Any ruler who wants to go down in history 📚 should get acquainted with the “Ruler’s Manual” series! Why – you ask? Well, in the following entries we tell you about how to make your Polis wealthy, safe, and as prosperous as possible. And believe us, it’s not as easy as it may seem!
The Ruler's Manual #10 - Hygiene
Life in Ancient Greece, while full of wonderful adventures, was not one of the safest or easiest. In addition to famine, wars, and hostile, wild lands, the inhabitants of the city-states also faced other threats. One of the biggest and most dangerous of them are diseases 🤢 Since humans began to form civilizations, and thus live in larger groups, diseases have spread more easily and quickly than ever before. Sadly, this was the price our ancestors had to pay for being part of a developing society.
The good news is that epidemics, though they can put an end even to a thriving, prosperous Polis, can be controlled and even prevented. Today we will learn how to manage the hygiene of your subjects to ensure their health and a good, long life 💖
What are the dangers of the lack of hygiene among your subjects?
It’s not like the people of your city don’t want to be clean and tidy – not at all! They will gladly take every opportunity to wash off the dirt and feel fresh and neat 🧼 It is therefore important to give them the opportunity to use facilities that will allow them to take care of hygiene. It should not come as a surprise, that a neglected, dirty society is the perfect environment for disease and epidemics to spread. And this is something we want to avoid!
Know that your empire may suffer severely if an epidemic breaks out in the streets of your Polis. Many of your subjects may then choose to emigrate or succumb to disease and cross the dark river of Styx 💀
Let’s not be dramatic, though, as there is a way to avert these dark visions! Most of these dangers are nothing that the good old Baths 
– so much loved by the ancients – can’t handle. A visit to this building is a great way to cleanse your body after a day’s work and return to the desired freshness. In addition, the Baths uses precious Cosmetics that simply are loved by your subjects.
Baths’ purpose is to help keep the living part of your society clean and healthy. As cruel as it sounds, none of its members will live forever. That is why we are putting one more building at your disposal. This gloom structure will allow you to stave off diseases and provide an eternal resting place for those who have passed away.
Necropolis and it's noble purpose
As we mentioned at the beginning of this entry, life in Ancient Greece was not very safe. Wounds sustained in combat, hunting, or travel often turned out to be serious enough to send the injured person to the other side 😫 Not to mention hunger or infections. In such a situation, the Ancients had to learn how to handle the bodies of the dead. If they buried them just anywhere, they would quickly expose themselves to numerous diseases and health problems.
The Necropolis is a place where your citizens can bury their loved ones in a safe and reverent way, without fear of carrying a negative impact on the health of their fellow citizens. Specially anointed and prepared bodies are deposited in the Necropolis vaults, where the deceased spirits can enjoy eternal feast and spring in the fields of Elysium 🍹 Drinks all around!
And what if, despite all your efforts and the provision of appropriate infrastructure, your subjects fall ill? This is certainly an undesirable situation, but there is a way out of it as well. In such cases, the services of physicians stationed at Healer’s House and Clinic will be very useful! 💊 They can fight both the initial and more developed stages of the disease, and restore your inhabitants to health and good shape. However, we adhere to the principle – prevention is better than cure! If you provide your city with the right conditions to take care of its hygiene, your subjects will surely repay you with diligence, loyalty and high morale! 🤓
In the following parts of the series, we will return to you with descriptions of many other important mechanics and tips that will help you become the greatest ruler of all time! As always – stay tuned.