Something that has truly given me cause for wonder as we've been delving further into the mysteries of Indo-European Central Asia … is just how immediately recognizable certain myths, certain figures, certain truths remain even 'midst seemingly unfamiliar overlay. This fine rendering from Penjikent in modern-day Tajikistan is just such an instance. A Sogdian depiction, … Continue reading Vedic Dragon-Slaying In Sogdian Armour ? A Mural Of Panjikent
Indo-Iranian
The Sogdian Shiva Weshparkar of Panjikent – Arte-Facts #13
It is Wednesday - which, in the Northern European end of things, is Woden's Day. Therefore, as has become our custom … fine Shaivite devotional (A)Art-i posting. Now this beautiful depiction has been upon my mind for some weeks now - because if you were asked to draw a fearsomely formidable Lord of the Wind … Continue reading The Sogdian Shiva Weshparkar of Panjikent – Arte-Facts #13
On Wolves Against Zoroastrian Identification
Something else that has been playing upon my mind as applies that fine Sogdian funerary sculpture's purported Zoroastrian provenancy … is the name of the Sogdian whose tomb it was. In his own language, it is Wirkak - that is to say, 'Wolf', from the same root a Sanskrit 'Vrka', etc. Now, why that is interesting … Continue reading On Wolves Against Zoroastrian Identification
Weshparkar – Vayu-The-High-Working But Also Shiva – On Funerary Stonework Of Sogdian Wirkak And Wiyusi – Arte-Facts #12
I've had this image on my mind for some days now. Both for what it represents - yet also for what it doesn't. What's been projected upon it, in other words. Now, as for the former - it's a representation of the Sogdian deific, Vesparkar (also anglicized as Weshparkar, Veshparkar, Wysprkr etc.), from a fine relief … Continue reading Weshparkar – Vayu-The-High-Working But Also Shiva – On Funerary Stonework Of Sogdian Wirkak And Wiyusi – Arte-Facts #12
Against Spurious “Pre-Indo-European-Ization” Of Indo-European Elements
This happens remarkably frequently - both in terms of the linguistics, but also in terms of the mythology and theology. There's quite a number of spaces wherein some academic or other commentator with a personal theory (or, worse, an agenda) has latched on to something and gone "well this seems like it shouldn't be Indo-European … Continue reading Against Spurious “Pre-Indo-European-Ization” Of Indo-European Elements
Against The Notion Of Gautama Buddha As A “Scythian Sage”
I recently happened across somebody sharing an excerpt from an article which claimed the Gautama Buddha to be a "Scythian Sage".There's something of a cottage industry in propounding that Buddha was Scythian - and while I don't disagree that Buddhism wound up having a lot to do with the Scythians … there's something else going … Continue reading Against The Notion Of Gautama Buddha As A “Scythian Sage”
On Indo-European Divine Inspiration – And The Zoroastrian Persecutory Suppression Of Same
Frequently when the subject of the Zoroastrian inversion of Indo-European religious belief is brought up, people presume that it is 'just' some form of linguistic confusion - a 'reversal of polarity' afflicting only an incredibly limited array of things. 'Deva' ['Deus', '-Tyr', etc. - 'God', 'Shining One'] becoming 'Daeva' ['Demon'], for example; and if they … Continue reading On Indo-European Divine Inspiration – And The Zoroastrian Persecutory Suppression Of Same
Quenching Cyrus’ Blood-Thirst – The Tale Of Tomyris Of The Massagetae , A #GangSteppe Exegesis
'The Queen Tomyris with Cyrus II' - Art by Mossacannibalis This Is #GangSteppe I had been meaning to write of this occurrence for some time - as it's quite a resonant one for various elements of our work, in perhaps unexpected ways. Depicted is, as some of you could probably have guessed, the Massagetae Queen … Continue reading Quenching Cyrus’ Blood-Thirst – The Tale Of Tomyris Of The Massagetae , A #GangSteppe Exegesis
Durga Near Ghazni – A “Buddhist” Representation Afghanistan’s Hindu Past – Arte-Facts #10
Further art and artefact representation for Vijayadashami - a fragmentary Durga MahishasuraMardini depiction from Tapa Sardar in modern-day Afghanistan near Ghazni; then part of Zabul. Even though most of the statue is now missing (all that is blue or green in the reconstruction), it's still impressive! Especially considering that head, alone, is about 64 cm … Continue reading Durga Near Ghazni – A “Buddhist” Representation Afghanistan’s Hindu Past – Arte-Facts #10
Shaivite Coin Of Kushanshah Peroz II – A Hindu God In Hindu Garb – Arte-Facts #9
Every so often, we happen across an artefact that seems to demand its own commentary-piece - both because of its sheer visual or historic impressiveness, yet also because it illustrates something … indeed several somethings … quite important for our ongoing work. This fine coin of Peroz II, the King of the Kushano-Sasanians, is just … Continue reading Shaivite Coin Of Kushanshah Peroz II – A Hindu God In Hindu Garb – Arte-Facts #9
arya-akasha 