>Joerg and others have pointed out: > However, the origin of
>the cult of Humakt is via the birth of Arkat Humaktsson.
>Isn't it just a teensy bit possible that Arkat is only metaphorically
>"the son" of Humakt?
Yes, a teensy little little bit. The Brithini have a story how this dark handsome barbarian warrior impregnated Arkat's mother, the daughter of a Horali warrior of Brithos. The allegation is somewhat natural.
However, the entire cult is built upon the acceptance of this "fact". If the worshippers are to become more like the god, they have to produce a son like Arkat, and deal harshly with him when he betrays the cult.
Me:
>>Perhaps: Children sired by or born to worshippers of these (sub)cults
>become tools of death.
>I think this would require a special ritual. Children are the very
>embodiment of life. They even smell new.
They overcome this imperfection upon reaching adulthood, in some cases earlier (Harsaltar the Terrible).
Me again:
>>But seriously, Death is not the opposite of Fertility, but its
>logical partner. Death creates Fertility. Best in Dragon Pass - the
>bloodier the battles, the better next year's harvest.
>This is a Gloranthan truth - and is quite prevalent in Peloria, land of
>balance, illumination, and opposites attreacting. The Earth Goddesses
>of DP also know this secret, but I don't think the storm cults of DP
>have much embraced it. Humakt, particularly, seems to reject it.
IMO not. Humakt knows perfectly well that he serves these cycles. He only claims his own outside of this cycle. Grower manages to equal this out, too.
>Humakt allows no Resurrection, and is the god of severance and ending,
>NOT of cycles. If any Death god in Glorantha is the antithesis of life
>and antifertility, it is Humakt. Yes - some death gods are associated
>with fertility, but Humakt is not.
Humakt is the process of delivering death, evenhandedly, in Theyalan myth. He has an interest in keeping this process clean of practices like Delecti's. But it is his severance which enables the cycles.
>BTW - I think Yanafal Tarnils has no big fertility loss.
I agree.
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