One of the most iconic creatures from Greek mythology must surely be the Cyclopes. Best known from Odysseus' encounter with Polyphemus during the course of the Odyssey, the Cyclopes is one of those classic mythic tropes - the big, brutish monster who must be defeated via cunning and guile lest he devour the hero and … Continue reading The Cyclopes And The Ribhus Elves – Solar Smiths of the Sky Father
Interpretatio Romana
The Gryphon – Indo-European Guardian of the Golden Realm
One of the more seizing figures to have captured the imagination - both ancient and modern - is the Griffin (occasionally, and to my mind superiorly, spelled 'Gryphon'). Almost everybody knows it - a creature that is simultaneously leonine and aquiline. Part Lion, part Eagle. And usually pictured by us in its heraldic form, something … Continue reading The Gryphon – Indo-European Guardian of the Golden Realm
A THIRD DRAUGHT OF SOMA-KVASIR – THE RECONSTRUCTION OF THE MEANING OF THE MEAD
As I have previously illustrated, it now seems that Snorri Sturluson's accounting of the Mead of Poetry is drawing from, and perhaps inexpertly seeking to summarize materials that are far older. That are Indo-European. That have likely been passed down since the points roughly at which the Vedic and the Eddic religious canons were broadly … Continue reading A THIRD DRAUGHT OF SOMA-KVASIR – THE RECONSTRUCTION OF THE MEANING OF THE MEAD
ON THE HORSE TWINS – The Savior Sons of the Sky Father [Part 2 – Hengist And Horsa – The Demonization of the Divine Sons]
The 'Horse' nomenclature is particularly overt when we turn to Hengist & Horsa - the latter being so clear as to not require translation, whilst the former effectively means 'Stallion'. So, 'Stallion' and 'Horse', then. At least in the British chronicles upon the subject. Other accounts from further into the Germanosphere differ somewhat upon this … Continue reading ON THE HORSE TWINS – The Savior Sons of the Sky Father [Part 2 – Hengist And Horsa – The Demonization of the Divine Sons]
Yama Iamso Coin of the Kushans, And What This Means For Central Asian Indo-European Religion – Arte-Facts #7
I've had this coin in my head for some days now - a golden coin of the Kushan king Huviska (who appears on the obverse), featuring what appears to be Yama on the deity side. Why? Because of the iconography with which Yama - here hailed as 'Iamso' - is displayed. He's holding a Spear … Continue reading Yama Iamso Coin of the Kushans, And What This Means For Central Asian Indo-European Religion – Arte-Facts #7
ON THE HORSE TWINS – The Savior Sons of the Sky Father [Part 1 – Introductions, Inceptions, And Asvins]
One of the more pervasive, yet perplexing of the elements of the Indo-European mythology must surely be the Heroic Horse-Twins. Whether the Asvins / Nasatyas / Divo Napata of the Vedas, the Dioscuri of the Greeks (Castor & Pollux / Polydeuces), the Asvieniai / Dievo Suneliai of the Lithuianians, or Hengist and Horsa of the … Continue reading ON THE HORSE TWINS – The Savior Sons of the Sky Father [Part 1 – Introductions, Inceptions, And Asvins]
Hail Hydra-Slayer: On The Mythic Combat Of Herakles And Athena – Indra And Vak Saraswati, Against The Demon-Dragon Of The Water
Herakles against the Hydra, Indra against Vritra - these are surely some of the best-known mythic combats in each of the Greek/Classical and Vedic/Hindu legendariums. Similarities immediately begin to suggest themselves - clearly, each is a fight of the Thunderer/Striker against a Demon-Dragon that is to be found 'midst waters. However, there is another, less … Continue reading Hail Hydra-Slayer: On The Mythic Combat Of Herakles And Athena – Indra And Vak Saraswati, Against The Demon-Dragon Of The Water
Dyaus; Deva, Deus, Tyr: Many Gods, One Sky Father
Despite His centrality to our mythology, the Indo-European Sky Father is probably one of the most misunderstood Gods of our pantheon(s). You will semi-regularly hear people make all manner of outlandish claims about Him. The most common of which tend to be either that the Sky Father 'withered away' and was superceded by another God or … Continue reading Dyaus; Deva, Deus, Tyr: Many Gods, One Sky Father
The Radiant Queen of the Heavens – On Scythian Tabiti As Template For The Greater Indo-European Solar Goddess [Part 4 – The Moon, Mirrored, And Her Daughters]
A further support for the 'inversion' possibility is granted via looking at the actual mythology of the main Greek figure - Selene. As aforementioned, Selene is usually identified as one of the Daughters of Hyperion and Theia, although with two other possibilities which occasionally come up - the paternity of Pallas (a name that does … Continue reading The Radiant Queen of the Heavens – On Scythian Tabiti As Template For The Greater Indo-European Solar Goddess [Part 4 – The Moon, Mirrored, And Her Daughters]
Sons of the Sun – A Brief Comparative Of The Indo-European Progenitor Twins
The Indo-European Myth of the Progenitor Twins is quite literally foundational for who we are and how we relate to the people, the world around us. It is therefore unsurprising that even despite occasional alterations, it has remained so recognizably pervasive amidst the descendant Indo-European peoples. In our recent "Sons of the Sun" series, we … Continue reading Sons of the Sun – A Brief Comparative Of The Indo-European Progenitor Twins
arya-akasha 