Theory: Abysia is Assyria

[ÆtherNomad]

For those who don't know much about Assyria, I recommand videos of this youtube channel as an intro, for example this one: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aT57dnlo-Tw

Assyria-Abysia connections:
- Name similarity between the nations, and some commander names also seem fitting for both (for example "Ba'al Chozron")
- Ancient empire in a warm and desertic region close to Hinnom and Caelum, but is neither Hinnom (Babylon) nor Ur (Sumer/Akkad) nor Caelum (Media/Persia)
- Known for being extremely violent and cruel (Abysia: inhuman, demonic, blood mages, cult of murder; Assyria: dreaded for their extreme practices in war, such as massive deportations, complete razing of cities, mutilation of prisonners, unnecessary massacres, full profanation of foreign temples, claiming oneself king of the universe)
- The very first to master iron working and create a disciplined standing army (which explains the obvious technological advantage of Abysia's military)
- Create unhospitable deserts in their wake (Assyria used to salt and burn its own lands to stop invaders from using them, as well as to salt and burn conquered lands to stop rivals from reemerging; Abysia is obviously known to make the lands it conquers inhospitable for life with its volcanic environment, high Heat and Death scales)
- Assyria emerged roughly when the Minoan civilization disappeared... which happened due to a cataclysmic volcanic eruption (-> Abysia)
- Very strong and direct rivals of Hinnom/Babylon (which Assyria sacked many times, and which leads Abysia to summon Fossil Giants in LA) and Caelum/Persia (which Assyria coveted for its iron, and which led to the foundation of Ragha in Dominions)

I don't know for sure if such is intentional on Illwinter's part (and yes, I know, the manual doesn't mention any of this), but the resemblances are so numerous and obvious that I believe that, even if it was not a conscious decision, no doubt is permitted should some vague correspondance ever be made between Dominions and the real world.

That being said - this thread also is a request for Illwinter to add more direct references to Assyria in Abysia, like references to Persia were added to Caelum with time :D

[Zonk]

the manual doesn't mention any of this

Page 106 of the manual, discussing the inspirations for Abysia says "Malign devil-worshiping empires of the fantasy genre combined with some ancient Middle Eastern concepts, perhaps. Think of great temple ziggurats" so the connection isn't exactly hidden.

[onomastikon]

Originally posted by Zonk:

the manual doesn't mention any of this

Page 106 of the manual, discussing the inspirations for Abysia says "Malign devil-worshiping empires of the fantasy genre combined with some ancient Middle Eastern concepts, perhaps. Think of great temple ziggurats" so the connection isn't exactly hidden.

I think the OP meant: the manual does not mention the explicit references and connections upon whcih he spent a lot of effort elucidating. "Great temple ziggurats" and "MIddle Eastern concepts" is fairly elliptical and perhaps purposefully vague.

[GIGACHAD]

I think they have many mixtures. Zoroastrianism for "purifying everburning fire", but Zoroastrians avoid human sacrifices. And some commanders were named Melek Tavs, the name for Peacock Angel of Zoroastrianism. Considering one of the Heliophagii infiltrated them, I'd say Zoroastrians with hijacked faith.

[ÆtherNomad]

in my opinion, Zoroastrianism is mostly represented in Caelum rather than Abysia, but it is certainly true that both nations are related (as I already explained in the OP)

[Twogun]

but much of the assyrian might was its archers. the bulk of it really. and abysia has no shooties...

[mazirian72]

The more Illwinter posts about the inspiration behind their nations the better as far as I’m concerned. Thanks for this ÆtherNomad.

[ÆtherNomad]

Originally posted by Twogun:

but much of the assyrian might was its archers. the bulk of it really. and abysia has no shooties...

Yes, and there is a number of other differences as well (for example, the Assyrians were the first in the world to use actual cavalry in battle), but it doesn't matter, in the same way that, for example, C'tis doesn't have a single projectile troop, even though Egypt was ALSO known for its prominent use of archers and slingers (yet there is no doubt that C'tis is Egypt, same goes with Abysia being Assyria).

This is especially true since ALL ancient civilizations relied on archery a lot anyway, yet we KNOW that Abysia is supposed to represent an ancient civilization (given its links with Hinnom and Caelum, for example, as well as Zonk's quote of the manual), so the absence of archers from Abysia isn't an issue for my interpretation. Assyria remains by far the closest ancient civilization to Abysia, to such a point that I don't see how they couldn't be linked, even if there ARE some differences between them, simply because Illwinter didn't TRY to accurately represent historical Assyria here.

Also, since you're going into the military, here's another striking resemblance: Assyria used imposing shield-bearers in battle... something that Abysia does as well.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aCzReeVWVfo

[Mormacil]

I think the big issue with this is Abysia isn't created based on Assyria. It was created as evil lava people who come from 'mount doom'. Later it was polished into a better middle eastern nation. And they sure drew from Assyria and the neighboring kingdoms but not to the extent you can say they are Assyria.

The name is likely derived from Abyssal, which is another term for Plutonic:
"relating to or denoting igneous rock formed by solidification at considerable depth beneath the earth's surface."
Clearly that describes magma people who're fathered by a king of the earth/lava.

[Dast]

Their are some interesting a cool resemblances.

But it seems like you are sort of asking for maybe future add-ons to Abyssia to develop on the Assyrian similarities? I would personally prefer they didn't go this way. I worry it would just result in the Caleum problem again. If Caleum were just a nation of bird people with mammoths and a thing for ice then I wouldn't care much,I just wouldn't play them. But the post-hoc addition of Zoastrian stuff makes them strange to me: we have a religion with a strong relationship with fire being added to a nation without fire. OK, they have cold ice-fire stuff ... doesn't fully work for me. Anyway, the existence of the (in my view bolted-on and suffering as a result) Zoastrian stuff in Caleum sort of prevents their being a proper nation built on Zoastrianism from the ground up. I wouldn't want a similar fate to befall Assyria.

[GIGACHAD]

Ragha is definitely Seljuk or Zoroastrian Persia tho. I mean, Turan Sipahi? Turan is the iconic name for a Turkic federation (not "Turkish" but the throat singing fur hat asian turks)

[ÆtherNomad]

Ragha is inspired by Samarkand, and yea, it's definitely Zoroastrian, which is due to the fact that it has a Caelian culture
All of its Zoroastrian national spells come from Caelian nations

[GIGACHAD]

Do people play therodos? Popkill sounds like bummer.

[Mali Belizec]

Therodos is one of my favourite nations in the game.

Anyway back to the topic. If anyone deserve to have nation made after it, that would be Assyria! Spartans before the Spartans, Borg of the ancient times, born conquerors and soldiers! I sure hope Abysia is made with whith them as a role model. That way I will like Abysia more than I do now.

[GIGACHAD]

Ur pride, Assyrian invaders get out reeeeeeee


Seriously they made Inanna into Ishtar.

[Swirler]

Originally posted by D O N A C D U M-TR:

Do people play therodos? Popkill sounds like bummer.

Ghost units are neat and they were changed so their forts stop a province from being wiped out entirely.

Been meaning to play with them at some point, so many nations I want to try out.