Mount Olympus. Chair: Nikolas Dolmat. Crisis Director: Calvin Trottier-Chi. Vice Chair: Louis Angus-Olive. Assistant Crisis Director: Jorge Saldana

Transcription

1 hasecondary SCHOOLS UNITED NATIONS SYMPOSIUM 2017 Mount Olympus Chair: Nikolas Dolmat Crisis Director: Calvin Trottier-Chi Vice Chair: Louis Angus-Olive Assistant Crisis Director: Jorge Saldana NOVEMBER 16-19, 2017 MONTRÉAL, QUÉBEC

2 Dear delegates, Welcome, Olympians, to our Committee for SSUNS: Mount Olympus! You will be able to debate, draft ideas, and react to crisis elements as you decide the fate of the ancient Greek world. This committee will be comprised of Greek gods, heroes, and mythical creatures. It will begin soon after Prometheus gifted fire to mankind and the first Greek kingdoms developed. Your Chair will be Nikolas Dolmat, a second-year economics and international development student. He is an avid Broadway spectator and always enjoys a good show, if you put in the effort to go above and beyond, he ll surely notice. Your Crisis Director will be Calvin Trottier-Chi, a third-year economics and political science student. He is always looking for epic stories, preferably with plenty of twists and turns. His motto towards crises is to never say die, unless it s a delegate assassinating another of course! He will be managing the external narrative of the committee. Your Vice-Chair will be Louis Olivé, a third-year political science student. Calm and collective, he is as a good person, pétanque, and can frequently be found chilling by a pool. He will be assisting Nikolas. Your Assistant Crisis Director will be Jorge Saldana, a third-year political science student. He is a team player, equal parts supportive and motivational. Always positive, he is eager to innovate and come up with creative solutions to emerging crises. He will be assisting Calvin. Our goal with Mount Olympus is to provide a next level crisis delegate experience, while still being friendly to newcomers and MUN veterans alike. If you jump into the committee with an open mind and enthusiasm, you ll have an incredibly fun and educational weekend. We eagerly look forward to experiencing the crises with you as they unfold; we have a lot in store. We want you to experience it in real time, as if it s an action-packed book or a TV show you just cannot help but keep watching! See you on Mount Olympus, and godspeed! SECONDARY SCHOOLS UNITED NATIONS SYMPOSIUM 2017 PAGE 2

3 Creation of the Pantheon For as long as there was existence, there was Chronus, the deity of time, and Adrasteia, the deity of necessity. Together, they created progress as we know it. Their first creations were Chaos, Aether the air and the darkness of the pit of Tartarus. Within Aether, Chronus created Phanes, which in turn birthed Day, Night, and mother- Earth, Gaia. Gaia originally existed as uninhabited Earth. In need of companionship, she created her consort Uranus, deity of the sky. Together they created the hills and waters, the hundred-armed hecatonchires, the cyclopeses, and, finally, the twelve titans: Oceanus, Coeus, Crius, Hyperion, Iapetus, Theia, Rhea, Themis, Mnemosyne, Phoebe, Tethys, and the youngest and most terrible of them all Cronus. Oceanus and Tethys populated the waters with their children. Hyperion and Theia began a lineage of gods of the sun. Their progeny caused several tragedies, such as when their grandson lost control of the chariot driving the sun and crashed into Libya, turning it into a desert. Additionally, Eos, goddess of the dawn, wished eternal life for her mortal lover, only for him to eternally be pained by physical decay. Eventually, these series of incidents resulted in the celestial responsibilities of the sun and the moon to be entrusted to Apollo and Artemis respectively. Yet, even in the time of the titans, all was not well. Uranus kept his children hidden within the depths of Gaia and did not let them see the light. Increasingly moved by their suffering, Gaia gifted Cronus a jagged sickle, which she intended for him to SECONDARY SCHOOLS UNITED NATIONS SYMPOSIUM 2017 PAGE 3

4 cripple his father with. As Uranus enveloped Gaia, Cronus struck. Uranus blood formed the violent giants as well as Aphrodite, the goddess of beauty and his last child. With Uranus deposed of, Cronus led his siblings to the surface of Gaia. He declared himself the ultimate ruler, imprisoned Gaia s non-titan children, proclaimed his wife Rhea as the new deity of the Earth, and took the mantle of deity of the sky. With Cronus, Rhea gave birth to the gods Hestia, Demeter, Hera, Hades, Poseidon, and Zeus. However, in acknowledgement of how his own father had met his demise, Cronus swallowed each of his new-born children. Seeing this, Rhea plotted with the vengeful, yet weakened, Uranus and Gaia. Rhea s lastborn, Zeus, was hidden in Crete, and Cronus was given a stone to swallow in his place. Once Zeus had matured, he waged war against his father. He beguiled him into regurgitating the other children, and freed both the hecatonchires, who threw stones in hundreds at a time, and the cyclopeses, who forged for Zeus thunder and lightning. The titan, Themis, and her son, Prometheus, allied with the gods as well, while the other titans and Themis other son, Atlas, joined Cronus. The gods fought from Mount Olympus while the titans fought from Mount Othrys. The war went on for ten years, and is remembered as the Titanomachy. Eventually, the gods were victorious, and Zeus banished the titans to the deep, dark, underworld pit of Tartarus and punished Atlas with the task of holding up the sky. Upon Atlas shoulders, the heavens were separated from Gaia, and the gods were given a realm to rule and one to rule from. SECONDARY SCHOOLS UNITED NATIONS SYMPOSIUM 2017 PAGE 4

5 Yet, peaceful rule was far from ordained. In a war known as the Gigantomachy, Zeus defeated the monstrous giants and the mighty dragon, Typhon. The giants would have posed a much more substantial threat if Zeus hadn t plucked the plant that gave them invincibility. They were subsequently imprisoned underground, where their explosively violent natures are occasionally detectable by the presence of volcanoes. Typhon was perhaps Zeus most vicious opponent. The battle was so fierce that even today its echoes can be felt in the existence of wind. Heracles was an important ally in this battle, as it had been prophesized that a mortal alliance was necessitated to defeat the monster. After the coupling of various deities, the pantheon exists today as the rulers of Mount Olympus. It is comprised of Zeus, Hera, Poseidon, Demeter, Athena, Apollo, Artemis, Ares, Aphrodite, Hephaestus, Hermes, and Dionysus. Although equally powerful, Hades and Persephone are often excluded because they reside permanently in the underworld and rarely visit Olympus. Zeus and Hera Hebe Hephaestus Ares Eileithyia Zeus and Leto Apollo Artemis Zeus and Metis Zeus and Semele Uranus Athena Dionysus Aphrodite SECONDARY SCHOOLS UNITED NATIONS SYMPOSIUM 2017 PAGE 5

6 Creation of Humanity Mortals have always been a source of interest for the immortals. One cannot imagine having the fate of the other. Humankind was originally formed by Prometheus; people stand upright, in the likeness of the gods, so that they might rule their own realm as the gods rule theirs. Athena, the goddess of wisdom, was intrigued by these creations and breathed life into them. At first, humankind was made of gold, and was as immortal and carefree as Gaia. However, the people became covered by Gaia as a result of the great shifts of landmass during the Titanomachy. Their remains can still be found occasionally, and bring fortune to the finders. Next, humankind was fashioned out of silver, but was arrogant towards each other and even towards the gods themselves. In his fury, Zeus buried humankind. In a third attempt, humankind was created from bronze. They worshipped the gods, Ares in particular, and were both dauntless and terrifying. Yet with arms, homes, and weapons of bronze, they fought amongst each other, and eventually eliminated themselves into the SECONDARY SCHOOLS UNITED NATIONS SYMPOSIUM 2017 PAGE 6

7 realm of Hades, which pleased the god of the underworld greatly. Finally, Zeus intervened to create humankind in the image of the gods themselves. Thus, the demigods were created. From this race, some embraced their potential and ascended into heroes. They were a culmination of previous attempts, with the good nature of gold, the arrogance of silver, and the mortality of bronze. Originally, humanity only existed in a survival-oriented and basic lifestyle. Humankind now exists with all the worldly woes as a result of conflict between Zeus and Prometheus. The latter fooled the father of gods by dividing a cow into two parts: juicy meat wrapped in hairy hide, and charred bones wrapped in white fat. Zeus chose the more apparently appetizing bundle of white fat and was furious to find only bones within. As a consequence of Zeus choice, worshippers offer bones rather than meat to the gods. Outraged, Zeus turned on Prometheus most valued creation: humankind. He gave the great human queen, Pandora, insatiable curiosity and a mysterious jar. Pandora eventually could not resist opening the jar, and released all the evils and diseases that today plague humankind. Only Hope, handicapped by Zeus, remained trapped within the jar. Pitying humankind, Prometheus stole Hephaestus fire and gave it to humanity. In retaliation, Zeus chained him to a rock, where an eagle would come daily to eat his regenerating innards. Eventually, the hero Hercules rescued Prometheus from his punishment, and today he roams free. All the while, Prometheus has kept his most powerful weapon against Zeus the foretelling of his downfall to himself. SECONDARY SCHOOLS UNITED NATIONS SYMPOSIUM 2017 PAGE 7

8 The Realms of Existence Although the gods act like humans and often take human form, they are idealized versions. Their emotions and passions, whether good or bad, are dramatic and intense. They dwell within the heavens upon Mount Olympus, where they dine on ambrosia and drink nectar. As well as having a plethora of unique powers, every god has amazing dexterity, blinding speed, and the power to assume any form, although they may be able to see past one another s disguises. Yet, they are not all powerful. They can suffer physical pain. They are not omnipotent and seldom omniscient. Even Zeus, the father of gods, faces challenges. Given the tendency for sons to overthrow their fathers, Zeus originally ruled with a dictatorial and in the case of Prometheus sometimes, immature way. As the world of the Olympians develops, power has become increasingly dispersed. Zeus patriarchy is directly countered by the powerful goddesses. Although her acceptance of Zeus infidelity might suggest otherwise, Hera has the power to thwart her husband s plans. Aphrodite can bend the will of all the gods, save for Hestia, Athena, and Artemis. Even the lesser Demeter has previously forced Zeus to comply with her terms. Human heroes who prove themselves may also be invited to ascend to Mount Olympus, and, naturally, can mingle in the mortal realm more effectively; in addition to being more accustomed to social norms, humans can also stay in the mortal realm indefinitely at least, until the Fates cut the thread of life while the gods must eventually return to the SECONDARY SCHOOLS UNITED NATIONS SYMPOSIUM 2017 PAGE 8

9 heavens to re-gather themselves. Finally, all things must yield to the mysterious powers of the Fates over destiny. The various creatures that populate Gaia can offer significant support as well as significant opposition to the gods. Although wild and savage by nature, centaurs have begun to overcome their dispositions and live in tandem with humans; the most obvious example is Chiron, and the vast knowledge he offers. Although busy forging the gods weapons, the cyclopeses feel increasingly alienated despite their important role. Meanwhile, the few hecatonchires remaining, who are tasked with guarding Tartarus after their pivotal role in the war, seek less dismal pursuits. Overall, many creatures feel that the gods increasingly favour humanity, and fear the ramifications. The puny humankind offers a comparatively large source of vexation. Despite Zeus earlier torment towards them, the worship from the faithful enhances the gods powers. The exploits of the demigods provide both entertainment and opportunity for deities to indirectly assert influence. However, as the wilds of Gaia become increasingly tamed, heroes become increasingly rarer, and humans begin to deal with the problems of society rather than mythology. Hence, the age of demigods may be coming to a close. Direct godly influence over humankind invites direct godly repercussions, although the pantheon keeps control over humankind s progress with the use of powerful artifacts created by the cyclopeses. SECONDARY SCHOOLS UNITED NATIONS SYMPOSIUM 2017 PAGE 9

10 Rather than be the result of too little divine power, mortality is often theorized to be the consequence of too much; no entity can bear the influence of Aphrodite s love, Ares rage, Hermes cleverness, and Hera s loyalty to name a few without eventually decaying. Yet, no god can have sole influence over the world without gaining a disproportionate amount of power through worship. Mortality serves as a useful tool in that it inspires desperate prayers, incentivizes progress, and prevents overpopulation. Unfortunately for all such creatures, their souls are fated to eventually be ferried by Charon into the underworld. While Gaia is finite in scope, the underworld is not, and as the oldest souls fade, they mould together to form the ever-expanding kingdom of the dead. For most, it is a gloomy wasteland, where souls drift aimlessly and joylessly. However, those who have performed great deeds and were given proper funeral rites may be led to the fulfilling paradise known as Elysium. Meanwhile, the most evil of entities are cast into the pit of Tartarus for eternal punishment, with the sinners becoming increasingly worse as one descends; eventually there is only shadow and pain. SECONDARY SCHOOLS UNITED NATIONS SYMPOSIUM 2017 PAGE 10

11 Age of Heroes Kingdoms in Order of Gross Domestic Product 1. Crete 14. Perrhaebia 2. Attica 15. Lapithae 3. Lacedaemonia 16. Phlegyae 4. Iolcus 17. Euboea 5. Boeotia 18. Aetolia 6. Megara 19. Malis 7. Tiryns 20. Pylos 8. Argos 21. Dulichium 9. Elis 22. Locris 10. Phylace 23. Messenia 11. Arcadia 24. Thaumacia 12. Minyae 25.Cephallenia 13. Ormenius Kingdom of Attica King Theseus rules from the city of Athens The name 'Athens' came out of a competition between Poseidon and Athena, where Poseidon created a salt water spring and blessed Athens' ships while Athena created the olive tree to symbolize peace and prosperity. The citizens were more astounded with Athena's gift, and in spite Poseidon turned the ruler's legs into a fishtail. Today, Athens is known for exporting olives and having the naval power to defend its SECONDARY SCHOOLS UNITED NATIONS SYMPOSIUM 2017 PAGE 11

12 trade. In his exploits, Theseus united the Attica region into a kingdom under Athens, ruled by him. Kingdom of Euboea No ruler currently Euboea is the second-largest island, after Crete. It also is the kingdom in the most disarray. Some of the original settlers of Attica travelled here around the time that Athens was founded. Euboea was looked to as a source of cattle and grain, but all they ended up finding was blood. The two principal cities, Chalcis and Eretria, quickly turned on each other. Now, they're both engaged in a war for the island, with Athenians starting to feel inclined to intervene. Kingdom of Elis No ruler currently Elis is known for its cattle, hoarded by its late king Augeas. Augeas 3,000 cattle were blessed by the gods to be forever healthy. He kept them in secure protection, wallowing in their own dung, until Heracles came along. Heracles task was to clean the stables 30 years worth of dung, which he did by rerouting the rivers Alpheus and Peneus. Shocked, Augeas refused to pay him, and both he and his sons other than Phyleus were later killed by Heracles. Although Phyleus is the likely successor to the kingdom, currently it stands unruled, and local war lords fight over the now unowned magical cattle. SECONDARY SCHOOLS UNITED NATIONS SYMPOSIUM 2017 PAGE 12

13 Kingdom of Dulichium King Phyleus rules from the city of Dulichium Phyleus was a son of King Augeas. When he supported Heracles instead of his father in the task of the Augean Stables, he was exiled. Known as a kind young man, several Epeans followed him from Elis and he founded the colony of Dulichium. Although the kingdom is only just developing, Heracles is using his recent renown to support his ally. Kingdom of Arcadia King Nyctimus rules from the city of Tegea This Kingdom is ruled by young Nyctimus, who was healed by Zeus after he was butchered by his father. His father, Lycaon, recently invoked the wrath of the gods by testing Zeus. When Zeus came to visit in the guise of a peasant, Lycaon attempted to figure out how far Zeus would go by feeding him several children. Furious, Zeus unleashed lightning and turned Lycaon into the first werewolf. Lycaon's son, Orchomenus, king of Orchomenus, was killed in this incident, while Arcas survived and succeeded him. Lycaon now roams around in wolf form, attacking rural villagers. His victims become werewolves during the full moon. Kingdom of Minyae King Arcas rules from the city of Orchomenus Orchomenus, son of Lycaon, founded this kingdom; he died alongside his father in Zeus' wrath. Arcas, a local hunter famed for his skill, is now king. Arcas' unique SECONDARY SCHOOLS UNITED NATIONS SYMPOSIUM 2017 PAGE 13

14 background is key to understanding this series of events. He was conceived by the nymph Callisto, who was seduced by Zeus. In her jealously, Hera transformed Callisto into a bear, but Zeus made sure to hide Arcas from her. Years later, Arcas comes across his bear-mother, wounded her, and was about to kill her when Zeus intervened. Lycaon heard about this timely intervention, and so, with his son Orchomenus, he kidnapped Arcas in his plan to feed Zeus human meat, thinking that feeding Zeus his own son would lead to even further humiliation. When Zeus disposed of Lycaon and Orchomenus, he restored Arcas to full health. Arcas returned home and was declared king. Orchomenus itself is known to be teeming with pastures and wildlife. Kingdom of Crete King Minos rules from the city of Cnossus Taking after his father Zeus, Minos is curly-haired, haughty, and dignified. Yet, he is petty to a fault. His first error came about when he refused to sacrifice a bull for Poseidon and instead kept it for himself. Poseidon then made his wife, Pasiphae, give birth to a boy with the head of a bull, the Minotaur. After the Minotaur grew older and more violent, Minos ordered the mast craftsman, Daedalus, to construct a labyrinth to keep the Minotaur in. He also imprisoned Daedalus and his son Icarus within, so they couldn t share the labyrinth s secrets. Although the Minatour was killed by Theseus, the craftsman and his son remain imprisoned somewhere. Tensions are easing with Athens now that the monster is dead, as previously Minos had forced Athens to send 14 youth to be sacrificed to the Minotaur every year, as punishment for Athenian rioters murdering his son Androgeus for winning the games hosted there. Despite these unorthodox punishments, Minos is widely recognized for implementing rule of law within Crete. SECONDARY SCHOOLS UNITED NATIONS SYMPOSIUM 2017 PAGE 14

15 Kingdom of Megara King Nisos rules from the city of Salamis Megara specializes in exporting animal products through use of their advanced ships. While originally a proud kingdom, if a little jealous of Athens' success, its ruler Nisos barely holds onto the throne. Back when Minos was frustrated over the death of his son in Athens, he attacked Megara along the way. At the time, Nisos had a lock of hair gifted by Ares that kept him safe from harm, and repelled waves of Minos' armies. But his daughter Scylla fell in love with Minos, and in secret stole the lock of hair to give to him. Nisos chased his daughter, and the two eventually fell off a cliff in the struggle. Perhaps out of pity, or maybe out of anger that they spurned his gift, Ares transformed the two into hideous bird creatures. They both lived, with Nisos bringing his daughter back to be imprisoned. Nisos now currently still rules, although the large island of Salamis remains a point of future contention for Athens, as it is a strategically valuable location; Salamis lies between the island of Megara and the Athenian port. Kingdom of Tiryns King Perseus rules from the city of Mycenae Although it was Perseus who vanquished the king of Argos, Acrisius, he wished to leave the place; this was partly out of shame of becoming the king through killing but also because it is a norm that any manslaughter requires exile. Perseus thus swapped kingdoms with Megapenthes, son of Proetus, who is both grateful and envious of his cousin. Perseus now rules the kingdom of Tiryns, which is surrounded with walls so large SECONDARY SCHOOLS UNITED NATIONS SYMPOSIUM 2017 PAGE 15

16 that legend holds that only the cyclopses' superhuman strength could build it. He declared Mycenae the capital, named after the cap of the sheath of a sword (myces). Kingdom of Argos King Megapenthes rules from the city of Argos Although it was Perseus who vanquished the king of Argos, Acrisius, he swapped kingdoms with Megapenthes, son of Proetus, who is both grateful and envious of his cousin. Kingdom of Lacedaemonia King Lacedaemon rules from the city of Sparta Sparta is unique for its social system and constitution, which dictate that society be completely focused on military capabilities. It is ruled by the legendary Lacedaemon, son of Zeus, with the capital being named after his wife, Sparta. His son Amyclas is a great tactician and his daughter Eurydice was married to the late king of Argos, Acrisius. Sparta currently has tension with Mycenae because its ruler (Perseus) killed Eurydice's husband, and has tension with Argos itself because the Spartans believe it belongs to Eurydice. Kingdom of Malis Conquered by Sparta; King Lacedaemon rules from the city of Trachis SECONDARY SCHOOLS UNITED NATIONS SYMPOSIUM 2017 PAGE 16

17 This small region was originally ruled by the loving couple, Alcyone and Ceyx. So blessed they felt, they even referred to each other as "Zeus" and "Hera". Zeus found this sacrilegious, and he killed Ceyx with a lightning bolt. Alcyone was so depressed at this news, she drowned herself. The gods later felt compassion for the two, and revived them as birds. But this was too little, too late; Malis reached out to the famed warriors of Sparta for protection in the absence of leadership, and the Spartan contingent eventually went from protecting the kingdom to assimilating it. Today, Spartan soldiers are regularly disrupted by resistance fighters, known as "klepts", hiding amongst the mountains. Kingdom of Messenia Conquered by Sparta; King Lacedaemon rules from the city of Messene Back when the King of Sparta was still young, he conquered Messenia. Today, its people exist as "helots", a social class that is subjugated below the Spartan people. Kingdom of Iolcus King Pelias rules from the city of Iolcus Aeson, son of Poseidon, is the rightful ruler of Iolcus. Yet he was betrayed by his two younger brothers, Pelias and Neleus, and thrown into the dungeons along with his lover Alcimede. After he felt secure, Pelias then turned on his other brother and exiled Neleus, who became king of the lesser kingdom of Pylos. Unbeknownst to Pelias as he purged Aeson's descendents, Alcimede had already given birth to a son of Aeson. Fortunately for Aeson, he still had some loyal guards, and he managed to sneak his son SECONDARY SCHOOLS UNITED NATIONS SYMPOSIUM 2017 PAGE 17

18 Jason - a fine young warrior and sailor in his own right - out of the kingdom to be raised by Chiron. Although still power-hungry, King Pelias is paranoid for two reasons; Hera hates him because he killed an opponent while she was seeking sanctuary in Hera's temple, and an oracle cautioned him to be beware of a man wearing one sandal. Kingdom of Phylace King Iphiclus rules from the city of Phylace Phylacus founded this kingdom after coming across the beautiful meadows it's situated on. He has since passed away, and the kingdom is ruled by his son, Iphiclus. Alas, tragedy struck; Iphiclus' sister, Alcimede, was the lover of Aeson, the rightful king of Iolcus. When the ruthless Pelias staged a coup, Alcimede pretended that her son with Aeson, Jason, was stillborn. Jason was given to Chiron to be raised, and Alcimede remains imprisoned in Iolcus. Iphiclus desires to free his sister. More personally, there are rumours that he is infertile and he seeks an heir. Kingdom of Pylos King Neleus rules from the city of Pylos After staging a coup, Neleus was in turn betrayed by his brother Pelias. He was exiled to the remote region of Pylos along with a small band of loyal men. His eldest son, Alastor, was the one to inherit the deceitful nature of his father. Fortunately for the others, that left them to their own devices. His son Nestor is an excellent and brave horseman, as well as natural-born leader with a talent for speeches. His son Periclymenus meanwhile longs to leave the island for the sea, and was granted by his grandfather SECONDARY SCHOOLS UNITED NATIONS SYMPOSIUM 2017 PAGE 18

19 Poseidon the power to shapeshift into various animals. Finally, suitors of his beautiful daughter must steal the cattle of Heracles' brother Iphicles to be granted her hand. Kingdom of Boeotia Regent Creon rules from the city of Thebes Hearing a prophecy that he was to be killed by his son s hands, King Laius ordered the death of his newborn son, Oedipus, but the boy was instead secretly carried away to be raised by the king of Corinth, a city-state on the border of the Attica region. Unbeknownst to him, Oedipus eventually returned home and killed his father in a quarrel. Travelling onwards, he came across Thebes under attack by a Sphinx. In accordance to the wishes of the regent Creon, Oedipus ridded the city of the monster, became the king of Thebes, and married the queen, his own mother. Together they raised his sons Polynices and Eteocles and his daughters Antigone and Ismene. Unfortunately, fate wasn t done with Oedipus. When he later discovered his crimes of parricide and incest, he blinded himself and went into a self-imposed exile with his children. Creon once again became regent of Thebes and Oedipus found refuge with Theseus, the king of Athens. Today, Oedipus continues to be haunted by his past transgressions. Although their father has no interest in further conflict, both Polynices and Eteocles are rumoured to be raising armies to overthrow Creon and if the prophecy of them being in eternal conflict is true possibly each other. Although Polynices has mighty allies from his time in Argos, Eteocles is more familiar with ruling Thebes. Meanwhile, Creon continues to try and strip Oedipus of his safety within Athens. SECONDARY SCHOOLS UNITED NATIONS SYMPOSIUM 2017 PAGE 19

20 Kingdom of Lapithae King Pirithous rules from the city of Gyrtone The Lapiths of Lapithae are perhaps the most mythical people; both King Pirithous and the centaurs trace their lineage to the late king Ixion. Ixion's relationships brought about his doom. He did not pay the dowry for his wife, so his step-father stole tens of horses, and so Ixion murdered his step-father in the first act of kin-slaying in Greece. Consequently, he was shunned by everyone. Zeus took pity on him and invited him to dine in Olympus, yet Ixion fell for Zeus' wife, Hera. Zeus then morphed Ixion s most loyal followers with the stolen horses, creating the centaurs. Today, Ixion faces punishment in Tartarus, the centaurs roam in solitude, and Pirithous attempts to move beyond his father's legacy. Additionally, Asclepius, cousin of Pirithous, also wanders Lapithae's vast forests, healing those he comes across. Kingdom of Phlegyae King Asclepius rules from the city of Tricca Asclepius is recognized as the king of this unusual kingdom. When Asclepius' mother died, Apollo took pity on the child and gave him to Chiron to be raised. Asclepius excelled in learning the art of medicine, and it is rumoured that he has the power to evade death and even revive others. Over the years he amassed many followers who are grateful for his aid and many physicians who are envious of his gifts. Recently, they founded a kingdom where pursuit of knowledge is valued. Kingdom of Ormenius SECONDARY SCHOOLS UNITED NATIONS SYMPOSIUM 2017 PAGE 20

21 King Euaimon rules from the city of Ormenius Ormenius is holy ground. Within it lies the Plain of Thessaly, connecting Mount Othrys and Mount Olympus, where the gods did battle with the titans. It is well known for producing the finest grains, cereals, and horses; perhaps the land is fertile from all the divine blood spilled over it. Given its lack of defenses, open plains, calm waters (many voyages end up passing through it), and religious importance, one might imagine that the area is ripe for easy conquest, but that has ironically made it all the more peaceful. Nobody dares invade it given its history of prolonged war and the odds that other kingdoms would see invasion as an invitation for them to follow suit. It's better for all to let the trade continue. Kingdom of Perrhaebia King Cadoc rules from Cyphus Perrhaebia is a northernmost district. High amongst the mountains, its people dress in warm furs suitable for their wintry climate. They mostly keep to themselves, and trade precious minerals for food. Most of its mountains are deemed impassable, and it is unknown what lies beyond. Kingdom of Locris King Oileus rules from the city of Opus SECONDARY SCHOOLS UNITED NATIONS SYMPOSIUM 2017 PAGE 21

22 If the infertility of Locris' land wasn't bad enough, it also is regularly encroached upon by its neighbours. Poor and powerless, its king, Oileus, is quick to submit to give tribute. Some call this cowardice, others call it survival. Kingdom of Aetoila King Calydon rules from the city of Calydon Ruled by Calydon, son of Aetolus. It's plagued by the infamous Calydonian boar, which will take the combined might of several heroes to defeat. Kingdom of Cephallenia Various tribes roam this area Kingdom of Thaumacia Various tribes roam this area. SECONDARY SCHOOLS UNITED NATIONS SYMPOSIUM 2017 PAGE 22

23 Citations Ancient greek mythology. Ancient greek mythology. Accessed June 28, Hamilton, Edith, Steele Savage. Mythology. Boston: Little, Brown and Co, 1942 Greek Gods and Goddess Facts and Information. Greek Gods & Goddesses. Accessed June 28, Greek mythology. Encyclopaedia Britannica. Accessed June 28, GREEK MYTHOLOGY. Greek Gods & Goddesses Theoi Greek Mythology. Accessed June 28, KINGDOMS. Kingdoms Theoi Greek Mythology. Accessed June 28, Morford, Mark P.O., Robert J. Lenardon, and Michael Sham. Classical mythology. Oxford: Oxford Univ.- Press, Rhodes Greece History. Rhodes Guide. Accessed June 28, SECONDARY SCHOOLS UNITED NATIONS SYMPOSIUM 2017 PAGE 23