The Description Of The Vajra In The Vedas – Some Initial Points

This is a modern depiction of Indra, and it forms a bit of a counterpoint to the more simple Vajra renderings you'll often see - however, the interesting thing is … this is actually rather close to how the Vajra is described in various RigVedic verses. [Although this *specific* version may in fact be intending … Continue reading The Description Of The Vajra In The Vedas – Some Initial Points

Towards An Indo-European Theory Of Demonology – Chaos, Devourers, Outsiders, Messengers and Monsters

Something I have long meant to pen is a sort of explanatory typology for 'Demons' in Indo-European understanding. There's almost certainly an entire book which could be written upon the subject - and it is undeniably significantly intriguing. After all, many a great and epic myth requires a suitably monstrous foe in order for the Hero … Continue reading Towards An Indo-European Theory Of Demonology – Chaos, Devourers, Outsiders, Messengers and Monsters

The Birth Of Athena – On The Indo-European Genesis Of Tritogeneia

Earlier this week I encountered something which has, by now, become regrettably familiar to me - although this did not dull my rage at its ridiculous (re-)appearance. Somebody proclaiming that Athena - in amidst a veritable 'Who's Who' of the Greek pantheon - was part of a clade of "certain mythological stories or deities that … Continue reading The Birth Of Athena – On The Indo-European Genesis Of Tritogeneia

On Herakles As Thunderer – The Recollection Of The Weapon In The Classical Conceptual Sphere

There are a few falsehoods in our field which stubbornly refuse to die. One of them is this ongoing notion that Zeus Pater / Jupiter is somehow the Indo-European Striker/Thunderer deific … rather than the Sky Father, Dyaus Pitar, that is the Father of said God. We have earlier poured quite some effort into demonstrating … Continue reading On Herakles As Thunderer – The Recollection Of The Weapon In The Classical Conceptual Sphere

The Way Of The Gun – The Surprising Re-Development Of A Proto-Indo-European Term Into Modern English … And its Comparative Cognates Considered In Both Ritual And Conventional Phraseology Across The Indo-European Sphere

Something I have long remarked upon is the manner in which certain terms, certain concepts … they are to be found in incredibly archaic spheres, and then they 'fade away' or they undergo some transmogrification which obscures their essence somewhat, only to thence re-emerge somewhere else entirely amidst one of the Indo-European descendant groups who … Continue reading The Way Of The Gun – The Surprising Re-Development Of A Proto-Indo-European Term Into Modern English … And its Comparative Cognates Considered In Both Ritual And Conventional Phraseology Across The Indo-European Sphere

Hanuman Jayanti : The Indo-European Situation Of The Striker/Thunderer Deific In Apelike Form

Today marks Hanuman Jayanti - and, as has become our custom, we present an (A)Arti-cle in His Honour. A 'Jayanti', in case you were wondering, is one of those wonderful Sanskrit terms with several mutually reinforcing meanings - it is, at once, a 'Victory', but also can mean a 'Birthday'. So is therefore eminently appropriate … Continue reading Hanuman Jayanti : The Indo-European Situation Of The Striker/Thunderer Deific In Apelike Form

Thursday – Jupiter’s Day, Brihaspati’s Day Rather Than Thor’s Day

It is Thursday - Jupiter's Day ; or, in the Hindu reckoning, Brihaspati's Day. Now, there is an obvious disconnect here between Thursday as Thor's Day … and the day being regarded as the Day of the Thundering Sky Father. This is due to the Interpretatio Romana framework as wielded by post-Christianization figures having some … Continue reading Thursday – Jupiter’s Day, Brihaspati’s Day Rather Than Thor’s Day

Perseus , Krishna , Karna – Three Perspectives Upon The Origin Myth Of The Indo-European Striker/Thunderer

I have been meaning for some time to take a look at the Indo-European underpinnings of Krishna - in part because it helps to dispel this lingering and insistent misapprehension about post-Vedic / 'Puranic' era Hinduism being somehow 'non-Indo-European' mythology or religion.  Now, a full-scale writeup of all the observed concordancies for this figure is … Continue reading Perseus , Krishna , Karna – Three Perspectives Upon The Origin Myth Of The Indo-European Striker/Thunderer