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
Ovid
Roman Rudra Tripurantaka [Arya Akasha Arka]
It is Monday - Rudra's Day And therefore, in brief, the Roman correlate for Rudra as Tripurantaka, the Destroyer of the Three Forts. We have previously demonstrated the situation of Vejovis / Vediovis as, effectively, Baleful Jove ('malus Iovis', per Mythographi Vaticani III 6 1), a wrathful 'Facing' for Jupiter (the Sky Father, Dyaus Pitar); … Continue reading Roman Rudra Tripurantaka [Arya Akasha Arka]
On An Oft-Misinterpreted Term Of Power Affixed To ‘Man’
Something I found kinda nice - Ait. Br. III 34, from a suite of Roudran undertaking (hence why the cautionary note about what to do "should this verse appear to be too dangerous") - referencing / explicating how to utilize RV I 43 6 - notes that there's a pair of terms, 'Naraḥ' & 'Nāryaḥ', … Continue reading On An Oft-Misinterpreted Term Of Power Affixed To ‘Man’
The Spider And The Web
In our house, we prefer to take a 'live-and-let-live' approach towards spiders. Most particularly where they turn up in the shower, and there is some concern as to the imminent re-enactment of an arachnine Myth of Sisyphus to shortly prove impending. And, because it fairly instantly leaped into my head upon having this photo sent to … Continue reading The Spider And The Web
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
Scythian Tabiti In Her Indo-European Theological Context – [Part One: As To The Claims, An EmPyreical Investigation]
A few months ago, an associate raised with me a curious concept. Namely, the idea that a) the archaic Indo-European divinity of the Fire was Female, with this being attested via b) the Scythian figure of Tabiti identified with Hestia by Herodotus, and therefore indicating that c) the Vedic figure of Agni was an 'innovation' … Continue reading Scythian Tabiti In Her Indo-European Theological Context – [Part One: As To The Claims, An EmPyreical Investigation]
Why We Offer To The Gods [Part Two: Irrigating The Worlds With Blood-Dimmed Tide]
As you can see there from the title, our intent with these linked pieces has been to take a look at one of the more foundational questions to the Indo-European theology. Namely, why it is that we carry out rites of sacrifice and offering to the Gods in the first place. I suspect that for … Continue reading Why We Offer To The Gods [Part Two: Irrigating The Worlds With Blood-Dimmed Tide]
On The Symbolism Of The Gigantes & Gigantomachy [Part One: He Shall Tread]
We had earlier received a question as to the iconography of the Gigantes of Classical myth - more specifically, what was up with the Serpents they so prominently feature instead of legs in an array of renderings. And, because it's a very, very cool illustration for the concept - here's a beautiful 2nd-3rd Century (BC) … Continue reading On The Symbolism Of The Gigantes & Gigantomachy [Part One: He Shall Tread]
Why We Offer To The Gods [Part One: The Integral Performance]
It is occasionally intriguing how various elements 'turn up'. I had been looking for a particular quotation on an unrelated matter (from G.K. Chesterton, as it happens), and had somehow happened across the following passages from Lucian's "Zeus Tragoedus" (Ζεὺς Τραγῳδός) (often translated somewhat loosely as "Zeus Rants"). And, at just about the same time, … Continue reading Why We Offer To The Gods [Part One: The Integral Performance]
Diwija Dualis [Part Two: Disappear, Into Darkness]
At the close to our previous installment, our attention had turned briefly towards a particular prominent Hellenic iteration as to the 'myth-in-motion' for the Dual-Goddess(es) - namely, Her flight whilst in Form(s) Dark, Wrathful/Avenging, and Equine from Her Husband, the Sky Father as Stallion ; and with the "Daughter" deific often attested with relation to … Continue reading Diwija Dualis [Part Two: Disappear, Into Darkness]