Durgā Interpretatio For The Present Devotional Season

If I were going to craft a (Greco-)Roman Durgā 'resonance' representation for one of these Durgā Puja Pandals which are the custom in West Bengal (there is a rather fine Athena resonant effort I have posted previously) - I would have drawn upon Juno Sospita & Quiritis (Curitis). This is Juno the Warrior, the epithets being 'The … Continue reading Durgā Interpretatio For The Present Devotional Season

The Thunderbolt (And Storm Shield) Of Athena – A Brief Compilation

Recently, we'd had somebody write in via the site with relation to the 'Storm' characteristic in association with Athena. It's something which one should think would enjoy more prominence in the perception as to the Goddess - but despite various attestations from around the Classical legendaria, as well as the strong implicit sense to such a prospect … Continue reading The Thunderbolt (And Storm Shield) Of Athena – A Brief Compilation

The Indo-European Divine Rite Of The Covenant In Vafþrúðnismál ? Some Preliminary Notes

Because it's been awhile since I put out properly finished content - here's what you might consider some 'working notes'. Basically, a slightly edited version of a reply I'd put together for two gentlemen in discussion of a particular pair of verses from the Vafþrúðnismál, which upon the surface would appear to quite considerably resonate with my contemplations … Continue reading The Indo-European Divine Rite Of The Covenant In Vafþrúðnismál ? Some Preliminary Notes

Why We Offer To The Gods [Part Three: I Bring The Fire]

In our previous installments, we had sought to extoll two key elements. For the first - some brief textual attestations of Roman and Vedic provenance for the concept of the Gods being actively supported ("subsist[ing]", as one translated section had it) through our offerings to Them through the proper rites. Which is, of course, a … Continue reading Why We Offer To The Gods [Part Three: I Bring The Fire]

Dawn & Dyaus

I'd recently been tagged in a post commenting upon the (Proto-)Indo-European Dawn Goddess [said deific underpinning the Hellenic figure of Eos - beautifully rendered here by Yliade], which had borne the following line:  "She was probably the child of the Dyēus Phter, the Sky-Father ." And, me being me, this precipitated a rather … extended … Continue reading Dawn & Dyaus

Lycaon – Classical Corroborations Contra the Calumny of Clement of Alexandria Against Zeus

Urgh. I know I've said it before … but some of these early-ish Christian 'Against The Pagans' efforts really do rather annoy me. Why? Because they're often pretty uh .. 'bad faith'. Tonight's example? Clement of Alexandria in his Protrepticus ('Exhortation', 'Urging' 'Pro-Turning/Converting'): "Jupiter himself, when the of Lycaon the Arcadian, partook of a human … Continue reading Lycaon – Classical Corroborations Contra the Calumny of Clement of Alexandria Against Zeus

Further Points Upon The ‘Refraction’ Of The Sky Father – With Particular Emphasis Upon Zeus, Hades, Poseidon

I should clarify that I'm not posting this with an intent of having a go at the gentleman who'd raised the counterclaim (hence, in part, why I've anonymized his comment in the cap below) - but rather, because various of the elements in my reply might be of a broader interest (the situation as to … Continue reading Further Points Upon The ‘Refraction’ Of The Sky Father – With Particular Emphasis Upon Zeus, Hades, Poseidon