Corinthean (culture)

Cultural Overview

Corinthean culture is largely concerned with one's social status, and city-state identity. The individual city states impact culture on a personal and local regional level, but common patterns exist throughout the collective.

Origins

Corinthean culture evolved from the same early roots as Waejir, absent the influences of their gods, or the High Nobles.

Geography

Corinthean culture is present throughout Corinthea, in ethnic enclaves within foreign cities that trade with Corinthean city-states, and small outposts in otherwise uncivilized regions along the coast and islands of South-Western Anexea.

Language

With regional dialects from individual city-states, Corinthean is the common language. Traders who deal with foreign partners may know additional languages as appropriate.

Family

Structure / Size

Typically families keep growing until the mother cannot produce more offspring, as each family member contributes to the whole. Given the rate of childhood death, the average family size has between six and eight children that will reach adulthood, with slightly more in lower class families and much less in higher class families.

Roles of Family Members

Each family member is expected to contribute to the family's wealth and reputation according to their abilities. Generally this means working the family trade, or seeking opportunities to broaden the family influence by learning a new trade. Mothers and female children do a larger portion of the work about the home, but males are not excluded from such, and are expected to contribute as well.

Importance

Family is very important to Corintheans. They are there to support and nurture each other, and when times are tough, they are who one turns to for help. Insulting a persons family is seen as worse than insulting them individually. Feuding between family members is a serious matter, and best kept out of the public eye, as the perceived stability of ones family may affect their reputation externally.

Influence

As social class is important to Corintheans, the status and connection to family is paramount in defining ones place in society. One may elevate their status by marrying up, or descend in status through criminal behaviour or other stains upon their reputation. Likewise the behaviour and personal reputation of family members may well impact ones own status.

Bastidy

Children born without an acknowledged father, are still considered the heir of their mother, and have full rights as such. Sometimes their is a private acknowledgement of the child's full parentage, that is kept such for political reasons. A father doing so, will likely make arrangements for the mother and child's care and well-being, but cannot formally or publicly acknowledge the relationship.

Orphans

Each city-state varies slightly in their laws and social customs, but in general orphans find themselves with three options; Family, Temple, or life on the streets are basically the three routes one can go. some Orphanages operated by the church of Ryla exist, but are by no means universal, and rely on charity to fund and feed their charges.

Religion

The dominant religion in Corinthea is worship of the Twinned Goddess. This religion replaced the individual city-totems of an earlier age, which still exist in some form, but are not considered gods in the same way as Ryla and Peolu.

Primary Beliefs

Corintheans in general believe that living a good life according to the dictates of the Goddess will grant them blessings in this life, and a restful and pleasant afterlife. How this manifests depends on ones social class, with lower classes believing in honest work and simple pleasures, and the upper classes feeling particularly blessed and rewarded for living their lives properly.

City Totems

Each city-state of Corinthea has a totem derived from early religious beliefs. These former deities are now relegated to lesser roles of protection. some still believe in their powers, while most others only pay the totems lip service. Many phrases or idioms used in common speech relate to the totems of each city. A few fringe cults arise from time to time trying to revive the belief and worship of their defunct gods and goddesses, but they are usually stamped out by agents of the church of Ryla before they can amass a greater following.

Ceremonial

Birth

The birth of a child is a family affair, wherein many family members will visit the mother and child over a period of five days, each giving small gifts and wishes for a healthy and happy life.

Naming

By the conclusion of the first five days of life, a newborn will be either brought to temple, or visited in the home by the local priest or priestess. The parents formally name their child and declare them a true born heir before the goddess at this time.

Age

The passing of the years through one's life is marked by small celebrations annually on one's naming day. Every five years a longer celebration starting on the day or birth and lasting until their name day is held. During these larger celebrations friends and more distant family may visit and bring gifts marking the next stage of ones life.

5 years

At five years a child is expected to begin doing work in the family trade. This is less of an informal apprenticeship, and more of a general education and skill development. Wealthier families may hired tutors to provide additional education starting at this age.

10 years

At ten years of age, a child may be formally introduced to a potential apprenticeship, or continue in the family trade. One is not yet considered a full member of society.

Apprenticeship

15 years

Most teens have begun some formal apprenticeship by this age, either in the family trade, or fostered out to a relative or networked tradesperson. By the conclusion of this apprenticeship one could be expected to take care of themselves, and any additional earning used to provide for the family's needs.

Adulthood

20 years

By age twenty, most Corintheans have a trade, and are either married, or considering marriage. Adult responsibilities begin in earnest. they may vote in political elections, are expected to pay their own taxes, and are fully considered members of Corinthean society.

Marriage

Marriages in Corinthea are important moments, given the emphasis on family status. They are political tools for many families, and may be arranged by ones parents for the betterment of the family. Marriage for love happens, but is less common in the higher classes. Dowries can be expected to sweeten the deal for either party in these arrangements.

Divorce

Divorces are a matter of legal recourse for those wronged by a spouse or the spouses family. They may also be a matter of political maneuvering in upper classes. A divorcee may be looked down upon by others, but that depends on the circumstances of the marriage's dissolution. Children will remain with the parent deemed best suited to provide for their future, and uncommon co-parenting after divorce occurs, although the practice is a recent cultural shift.

Death

Corintheans adopted the practice of corpse burial alongside the Twinned Goddess religion, Internment in the earth in common or private cemeteries is the norm. The wealthier being able to afford private family crypts or mausoleums. Some still cremate the bodies of the departed before burial, but the practice is considered archaic and unnecessary.

Inheritance

The eldest child regardless of gender will inherit a portion of the estate of a deceased parent, splitting it with the surviving spouse. It is expected that they will administer this estate and share it with younger siblings, but there are no laws enforcing such custom. Should the surviving parent pass, then the full inheritance is given to the eldest child, to be shared with their younger siblings in kind. If their are no children, then the estate will pass to the eldest surviving sibling of the deceased in kind.

Diet

Food

Cultural Dishes

A popular street food throughout Corinthea is small loaves of bread with fruit and/or cheese baked in the centre.

N'Kar Caviar

An expensive and decadent food consisting of fresh-layed beetle eggs served on light crackers.

Spice / Flavours

Corinthean dishes tend to be a mix of hot spicy, and fruity flavours. Often in paired dishes, but sometimes combined in the same offering.

Drink

Non-Alcoholic

Water, milk, various fruit juices are common drinks. Flavoured teas are also a fairly common, drank hot or cold depending on the season and weather. Welsai or tea houses, an imported business type from Waejir are commonly found in the cities and towns throughout Corinthea.

Alcohol

Wine is the most popular drink throughout Corinthea, as the climate is favourable to growing grapes of many varieties. In addition various beers, ales, and brandies are often drank.

Persons

List of Corinthean Persons

Stories

Adventure (fifty word fantasy)

Accident (fifty word fantasy)

Bog (fifty word fantasy)

Box (fifty word fantasy)

Cauldron (fifty word fantasy)

Enchanted (fifty word fantasy)

Imp (fifty word fantasy)

Treasure (fifty word fantasy)

Unexpected (fifty word fantasy)

Unseen (fifty word fantasy)

Words (fifty word fantasy)