Gods of the South- The Pantheon
The gods of the Pantheon worshipped in the southern lands number fourteen and each is attributed supremacy over some aspect of life.
Sky Mother, the mother goddess and the supreme deity of the pantheon.
She is oft depicted as a tall, strong woman, powerful in build, with skin the colour of deep polished bronze, long tresses made of pure gold and falling in plaits, and eyes that glow white and hot.
She is usually clothed in a long linen of dress of green and gold that forms to her body and she wears golden sandals on her feet. At her neck sits a diamond the size of a large fowl's egg. This is the Starwhite of Y'mja, and said to hold all the powers of the universe.
Sky-Father. The mate and consort of Y'mja he ranks only a little lower than her in power and is the father-head of the pantheon.
The goddess of the harvests. Her month is the chief reaping time in the south.
The god of hunting and of food, and of animals. The Solanders believe that his favour must be invoked before hunting animals of any kind, and that many prayers of thanks must be said afterwards in gratitude to him, for allowing Man to take one of his own for meat.
The sea goddess and goddess of the deep ocean. She is associated with unfathomable wisdom and is the goddess of the learned. Lore-houses, tutelariums, start their classes in the month of Iloku and her likeness and symbols are inscribed on the doors, lecterns, even some tomes.
The goddess of the wind. She is associated with change and the vagaries of chance. Gamblers, especially the inveterate ones, oft carry her symbols on tokens or charms around their necks or wrists, hoping that she will bring them good luck.
The mighty warrior god of iron, he is also associated with labour and toil, and the production of machines and things that do work, and also with doing the work of the hands. This god most venerated by those whose professions are crafts, particularly ironmongers and blacksmiths.
He is called upon during times of war to imbue the muscles and sinews of the warrior with the same strength that he has given to the iron of their weapons. The war standards of Solander always carry the likeness of Ogai.
The mighty war goddess of thunder and lightning, the month of Xangai is the time when great storms assault the lands of Solander, flooding the streams and rivers and its east-lying delta lands. The war standards of Solander always carry the likeness of Xangai.
The goddess of fertility and consort of the marriage-god Abya. Also sister to Y'mja.
The god of marriage and consort of the fertility goddess Asuja, for in Solander they say "marriage for for men".
A difficult god to understand. It/They is/are one yet two at the same time. Think perhaps of a coin on which one side is youth and the other is vitality. Not in opposition but in harmony. The Ebye is associated with maturing, and it is in the month of Ebye that coming of age rituals and parties are held in Solander; it is also a harvest month for some crops. This is the god of twins and the month of Ebye is special time for all twins.
The goddess of wisdom, divination and foresight, she is also known for the memory of the ancestors and for ancient knowledge. That particular group of adepts called "future-seers" are especially fond of Aur. Yet, these adepts are scorned in Solander, for it is believed that only Aur can truly divine and her power comes only at the will of Y'mja and Oloro.
The god of the crossroads, also a trickster god and a god of ambivalence. The time of Esai is for festivals, pleasure, parties, good food and good fun. And perhaps a trick or two played upon their elders by children. A game called "Esai the Fool Farther" is oft played on messengers that day (but when they catch on to the trickery, they retrace their steps and the senders and receivers of the trick message must ply them with food and good beer as recompense for their inconvenience).
The Unknown, the god with no place. Having no place to be he is a wanderer, traversing the world, searching and not finding, yet seeing much. He is the patron of the lost.
Y'mja
(spoken ee-MO-jah)Sky Mother, the mother goddess and the supreme deity of the pantheon.
She is oft depicted as a tall, strong woman, powerful in build, with skin the colour of deep polished bronze, long tresses made of pure gold and falling in plaits, and eyes that glow white and hot.
She is usually clothed in a long linen of dress of green and gold that forms to her body and she wears golden sandals on her feet. At her neck sits a diamond the size of a large fowl's egg. This is the Starwhite of Y'mja, and said to hold all the powers of the universe.
Oloro
(spoken oh-LOW-row)Sky-Father. The mate and consort of Y'mja he ranks only a little lower than her in power and is the father-head of the pantheon.
Okoi-ya
(spoken oh-KOY-yah)The goddess of the harvests. Her month is the chief reaping time in the south.
Xose
(spoken ZO-say)The god of hunting and of food, and of animals. The Solanders believe that his favour must be invoked before hunting animals of any kind, and that many prayers of thanks must be said afterwards in gratitude to him, for allowing Man to take one of his own for meat.
Iloku
(spoken eh-LO-koo)The sea goddess and goddess of the deep ocean. She is associated with unfathomable wisdom and is the goddess of the learned. Lore-houses, tutelariums, start their classes in the month of Iloku and her likeness and symbols are inscribed on the doors, lecterns, even some tomes.
Oy
(spoken Oi)The goddess of the wind. She is associated with change and the vagaries of chance. Gamblers, especially the inveterate ones, oft carry her symbols on tokens or charms around their necks or wrists, hoping that she will bring them good luck.
Ogai
(spoken oh-GUY)The mighty warrior god of iron, he is also associated with labour and toil, and the production of machines and things that do work, and also with doing the work of the hands. This god most venerated by those whose professions are crafts, particularly ironmongers and blacksmiths.
He is called upon during times of war to imbue the muscles and sinews of the warrior with the same strength that he has given to the iron of their weapons. The war standards of Solander always carry the likeness of Ogai.
Xangai
(spoken shan-GUY)The mighty war goddess of thunder and lightning, the month of Xangai is the time when great storms assault the lands of Solander, flooding the streams and rivers and its east-lying delta lands. The war standards of Solander always carry the likeness of Xangai.
Asuja
(spoken ah-SOO-jah)The goddess of fertility and consort of the marriage-god Abya. Also sister to Y'mja.
Abya
(spoken AH-bee-yah)The god of marriage and consort of the fertility goddess Asuja, for in Solander they say "marriage for for men".
The Ebye
(spoken eh-BYE-yea)A difficult god to understand. It/They is/are one yet two at the same time. Think perhaps of a coin on which one side is youth and the other is vitality. Not in opposition but in harmony. The Ebye is associated with maturing, and it is in the month of Ebye that coming of age rituals and parties are held in Solander; it is also a harvest month for some crops. This is the god of twins and the month of Ebye is special time for all twins.
Aur
(spoken ah-UR)The goddess of wisdom, divination and foresight, she is also known for the memory of the ancestors and for ancient knowledge. That particular group of adepts called "future-seers" are especially fond of Aur. Yet, these adepts are scorned in Solander, for it is believed that only Aur can truly divine and her power comes only at the will of Y'mja and Oloro.
Esai
(spoken ess-SIGH)The god of the crossroads, also a trickster god and a god of ambivalence. The time of Esai is for festivals, pleasure, parties, good food and good fun. And perhaps a trick or two played upon their elders by children. A game called "Esai the Fool Farther" is oft played on messengers that day (but when they catch on to the trickery, they retrace their steps and the senders and receivers of the trick message must ply them with food and good beer as recompense for their inconvenience).
Elu
(spoken eh-LOO)The Unknown, the god with no place. Having no place to be he is a wanderer, traversing the world, searching and not finding, yet seeing much. He is the patron of the lost.
Type
Religious, Pantheon
Comments