Antemidia in “Mermaid Princess Amelia and the Lost Symphony”
The history of Antemidia
Antemidia is a mesoamerican mermaid kingdom located in the Caribbean Sea. The kingdom has existed from the second current of the first starfish (3787 BCE), one current being 125 years, and a starfish being 1000 years. The beginning of the first starfish ever, was the collapse of the last colony of Mu in the Pacific (around 5,000 years BCE). The Antemidians use this dating system and call it the starfish system.
In the past, when Amelia’s predecessor, princess Tikalie Uxmal took over the throne, Antemidia was just a poor periphery of the Gulf of Mexico. Tikalie was a young prodigy and a very dedicated ruler, who had much talent. In less than a few years, she managed to turn Antemidia into a powerful country, commonly called the Caribbean Tiger.
After her tragic and mysterious death, Amelia Quintana was chosen by the General Asvald, the chief of Council of Generals as the elective princess of Antemidia. The Council of Generals hold power, with the most important generals being General Asvald, General Aalona and General Esteban.
The geography of Antemidia
The capital city of this Caribbean Sea kingdom is Atanga, and the kingdom itself is divided into three rings; the outer ring, middle ring and the inner ring.
The outer ring is in close proximity to the shores of Dominicana, Barbados, Tobago, Trinidad, Venezuela, Columbia, Panama, Costa Rica, Nicaragua, Honduras and Cuba. The eastern borders leading into the kingdom are marked by sand dunes and sculpted monoliths covered by ancient glyphs.
The middle ring is characterized by houses made of yellowish coral concrete, with roofs covered by sea grass and crowded streets.
The inner ring is full of glass houses, palaces, and temples, and this is where the Uxmal Manor, the family home of Her Limpidity Tikalie is located. It is the Koh-i-Noor of the western suburbs. Placed on a showy, high hill, it towers over other residences.
The religions of Antemidia
Polytheism based on cult of national heroes is practiced in the kingdom. The main god, is the national hero Sal-An-Syon who’s the central figure of the Great Trinity of Antemidia. The other two gods in the trinity, are Albanera (former princess) and Um-Nah-Mel – soldier who was originally born in Nerland, but later travelled to Antemidia, where he became the protégé of Sal-An-Syon. Together with him and Albanera, they trained together to become gods after protecting the nation from the invasion.
Another hero worth mentioning is Yal-An-Dal, who lived in the fifth current of the sixth starfish—the seventeenth century in the humans’ time. Yal-An-Dal led the civilians out of the sea to save them from the invasions of the Agaman tribe from the Central Atlantic. Later, he sacrificed his life to save stone tablets with the ancient Antemidian history, which were the secret artifacts of Antemidia.
In Antemidia, Christianity is allowed but it’s not truly popular. Those who do not believe in Antemidian gods worship Mayan ones.
The international relationships of Antemidia
In Antemidia, relationship with other countries are highly prioritized, but Atlantis is still considered Antemidia’s greatest enemy. Antemidia has a great relationship with the Gulf of Mexico, ruled by leader Leticia Alvarez.
The languages spoken in Antemidia
There are three basic languages in the kingdom of Antemidia with Spanish being the main language, and Ancient Antemidian and Mayan being secondary languages.
Most historical texts of Antemidia, are written with Ancient Antemidian. In the prologue of the first novel about Princess Amelia’s adventures, we learn that the verb shine has a special meaning: being lost in one’s passion (or simply being in the state of flow). Princess Amelia’s greatest hope, is to shine as the elective princess of Antemidia.
It is also known that that the name of the country, Antemidia, comes from Ancient Antemidian words An Temidia, which meant “shall not forget.” These words are reference a difficult period in Antemidia’s history and encourage Antemidians, to keep being faithful to their kingdom. Even during the terrible earthquake, Amelia kept believing that no matter what, the kingdom of Antemidia would never be forgotten.
Antemidia in “Stories from the Undersea World of Mermaid Princess Amelia, Vol. 1”
Antemidia was thoroughly described in Tikalie, Amelia, and Mewa’s stories in “Stories from the Undersea World of Mermaid Princess Amelia, vol. 1”.
In Mewa’s story, Antemidia was mentioned as Adrian Salgari’s homeland, featuring clear, perfect blue waters with white sand visible far below. Ancient temple columns rise from structures that once stood on land before the seas reclaimed them, suggesting a rich history and perhaps a connection to sunken human civilizations. The waters have a “clear, perfect” quality that seems representative of Adrian’s own straightforward, uncomplicated character.
Antemidia in “Mermaid Princess Amelia and the Destiny’s Theater” by Maxine Foti
Antemidia was thoroughly described in the sequel to Mermaid Princess Amelia’s adventures, Mermaid Princess Amelia and the Destiny’s Theater.
Antemidia, known to the wider world as the former Caribbean Atlantis, represents one of the most culturally rich and historically scarred nations in the Atlantic Ocean. Its very name carries the weight of its tragic past—derived from an ancient Antemidian phrase meaning “we will not forget,” the country exists as a living testament to the atrocities committed during the Atlantis² War. When the Azorean forces defeated them and stole everything of value, including their name, the people of the Caribbean chose to remember. They adopted the name Antemidia as both a memorial and a promise, ensuring that future generations would never forget what was done to them.
The territory of Antemidia stretches across the Caribbean Sea, with cultural influence extending to the fiftieth meridian of the Atlantic Ocean. Unlike its Azorean counterpart, Antemidia allowed unchecked sprawl in its urban development. Its rings are irregular and distorted, with the western section of the outer ring growing nearly as thick as the entire inner ring, while the eastern portion remains notably thin. Amelia Quintana, the elective princess, acknowledges that while Atlantis stole Antemidia’s city design, they excelled at preserving it—a bitter irony that underscores the deep wounds still carried by her people.
A Diverse Population and Cultural Heritage
The population of Antemidia reflects the rich tapestry of Caribbean history and migration patterns. Among its citizens are Mayan descendants, legitimate descendants of Aztecs who migrated from the Gulf of Mexico after the Aztec Empire’s fall, and descendants of Caribs and Tainos. This cultural diversity manifests in everything from language to religious practices, with the Antemidian Pantheon representing one of the nation’s most distinctive spiritual traditions. Outstanding individuals who dedicate their lives to the greater good of the country can become deities, awarded eternal remembrance and a place in the Pantheon alongside legendary heroes like Sal-An-Syon, Princess Albanera, and Um-Nah-Mel.
These heroes shaped the nation’s destiny during its darkest hour. When King An-Ta-Nas suffered heart failure upon seeing the Azorean Army at his gates, General Sal-An-Syon rose to lead the defense. His famous declaration—”We shall find a way, as we always have, and we shall take up our arms and fight them all”—became the rallying cry that saved the nation. Princess Albanera’s exceptional cleverness helped organize scattered troops, while Um-Nah-Mel, an accomplished Nerlandese soldier and protégé of Sal-An-Syon, contributed crucial military expertise. Their victory sealed the country’s gates for years afterward, with the military retaining significant power long after the war ended.
Political Structure and Military Authority
Antemidia operates under a complex political structure where the military still holds substantial influence. General Asvald Valdemar Syldarion Altamira serves as Chief General, representing the House of Altamira in Atanga, while General Aalona leads the opposition and General Esteban acts as mediator between the two factions. Despite this military presence, the country has less visible disparities between its rings and provinces than Atlantis, suggesting a more equitable social structure.
The elective princess, currently sixteen-year-old Amelia Quintana, serves as a symbolic figure who lives in Santa Ana, Portugal, where she attends high school and receives karate training. Her father, Adavan Vega, works with Vera Fehér, while her stepsister Lumina Mond rules the KAVEM District. Amelia’s education and international connections have made her valuable for diplomatic missions, though the real power lies with the generals who guide the country’s political direction.
The Treaty of Athala, signed after the Atlantis² War, created a precarious situation that still haunts Antemidia. The treaty’s terms require Antemidia to wage war against Atlantis within twenty years to regain lost honor. Starting a war sooner would be suicide for the nation, while waiting too long would be murder. The country needs at least seventy more years to truly stand a chance against Atlantis, yet the treaty’s deadline approaches inexorably. All four copies of the treaty have disappeared over time, leading to theories that they might have been destroyed on purpose—either to prevent war or to provoke retaliation sooner.
Wounds of War and Cultural Pride
The wounds of the Atlantis² War remain fresh despite thousands of years passing. The country’s name reflects the collective trauma and determination to remember, but this memory carries a burden. Antemidia is “just as hungry for power as Atlantis,” yet something sets them apart: they don’t let ambition override reason. This restraint has preserved their culture and prevented further catastrophe, though tensions with Atlantis continue to simmer.
Antemidia hosts the Torch of Knowledge, a symbol of truth, education, and peace that represents the cultural values the country promotes. This commitment to education and cultural preservation manifests in various ways, from the Antemidian National Library—which contains an entire bookcase dedicated solely to books about the Universal Legend—to the Temple of Young Maidens, a place where unmarried mermaids pray for what they cherish most.
The Temple of Young Maidens holds a particularly dark history. Originally built as the Temple of Unforgiveness, a monument erected after the Atlantis² War, its eastern location contains the Chamber of Retaliation beneath the temple floor, accessed through a secret passage. This eerie space serves as a mass grave containing the remains of nameless heroes who fell in the war. The walls are covered with glyphs written in both Ancient Antemidian and Mayan, containing vows of retaliation made by merpeople after Sal-An-Syon drove the invaders away. These promises of vengeance inscribed on the chamber walls ensure that the fallen comrades’ deaths will be avenged, a testament to the nation’s commitment to remembrance.
Beyond the Chamber of Retaliation lies the Chamber of Truth, which contained an ancient tablet of immense cultural value until its destruction. During a devastating earthquake, half of this room collapsed, and in the chaos, Samantha—an Atlantean who had infiltrated the country—destroyed the original historical artifact by throwing it to the ground and breaking it in half. This act of cultural vandalism represented one of many atrocities committed against Antemidia by their enemies.
Daily Life and Celebrations
Despite the weight of history, Antemidian culture celebrates life through festivities and traditions. The Friendship Holiday, celebrated on July 18, brings the community together as older merpeople give speeches to honor lifelong friends while younger ones make promises of never-ending friendship. Gifts are exchanged, wishes are made, and celebrations continue throughout the night. Many venture to the surface during these celebrations, drawn by tiny creatures illuminating beaches with mysterious blue light, while those too far from land gather at sea clubs to dance. Everyone, even children, drinks a special liqueur made by mermaids near Yucatan.
The Caribbean waters themselves hold a special significance for Antemidians. Described as paradise, the crystal-clear waters of the Caribbean Sea shape their identity, though some find the water too salty for comfort. This connection to their homeland remains strong even for those living abroad, as demonstrated by Amelia’s longing for her country during her time in Portugal.
In the glass city of Atanga, the stepped pyramid of Uxmal Manor stands as a testament to architectural achievement and family legacy. Here, hidden passages and secret rooms contain classified books accessible only to family and the highest-ranking generals, preserving ancient Mayan artifacts untouched for centuries. The granaries named after the god Ka-Cha-Lum and the Trini City—now considered backwards, populated mostly by elderly residents—represent the changing face of Antemidian society, as younger generations leave for other areas while the elderly remain behind.
For all its scars and struggles, Antemidia remains a nation defined by its refusal to forget. Its people carry the memory of their stolen heritage, their murdered heroes, and their lost name, but they also carry hope—hope that through education, cultural preservation, and careful diplomacy, they might one day reclaim what was taken from them without resorting to the same violence that devastated their ancestors. The Torch of Knowledge burns in Antemidia not just as a symbol of what they value, but as a promise that they will never again be forced to forget.
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