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cartweel
Acolyte
4 Posts |
 Posted - 20 Aug 2004 : 21:05:21
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Eldath is one of my absolute favorite "good" goddesses from the Realms. I was wondering, if you had to compare her to a god or goddess from the ancient pantheons (Greek, Egyptian, Norse, Native American, Slavic, Chinese, Japanese, etc.,), who do you think she would most resemble?
For instance, Silvanus or Chauntea would be like Gaia. Tempus is like Eris. Sune is like Aphrodite or Freya.
On the other hand, does anyone know how Eldath was created? Meaning, what did whoever created her base her on? A goddess, a book/movie character, etc.
Thanks!
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EEIA17
"I will tell her a story, and she will be kind to me" ~Alexandre Dumas |
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Beowulf
Learned Scribe
Canada
322 Posts |
Posted - 20 Aug 2004 : 22:51:21
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Well met!
I'm not of the school of thought, ie. comparative, universalist, analytical-reductionist, that believes that anything other than rough correspondences can, or should, be drawn between the deities of vastly different cultures. For instance, the Teutonic goddess Freo (ON. Freyja) is known to have strong battle associations, and is said in the Eddas to share half of the battleslain with Woden, and thus equates rather poorly with Aphrodite, and makes a bad Athena due to her associations with passion and magic.
Nevertheless, as far as the Teutonic pantheon goes Eldath would seem to share the most in common with the twin deities Nerthus-NjordhR, and Frea-Freo (FreyR-Freyja), all of whom are associated, be it directly or indirectly, with the sea-shore (and thus water), the quality of prosperity and kindliness that all of the Teutonic folk called "frith", and also strongly associated with the powers of holiness ... going back to the original Teutonic meaning of "whole, healthy".
Moreover, the Ing-sprung priesthood was and is goverened by strict taboos that forbid the riding of stallions, the bearing of arms, and the shedding of blood. As one of the chief gods of the motley classification of spirits called the Wena (Vanir), Ingui-Frea was also closely associated with the spirits of this world. and of ocurse, as the god of Teutonic priests, and holiness in general, he also had a significant association with the chief place of Teutonic worship ... the holy grove ... although this was more the sphere of Mannus-Heimdall, yet another god with strong associations with water, frith, holiness, etc.
Heroic Sacral King of the Geats |
"Ill tempered the wretch, who laughs at everyone. He cannot recognize, as he should, that he is not without faults." the High One, Poetic Edda |
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cartweel
Acolyte
4 Posts |
Posted - 21 Aug 2004 : 20:23:48
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Hello, Beowulf, and thanks for all that great information! You've helped me alot.
I don't quite agree with what you've said because I do believe that there are alot of important parallels between the deities of different pantheons. That's just me, though, and what do I know?
Thanks! |
EEIA17
"I will tell her a story, and she will be kind to me" ~Alexandre Dumas |
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arilyn742
Seeker
Ireland
54 Posts |
Posted - 22 Aug 2004 : 20:13:36
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| I don't really know that much about Eldath, but Chauntea can't be directly compared to any one real world goddess, because almost all Indo-European mythologies (and many others, I'm sure) include Earth Mothers - Freyja, Frigga, Gaia, Isis (not Indo-European, but what'll you do?), Danu, Nerthus, and possibly the Hindu goddess Ganga (I'm not sure, but she's been compared often to the more familiar Celtic goddess Danu - what with their scared rivers Danu-Danube, Ganga-Ganges). Sorry about the rambling. I have a habit of doing that. |
Yonde iru, mune no doko ka oku de
Itsumo kokoro odoru yume wo mitai
Kanashimi wa kazoekirenai keredo
Sono mukou de kitto anata ni aeru |
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Faraer
Great Reader
3308 Posts |
Posted - 22 Aug 2004 : 20:25:07
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| "Down-to-earth divinity" (Dragon #54), Ed's account of his creation of the pantheon, doesn't mention a specific inspiration for Eldath, and I can't think of a particularly close Earth-god off the top of my head. |
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Wooly Rupert
Master of Mischief
USA
36779 Posts |
Posted - 22 Aug 2004 : 21:14:43
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quote:
Originally posted by arilyn742
I don't really know that much about Eldath, but Chauntea can't be directly compared to any one real world goddess, because almost all Indo-European mythologies (and many others, I'm sure) include Earth Mothers - Freyja, Frigga, Gaia, Isis (not Indo-European, but what'll you do?), Danu, Nerthus, and possibly the Hindu goddess Ganga (I'm not sure, but she's been compared often to the more familiar Celtic goddess Danu - what with their scared rivers Danu-Danube, Ganga-Ganges). Sorry about the rambling. I have a habit of doing that.
One question -- a Hungarian river is named after a Celtic goddess? |
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I am the Giant Space Hamster of Ill Omen!  |
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Sanavin
Acolyte
Finland
26 Posts |
Posted - 22 Aug 2004 : 22:36:09
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Well, that river does begin in Germany.  |
"Never test the depth of the water with both feet." |
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Purple Dragon Knight
Master of Realmslore
Canada
1796 Posts |
Posted - 23 Aug 2004 : 02:33:28
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| I never got around to roleplay a worshipper of Eldath, but I find the goddess most interesting. I can recall the first time I took notice of her: the 2nd edition Anauroc supplement, where they describe a set of nice, colored placid pools in the middle of the desert as one of her sacred place (not sure where I read this as I cannot find it anymore). I believe it was written that she appeared there at times... I don't remember if Eldath lived on the Prime back in 2nd edition, but I remember wondering how cool this goddess was, and how fun roleplaying one of her worshippers would be. |
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cpthero2
Great Reader
USA
2285 Posts |
Posted - 01 Oct 2018 : 16:55:17
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Acolyte Cartweel,
I would compare her to the Greek Goddess Eirene.
Best regards,
quote:
Originally posted by cartweel
Eldath is one of my absolute favorite "good" goddesses from the Realms. I was wondering, if you had to compare her to a god or goddess from the ancient pantheons (Greek, Egyptian, Norse, Native American, Slavic, Chinese, Japanese, etc.,), who do you think she would most resemble?
For instance, Silvanus or Chauntea would be like Gaia. Tempus is like Eris. Sune is like Aphrodite or Freya.
On the other hand, does anyone know how Eldath was created? Meaning, what did whoever created her base her on? A goddess, a book/movie character, etc.
Thanks!
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Higher Atlar
Spirit Soaring |
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Eldath
