Enlighten me (part 2) from a2230798_at_athena.rrz.Uni-Koeln.DE on 1994-11-24 (Glorantha Digest Vol 01)

From: a2230798_at_athena.rrz.Uni-Koeln.DE
Date: Thu, 24 Nov 1994 15:14:06 +0100 (MEZ)

Ralf Engels continues typing !

Here follows part two of my appreciation of the various comments re: Teshnos

Peter Metcalfe

> ..., I was thinking that we make the sun goddess cult primarily a minor
> cult in scope. Ie there are no lavish temples to her. At the most there
> would be something like a shinto shrine at which one leaves offerings in
> every city.

Do you mean "shrine" as defined by the RQ-term (ie 75-225 people singing ha- lelluja on holy days at this spot) ? Or shrine as generic for "temple" ? If the former, I wonder where all the women stick their devotion and prayers to (apart from their husbands, that is).

> I'm thinking that caste strictures do apply to women, ...
And thus are eligible to worship Somash or Zitro Argon directly ? Please expand on "caste strictures".

> Comments that Somash is the god of the nobles who actually run the show
> and Teshna is the aboriginal goddess I thoroughly concur with.
Me too ! Though probably because of a different perspective.

> Calyz' association with sex in this case makes me feel queasy ...
I think I'm missing your (obvious ?) point. Explain please.

> If the Vessel of Light was a proper representative of the Government of
> Yelm then Teshnos would have subjugated the amazons, ...
Of course he's not ! He's the (last) representative of Zitro Argon's rule on or over this world, not of this youngster Somash. So he's thinking about philosophy, not conquest.

> The truths were, sorry, THE TRUTH (tm?) was reestablished by Soravatoor
> the Son of Heaven. It appears that Teshnos has suffered some disruption
> during the God's War.

Right. Possibly disruption like in Kralorela, which fared by far better than most of the rest of Genertela. I think the Teshnans held out because of their belief in Zitro Argon, aided by the fact that especially chaos had somewhere else to go.
The important question is: When did this reestablishment happen ? IMO in God- time, perhaps as far back as shortly after the retreat of Zitro Argon beyond the sky dome.
Other POV appreciated.

> Her Runes are Light and Earth. Who is to say which is more important ?
Obviously, I'd vote for Earth. Light granted graciously by marriage.

> However Gods can change radically between different cultures.
Complete agreement ! (As in other places I've refrained from mentioning)

> Actually it's Ernalda and Flamal according to the God Learners.
Hmmm, I have to have look at my books. Can you point me to a reference for this ?
That Genert and Gata spawned the land goddesses is fine. I have to think about the adoption possibility between the land goddesses and the grain goddesses - interesting.

Thanks to you and all the others.
Keep your thoughts coming as long as it inspires you, I'm really interested in this.
Otherwise, if you get too bored, just mention it and I'll be quiet.

Ralf