Mowlavis

Mowlavis is a coastal city-state on the eastern shore of the Azuria archipelago. The name's origin is uncertain; scholars propose it derives from local terms meaning shore and light, reflecting the city’s beacon-based harbor culture.

Mowlavis sits at a natural harbor with access to inland river deltas and limestone quays. The settlement appears in regional chronicles around 650 BCE and flourished as a maritime hub from the 4th to the 2nd centuries BCE. It minted bronze coins adorned with a seashell and crescent moon and developed public spaces such as an agora and temple precincts.

Its government is described as a merchant-led council with a rotating magistrate, integrating shipmasters and guilds. The economy centered on amphora production, salt, fish, and long-distance trade in timber, textiles, and pottery. Cultural life revolved around celebrations at the temple of the sea deity Lumara and harbor festivals.

Archaeological work at the Mowlavis site began in the late 19th century, with major excavations since the 1990s. Discoveries include city walls, harbor installations, granaries, and thousands of inscribed tablets written in the Mowlavis Script, a writing system partially deciphered and rich in commercial records and navigational notes.

Mowlavis is a key reference for understanding early maritime economies in the region and informs the study of Azurian intercultural contact. See also: Azuria maritime archaeology.