[illustration appears to be by a Jim Tierney] When it comes to Dionysus, there are various elements which are … challenging to make sense of. This is as it should be. One of these concerns the likely etymology - and therefore meaning - of one of His most prominent theonymics: Bacchus (or Bakkhos, Βάκχος, etc.). Usually … Continue reading On The Etymology Of Bacchus – The Roarer
Brahmanaspati
On Indo-European ‘Glory Imperishable’ And Becoming The Myth
The brightest stars do tend to burn up upon re-entry. But oh how they shine on the way out ! ἀριστεία - Aristea - refers to 'Excellence',κλέος - Kleos - to 'Renown', 'Glory'. The result of said Excellence. Grand exemplars are to be found - of course - within the Iliad. We are literally still … Continue reading On Indo-European ‘Glory Imperishable’ And Becoming The Myth
Brihaspati – The Lord of the Songs of Prayer
Today is Thursday - Jupiter's Day, the Day of Brihaspati. So therefore … some rather modern art of Brihaspati - also known as 'Guru', and yes in astrological terms linked to the Planet Jupiter. Now in Vedic terms, Brihaspati is an interesting figure. The name, effectively, means the 'Lord of the Songs of Prayer'. However … Continue reading Brihaspati – The Lord of the Songs of Prayer
The Upasads – Sieges, Homage, Spiritual Warfare, And The Necessary Restoration Of Western Indo-European Religious Ritual Reconstruction
Something that is going to be absolutely essential when it comes to reconstructing the 'high religious' rites for western Indo-European spheres - is working out where, in the depths of the mythology, ritual understandings are to be deliberately inferred. Why? Because so much of Indo-European ritual is comprised of what Eliade eloquently termed the 'Eternal … Continue reading The Upasads – Sieges, Homage, Spiritual Warfare, And The Necessary Restoration Of Western Indo-European Religious Ritual Reconstruction
The Sieger Of Forts And The Slayer Of Dragons – Several Athena Hailings & Durga Comparatively Considered
Two of the most prominent Goddess facings for the Indo-European world would have to be Durga and Pallas Athena. I have written extensively elsewhere as to various vital coterminities between Their respective theologies - however something occurred to me recently that has as-yet lain unaddressed. A similarity of these theonyms - 'Durga', and 'Pallas'. For … Continue reading The Sieger Of Forts And The Slayer Of Dragons – Several Athena Hailings & Durga Comparatively Considered
Some Brief Points On The Vajra
Earlier, we had a question to the page around a seeming similarity between a Thunderbolt carried by a Roman deific statue - and the famed Vajra so prominent in the Hindu (and Buddhist) sphere. Particularly, around whether what was seen in Hindu art had some deliberate iconographic coterminity with the Trishula (Trident). As applies the … Continue reading Some Brief Points On The Vajra
The Ganesha Of Kabul – And His Custodian Guard [ Arte-Facts #14 ]
In our field, we are so often delving into impressive legends of long ago - myths about men who once lived and wrought deeds so mighty that they seem frankly 'incredible' (in the old sense of the term) today. And that can leave one quite jaded about the modern era for reasons that ought be … Continue reading The Ganesha Of Kabul – And His Custodian Guard [ Arte-Facts #14 ]
Midhvan for Monday – Lord Rudra’s Day
It is Monday - Lord Shiva's Day. And therefore - fine Roudran (A)Art-i. In this case - potentially - as Midhvan, and we shall explicate that term momentarily. Now, when one thinks of a figure of rather … apocalyptic significance turning up riding a white horse, it is perhaps rare that one's mind would immediately … Continue reading Midhvan for Monday – Lord Rudra’s Day
The Way Of The Gun – The Surprising Re-Development Of A Proto-Indo-European Term Into Modern English … And its Comparative Cognates Considered In Both Ritual And Conventional Phraseology Across The Indo-European Sphere
Something I have long remarked upon is the manner in which certain terms, certain concepts … they are to be found in incredibly archaic spheres, and then they 'fade away' or they undergo some transmogrification which obscures their essence somewhat, only to thence re-emerge somewhere else entirely amidst one of the Indo-European descendant groups who … Continue reading The Way Of The Gun – The Surprising Re-Development Of A Proto-Indo-European Term Into Modern English … And its Comparative Cognates Considered In Both Ritual And Conventional Phraseology Across The Indo-European Sphere
On Odin As Agni
Part One: Kindling The Flame In a number of my previous works now, I have established the fundamental equation of the Odin of the Eddic mythology with the Shiva of the Vedic sphere. I have also shown how the Rudra, the Brihaspati, the Agni, the Vayu, the Parjanya of the Vedas - are also all Faces, … Continue reading On Odin As Agni
arya-akasha 