alexandraerin (![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png)
alexandraerin) wrote2013-09-10 10:28 pm
alexandraerin) wrote2013-09-10 10:28 pm
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AWW Fluff: The Aretean Pantheon
The Empire of Aret is the largest political power in the southern reaches of the continent of Kethia. The Human-ruled empire worship many deities, but chief among their pantheon are nine goddesses who are simply called The Nine Ladies, or the Nine, or sometimes the Ladies. Many scholars (particularly the less pious ones) believe that they are likely the remnants of multiple pantheons that merged as different religions came into contact with each other in the early days of trade and travel that eventually gave rise to the empire. Melaketh, Avalla, Kel, and Leydan are pointed to as examples of "earth goddesses", as opposed to Renessa, Prospera, Elysine, and Margol as "sky goddesses", with Arete being a local goddess who is given prominence purely for being the patron of a powerful city.
Melaketh is a goddess of earth and healing. Areteans believe she is the daughter of the world and that she herself gave birth to the land they live upon. The name of the continent "Kethia" in fact is said to come from her, though since it's called things like that in many languages far beyond the most expansive borders of the empire, it's just as possible that the Aretean name fo the goddess comes from the name for the continent. She is the goddess of farmers and midwives, and is called the Bringer Forth of Life.
Her symbols include the sickle and many plants, but especially ivy. Her holy days are the equinoxes, which are called by the faithful "Melaketh's Awakening" and "Melaketh's Repose." She embodies the Aretean virtue of patience.
Prospera is a goddess of flame and fortune. She is watches over gamblers, merchants, and travelers. Because she is favored by merchants and traders, Prospera is the one of the Seven with the most fame beyond Aret's boundaries, where her portfolio has expanded to include adventurers.
Prospera's symbols include the sun, and three tongues of flame branching like a trident. Those who are about to conduct a high-risk venture often burn something of nominal value as a sacrifice to Prospera, to ensure luck. Aretean merchants conducting a deal often burn an offering together, so that no party may have an undue advantage over the other. Prospera's holy days are the Aretean New Year, which begins seven days after the winter solstice. The festival is actually a varying length holiday that is counted as one day liturgically, to help correct for irregularities in the calendar. Many religious prohibitions and even laws are relaxed during Prospera's Day, and it is common for people to switch roles with another (spouses with each other, parents with children, officers and soldiers, nobles and their servants) during the long day.
Prospera is called the Thrice-Married Virgin, because she is said to have married three men (demigods) and was satisfied by none of them, until her eye fell upon the form of Melaketh spreading out beneath her and was smitten. Traditions differ as to whether Melaketh returns Prospera's affection or not; some claim that they are married, and others that Melaketh is oblivious to Prospera's love. Most modern clerics interpret the conflicting stories of previous generations as a depiction of the ups and downs of their relationship.
Despite the possible alliance between their patron powers, priests of Melaketh and priests of Prospera do not get along with each other. A particular bone of contention is the meanings of the seasons: does Melaketh awaken in the spring because Prospera comes around more often, or does Prospera come around more because Melaketh is awake?
There is a small religion called the Cult of the Lovers that reveres both goddesses equally, dedicating themselves to the sacred marriage of Prospera and Melaketh. They are viewed as heretical by traditionalist followers of the individual goddesses, but many couples prefer the Lovers for wedding ceremonies. The winter as a whole is sacred to the Lovers, but in a low-key way: the cultists quietly celebrate the long nights when their beloved matrons are sleeping together.
Prospera embodies the Aretean virtue of passion.
Avalla is a goddess of death and mystery. She is usually depicted wrapped in a cloak or else draped in veils, which are sometimes stylized as spider webs. She is called "The Fair" in reference to the impartiality of death; to suggest that death is cruel or capricious is considered terriblly unlucky in Aretean society. Pious and superstitious Areteans who so much as overhear such a declaration will beg the goddess's pardon or offer up flattery in prayer.
Avalla's symbol is the lily, a traditional funerary symbol in the Aretean peninsula. Blood lilies, a white lily with a spot like a drop of blood on the lower petal, are said to be a sign which marks her passage through the world when they're found in the wilderness, though they are also cultivated by her priests. The solstices are her sacred days, a fact which causes some friction between her priests and those of the Lovers every midwinter.
Avalla embodies the Aretean virtue of mercy.
Renessa is a goddess of wind and water. Unlike Avalla, she revels in the image of being capricious and merciless. Prayers to her--especially those for mercy in a storm--are often hedged with phrases like "if it be your will", and left open-ended rather than asking for specific boons, so as not to suggest that the goddess is at the disposal of mortals. Aretean sailors pray for "safe arrival" and their families ask for their "safe return" rather than asking for a safe journey... the journey is up to the goddess, and she does not like to be told what to do.
Renessa's symbol is the moon over (and partially behind) a cloud over the waves. The full moon is her sacred day, with the second full moon in a month being the the holiest day of the year, except in years where this will happen twice. In that case, it's the seventh full moon. Though her priests always keep a weather eye out for omens that point to another day when it seems like Renessa is in the mood for a feast.
Renessa embodies the Aretean virtue of change.
Margol is the goddess of music and art. She is believed to dispense muses throughout the world. Families who pay for their children to take lessons in painting or poetry spend almost as much in offerings to Margol, so that their progeny may have the divine spark of talent.
Margol's symbols include a golden harp and an ivory mask. Her festival is the Margoliad, a week-long competition for playwrights, actors, and musicians that follows the New Year.
Margol embodies the Aretean virtue of creativity.
Kel is the goddess of strength, labor, and athleticism. Called Kel the Rough-Hewn, Kel is envisioned as being simple and straightforward in her approach to things. She has no temple hierarchy or full-time priesthood; her shrines are found in the homes of workers and in gymnasiums and bathhouses. "Kel's Day" is a special feast declared usually once a year (sometimes more often, in times of plenty or simmering unrest) by the emperor. It is a day of rest for laborers, and often coincides with athletic games.
Kel embodies the Aretean virtue of duty.
Elysine is the goddess of learning and communication. She is the goddess of scholars, scribes, teachers, artificers, philosophers, and diplomats, as well as many wizards. Her symbol is a triangular motif made out of three sets of double lines joined by circles in the corners. Few people realize what it's meant to represent, which is three scrolls that roll into one another endlessly. The owl, the cat, and the fox are also sacred to her. The holiest time of the year to Elysine is the annual symposium hosted by the three largest universities of Aret.
Elysine represents the Aretean virtue of reason.
Leydan is the goddess of retribution, vengeance, and sorrow. Her priests speak of "the two sorrows" of the aggrieved, those being the sorrow that precedes vengeance and the sorrow that follows it. That's not to say that they counsel against vengeance… rather, they warn petitioners to go into it with their eyes open, and offer spiritual assistance to those who find themselves at a loss after having their vengeance.
Leydan's symbol is the raven, or the raven's feather. Her feast day is in the late spring, and it brings a special dispensation. Any Aretean may dissolve a marriage or family bond on Leydan's Day. Even children can remove themselves from their parents, though they must either have another willing guardian or else enter one of the state orphanages (may run by Leydanites). Leydan's priests call this annual ritual "the small evil that prevents great ones". Even those in untenable marriages or family situations seldom take advantage of this dispensation, though… though custom and law dictates that there can be no stigma or recriminations for these sanctioned dissolutions, there are customs that supersede custom.
Leydan represents the Aretean virtue of responsibility.
Arete is the goddess of justice, wisdom, and war, as well as a personification of the city of Aret itself. As such, her highest holy day is the anniversary of the city's founding. She is also invoked on other civic holidays, such as the emperor's birthday. Few people worship Arete specifically, though soldiers pray to her before battle. Her priests are all government employees. Her symbol is an eye whose pupil is the fulcrum for a pair of scales, with crossed swords behind it. This is also the seal of the empire.
Arete represents the Aretean virtue of greatness.
Melaketh is a goddess of earth and healing. Areteans believe she is the daughter of the world and that she herself gave birth to the land they live upon. The name of the continent "Kethia" in fact is said to come from her, though since it's called things like that in many languages far beyond the most expansive borders of the empire, it's just as possible that the Aretean name fo the goddess comes from the name for the continent. She is the goddess of farmers and midwives, and is called the Bringer Forth of Life.
Her symbols include the sickle and many plants, but especially ivy. Her holy days are the equinoxes, which are called by the faithful "Melaketh's Awakening" and "Melaketh's Repose." She embodies the Aretean virtue of patience.
Prospera is a goddess of flame and fortune. She is watches over gamblers, merchants, and travelers. Because she is favored by merchants and traders, Prospera is the one of the Seven with the most fame beyond Aret's boundaries, where her portfolio has expanded to include adventurers.
Prospera's symbols include the sun, and three tongues of flame branching like a trident. Those who are about to conduct a high-risk venture often burn something of nominal value as a sacrifice to Prospera, to ensure luck. Aretean merchants conducting a deal often burn an offering together, so that no party may have an undue advantage over the other. Prospera's holy days are the Aretean New Year, which begins seven days after the winter solstice. The festival is actually a varying length holiday that is counted as one day liturgically, to help correct for irregularities in the calendar. Many religious prohibitions and even laws are relaxed during Prospera's Day, and it is common for people to switch roles with another (spouses with each other, parents with children, officers and soldiers, nobles and their servants) during the long day.
Prospera is called the Thrice-Married Virgin, because she is said to have married three men (demigods) and was satisfied by none of them, until her eye fell upon the form of Melaketh spreading out beneath her and was smitten. Traditions differ as to whether Melaketh returns Prospera's affection or not; some claim that they are married, and others that Melaketh is oblivious to Prospera's love. Most modern clerics interpret the conflicting stories of previous generations as a depiction of the ups and downs of their relationship.
Despite the possible alliance between their patron powers, priests of Melaketh and priests of Prospera do not get along with each other. A particular bone of contention is the meanings of the seasons: does Melaketh awaken in the spring because Prospera comes around more often, or does Prospera come around more because Melaketh is awake?
There is a small religion called the Cult of the Lovers that reveres both goddesses equally, dedicating themselves to the sacred marriage of Prospera and Melaketh. They are viewed as heretical by traditionalist followers of the individual goddesses, but many couples prefer the Lovers for wedding ceremonies. The winter as a whole is sacred to the Lovers, but in a low-key way: the cultists quietly celebrate the long nights when their beloved matrons are sleeping together.
Prospera embodies the Aretean virtue of passion.
Avalla is a goddess of death and mystery. She is usually depicted wrapped in a cloak or else draped in veils, which are sometimes stylized as spider webs. She is called "The Fair" in reference to the impartiality of death; to suggest that death is cruel or capricious is considered terriblly unlucky in Aretean society. Pious and superstitious Areteans who so much as overhear such a declaration will beg the goddess's pardon or offer up flattery in prayer.
Avalla's symbol is the lily, a traditional funerary symbol in the Aretean peninsula. Blood lilies, a white lily with a spot like a drop of blood on the lower petal, are said to be a sign which marks her passage through the world when they're found in the wilderness, though they are also cultivated by her priests. The solstices are her sacred days, a fact which causes some friction between her priests and those of the Lovers every midwinter.
Avalla embodies the Aretean virtue of mercy.
Renessa is a goddess of wind and water. Unlike Avalla, she revels in the image of being capricious and merciless. Prayers to her--especially those for mercy in a storm--are often hedged with phrases like "if it be your will", and left open-ended rather than asking for specific boons, so as not to suggest that the goddess is at the disposal of mortals. Aretean sailors pray for "safe arrival" and their families ask for their "safe return" rather than asking for a safe journey... the journey is up to the goddess, and she does not like to be told what to do.
Renessa's symbol is the moon over (and partially behind) a cloud over the waves. The full moon is her sacred day, with the second full moon in a month being the the holiest day of the year, except in years where this will happen twice. In that case, it's the seventh full moon. Though her priests always keep a weather eye out for omens that point to another day when it seems like Renessa is in the mood for a feast.
Renessa embodies the Aretean virtue of change.
Margol is the goddess of music and art. She is believed to dispense muses throughout the world. Families who pay for their children to take lessons in painting or poetry spend almost as much in offerings to Margol, so that their progeny may have the divine spark of talent.
Margol's symbols include a golden harp and an ivory mask. Her festival is the Margoliad, a week-long competition for playwrights, actors, and musicians that follows the New Year.
Margol embodies the Aretean virtue of creativity.
Kel is the goddess of strength, labor, and athleticism. Called Kel the Rough-Hewn, Kel is envisioned as being simple and straightforward in her approach to things. She has no temple hierarchy or full-time priesthood; her shrines are found in the homes of workers and in gymnasiums and bathhouses. "Kel's Day" is a special feast declared usually once a year (sometimes more often, in times of plenty or simmering unrest) by the emperor. It is a day of rest for laborers, and often coincides with athletic games.
Kel embodies the Aretean virtue of duty.
Elysine is the goddess of learning and communication. She is the goddess of scholars, scribes, teachers, artificers, philosophers, and diplomats, as well as many wizards. Her symbol is a triangular motif made out of three sets of double lines joined by circles in the corners. Few people realize what it's meant to represent, which is three scrolls that roll into one another endlessly. The owl, the cat, and the fox are also sacred to her. The holiest time of the year to Elysine is the annual symposium hosted by the three largest universities of Aret.
Elysine represents the Aretean virtue of reason.
Leydan is the goddess of retribution, vengeance, and sorrow. Her priests speak of "the two sorrows" of the aggrieved, those being the sorrow that precedes vengeance and the sorrow that follows it. That's not to say that they counsel against vengeance… rather, they warn petitioners to go into it with their eyes open, and offer spiritual assistance to those who find themselves at a loss after having their vengeance.
Leydan's symbol is the raven, or the raven's feather. Her feast day is in the late spring, and it brings a special dispensation. Any Aretean may dissolve a marriage or family bond on Leydan's Day. Even children can remove themselves from their parents, though they must either have another willing guardian or else enter one of the state orphanages (may run by Leydanites). Leydan's priests call this annual ritual "the small evil that prevents great ones". Even those in untenable marriages or family situations seldom take advantage of this dispensation, though… though custom and law dictates that there can be no stigma or recriminations for these sanctioned dissolutions, there are customs that supersede custom.
Leydan represents the Aretean virtue of responsibility.
Arete is the goddess of justice, wisdom, and war, as well as a personification of the city of Aret itself. As such, her highest holy day is the anniversary of the city's founding. She is also invoked on other civic holidays, such as the emperor's birthday. Few people worship Arete specifically, though soldiers pray to her before battle. Her priests are all government employees. Her symbol is an eye whose pupil is the fulcrum for a pair of scales, with crossed swords behind it. This is also the seal of the empire.
Arete represents the Aretean virtue of greatness.