Silomian

Silomian is the name given to an ancient civilization depicted in various fantasy narratives and world-building materials. The term encompasses both the Silomian people and their cultural sphere, which in these works is placed roughly between 1200 and 400 BCE in the internal chronology. In the fictional setting, Silomia lies in a temperate river basin bordered by upland forests and basalt hills, with major urban centers such as Halora, Lethiel, and Miran connected by roads and canals.

Society and economy center on city life, with a hierarchical social structure that includes merchant guilds, artisan workshops, and agricultural estates. The Silomians excelled in bronze metallurgy, pottery, textiles, and carpentry, and maintained broad trade networks with neighboring polities. Urban planning favored public spaces, temples, and markets, while rural areas supplied food and raw materials to the cities.

Language and writing developed a distinct Silomian tongue, traditionally grouped in a fictional language family. Inscriptions in a script known as Sil Script appear on seals, monuments, and ceramic wares, providing important clues for archaeologists within the lore. Religion and ritual often emphasized ancestor veneration and solar symbolism, with ceremonial structures including tiered temples and stone circles.

History and decline describe a rise in the late second millennium BCE, peak activity around 800–600 BCE, and a gradual decline due to climate stress, resource constraints, and external pressures. By 400 BCE many centers were abandoned or transformed, leaving a dispersed cultural legacy evident in regional practices and later artistic motifs.

Archaeology and legacy note that in-world research often centers on excavations in the Silom Basin and artifacts such as bronze blades, figurines, and ceremonial vessels. Silomian motifs persist in neighboring cultures and in contemporary fiction, where the civilization is a common origin for urbanization themes.