| T O P I C R E V I E W |
| Chosen of Asmodeus |
Posted - 13 Mar 2013 : 15:19:38
I had meant to ask this some time ago, but it had slipped my mind. Jeremy's thread jogged my memory.
According to Ed, most people in the realms(I believe he stated somewhere in the neighborhood of 90%) worship all or at least most of the gods. They may have one they hold as their personal patron, but they'll pray to each at a given time- Chauntea for farming, Tempus for war, Gond for smithing, etc. .
My question is is there anywhere in the realms where you'd see a temple dedicated to the various gods not as individuals, but as a larger pantheon. Perhaps not an all-inclusive one, I certainly don't see a shrine to Mystra and a shrine to Cyric being in the same building, at least not with them both knowing about it.
But would you have, say, a temple dedicated the the Triad instead of three separate temples to Tyr, Torm, and Illmater, respectively? Or a larger one dedicated to all the various lawful or goodly gods? |
| 19 L A T E S T R E P L I E S (Newest First) |
| silverwolfer |
Posted - 30 Mar 2013 : 03:21:43
think we just call those peasant temples |
| The Sage |
Posted - 28 Mar 2013 : 23:26:57
quote:
Originally posted by JohnLynch
quote:
Originally posted by Wooly Rupert
I would imagine that in most dwarven cities, they'd have just one temple dedicated to the whole dwarven pantheon, as opposed to separate temples for every deity. It's prolly the same for other racial groups like hin and gnomes.
I see it the opposite way. Dwarven cities are really the only place I'd expect to see separate temples for each of the gods. It's in the non-dwarven cities I'd expect to see a single temple for the pantheon.
Well, as I noted earlier, Dwarves Deep does reveal that some dwarven cities have specific temples for singular deities among the Morndinsamman. Though the example I cited would seem to suggest that this would only usually happen upon sites of religious significance for that particular deity. |
| MrHedgehog |
Posted - 28 Mar 2013 : 19:32:21
They are like a family with separate temples, too. However, they all have unique roles independent of each. A city of dwarves would also have the resources to honour multiple deities. A wealthy dwarf might think "Haela is awesome, I should build her a public shrine!". A city only having one or a few temples is not realistic at all.
The gods don't build their temples their worshipers do so them being cooperative does not matter. |
| Wooly Rupert |
Posted - 28 Mar 2013 : 15:18:12
quote:
Originally posted by JohnLynch
quote:
Originally posted by Wooly Rupert
I would imagine that in most dwarven cities, they'd have just one temple dedicated to the whole dwarven pantheon, as opposed to separate temples for every deity. It's prolly the same for other racial groups like hin and gnomes.
I see it the opposite way. Dwarven cities are really the only place I'd expect to see separate temples for each of the gods. It's in the non-dwarven cities I'd expect to see a single temple for the pantheon.
When there's a big dwarven population you can afford to specialise and only cater to a specific god. It's when there's a small dwarven population that you need to make yourself as accepting of all creeds as possible.
The reason I see them as being more likely to have single, shared temples is because the dwarven pantheon is more like a family. The deities present more of a united front and work together for the betterment of their race, whereas most deities in the Faerūnian pantheon are concerned more with their own portfolios, and not humanity as a whole.
The Morndinsamman are a cooperative group, so I think they'd be more inclined to share a temple. |
| JohnLynch |
Posted - 28 Mar 2013 : 12:16:07
quote:
Originally posted by Wooly Rupert
I would imagine that in most dwarven cities, they'd have just one temple dedicated to the whole dwarven pantheon, as opposed to separate temples for every deity. It's prolly the same for other racial groups like hin and gnomes.
I see it the opposite way. Dwarven cities are really the only place I'd expect to see separate temples for each of the gods. It's in the non-dwarven cities I'd expect to see a single temple for the pantheon.
When there's a big dwarven population you can afford to specialise and only cater to a specific god. It's when there's a small dwarven population that you need to make yourself as accepting of all creeds as possible. |
| The Masked Mage |
Posted - 16 Mar 2013 : 14:33:00
quote:
Originally posted by Aulduron
I believe there are temples for all of the Seldarine, or all of the Dwarven gods...etc. I believe there was also a temple for the Pentad.
Such a place exists in Evermeet called Corellon's Grove. Has a bunch of little shines for the elven gods. |
| The Sage |
Posted - 16 Mar 2013 : 00:40:47
quote:
Originally posted by Wooly Rupert
quote:
Originally posted by Barastir
There is a temple dedicated to all the Seldarine Pantheon in Silverymoon, IIRC. The Pantheon Temple of the Seldarine in Waterdeep, although indicated as a temple of Corellon Larethian, probably also fills this role. 
I would imagine that in most dwarven cities, they'd have just one temple dedicated to the whole dwarven pantheon, as opposed to separate temples for every deity. It's prolly the same for other racial groups like hin and gnomes.
Though, I do recall Dwarves Deep noting that some individual dwarven cities have had dedicated temples to specific gods among their pantheon when either their religious need or geographical location requires it. The lost kingdom of Besilmer [as I recall] had a temple of Moradin, which was built on a massive bridge that was believed to be one of the Soul Forger's favourite spots on the Prime Material Plane. |
| Wooly Rupert |
Posted - 15 Mar 2013 : 17:01:40
quote:
Originally posted by Barastir
There is a temple dedicated to all the Seldarine Pantheon in Silverymoon, IIRC. The Pantheon Temple of the Seldarine in Waterdeep, although indicated as a temple of Corellon Larethian, probably also fills this role.
I would imagine that in most dwarven cities, they'd have just one temple dedicated to the whole dwarven pantheon, as opposed to separate temples for every deity. It's prolly the same for other racial groups like hin and gnomes. |
| Barastir |
Posted - 15 Mar 2013 : 14:02:02
There is a temple dedicated to all the Seldarine Pantheon in Silverymoon, IIRC. The Pantheon Temple of the Seldarine in Waterdeep, although indicated as a temple of Corellon Larethian, probably also fills this role. |
| Darkmeer |
Posted - 14 Mar 2013 : 05:14:59
I thought I had read somewhere that there were a few churches to Tyr that included shrines to Ilmater and Torm. I'll have to review my D&D books for this one.
I can see the Groupings of deities (a la the 2e Faiths & Avatars book) like the triad, Lathander/Tymora, Bane/Bhaal/Myrkul (pre ToT), and the deities of destruction doing this. I could also see Oghma, Gond, and Deneir having a cooperative temple dependent on region (and in Lantan Gond, then shrines to Oghma & Deneir). I could also see Shar/Mask working together, among others.
I really think, with this being possible, it could keep both readers and players on their feet for some fun combinations.
Hope this perspective helps. |
| Bladewind |
Posted - 14 Mar 2013 : 03:19:56
I include combined temples in cities only for the racial pantheons, the Triad, Mystra and her servant deities (Savras, Azuth, Velsharoon), the Fury Gods and the Nature Gods (Silvanus, Lurue, Mielikki, Eldath).
In smaller settlements the major temple might have several unattended shrines to allied gods under the roof.
Evil deities are also far more likely to have unattended shrines, as organised evil religions are (usually) not wanted by the local rulers, but even they want a chance to placate the evil deities themselves now and then, so shrines to evil gods such as Talos or Talona and religious symbols of them are widespread in large cities.
Organised evil clergies in an allianced temple operate better in isolation from large settlements, where their combined atrocities can operate unhindered. Unattended roadside shrines to evil deities (for example from Malar or Myrkul) are good ominous signs to show to players every now and then. |
| The Sage |
Posted - 14 Mar 2013 : 02:23:51
quote:
Originally posted by Wooly Rupert
The Shining South, as I recall, has organized worship of the Adama, which is a five deity group.
The Adama is not really a deity in and of itself. It is simply a way of life, a set of principles by which to live... according to Thomas Reid.
But the five-deity dynamic is interesting -- especially when you try to discern which principles comprising this "way of life" correspond with which deity, being:- Zionel [Gond], Curna [Oghma], Lucha [Selūne], Torm, and Waukeen. |
| Aulduron |
Posted - 14 Mar 2013 : 01:23:09
I believe there are temples for all of the Seldarine, or all of the Dwarven gods...etc. I believe there was also a temple for the Pentad. |
| MrHedgehog |
Posted - 13 Mar 2013 : 17:35:07
Outside of repeating published material...this thread topic seems more creative/speculative than repeating what you've seen before. (Why do people do that so much here?). Looking at real world polytheism temples usually seem to honour multiple deities. A church might have ten shrines to saints, a mandir might have statues of tons of deities or manifestations of agod (Siva with consorts, friends and avatars), a sShinto temple would respect multiple kami and so forth. If a forgotten realms village is a hunting society their temple might honour multiple gods important to them. Even antithetical ones like Malar alongside Gwaeron and Eldath. All matter to them and common people are unlikely to know the details of godly politics, friendships or conflicts. At a mural of Gwaeron hunting Malar with Eldath looking on people could pray or perform rituals to all three |
| Chosen of Asmodeus |
Posted - 13 Mar 2013 : 16:42:38
Thanks for the replies. |
| Wooly Rupert |
Posted - 13 Mar 2013 : 16:07:30
Markus does speak of the Plinth, but it's more of a "worship anyone here" temple, as opposed to a "come here to worship this entire group at once" temple.
The Shining South, as I recall, has organized worship of the Adama, which is a five deity group. |
| Lord Bane |
Posted - 13 Mar 2013 : 16:01:42
You mean the Plinth? |
| Markustay |
Posted - 13 Mar 2013 : 15:45:42
The only one that jumps to mind is in Waterdeep - I forget its name. You can worship the entire Faerūnian Pantheon there. |
| MrHedgehog |
Posted - 13 Mar 2013 : 15:31:10
In Calimport there is a Temple (Towers of Fury?) is dedicated to the Gods of Fury. Somewhere there was a village or town described with a temple that had a Priest of Waukeen who led services to many deities and there were multiple shrines in it. In Waterdeep isn't there a Temple of the Seldarine, as well?
In my own imagination I would see many temples being dedicated to multiple deities. Whether straight up "These are the gods of knowledge, Lliira + Waukeen, Gnomish deities" or a temple of another deity having shrines/chapels to other gods such as Loviatar in a Temple of Bane. In religious art I think Gods would very often be portrayed together. I think it would be more common in smaller communities where there would be less shrines/temples than large cities that have enough people to sustain temples to many individual deities. |
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