Something we have often had cause to make reference to is the fact that this most prominent of Indo-European mythemes, the Smiting of the Demon-Dragon, is NOT exclusive in commissioning to the Striker/Thunderer deific. But is, rather, a case of 'Like Father - Like Son'. As with, perhaps uncoincidentally, the wielding of Thunder in various … Continue reading On The Sky Father As Dragon Destroyer
Greco-Roman
A Brief Point On Ovid’s Re-Memification Of Arachne Contra Athena
occasional reminder that that's (probably) not how the myth went [prior to Ovid getting his hands on it and making some 'alterations'] [you may recall my commentary viz. what he did to the myth around Artemis and Actaeon - wherein we know, due to various other tellings and the Vedic cognate, that it's a story … Continue reading A Brief Point On Ovid’s Re-Memification Of Arachne Contra Athena
A Thunderbolt For The Sky Father – Amidst The Burning Branches Of Demon-Smiting Lightning
It seems the most logical, natural thing in the world - and certainly, we have amply attested acknowledgement for this in and about multiple Indo-European spheres. Yet somehow , the situation of the Thunderbolt has become something of a 'cudgel' with which some have sought to 'beat' deifics such as Odin and Shiva out of … Continue reading A Thunderbolt For The Sky Father – Amidst The Burning Branches Of Demon-Smiting Lightning
The Egg Of Nemesis In Etruscan Presentation By Turms / Hermes / Mercury
An Etruscan depiction of the Egg of Nemesis being presented to the King of Sparta, hence the labelling of ' Turms ' ( Hermes / Mercury ), 'Tuntle' (Tyndareos / Tyndareus), and 'Latva' (Leda) This is from the lesser-known 'alternate' explication for the Birth of Helen ['Elinei' / 'Elinai' / 'Elina'] in which it is … Continue reading The Egg Of Nemesis In Etruscan Presentation By Turms / Hermes / Mercury
On Bhishma As Sky Father Incarnate – A Guest-Post With Annotations
[Editor's Note: It is a grand thing when we find our efforts to have sparked an impact. In this case, a few weeks prior we had had a most energetic conversation with a lad, Utsav Sambhava, who had a few thoughts in relation to some pieces I'd sketched out in 2021 pertaining to a pattern in … Continue reading On Bhishma As Sky Father Incarnate – A Guest-Post With Annotations
A Slightly Belated Beltane Commentary (With Additional Slavic Comparanda)
Every year, we try and have (A)Arti-cles ready for the major days of the Indo-European religious calendars. Some years, we do better than others. Other years - a delay turns out to be a blessing in disguise. So it may be viz. Beltane. For we had just in the past few hours happened across postings … Continue reading A Slightly Belated Beltane Commentary (With Additional Slavic Comparanda)
Brief Points On The Relationship Between Hellenic & Hindu Astrology
Recently, we had had a few questions come in about the relationship of the Greek & Hindu astrologies. Specifically - which bits were Indian versus which bits came in with the Hellenics that arrived under Alexander. And, in particular, whether the Nakshatras (27 / 28 'Lunar Mansions' - Star Signs) were the Indian part, whilst … Continue reading Brief Points On The Relationship Between Hellenic & Hindu Astrology
A Certain Blue-Cloaked Figure In Disguise …
I had seen this image of Hanuman with Lords Ram & Lakshman posted upon the occasion of the former's Jayanti and I did a double-take. Why? I'd been answering a question around Hanuman as an 'Avatar' or 'Form' of Shiva / Rudra on Hanuman Jayanti … and there we had Hanuman, appearing garbed in a … Continue reading A Certain Blue-Cloaked Figure In Disguise …
The Crow-Accompanied Goddess Of Violent Death
The Fierce Warrior-Destroyer Goddess Chandika is depicted in the Kadambari of Banabhatta (and Son) as being accompanied by a most remarkable coterie of worshippers. To quote from my own translation: “Being worshipped from all sides by the Retinue of Crows both razor sharp and unyielding Who sang Her Glories” The Sanskrit reads: “ārādhyamānāṃ sarvataḥ kaṭhoravāyasagaṇena … Continue reading The Crow-Accompanied Goddess Of Violent Death
On The Equinox War-Rites Of The Indo-Europeans
The 19th of March, per the Roman calendar, marks a prominent observance to Minerva - so named 'Quinquatria' due to its occurring on the fifth day ('Quinque') following the Ides of March. And, as should perhaps come as a surprise to no-one by this point, we happened to notice some rather significant points of Indo-European … Continue reading On The Equinox War-Rites Of The Indo-Europeans