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TURDETANIANS

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Help for Turdetanians

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When Kolaios of Samos was forced by a storm to sail in the waters beyond the Pillars of Hercules (the Strait of Gibraltar), the rich city of Turta, which he called Tarsis, held the mouth of the River Baetis (Guadalquivir). Much time has passed since its civilised inhabitants, possessors of just laws inscribed in stone, controlled the gold and silver of the whole valley. Tarsis had fallen, and memory of its lineage has failed, but the Turdetani and Turduli have replaced the subjects of the mythical king Argantonius ("the Silver Man"), and, although diminished in power, they are still able farmers, herdsmen and skilful miners.

Lusitanian bandits raze their harvest and livestock year in year out. Yet the Turdetani remain proud of their ancient lineage, and are able to defend themselves: by trade, by laws, or by arms - one way or another. Andalusian mothers still pray to their gods when their sons parade through the streets of Ipolka, with falcatas in their swordbelts, dressed in immaculate red tunics trimmed with purple, and carrying shields adorned with images of stern sphinxes and menacing griffins, while they shake the strange crests of their leather helmets.

Like their kin, they are adept at throwing javelins and much effort is required to defeat them, while the goddess Artemis, she whom the Phocian sailors call Potnia Theron ("the Mistress of Wild Animals"), loves them and bolsters their courage.