Hail Hydra-Slayer: On The Mythic Combat Of Herakles And Athena – Indra And Vak Saraswati, Against The Demon-Dragon Of The Water

Herakles against the Hydra, Indra against Vritra - these are surely some of the best-known mythic combats in each of the Greek/Classical and Vedic/Hindu legendariums. Similarities immediately begin to suggest themselves - clearly, each is a fight of the Thunderer/Striker against a Demon-Dragon that is to be found 'midst waters. However, there is another, less … Continue reading Hail Hydra-Slayer: On The Mythic Combat Of Herakles And Athena – Indra And Vak Saraswati, Against The Demon-Dragon Of The Water

The Scythian Idanthyrsus As Fundamentally Indo-European Man

As is widely-known by now, one of my favourite portions of Herodotus' Persian Wars is the exchange between the Scythian king Idanthyrsus, and Darius the would-be world-emperor. There are some obvious reasons why this is so, and in previous posts I have gone into some detail explicating them. But for today, I thought we would … Continue reading The Scythian Idanthyrsus As Fundamentally Indo-European Man

Soma Kvasir Abbreviated – The Myth of the Mead of Poetry, Distilled

In a bid to make some of the content from last week's Soma and the Mead of Poetry article more accessible, I've compiled a brief side-by-side comparative of the most important direct equivalencies we've identified between these, drawn from the Skaldskaparmal and various Vedic hymnals: Eddic - Vedic - Meaning E: Kvasir - V: Soma … Continue reading Soma Kvasir Abbreviated – The Myth of the Mead of Poetry, Distilled

MahaShivRatri And The Mytholinguistics Of War [Part 3] – The Mind, The Mania, The Manyu

[Author's Note: It is said that some efforts take on a 'mind of their own'. While this was initially intended as the third part to our MythoLinguistics of War series, with a focus more narrowly upon the strong saliency of Indo-European concepts of "Mind" and 'Spirit' with those of Warfare - as the writing progressed, … Continue reading MahaShivRatri And The Mytholinguistics Of War [Part 3] – The Mind, The Mania, The Manyu

Saraswati Puja – The Power Of The Smiter Of Foes

Yesterday (by now) marked Saraswati Puja ; and as has become my custom, I present some brief thoughts and enlightenment via way of tribute. Seems the appropriate thing to do, given the nature of the Devi in question, and customary associations of Same. And speaking of just those customary associations - it seems to me … Continue reading Saraswati Puja – The Power Of The Smiter Of Foes