@omniadisce Thanks for the recommendation! I'm checking out some Gibbon on YouTube. One criticism I've heard is that he tends to blame Christianity, or perhaps Christian doctrinal infighting, for the fall of Rome (rather than, I suppose, the resurgent Persians, over-reliance on barbarian mercenaries, deterioration of army discipline, inflation, rivalries among generals and aristocrats resulting in civil wars, and repeated succession crises). But I'd like to listen to his arguments for myself!

@omniadisce another parallel is the underground cities such as Derinkuyu, whose entrances could be sealed with large millstones I protect the Byzantine population from Arab raiders. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Derinkuyu_underground_city Zork's predecessor, Collosal Cave Adventure, is thought to be inspired by Mammoth Caves in Kentucky mixed with Tolkienesque "high fantasy", whereas Zork describes itself as a game of "low cunning." https.wikipedia.org/wiki/Colossal_Cave_Adventure

@omniadisce @drbjork Also if you check out "The Great Underground Empire: A History" (by Froboz Mumbar) it reads like a parody of the Byzantines. Massive bureaucratic class; 6th through 9th Century dates; almost-familiar but humorously strange semi-classical semi-medieval Latinate names like Jezbar, Zilbo, Zeebin, Bozbo, Duncanthrax and Mithicus (with something like Pashto for added Oriental exoticism); the late descent into fiscal irresponsibility and ultimate sacking
http://infodoc.plover.net/manuals/zork1.pdf