Helenaic Era (1522-1565)
The Helenaic Era was the period during the reign of Empress Helena I of Diadochia (1522-1565). The Helenaic age was characterized by renaissance ideals that inspired national pride, international expansion, and naval triumph over the enemies of the empire. Diadochia during this period had a centralized, well-organized, and highly effective government, largely a result of the reforms of Helena's father Eric II, her grandfather Manuel VI and great-great grandfather Eric I.
Contents
Government
The Diadochian government was strong and effective during Helena's reign. Helena's reign was remarkable because during her reign she was one of the few female rulers in Pandoa.
Religion
Science and technological advances
Education
Gender roles
Food
High Culture
Theatre
Music
Fine arts
Leisure and pastimes
During Helena I's long reign their were a wide range of leisurely activities, pastimes and entertainments for both the Diadochian nobility and the common people.
Popular Entertainments
Hippodrome entertainments
The hippodrome was the centre of the townspeople lives during Helena's reign. Entrance was obtained on presentation of a token, but without charge. The hippodrome combined the functions of a theatrical and racecourse venue. The tiers of marble steps were open to all classes The Hippodrome of Atlantis, the most popular of the hippodromes of Diadochia was used for religious processions like palm sunday, for state ceremonies, and for political meetings, and prisoners were sometimes publicly executed there. The Hippodrome of Atlantis could hold 500,000 spectators, a row of monuments erected along the centre of the arena to from a spina marked the division between the downward and upward course.
Fairs
Fairs in cities like Atlantis were hugely popular. The most noteworthy is the Thessalonica Summer fair.
Plays
Plays were popular among the common people. The most common types of play during the period were the Miracle Plays re-enactments of stories from the Bible and Mystery Plays, in which stories and fables were used to teach lessons or educate the general public.
Jousting
Jousting was hugely popular among the masses. Jousting is still popular among present day Diadochians, particularly popular during Accession day. It was a violent sport, some kings, emperors even died from the sport. Eric II was a avid jouster. w
Games
People enjoyed playing various card games, such as Trump. Games like Tabula, Backgammon, Chess, Senet, Mehen, chequers and dice. During this time it was deemed inappropriate for a woman to gamble, however, Empress Helena enjoyed playing cards and was an avid gambler.
Blood sports
Blood sports were incredibly popular during this era,as they had been under her father Eric II of Diadochia. cockfighting was a common pastime; betting was constant and many a noble lost vast fortunes because of this. Helena I's father built the Imperial Court Cockpit. During Helena's reign most towns had cockpits. There were other common animal sports: bear-baiting, bullfighting, and dog fighting. Many of which are illegal in modern Diadochia except for bullfighting.
Team sports
A team game that was comparable to the present day sports of rugby union or rugby league was highly popular. Two teams rushed against each other, trying to get the "ball" in through the goalposts. The game of polo or tzykanion (name in Diadochia) was and still is highly popular among the Diadochian nobility and the royalty. Ever since Emperor Theodosios III introduced the sport in the 9th century. Tzykanion was played by two teams on horseback, equipped with long sticks topped by nets, with which they tried to push an apple-sized leather ball into the opposite team's goal, much like polo.
Throughout the Helenaic era, every royal palace included a large Tzykanisterion, a stadium on which to play polo.
Individual sports
Running, jumping, wrestling, boxing, tennis, fencing, jousting, archery, javelin throwing, and skittles were popular individual sports.
Children of the era enjoyed playing leap-frog, blind-mans-bluff and hide-and-seek, which are all still enjoyed by children throughout Diadochia even to this very day.
Hunting
Various types of hunting were popular among the nobility or gentlemen of Helena's court. Nobles hunted stags, boars, roes, bucks, badgers, otters, hares, and foxes. Hawking or falconry was a sport for the very wealthy. Hawking in those days were forbidden to women, with the exception of Empress Helena who was known for her great talents in the sport.
