One of the more seizing figures to have captured the imagination - both ancient and modern - is the Griffin (occasionally, and to my mind superiorly, spelled 'Gryphon'). Almost everybody knows it - a creature that is simultaneously leonine and aquiline. Part Lion, part Eagle. And usually pictured by us in its heraldic form, something … Continue reading The Gryphon – Indo-European Guardian of the Golden Realm
Shiva
A THIRD DRAUGHT OF SOMA-KVASIR – THE RECONSTRUCTION OF THE MEANING OF THE MEAD
As I have previously illustrated, it now seems that Snorri Sturluson's accounting of the Mead of Poetry is drawing from, and perhaps inexpertly seeking to summarize materials that are far older. That are Indo-European. That have likely been passed down since the points roughly at which the Vedic and the Eddic religious canons were broadly … Continue reading A THIRD DRAUGHT OF SOMA-KVASIR – THE RECONSTRUCTION OF THE MEANING OF THE MEAD
Yama Iamso Coin of the Kushans, And What This Means For Central Asian Indo-European Religion – Arte-Facts #7
I've had this coin in my head for some days now - a golden coin of the Kushan king Huviska (who appears on the obverse), featuring what appears to be Yama on the deity side. Why? Because of the iconography with which Yama - here hailed as 'Iamso' - is displayed. He's holding a Spear … Continue reading Yama Iamso Coin of the Kushans, And What This Means For Central Asian Indo-European Religion – Arte-Facts #7
On Reclaiming ‘Barbarian’
The time has come, I think, to 'reclaim' the term "Barbarian". Now, in some circles this has already happened - it is utterly uncontroversial, because there is the implicit recognition that what "Barbarian" refers to , is one's own ancestors … the negative, fearful connotations thereof, being those affixed by the other people who had … Continue reading On Reclaiming ‘Barbarian’
ON THE HORSE TWINS – The Savior Sons of the Sky Father [Part 1 – Introductions, Inceptions, And Asvins]
One of the more pervasive, yet perplexing of the elements of the Indo-European mythology must surely be the Heroic Horse-Twins. Whether the Asvins / Nasatyas / Divo Napata of the Vedas, the Dioscuri of the Greeks (Castor & Pollux / Polydeuces), the Asvieniai / Dievo Suneliai of the Lithuianians, or Hengist and Horsa of the … Continue reading ON THE HORSE TWINS – The Savior Sons of the Sky Father [Part 1 – Introductions, Inceptions, And Asvins]
On The World-Spear of the Sky Father – Trishula, Gungnir, Pinaka
One of the most iconic identifying attributes of the Indo-European Sky Father deific is His Spear. Whether Gungnir of Odin, the Trishula of Mahadeva, or the javelin-like Thunderbolt of Zeus Pater/Jupiter (interestingly frequently depicted as three-pronged), as soon as we think of these deific expressions, the Weapon is never far from His Hand. Indeed, 'ShulaPani' … Continue reading On The World-Spear of the Sky Father – Trishula, Gungnir, Pinaka
Arya Akasha Arka – Lighting The Flamethrower of Faith
"तवमग्ने रुद्रो असुरो महो दिवः ""You, O Agni, are Rudra - The Mighty Heavenly Sire [Dyaus Pitar]" RigVeda II 1 6 "We are judged in life for the evil we destroy. It is a bleak truth, that there is nothing but blood awaiting us in the gaps between the worlds. But ISHVARA sees all that … Continue reading Arya Akasha Arka – Lighting The Flamethrower of Faith
Shravan Maas – The Shaivite Holy Month, The Samudra Manthan, and The Self-Sacrifice of Yama and Odin
Today marks the start of the Shaivite holy month of Shravan Maas [at least, according to my Mandir's Gujarati derived calendar. In various other parts of India it's already been going for two weeks]. I say 'Shaivite holy month', but it is not only Shiva-oriented observances that take place during this time. Other prominent occasions … Continue reading Shravan Maas – The Shaivite Holy Month, The Samudra Manthan, and The Self-Sacrifice of Yama and Odin
The Radiant Queen of the Heavens – On Scythian Tabiti As Template For The Greater Indo-European Solar Goddess [Part 4 – The Moon, Mirrored, And Her Daughters]
A further support for the 'inversion' possibility is granted via looking at the actual mythology of the main Greek figure - Selene. As aforementioned, Selene is usually identified as one of the Daughters of Hyperion and Theia, although with two other possibilities which occasionally come up - the paternity of Pallas (a name that does … Continue reading The Radiant Queen of the Heavens – On Scythian Tabiti As Template For The Greater Indo-European Solar Goddess [Part 4 – The Moon, Mirrored, And Her Daughters]
Sons of the Sun – A Brief Comparative Of The Indo-European Progenitor Twins
The Indo-European Myth of the Progenitor Twins is quite literally foundational for who we are and how we relate to the people, the world around us. It is therefore unsurprising that even despite occasional alterations, it has remained so recognizably pervasive amidst the descendant Indo-European peoples. In our recent "Sons of the Sun" series, we … Continue reading Sons of the Sun – A Brief Comparative Of The Indo-European Progenitor Twins
arya-akasha 