Culture of Zahava

Music
Music was a major part of everyday life in ancient Zahava and continues to be today. Many private and public events were accompanied by music, ranging from nightly dining parties to military parades, religious ceremonies, and funerals. For a person to be well at playing music it was believed they must have a good understanding of mathematics and knowledge as music was viewed as a manifestation of the cosmic order.

Some of the instruments used in traditional Zahavan music are the tuba, horns, flute, panpipes, lyre, lute, drums, and water organ, almost always accompanied by singing, either of poetry or special religious recitations set to a specific rhythm.

Music is often accompanied by dance, both for pleasure, such as dancing that occurs in taverns or at dinner parties, or as part of a ballet, and as part of certain ceremonies where the movements are very closely choreographed.

Literature
Zahavan literature is divided into distinct categories, religious text which often contains a series of sermons, or daily lessons which are often read by the head of the household to the family at dinner time. Other religious texts contain the directions on how to conduct specific religious ceremonies, what incantations, the proper prayers and prayer structure and what offerings should be used in a given ceremony.

Poetry, which is further broken down into popular, religious and secular poetry, includes the heroic tales of Zahavan heros, devotional treatises, religious hymns and rhymes, in addition to the scripts for plays and other theater performances. The works of Eulalius Bardas are among the earliest examples showing characters in a story interacting with one another with dialogue.

Essays, which consist of writings on any number of topics ranging from mathematics, to observations and critiques of society, psychology or commentary on various schools of philosophical thought.

Encyclopaedae and Scientificum, contains works on history, or in depth analysis in schools of science such as geometry, physics, algebra, politics. Calixta Comnena, was among the earliest such writers, using works on military history to demonstrate the merit in the study and analysis of historical events.

House Parties and Tavernium
Particularly common among the upper classes, Zahavan house parties typically take place at mid day, or at night. The host would bring their guests into a special room, called the Perfruium, or room of Leisure. Here guests would lie on recliner couches typically around a small water feature or flower garden, eating and drinking while socializing. Typically guests would play also play a manner of games, such as charades, or card games or listen to a singer sing songs or recite poetry or listen to a small band of musicians.

Also common during times of antiquity was the practice of Zahavan nobleman demonstrating their virility by going to a special lounging room, with an adjacent semi hidden room where guests would watch the host couple have intercourse. It was also common for the nobleman to have mistresses and even slave women join them as men would often use the number of women they could presumably satisfy in one evening as a means of bragging and demonstrating superiority over one another.

At night many Zahavans like to go to a Tavernium, literally meaning food and wine house. Here Zahavans eat, drink, and dance with members of the community. Tavernium also often have rooms for lodging, and in lower class areas are also frequent hangouts for prostitutes. More luxurious Tavernium may have small private bathhouses, flower gardens with silk and linen draped pergolas over reclining couches. To outsiders Zahavans are seen as extremely promiscuous as there are few social barriers to unmarried people engaging in sexual activity. Orgies are, in fact, not uncommon to occur at social events with many establishments having rooms designated specifically for such activities.

Chariot Racing
Chariot racing is one of the most popular sports in the Imperium, and one of the most dangerous to both charioteers and horses alike. Both often suffer serious injury and even death, but these dangers add to the excitement and interest for spectators, with many stating the accidents are their main draw to the attending the races. The most dangerous section of track being the turns, where if a driver was not careful they, and their horses could find themselves being trampled to death should their chariot turn over. With this area being considered the most dangerous, ticket prices for seating nearest the turns at the track are among the highest.

Chariot teams often represent different organizations, companies, or individuals and it is not uncommon for these groups to compete against one another for skilled drivers. Likewise fans of the sport often choose a team, or driver and will fanatically support their chosen team or driver, violence breaking out between groups of opposing spectators is not uncommon. Adding to the competitive nature was the belief that the races showcased ones wealth and prestige among the populous. This often leads to teams spending lavishly not only on drivers but on elaborate decorations for the chariot itself and the horses.

In ancient times the teams, and the groups they represented would often also represent varying and opposing political interests adding to the fanaticism of followers. The most successful charioteers would often go on to either middling political careers, or use their fame to become coaches for wealthy groups in hopes they could transfer their success onto the next generation of racers.

Chariot races were often held in conjunction with celebrations for national or religious festivals, or on the anniversary of a revered primogenitor or other officials birthday.

Traditionally chariot racing is broken up into two groups, four horse teams, and two horse teams. The chariots themselves were traditionally modified war chariots made of wood although in modern times they are sometimes made of fiberglass. Also in modern times, the act of using motorcycles in place of horses has gained some following, although many race fans maintain that the true skill lies in the horse drawn teams.