In Ottoman Sultanate … foreigner with cannon was what happened to the Walls of Byzantium, yes 🙁 https://twitter.com/DavidDeutschOxf/status/1990400725885558938 Although I'm not actually very convinced about this 'explanation' - Rome certainly wasn't stagnant when it came to military technological advancements and application, across much of its history. This is a bit of a meme-post from me, … Continue reading The Technological March Of Rome
Rome
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
On Ritual Substitution And Traditional Offerings [Part Two: When In Rome…]
Practicing an Indo-European religion amidst the Modern Age is no easy thing. One seems endlessly caught between the twin considerations of 'Authenticity' contrasted with 'Accessibility'. The former correlates to the quite righteous desire to 'do things properly' (and so they actually work) - customarily by seeking to follow reasonably closely within the foot-tracks of one's … Continue reading On Ritual Substitution And Traditional Offerings [Part Two: When In Rome…]
A Thunderbolt For The Sky Father – Amidst The Burning Branches Of Demon-Smiting Lightning
It seems the most logical, natural thing in the world - and certainly, we have amply attested acknowledgement for this in and about multiple Indo-European spheres. Yet somehow , the situation of the Thunderbolt has become something of a 'cudgel' with which some have sought to 'beat' deifics such as Odin and Shiva out of … Continue reading A Thunderbolt For The Sky Father – Amidst The Burning Branches Of Demon-Smiting Lightning
Crossing Paths With Mania And The Lares – An Indo-European Examination Of The Roman Observance Of the Compitalia Part One: The Roman Recollection As To The Archaic Relevancy For The Rite
Some days after Saturnalia [ostensibly January 3rd], we find ourselves at the 'Compitalia' - the Observance of the Crossroads (Compita) dedicated to the Lares … and also to the formidable Goddess, Mania. And for this occasion, we shall endeavour to delve into the Indo-European origination and broader comparative co-expressions for both the Observance and its propitiated … Continue reading Crossing Paths With Mania And The Lares – An Indo-European Examination Of The Roman Observance Of the Compitalia Part One: The Roman Recollection As To The Archaic Relevancy For The Rite
On The Lingam Devi of Herga, Karnataka
As is often the case, I encounter a beautiful Devi depiction and She simply must have a post ! I had initially thought that this was a Kali murti (not least due to the beautiful blue-black visage) - but some searching indicates that no, this is instead a Durga … Durga Paramesvari ['Highest Divine Empress'] … Continue reading On The Lingam Devi of Herga, Karnataka
A People Of Ash And Fury – On The Divinely Arboreal Genesis Of The Indo-Europeans
In recent days, our attention had been drawn to a most remarkable occurrence within the Þorleifs þáttr jarlaskálds wherein, as our learned associate, Gottfried Yann Karlssohn (who had drawn our attention to it in the first place) had phrased it - we find "a Norse king using incantations to animate a trémaðr (treeman), giving him a … Continue reading A People Of Ash And Fury – On The Divinely Arboreal Genesis Of The Indo-Europeans
For Vulcanalia – The Roman Festival of Fires !
The 23rd of August marks Vulcanalia - the Roman observance for the Power of Fire. Not only Forge-Fire, as one might perhaps expect … but also large bonfires, the fires of kiln and oven, and perhaps (via inference) even the lamps which give illumination so that one might read - and pierce the darkness with … Continue reading For Vulcanalia – The Roman Festival of Fires !
Toward The Indo-European Identification Of Janus – Some Preliminary Observations
Despite its comforting familiarity to many in the modern Western sphere, many of the figures of the Roman religion are somewhat mysterious to us. Particularly when we seek to link them up to what ought be their correlate co-expressions elsewhere within the Indo-European religious world. This invites much speculation - some of it well-founded, and … Continue reading Toward The Indo-European Identification Of Janus – Some Preliminary Observations
Juno Sospita of the Palatine – An Interpretatio Romana In Motion !
Friday is, of course, Devi's Day - and so therefore, a visage less frequently depicted … a well-armed Warrior Goddess - Juno ! Now at first, this might seem strange. We are used to the idea of Juno as a regal, queenly figure; yet a shield and spear equipped female warrior amongst the Gods we … Continue reading Juno Sospita of the Palatine – An Interpretatio Romana In Motion !