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 !
Solar Smith
“Not without pains are the Gods made friends”
"Not without pains are the Gods made friends" Kaegi / Arrowsmith translation (1886) A line from RV IV 33 11, in the words of the Rsi Vamadeva Gautama, that has stuck with me this morning. For additional clarity - here's three further translations from the past century and a half of the same verse. "Not … Continue reading “Not without pains are the Gods made friends”
On The Adamantine Harpe Of Perseus In Light Of The Vajra Of Indra – A Weapon Of The Striker/Thunderer (Briefly) Comparatively Considered
Something we have written a fair bit upon this year has been the identification of Perseus as an expression of the Striker/Thunderer Indo-European deific. As it happens, the Harpe wielded by the hero is - entirely unsurprisingly - strikingly correlate with the Vajra of Indra, as well. How do we know? Consider the following. The … Continue reading On The Adamantine Harpe Of Perseus In Light Of The Vajra Of Indra – A Weapon Of The Striker/Thunderer (Briefly) Comparatively Considered
Glorious Modern Hindu Art Of Devi As Flame-Speaker Of The Universe’s Inception And Unfurling Course
It is Friday - Devi's Day - And so therefore, Devi-otional (A)Art(i) posting ! Absolutely beautiful rendering by Shuvankar Biswas - which does that rarest of things … takes the established theological/iconographic/mythological conceptry and brings it together to create something which seems 'new' yet resonates with the effortless weight of ages! What do I mean … Continue reading Glorious Modern Hindu Art Of Devi As Flame-Speaker Of The Universe’s Inception And Unfurling Course
A Brief Note On Tvastr As Dyaus
We had a question to the page about why I'd placed Dyaus and Tvastr in the same spaces on a recent image. A good question. I have long maintained that Tvastr is also an expression of the Indo-European Sky Father deific [i.e. Dyaus Pitar]. I have sketched out the typology for the Masque of the … Continue reading A Brief Note On Tvastr As Dyaus
If Santa Is Derived From The Indo-European Sky Father , Then What About His Elves ..
Seemingly every other page talking about Indo-European or Germanic mythology this week: "ODIN IS / IS NOT / MIGHT BE / PROBABLY INFORMED SANTA CLAUS" Meanwhile, Us: "Yeah, but have you thought about the Elves, though?" As in … Santa's Elves. Of the North Pole. See, here's the thing. If Santa might be said to … Continue reading If Santa Is Derived From The Indo-European Sky Father , Then What About His Elves ..
The Indo-European Cosmology – A Brief Guided Tour : Part One – Ritual Space And The Radiating Law
Two areas I have long intended to direct more effort towards extolling - are Indo-European Cosmology and Ritual. Both are fascinating, and as it happens, quite fundamentally coterminous much of the time. However, they're also both huge - and so instead of a series of five-to-fifty-thousand wor(l)d plus megaliths, I thought I'd try something a … Continue reading The Indo-European Cosmology – A Brief Guided Tour : Part One – Ritual Space And The Radiating Law
On Svarog As Sky Father – The Indo-European Sky Father As Song-Smith Of The Cosmos
In many ways, the enigmatic figure of Svarog is emblematic of both the difficulties that we face when reconstructing Indo-European mythology … and also the marvelous enduring features that make it so easy - if you know where and how to look. I say "difficulties", because Svarog is a seriously under-directly-attested figure, even by the … Continue reading On Svarog As Sky Father – The Indo-European Sky Father As Song-Smith Of The Cosmos
On The Preservation Of Faith In The Indo-European Periphery – And Its Corrosion In The Indo-European Core
[Author's Note: This was initially intended as a brief introduction to a piece on the Slavic figure of Svarog as a Sky Father expression - however, it has grown somewhat, and contains an important, freestanding point. So here it is on its own] The Indo-European world can probably be divided up into those mythic cultures … Continue reading On The Preservation Of Faith In The Indo-European Periphery – And Its Corrosion In The Indo-European Core
The Cyclopes And The Ribhus Elves – Solar Smiths of the Sky Father
One of the most iconic creatures from Greek mythology must surely be the Cyclopes. Best known from Odysseus' encounter with Polyphemus during the course of the Odyssey, the Cyclopes is one of those classic mythic tropes - the big, brutish monster who must be defeated via cunning and guile lest he devour the hero and … Continue reading The Cyclopes And The Ribhus Elves – Solar Smiths of the Sky Father
arya-akasha 