
turned into people to repopulate his kingdom. Thus the ants
became Myrmidons. They later followed Achilles to the Trojan War
and were particularly noted for carrying out his orders pitilessly
and without question, no matter how cruel. Today the word has
come to mean a subordinate who carries out orders without question.
Cost: 70F/50G Attack: 10H
Build Time (sec.): 16 Armor: H45%/P20%/C99%
Line of Sight: (m): 14 Range (min - max): 0
Prerequisite: Fortress Speed (ms): 4.0
Strong vs: Inf./Mounted Pop Slots: 2
Weak vs: Ranged God: Zeus
Hit Points: 110 Age: Mythic
Upgrades: Medium, +10%HP and attack;
Heavy, +15%HP, 10% attack;
Champion, +20%HP, +10% attack.
Improvements: Armory (Weapons +10% attack, Armor -10%H, Shields -10%P)
Academy (Levy/Conscript, trains 20% faster.)
Athena (Aegis Shield, -10%P vulnerability.)
Dionysus (Bacchanalia, +5%HP.)
Apollo (Oracle, +6% line-of-sight.)
Hephaestus (Weapon of the Titans, +20% attack.)
Bonuses: Zeus (1.5x attack on buildings.)
* Gastraphetes: Gastraphetes are strong against buildings.
This ancient weapon was an ancestor to both mounted ballistae and
medieval crossbows. It appeared to be a large crossbow that was
cocked, and perhaps fired, while braced against the soldier's
middle. "Gastraphetes" literally means "belly bow". Because they
were slow to fire, but had a great range, the weapons were most
likely used for siege.
Cost: 120W/80G Attack: 8P/6C
Build Time (sec.): 14 Armor: H15%/P15%/C99%
Line of Sight: (m): 28 Range (min - max): 24
Prerequisite: Fortress Speed (ms): 3.8
Strong vs: Inf./Buildings Pop Slots: 3
Weak vs: Ranged/Mounted God: Hades
Hit Points: 60 Age: Mythic
Upgrades: Medium, +10%HP and attack, +1 line-of-sight;
Heavy, +10%HP and attack, +1 line-of-sight;
Champion, +10%HP and attack, +1 line-of-sight.
Improvements: Armory (Weapons +10% attack, Armor -10%H,
Shields -10%P, Burning Pitch 3x damage
to buildings and 1.5x to ships.)
Archery Range (Levy/Conscript, trains 20% faster.)
Dionysus (Bacchanalia, +5%HP.)
Apollo (Oracle, +6% line-of-sight; Sun Ray, +10% attack)
Artemis (Shafts of Plague, +15% attack.)
Hephaestus (Weapon of the Titans, +20% attack.)
Bonuses: Hades (+10% attack.)
Mounted Soldiers (Units)
------------------------
* Hippikon: Greek cavalry are expensive and slow but powerful.
Hippikons are strong against archers and can strike quickly against
siege weapons, but are weaker against infantry.
Greek cavalry other than the scouts or elite Hetairoi were called
Hippikons. The classic Greeks had foregone cavalry in favor of
armies consisting entirely of Hoplite infantry. After the rise of
Macedonia, the use of other arms was evident. Hippikon cavalry
and light troops were raised to support the Hoplite infantry.
Cost: 40F/80G Attack: 10H
Build Time (sec.): 20-15 Armor: H10%/P25%/C99%
Line of Sight: (m): 8 Range (min - max): 0
Prerequisite: Stable Speed (ms): 5.5
Strong vs: Mounted/Ranged Pop Slots: 3
Weak vs: Infantry God: All
Hit Points: 150 Age: Class.
Upgrades: Medium, +10HP, +10% attack;
Heavy, +15%HP, +10% attack;
Champion, +20%HP, +10% attack.
Improvements: Armory (Weapons +10% attack, Armor -10%H, Shields -10%P)
Stable (Levy/Conscript, trains 20% faster.)
Dionysus (Bacchanalia, +5%HP; Thracian Horses, +20%HP.)
Apollo (Oracle, +6% line-of-sight.)
Hermes (Spirited Charge, +10% faster, +10% attack.)
Poseidon (Lord of the Horses, +4 line-of-sight.)
Bonuses: Poseidon (-10% cost.)
* Prodromos: The Prodromos is good against other cavalry, such as
Hippikon, Raiding Cavalry, Jarls and Contarius, but is weak against
other types of units.
The Prodromoi were a light cavalry unit within the heavy Macedonian
cavalry (Hetairoi or Companions) of Alexander the Great’s army.
These men were armed with javelins or a shortened cavalry spear,
plus a sword as their secondary weapon. They scouted for the army,
but were used in battle with the heavier Companions if needed.
They were particularly useful in battle during the pursuit of
broken enemy troops that could be run down while fleeing.
Cost: 70F/40G Attack: 6H
Build Time (sec.): 10 Armor: H20%/P10%/C99%
Line of Sight: (m): 16 Range (min - max): 0
Prerequisite: Stable Speed (ms): 6.0
Strong vs: Mounted Pop Slots: 3
Weak vs: Inf./Ranged God: All
Hit Points: 120 Age: Heroic
Upgrades: Medium, +10HP, +10% attack;
Heavy, +15%HP, +10% attack;
Champion, +20%HP, +10% attack.
Improvements: Armory (Weapons +10% attack, Armor -10%H, Shields -10%P)
Stable (Levy/Conscript, trains 20% faster.)
Dionysus (Bacchanalia, +5%HP; Thracian Horses, +20%HP.)
Apollo (Oracle, +6% line-of-sight.)
Hermes (Spirited Charge, +10% faster, +10% attack.)
Poseidon (Lord of the Horses, +4 line-of-sight.)
Bonuses: Poseidon (-10% cost.)
* Hetairoi: Poseidon's Hetairoi are strong against buildings.
The nobility of Macedon prior to Philip and Alexander were the
patriarchal heads of tribes and estates called the Hetairoi.
They prided themselves on their horsemanship and made up one of
the elite units in the Macedonian army, the king’s Companions.
Without the benefit of a stirrup, these mounted spearmen were
still very effective in battle. Alexander personally lead his
Companions in several critical charges that won battles during
his epic march of world conquest.
Cost: 63F/45G Attack: 8H
Build Time (sec.): 17 Armor: H10%/P40%/C99%
Line of Sight: (m): 16 Range (min - max): 0
Prerequisite: Fortress Speed (ms): 4.8
Strong vs: Ranged/Build. Pop Slots: 3
Weak vs: Infantry God: All
Hit Points: 110 Age: Mythic
Upgrades: Medium, +10HP, +10% attack;
Heavy, +15%HP, +10% attack;
Champion, +20%HP, +10% attack.
Improvements: Armory (Weapons +10% attack, Armor -10%H, Shields -10%P)
Stable (Levy/Conscript, trains 20% faster.)
Dionysus (Bacchanalia, +5%HP; Thracian Horses, +20%HP.)
Apollo (Oracle, +6% line-of-sight.)
Hermes (Spirited Charge, +10% faster, +10% attack.)
Poseidon (Lord of the Horses, +4 line-of-sight.)
Hephaestus (+20% attack.)
Bonuses: Poseidon (-10% cost.)
Heroes
------
* Jason: In fear of a prophecy that he would someday be killed by
Jason, King Pelias of Iolcos sent the hero on an impossible quest,
to obtain the Golden Fleece from the distant country of Colchis.
Jason had built at Argos the great ship Argo and gathered a host
of heroes to accompany him, thereafter known as the Argonauts. After
a number of adventures, including the first passage of the
Symplegades (the Bosphorus), the Argonauts arrived at Colchis,
believed to be somewhere on the edge of the Black Sea. King Aeetes
of Colchis demanded that Jason fulfill a number of tasks to obtain
the fleece, including plowing a field with fire-breathing oxen,
sowing the teeth of a dragon in a field and fighting the army that
rose up from them, and finally getting past the dragon that guarded
the fleece itself. With the fleece in hand, Jason fled with Medea,
Pelias’s daughter and had many adventures returning home. Medea
plotted the death of King Pelias, fulfilling the old prophecy. When
their marriage failed, Medea took a terrible revenge. Jason was
killed many years later by a timber from the Argo.
Age -- 22
Homeland -- Iolcos, later Corinth
Occupation -- leader of the Argonauts
Cost: 100F/50G Attack: 9H
Build Time (sec.): 9 Armor: H25%/P35%/C99%
Line of Sight: (m): 16 Range (min - max): 0
Prerequisite: N/A Speed (ms): 4.3
Strong vs: Myth Units Pop Slots: 2
Weak vs: N/A God: Zeus
Hit Points: 250 Age: Archaic
* Odysseus: The ruler of the island of Ithaca, Odysseus was one of the
most prominent Greek champions in the Trojan War. The stratagem of
the Trojan Horse was his idea. Following the victory at Troy, he
set out on his ten year journey home, chronicled for all time by
Homer in the epic poem, The Odyssey. Along the way, Odysseus and
his crew had to deal with many adventures and misfortunes, some of
their own making and some thanks to intervention of the gods. By
blinding the Cyclops Polyphemus, they incurred the wrath of Poseidon
who troubled them for years. Thanks to help from Zeus and other gods,
Odysseus arrived home alone to find his wife Penelope plagued by
suitors. Disguised as a beggar he first determined that Penelope
had been faithful, and then slew the men pursuing her and cleansed
his palace. This triggered a final battle against the families of
the men killed, but peace was restored by Athena.
Age -- 44
Homeland -- Ithaca
Occupation -- King and general
Cost: 200W/2FA Attack: 8P
Build Time (sec.): 17 Armor: H20%/P30%/C99%
Line of Sight: (m): 20 Range (min - max): 18
Prerequisite: N/A Speed (ms): 4
Strong vs: Myth Units Pop Slots: 2
Weak vs: N/A God: Zeus
Hit Points: 320 Age: Class.
* Hercules: The son of Zeus and a mortal woman, Heracles (called
Hercules in Latin) was endowed with incredible strength. He
strangled serpents in his crib as a baby and killed a lion with
his bare hands as youth. Unfortunately he had a terrible enemy in
Hera, Zeus’ wife in Olympus. She drove Heracles mad to the point
that he killed his own children and those of his brother. After
recovering his sanity he sought advice from the Oracle of Delhi for
penance to resume a normal life. She instructed him to perform his
famous twelve labors. These included killing beasts like the Nemean
Lion (which he strangled) and the Hydra, capturing other beasts, and
a variety of other quests. With the twelve labors complete, he was
allowed to return to Thebes and remarry. Heracles died much later
after being treacherously poisoned by a Centaur who had tried to
abduct his wife. Upon his death he was removed to Olympus and
endowed with immortality.
Age -- 40
Homeland -- Thebes
Occupation -- hero and demigod
Cost: 350F/4FA Attack: 10H
Build Time (sec.): 20 Armor: H25%/P40%/C99%
Line of Sight: (m): 16 Range (min - max): 0
Prerequisite: N/A Speed (ms): 4.3
Strong vs: Myth Units Pop Slots: 3
Weak vs: N/A God: Zeus
Hit Points: 400 Age: Heroic
* Bellerophon: The son of a king of Corinth, a city noted for horses,
Bellerophon was trained from youth to be the great horseman of
his age. At the age of sixteen, he set out for adventure, but a
jealous rival tricked him into the dangerous quest of killing the
Chimera. This fire-breathing beast was terrorizing the countryside
of Lycia carrying off people and livestock. Consulting a local wise
man, he was instructed to pray to Athena. In a dream, the goddess
told Bellerophon of a golden bridle that could be used to catch the
Pegasus. When he awoke he had the bridal, with which he caught the
Pegasus drinking at a forest well. He was able to control the
beast thanks to the bridal and his equestrian skill. Together they
flew to the Chimera’s cliff ledge. There he shot arrows into the
beast and lodged a lump of lead in its throat. The Chimera’s fiery
breath melted the lead, choking it to death.
After other adventures, a princess of Lycia married him willingly
and he eventually became king. His thirst for adventure returned,
however, and then he mistakenly attempted to reach Olympus on
Pegasus. An angry Zeus sent a fly to bite Pegasus and Bellerophon
was thrown off. Though Athena spared him by having him fall onto
soft ground, he wandered alone for the rest of his life, searching
for Pegasus, and died a lame beggar.
Age -- 18
Homeland -- Corinth
Occupation -- prince and equestrian
Special attack -- leaps into combat against myth units
Cost: 400G/6FA Attack: 20H
Build Time (sec.): 27 Armor: H50%/P80%/C80%
Line of Sight: (m): 16 Range (min - max): 0
Prerequisite: N/A Speed (ms): 6
Strong vs: Myth Units Pop Slots: 4
Weak vs: N/A God: Zeus
Hit Points: 400 Age: Mythic
* Theseus: The parentage of Theseus is confused. He was thought to
be either an illegitimate son of Aegeus, a king of Athens, or a son
of Poseidon. Raised by his mother, he faced many adversaries and
quests while attempting to return to Athens to be reunited with his
father. H e was then selected to be part of a group of young men and
women to be sacrificed to the Minotaur on Crete, as part of the
compensation for a long war. On Crete, Ariadne fell in love with
Theseus and helped him defeat the Minotaur within the labyrinth.
He returned to Athens but failed to signal his success to his father
correctly, and Aegeus drowned himself in despair. The sea thereafter
took its name from Theseus' father, the Aegean Sea. Theseus foiled
an assassination attempt and became king, but lost popularity late
in life and was exiled.
Age -- 32
Homeland -- Athens
Occupation -- king
Cost: 100F/20G Attack: 9H
Build Time (sec.): 9 Armor: H20%/P30%/C99%
Line of Sight: (m): 16 Range (min - max): 0
Prerequisite: N/A Speed (ms): 4.3
Strong vs: Myth Units Pop Slots: 2
Weak vs: N/A God: Poseidon
Hit Points: 250 Age: Archaic
* Hippolyta: A queen of the Amazons, a tribe of warrior women descended
from Ares, Hippolyta was kidnapped by Theseus, triggering a war with
Athens. Although Hippolyta bore a son to Theseus, he lost interest in
her and she eventually returned to the lands of the Amazons. She
then encountered Heracles, sent to retrieve the belt of Ares from her
as one of his twelve quests. She gave the belt to him willingly, but
this angered the goddess Hera. Disguised as an Amazon she incited the
women to attack Heracles, who killed Hippoltya in his haste to exit
their dangerous land.
Age -- 41
Homeland -- land of the Amazons
Occupation -- queen
Cost: 200W/2FA Attack: 9P
Build Time (sec.): 17 Armor: H20%/P30%/C99%
Line of Sight: (m): 24 Range (min - max): 18
Prerequisite: N/A Speed (ms): 4.3
Strong vs: Myth Units Pop Slots: 2
Weak vs: N/A God: Poseidon
Hit Points: 240 Age: Class.
* Atalanta: Atalanta is the female athlete in Greek myth. It is
unclear exactly where Atalanta comes from, some sources say that
she came from Arcadia and was the daughter of Iasus and Clymene,
but Hesiod and other sources attributes Atalanta's origin to
Boeotia where her father is Schoeneus. The contradiction over
Atalanta's birth contributes to the assumption that there were two
mythic women that were merged into one person.
Cost: 350F/4FA Attack: 8H
Build Time (sec.): 23 Armor: H35%/P40%/C99%
Line of Sight: (m): 16 Range (min - max): 0
Prerequisite: N/A Speed (ms): 6
Strong vs: Myth Units Pop Slots: 3
Weak vs: N/A God: Poseidon
Hit Points: 350 Age: Heroic
* Polyphemus: This son of Poseidon was a Cyclops who lived a solitary
existence in a cave near Sicily herding sheep. His life was
interrupted when Odysseus and his men landed nearby seeking food
during their journey home from Troy. Odysseus wanted to see a
Cyclops, so he and his crew hid in Polyphemus’ cave. Gasping at the
sight of the one-eyed giant, they revealed their presence and the
Cyclops grabbed two of the men and ate them. He blocked the stone
cave entrance with a large rock and continued eating two men each
meal. Desperate, Odysseus and his men fashioned a large pole into a
spear and stabbed Polyphemus in the eye after getting him drunk.
The men then hung from the bellies of the sheep when the Cyclops let
them out the next day. Not content with their escape, Odysseus
taunted Polyphemus from his ship and revealed his name. The Cyclops
called upon his father Poseidon to curse the Greeks and the god
complied, harassing Odysseus for the rest of his journey.
Age -- 205
Homeland -- Sicily
Occupation -- Shepherd
Special attack -- Whomps units with his mace
Cost: 400G/6FA Attack: 15H
Build Time (sec.): 27 Armor: H40%/P40%/C99%
Line of Sight: (m): 20 Range (min - max): 0
Prerequisite: N/A Speed (ms): 3.4
Strong vs: Myth Units Pop Slots: 5
Weak vs: N/A God: Poseidon
Hit Points: 540 Age: Mythic
* The Argo: The Argo ("swift sailing") was a ship built by Argos of
Thessaly out of beech trees from Mount Pelion. Athena aided in the
construction herself. Jason and the other Argonauts sailed on the
Argo in their quest for the Golden Fleece. It was the largest ship
ever built, with a full fifty oars, one for each of the Argonauts.
Athena fitted the bow with a figurehead of lumber cut from her
sacred oaks at Dodona that could speak and had the gift of prophecy.
Cost: 250GW/8FA Attack: 8P
Build Time (sec.): 17 Armor: H40%/P25%/C20%
Line of Sight: (m): 24 Range (min - max): 16
Prerequisite: N/A Speed (ms): 4.8
Strong vs: Myth Units Pop Slots: 3
Weak vs: N/A God: Poseidon
Hit Points: 480 Age: Mythic
* Ajax: The son of the King of Salamis, Ajax was the second greatest
Greek champion at Troy, behind only Achilles. Homer described Ajax
as a wall, and said he was much taller than other men. When Achilles
withdrew from the fighting, it was Ajax who met Hector in single
combat. The two heroes fought all day, with only Hector taking a
slight wound. Following the death of Achilles, Ajax competed with
Odysseus for the armor of the fallen hero. Odysseus proved more
eloquent as a speaker, however, and was awarded the prize.
Age -- 34
Homeland -- Salamis
Occupation -- Prince, warrior
Special attack -- shield bash sends units flying
Cost: 100F/50G Attack: 9H
Build Time (sec.): 9 Armor: H30%/P35%/C99%
Line of Sight: (m): 16 Range (min - max): 0
Prerequisite: N/A Speed (ms): 4.3
Strong vs: Myth Units Pop Slots: 2
Weak vs: N/A God: Hades
Hit Points: 240 Age: Archaic
* Chiron: Chiron was originally a god of healing in Thessalian
mythology, but later became an immortal Centaur in the more
widely accepted Greek mythology. Although Centaurs were usually
wild and unruly, Chiron was the exception. He was noted for being
wise and his knowledge of healing was legendary. He was the tutor
of many notable heroes, including Theseus and Achilles.
Age -- 82
Homeland -- Thessaly
Occupation -- Scholar and teacher
Special attack -- fires 3 arrows on the first shot.
Cost: 200W/2FA Attack: 7P
Build Time (sec.): 17 Armor: H20%/P20%/C99%
Line of Sight: (m): 20 Range (min - max): 14
Prerequisite: N/A Speed (ms): 5.3
Strong vs: Myth Units Pop Slots: 2
Weak vs: N/A God: Hades
Hit Points: 300 Age: Class.
* Chiron: Chiron was originally a god of healing in Thessalian
mythology, but later became an immortal Centaur in the more
widely accepted Greek mythology. Although Centaurs were usually
wild and unruly, Chiron was the exception. He was noted for being
wise and his knowledge of healing was legendary. He was the tutor
of many notable heroes, including Theseus and Achilles.
Age -- 82
Homeland -- Thessaly
Occupation -- Scholar and teacher
Special attack -- fires 3 arrows on the first shot.
Cost: 350F/4FA Attack: 9H
Build Time (sec.): 23 Armor: H40%/P45%/C99%
Line of Sight: (m): 16 Range (min - max): 0
Prerequisite: N/A Speed (ms): 5.5
Strong vs: Myth Units Pop Slots: 3
Weak vs: N/A God: Hades
Hit Points: 340 Age: Heroic
* Perseus: The son of Zeus and Danae, the mortal daughter of the king
of Argos, Perseus and his mother were banished by his grandfather
who feared a prophecy that the grandson would kill him. Perseus grew
to be a formidable warrior and protector of his mother. A suitor of
his mother sent Perseus on a hopeless quest to kill Medusa, which he
managed, nonetheless, with the help of Athena and Hermes. Returning
home, he slew a ravaging sea monster and freed the beautiful
Andromeda, whom he took as his wife. Perseus eventually killed
his grandfather as prophesied, in an accident with a discus, but
refused to become ruler of Argos. He ruled instead over Tyryns
and Mycenae, establishing a family whose descendants included Heracles.
Age -- 36
Homeland -- originally Argos, later Seriphus and Mycenae
Occupation -- prince and hero
Special attack -- medusa head petrifies myth units
Cost: 400G/6FA Attack: 7H
Build Time (sec.): 27 Armor: H20%/P40%/C99%
Line of Sight: (m): 16 Range (min - max): 0
Prerequisite: N/A Speed (ms): 4.3
Strong vs: Myth Units Pop Slots: 4
Weak vs: N/A God: Hades
Hit Points: 360 Age: Mythic
Naval Units
-----------
* Fishing Boat: The technology of boats and further improvements
in nets, navigation, boat capacity, traps, and so on, that improved
the efficiency and production of fishermen were pioneered by the
sailors and fishermen of Atlantis. Wall murals show Greek fishermen
were taking bluefin tuna in Mycenaean times, a thousand years
before the classical Greek age. The Norse were also great sea
hunters and fishermen. Salted and dried fish could be stored for
many months and was an important source of protein before the days
of refrigeration. Many of these techniques were learned from
Atlantean colonists in those areas.
Cost: 50W Attack: 0
Build Time (sec.): 14 Armor: H60%/P50%/C5%
Line of Sight: (m): 20 Range (min - max): 0
Prerequisite: Dock Speed (ms): 2.4
Strong vs: N/A Pop Slots: 1
Weak vs: All God: All
Hit Points: 65 Age: Archaic
Upgrades: N/A
Improvements: Dock (Purse Seine gathers 30% faster, Salt Amphora
gathers 40% faster and carries twice as much,
Conscript Sailors trains 20% faster.)
Dionysus (Bacchanalia, +5%HP.)
Apollo (Oracle, +6% line-of-sight.)
Bonuses: N/A
* Transport Ship: Trading ships of all kinds were requisitioned
by rulers when they wanted to move armies overseas because trading
ships had the necessary cargo capacity. Warships of the ancient
age were not good transports because they were usually very narrow
rowing galleys with little storage space, and built for speed. An
invading army needed to transport not only soldiers, but weapons,
tents, dry food, wine, and livestock.
Cost: 120W Attack: 0
Build Time (sec.): 19 Armor: H40%/P80%/C5%
Line of Sight: (m): 14 Range (min - max): 0
Prerequisite: Dock Speed (ms): 5.3
Strong vs: N/A Pop Slots: 2
Weak vs: All God: All
Hit Points: 180 Age: Class.
Upgrades: N/A
Improvements: Armory (Armor -10%H/C, Shields -10%P.)
Dock (Enclosed Deck carries +10 units, Conscript
Sailors trains 20% faster.)
Dionysus (Bacchanalia, +5%HP.)
Apollo (Oracle, +6% line-of-sight.)
Bonuses: N/A
* Trireme: This oared galley propelled the classical Greek city
states, and Athens in particular, into a naval power. The trireme
(trieres in Greek) was named because the oarsmen were stationed at
3 levels, allowing more men to fit on a smaller ship. A standard
trireme was about 120 ft long, and manned by over 150 oarsmen.
The ships could cover about 180 nautical miles at a constant speed
of 7.5 knots. They also had square sails, which could not always
be used on the temperamental Mediterranean Sea. During the wars
with Persia, Athens alone commanded over 200 of these ships.
Cost: 100W/50G Attack: 6P
Build Time (sec.): 14 Armor: H30%/P20%/C10%
Line of Sight: (m): 24 Range (min - max): 12
Prerequisite: Dock Speed (ms): 6.0
Strong vs: Ram Ships Pop Slots: 2
Weak vs: Siege Ships God: All
Hit Points: 290 Age: Class.
Upgrades: N/A
Improvements: Armory (Weapons +10% attack, Armor -10%H/C,
Shields -10%P; Burning Pitch, 3x damage to
buildings and +15%.)
Dock (Cladding, +10% attack, +20%HP, +4 range;
Conscript Sailors trains 20% faster.)
Dionysus (Bacchanalia, +5%HP.)
Apollo (Oracle, +6% line-of-sight.)
Artemis (Trierach, -20%C vulnerability.)
Bonuses: N/A
* Pentekonter: While many galleys had stationary rams on their bows,
the Greeks also developed a moveable weapon known as a dolphin.
This heavy lead or bronze weight was swung from a boom on the
ship's mast and was used like a flail to puncture holes in enemy
hulls. The Romans would later improve on this design and develop
the corvus, a spiked weapon that doubled as a boarding ramp.
Cost: 100W/50G Attack: 20H
Build Time (sec.): 12 Armor: H30%/P20%/C75%
Line of Sight: (m): 16 Range (min - max): 0
Prerequisite: Dock Speed (ms): 7.0
Strong vs: Myth/Siege Sh. Pop Slots: 2
Weak vs: Ranged Ships God: All
Hit Points: 240 Age: Class.
Upgrades: N/A
Improvements: Armory (Weapons +10% attack, Armor -10%H/C,
Shields -10%P.)
Dock (Reinforced Hull, +10% attack, +10%HP;
Conscript Sailors trains 20% faster.)
Dionysus (Bacchanalia, +5%HP; Anastrophe,
+20% attack, +10% speed, trains +25%.)
Apollo (Oracle, +6% line-of-sight.)
Bonuses: N/A
* Juggernaut: As warships became longer, navies began to mount
larger weapons on them, such as catapults and ballistae. Dionysius
of Syracuse constructed extra-large triremes capable of supporting
artillery, and Alexander mounted siege towers on a pair of ship
hulls during his unsuccessful siege of Tyre. Later Roman imperial
galleys could bristle with all sorts of towers and artillery.
Cost: 100W/100G Attack: 6P
Build Time (sec.): 17 Armor: H10%/P50%/C10%
Line of Sight: (m): 24 Range (min - max): 18
Prerequisite: Dock Speed (ms): 4.8
Strong vs: Buildings/Ships Pop Slots: 3
Weak vs: Ram Ships God: All
Hit Points: 480 Age: Class.
Upgrades: N/A
Improvements: Armory (Weapons +10% attack, Armor -10%H/C,
Shields -10%P.)
Dock (Naval Oxybeles, +10% attack, +10%HP,
+12% range; Conscript Sailors trains 20% faster.)
Sekhemet (Stones of Red Linen, +20% attack.)
Dionysus (Bacchanalia, +5%HP.)
Apollo (Oracle, +6% line-of-sight.)
Bonuses: N/A
Siege Units
-----------
* Helepolis: Siege weapons can destroy buildings, but are weak against
other units, especially cavalry.
The name of this siege machine translates as "taker of cities." The
name was first applied to a mobile tower constructed by Greeks to
attack a city on Cyprus. This large movable tower mounted stone
throwers and ballistas of different sizes, with the smallest at
the top. Two hundred men pushed the tower up to the enemy walls
using parallel beams extending out from its bottom. The larger
weapons in the machine battered the walls while the smaller ones
swept defenders off the walls in preparation for an assault.
Cost: 300W/200G Attack: 5P/17C
Build Time (sec.): 24 Armor: H5%/P96%/C50%
Line of Sight: (m): 18 Range (min - max): 10
Prerequisite: Fortress Speed (ms): 2.9
Strong vs: Buildings Pop Slots: 4
Weak vs: Inf./Mounted God: All
Hit Points: 650 Age: Mythic
Upgrades: N/A
Improvements: Fortress (Draft Horses, +20% speed increase;
Engineers, +50% attack, 1.10x additional damage
to walls.)
Bonuses: N/A
* Petrobolos: Siege weapons can destroy buildings, but are weak
against other units, especially cavalry. Greeks can also use
Petroboli to defeat enemy ships.
The catapult most common in the ancient age was a traction catapult
called a Petrobolos (literally "stone thrower") by the Greeks.
The power of the arm was generated by traction, usually by pulling
or winding down a balanced throwing arm. The best Petrobolos of
the age threw stones weighing around 125 pounds. Rocks of this
weight plunging down walls and buildings were capable of
devastating damage.
Cost: 150W/100G Attack: 5P/11C
Build Time (sec.): 19 Armor: H30%/P90%/C80%
Line of Sight: (m): 40 Range (min - max): 10-28
Prerequisite: Fortress Speed (ms): 2.4
Strong vs: Buildings Pop Slots: 3
Weak vs: Mounted/Inf. God: All
Hit Points: 110 Age: Heroic
Upgrades: N/A
Improvements: Fortress (Draft Horses, +20% speed increase;
Engineers, +50% attack, 1.10x additional damage
to walls, +2 range.)
Bonuses: N/A
Mythical Units
--------------
* Carcinos: During Heracles' battle with the hydra, Hera summoned
a crab to attack Heracles and aid the hydra. Although Heracles
defeated both hydra and crab, Hera rewarded the crustacean by
placing it as a constellation up in the night sky. Latin for "crab"
is "cancer," and in Greek it is "Karkinos" -- from where derives
the word "carcinogen."
Scientific name -- Callinectes colossus
Size -- 8000+ lbs.
Diet -- giant mollusks
Cost: 200W/20FA Attack: 20H/12C
Build Time (sec.): 9 Armor: H70%/P60%/C80%
Line of Sight: (m): 16 Range (min - max): 0
Prerequisite: Dock Speed (ms): 4.3
Strong vs: Arrow/Siege Sh. Pop Slots: 4
Weak vs: Ram Sh./Argo God: Hera (Zeus)
Hit Points: 720 Age: Mythic
Upgrades: N/A
Improvements: Dionysus (Bacchanalia, +5%HP.)
Apollo (Oracle, +6% line-of-sight.)
Hera (Monstrous Rage, +25% attack.)
Bonuses: N/A
* Centaur: Half-man and half-horse, Centaurs are usually seen with
torso and head of a man and the body of a horse, but different
descriptions exist. They were notorious for showing up uninvited
to outdoor celebrations (for a creature that large they seemed to
have had trouble holding their liquor) and for abducting women,
especially young maidens. Because of their drunkenness and
inclination toward violence, most were driven to the mountains
of Thessaly. Chiron, the centaur that educated Achilles was an
exception. Centaurs are usually depicted carrying a bow.
Scientific name -- Homo equus
Size -- 7'+ tall, 1600 lbs.
Diet -- Omnivore. Likes wine.
Cost: 200W/15FA Attack: 12P
Build Time (sec.): 19 Armor: H25%/P35%/C80%
Line of Sight: (m): 20 Range (min - max): 12
Prerequisite: Temple Speed (ms): 5.3
Strong vs: Infantry/Myth Pop Slots: 3
Weak vs: Heroes God: Hermes (Zeus/Poseidon)
Hit Points: 220 Age: Class.
Upgrades: N/A
Improvements: Dionysus (Bacchanalia, +5%HP.)
Apollo (Oracle, +6% line-of-sight;
Sun Ray, +10% attack.)
Hera (Monstrous Rage, +25% attack.)
Hermes (Sylvan Lore, +25%HP, +30% speed increase.)
Bonuses: N/A
* Chimera: The chimera is one of the varied offspring of Echidna
(with the torso of a beautiful woman and a horrible serpent below
the waist) and Typhon (a fire-breathing giant with 100 serpent
heads). The Chimera is a fire-breathing beast, usually depicted
with the body of a goat, the head of a lion, and tail of a
serpent. The Corinthian hero, Bellerophon, defeated the original
Lycian (a Greek kingdom in Asia Minor) chimera by flying into
battle on the winged horse, Pegasus.
Scientific name -- Draco chimera
Size -- 12,000+ lbs.
Diet -- Carnivore, especially humans
Cost: 300G/30FA Attack: 20H
Build Time (sec.): 20 Armor: H60%/P60%/C80%
Line of Sight: (m): 16 Range (min - max): 0
Prerequisite: Temple Speed (ms): 5.3
Strong vs: Human/Myth Pop Slots: 4
Weak vs: Heroes God: Artemis (Poseidon/Hades)
Hit Points: 800 Age: Mythic
Upgrades: N/A
Improvements: Dionysus (Bacchanalia, +5%HP.)
Apollo (Oracle, +6% line-of-sight.)
Artemis (Flames of Typhon, +30% attack,
+20%HP, +30% damage.)
Bonuses: N/A
* Colossus: The Great Colossus at Rhodes was one of the Seven
Wonders of the Ancient World. It stood over 150 ft. high on a
50 ft. white marble base. It was mostly hollow, with a skin of
bronze welded to a skeleton frame of stone and metal. Though it
was destroyed by an earthquake after standing for only about
fifty years, such was its enormity that people came to Rhodes
just to see its ruins, just as people today visit the ruins of
other Greek monuments, buildings and temples.
Scientific name -- None (artificial construct)
Size -- over 50' high
Diet -- doesn't eat
Cost: 300G/40FA Attack: 20H/50C
Build Time (sec.): 24 Armor: H50%/P80%/C80%
Line of Sight: (m): 16 Range (min - max): 0
Prerequisite: Temple Speed (ms): 2.9
Strong vs: Buildings/Myth Pop Slots: 5
Weak vs: Heroes God: Hephaestus (All)
Hit Points: 1100 Age: Mythic
Upgrades: N/A
Improvements: Dionysus (Bacchanalia, +5%HP.)
Apollo (Oracle, +6% line-of-sight.)
Hephaestus (Hand of Talos, +100HP;
Shoulder of Talos, +200HP, -20%H vulnerability.)
Bonuses: N/A
* Cyclops: Giants with one central eye, the Cyclopes were storm
gods in early Greek mythology. In some tales they became smiths
and worked with Hephaestus on Zeus’ thunderbolts. In other tales
there were only three Cyclopes, representing thunder, lightning,
and a thunderbolt. In classical Greece, the "lesser cyclopes" were
seen as the sons of Poseidon, bestial and violent, who were avoided
and feared. There were also wise and powerful "elder Cyclopes" that
were the sons of Kronos.
Scientific name -- Cyclops cyclops
Size -- 12' tall
Diet -- Omnivore, likes mutton.
Cost: 250F/22FA Attack: 15H/12C
Build Time (sec.): 20 Armor: H40%/P50%/C70%
Line of Sight: (m): 16 Range (min - max): 0
Prerequisite: Temple Speed (ms): 3.2
Strong vs: Myth/Buildings Pop Slots: 4
Weak vs: Heroes God: Ares (Poseidon/Hades)
Hit Points: 600 Age: Class.
Upgrades: N/A
Improvements: Dionysus (Bacchanalia, +5%HP.)
Apollo (Oracle, +6% line-of-sight.)
Ares (Will of Kronos, +50%H damage, 2x crush damage,
trains 25% faster.)
Bonsues: N/A
* Hippocampus: Half-fish and half-horse with the tail of a serpent
or dolphin, the Hippocampus pulled the chariot of Poseidon. It
ga