Cult of Datena

Datena is one of the main deities in Mörkel mythology, specifically the Eilatogían Tradition, which originated in the Eila'togía, the earliest kingdom on the Plain of Kings where many common features of Mörkel culture developed during the second century a.Dr.
In this tradition, Datena is not only a goddess of war, but of love and revelry as well depending on the context, with the aristocracy emphasizing her warlike aspect while commoners prefer the two latter ones.

Rituals

Mörkels make offerings to the goddess out of fear rather than to celebrate her, due to Datena's association with warfare and causing unpredictable (and potentially destructive) behaviour in people. Aside from the usual animal sacrifices, many of these rituals require her priests and priestesses to don weapons and arms and perform war chants, dances, mock duels and even whole battles to distract the goddess and satisfy her bloodlust, making her less likely to cause strife among mortals.

by Lappalingur

Priestesses of Datena presenting offerings on an altar.

Mythology

In Eilatogían Tradition, Datena is not counted among the five primordial deities who created the world. Instead, she burst out of the blood that had pooled during the world's first strife; the war between the gods against the revolting silver giants they had created to bring light into the world. With a piercing cry, Datena slew most of the giants until the few remaining ones fled to the south, never to be seen again, while the bodies of their fallen comrades sank into the earth and transformed into precious stones and metals.
Datena's chaotic behaviour and contempt for the fate of mortals resembles in many ways that of the god Erkar, except that while the latter is associated with natural disasters, Datena represents the darker aspects of human nature.

Appearance and attributes

Datena is usually depicted wearing full armour and wielding a variety of weapons, particularly axes, although each tribe generally describes her using their favoured weapon. Underneath the armour she usually wears a red dress or, especially in kingdoms bordering Þrihakía, clothes traditionally worn by Þrihaks due to their association with raiding Mörkel settlements.
Datena's hair is usually depicted as long and braided. When the goddess' warlike aspect is emphasized, she either has bloody hands or shown rising out of a pool of blood.

Related deities

Datena Öþekí

Datena Öþekí is the name given to Datena by the Tysíans in the kingdom of Aralrar on the central Plain of Kings, who trace their lineage back to her. The epithet refers to her weapon of choice, a triple axe, which her statue in the city of Ónesrak wields, fashioned from gold and silver.

Ittar

Ittar is the god of walls, towers and shields, son of Datena. Traditionally, Mörkels don't invoke him with words, but by banging their weapons against their shields before battle. He's usually worshipped in the same temples as Datena, though separate shrines exist as well.

Retei

Retei represents the horrors of war, and depending on which version is either the warlike aspect of Datena or a separate goddess. She gains nourishment from the blood of the fallen, and her mere presence is believed to be the cause of heavy casualties, warriors going berserk and towns being pillaged.
While Mörkels give offerings to Aþar in hopes of victory, sacrifices are made to Retei to keep her at bay.

Tarúnar

Tarúnar is a minor god associated with slaughter, especially that of Hyrnings, and is also believed to be the messenger of Datena.

Zirnei

Zirnei is worshipped by northern Mörkel tribes as a goddess of hunting and archery, and in some traditions is also the mother of the heroes ¹Lerósar and ²Nartanna, both of which are associated with archery¹. She's especially associated with the hunting of Förns, a dangerous task for even the best hunters and warriors, and those who die during (or from wounds inflicted in) the hunt are believed by some to enter a special afterlife ruled by the goddess.
Hunters usually bury the hearts of their quarry as an offering to the Zirnei; a similar custom is practiced by Ameders and Útels as well.

Örala

Örala is the goddess (or aspect of Datena) of love and physical attraction, as well as heartbreak and obsessive behaviour.

---

¹The worship of Lerósar goes back to the ancient Móerkels, ancestors of the Mörkels, where he was believed to have shot the sun to make the days longer, thus creating summer. In later traditions, he's said to have scared away the monstrous Dragon (a creature that once terrorized Dragonía for centuries) with a single arrow.
²Nartanna was originally a goddess of hunters in Lelenda and southern Outer-Dagtí, who later became a hero believed to have shot the Dragon through the smoke-hole in her house.

Type

Religious, Cult

Parent Organization

Mörkel polytheism

Related Ethnicities

• Mörkels