Shravana , Ganymede , Gayatri , Shyena – And Other Points Of Syzygy Within Vedic And Classical Myth And Star-Lore

With the Shaivite Holy Month of Shravan Maas in full (indeed, double!) swing, it seems apt to detail a potentially remarkable Indo-European concordancy between the Nakshatra (Asterism) of Śravaṇa (aka Śroṇa ) and the Hellenic perception of same. Depicted upon this star-chart (sourced from Manasataramgini) is the constellation of Aquila in Western / Hellenic terms. … Continue reading Shravana , Ganymede , Gayatri , Shyena – And Other Points Of Syzygy Within Vedic And Classical Myth And Star-Lore

On The Sky Father As Dragon Destroyer

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

On The Meaning Of Dragons – An Indo-European Exploration [Introduction & Part One – The Problem of Perception And The Horrific Hostile Hellenic Herpeton] 

Some years ago, I happened across a remark of the great Argentine author, Jorge Luis Borges, on the subject of dragons: "We do not know what the dragon means, just as we do not know the meaning of the universe, but there is something in the image of the dragon that is congenial to man’s imagination and … Continue reading On The Meaning Of Dragons – An Indo-European Exploration [Introduction & Part One – The Problem of Perception And The Horrific Hostile Hellenic Herpeton] 

In Search Of Scythian Ares – Part Two : The Swords Of The Sky Father

As we'd noted towards the outset of Part One, the Scythian religion is endlessly, fascinatingly frustrating. We know so little - and yet we can seemingly 'piece together' a few elements from the scant textual (and usually virtually third hand) viewpoints of their faith that have come down to us from Antiquity. One figure in … Continue reading In Search Of Scythian Ares – Part Two : The Swords Of The Sky Father

On The Archaic Notion Of The Indo-European Demigod

Recently, in the course of a discussion elsewhere, an occasional correspondant - 'Indian History' on twitter - made mention of a most intriguing Sanskrit term he'd observed in a Hymnal of the RigVeda. We were discussing 'Demigods', and whether these were a more exclusively Greek / Classical phenomenon or something of a broader Indo-European provenance. … Continue reading On The Archaic Notion Of The Indo-European Demigod

Indra Herakles, Trita Iolaus, Vak Athena against Hydra Vritra – A Distillation [Arya Akasha Arka]

As part of my ongoing drive to make our work more accessible [ Arya Akasha Arka ]… here's a seriously summarized comparative of a pretty central Indo-European mytheme: the combat of the Striker/Thunderer Deific [e.g. Indra , Herakles] against the Demon Dragon of the Waters [e.g. Vritra, Hydra]. I've left out … quite a lot … Continue reading Indra Herakles, Trita Iolaus, Vak Athena against Hydra Vritra – A Distillation [Arya Akasha Arka]

Thursday – Jupiter’s Day, Brihaspati’s Day Rather Than Thor’s Day

It is Thursday - Jupiter's Day ; or, in the Hindu reckoning, Brihaspati's Day. Now, there is an obvious disconnect here between Thursday as Thor's Day … and the day being regarded as the Day of the Thundering Sky Father. This is due to the Interpretatio Romana framework as wielded by post-Christianization figures having some … Continue reading Thursday – Jupiter’s Day, Brihaspati’s Day Rather Than Thor’s Day