Ilaxarans
The ilaxarans1 were the founders and rulers of Emlas' oldest civilization, Ilax2, whose writing system, mathematics, art and architecture became the basis for those used by most cultures in that part of Gætíus' World today.
Their culture, centered around several city-states by the Namazús River, developed only a few centuries after the Galkans of Vagalkan in northern Túlmikkía developed their own civilization, with whom the ilaxarans traded, along with other bronze age cultures such as the mahannans in Imkala to the west, sóans to the north and -later on- the Memnans in Laxilþía across the Akral Sea to the northeast.
The fall of Ilax, caused by invasions by Akalúrans and Þekkals following a long period of drought, marks the end of bronze age in eastern Emlas. While some of their settlements are still inhabited, notably Kilí (known as Kigilixa by the ilaxarans) and Olrónalí, most have long since disappeared under the sands of the Zúdalikí Desert or been swept away by floods.
Written ilaxaric, on the other hand, gave rise to most writing systems used in eastern Emlas aside from those derived from the enan one, including those used to record Dalran, Vanran, Þekkalic, Akalúric and Ebþúkic. Before it became standard to write official documents in dalran, vanran and þekkalic in Dalra, ilaxaric was usually included as well, but is now primarily a liturgical language in Kilí.
The plazas were adorned with mosaics depicting the god or goddess with all their paraphernalia, surrounded by scenes from mythology specifically associated with the deity. Whenever a rival ilaxaran city-state conquered another, the plaza was carefully covered with sand and clay and a new mosaic laid on top of it, depicting the rival's patron deity to establish their rule over the city, which in turn was buried under a new mosaic image if the locals or another rival came to power later on.
As such, many such plazas had developed into ceremonial platforms by the time Ilax collapsed, some of which were modified to become the foundations of new shrines, such as the Great Temple in Kilí.
Human sacrifices, while not unknown to the ilaxarans, were far less common than animal sacrifices and only performed to appease the gods during flash floods, plagues and other disasters.
Their culture, centered around several city-states by the Namazús River, developed only a few centuries after the Galkans of Vagalkan in northern Túlmikkía developed their own civilization, with whom the ilaxarans traded, along with other bronze age cultures such as the mahannans in Imkala to the west, sóans to the north and -later on- the Memnans in Laxilþía across the Akral Sea to the northeast.
The fall of Ilax, caused by invasions by Akalúrans and Þekkals following a long period of drought, marks the end of bronze age in eastern Emlas. While some of their settlements are still inhabited, notably Kilí (known as Kigilixa by the ilaxarans) and Olrónalí, most have long since disappeared under the sands of the Zúdalikí Desert or been swept away by floods.
Society
Ilax was divided into a number of city-states stretching from the coast of Akral Sea around the Namazús delta to the central part of the river, each ruled by a king and based on a palace economy.
For most of their history, the greatest of these city-states was Avam-ixí, centered around the city of Irs, where the modern town of Pirkila in central Etalka is located. One of Pirkí's kings, Sde-imi, was one of the first ilaxaran rulers to be worshipped after his death and eventually became such a legendary figure throughout Ilax that he entered þekkalan folklore, the latter whom credit the ancient king with the invention of various important customs and technology, even civilization itself.
Ilaxaran crown by Lappalingur
Language
Ilaxaric was a part of a small language family native to the Namazús delta, though by late bronze age it had almost entirely supplanted the latter, save for hymns and prayers to local deities. Þekkal scholars continued using the language amongst themselves long after it had disappeared in daily life, a custom which has become obscure since the dalran conquests, and most dalran and þekkal scholars now know a few words and phrases at best.Written ilaxaric, on the other hand, gave rise to most writing systems used in eastern Emlas aside from those derived from the enan one, including those used to record Dalran, Vanran, Þekkalic, Akalúric and Ebþúkic. Before it became standard to write official documents in dalran, vanran and þekkalic in Dalra, ilaxaric was usually included as well, but is now primarily a liturgical language in Kilí.
Religion
Ilaxarans worshipped a pantheon which included both local deities as well as those adopted from neighbouring cultures, as well as a number of culture heroes and deified rulers. While the main gods and goddesses in ilaxaran mythology had temples throughout Ilax to some extent, each city-state had its own patron deity who was venerated above all others, with rituals in their honour being performed on a ceremonial plaza at the heart of each city.The plazas were adorned with mosaics depicting the god or goddess with all their paraphernalia, surrounded by scenes from mythology specifically associated with the deity. Whenever a rival ilaxaran city-state conquered another, the plaza was carefully covered with sand and clay and a new mosaic laid on top of it, depicting the rival's patron deity to establish their rule over the city, which in turn was buried under a new mosaic image if the locals or another rival came to power later on.
As such, many such plazas had developed into ceremonial platforms by the time Ilax collapsed, some of which were modified to become the foundations of new shrines, such as the Great Temple in Kilí.
Human sacrifices, while not unknown to the ilaxarans, were far less common than animal sacrifices and only performed to appease the gods during flash floods, plagues and other disasters.
1Original icelandic: Ilaxarar, singular: Ilaxari.
2Pronounced as /ɪ:la:ks/
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