Today’s offering is a peek at fourteen-year-old Alex three weeks into the 635 AD siege of Damascus. The excerpts I present via my newsletter are out of order and involve mostly quiet scenes. I don’t want pivotal moments to give away too much of the story. I do want you to have an idea of the world I’ve inhabited every free moment of the last few years. (Okay, more than a “few”!)
Hi Lausanne, Was Syria at its height in 635 AD or on the wane, thus the siege? In the British Museum I was entranced by the Syrian room and the docent explained how powerful they were and how they led the world for a long while w/ their innovations. Also the entrance to the room and everything in it were simply incredible.
In my story's time, Syria was the easternmost part of "East Rome" - we'd call it early Byzantine. Unfortunately for Syria, it was the battleground between Rome and Persia (Parthian and Sassanid). When my story begins, Rome had ousted the Persians one last time only seven years prior. Both empires were exhausted - just in time for the new Muslim forces to sweep in and take them both--before they knew what hit them. I'm not sure the year of the Syrian room you speak of. Could be much early as the ancient Assyrians were a major force from the 14th - 7th century BC. They were eventually overtaken by the Babylonians... on it goes. Being stuck between ambitious neighbors is not a great position.
Oh, you're right. It was the ancient Assyrians, sorry. The docent even spoke about how innovative they were w/ chariots. Smaller wheels, spokes made from different materials. The Teslas of their day (just kidding). Thanks for the info and continued success with your story.
It's amazing how, that far back we reference 700-year chunks in a sentence or two. Teslas indeed. By AD 635 the roads were so rutted people used the verge instead. Very few wheeled vehicles used anymore. Definitely a step backwards.
Hi Lausanne, Was Syria at its height in 635 AD or on the wane, thus the siege? In the British Museum I was entranced by the Syrian room and the docent explained how powerful they were and how they led the world for a long while w/ their innovations. Also the entrance to the room and everything in it were simply incredible.
In my story's time, Syria was the easternmost part of "East Rome" - we'd call it early Byzantine. Unfortunately for Syria, it was the battleground between Rome and Persia (Parthian and Sassanid). When my story begins, Rome had ousted the Persians one last time only seven years prior. Both empires were exhausted - just in time for the new Muslim forces to sweep in and take them both--before they knew what hit them. I'm not sure the year of the Syrian room you speak of. Could be much early as the ancient Assyrians were a major force from the 14th - 7th century BC. They were eventually overtaken by the Babylonians... on it goes. Being stuck between ambitious neighbors is not a great position.
Oh, you're right. It was the ancient Assyrians, sorry. The docent even spoke about how innovative they were w/ chariots. Smaller wheels, spokes made from different materials. The Teslas of their day (just kidding). Thanks for the info and continued success with your story.
It's amazing how, that far back we reference 700-year chunks in a sentence or two. Teslas indeed. By AD 635 the roads were so rutted people used the verge instead. Very few wheeled vehicles used anymore. Definitely a step backwards.
Well done!
Thank you!