Aetan Gate
The Gate of Rumor
One of seven gates in the Old Cadmeian Wall, the Gaian Gate connects the Citadel Hill districts of the Old City with the Upland districts and provides access from the Uplands to the Lower City.
History
The Old Cadmeian Wall was constructed by Spartoi and Sidonian settlers during the reign of King Cadmus the Founder. The wall encircled the original footprint of Cadmeia including the Ogygian ruins atop what would come to be known as Citadel Hill, the Serpent Crest atop what would come to be known as the Acropolis, and the Labyrinth of Antique Design, which would be covered in Gallery District structures and largely abandoned. The two original northward-facing gates leading upslope from the city were named in honor of Gaia and Ouranos. A third gate, the Kronos Gate, was later relocated from the disused Western Path to provide a separate entrance onto the growing Gallery District. When the New or Theban Wall was built, and its northernmost gate named in honor of the wind god Boreas, these three northern-facing walls were rededicated to the Breezes, Aura, Aeta, and Pnoia. The Gaian Gate connecting Citadel Hill with the Upland districts was renamed the Aetan Gate.Properties
Nicknamed the Gate of Rumor, the curved ceiling of the passageway through this especially thick portion of wall creates a sound that resembles overlapping whispered voices. Attempts have been made to ascribe a supernatural cause to the sound, whether it conveys messages from the gods, voices of the dead, or echoes of long-past conversations within the city. But although most observers never hear anything more than an imagined hint of meaning in the whispers, it remains a popular spot for study and contemplation.Associated Structures
On the outside of the gate is a garrison and stable, intended to house a military force in times of civil unrest. During the reign of the Riddle-Solving King, the garrison building has been abandoned and deliberately allowed to degrade as a symbol of a peaceful and prosperous city that needs no outside enforcement. The stable is kept up for messengers or military visitors from the Barracks District. Above the gate is a city watchtower that commands a district of Cadmeia and watches out for approaching military units that might need to be conducted to the Citadel on official buisiness.On This Page:
Elsewhere:
Join World Anvil to subscribe to updates.
Type
Architectural Element, Entrance / Entryway
Comments