Title. I like to think of it that way because, it has a lot of stuff that the original dark souls 1 player can get. ((Flippy Ring for example, he does flip dodges, not dodge rolls.))

I believe the Deep to be a vast sea of Human Dregs.

I believe Deep/Human Dregs, bedrock of the world, are one of two fundamental forces. The other being raw Light/Souls. All other soul forces from Chaos to Lightning to the Dark Soul itself simply possesses these elements in different proportions. In particular the Dark Soul/Humanity has a heavy core of Deep "embered" by the faintest smidgen of Light/Soul.

I believe the key property of Dregs/ The Deep Soul is to form and animate matter. Of course we see this in the Dreg Heap with the Murkmen. But I see evidence pointing deeper. Seath's Curse crystals, the hands of the Grand Archives, and Basilisk breath links Curse to Crystallization. And the Deacons of the Deep curse ball links Curse to the Deep. When we are Cursed/Petrified, the Deep overwhelms us and crystallizes our Souls within us (also telling of where Gems come from).

(Crystal Lizards and Titanite should be extensions of this phenomenon. Humans, Titanite Lizards. Imperfect Dragons linked through Deep and crystallized souls. Perhaps, even the Dragons themselves were nothing more than ash and stone animated by Deep, and by crystallized Souls. Could this be Moonlight?)

(Soul Sorcery is perhaps Deep "purified" with Souls and weaponized. And of course crystal sorceries are strongest due to having a more solid core of Deep. The weighty Dark Sorceries follow the same logic.)

Because of this, I believe Deep to be intrinsically linked to Hollowing. When the undead loses all their Souls, they also lose the Light corona surrounding their Humanity. Leaving only the Dregs behind. Therefore when the Undead rises, this is the Dregs animating the husk devoid of Souls.

Take another look at the Dark Sigil. Notice how there is the dark blue associated with Deep, flowing within. This was the first revelation that led to this theory.

Some theorists interpret the Dark Sigil as a property of primeval man that allowed them to channel Dark at will. Creating living weapons and armor. Allowing transformation into Abyssal monsters. And at the end of the Age of Fire, allowing accumulation of Pus, and the eventual evolution to Angels. I believe the Sigil also allowed for reincarnation, via Humanity escaping to join the Abyss (or whatever the precursor to that was. Perhaps the swamp of Dark in the Ringed City. Or, the sea in Ash Lake.)

Only, when this Sigil is branded by Fire, Humanity is singed on death, and trapped within the body. The Deep Soul is not free to rejoin its ancestral home. Thus it reincarnates in the dead body, causing the Undead to rise. Without the memories contained by Souls, and hungering to restore Humanity.

(Rethinking this above part of the theory. The Dark Sigil description says Hollowing is caused by Dark leaving the vessel. But, Curse (=Deep?) still must accumulate. How does this work? Can Hollows lose Dark but still have Souls? And what would that mean? Still, my core belief is that both a Darksign and a Dark Sigil are needed to experience Hollowing)

I believe the Unkindled to be resurrected with intact Humanity. With a Darksign, but importantly without a Dark Sigil. Therefore, the Humanity cannot escape after death, but neither is it burned away. Therefore, resurrection without Hollowing (unless a servant of Londor restores the Dark Sigils.)

My theory also explains the "retcon" of Curse to Petrify in DS2: it's not a retcon at all. DS2 Curse and Petrify are two expressions of the same underlying phenomenon. But, only those who peered into the essence of the soul would recognize this... Not only Vendrick and Aldia, but Seath the Scaleless before them. And, Oceiros, Sulyvahn, and the Sable Church of Londor after.

(One more idea: where do we find Pilgrim Butterflies? Outside the Grand Archives. Where Seath experimented with Crystals. And created Moonlight Butterflies. Suggesting that Seath forced human evolution in his experiments.

The Moonlight Butterflies being an artificial forebear of the Pilgrim Butterflies emerging naturally over Lothric. These experiments would have elucidated the bond between Dregs and Souls.)

So recently after getting DSR and having played through ds3 multiple times, I realised something. Some sort of stereotype. Astora Knights are mostly friendly and a there to help you, mostly like the Catarina Knigts. The Carim Knights seem to be always "evil"/aggressive, for e.g. Lautrec kills the Firelink Shrines Firekeeper. And Eygon is pretty unfriendly too although he doesnt betray you, I have yet to meet the third Carim Knight Oswald is okay i guess? Maybe this is just totally random and stupid. Just a thought that came to mind.

Right now I am stuck with some last pieces that I wish to work through and eventually publish. They concern a concept known as the [A]Eleusinian Mysteries and the other are some pieces by [B]Han Fei and [C]Zhuang Zhou.

[A]Eleusinian mysteries are interesting when talking about 'greater mysteries' as this would be a context in which this term would be very relevant, but not neccessarily the same.

[B]Han Fei wrote around 20 books which requires a lot of time to fully read through. I am curious if any of the rather unique concepts to dark souls hold any similarities to phrases that Han Fei is using. Specifically it concerns the term 'Firelink Altar' and 'Altar of Spirits of Soil and Grain', but also a few more which I am contemplating if they should be mentioned. It is unclear to me if it would be wise to write about a piece that is not very much translated and discussed in English on the internet, making sources rare and reliability lower.

[C]Chuang Zhou is of interest when mentioning 'talking trees of dream world' as such a story is part of Chuang Zhous works. 'Talking tree's are not all that rare in narratives and 'dream worlds' are also not that special on their own but they do not always appear together and narratives in which this happens are therefor interesting.

These are basically that last struggle that are holding me back.

After pondering about the subject of my topics and editing it for a magnitude of times I came to evaluate a number of approaches. This concerns what direction I wanted to lead into and how to use that to its full advantage.

Right now I can answer the following questions:

Q: What is taking you so long?

A: Some subjects really require to be addressed and fleshed out more deeply. I am somewhat of a delinquent among the souls community and do not want to settle with less than a both a humane broad and in depth overview. There exists the problem that this series mainly handles sensitive subjects for example and this (IMO) needs to be addressed without drama or fanfare. Yet, at the same time it becomes clear that in order to reach each of these points it is necessary to work through other subjects which for world building are equally important.

A: Currently the exact shape and formatting of the topics is a huge challenge for what the shape of the series is going to take. The amount of topics and division of each subject can be crucial to presentation and there exists a max character limit to a topic.

Q: What have you thus far been doing?

A: The task I want to accomplish the most is to overcome a major hurdle that basically any dark souls lore writer is suffering from. Dark Souls has a series of really old eras(age of ancients, dark ages etc.) with near to no information at all.

Q: If you had to to name each subject you were working on in the shortest term possible how would you summarize them?

A: Angels, Maidens, Dragons, Serpents, Miracles, Crystals, Chaos, High Priests, Heralds, Slaves and perhaps even more.

Q: What shape of topics will the series take from now on?

A: The series will be a combination of short serial topics and parallel topics which can be read in series with the other topics as well. Imagine it like this A[1]+A[2]+B[3]+B[4]+C[5]+etc, although the exact number of topics might differ very much in between the final release.

Q: Why do you make separate topics for stuff(references) that anyone can google?

A: I am of the opinion that not just anyone can just 'google' each of these subjects. Each of these references are essentially simplified summaries and serve to make the language simple for readers for whom these subjects are difficult or foreign. Complicated English is not a great help for these cases. Additionally some of those sources are not simply be found in a procrastrinative effort. I am very much aware that the community of SGA might frown upon each of these references and take them to be an underhanded effort to score karma. For me it is fine if a topic falls in ill taste since they are for me a tool to find certain subjects repeatedly as they need to be reused. It is always super easily said that I am merely trying to score karma, in fact even I kinda wish that were the case my task were much easier that way. It is convenient for the one laying the charges, but disregards the perspective of the defendant for selfish purposes.

Q: If you think you know the lore of the entire series so well, why do you not write in the respective souls subreddits?

A: There are a few reasons. I kinda hate unnecessary attention and drama and those communities are in my eyes too many times toxic. Me and those communities in my eyes do not mesh well. For one the souls communities are not always very fond of seeing 'another lore topic' and some make it their personal vendetta to organize voting practices to discourage lore topics as a distraction of their own gaming agenda. It is not my intention to engage this bias what a community subreddit exists for. For another I realize that my view on discussion is very different from other members, I discuss(two sided) a subject, whereas other members debate(one sided) a subject. It is never enough for me to only provide an argument against someone elses argument. There also has to be a perspective sharing that broadens the view of the other party. I also think that being wrong or right is very much secondary to establishing ones point of view. I still look up my 'discussions' with other members sometimes to realize that these discussions lack that aspect, but also to learn from my mistakes. I recall that that last member wanted me to change the content of my comment because it was wrong and I answered that I refused to do so because I use my mistakes to learn from. There is this certain sentence in my head that always keeps repeating and deleting and correcting itself. "Even I make mistakes." This sentence turns into "I certainly make mistakes". Discussions are and have to be engaging for me and that can also be my abyss. I come back for more.

Tiny Lore – Treaty of Dancing Rabit Creek

Treaty of Dancing Rabit Creek wiki

Explaining the bad side of slavery and segregation is not easy since differences between segregated ethnic groups is not equally as appearant as between a prisoner and his warden. When settlers forcibly made the soil of the natives their own they came with their own norms, laws and cultural standards and these were not always very tolerant. That in the real world wars and conflicts were fought over slavery was perhaps well known, but the injustice in peace was likewise one of the aspects that reflects the latent aspects of slavery and suppression.

The sparsely inhabited Cherokee lands were highly attractive to Georgian farmers experiencing population pressure, and illegal settlements resulted. Long-simmering tensions between Georgia and the Cherokee Nation were brought to a crisis by the discovery of gold near Dahlonega, Georgia, in 1829, resulting in the Georgia Gold Rush, the second gold rush in U.S. history. Hopeful gold speculators began trespassing on Cherokee lands, and pressure mounted to fulfill the Compact of 1802 in which the US Government promised to extinguish Indian land claims in the state of Georgia.

When Georgia moved to extend state laws over Cherokee lands in 1830, the matter went to the U.S. Supreme Court.In Cherokee Nation v. Georgia (1831), the Marshall court ruled that the Cherokee Nation was not a sovereign and independent nation, and therefore refused to hear the case. However, in Worcester v. Georgia (1832), the Court ruled that Georgia could not impose laws in Cherokee territory, since only the national government — not state governments — had authority in Indian affairs. Worcester v Georgia is associated with Andrew Jackson's famous, though apocryphal, quote "John Marshall has made his decision; now let him enforce it!" In reality, this quote did not appear until 30 years after the incident and was first printed in a textbook authored by Jackson critic Horace Greeley.

Fearing open warfare between federal troops and the Georgia militia, Jackson decided not to enforce Cherokee claims against the state of Georgia. He was already embroiled in a constitutional crisis with South Carolina (i.e. the nullification crisis) and favored Cherokee relocation over civil war.

The Choctaw were the first of the "Five Civilized Tribes" to be removed from the southeastern United States, as the federal and state governments desired Indian lands to accommodate a growing agrarian American society.

Under the Indian Removal Act, were a few subacts. One of which was the Treaty of Dancing Rabit Creek and named after place this treaty was signed at Choctaw as Bok Chukfi Ahilha (Dancing Rabbit Creek, where the rabbits gather to dance). Under settler favored terms the Choctaw were allowed to stay but the natives favored their own laws and freedom over what they viewed as oppresion. Hence the Choctaw decided to abandon their lands if remaining in them ment unfavorable condition.

What was officialy communicated to te people was of course slightly different from the real circumstances of the Choctaw.

George W. Harkins:

It is with considerable diffidence that I attempt to address the American people, knowing and feeling sensibly my incompetency; and believing that your highly and well improved minds would not be well entertained by the address of a Choctaw. But having determined to emigrate west of the Mississippi river this fall, I have thought proper in bidding you farewell to make a few remarks expressive of my views, and the feelings that actuate me on the subject of our removal ... We as Choctaws rather chose to suffer and be free, than live under the degrading influence of laws, which our voice could not be heard in their formation ... Much as the state of Mississippi has wronged us, I cannot find in my heart any other sentiment than an ardent wish for her prosperity and happiness.

There are some concrete examples what the Choctaws endured in Missisissippi.

Homes were torn down and burned, fences destroyed, other people unleashed their lifestock on the farmlands of the natives, they themselves were subject to repeated torture(whipped) or otherwise abused with some even succumbing to this treatment.

Trial of Tears wiki

1831-1863: Almost twenty thousand Choctaw lived in Missisipi before the forced migration. More than twelve thousand fivehundred Choctaw were moved from Missisipi to Oklahoma which involved a journey of 800 kilometers during which several thousands died. It is not for nothing that this was known as the Trial of Tears. (“trail of tears and death” )

A French Philosopher Alexis de Tocqueville has his own remarks about the removal.

In the whole scene there was an air of ruin and destruction, something which betrayed a final and irrevocable adieu; one couldn't watch without feeling one's heart wrung. The Indians were tranquil, but sombre and taciturn. There was one who could speak English and of whom I asked why the Chactas were leaving their country. "To be free," he answered, could never get any other reason out of him. We ... watch the expulsion ... of one of the most celebrated and ancient American peoples.

The five to six thousand whom remained in missisissippi did not have it much better.

For the next ten years they were objects of increasing legal conflict, harassment, and intimidation

Even though the officially stated removals (only?) encompassed 32 years supposedly ending in 1863 the actual amount continued well into 1903 in which another three hundred were removed. The Choctaw nation eventually fell under Oklahoma. Even though the Native Americans were granted their own land they were assigned no recognition as a state. Likewise their representives were never recognized. As a consequence when the choctaw nation had its government dismantled (Curtis Act) they were subjected to similar treatment as before. Many lost their lands when their lands were redivided under the pretense that this helped their assimilation among the other Americans. It was not until 1945 that the Choctaw tribe gained recognition again under the Choctaw Nation.

Tiny Lore – Magnum Opus

[Magnum Opus wiki](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Magnum_opus_(alchemy)

Philosiphor's Stone wiki

Magnum Opus (Great Work) is an alchemical term for the process to create the philosopher's stone from a prima materia(first matter). This prima materia is sometimes associated with primordial chaos. In the seventeenth century, Thomas Vaughan writes, "the first matter of the stone is the very same with the first matter of all things". Although the philosopher's stone is perhaps best known as a device in art and literature it also appears as a personal and spiritual process in Hermetic tradition with the goalpost of become something more special. Hermetics, derive their background and namesake from the Greek god Hermes. The creation of the stone has continued all the way into the New Age(1970) and neo-Hermetic movements with occasional different symbolism and signficance.

The stone is then created through the processes nigredo (blackening or melanosis), albedo (whitening or leucosis), citrinitas (yellowing or xanthosis) and rubedo (reddening and/or purpling or iosis).

The origin of these four phases can be traced at least as far back as the first century. Zosimus of Panopolis wrote that it was known to Mary the Jewess(a gnostic christian alchemist whom lived between the first and third century). After the 15th century, many writers tended to compress citrinitas into rubedo and consider only three stages. Sometimes an array of colors appeared which would be referred to as 'cauda pavonis'(peacocks tail).

Splendor Solis wiki

Splendor of Solis by Salomon Trismosin is another interesting work which can be looked through in a matter of seconds and is about the subject of alchemical symbolism.

The Magnum Opus was decorated with alchemical symbols such as birds to symbolize the different phases. They were the (black) raven(nigredo), the (white) swan(albedo) and (red/purple) pheonix(rubedo) representing the progression with their color. Accordingly the laboratory would have a chemical example of for example blackening as rotting, burning or fermenting matter to symbolize nigredo.

[Elaboration]

There were not always purely those four or three basic stages. Upon elaboration they were expanded into seven to twelve different steps. Those steps were very inconsistent, both among naming, process, order or even their discription.

Various alchemical documents were directly or indirectly used to justify these stages. The Tabula Smaragdina(or Emerald Tablet) is the oldest document. said to provide a "recipe". Others include the Mutus Liber, the twelve keys of Basil Valentine, the emblems of Steffan Michelspacher, and the twelve gates of George Ripley.

[Philosipher's Stone and its properties]

The Philosipher's Stone or stone of all philosophers has a very large amount of different names from different sources one among which is the white stone.

According to alchemical texts, the stone of the philosophers came in two varieties, prepared by an almost identical method: white (for the purpose of making silver), and red (for the purpose of making gold), the white stone being a less matured version of the red stone. Some ancient and medieval alchemical texts leave clues to the physical appearance of the stone of the philosophers, specifically the red stone. It is often said to be orange (saffron colored) or red when ground to powder. Or in a solid form, an intermediate between red and purple, transparent and glass-like.

The most commonly mentioned properties are the ability to transmute base metals into gold or silver, and the ability to heal all forms of illness and prolong the life of any person who consumes a small part of the philosopher's stone. Other mentioned properties include: creation of perpetually burning lamps, transmutation of common crystals into precious stones and diamonds, reviving of dead plants, creation of flexible or malleable glass, or the creation of a clone or homunculus.

Tiny Lore – Primordial Chaos

[Chaos (cosmogony) wiki](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chaos_(cosmogony)

Primordial Chaos(or from the Ancient Greek: χάος, khaos) is its own concept of myth and refers to the void state that preceded the creation of the universe or cosmos. This void or gap was created by the separation between heaven and earth.

This Greek chaos means 'emptiness, vast void, chasm or abyss, from the verb χαίνω (khasko) 'to gape, to be wide open, etc' which in turn stems form the Proto-Indo-European 'gehn' and Old English geanian, 'to gape', from which the English yawn descends. It may also mean space, (the) expanse of air, nether abyss or infinite darkness. By definition of Pherecydes of Syros chaos can also be water or a mixture of something formless.

[Greco-Roman Tradition]

Hesiod's version of chaos is 'placed above Earth and Sky because of the seperation of their primordial unity' or the 'gaping space below Earth on which Earth rests'. Both person and place Chaos existed first, but from it were created Gaia(earth), Tartarus(the prison of suffering) and Eros(life and reproduction). 'Born' from Chaos were Erebus and Nyx. As both person and place Tartarus had children of its own and hence was also a place underground and gloomy. Beyond Tartarus lived the Titans. And like the earth, ocean and upper air it was also affected by Zues' thunderbolts. Primal Chaos was sometimes said to be the true foundation of reality(Heraclitus).

Apeiron wiktionary

Temporal infinity was familiar to the Greek mind in how immortality was understood. This influenced the Greek philosophers. Infinity was was an effort to understand growth from a beginning. Accordingly the world arose from a primal unity which would shape the base of all being. According to Anaximander this 'apeiron'(infinity or ignorance) was less definite than common elements. With everything stemming from apeiron and also returning there. The idea was that earth stretched below the surface indefinitely on or above Tartarus. In a phrase Xenophanes describes the upper limit of the earth bordering on air near our feet. The lower limit reaches down to apeiron. The Earth, the sea, the sky and Tartarus were located in a great seemingly indefinite windy-gap, later specified as chaos.

Aristophanes is another to write about chaos in his comedy Birds. First there was Chaos, Nox(Night), Erebus(Darkness or deep darkness) and Tartarus(Prison of suffering), from Nox(Night) came Eros(Life and reproduction), and from Eros and Chaos came the race of Birds. At the beginning when there was only Chaos, Night, Erebus and Tartarus, Earth, the air and heaven had no existence. Firstly, blackwinged Night laid a germless egg in the bosom of the infinite deeps of Erebus. From this after the revolution of long ages, sprang the graceful Eros with his glittering golden Wings, swift as the whirlwinds of the tempest. He mated in deep Tartarus with dark Chaos, winged like himself, and thus hatched forth our race, which was the first to see the light. That of the Immortals did not exist until Eros had brought together all the ingredients of the world, from their marriage Heaven, Ocean, Earth and the imperishable race of blessed gods sprang into being. Thus our origin is very much older than that of the dwellers in Olympus. Birds are the offspring of Eros; there are a thousand proofs to show it. We have wings and we lend assistance to lovers. How many handsome youths, who had sworn to remain insensible, have opened their thighs because of our power and have yielded themselves to their lovers when almost at the end of their youth, being led away by the gift of a feather, a waterfowl, a goose, or a cock.

Ovid describes Chaos in Metamorphosis as an unformed mass where all the elments were jumbled up together in a 'shapeless heap'. Before the ocean and the earth appeared - before the skies had overpread them all – the face of Nature in a vast expanse was nothing but Chaos uniformly waste. It was a rude and undeveloped mass, that nothing made except a ponderous weight; and all discordent elements confused, were there congested in a shapeless heap.

Hyginus in turn writes: “From Mist (Caligine) came Chaos. From Chaos and Mist, came Nox(Night), Dies(Day), Erebus (Darkness) and Aether(Ether).” In Orphic Tradition(religion involved with the poet Orpheus) Chaos was the son of Chronus and Ananke. Chaos had a “Womb of Darkness” in which the Wind lay a Cosmic Egg whence Eros was hatched, who set the universe in motion.

[Chaoskampf]

In many cases Primordial Chaos involves a concept known as Chaoskampf. This signifies a culture hero deity (usually a storm god) facing off against a chaos monster, usually a dragon or serpent. (German academics Gunkel and Bousset popularized the dragon over the sea serpent.) This is then creating order from chaos in the process. Chaos is in some cases described as 'windy'.

Whether it is parallel concepts in the Middle East and North Africa, such as the abstract conflict of ideas in the Egyptian duality of Maat and Isfet or the battle of Horus and Set. The culture hero facing the chaos monster finds its way into mythology and literature. Indo-European examples of this mythic trope include Thor and Jormungandr (Norse), Tarḫunz and Illuyanka (Hittite), Indra and Vritra (Vedic), Oraetaona and Azi Dahaka (Avestan) and Zeus and Typhon (Greek) among others. Non-Indo-European examples of this trope are Marduk and Tiamat, Yahweh and Leviathan (Hebrew), Susanoo and Yamata no Orochi (Japanese) and Mwindo and Kirimu (African).

War in Heaven wiki

Another example would include War in Heaven in which Archangel Michael faces off against a dragon in the rebellion of the angels.

[Biblical tradition]

In biblical tradition Chaos is referred to as 'abyss'/'tohu wa-bohu' of Geneisis 1:2. It may refere to a state of before existence or before given form. In the Book of Geniis, God is moving on 'waters' changing this 'watery chaos' from 'choshek'(Hebrew for darkness or confusion). The Septuagint uses χάος when creating instead of the common word 'גיא' for cleft, gorge or chasm, in Micah 1:6 and Zacharia 14:4. Whereas in Vulgate χάσμα μέγα(great gulf) between heaven and hell in Luke 16:26 becomes chaos magnum(great chaos).

Church Fathers wiki

Torah wiki

The chaotic primordial state of matter has been opposed in the second century by a group better known as the Church Fathers with creation ex nihilo(from nothing) by an omnipotent God. The church fathers were something like interpreters of old scriptures. In modern biblical studies, chaos is used more often in context with the Torah (Doctrine of creation from chaos) and their narratives in Ancient Near Eastern mythology. In 1940 Gunkel established parallels between the Hebrew Genesis and the Babylonian Enuma Elish. There are also other books of the Old Testament, with Psalms in particular and lesser extend passages in Isaiah and Jeremiah and the Book of Jacob.

[Alchemy and Hermeticism]

In Greco-Roman tradition of Prima Materia(first raw material of the philosipher stone) of the fifth and sixth century of Orphic cosmogony, was merched with 'Tehom'(biblical notions) in Christianity and inherited in the practice of alchemy and Renaissance magic. The cosmic egg of Orphism was considered the raw material for the magnum opus(great work or act of creating the philosipher stone) in early Greek Alchemy. The first stage of the producing the stone was known as nigredo(blackening) and identified with chaos. Because 'the Spirit of God moved upon the face of waters'(from Genesis) Chaos was understood to concern Water.

Ramon Llull (1232-1315) wrote Liber Chaos(Free Chaos), in which Chaos is a primal form or matter created by God. Paracelsus (1493-1541) uses chaos synonymously with “classical element” (because the primeval chaos is imagined as a mixture of these elements). From this reasoning Paracelsus sees Earth as 'the chaos of the gnomi'(earth spirits) through which accordingly these named spirits move. Heinrich Khunrath, printed an alchemical treatise called Chaos in Frankfurt(1708). Claiming it was written in 1597 in Magdeburg, supposedly quoting Paracelsus that “The light of the soul, by will of the Triune God, made all earthly things appear from the primal Chaos.”. Martin Ruland the Younger also writes about Chaos as Materia Prima in his Lexicon Alchemiae(Alchemic Lexicon of 1612) due being in the Beginning.

Consequently the term gas stems from the Dutch pronuncation of the word for chaos from the first (two) letter(s) (χ/ch pronounced as k in English and Greek) from Jan Baptist van Helmont in the seventeenth century.

[Modern Usage]

The term chaos has become part in the practice of comparing mythology and religious studies and refers to the primordial state before creation. Chaos combines two notions of primordial waters or primordial darkness from which a new order emerges. Chaos is a mixture of opposing elements such as heaven and earth and must then be seperated by a creator deity completing the process cosmogony. In both cases the cosmos has yet to come about and a demiurge(creator deity) forms the chaos into a form of order that allows the world to exist. In the Elizabethan Early Modern English 'complete disorder or confusion' for the first time became a definition of chaos in a satyrical sense contrast to primordial chaos. Chaotic complex systems were in turn derived from this usage. In 1970 'Chaos magic' or 'Chaos magick' appeared as a branch of occultism and this was until 2010 referred to as the chaos period.

Discretion

This topic gets a new version every once in a while in order to keep up with my releases. I will attempt to keep bumps to a minimum, but whatever I make will be listed if I deem it for the better. As far as things stand I will be publishing between 3 or 4 main topics and maybe 1 or 2 more reference topic to provide closure to the topic concerning shulva, carmina, stone humped hag, Witch of Izalith, Patches and a few more. After that I will write about the events concerning Gwyndolin, the firstborn son and Oolacile in more depth. I want to explore the human mind, the meaning of truth, divinity, madness, shadow, darkness, ashes and the nature of chaos, disparity, humanity, rebirth and what defines a prisoner. Perhaps the most important question of all known as "what is the meaning of life?" and it is commonly given shape in the workable version "where do we come from?".

Despite my efforts I consider my topics speculative. They work with speculation about what certain names or concepts might refer to. Be it well known literature, old plays, unusual language and puns or even subculture. It is wise not to consider everything written down as accurate, but with a grain of salt and without personal investment. Any speculation is usually mentioned with words like 'might' and 'perhaps', but nonetheless almost always supported or outlined with arguments or background. That being said, noone is perfect. If you find something imagine that most of these topics take some time and that they are usually created with effort that I rather not admit at the dinner table. Should you want to give feedback keep in mind I am a human being and that everyone has their cores somewhere else. Somewhere there is a human being inside me and those are frail. (No, I am not pregnant or a freak accident.)

https://i.imgur.com/0TMXqwj.jpg

Tiny Lore – Platos Chariot Allegory

Chariot Allegory

Chariot Allegory wiki

Divine Madness wiki

The human soul in relationship to love and divinity was something philosophy did not have very consistent answers for in the time of Plato. Plato differed in that aspect in that he views the soul as a composite whole of different elemental influences. According to plato love is a reflection of love of the forms or divine madeness (theia mania). It can also be understood as 'crazy wisdom'. It becomes clear that this does not concern love in the traditional (sexual) sense but closer to religious conformism or altruism. The need to be adhering to norms and sacreficing free will to do the right thing takes the shape of religious extasy or a white knight in a sense in which the conviction itself appears to develop a will of its own.

To understand the concept better Plato uses an allegory from Socrates about a Charioteer and his two unusual Chariots. The charioteer is the intellect and reason with the task of directing the whole of chariots and charioteer(the soul) towards truth. The white horse represents noble, righteous anger, positive and passionate aspects, whereas the black horse represents a bastard of irrational passions, appetites or lustful nature. The charioteers goal is to aim the soul towards truth and enlightenment, but for that the differing impulses(motivations) have to be aligned.

Plato describes life as a “great circuit” as a path towards enlightenment. Enlightenment rewards the soul with perceiving the world in different forms and truthful glory. However, it can be difficult to control the black horse because of its irrational tendency. Forgetfulness can also play a role in the soul 'loosing its wings'. As a consequence some can deviate from the path every once in a while, making it more difficult to reach enlightenment or being pulled down to earth all at once.

When the soul deviates too far from the path of enlightenment its calling is accordingly reduced to a lower purpose. Plato calls this reincarnation, but is not known to believe in reincarnation or rebirth in the traditional sense and it is suggested he ment this figuratively as one of the following: 1 philosophers, lovers of beauty, men of culture, or those dedicated to love; 2 law-abiding kings or civic leaders; 3 politicians, estate managers or businessmen; 4 specialists in bodily health; 5 prophets or mystery cult participants; 6 poets or imitative artists; 7 craftsmen or farmers; 8 sophists or demagogues; 9 tyrants.

So how does this explain theia mania(divine madness)? (The conclusion is not really present in the summary on the wiki page so this is an adlib.) Of course the purpose of the whole circuit was to reach enlightenment. There are also those whom manage to keep both the white rational and black irrational steed on track. As an unintentional consequence a task that is not aimed towards passion, appetites and lust becomes gratifying towards that end instead anyways. This happens not from missing the goal but from actually being successful, because irrationality of the black horse also has to go somewhere. This is what it means when the chariots and charioteer(elements) are a composite which makes up the soul.

Tiny Lore – Platos: Analogy of the Sun + Allegory of the Cave + Analogy of the Divided Line

Analogy of the Sun

Analogy of the Sun wiki

(The wiki has a more eleborate summary of the subject.)

Plato mentions how his student Socrates and older brother Glaucon use the sun to explain the idea of “goodness”(the opposite force to ignorance) and that reflects upon the superficial nature of the human senses. The human senses allow measure effect and not cause. The sun is here understood as the “child of goodness” because even the sun could be merely a consequence(child) and not the cause of a form(goodness) of causality.

In these examples it is explained that just like how the sun shines light on the things we percieve so do humans require senses and complicated factors in order to understand their surroundings. This allows humans to achieve intelligence. Goodness(understanding) that is brought about by the sun and Truth from our intellect illuminates the Darkness(ignorance or biases). The mind is not open to reality and truth if it is subject to darkness, because darkness generates negative influences and decays those positive influences. As a consequence intelligence is subject to growth and creation, but can therefor also perish.

Socrates argues that the least changing aspects that allow knowledge to work is most truthfull, describing true knowledge as the highest idea(least subject to change). Because light and sight originate from the sun (child of goodness) but the sun does not originate from light or sight Socrates considers the sun the best representation of goodness this is still a child(an effect) itself. The sun is more valuable than knowledge and truth because it also allows growth and nurtures. The sun(goodness) therefor stands higher than both knowledge and truth. Goodness sheds light and goodness allows the minds eye to work, whereas otherwise one would have to settle with the senses.

Analogy of the Divided Line

Analogy of the Divided Line wiki

(The wiki page has a better illustration of the subject. This is merely a summary.)

In the Analogy of the Divided Line the problem behind understanding of surroundings is further explained to be connected to aspects of the mind that are shared(visible) and aspects of the mind that are not shared(intelligable). These factors are then subdivided again to further explain the problem. These subdivisions are Eikasia(conjecture/estimation), Pistis(prediction based on sight/belief), Dainoia(thought) and Noisis(fundamental understanding).

Two individuals can have the similar prediction(Pistis), but the other invisible intelligible attributes (Eikasia,Dainoia and Noisis) can be very different. As a consequence when broader or deeper subjects of similar nature are addressed the difference in those thoughts(Dainoia) and beliefs(Pistis) become more appearant. Even when the gap were to be closed the outcome would be impossible to measure by conjecture(Eikasia) and thought(Dainoia). And even understanding(Noisis) is not visible on the outside.

Not only do all of these different aspects of understanding require to be in tune, they also require to be of a certain equally high value. If both of these requirements are not met understanding on a personal level becomes impossible, let alone on an interpersonal level. All individual factors can be influenced to be not enough or not aligned. Because time and space are constantly subject to change so do all the factors involved constantly change.

It is for this reason that Plato has distanced himself and others from the idea of knowledge, denying its possiblity. Platos does not accept expertise or direct perception on a subject(Theaetetus) nor true belief(Meno) because of how easy it is to fall short on the remaining invisible and unthinkable factors. Plato held the perspective that at least three of the mentioned factors must remain unchanging in contrast to the observed factor. However all four of the mentioned factors are subject to change.

Allegory of the Cave

Allegory of the Cave wiki

(This is merely a summary. Please visit the wiki page for more info.)

Plato talks about another story from socrates. Socrates describes a cave with people chained to the wall of a cave with their faces locked in place. They were born in this cave and it is all they ever knew. On a certain day things changed. People from the outside use fire to display shadows on the wall for the people inside the cave to see. This is becomes a repeated pattern for as long as the prisoners remain inside. Without prior knowledge what that light and those shadows are and where the noise comes from the prisoners assume the noise stemmed from the shadows. For the prisoners those shadows are their reality.

Socrates explains that a philosopher is like a prisoner whom has been freed. And as he is freed he is to come to some level of understanding that the shadows on the wall were not real (people). This is because he can perceive the true form of reality rather than (purely) what has been manufactured(suggested/created). However, because the inmates have gotten used to their suggested idea what reality is like they never wish to leave the cave. They know no better life. One day the prisoners break their bonds(over come ignorance) and discover what the free men would discern as outside. As the prisoners discover the sun they can not understand it the same as the free men because they have never changed to do so. They are bound to the idea that the senses control their surroundings and not the opposite. For the philosopher is aware that the senses and mind are affected by the surroundings. Both of these are a human condition.

Divine Comedy

Might need more work, but I consider it finished far enough.

What happens happens.

Beatrice is of common mention during the Divine Comedy and this first happens during the meeting between Virgil and Dante Alighieri. However Beatrice and Dante only really meet during Earthly Paradise in a rather dramatic fanfare of introduction. Beatrice is very significant for Dantes life as both a poet as well as a person. Dante was actually married to Elizabeth Siddal, but after the death of his wife Dante idealized Beatrice.

Angels are also of mention a more than once. One includes the Rebellion of the Angels (Vestibule) and the others are the angel boatman(Shores of Purgatory), and the last include their own place in heaven(Primum-Mobile).

The name Peter(name which petrus is another version from) appears for different individuals throughout the comedy. They are (scholastic theologian) Peter Lombard (Sun), the other (monk) Peter Damain(Saturn) and Saint Peter (Fixed Stars).

Dante dreams every once in a while, sadly I have not seen all instances of his dreams nor their symbolism and materials. The instances all take place in Purgatorio, but different stages. The first dream takes place at the Late Repentants(Ante-Purgatory). The second dream takes place at the Terrace Four (Sloth). The last takes place the last stage before meeting Beatrice at Terrace Seven (Lust).

I could find Dantes Dream mentioned on wikipedia but this actually concerned a painting related to Dante Gabriel Rosetti(painter) about Dante Alighieri(poet).(So, not Dante Alighieri himself.)

Beatrices Death

Before Dantes first dream he watches the sunset and has a describes a bell in his poem. In DSII the bells symbolized forbidden love in contrast to the bells of awakening of the first game. The idea might stem from this part of the Divine Comedy.

'twas now the hour that turneth back desire

In those who sail the sea, and melts the heart,

The day they've said to their sweet friends farewell,

And the new pilgrim penetrates with love,

If he doth hear from far away a bell

That seemeth to deplore the dying day,

The second dream involves a siren as a symbol of greed, gluttony and lust. In Dark Souls the Avarice or mimic might actually draw inspiration from the siren. Dark souls has slightly differing symbols for greed (gold serpent) and desire/lust (silver serpent) but in Purgatory the terrace in between (fifth terrace) is called Gluttony. The mimic or Avarice does not really spark the idea of what one would picture of the siren of mythology. Nonetheless the heart and inspiration of the mimic might be just that.

The third dream involves a vision of Leah and Rachel (both wives of Jacob). Leah and Rachel symbolize monastic(monk) and non-monastic(non-monk) christian lives.

"... in my dream, I seemed to see a woman

both young and fair; along a plain she gathered

flowers, and even as she sang, she said:

Whoever asks my name, know that I'm Leah,

and I apply my lovely hands to fashion

a garland of the flowers I have gathered."

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Leah

Tiny Lore – Dantes Divine Comedy Paradiso

Reference List

[Paradiso wiki](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Paradiso_(Dante)

Inferno

Purgatorio

Paradiso

Paradiso(Paradise)

The Spheres of Heaven

Dante's nine spheres of Heaven are the Moon, Mercury, Venus, the Sun, Mars, Jupiter, Saturn, the Fixed Stars, and the Primum Mobile. These are associated by Dante with the nine levels of the angelic hierarchy. Dante also relies on traditional associations, such as the one between Venus and romantic love. The first three spheres (which fall within the shadow of the Earth) are associated with deficient forms of Fortitude, Justice, and Temperance. The next four are associated with positive examples of Prudence, Fortitude, Justice, and Temperance; while Faith, Hope, and Love appear together in the eighth sphere.

First Sphere: (the Moon: the Constant)

When visiting the Moon, Beatrice explains to Dante the reasons for the markings on its surface, describing a simple scientific experiment in optics. She also praises the experimental method in general. The waxing and waning of the moon is associated with inconstancy. Consequently, the sphere of the Moon is that of souls who abandoned their vows, and so were deficient in the virtue of fortitude . Beatrice discourses on the freedom of the will, the sacredness of vows, and the importance of not collaborating with force. Beatrice explains that a vow is a pact "drawn between a man / and God," in which a person freely offers up his free will as a gift to God. Vows should therefore not be taken lightly, and should be kept once given – unless keeping the vow would be a greater evil, as with Jephthah's and Agamemnon's sacrifice of their daughters.

Second Sphere: (Mercury: the Abitious)

Because of its proximity to the sun, the planet Mercury is often difficult to see. Allegorically, the planet represents those who did good out of a desire for fame, but who, being ambitious, were falling short in the virtue of justice. Their earthly glory pales into insignificance beside the glory of God, just as Mercury pales into insignificance beside the sun. By association, Beatrice discourses on the Incarnation and the Crucifixion of Christ, which occurred during Roman times.

Third Sphere: (Venus: the Lovers)

The planet Venus (the Morning and Evening Star) is traditionally associated with the Goddess of Love, and so Dante makes this the planet of the lovers, who were deficient in the virtue of temperance. The troubadour Folquet de Marseilles speaks of the temptations of love, and points out that (as was believed at the time) the cone of the Earth's shadow just touches the sphere of Venus. He condemns the city of Florence (planted, he says, by Satan) for producing that "damned flower" (the florin) which is responsible for the corruption of the Church, and he criticises the clergy for their focus on money, rather than on Scripture and the writings of the Church Fathers.

Fourth Sphere: (the Sun: the Wise)

Beyond the shadow of the Earth, Dante deals with positive examples of Prudence, Justice, Temperance, and Fortitude. Within the Sun, which is the Earth's source of illumination, Dante meets the greatest examples of prudence: the souls of the wise, who help to illuminate the world intellectually. Initially, a circle of twelve bright lights dance around Dante and Beatrice. Among them is King Solomon and Thomas Aquines. Twelve new bright lights appear, one of which is St. Bonaventure, a Franciscan, who recounts the life of St. Dominic, founder of the order to which Aquinas belonged. The two orders were not always friendly on earth, and having members of one order praising the founder of the other shows the love present in Heaven. The twenty-four bright lights revolve around Dante and Beatrice, singing of the Trinity, and Aquinas explains the surprising presence of King Solomon, who is placed here for kingly, rather than philosophical or mathematical wisdom.

Fifth Sphere: (Mars: the Warriors of the Faith)

The planet Mars is traditionally associated with the God of War, and so Dante makes this planet the home of the warriors of the Faith, who gave their lives for God, thereby displaying the virtue of fortitude. The millions of sparks of light that are the souls of these warriors form a Greek cross on the planet Mars, and Dante compares this cross to the Milky Way. Dante meets his ancestor Cacciaguida, who served in the Second Crusade. Dante will be exiled. However, Cacciaguida also charges Dante to write and tell the world all that he has seen of Hell, Purgatory, and Heaven.

Sixth Sphere: (Jupiter: the Just Rulers)

The planet Jupiter is traditionally associated with the king of the gods, so Dante makes this planet the home of the rulers who displayed justice. The souls here spell out the Latin for "Love justice, ye that judge the earth", after which the final "M" of that sentence is transformed into the shape of a giant imperial eagle.The souls forming the imperial eagle speak with one voice, and tell of God's justice.

Seventh Sphere: (Saturn: the Contemplatives)

The sphere of Saturn is that of the contemplatives, who embody temperance. Dante here meets Peter Damian, and discusses with him monasticism, the doctrine of predestination, and the sad state of the Church. Beatrice, who represents theology, becomes increasingly lovely here, indicating the contemplative's closer insight into the truth of God.

Eights Sphere: (the Fixed Stars: Faith, Hope and Love)

The sphere of the Fixed Stars is the sphere of the church triumphant. From here (in fact, from the constellation Gemini, under which he was born), Dante looks back on the seven spheres he has visited, and on the Earth. Here, Dante sees the Virgin Mary and other saints. St. Peter tests Dante on faith, asking what it is, and whether Dante has it. In response to Dante's reply, St. Peter asks Dante how he knows that the Bible is true, and (in an argument attributed to Augustine) Dante cites the miracle of the Church's growth from such humble beginnings. St. James questions Dante on hope, and Beatrice vouches for his possession of it. Finally, St. John questions Dante on love. In his reply, Dante refers back to the concept of "twisted love" discussed in the Purgatorio. St. Peter then denounces Pope Boniface VIII in very strong terms, and says that, in his eyes, the Papal See stands empty. (The Papal See is like the throne of Christian church, claiming it is empty denotes there is no one ruler whom all the power truly belongs.)

Ninth Sphere: (the Primum Mobile: the Angels)

The Primum Mobile ("first moved" sphere) is the last sphere of the physical universe. It is moved directly by God, and its motion causes all the spheres it encloses to move. The Primum Mobile is the abode of angels, and here Dante sees God as an intensely bright point of light surrounded by nine rings of angels. Beatrice explains the creation of the universe, and the role of the angels, ending with a forceful criticism of the preachers of the day.

The Empyrean

From the Primum Mobile, Dante ascends to a region beyond physical existence, the Empyrean, which is the abode of God. Beatrice, representing theology(the study of divinity), is here transformed to be more beautiful than ever before, and Dante becomes enveloped in light, rendering him fit to see God. Dante sees an enormous rose, symbolising divine love, the petals of which are the enthroned souls of the faithful (both those of the Old Testament and those of the New). All the souls he has met in Heaven, including Beatrice, have their home in this rose. Angels fly around the rose like bees, distributing peace and love. Beatrice now returns to her place in the rose, signifying that Dante has passed beyond theology in directly contemplating God, and St. Bernard, as a mystical contemplative, now guides Dante further. St. Bernard further explains predestination, and prays to the Virgin Mary on Dante's behalf. Finally, Dante comes face-to-face with God Himself. God appears as three equally large circles occupying the same space, representing the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit. Within these circles Dante can discern the human form of Christ. The Divine Comedy ends with Dante trying to understand how the circles fit together, and how the humanity of Christ relates to the divinity of the Son but, as Dante puts it, "that was not a flight for my wings". In a flash of understanding, which he cannot express, Dante does finally see this, and his soul becomes aligned with God's love.

Fin

Tiny Lore – Dantes Divine Comedy Purgatorio

Reference List

Purgatorio wiki

Inferno

Purgatorio

Paradiso

Shores of Purgatorio

At the shores of Purgatory, Dante and Virgil meet Cato, a pagan who has been placed by God as the general guardian of the approach to the mountain (his symbolic significance has been much debated). In a contrast to Charon's ferry across the Acheron in the Inferno, Christian souls are escorted by an Angel Boatman from their gathering place somewhere near Ostia, the seaport of Rome at the mouth of the Tiber, through the Pillars of Hercules across the seas to the Mountain of Purgatory. Dante explains that this reference to Israel leaving Egypt refers both to the redemption of Christ and to "the conversion of the soul from the sorrow and misery of sin to the state of grace".By reading the state of the stars Dante has kept track of the time and is now aware that it is Easter Sunday when Dante and Virgil reach the summit.

Ante-Purgatorio

The Divine Comedy portrays sin as a humanitary corruption of love. While love that flows from faith is pure, it can become sinful as humans vices grab hold of it. Humans can sin by influencing their love with malice([1]Wrath, [2]Envy and [3]Pride), or by not exerting oneself for that love(4Sloth) or by having the their passions overcome them ([5]Lust,[6]Gluttony and [7]Greed). Below the seven purges of the soul lies the Ante-Purgatory(heaviest of sinners), containing [8]Excommunicated(Those not sorry enough) and [9]Late Repentents(Those late to make amends). And finally at te top lies the [10]Garden of Eden.

Excommunicate

Dante and Virgil encounter two main categories of souls whose penitent Christian life was delayed or deficient: the excommunicate and the late repentant. The former are detained at the base of the cliff for a period thirty times as long as their period of contumacy(disobedience to the faith and/or resistance to authority).

Late Repentant

The Late-Repentant includes (1) those too lazy or too preoccupied to repent (the Indolent), (2) those who repented at the last minute without formally receiving last rites, as a result of violent deaths, and (3) the Negligent Rulers. These souls will be admitted to Purgatory thanks to their genuine repentance, but must wait outside for an amount of time equal to their lives on earth.

Also in this category is the troubadour Sordello who, like Virgil, is from Mantua. When Sordello discovers the great poet's identity, he bows down to him in honour. This helps keep Virgil in the foreground of the poem, since (as a resident of Limbo) Virgil is less qualified as a guide here than he was in Hell. As a resident of Purgatory, Sordello is able to explain the Rule of the Mountain: that after sunset souls are incapable of climbing any further. Allegorically, the sun represents God, meaning that Christians could only make amends by doing so in the light of the suns Divine Grace.

Dante falls asleep; his dream takes place just before the dawn of Easter Monday Waking, Dante finds that he has been carried up to the gate of Purgatory proper. This gate has three steps: polished white (reflecting the purity of the penitent's true self), black (the colour of mourning; cracked in the shape of a Christian cross), and red (symbolising the blood of Christ and the restoration of true life).

The gate of Purgatory, Peter's Gate, is guarded by an angel who uses the point of his sword to draw the letter "P" (signifying peccatum, sin) seven times on Dante's forehead, bidding him "take heed that thou wash / These wounds, when thou shalt be within." With the passage of each terrace and the corresponding purgation of his soul that the pilgrim receives, one of the "P"s will be erased by the angel granting passage to the next terrace. The angel at Peter's Gate uses two keys, silver (remorse) and gold (reconciliation, or being forgiven) to open the gate – both are necessary for redemption and salvation.

Seven Terraces of Purgatorio

After passing through the gate of Purgatory proper, Virgil guides the pilgrim Dante through the mountain's seven terraces. These correspond to the seven deadly sins or "seven roots of sinfulness": Pride, Envy, Wrath, Sloth, Avarice (and Prodigality), Gluttony, and Lust. The classification of sin here is more psychological than that of the Inferno, being based on motives, rather than actions. It is also drawn primarily from Christian theology, rather than from classical sources. The core of the classification is based on love: the first three terraces of Purgatory relate to perverted love directed towards actual harm of others, the fourth terrace relates to deficient love (i.e. sloth or acedia), and the last three terraces relate to excessive or disordered love of good things. Each terrace purges a particular sin in an appropriate manner. Those in Purgatory can leave their circle voluntarily, but will only do so when they have corrected the flaw within themselves that led to committing that sin.

The structure of the poetic description of these terraces is more systematic than that of the Inferno, and associated with each terrace are an appropriate prayer and beatitude(blessing). Robert Hollander describes the shared features of all the terraces as "

(1)description of the physical aspect of the terrace,

(2)exemplars of the virtue that counters the sin repented here,

(3)description of the penitents,

(4)recitation(naming) of their sins by particular penitents,

(5)exemplars of the vice,

(6)appearance to Dante of the angel representing the countering virtue".

First Terrace (Pride)

The first three terraces of Purgatory relate to sins caused by a perverted love directed towards actual harm of others.

The first of the sins is Pride. Dante and Virgil begin to ascend this terrace in the late morning.On the terrace where proud souls purge their sin, Dante and Virgil see beautiful sculptures expressing Humility, the opposite virtue. The first example is of the Annunciation to the Virgin Mary, where she responds to the angel Gabriel with the words Ecce ancilla Dei ("Behold the handmaid of the Lord," Luke 1:38 ). An example of humility from classical history is the Emperor Trajan, who, according to a medieval legend, once stopped his journey to render justice to a poor widow. After being introduced to humility, Dante and Virgil meet the souls of the proud, who are bent over by the weight of huge stones on their backs. As they walk around the terrace, they are able to profit from the sculpted examples of humility. Dante points out, with "frank self-awareness,"that pride is also a serious flaw of his own.

The poets reach the stairway to the second terrace at noon. As they ascend, an angel brushes Dante's forehead with his wings, erasing the letter "P" (peccatum) corresponding to the sin of pride, and Dante hears the beatitude Beati pauperes spiritu ("Blessed are the poor in spirit", Matthew 5:3).

Second Terrace (Envy)

Envy is the sin that "looks with grudging hatred upon other men's gifts and good fortune, taking every opportunity to run them down or deprive them of their happiness". (This in contrast to covetousness, the excessive desire to have things like money.) On entering the terrace of the envious, Dante and Virgil first hear voices on the air telling stories of Generosity, the opposite virtue. The souls of the envious wear penitential grey cloaks, and their eyes are sewn shut with iron wire, resembling the way a falconer sews shut the eyes of a falcon in order to train it.

Third Terrace (Wrath)

On the terrace of the wrathful, which the poets reach at late afternoon, examples of Meekness (the opposite virtue) are given to Dante as visions in his mind. "What shall we do to one who'd injure us / if one who loves us earns our condemnation?" The souls of the wrathful walk around in acrid smoke, which symbolises the blinding effect of anger. Marco Lombardo discourses with Dante on free will – a relevant topic, since there is no point being angry with someone who has no choice over his actions. The prayer for this terrace is the Agnus Dei: "Agnus Dei, qui tollis peccata mundi, miserere nobis... dona nobis pacem" ("Lamb of God, you who take away the sins of the world, have mercy upon us... grant us peace") The poets leave the third terrace just after nightfall.

While staying on the fourth terrace, Virgil is able to explain to Dante the organization of Purgatory and its relationship to perverted, deficient, or misdirected love. The three terraces they have seen so far have purged the proud ("he who, through abasement of another, / hopes for supremacy" ), the envious ("one who, when he is outdone, / fears his own loss of fame, power, honor, favor; / his sadness loves misfortune for his neighbor." ), and the wrathful ("he who, over injury / received, resentful, for revenge grows greedy / and, angrily, seeks out another's harm.". Deficient and misdirected loves are about to follow. Virgil's discourse on love concludes at midnight.

Fourth Terrace (Sloth)

On the fourth terrace we find souls whose sin was that of deficient love – that is, sloth or acedia. Since they had failed in life to act in pursuit of love, here they are engaged in ceaseless activity. The examples of sloth and of Zeal, its opposite virtue, are called out by these souls as they run around the terrace. A scene from the life of the Virgin outlined in this terrace is the Visitation, with Mary going "in haste" to visit her cousin Elizabeth. Dante's second night's sleep occurs while the poets are on this terrace, and Dante dreams shortly before Tuesday's dawn of a Siren, symbol of disordered or excessive love represented by greed, gluttony and lust. The dream ends in the light of the sun, and the two poets climb toward the fifth terrace.

Fifth Terrace (Avarice)

On the last three terraces are those who sinned by loving good things, but loving them in an excessive or disordered way. On the fifth terrace, excessive concern for earthly goods – whether in the form of greed, ambition or extravagance – is punished and purified. The avaricious and prodigal lie face-down on the ground, unable to move. Their prayer is Adhaesit pavimento anima mea, taken from Psalm 119:25 ("My soul cleaveth unto the dust: quicken thou me according to thy word"), which is a prayer expressing the desire to follow God's law. The scene from the Life of the Virgin, used here to counter the sin of avarice, is the humble birth of Christ. Further down the terrace, Hugh the Great personifies greed for worldly wealth and possessions. He bemoans the way that, in contrast, avarice has motivated the actions of his successors, and "prophesies" events which occurred after the date in which the poem is set, but before the poem was written. Dante desires to understand the cause of the earthquake, but he does not question Virgil about it. Dante and Virgil are overtaken by a shade who eventually reveals himself as the Roman poet Statius, author of the Thebaid. Statius explains the cause of the earthquake: there is a tremor when a soul knows that it is ready to ascend to heaven, which he has just experienced.

Sixth Terrace (Gluttony)

It is late morning and the three poets begin to circle the sixth terrace where the gluttonous are purged, and more generally, those who over-emphasised food, drink, and bodily comforts. In a scene reminiscent of the punishment of Tantalus, they are starved in the presence of trees whose fruit is forever out of reach. The examples here are given by voices in the trees. The Virgin Mary, who shared her Son's gifts with others at the Wedding at Cana, and John the Baptist, who only lived on locusts and honey (Matthew 3:4 ), is an example of the virtue of Temperance. The prayer for this terrace is Labia mea Domine (Psalm 51:15: "O Lord, open my lips, and my mouth will declare your praise") These are the opening words from the daily Liturgy of the Hours, which is also the source of prayers for the fifth and seventh terraces. Here Dante also meets his friend Forese Donati and his poetic predecessor Bonagiunta Orbicciani. Bonagiunta has kind words for Dante's earlier poem, La Vita Nuova, describing it as the dolce stil novo ("sweet new style"). He quotes the line "Ladies that have intelligence of love," written in praise of Beatrice, whom he will meet later in the Purgatorio:

"Ladies that have intelligence of Love,

I of my lady wish with you to speak;

Not that I can believe to end her praise,

But to discourse that I may ease my mind.

I say that when I think upon her worth,

So sweet doth Love make himself feel to me,

That if I then should lose not hardihood,

Speaking, I should enamour all mankind."

It is slightly past afternoon when the three poets leave the sixth terrace and begin their ascent to the seventh terrace, meaning that they have spent four hours among the Gluttonous. During the climb, Dante wonders how it is possible for bodiless souls to have the gaunt appearance of the souls being starved here. In explaining, Statius discourses on the nature of the soul and its relationship to the body.

Seventh Terrace (Lust)

The terrace of the lustful has an immense wall of flame through which everyone must pass. As a prayer, they sing the hymn Summae Deus Clementiae (God of Supreme Clemency) from the Liturgy of the Hours. Souls repenting of misdirected sexual desire call forth in praises of chastity and marital fidelity (the Virgin Mary's chastity and the chastity of Diana). Two groups of souls run through the flames calling out examples of lust (Sodom and Gomorrah by the homosexual and Pasiphaë by the heterosexual). As they circle the terrace, the two groups of penitents greet each other in a way Dante compares to ants. Shortly before sunset, the Poets are greeted by the Angel of Chastity, who instructs them to pass through the wall of fire. By reminding Dante that Beatrice can be found in the Earthly Paradise on the other side, Virgil finally persuades Dante to pass through the intense fire. After the poets pass through the flame, the sun sets and they lie down to sleep on the steps between the final terrace and the Earthly Paradise. On these steps, just before the dawn of Wednesday morning, Dante has his third dream: a vision of Leah and Rachel. They are symbols of the active (non-monastic) and contemplative (monastic) Christian lives, both of which are important.

Dante awakens with the dawn, and the Poets continue up the rest of the ascent until they come in sight of the Earthly Paradise.

Earthly Paradise

At the summit of Mount Purgatory is the Earthly Paradise or Garden of Eden. Allegorically, it represents the state of innocence that existed before Adam and Eve fell from grace – the state which Dante's journey up Mount Purgatory has been recapturing. Here Dante meets Matilda, a woman whose literal and allegorical identity "is perhaps the most tantalizing problem in the Comedy." Critics up to the early twentieth century have connected her with the historical Matilda of Tuscany, but others suggested a connection with the dream of Leah. However, Matilda clearly prepares Dante for his meeting with Beatrice, the woman to whom (historically) Dante dedicated his previous poetry, the woman at whose request (in the story) Virgil was commissioned to bring Dante on his journey, and the woman who (allegorically) symbolizes the path to God. With Matilda, Dante witnesses a procession which forms an allegory within the allegory, somewhat like Shakespeare's play within a play. It has a very different style from the Purgatorio as a whole, having the form of a masque, where the characters are walking symbols rather than real people. The procession consists of:

-"Twenty-four elders" (a reference to Revelation 4:4), representing the 24 books of the Hebrew Bible, as classified by Jerome

-"Four animals" with "six wings as plumage" (a reference to Revelation 4:6–8), a traditional representation of the four Evangelists.

-"A chariot triumphal on two wheels," bearing Beatrice, which is drawn by…

-A griffin, representing the conjoined divinity and humanity of Christ

-"Three circling women" coloured red, green, and white, representing the three theological virtues: Love, Hope, and Faith, respectively

-"Four other women" dressed in purple, representing the four cardinal virtues: Prudence, Justice, Temperance, and Fortitude

-"Two elders, different in their dress," representing the Acts of the Apostles and the Pauline epistles

-"Four of humble aspect," representing the general epistles

-"When all the rest had passed, a lone old man," representing the Book of Revelation

The appearance of Beatrice, and a dramatic reconciliation scene between Beatrice and Dante, in which she rebukes his sin, help cover the disappearance of Virgil, who, as a symbol of non-Christian philosophy and humanities, can help him no further in his approach to God (and in the rest of the Divine Comedy, Beatrice is Dante's guide). Dante then passes through the River Lethe, which erases the memory of past sin, and sees an allegory of Biblical and Church history. This allegory includes a denunciation(condemnation) of the corrupt papacy of the time: a harlot (the papacy) is dragged away with the chariot (the Church) by a giant (the French monarchy, which under King Philip IV engineered the move of the Papal Seat to Avignon in 1309).

It is noon as the events observed in the Earthly Paradise come to a close. Finally, Dante drinks from the River Eunoë, which restores good memories, and prepares him for his ascent to Heaven (described in the Paradiso, the final cantica). As with the other two parts of the Divine Comedy, the Purgatorio ends on the word "stars".

Paradiso

Tiny Lore – Dantes Divine Comedy Inferno

Reference List

[Inferno wiki](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Inferno_(Dante)

Inferno

Purgatorio

Paradiso

Cantos

In the night before good Friday Dante finds himself lost in a dark wood(sin). He finds himself attacked by the lion(violence), the leopard(fraud) and the she-wolf(sexual longing and lust). And as he can not evade he is unable to find the right way to the sun behind the mountain(salvation/truth). Aware that he is ruining himself and falling to a low place where the sun is silent(he is avoiding the truth), Dante is then at last saved by Virgil with whom he journeys to the underworld(hell). Each sins punishment is a contrappasso(symbolism of poetic justice). Fortune-tellers and soothsayers(fortunetellers) have to walk with their heads faced backwards, which forced them to also walk backwards because they were not living in the present.

Virgil explains to have been sent by Beatrice(divine wisdom) on behalf of the virgin Mary(compassion), Saint Lucia(grace) and Rachel(contemplation) and that the two are to journey through the underworld.

Vestibule

Despite making mention of nine circles of Hell the story starts more or less in the Vestibule(passageway) to Hell and not so much in any of the circles. The Vestibule is a place for lost souls with the message to abandon all hope. Those without a cause to commit themselves to were deemed selfish men(endless pursuet of a banner while being themselves pursued by wasps and hornets) and cowards whom allowed evil to enter the community(church). Those taking no sides during the Rebelion of Angels are mixed within. Loathsome maggots drink a mixture of blood, pus and tears symbolising the guilty conscience and repulsiveness of sin.

Charon (the ferrymen from the underworld) also makes an appearence, but he does not take the living on board as they do not belong in any of the realms of the dead. Virgil pursuades Charon to take Dante on board by declaring that Dante is sent with a divine purpose. Not so well explained is how the spirits of the afterlife can enter the boat all together, but supposedly they contrast with the sinners(wailings) in being a much more joyful bunch(singing). Dante faints during the trip and only wakes up at the next stop.

Inferno(hell)

Inferno represents the (Christian) soul revealing sin. Each sin represents its own parts of hell. Circle One is Limbo(Ignorance), Circle Two (Lust), Circle Three (Gluttony), Circle Four (Greed), Circle Five (Wrath), Circle Six (Heresy), Circle Seven (Violence), Circle Eight (Fraud), Circle Nine (Treachery) and the Tenth part and center of hell Satan(the Devil).

Contrapasso are not merely poetic retribution(vengeance), they are a form of free will of the souls to do the right thing(destiny). The difference between inferno(hell) and purgatorio(purgatory) is that purgatory serves the repentant whereas hell holds those whom persist on unjust causes.

(Upper Hell according to Dante)

[1]Limbo

Limbo sets itself apart from the other circles of Hell in that it is ment for those whom were never in the oppertunity to join the faith. Those in Limbo can still ascend to heaven, but it takes a while. (Later on the journey Dante finds some souls he encountered in Limbo again at Purgatorio and Paradiso, suggesting they ascended while he was pursuing his journey.)

(Upper Hell according to Aristotle)

[2]Lust

Lust centers around those whose sexual appetite sways their reason. They are constantly subjected to the howling winds of a violent storm without rest to symbolise their self-indulgance carrying them away to the darkness(from love to lustfull desire). Dante considers Lust the least of the sins due it relying on mutual indulgance and is not completely self centered. Some notable adulterous instances are mentioned including Lancelot and Gwenevere. John Keats leaves a sonnet called “On a Dream” in which he describes feeling cold instead of warm from lust. And Dante takes the poem to heart feeling (anguish)hurt and pity on their behalf.

[3]Gluttony

Gluttony has their sinner walk through rotten mixture of ice and water stemming from a neverending foul and icy rain, for sujecting ones reason to voracious appetite. Cerberus relentlessly bites pieces out of the sinner and scratches them. Virgil fills the mouth of Cerberus with mud in order to safely pass through. The sin of gluttony is very different to lust in that while it started mutual it degraded into the solitary addiction. Sinners of gluttony do not look at their neighbours and are only concerned with their own suffering.

[4]Greed

Greed is guarded by Plutus whom threateningly says something similar to “Damn (him) Satan, Damn (him) Satan,(damn) God”, but Virgil takes it upon himself to protect Dante. Those who differed from others in pursuing wealth fell under the sin of Greed. Sinners of Greed were commonly clergymen, popes and cardinals and known as hoarders whereas the wastefull would squander wealth. Sinners made factions of hoarders and squanders whom pushed around heavy moneybags to roll into one another. Greed is recognized from its tendency to antagonize others out of selfish appetite for wealth and indifference for ones own contribution to this antagonization.

[5]Wrath

Wrath takes sinners to the swampy water of the river styx. Wrathful sinners spend their time in one of two states. Either they are fighting out their wrathful obsession or holding on to their grudges while being stood on and submerged underneath choking its blackness. The sinners find no interest in joy or faith characterized by savage self-frustration. Dante realizes that frustration and sadness binds and curses as it did to him. To move on to the next circle Dante and Virgil move to the towers of the marshes of Dis (Pluto and not Plutus), which is guarded by fallen angles and the furies(servants of Aphrodite), but also Medusa. It is not until another angle appears and opens the gates to the lower circles that Virgil and Dante can move on. These gates exist because the sins of Dantes Lower Hell could not be understood by (perhaps his eras) humanism and philosophy.

(Lower Hell according to Dante)

[6]Heresy

Dantes version of heresy is tied to (by christianity) ill (percieved) philosophies such epicureanism(hedonism) and prophecy(predicting the future). Hedonism is regarded as a poor practice because the stoic nature of the christianity. Epicureanism is about moderating pleasure because it is governed by the idea that pleasure is center of life. Stoicism opposes this because it is governed by the idea that faith (right by god) is the what life revolves around. Christianity believes in existence after death and that the soul(unity between body and mind) is eternal, while for epicurianism the soul dies with the body. The situation with prophecy is different because people are supposed to live in the present and not by trying to only adapt to how well one estimates the future. (A modern view would likely insist that the herecy of Epicurius does not stem from his ideas but that he suggested them for others, similar to how a modern view of Limbo might also be different.) Usury is another practice leading tot he sin of Heresy and refers to the practice of asking interest over monetary loans. It is regarded as a sin because christianity considers resources(nature) and labor(art) to be gifts of god. Christianity views nature as created by god and labor as (because it requires the blessing of a healthy body) relying on the same principle. The practice differs from common greed because it brings along long term deception to achieve the goal. Sinners of Heresy are trapped in flaming tombs, because they do not believe in life after death nor make most of the present. In simpler terms Heresy is signified by teachings christianity regards as ill.

[7]Violence

Violence is divided into three categories. Violence against Neighbours, Violence against Self and Violence against God, Art and Nature. Sinners of Violence against Neighbours can be found in Phlegethon, a river of fire and blood that flows into Tartarus(Greek prison of suffering). The river is setup so that those whom hurt others are hurt in return. Sinners of Violence against Self can be found in the Wood of the Suicides. Those whom attempted to commit suicide or those who succeeded in doing so are slowly and painfully twisted into motionless trees. Their original bodies still exist, but hang in the trees as part of the husk they rejected. And without a body, the spirit can not resurrect. Only when their branches are broken off and they start bleeding painfully they can speak. The trees are constantly tormented by Harpies. The tree shape is brought about by the sinners desire to die and the painfully contorted state is a reflection of the suffering the sinners were undergoing. Those who were invested in the suffering of others are chased through the forest, bitten and thorn by savage bitches symbolising their obsession to hurt others. The Sinners of Violence against God, Art and Nature can be found in a Plain of Burning Sand with fire raining from the sky. This area is inspired by Sodom and Gomorrah. It is filled with Blasphemites, Sodomites and Userers. Blasphemers(Violence against God) are stretched over the sand. Sodomites(Violence against Nature) run around in circles. The Userers on the other hand are crouching, huddling and weeping. These types of violence are regarded as most sterile hence the location is a desert and even the rain only brings fire.
Geyron is a monster of Greek mythology. He has the face of a man, the body of a winged wyvern and tail of a scorpion. As it is a monster of Fraud it is human-faced, monstrous, cold-blooded and stinging with poison. Geyron brings Virgil and Dante to Aristotles Lower Circle of Hell.

(Lower Hell according to Aristotle)

[8]Fraud

Fraud mostly takes place in the malebolge(evil ditches) each Bolgia holds a different aspect of Fraud and their types of sinners. The image of the City in corruption: the advanced breaking down of every social relationship, personal and public. Sexuality, of the church and civil office, language, ownership, counsel, authority, on the mind, and mutual reliance – all the methods of the community's trade and service are perverted and based on deception.

Panderers(pimps) and Seducers are found in in the first of the Bolge(ditches).These sinners make two files, one along either slope of the ditch, and march quickly in opposite directions while being whipped by horned demons for eternity. They "deliberately exploited the passions of others and so drove them to serve their own interests, are themselves driven and whipped". Flatterers are found in the second of the Bolge. These also exploited other people, this time abusing and corrupting language to play upon others' desires and fears. They are soaked in excrement (representative of the false flatteries they told on earth) as they howl and fight amongst themselves. The third of the Bolge hold the Simoniacs. "Rapacious(greedy) ones, who take the things of God, / that ought to be the brides of(commited to) Righteousness, / and make them fornicate(betray the commitment) for gold and silver! / The time has come to let the trumpet sound (ridicule who you really are)(See fifth Bolge) / for you; ..." The sinners are placed head-downwards in round, tube-like holes within the rock (debased mockeries of baptismal fonts), with flames burning the soles of their feet. The heat of the fire is proportioned to their guilt. Bolgia four holds Sorcerers. The punishment of those who attempted to "usurp God's prerogative(right) by prying into the future", is to have their heads twisted around on their bodies; in this horrible contortion of the human form, these sinners are forced to walk backwards for eternity, blinded by their own tears. John Ciardi writes, "Thus, those who sought to penetrate(see through/violate) the future cannot even see in front of themselves; they attempted to move themselves forward in time, so must they go backwards through all eternity; and as the arts of sorcery are a distortion(altered version) of God's law, so are their bodies distorted in Hell.While referring primarily to attempts to see into the future by forbidden means, this also symbolises the twisted nature of magic in general. Dante weeps in pity, and Virgil rebukes him, saying, "Here pity only lives when it is dead(You can only pity them when it is already too late); / for who can be more impious(disrespectful) than he / who links God's judgment to passivity(doing nothing)?". The fifth Bolge is ment for the Barrators. Corrupt politicians, who made money by trafficking in public offices(selling jobs of privilege) (the political analogue of the simoniacs), are immersed in a lake of boiling pitch, which represents the sticky fingers and dark secrets of their corrupt deals. They are guarded by demons called the Malebranche ("Evil Claws"), who tear them to pieces with claws and grappling hooks if they catch them above the surface of the pitch. Virgil secures safe-conduct from the leader of the Malebranche, named Malacoda ("Evil Tail"). Malacoda sends a squad of demons led by Barbariccia to escort them safely. (To the bridges at Bolgia six.) The demons provide some savage and satirical black comedy – in the last line of Canto XXI, the sign for their march is provided by a fart: "and he had made a trumpet of his ass". Bolgia six holds the sinners known as Hypocrites. The hypocrites listlessly walk around a narrow track for eternity, weighted down by leaden robes. The robes are brilliantly gilded on the outside and are shaped like a monk's habit – the hypocrite's "outward appearance shines brightly and passes for holiness, but under that show lies the terrible weight of his deceit", a falsity that weighs them down and makes spiritual progress impossible for them.Virgil discovers that Malacoda lied to him about the bridges over the Sixth Bolgia. The seventh Bolge holds Thiefs. The pit is filled with monstrous reptiles: the shades of thieves are pursued and bitten by snakes and lizards, who curl themselves about the sinners and bind their hands behind their backs. One sinner, who reluctantly identifies himself as Vanni Fucci, is bitten by a serpent at the jugular vein(the throat), bursts into flames, and is re-formed from the ashes like a phoenix. The eighth Bolge is ment for the Councelors of Fraud Here, fraudulent advisers or evil counsellors move about, hidden from view inside individual flames. These are not people who gave false advice, but people who used their position to advise others to engage in fraud. Bolgia nine is inteded for the Sowers of Discord. The Sowers of Discord are hacked and mutilated(hurt/disfigured) for all eternity by a large demon wielding a bloody sword; their bodies are divided as, in life, their sin was to tear apart what God had intended to be united; these are the sinners who are "ready to rip up the whole fabric of society to gratify a sectional egotism(make only a part of themselves feel good)". The souls must drag their ruined bodies around the ditch, their wounds healing in the course of the (repeated) process, only to have the demon tear them apart anew. There are divided into three categories: (i) religious schism and discord,(body is ripped from groin to chin, with entrails hanging out) (ii) civil strife and political discord(his throat slit, nose slashed off, a wound where one of the ears had been/his tongue is cut off/his arms are hacked off ), and (iii) family disunion, or discord between kinsmen(decapitation, since dividing father and son is like severing the head from the body). The last Bolge is designed for the Falsifiers. A "disease" on society, they are themselves afflicted with different types of afflictions: horrible diseases, stench, thirst, filth, darkness, and screaming. Some lie prostrate while others run hungering through the pit, tearing others to pieces. The first category of falsifiers Dante encounters are the Alchemists (Falsifiers of Things). He speaks with two spirits viciously scrubbing and clawing at their leprous scabs. Gianni Schicchi de' Cavalcanti and Myrrha, both punished as Imposters (Falsifiers of Persons) – run (rabid)fanatically through the pit. Schicchi sinks his tusks into Capocchio's neck and drags him away like prey. Myrrha disguised herself to commit incest with her father King Cinyras. The Counterfeiters (Falsifiers of Money): Punished by a loathsome dropsy-like disease, which gives him a bloated stomach, prevents him from moving, and an eternal, unbearable thirst. Lastly there are the Perjurers (Falsifiers of Words). They suffer from a burning fever. The descent through Malebolge "began with the sale of the sexual relationship, and went on to the sale of Church and State; now, the very money is itself corrupted, every affirmation has become perjury, and every identity a lie" so that every aspect of social interaction has been progressively destroyed.

Dante and Virgil approach the Central Well, at the bottom of which lies the Ninth and final Circle of Hell. The classical and biblical Giants – who perhaps symbolize pride and other spiritual flaws lying behind acts of treachery – stand perpetual(forever) guard inside the well-pit, their legs embedded in the banks of the Ninth Circle while their upper halves rise above the rim and can be visible from the Malebolge. Dante initially mistakes them for great towers of a city. Among the Giants, Virgil identifies Nimrod (who tried to build the Tower of Babel; he shouts out the unintelligible Raphèl mai amècche zabì almi); Ephialtes (who with his brother Otus tried to storm Olympus during the Gigantomachy; he has his arms chained up) and Briareus (who Dante claimed to have challenged the Gods); and Tityos and Typhon, who insulted Jupiter. Also here is the Giant Antaeus, who did not join in the rebellion against the Olympian Gods and therefore is not chained. At Virgil's persuasion, Antaeus takes the Poets in his large palm and lowers them gently to the final level of Hell.

[9]Treachery

At the base of the well, Dante finds himself within a large frozen lake: Cocytus, the Ninth Circle of Hell. Trapped in the ice, each according to his guilt, are punished sinners guilty of treachery against those with whom they had special relationships. The lake of ice is divided into four concentric rings (or "rounds") of traitors corresponding, in order of seriousness, to betrayal of family ties, betrayal of community ties, betrayal of guests, and betrayal of lords. This is in contrast to the popular image of Hell as fiery; as Ciardi writes, "The treacheries of these souls were denials of love (which is God) and of all human warmth. Only the remorseless dead center of the ice will serve to express their natures. As they denied God's love, so are they furthest removed from the light and warmth of His Sun. As they denied all human ties, so are they bound only by the unyielding ice." This final, deepest level of hell is reserved for traitors, betrayers and oathbreakers (its most famous inmate is Judas Iscariot).

Round 1(Caina): this round is named after Cain, who killed his own brother in the first act of murder (Gen. 4:8). This round houses the Traitors to their Kindred: they have their necks and heads out of the ice and are allowed to bow their heads, allowing some protection from the freezing wind. One of many notable sinners: Mordred (traitorous nephew of King Arthur).

Round 2(Antenora): the second round is named after Antenor, a Trojan soldier who betrayed his city to the Greeks. Here lie the Traitors to their Country: those who committed treason against political entities (parties, cities, or countries) have their heads above the ice, but they cannot bend their necks.

Round 3(Ptolomaea): the third region of Cocytus is named after Ptolemy, who invited his father-in-law Simon Maccabaeus and his sons to a banquet and then killed them. Traitors to their Guests lie on their backs in the ice while their tears freeze in their eye sockets, sealing them with small visors of crystal – even the comfort of weeping is denied them.

Round 4(Judecca): the fourth division of Cocytus, named for Judas Iscariot, contains the Traitors to their Lords and benefactors. Upon entry into this round, Virgil says "Vexilla regis prodeunt inferni" ("The banners of the King of Hell draw closer"). Judecca is completely silent: all of the sinners are fully encapsulated in ice, distorted and twisted in every conceivable position. The sinners present an image of utter immobility: it is impossible to talk with any of them, so Dante and Virgil quickly move on to the centre of Hell.

[Center of Hell]Satan

In the very centre of Hell, condemned for committing the ultimate sin (personal treachery against God), is the Devil, referred to by Virgil as Dis (the Roman god of the underworld; the name "Dis" was often used for Pluto in antiquity, such as in Virgil's Aeneid). The arch-traitor, Lucifer was once held by God to be fairest of the angels before his pride led him to rebel against God, resulting in his expulsion from Heaven. Lucifer is a giant, terrifying beast trapped waist-deep in the ice, fixed and suffering. He has three faces, each a different color: one red (the middle), one a pale yellow (the right), and one black (the left).

Satan's three faces are thought by some to suggest his control over the three human races: red for the Europeans (from Japheth), yellow for the Asiatic (from Shem), and black for the African (the race of Ham). (All names sons of Noah.) All interpretations recognize that the three faces represent a fundamental perversion of the Trinity: Satan is impotent, ignorant, and full of hate, in contrast to the all-powerful, all-knowing, and all-loving nature of God. Lucifer retains his six wings (he originally belonged to the angelic order of Seraphim, described in Isaiah 6:2), but these are now dark, bat-like, and futile: the icy wind that emanates from the beating of Lucifer's wings only further ensures his own imprisonment in the frozen lake. He weeps from his six eyes, and his tears mix with bloody froth and pus as they pour down his three chins. Each face has a mouth that chews eternally on a prominent traitor. In the central, most vicious mouth is Judas Iscariot, the apostle who betrayed Christ. Judas is receiving the most horrifying torture of the three traitors: his head is gnawed inside Lucifer's mouth while his back is forever flayed and shredded by Lucifer's claws. According to Dorothy L. Sayers, "just as Judas figures treason against God, so Brutus and Cassius figure treason against Man-in-Society; or we may say that we have here the images of treason against the Divine and the Secular government of the world".

Virgil goes on to explain how the Southern Hemisphere was once covered with dry land, but the land recoiled in horror to the north when Lucifer fell from Heaven and was replaced by the ocean. Meanwhile, the inner rock Lucifer displaced as he plunged into the center of the earth rushed upwards to the surface of the Southern Hemisphere to avoid contact with him, forming the Mountain of Purgatory. The poets then ascend a narrow chasm of rock through the "space contained between the floor formed by the convex(ringe shaped bumpy) side of Cocytus and the underside of the earth above," beneath a sky studded with stars.

Purgatorio(Purgatory)

After coming out of Hell again, Dante and Virgil move up from the Mountain of Purgatory(State between death and salvation for those overcoming sin). The island together with which this mountain protrudes was created from Satan falling to hell. The mountain has seven layers corresponding with the seven deadly sins roots. The difference between each sin here is made up of psychologial reasons and motives(purgatory) rather than actions and their consequences(inferno). Rather than classical sources it draws from Christian theology. Dantes sins and virtues stem from both the Bible, classical sources and on for Dante actual events

Purgatorio

Tiny Lore – Tears and Vagabonds

Forewarning

Before I start I want to warn a little about that this topic will address graphic subjects such as sexual violence, rape and incest. You might not agree with suggestions made in this topic. If any of these subjects pose you discomfort it might be advicable to turn away or return in good company.

Segment Overview

(1/6?)https://old.reddit.com/r/sagesgrandarchives/comments/ackxt8/tiny_lore_embraced_by_foolishness/

(2/6?)https://old.reddit.com/r/sagesgrandarchives/comments/aieap0/tiny_lore_frogs_and_fertility/

(3/6?)https://old.reddit.com/r/sagesgrandarchives/comments/aieg2v/tiny_lore_scholars_of_fate/

(4/6?)https://old.reddit.com/r/sagesgrandarchives/comments/anghzt/tiny_lore_tears_and_vagabonds/

(5/6?)https://old.reddit.com/r/sagesgrandarchives/comments/angh3k/tiny_lore_imperfect_tale_telling/

(6/6?)

Catarina

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Catherine_of_Alexandria

https://en.wiktionary.org/wiki/Cathar

https://en.wiktionary.org/wiki/tarina

When looking into names the common choice is to look only at the full name and settle if that is an outcome. The choice in this topic is to settle after taking at the full length and its longest nouns or concept that still yield existing concepts.When broken up in the longest terms the name catarina becomes catari + tarina.

Santa Catarina was a saint better known for the Breaking Wheel. Saint Catherine was known for more symbols, but the wheel was her best known attribute. The wheel is a pretty common decoration throughout the souls series and appears as more than merely a tool. Sometimes the wheel is also paralleled with the sun wheel a symbol of the sun and its gods.

Catari can be linked to Qatar as to denote people from there. But catari is also another way to write cathar, which is in turn is derived from katharoi (the pure). Tarina is derived from the Swedish 'starina' for to denote a 'story or tale'.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Onion

Catarina is perhaps best known for its unusual armor, likened to the 'onion'. When looking up any symbolism associated with the Onion results were all over the place but with nothing conclusive as to what it ment for the knights to look this way. So here the choice was made to stick to the word as to what it might denote. 'The Onion' is perhaps better known for its satirical and fabricated news, written for amusement purposes. The onion has been around for quite a while three decates and it is not impossible to think about using modern references aside from conventional ideas like mythology, history, fairytales or successfull books. The choice as to if a source is relevant with these topics is made based on how reasonable it would be to select. Approach is difficult to describe but when reasoning what source might be relevant the only real logical limit is 'time'. If the source is too new it is unlikely to be part of Dark Souls when the game has been released after such a date. That being said, not every last thing is likely to be included merely because exists or is recognized hence the idea that the longest terms or concepts the names and themes consist of might be the safest choice.

Pharros

So what does this have to do with Pharros? This answer is something that is best left to the interpretation of the audience when arriving at that point. And the answer will possibly seem redundant when past that point.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hvar

https://en.wiktionary.org/wiki/arr%C3%B2s

Pharros as a name is composed of the name Pharos and arros. 'Arros' stems form the Arabic for aruzz meaning rice. Pharros, or better said Pharos is the name of an island today known as Hvar. The island is known for some strangely Dark Souls II familiar things. First of all Hvar is known for its lighthouse, something associated with Heides Tower of Flame. Secondly there were coastal raids of pirates, something players can find in No-mans Wharf. Fortified harbors are a thing on both the island as well as in game and likewise. Wine was a big thing of export but that didn't last long. A certain insect brought an end to the trade. Either way evidence of wine raw materials can be found in the Tseldora set as it is decorated with grapes. And of course there is a concept known as Hvar culture, which has to do with large lenghty pottery with handles we see in a lot of places in the world of Drangleic. Overall there is a lot to say that Pharros connects deeply to this place for as far has it is a play on Pharos. Mirrah is known for its order of knights and the Blue Sentinels are also situated in Heide and it also reconnects to our earlier story piece of Greek mythology.

https://old.reddit.com/r/sagesgrandarchives/comments/ackxt8/tiny_lore_embraced_by_foolishness/

Flirtatious

'Foolishness' is an aspect mentioned in the topic above but that will now be fleshed out a little further. In DSII Pharros the Vegabond was known for the pharros contraptions requiring his keys. Lenigrast the artisan describes Vegabonds as 'flirtatious'. Suggesting 'courting' women was a thing for this Vegabond.

A 'Fool for Love' was a play by Sam Shephard and there existed a figure known as the 'Old Man' in that play whom in this play serves as a deterring plot device to steer the incesteous protagonists onto a different path. And part of how he does so is by sharing his backstory about being in two dysfunctional relationships. The title of Old Man is also a prefix belonging to DS(I) Old Man McLoyf, god of Medicine and Drink, found on the copper coin. Coins of Dark Souls are not very diverse in materials and consist of either gold, silver or copper. In DSII the only 'rusted' coin is green. Gold does not rust. Silver colors black. However, copper commonly rusts green.

Just before the fountain leading to Shulva the boss arena of The Rotten has its place. The Rotten is one of few bosses with severable body parts. One part in particular drops a Pharros Lockstone. It was a popular belief that perhaps the Rotten also WAS Pharros, and we will explore this scenario. Scenario A.

Scenario A

https://old.reddit.com/r/sagesgrandarchives/comments/aev4qb/tiny_lore_norse_mythology_sigfried/

Shulva lends a lot of inspiration from Norse Mythology, the story of Sigurd. Despite sharing a lot with the story of Sigurd, Yorgh behaves on some crucial areas dramatically different. But...before delving into Sigurd, let us first look at the name Yorgh.

Yorgh is the Hebrew word for 'wooden spear' or at least it would seem the most fitting interpretation when looking into Hebrew aspects with reasonable outcomes. Yorgh shares some phonetic similarity with Saint George. And it is very possible that the choice of the wordplay and phonetic similarity was made very deliberately in order to alter the weapon of choice from a sword to a spear. The change accomplishes both a heroic aspect as well as a sacred aspect. However, given the corrosive and toxic nature of Sinhs skin it stands to reason that the weapon might also serve to avoid direct contact and extend reach for dragons whom are large foes in the first place.

Another aspect being different is that the King overseeing the Sinh is not defeated by Sinh but by Yorgh before Yorgh proceeds to stab the dragon. This does not contribute positively to Yorgh heroic and sacred image earlier, of course but who is to say that the story of Yorgh is shared with the world in truthfull glory?

Dragons remain objects of worship in Dark Souls throughout the entire series, but serpents have become associated with 'gluttony', 'greed' and 'desire'. So given this information about the worshiped and the scorned it stands to reason that in the record keeping of the world of Dark Souls would have been mentioned as 'serpent' instead of a dragon. Or at least as some sort of evil being, certainly not an object of worship. That is for sure.

Also, Sinh is still alive in the game, but Fafnir is killed in the story of Sigurd.

Aside from aspects that are vastly different on immediate notice, there are also aspects which deserve some second consideration. Sigurd is set up to hunt the dragon Fafnir in his story by a smith named Regin because he wishes to marry Gudrun/Kriemhild from a royal family. Once the dragon is killed and Sigurd returns with the treasure of Fafnir, Regin intends to betray him and ends up beheaded because Sigurd foresaw this once he ingested the blood.

There are no stories of beheaded blacksmiths in DSII, but on the other hand there is the head of Santier the 'walking statue' on a spear very similar to Yorgh's Spear. It also comes with a red piece of cloth that is revealed once the head is broken. A color used to symbolize dragonblood by the Drakeblood knights. Another interesting aspect about the spear is that the tip has striking similarities to a pickaxe. Santier could be derived from the words (Hispanic American)antier(day before yesterday)(original Spanish writing is anteayer) and (Spanish)santeria(saintery). Sentier also means 'pathway' in Old French and French. Yorghs spear itself is not quite uninteresting either, perhaps less on a linguistic level than from a material technical point of view. Copper is very iconic as a material because it has chemical properties that have a sterilizing effect on bacteria, this it also counteracts 'diseases'. The silvery colored material it is alloyed with resembles zinc, suggesting that aside from being disease resistant is also is 'corrosion' retardant and hard. While these are purely speculations based on observations it nonetheless has become clear before that dark souls does have a tendency to take some level of physics and chemistry into account when inventing their tools next to magic.

Sigurd takes Fafnirs treasure with him in order to be granted permission to marry Gudrun/Kriemhild, but Gunnar/Gunther has a final task for him. (Items mentioned in the legend include a golden chainmail and two named swords.)

Some items in the Eternal Sanctum are missing when the player arrives. Chests are already opened and empty. So some looting might have already have taken place. In DS(I) Quelana wears the gold-hemmed set, so a set with golden chainmail. So while perhaps the item does not need to originate from here it becomes clear that golden chainmails are not just stuff of myth.

Gunnar/Gunther wants to save a girl named Brynhilde from the flames but he can not do it. So Gunnar/Gunther asks Sigurd to do it for him while posing as him.

Interesting aspect about Pharros is his Mask, the Pharros Mask. The mask increases fire resistance. Perhaps not all that surprising when considering it is found in Broom Tower, but still peculiar if held next to this context.

Once Sigurd succeeds and he is granted permission to marry Gudrun/Kriemhilde however, Brynhilde slowly grew arrogant about her husband. At this point Sigurd and Gudrun/Kriemhilde have a child named Sigmund (same as Sigurds father) of 3 years old. Once the arrogant antics of Brynhilde provoke Gudrun/Kriemhilde however, things go south dramatically. Gudrun/Kriemhilde reveals that it was in fact Sigurd whom saved Brynhilde. Brynhilde now demands to marry Sigurd or have him killed. Gunnar/Gunther asks his brother Guthorm to kill Sigurd and his son Sigmund. After killing the 3 year old Guthorm proceeds to Sigurd but Sigurd manages to kill Guthorm before succumbing to his injuries.

Overall this final aspect of the myth surrounding Sigurd has some overlapping circumstances with the earlier example of the 'Old Man' from 'Fool for Love'. Both lead double lives and end up having children, but an important differences also exist. The Old Man decides to live with an imaginary ideal woman he can not have and as for him living or dying, the Old Man is difficult to define as alive. Ideal women also appear in the poem of Dantes Divine Comedy. In the poem Beatrice (Dantes ideal woman) guides Dante through heaven. However, when it comes to Yorgh it should be mentioned that both the Sunken King as well as Yorgh were said to have fallen to the bottem of the Eternal Sanctum with no way to confirm the death of either of the two. There is an additional twist to the mention of 'Fool for Love' and 'hubris' of the matter though...

The Slumbering Dragon Shield is a shield guarded by the Archdrakes of Lindelt. It mentions that the 'fools' who woke the slumbering dragon earned not only its 'ire', but also the 'destruction of an entire country'. But when following the same steps that brought the us here in the first place again the outcome becomes a stranger than that. The word 'fools' suggests that Yorgh might have been a lot more like the incesteous couple himself than the audience are initially are led to believe. Maybe it was so that the reason his marriage was not allowed was that it concerned his own sister.

The shield also mentions that the survivors buried their wrongdoing (destroying a country by angering their object of worship). And that their 'conceit' was carrying on knowledge of the wasted land.

Scenario B

https://old.reddit.com/r/sagesgrandarchives/comments/aazpmu/tiny_lore_greek_mythology_and_titanomachia/

In contrast to norse mythology, blood and conceit flows together in the myth of Titanomachia from Greek Mythology in which Chronus castrates Uranus. The blood that falls onto the soil births the giants whereas the blood that touches the seas births Aphrodite. A topic about why Aphrodite is likely Fina can be found below. Hence it is not so strange that many items associated with Fina in this topic are also connected to the blood of Sinh. Sometimes Aphrodite was depicted standing atop of a turtle, the statue clusters of Shulva share this unusual similarity.

https://old.reddit.com/r/sagesgrandarchives/comments/ackxt8/tiny_lore_embraced_by_foolishness/

Uranus and his wife Rhea were brother and sister. The interesting part about that is that the Reah with the same name from DS(I) is mentioned by Petrus of Thorolund to be a 'purebred'. And purebred can also mean that her father and mother could have been husband and wife, just like Uranus and Gaiah. Gwyn is the figurehead of Lordran and he closely identifies with Zeus. It should be noted that it is not directly confirmed but can be assumed that Old Man als means 'father'. In particular when it concerns Gwyn. McLoyf is found on the Copper Coin and the other coins carry faces of family members as well.

In Greek Mythology Chronus is is the first god to start an Age of Men also known as the Golden Age. Men of this age were considered when they passed away Daimons. During this age Chronus and Reah have their own children together, but Chronus eventually grows paranoid and decides to consume his own children. In the game the Tomb of the Giants is also known as Nitos light-devouring domain of death. It is unclear if this devouring property holds any connection to the Chronus of myth, but it stands out that Aldia mentions a Lord of Light in one of his preaches. It shouldn't be all too surprising that Throrolund consists of Old Norse 'Thoro'(Thor) and 'Lund'(Tree) suggesting this is the thunder gods family tree. Nonetheless it could be a mistake to liken Gwyn to Thor despite his lightning thematic. Thunder refers to the sound whereas lightning refers to the effect that causes it. Sound based spells are a sorcery and not miracles.

Nonetheless there are some things to support the idea that Chronus can be identified with Pharros as an inhabitant of Heide. The Old Knights of heide wear equipment that makes mention of a 'last flash of great power' and this property is shared by goddess Caitha. The interesting aspect about this goddess is that in DS(I) Reah of Thorolund exhibits very similar properties of mourning her hollowed companions Vince and Nico. Within the Catacombs the pilgrims expected to obtain the Rite of Kindling from Gravelord Nito. Without some expectation of obtaining this power from Nito willingly one can only wonder how this would have protected a cleric 'family name' in the first place. And as we later learn, the Brightbugs from DSII hold a close connection to the funeral practices associated with Gravelord Nito or the Old Dead One as he his called here. Despite desceptively similar description the two Tear Stone Ring(TSR) serve two vastly different lore related purposes. The Red TSR serves to mourn the dead themselves, but the Blue TSR serves to mourn for those who lost someone dear. A deity who comforts the mourners or/and the mourned. These are some pecularities BUT not proof that Reah could also be Caitha.

Unless one were to consider the idea of passing down a heirloom horizontally (from partner to partner) instead of vertically (from parent to child). It might have been our taught process that was too narrow and not the evidence that was too weak. Reah went to school together with Vince and Nico something that seems most reasonable for siblings who support one another. Petrus on the other hand wishes to get rid of all of them in order to secure power for himself. To me it suggests that all of them, Reah, Vince, Nico and Petrus were siblings. (Although it should be noted that like Petrus, Nico and Vince are likely half-siblings. Given the mostly patriarchal nature of the world of Dark Souls one can guess that they have a different mother.) Were it not for the 'Rock' title one the name of Thorolund would likely be mentioned to be shared by Havel himself as well as the Bishop of the Way of the White.

https://en.wiktionary.org/wiki/osteria#English

In Italian an osteria is an inn/restaurant/bistro/tavern. In DSII osteria is mentioned as a noble house of Lindelt. Paladin Leeroy is also not uninteresting for that matter because of his shield known as the Sanctus, in DSII the Ring of Life Restoration has very similar properties.(DSII Way of White/Thorolund counterpart). Last time when looked at Vendrick one of the composition concepts used in the previous topic also happened to be a rich Italian family of Venice. The Vendramin family. Both Aldia and Vendrick sought the 'truth' and the Drakebloods sought a true understanding of life, wearing the Drangleic crests.

Another thing to be noted about Thorolund is that Petrus indirectly makes mention of there only being ONE royal house of Thorolund. This suggests there is or was only one family head. It is very striking that two seemingly unrelated items have of two seemingly unrelated cultural groups have such an unusual thing in common as restoring hp over time. Unless of course... if they were the same noble house under a different name...

To add to this narrative one could examine Eygon over Nico and conclude that the both of them are bald. Eygon is a bit more slender in the face but it can be argued that with enough years time and touch of youth the two could be the same person. His shield mentions a cleric older sister, which could describe Reah very well. Not to forget that Eygon got his equipment from Mourne, whom was mentioned to have always served Caitha. Those who completed Reahs questline in DS(I) will know that Reah inevitably perishes either due betrayal or due hollowing eventually in the archives after selling all her miracles. It can be argued that Eygon resents Irina, because he is reminded of losing Reah all over again. On the other end of this narrative exists a cleric named Forsalle whom was known for his demonic powers mentioned in DSII Replenishment miracles. And if one takes the hammers of Mourne and the Old Demon King into consideration it paints a very strong picture what happened to him. But we digress.

https://old.reddit.com/r/sagesgrandarchives/comments/5cjygv/tiny_lore_lloyds_duel_charm/

There is one last detour to be mentioned towards the initial narrative surrounding Sigurd. Sigurd was playing a role as a wingman for Gunnar/Gunther in order for him to marry Brynhild. But who could these individuals have been? Well we can solve this question by lining up (Gwyns) Old Man McLoyf with Allfather Lloyd (Gwyns uncle). From lining up Lloyds Duel Charms (DSIII) with the information we have about Oolacile we get an idea that he was also likely playing a role as the eventual Manus. This part is important when understanding how being a primeval human puts him next to the other primeval Lord mentioned by Quelana, the Witch of Izalith.

https://old.reddit.com/r/sagesgrandarchives/comments/5aq71m/tiny_lore_hair_of_velka/

Izalith in particular is interesting when understanding why it could be her that had to be 'saved'(?) from the flames and not anyone else. Understanding that Izalith has root within the East plays a role when understanding how this affected Izalith(as Brynhild) in rejecting Lloyd. Within Drangleic there once existed a country known as Olaphis and if the kratocratic reasoning of Straid was any measure then it can be understood that Olaphis had similar reasoning to Berenike(might makes right). Shulva practiced highly advanced smithing with iron as can be found from the Sanctum Shield, whereas they were likewise known for their mighty warriors because Flynns Ring can in DSII also be found in the Sunken City. Oolacile was not known to produce or mine its own gold. Oolacile imported or had it imported from elsewhere. And the only DS(I) merchant who sells it stems from the East. Jugo, a nation affiliated with the 'golden' kings known as Aurous kings was also located in the East according to Benhardt of Jugo. Within Jugo courage is likewise highly valued. Izalith might have not wanted to court or be courted by a man she percieved as weak or cowardly. Much like how Brynhilde changed her mind about Gunnar/Gunther in the story of Sigurd after finding out she had been fooled. These are interesting parallels.

Yet perhaps the most exclusive property about these remains Izaliths primordial age and status as Lord. Sigurd(McLoyf) was as a vassal not allowed to marry Gudrun/Kriemhilde(Caitha), while on the other hand as prince and princess Gunnar/Gunther(Lloyd) had no trouble marry Brynhilde(Izalith). Their relationship troubles stemmed from Brynhildes(Izaliths) wanting a strong suitor. (Even tho from overlapping this context with the previously explained points and Greek mythological perspective it becomes clear that McLoyfs actual hindrance was not his status but the blood relationship between Reah and McLoyf.)

Not everthing seems to require a narrative and parallel, but when trying to explain a flow of events the problem lies in something else. Different from what most courtcase dramas make us believe evidence does not speak for itself. We know that eventually McLoyf settles somewhere in the South from Drangleic and that he can be tied to Gravelord Nito, but when does this take place? Does the ire of a dragon equate to a transformation into a perpetually rotting skeleton? … Sadly it seems to once again not to be that simple.

Tiny Lore – Imperfect Tale Telling

Forewarning

Before I start I want to warn a little about that this topic will address graphic subjects such as sexual violence, rape and incest. You might not agree with suggestions made in this topic. If any of these subjects pose you discomfort it might be advicable to turn away or return in good company.

Segment Overview

(1/6?)https://old.reddit.com/r/sagesgrandarchives/comments/ackxt8/tiny_lore_embraced_by_foolishness/

(2/6?)https://old.reddit.com/r/sagesgrandarchives/comments/aieap0/tiny_lore_frogs_and_fertility/

(3/6?)https://old.reddit.com/r/sagesgrandarchives/comments/aieg2v/tiny_lore_scholars_of_fate/

(4/6?)https://old.reddit.com/r/sagesgrandarchives/comments/ang1yr/tiny_lore_tears_and_vagabonds/

(5/6?)https://old.reddit.com/r/sagesgrandarchives/comments/angh3k/tiny_lore_imperfect_tale_telling/

(6/6?)

https://old.reddit.com/r/sagesgrandarchives/comments/aazpmu/tiny_lore_greek_mythology_and_titanomachia/

Just after slaying Sinh but before marrying Caitha, McLoyfs first measure is to secure power. We switch from Norse mythology Sigurd to Greek mythology the Golden Age of Cronus. McLoyf creates an age with great longevity and virtueous afterlives. But McLoyf grows paranoid that his children will usurp power from him like he did with his own father. McLoyf 'devours' his children in his domain but is tricked by his with Caitha by letting Havel the Rock take Gwyns place, allowing Gwyn to escape. Gwyn uses this oppertunity to secretly grow more powerfull. As time passes Gwyn frees Mcloyfs other children as well and organizes a war. This war lasts 10 years in the Greek counterpart.

In Greek mythology ultimately the land is divided among Zeus(heaven), Hades(underworld) and Poseidon(seas). In Dark Souls those would be Gwyn (Lordran), Nito (Tomb of the Giants) and Seath(seas).

https://old.reddit.com/r/sagesgrandarchives/comments/aetlc7/tiny_lore_greek_mythology_prometheus_epimetheus/

Is that a shard you've found?

Here, let me see it. So that I may help you.

To see light, to see hope…

However faint it might be…

The important differences really arise when looking at what these events mean for the events surrouding Prometheus(foresight) and Epimetheus(hindsight), in particular when drawing parallels with Pandora(all-gifted/all-giving) and her box/jar. Pandora is basically trained and dressed to be irresistable and gifted to Prometheus and Epimetheus by Zeus. Prometheus warns Epimetheus of Pandora, but Epimetheus does not listen. When Epimetheus accepts Pandora opens the lid of the box/jar and death and disease are unleashed upon humanity. Only 'hope' remains inside the box/jar. For Dark Souls this would unfold so that Izalith was gifted to McLoyf and Lloyd.

But who accepts the 'gift' and who warns the sibling? And who is this gift? If McLoyf correctly corresponds with Gravelord Nito this answer is obvious. Lloyd warns McLoyf not to accept the gift from (Zeus)Gwyn, but (Epimetheus)McLoyf does not listen. As for who the 'gift' was, there is a mention about Filianore being gifted to the pygmy lords, but one can also take skill in pyromancy as a gift based on dialogue with Quelaana. For now it is not entirely certain, but the answer leans the most towards Filianore. Filianore/Izalith opens the jar and McLoyf gets affected by the contents. Only something symbolising 'hope' remains inside. Based on dialogue with Emerald Herald this is likely estus. Like mentioned earlier Nito was the owner of a 'light-devouring' domain of death. He was the owner of the Rite of Kindling before it was stolen by Pinwheel. So was it after all Lloyd whom took the 'Fire' of creation from Gwyn, like how Prometheus stole the fire from the gods? Perhaps, all the thief needed to take was the record keeping or maybe the Lordvessel. As for the location this originates from might be near Heides Tower of Flame. Targray mentions the garden of the gods as being connected to his covenant, but it could also be Heide itself given that the Blue Sentinels have roots in Heide. Targray also makes mention of the difference between a 'mere vegabond' and a knight of the blue in that the knights can be elevated to a 'higher plane'. The Darkdrift(DSII) describes the Old Dead One(Nito) to exist eternally between planes.

Given the precedent of Cronus eating his children this would mean for the chronology that it is not another brother of Lloyd trying to kill Zeus, but McLoyf himself who wanted Gwyn dead. This adds a twist to the Old Man backstory from the 'Fools for Love' play that was mentioned earlier. McLoyf/Nito having two failed relationships, attempting to murder his own son and secluding himself in his tomb, only dreaming of his ideal woman, forever out of reach.

The Old Man has proven useful to show interest in. Berenike was known for its might and used shields with four wings, something the Everlasting Dragons were displayed with during the opening intro. This is something easily overlooked. The opening narrative is a tale, but who knows if it is reliable? A construction, a facade and in the middle, Old Man McLoyf. Eternalized in the names of Catarina, dragonslaying with spears, and of course record keeping. Forgotten as a father attempting to slay his children, forgotten as a destructive partner, yet dreaming of his ideal woman whom he might never have.

https://old.reddit.com/r/sagesgrandarchives/comments/aetlc7/tiny_lore_greek_mythology_prometheus_epimetheus/

https://old.reddit.com/r/sagesgrandarchives/comments/ackxt8/tiny_lore_embraced_by_foolishness/

We take another look at this the myth of Prometheus and Epimetheus and overlap this with the Loss of Annals. Trick at Mecone is currently not revealing a lot about Dark Souls so this part will be left for if more coinceding information becomes available. On the other hand the actual Theft of Fire is partially of interest once again. In particular what happened with the Firstborn Son and the goddess Fina during this time.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Golden_apple

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Golden_Apple_Award_(education)

In Greek mythology the gods are distracted by a trick Prometheus is playing by having the goddesses fight over a 'golden apple'. The goddess could not decide whom is the most beautifull goddess. Goddess fighting over golden apples appears a pretty common theme in Greek myth involving Aphrodite. One involves Hypomenes to win a race as a distraction and another involved the mythological depiction of the Trojan War. Would gods really be distracted by such a vain thing? Well perhaps not, but maybe our golden apple is something else. Fire was a symbol of knowledge in Greek philosophy, and as a parallel it is possible that the golden apple was like the golden apple award used in teaching and education. All of the mentioned beauties were after all also active in the ken of their own respective fields (sorcery, pyromancy, miracles) of magic.

For the timeline this gets the odd twist that the Firstborn Son and Fina were doing something else than watching over the Annals of History. Whatever they were doing they were not watching those annals. As for goddesses who were fighting over whom was the most beautifull...Elizabeth, Mytha, Fina and Dusk comes to mind in either mentioned or narrative context, but we might also consider Gwynevere.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Desert_rat-kangaroo

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/%C3%8Ele-%C3%A0-la-Crosse

Oolacile possibly derives its name from the animal the Oolacunta (a desert rat kangeroo) and the place Lac Ile-a-la-Crosse (is Sakitiwak, a certain Canadian dialect, meaning 'where the rivers meet'). DS(I) makes mention of a place called the Five Finger Delta in its character creation. The eyes and mouths of these faces look almost like straight lines and the nose is almost a geometrically perfect triangle. A strikingly similar preset is in place in DSIII but this time for the Carim Novice. A Delta is usually an area close to or below sea level where rivers flow into the seas, farming in these kinds of areas in non fiction usually required advanced irrigation techniques such as mills that could pump away water. Without working with the water the soil has marshy properties and ruins most crops. Even with access to these methods soil would often be too moist to live on and houses were commonly placed on Esh or Enk for that matter. Eleum as in Eleum Loyce also nods to this since the word can be read as such as well aside from being used in an alternate way to write Ileum(twisted) and the word is also in use to denote the intestines. Depending on how one understands the Narrow Seas they could also denote a set of five rivers like this same Five Finger Delta. This is not an attempt to forceably denote the High Seas located in the North of Drangleic.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Izalco_(volcano)

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dichomeris

Izalith is also interesting to dissect into the words Izalco(a certain Vulcano in El Salvador) and Zalilthia (A type of moth). There might be more options but in these type of topics the preference was made to leave only the most fitting without regard for other sources and reddit posts.

Dante

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Divine_Comedy

Dantes Divine Comedy is a piece that describes Dantes trip through heaven and the many circles of hell. Some aspects and inspirations and concepts are held in common with Dark Souls as a series. One can think for example of the Manticore as a symbol of greed at Oolacile. People turning into trees does lend inspiration from the Greek myth of Adonis, but when it concerns groups one can quickly think of concepts such as the Forest of the Self-Murderers in which this was used to punish those whom went to the afterlife by commiting suicide. Myrrha also attempted suicide in her struggling to resist the urges she was feeling for her father. Dark Souls might have adapted this aspect. In DSII Milibeth makes mention of limbo, which is the first circle of hell.

In Dantes Divine Comedy beheading is the punishment performed on sinners whom messed with the relationship between father and children, the symbolism expresses the father as the 'family head' and the children as the 'body'. In the games countless cases of beheading are part of the world such as in Earthen Peak and the beheading statues of Lothric. It is unclear what exactly this implies for the relationship between the knights/servants and their pantheon of service. Perhaps this symbolizes a vow of sorts in which they wish to dedicate themselves to keep their relationship between parent and child severed. Oceiros was notorious for using his children for the sake of his own benefit. Given that High Priestess Emma watches over Prince Lothric and the Basin of Vows, it can be inferred that the knights taking such a vow acted on her behalf and took the sin upon themselves.

But there is a catch: Is Emma even really the High Priestess? No, the Stone-Humped Hag (SHH) is the High Priestess, her Ashes hold the Priestess Ring around her finger and she claims to know the Lorian personally. So there are arguments for the contrary.

Siglinde and Nibelungenlied

Due the sheer confusing nature of the diversity of Norse mythological sources on which to inspire the story of Sigurd there are some choices that were made when writing this topic. One of those involved using the Volsunga Saga and not the Nibelungen Lied as a source. In the Nibelungen Lied Siglindes role is one dramatically different from whom Siglinde claims to be in the story. In the story Siglinde claims to be daughter of Sigmeyer. And Catarina presumably consists of descendants of Sir Yorgh(corresponding with Sigurd). But in the Nibelungen Lied Siglinde is Sigurds mother. This would mean that Siglinde is actually Loyfs consort. Was an error made? No. Mc is a used in names to denote juniorship to the name that follow. Appearances in the series of Dark Souls have repeatedly proven to be desceptive and might in reality be no measure of their actual age. Siglinde claims to have a letter from 'mother' for Sigmeyer. It is possible that the pretense Siglinde is using for chasing after Sigmeyer is not a correct one. In reality it is also possible that Siglinde is Sigmeyers grandmother as per the argument mentioned earlier. For that matter it is also possible that the Kriemhild whom invades the player in DSIII is actually Reah from DSI, making full circle. Sadly, the name Sigmeyer does not reveal anything about the exact relationship Siglinde and Sigmeyer. What is interesting to point out about Kriemhild is her Parrying Dagger. A Carim favored weapon. One thing is for certain, the backgrounds of Catarina, Carim, Berenike and Thorolund closely overlap. Sigmeyer uses the same sig(victory) but ends with meyer(illumiting) from Hebrew roots thus working like 'illuminating victory'. Compared to mythological sources Sigmeyers full name has no roots actual mythology. Lastly there also exists Big Hat Logan, just like figures like Yorgh, Aldia and Vendrick a seeker of 'truth'. It is very likely that Logan was a court sorcerer from the 'sig' family belonging to the lineage behind Catarina. Due the size of the family it is difficult to point out who. So yeah, when it comes to Siglinde there are some questions as to why she was named that way. What seems most plausible due the nature of the story of Sigurd as a potential ruse that the name Siglinde caught on and became part of the family line.

Tale of Tearstone Ring(TSR)

Players whom have kept track of the Tearstone Rings throughout the series might have noticed that their application throughout the lore is very dynamic. In DS(I) the rings respectively came from either Carim (Red TSR) or Catarina (Blue TSR). Carim is based of the term El Carim which in reverse reads 'miracle' the pun has been in use for the story of Sinbad to denote the villain sorcerer ironically. Catarina on the other hand is another way to write Catherine, something it shares with the name Caitha. Saint Catherine was associated with the wheel and a rather controversial saint. During DSII the rings of the same name have much different item descriptions and visual sprites. This time both Rings are mentioned to stem from the goddess Caitha, but with mention that her reception in her fictional world is varying. She is either understood as a compassionate goddess or a malevolent demon. And like mentioned earlier the Red ring exists for the mourned and the Blue ring exists for the mourners. In DSIII the original sprites of DS(I) were used again with association to Caitha.

It is possible that 'blood' was not well recieved as it also stood symbol of the hubric nature of pursuing dragons blood. Over the games Carim, Catarina and Thorolund have undergone a very dynamic chemistry. Carim knights no longer use parrying daggers and utilize former Way of the White miracles now. Pyromancy is considered a savage and barbaric practice whereas previously it held more acceptance in Lordran as evident by their blue chest (back) pieces. And Thorolund...is gone. While Carim keeps their miracles.

https://old.reddit.com/r/sagesgrandarchives/comments/aemive/tiny_lore_greek_mythology_aphrodite_pygmalion_and/

The snipehunt for Beatrice

Looking back at the the topic about Gwynevere there was something else coming to mind when thinking about Beatrice. There is something convincingly contradictive about Beatrice as an existence. Beatrice from Dantes inferno was a non real woman and the same thing applies to the ideal woman of the Old Man. So how did a real Beatrice come to be if she was not really ment to exist and only a figment of an Old Mans imagination?

Now the myths surrounding Aphrodite describe this very well in granting life to an inanimate statue. Thus the idea came to mind that perhaps one of the children McLoyf had with the first two woman (Reah and Izalith) namely Fina (from earlier work on Aphrodite) might be this personification. Specifically I was thinking that if events of Myrrha were real, what does stop the myth of Pygmalion to be the same? The statue of Pygmalion was an art piece and this aspect is shared by the Painted World. This idea is further supported by the dialogue properties of Father Ariandel being very similar to that of Benhardt of Jugo, someone whom claims to stem from the East. Ariandel restored a painting from the knowledge that it was painted with blood. Thus, perhaps when the Painted World of Ariamis came to life so did Beatrice, making McLoyf(Nito) her first consort. Now there are some special 'if's coming.

Who exactly painted the first painted world was never directly mentioned. The painter of the Painted World of Ariandel only mentions a [A]'mother' and that one needs to be [B]ken to fire and [C]fear the flame. The Old Witches Ring mentions the Witch of Izalith to have daughters with very similar mention(B). In addition to that the White Hair Talisman makes mention that all daughtes were 'mothers'(A) of the art of pyromancy(C). Now: What [1] If Gwyn was just like Cinryas in the myth of Adonis he was against incest for his direct understanding (mother, daughter, sister)?AND; What [2] if Finas mother was Izalith (Gwyns half-sister) in contrast to Greek mythologies marriage between Hera and Zeus? Then what would happen [3] if Gwyn was not aware that Fina was his half-sister(daughter of another mother from his father)? Would this not create a unique special scenario?[1+2+3]

Would this not result in Gwyn courting his half-sister and unknowingly hypocritically condemning his own daughter Gwynevere for incest with him? There is thus one final point to support[3] this scenarios plausibility. In the Norse myth of Sigurd, Sigurd rejects the advances of Brynhilde in contrast to the Greek myth of Pandora in which Epimetheus(not Prometheus) does not listen and accepts Pandora and her gift. Or at least Gwyn assumes Fina to be a much more distant relative(distand daughter of his grandfather) than what secretly holds true(half-sister).

The imperfect

After the chaos of conflict it can be complex to figure out who did what and what role each party played. Luckily for Shulva there are a few hints the game has granted the viewer to get a better understanding of the whole ordeal before the whole seige was fully unfolding. The drakebloods came with truth seeking motives, looking for a 'true understanding of life'. The Sunken kings household seems to have its own plans in the present age in DSII. Sinh was once filled with poison before it was released due Yorghs violence and now Elena is doing this again. This makes it easier to guess that in regards to lethal corrosive poison Elena and the Sunken King were on the same page. The confusing part is the timeline. Elena is not mentioned to come to and build Shulva together with the king. In fact Elena seems to worship the dragon alone in the present age as if it is not the king whom is her consort but the Slumbering Dragon himself.

In the Lair of the Imperfect strange teethed and eyeless frog-dragon like beings roam around. And from their naming it can be assumed that they are in fact an artificial creation or at least a modified existence. What makes them interesting? Their brute force and muscular bodies are their own thing, but the thing that stands out from them as beings is their affinity for the magics. Among drakes and dragons the difference between various elements is nothing new. Fire drakes spoke for themselves. Lightning could be found in the Valley of the Drakes. Magic and Crystals were a thing of Seath as a means to curse the player. Dark magic was more of unique thing for Black Dragon Kalameet. So overall dragons were a very magical existence. But the same also went for demons whom brought their own flame magic and were often amalganations of different beings. Or at least, it is mentioned so in the item description of the Sanctuary Guardians Soul.

The imperfect have the ability to cast a large spherical attack with both lightning and dark properties. These are commonly associated miracles and hexes(specifically dark miracles). While very different in physic there are also similarties between the Demon of Song and the Imperfect, both have dark skins and large health pools. Affinity is one thing but what would it be used for in order to be considered perfect? Maybe the beings were intended as a test, for as far as Flynns Ring belongs in Shulva the city was a Kratocracy, in other words 'might makes right'. Berenike was also known for its 'mighty' warriors, most of which used the Morning Star. A cleric weapon. The idea might have been to create clerics with greater spell potentiall by amalganating them through a form of magic. Now the thing about the Demon of Song was that there was only one of them in the present time of Dark Souls II, because it was a unique boss monster. Nonetheless, the item description of the Spotted Whip of DSIII mentions 'women'(plural) using them. So where there more by the time Cuculus visited Shrine of Amana or where women in that area just a rare thing? While this may seem narrow minded, pyromancers are rare in the games Laurentius, Rosabeth, Cuculus, Cornyx are named, but pyromancers whom wear the traditional Conjurer(DSIII) garb were limited to Shrine of Amana. One finds connection to the Great Swamp only here and it stands to reason to consider the Shrine of Amana 'here'. As for 'imperfect', one can take a look at the Darkdrift item description from DSII. The thematic is perhaps shared with the Dull Ember(DSII), an item that seems perpetually waning but never fading.

Alices Adventures in Wonderland

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Alice%27s_Adventures_in_Wonderland

Alice in Wonderland is a tale of many opposites. It was written by Charles Lutwidge Dodgson whom was perhaps better known under the pseudonym Lewis Carrol (a female penname for a male writer). It was supposedly written on a 'golden afternoon', but in reality it was cool, rainy and cloudy. The tales were named after one of the three real daughters named Alice as well. A common theme happens to be about calm uneventful days turning into nightmares, but the stories always end up being fiction in which Alice wakes up from a dream eventually to end it all. (No, she does not kill herself.)

Alice in Wonderland was initialy made up to entertain his three daughters Lewis Carrols and it was Alice whom asked Lewis to write the story down. The story was then turned into a manuscript and eventually became the story we know today.

Perhaps the most famous aspect about Alice in Wonderland are Mad Hatter and the Cheshire Cat, but almost ironically they were not part of the original manuscript and were added last when the seemingly last manuscript was destroyed for the sake of a more elaborate one.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hatter_(Alice%27s_Adventures_in_Wonderland)

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cheshire_Cat

Chapter one has Alice enter the Rabbit Hole following a clothed White Rabbit with a pocket watch. She ends up falling into a curious hall with locked doors of all sizes. There is a key but the door it fits is too small for Alice to fit through, but when she discovers a bottel labelled “DRINK ME”, she shrinks too small to reach the key which was located on a table. When she eats a cake labelled “EAT ME” Alice starts growing again.

Chapter two has Alice growing to such a size (from the earlier cake) that her head hits the ceiling. Alice grows unhappy and because of her size her massive tears end up flooding the hallway. Alice shrinks down again due to a fan she picked up, but now has to swim through her own tears to meet Mouse. Alice attempts to small talk the Mouse in French, but ends up offending away through mentioning a cat.

In Chapter Three the sea of tears has other animals enter. Alice and the other animals talk about how to get dry again. The Mouse gives a dry lecture. The Dodo wants everyone to caucus-race(vote race) without a clear winner, but Alice frightens everyone away again by accident by talking about her cat.

Chapter four has the White Rabbit appear again in search of the Duchess's gloves and fan, but White Rabbit mistakes Alice for the maidservant Mary Ann. He orders Alice to retrieve the gloves and fan. Inside the home Alice finds another little bottle and starts growing again when drinking from it. The Rabbit orders Bill the Lizard the gardener to climb on the roof to go down the chimney. Alice hears the voices of the animals outside whom were looking at her giant arm and were now throwing pebbles at Alice. As the pebbles turn into cakes Alice eats them to shrink to size again.

In Chapter five Alice comes upon a mushroom with a caterpillar smoking a hookah(type of waterpipe). The caterpillar questions Alice by means of a poem to which Alice admits. As the caterpillar crawls away he tells Alice that one side of the mushroom will make Alice taller while th other makes her shorter. As she experiences both sides again Alice regains normal height. Using the mushroom she grows to suitable height.

Chapter Six has a Fish-Footman hand an invitation for the Duchess of the house to a Frog-Footman. Alice observes the transaction and after a conversation with the frog let her into the house. The Duchess's Cook is making a soup with too much peppers. Alice, the Duchess and her baby all have to sneeze, but not the Cheshire Cat. He keeps on grinning. Alice is given the baby, which then turns into a pig. The Cheshire Cat appears and sends Alice to March Hare's house. As he disappears again his grin remains. Not as a cat without a grin but as a grin without a cat.

In chapter seven Alice finds her self at the Mad Tea Party of March Hare, the Hatter and the tired Dormouse who falls asleep frequently only to be woken up by Hare and the Hatter. Alice is given many riddles and stories including “Why is a raven like a writing desk?”. Because the time stands still at the tea party it goes on forever. After getting tired and insulted from all the riddles Alice leaves the tea party.

Chapter eight Alice enters the garden upon the living playing cards painting white roses red because the Queen of Hearts hates white roses. More cards, including King and Queen and even White Rabbit enter the garden. Alice meets the King and Queen. The Queen says “Off with his head” at the slightest dissasifation with a subject. Alice is invited/ordered to play a game of croquet with the Queen and her subjects but things go bad. Live flamingos are the mallets, hedgehogs the balls and Alice meets the Cheshire Cat again. The Queen orders the beheading of the Cat, but the execution can not behead an invisible head. Instead the Queen has to release the Duchess(the owner) from prison.

Chapter Nine has the Duchess brought to court at Alices request. The Duchess attempts to find morals in everything around her. The Queen of Hearts dismisses with threats of execution and has Alice meet the Gryphon. The Gryphon takes Alice to the Mock Turtle, whom is sad without sorrow. The Turtle wants to tell about being a real turtle in school, but is interupted by the Gryphon in order to play a game.

In Chapter Ten the Mock Turtle and Gryphon dance to the Lobster Quadrille, while Alice recites “Tis the Voice of the Lobster”. The Mock Turle sings “Beautiful Soup” while the Gryphon draks Alice away for an impending trial.

Chapter Eleven Alice attents a trial in which the Knave of Hearts is accused of stealing the Queens tarts. The jury is composed of various animals including some mentione before with the King of Hearts as the judge. Alice discovers she keeps growing larger. Alice is scolded by the Dormouse for growing which has Alice scoff as growing can not be helped. Meanwhile the Hatter is included to the trial, who frustrates the King with indirect answers.

In Chapter Twelve Alice is called upon as a witness, but knocks the jurybox over due her size. The King orders everyone return to their seats before the trial continues. The King and Queen order Alice removed on basis of her size (Rule 42), but Alice refuses to leave. Alice considers the proceedings ridiculous refusing to stay silent. The Queen yells “Off with her head!”, but Alice is unafraid, calling them out as a pack of cards. When the cards start to swarm over Alice it is over. Alice wakes up from her dream, realizing that it are leaves on her face and not playing cards. Alice then leaves her sister on the bank to imagine how curious everything was that had happened to herself.

Through the Looking Glass

https://www.sparknotes.com/lit/through-the-looking-glass/summary/

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Through_the_Looking-Glass

In Through the Looking Glass Alice finds her self in the unsurprisingly reversed world of the Looking Glass(mirror). An important theme in the book is the aspect of Jabberwocky, a seemingly/really nonsensical language that acts in reverse and with writing rules that for all purpose of reason would and should not make sense.

Alice finds her self in impossible situations that reflect the reversed nature of causality and reason. Alice attempts to learn, but she forgets. Time flows backwards. Standing still makes one move. Dream becomes reality and reality Dream. Important characters include the White Knight and White King, whom fight out nursery rhymes.

Tiny Lore – Green Dragons

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Persephone#Abduction_myth

Green dragons a thing over fairytales and mythology, representing ugliness and death. Myths of this type commonly come along with themes of abduction. Marriages with faces hidden are also a thing. And sometime include things such as forbidden food. The bride is pursuaded to break the rule and it becomes difficult to return. Some of its oldest roots trace back to Sumerian mythology, which first mention a named green dragon. While the combination of attributes is unique to the myth of persephone other myths and legends also exist. Japanese mythology for example has a 'no return' moment in the tale of Izanagi and Izanami after their attempt at marriage and conception fails.

The Greek myth of Persephone is also considered inspired. In this myth Persephone is abducted by Hades and dragged to the underworld. Hades as god of the underworld was a representive of this realm. Being bound in marriage to Hades ment being bound to the underworld as well. Persephone eats from the pomegranate of the underworld and becomes bound to remain in the underworld during winter. When coming back to the overworld the lands would be fertile but winter would take her away and turn the lands barren again.

Eros and Psyche

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cupid_and_Psyche

The tale of Eros and Psyche is one of the lengthier lesser known stories concerning mythology. Psyche is a princess with many admirers. Those admirers were neglecting the goddess Aphrodite for the sake of the princess. Aphrodite as a goddess was not pleased by this neglect and ordered Eros(or Cupid) force Psyche to fall in love with someone hideous. But Eros messed up and fell in love with Psyche himself.

Despite Psyches many admirers she herself does not fall in love. This has her parents worried whom consult the Oracle of Apollo. The Oracle brings the bad news that their son-in-law will be fire and iron breathing dragonoid. The dragon would even be feared by Zeus and Hades.

The parents now felt compelled to a crash wedding of sorts in which her daughter was to both marry as well as die while being thrown of a cliff/mountain. The rite is perhaps better known as the 'transition into the unknown'. But things went differently as Psyche is carried off by the wind and ends up in the palace in which Eros was also living. Psyche found a good home and a good life with her blind date Eros even though she was not allowed to see what her husband looked like.

However, Psyche eventually wanted to see her family again (despite the whole ordeal with the rite). After some pursuation Eros agreed and allowed her family to visit her. Still as envious as ever of their little sister however she was told that her husband was feeding her fat and must in reality be a hideous monster. Psyche was affected by the fear of her family members and now armed herself with a lamp and knife in order to uncover the true face of her supposedly monstrous husband. As Psyche approached Eros she found for her self that Eros was actually quite handsome. But Psyche awoke Eros and knifes have this tendency to be more comforting for the holder than the beholder so Eros fled the palace.

In order to find Eros again Psyche was forced to visit Aphrodite, but Aphrodite was still displeased with Psyche. Aphrodite had Psyche complete various tasks before she was allowed to see Eros again. But Aphrodite made the first tasks so difficult that Psyche despaired. This attracted the attention of an ant and got her the help she needed to complete the task. However, Aphrodite was not pleased that her task she had made difficult intentionally was succeeded.

The next day Aphrodite had Psyche cross a river in order to collect golden wool from sheep. What she did not tell Psyche was that the river was dangerous during flood. Psyche always easily lost hope and her intention was to drawn herself in the river. Luckily Psyche got advice from the river god to cross when the waters were calm and to watch out for the rams. The rams belonged to the Sun god. And so Psyche managed to return with the wool.

The third and final task Aphrodite had Psyche carry a crystal vessel through the underworld. She had to fill the vessel with the black water from the underworld rivers. However the area was filled with serpents/dragons so Zeus sent his eagles to distract the beings while psyche was collecting the water.

The fourth and final task was different albeit similar. Aphrodite handed Psyche a box. Psyche was not allowed to look inside and she was to collect 'beauty' from Persephone. Once again Psyche embarked on her task and recieved help and advice. She first could not find the entrance, but found help in her troubles and once again the entrance. Once in the underworld Psyche was given two coins in her mouth and to hold few cakes and the box in her hands.

Along the way she met a lame man on a mule, a dead man swimming in the river and an old woman weaving, but she was warned not to be diverted presumably because the toll was for only one journey and to pay the ferryman Charon. As for the cakes, they were for cerberes. Something had to keep the guard dog of the underworld busy. Aphrodite however, had figured that Psyche would receive help again. She predicted that with the tasks completed Psyche would be offered to be returned home by Persephone and that the light Persephone offered also awakened strong curiousity in the beholder. Psyche could not help her curiosity. As Psyche opened the box she was suddenly overcome by a deep sleep she could not wake from.

But Psyche was in luck. Eros worry got the better of him and he went to look for Psyche. Eros managed to wake Psyche and talked to Zeus about his troubles with Aphrodite. Zeus took pity on Psyche whom as a mortal went through so much for trouble for Eros and handed her ambrosia the drink of immortality in order for the two to marry like equals. Together they had a child named Hedone.

The green serpent

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Green_Serpent

The green serpent is a French fairytale written by Marie Catherine d'Aulnoy. It is also known as 'A Green Dragon known as Serpentine Vert'.

[The twins Laidronette and Bellote are daughters of King and Queen. The King and Queen were throwing a feast for the twins and invite many fairies. While the fairy Carabosse is invited her younger sister Magotine was not invited. When Magotine(magic?) notices she becomes furious and turns Laidronette in the ugliest woman in the world. The other fairies manage to stop Magotine from turning Bellote as well.]

[Years pass by and Laidronette grows up intelligent but lonely. She no resides in a tower to avoid seeing or being seen by anyone, but is visited by a terrifying Green Serpent. When fleeing from the serpent she gets swept out to sea. The serpent follows but is rejected, leading to Laidronette lose consiousness in the water.]

[When Laidronette wakes up again in an unknown far away kingdom. The Green Serpent is its spell-bound king. Because Laidronette never meets the king all she knows is that she is well taken care of. However, despite not being able to see her benefactor Laidronette and the Green Serpent end up connecting through their conversations. They fall in love and get married.]

[The Green Serpent convinces his now-wife to wait until the end of the seven years, because else his enchantment will start all over again. Laidronette compares herself and the (unknown) king to Eros and Psyche. Unsurprisingly, like Eros and Psyche Laidronette also ends up curious of her husband. The truth does not do them well and war breaks out in the kingdom also thanks to the fairy Magotine. The serpent is sent to Hades while Laidronette becomes Magotine's prisoner and servant.]

[The serpent sends a fairy to assist Laidronette in Magotines tasks. During her tasks Laidronette finds the water of disconcernment, becoming wiser and naturally beautifull again.]

[The serpents fairy sends Laidronette to the enchanted forest in order to hide for several years. But after those years she had still remained Magotines servant. So when Magotine tells Laidronette to go to Hades, she goes. ]

[As Laidronette goes down to Hades the personification of Love(Hera/Aphrodite?) assists her. When Laidronette talks to Prosperina(Persephone?) Love reminds her where her husband resides. Then Love restores the dragon to a human form. When the two meet again Love forces Magotine to break her spells. Finally, Love sends the two home. Love is stronger than magic/Magotine.]

Tiny Lore – Gone with the Wind

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gone_with_the_Wind_(film)

https://www.sparknotes.com/lit/gonewith/summary/

Story plays out shortly before, during and after the American Civil War. It centers around the protagonists Scarlett O'Hara and Rhett Butler. The plot is colored a bit from the perspective of confederates (the side of the factions in favor of slavery).

Before the Civil War Scarlett comes to the attention of Rhett Butler at a cotton plantation named Tara. Scarlett slaps Ashley for being engaged to Melanie Hamilton while Scarlett had feelings for him, something Rhett compliments.

However, During the Civil War Scarlett actually marries Charles Hamilton in order to get back at Ashley. The two marry quickly and Scarlett gets pregnant. Scarlett grows bored and unhappy with her life after giving birth to her son. Scarlett ventures to Atlanta to where Rhett is. There are some exchanges between the two mostly about gender related social norms and the two go seperate ways because Atlanta became unsafe. Scarlett ends up taking care of the pregnant Melanie.

When Melanie gives birth Atlanta is on fire. Rhett helps Scarlett and Melanie excape the Yankees, but abandons them in order to join the Confederate Army. Scarlett arrives at the cotton plantation to find out that her mother is dead her father went insane and there is no food anymore. Scarlett grew furious from hunger and vows to never go hungry again.

Scarlett takes charge of Tara and murders a thief and puts out a fire set by the looter.

When the war ends Ashley comes home. Will Benteen, a former Confederate ends up helping at the plantation in order to help rebuild it. But the current government is raising taxes on the plantation pushing Scarlett into financial troubles. Scarlett is forced to seek help from Rhett, whom coincedentally came out fot he war whealthily from food speculation. The only catch is that Rhett is in jail and can not help Scarlett. Scarlett sister has a whealthy and handsome partner named Frank Kennedy. When Scarlett realizes this she seduces Frank in order to save her plantation.

Rhett blackmails his way out of prison and lends Scarlett money for a sawmill. Scarlett becomes a shrewd businesswoman. After her father dies Scarlet returns home for the funeral. She pursuades Ashley and Melanie to move to Atlanta and to accept a share in her lumber business. A little later Scarlett gives birth to Frank's child.

On her way home Scarlett is attacked by men of color. Frank ends up dead when the Ku Klux Klan gets involved. After the death of Frank, Rhett proposes to Scarlett and she accepts. Scarlet grows pregnant again, but this time with Rhetts child and gives birth to a daughter.

Scarlett and Rhett's relationship started well but ends up growing a little dull. Ashley (Scarletts initial partner) ends up spreading rumors about the two having affairs.

When Scarlett and Rhetts daughter dies during an accident, Rhett loses his mind. The marriage worsens. After the funeral Melanie has a miscarriage at the mill and falls ill. Melanie makes Scarlet promise to look after Ashley and Melanies son. Scarlet realizes she loves Melanie. She concludes that she truly loves Rhett. After Melanie passes away, Scarlett hurries to tell Rhett she loves him. Rhett on the other hand, has lost his love for Scarlett and leaves her. In the end Scarlett returns to the plantation, to her nurse and slave, mammy, where she thinks about how to win Rhett back.

Names and concepts of interest:

Scarlett and Rhetts names can both be understood as the color red.

Melanie can be read as black or dark.

Ashley derives from ash (ash tree) and Leah(wood clearing).

Frank is a name derived from an Old English word for spear or javelin.

O'hara and Scarlet are as names in use in Dark Souls by the npcs Manhunter Ohara and Devotee Scarlet.

Ernest Dowson wiki

[Odes from Horace, (Cynarae is from book 4 but sadly I did not find it here)](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Odes_(Horace)

The ode in question, mentioning the 'reign' of Cynarae link from theguardian

The ode in question, mentioning the 'reign' of Cynarae link from authorama.com

Cynara wiki

In the game some terms originate from the Greek poet Horace. The poem gone with the wind bases its titel of is of a Carmina (Latin for Ode) called 'Non Sum Qualis Eram Bonae sub Regno Cynarae'(gone with the wind). Cynarae is the name of a former lover Horace mentions and it refers to a thistle like flower from the sunflower family and literally means 'artichoke'. Perhaps the artichoke represents the flowers held by the statues divided all over Drangleic such as near the Ruined Forkroad and the bonfire where the player first meets Melentia.

I have forgot much, Cynara! gone with the wind,

Flung roses, roses riotously with the throng,

Dancing, to put thy pale, lost lilies out of mind

Some sources contain very unagreeable material. This source in particular relates to the perspective of the so called confederates in the American Civil War. Confederates held the perspective that slave trade was a good thing. Part of interest in the summary that should come to notice is that the protagonist (Scarlett) is partially herself responsible for most that happens to her due her ill treatment of others in her life. Scarlett displays some properties that reflect negatively back on her in later instances. Basically the story is written in such a way that it portrays an unintentional downfall of ones own making.

Tiny Lore – Fools for Love

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fool_for_Love_(play)

Fool for Love is a play written by American playwright and actor Sam Shepard. Most of the text here is a direct copy from the wiki page. Places were edited out and a smaller summary of who the players are was added.

May is staying at a motel when a former lover, Eddie, shows up. Eddie tries to convince May to come back to him and live in a trailer on a farm that Eddie has always wanted to buy and where he has always imagined living with May.

May vehemently refuses. She says that she has absolutely no interest in living with Eddie under such circumstances, that she has a job and started a new life and knows that if she goes back to Eddie their relationship will repeat the same destructive cycle it has followed before.

Throughout the play the character of the Old Man—apparently the father of both lovers—sits to the side and talks to May and Eddie and offers commentary on each character and about himself. It is revealed that the Old Man had led a double life, abandoning each family for different periods during each child's life.

The two became lovers in their high school years and when their parents finally figured out what had occurred, Eddie's mother shot herself. May is afraid that Eddie has begun to emulate his father; taking to drinking and secretly seeing a woman May refers to as the Countess. The play centers around the drama of the confrontation rather than a plot with any rising and falling action. In the end Eddie appears to have left May, just as his father had left his mother, and May has packed her suitcase to go off somewhere unspecified.

Eddie and May have not reconciled, the Old Man has begun to drift off in denial that Eddie's mother had been driven to suicide, and May's erstwhile date, Martin, is left on stage bewildered to observe it all.

The fools: Eddie and May,

two lovers in an incesteous relationship

Old Man; A mysterious old man whom visits the fools repeatedly

helps to straighten out what is wrong with the fools

talks about and with the fools about his own life

reveals he had a similar double life as the fools,

had kids with two different women but ended up abandoning these same women

Tiny Lore - Scholars of Fate

[3/5]

Forewarning

Before I start I want to warn a little about that this topic will address graphic subjects such as sexual violence, rape and incest. You might not agree with suggestions made in this topic. If any of these subjects pose you discomfort it might be advicable to turn away or return in good company.

Segment Overview

(1/5?)https://old.reddit.com/r/sagesgrandarchives/comments/ackxt8/tiny_lore_embraced_by_foolishness/

(2/5?)https://old.reddit.com/r/sagesgrandarchives/comments/aieap0/tiny_lore_frogs_and_fertility/

(3/5?)https://old.reddit.com/r/sagesgrandarchives/comments/aieg2v/tiny_lore_scholars_of_fate/

(4/5?)

(5/5?)

Vendrick, Aldia and Shanalotte

https://en.wiktionary.org/wiki/al_d%C3%ADa

Aldia can be written as the Spanish 'al dia'. It means 'up to date' or at the 'highest state of development' or 'state of the art'. Why Spanish? Vendrick and Aldia for the most part pursued truth together, almost as a single entity. Vendrick utilized Spanish styled equipment for his troops, but it is never elaborated if the choice was a mater of Aldias forfeiture or Vendricks own preference.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Vendramin_family

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hendrick_Hamel

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fredmans_epistlar#/media/File:Drick_ur_ditt_glas_skillingtryck.png

Vendricks name is rather over the place and even after many years it is difficult to point out a very great idea what it is about. There are quite a few historically and linguisitic technically derived compositions, but this time a different approach will be used. Vendrick could be derived from the words 'Vendramin' and 'Hendrick' or otherwise 'Drick'. In italy the Vendramin family were a rich family of Venice. Vendrick is known as the King of Want hence this part. Hendrick Hamel was a member of the Dutch East India Company who sailed to Korea, Japan and Jakarta(or Batavia) 1650-1670. Drick is a Swedish word used in a poster from 1825 'Drick ur ditt glass, se Doden pa dig vantar' written by Fredmans Epistlar or in English Drain off thy glass, see death upon thee waiting. Here the best advice may be to read further below.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Orphei_Dr%C3%A4ngar

https://en.wiktionary.org/wiki/leac#Irish

Drangleic might derive from the Swedish Drang which means Farmhand and is also the name of an all male choir. It is part of anoter piece of Fredmans Epistlar 'Hor I, Orpheus Drangar' or Hear, ye sons of Orpheus. The 'leic' her stems from the Irish for slab or stone. In DS(I) titanite slabs were according to legend heirlooms of the blacksmith deity. In DSII however, the item description changed into clarifying that these slabs came from below the earth. Perhaps the slabs came from the geographical Drangleic at some point before being moved to Lordran.

Both Aldia and Vendrick 'sought the truth'. Our understanding of altruism is put under pressure when understanding the pursuit of truth as such a thing and comparing that to the brothers Aldia and Vendrick. The relationship between Aldia and Vendrick at some point comes under pressure due Vendrick doubting the means of Aldia. It is mentioned that their 'fervor' or infighting drove the two apart. Aldia ended up secluded in his mansion, but there might be a double entendre (intention) at play here. While it is true that Vendrick 'condemned' Aldia is also mentioned to have 'secluded himself' in his mansion. On first glance it sparks the impression that Aldia is going along with his punishment after Vendrick proofed himself superior.

When examining the Aged Feather there might be some reason to doubt this impression. Shanalotte is mentioned to have been 'sequestered' away. In legal terms sequestered means that one abstains of ownership or custody of something or someone in order to prevent the course of law from affecting this same ownership or custody. Note that as a 'creation' Shanalotte appears to describe herself as a very inanimate fashion, but Aldia goes to lenghts to hide Shanalotte whom was considered not 'as intended'. In Scholar of the First Sin Aldia appears very much designed to strike the player with pragmatic preaches about the importance of life. It should come as no surprise that he likens the image of Mirrahs Quella very much. Paralleling this with the myth of myrrha perhas Aldia played a role in turning entities into trees.

By the time DSIII arrives it becomes clearer what losing ownership of Shanalotte could have ment for Aldia. Oceiros was using his children in order to secure his idea of an ideal world consisting of his dragon bloodline. Let us reverse the supposition. What if the world was only supposed to believe that Shanalotte was a failure? What if to 'cozen fate herself' ment saving Shanalotte? Within Aldias mansion Aldia created nothing but 'twisted and malformed' things, similar to how Shindler created nothing but malfunctioning equipment for the Germans in WWII. What if Aldia was deliberately messing up his own presented research results and records in order to avert a much greater disaster?

Oceiros

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Oceanus

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Conversation_of_Eiros_and_Charmion

So what about the relationship between Gwynevere and Oceiros? Gwynevere loved using Lot in her childrens names, which seems very defiant towards her husband. At the same time one can argue for the madness that consumed Oceiros. Most players seemed to favor stopping at the time they figured Ocelotte and Shanalotte were connected. It seems that the concensus around Oceiros is build around Osroes/Koshrow(King) and Osiris(Egyptian god of underworld), however latecomers can also have ideas and methods that one could spare a bit of attention. Not to blindly act upon provocations or to become part of the idea oneself, but for the sake of a matter that sooner or later would have to be addressed.

There are alternative inspirations one could look at. There is for example the Greek titan Oceanus(personification of the sea) and Eiros from a short story from Allan Edgar Poe 'The Conversation Between Eiros and Charmion' whom discuss the end of the world by a comet gradually incinerating the earth over the course of 10 years. And Eiros is explains these events to Charmion because he missed all this 10 years before the world met its demise. Perhaps it is best for readers to visit the wiki pages and respective sources belonging to them oneself to get the best idea if these are relevant or not. However, the goal of this topic was mostly about Gwyneveres parentage and children so Oceiros is on the unlucky side in that regard.

https://en.wiktionary.org/wiki/flann

https://en.wiktionary.org/wiki/Flynn

Flann was mentioned as the god Gwynevere left Lordran for in order to marry. Flann means blood-red in Irish. Flynn derives from the same name, meaning descendant of flann. Arguably the two were father and son. What happened with Flann? What happened to Flame God Flann whom Gwyenevere initially left Lordran for in order to marry? It is possible that Flann was a different king and Gwyenevere switched consorts but given the earlier mentioned Eiros perhaps the loss of Annals of History influenced a name change.

Looking at Flann and Flynn an idea came to mind. What if Greirat is Flynn the thief and son of Oceiros? Could this explain why Greirat truly fears Lothric Castle? As mentioned before there are some points speaking for the idea that Mirrah is connected to Gwynevere. Gwynevere possibly already left Lordran long before the destruction of Shulva because the Drakeblood knights carry shields about the allegory of Quella with them. A tale connected to Heide.

Mirrah might be known to have a knight order that makes use of the Allegory of Quella, but that can still stand separate from when exactly it recieves its name. And that means for the timeline that if Myrrha has something with Gwynevere that this would place Gwyneveres transformation only after the fall of Shulva. But without a full view around other figures new information might perhaps not come to light. Right now there is a clear lack of information if Flann and Oceiros concern the same consort, a lot of information in the game is cryptically omitted in a way that it comes to light when looking for something else entirely.

Either way Oceiros is obsessed with his royal blood. There is a lot be said by saying nothing here. Oceiros has already been pretty extensively fleshed out.

Children of the Painted World

Children are not uninteresting for the lore, they are also of mention when talking about figures like Pharris and about someone like Aldritch. We can think about Anri, Horace, the unnamed victims of Aldritch the Devourer and of course Sulyvahn whom grew up in the painted world. Sulyvahn catches attention because some of his spells are found near the moving trees of Ariandel. Did all children stem from the painted world? Such a thing does not become clear. One thing that sparks some idea about Aldias decision making. [A]Let us assume that Aldia is the Quella of allegory once again. [B]Let us assume the other children resided in the painted world. [C]Let us assume that by allowing Gwyndolin be consumed by Aldritch, Aldritch learned of the children in the painted world by pursuing Priscilla. [D]Let us assume that Aldritch was Executioner Smough and Llewellyn referred to Ornstein. [E]Let us assume that Zullies services were enlisted by Aldia in order to poison Gwyndolin. Question: [A+B+C+D+E]Could Vendrick have condemned Aldia over the zemblamity of saving Sulyvahn in this hypothetical scenario?

Sulyvahn grew up in the Painted World and it was later due to his doing that Gwyndolin ended up in the hands of Aldritch according to Sulyvahns Soul item description. When it comes to Aldritch the logical chronology appears to be that he found out about the painted world from 'slowly devouring' Gwyndolin. Thus Aldritch dreamt(foresaw) of what can be presumed is Priscilla and found the Painted World of Ariamis accordingly. Pyromancer Dunnel was best known for his Parting Flame. The item mentions a 'hideous' spouse and Priscilla was described by the Peculiar Doll as an 'abomination'.

There are some coincidental factors when overlaying Dunnel with High Lord Wolnir. According to the Grave Warden Pyromancy Tome Wolnir became a gravewarden after his death and created his dark pyromancies accordingly. But all that does not concern the coincidence in question. The coincidence concerns Wolnirs absence of a pyromancy flame, despite that he still 'discovered' the Black Flame as a grave warden. Back in DS(I) the Black Flame was created by a wandering pyromancer on the 'brink of madness'. Pyromancer Dunnel was mentioned to have 'left' his flame with his 'hideous spouse' so perhaps this concerns a 'Dunnel of Carthus'(?).

Aesthetics seem to be a very relative thing for the world of dark souls Priscilla is percieved as ugly to say the least while plenty of other female figures were described with beauty. Maybe and eventually there will be another reference that allows this idea of beauty to be further explored. It should not be very surprising that the flame is found near a secret passageway towards a tower that looks nearly identical to the tower Priscilla was in in the first game. Perhaps a fitting question is if the painted world really was burned between the games or if it merely refers to its Abyss/rot afflicted inhabitants.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/David_Dunnels_White

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gone_with_the_Wind_(film)

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Windtalkers

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Susanoo-no-Mikoto

One notable historic figure to bear the name Dunnel was Union soldier David Dunnels White. He was known for the capture of the eldest son of Robert E. Lee whom was leading the Confederates. The American Civil War was fought over the right to slavery. Perhaps, Dunnel played a role in capturing a son of a very important slave trader of Dark Souls. Perhaps Dunnel caught a son of Allfather Lloyd. Dunnels real world counterpart had his wife outlive him, perhaps the goodbey from Dunnel was similar in that he died before Priscilla passed away. It would be difficult for a pyromancer to challenge the lifespan of a dragon crossbreed.

Throughout the game there are some references to 'wind'. The Dragonking Axe (tailcut of Gaping Dragon)makes a mention of a wind blast. Flynns Ring (DSII) mentions the power of the wind and there is also the Stormdrake from the Nameless King. Overall there are some potential sources to think about what concerns 'wind' as a thematic and it is very common in regards to war or postwar movies. Especially movies such as 'Gone with the Wind' about the events after the American Civil War which also happens to involve windmills. Gone with the wind picks the attention due the unusual names of the protagonists Rhett(red) and Scarlet(another way to write red). In Dark souls a few names that are also directly mention a red color are Carmina, Flann, Scarlet and Flynn. The plot kinda stands out due miscarriage of Scarlet being awkwardly similar to early development cutscenes of Oceiros holding what looks presumably like (un)dead infant Oceiros. With more narrative leads it might be more assumable that these names are somehow connected until then these are highly speculative and mostly of anecdotal value. There are also movies such as Windtalkers. Aside from warstories surrounding the wind the 'storm' is an interesting aspect when looking at the god of storms of Japenese mythology. That tells us a lot about wind, but we almost digress from Dunnel.

However, who thinks that Dunnel and Wolnir are the same individual is wrong. Livid Pyromancer Dunnel is a mad phantom invader in the Painted World. He is not like Wolnir in being bound to the Catacombs of Carthus. Nonetheless the two(?) pyromancer(s) share a lot in that they both were or are at points in which they left their pyromancy flame. Both Dunnel and Wolnir hold some form of rejection of the gods. Wolnir does not recognize the 'judicously' bequeethed(bestowed) crowns and usurped his position from the (other) rulers. Dunnel on the other hand became a mad phantom or Mound Maker. Mound Makers have rejected all gods (Warmth).

https://old.reddit.com/r/sagesgrandarchives/comments/4mi0cp/lore_snippet_dsi_the_asylum_knight/

Either way Dunnel is of interest in regard to the son of a slave trader. When looking at the story of Prince Ricard we can parallel this with the story of the Ruin Sentinels in DSIII. Both are 'ill-fated' and suggest a backstory in the Ringed City before ending up North. Players popularly call the knight of the Asylum 'Oscar' due a multitude of reasons. The game files contain this name but the knight never names himself and having no in game item description mentioning him directly. However, due the large portion of similarities between Undead Prince Ricards item descriptions and those of the armor of 'Oscar' one can easily see why one can (not neccessarily mis)take the two for the same person. He is easily forgotten about but eventually reveals to return to the Asylum going hollow protecting the Peculiar Doll(key to the Painted World) in the first game. Undead are corraled to the North or 'shepherded' if one were to take the words from Darkstalker Kaathe. We almost digress. Despite the fact that Ricard/Oscar and the children of Gwyn were given entirely different tasks (one the shepherding of Undead towards the north)(the other pursuing the blood of the Dark Soul) one can get see their paths crossing even if not the oppertunity.

It sparks a lot of questions like if Ricard and Anri are connected by anything else than stories told about Astora. It is still unclear who Dunnel really is and perhaps we will never know but these parallels are fascinating aspects that can draw one to the lore of Dark Souls.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jeremiah

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Double-headed_eagle

Priscillas guardian npc was Exile/Xanthous King Jeremiah. The name was best known from the 'weeping prophet'. And the myrrh tree from the Greek myth of Adonis was known as a weeping tree. Maybe Dunnel and Jeremiah concern the same individual with a different name due the Loss of Annals. Xanthous refers to the color 'yellow' as many might have already guessed. At this point it is not entirely clear what this yellow color is about. Sir Cyan is also a name referring to a yellow color and overall the thematic also returns on the East West Shield painted yellow. Starting equipment of the cleric class of DS(I). The East West Shield likely symbolizes approximately the same as the doubleheaded does for its non-fictional heraldry. It has both cultural as well as national applications. It was used to symbolize the Greek Orthodox Church. It also symbolizes a dominion over the Near East and the West. In Drangleic these kingdoms include Volgen and Mirrah. The heraldry that belonged to the original kingdom was thus likely the (single-headed) yellow eagle. The Golden Wing Shield (a shield used by knights of the blue) is a symbol of rooted in Heide. DSIII ads another layer on this yellow eagle symbolism with the Cathedral Knight Greatshield. It is perhaps not surprising to learn that the symbol belongs to the old king of Lothric. DSIII makes no mention of Flann despite his title of Flame God, but sticks to Oceiros when filling in the known consort to the 'Queen of Lothric'.

It is also possible that the Queen of Lothric does not refer to Gwynevere at all just like how the Gwendolen(Gwyndolin) was an actual queen in the early stages of the legend of Arthur, but that would be a stretch.

As for Xanthous and his Notched Whip; it reappears all over the series. In DSII one is found at Huntsmans Copse while a +7 version is found near the Pagan Tree in Shulva. In DSIII one can be obtained from the Cathedral of the Deep and they are worn but not in combat use by the Evangelists. The item description states for DSIII that the Evangelists use the whip in their rituals instead. What exactly these rituals entail is not mentioned and given it concerns such a remote location as the Cleansing Chapel in between Cathedral Grave Wardens and entrance to the Painted World of Ariandel we can approximate the picture. The Follower Torch for example mentions the use of fire to treat 'pus' as a 'symptom' of the Abyss. And the laceration is mentioned by the Grave Warden Twinblades to be used because of rumors to slow down the reanimation process of reincarnating corpses. In practice it is to doubt if the Evangelists really interfere with reincarnation due them not really operating very near to the Cleansing Chapel. It would seem that the Cleansing Chapel serves as a spot to clean lacerating tools. Maybe this is why someone like Gael whom seeks the Blood of the Dark Soul is waiting for the player to hand over a piece of the painting. It should be noted that Gael was driven mad by how dried up the blood was that he obtained in the Ringed City and that Drakeblood knights shared the goal of fresh blood albeit from vastly different beings. Gael sought the pygmie lords whereas Yorgh sought the Slumbering Dragon. The Painted Worlds both held roots in fresh blood and perhaps a purpose exists for a new supply of blood every time the Worlds gain their new purpose as well.

Other Arturian names

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lludd_Llaw_Eraint

Although names like Lud and Zallen are not part of Arturian legend, Lud had some usage in Welsh mythology and is also tied to Geoffrey Monmouth's 'History of the Kings of Brittain'.

https://en.wiktionary.org/wiki/vyrda#Norwegian_Nynorsk

Lancelot plays keyroles in the war that follows his affair and the name Bors (cousin of Lancelot) is slightly similar to the name Vordt (of the Boreal Valley),but it would be quite a stretch. Vordt can be argued to have little in common with the name except for phonetic similarities (fextra seems to look at the name like 'vorst', but the Dutch word has little to nothing to do with the Norwegian Nynorsk). Vordt means 'respect'. Some similarly written Dutch verbs exist (-dt words refer to 'he' simple present) such as gordt (to bind with rope) or wordt(to become). Vordt is most at home in the Norwegian Nynorsk and perhaps it is better that way.

Overall still not a gold mine on info what happened to Gwynevere of Dark Souls, but it sure has some interesting leads. Most of these stories are scandals and disasters, but fact remains that as far as leads go any lead is a lead that counts and overlapping them can reveal some good insights and hopefully, a few good explanations what is going on in this fascinating world of Dark Souls.

With all kinds or speculation surrounding the whereabouts of Gwynevere and her supposed connection to the Greatwood one would expect a bit more information surrounding Farron, leader of the Watchdogs, his daughter Heysel and Sir Arstor the Impaler and earl of Carim. Yet at this point it might be a little bit early to flesh out the circumstances that surround them. Perhaps another time.

Arstor

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Vlad_the_Impaler

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Alastor

https://en.wiktionary.org/wiki/arst

https://en.wiktionary.org/wiki/stor

Sir Arstor the Impaler and earl of Carim was mentioned as one of the souls/curses that brought the tree to the point of rotting. Before addressing Arstor we go by his title of 'impaler'. The most famous example of an impaler is Vlad the Impaler, the later inpiration for Dracula. Dracula ment 'son of dragon' in his family. The 'Impaler' stemmed from Vlads preferrence for executing by impalement.

Arstor might be derived from the name Alastor, which means Avenger and is a title that was once used by the Greek god Zeus but gradually deteriorated into an insult. The name is also used in Christian demonology. The name might have been chosen to reflect either or both the ambiguity Dracula or his demonisation.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Alastor,_or_The_Spirit_of_Solitude

Alastor, or the Spirit of Solitude is a poem by Percy Bysshe Shelley. The poem is not being written from the perspective of a writer controlling the world of the individual. Instead the poem is written from the perspective of the individual being controlled. Arastor, the Spirit of Solitude is architecting the downfall of the individual. Basically the poet drowns himself for the sake of his evil spritit entity, with themes like the blackness, the deep and eternal youth and life. Instead of favoring an 'eastern maid' the poet favors his 'veiled maid'. Or more like the veil shrouding the maid and not the maid shrouding itself with a veil. (Sounds familiar?)

The composition of Arstor is likely derived from 'Arst' the Middle Low German for a medical doctor and the Norse 'stor' for big/large/great or old. So great doctor or old doctor.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Evil_eye

Arstor first came into the picture as a mysterious figure. Being both a knight(sir) as well as a landowner(earl). Arstor is well known for his various Bite Rings, favored by clerics whom don't mind the fear of malleble stone. Arstor was also known for the creation of the Shotel, The Purging Stone and also for his Spear. The spear is wreathed in rotten flesh causing poison buildup. The lifesteal effect on death is perhaps better remembered from the Ring of the Evil Eye. The ring symbolized the sealing of the spirit of Manus, but who knows how much is true when overlayed with the Crucifix of the Mad King. Especially for that matter does the Crucifix really concern Manus or the supposed pygmy at all when thinking that the Ringed City mentions pygmies(plural)? Formulated in another form: Who would have been the other pygmy/pygmies?

Shira delivered the weapon and mad king to the 'darkroom' according to the item description. Coincidentally the Fenito keep the player out of the Undead Crypt because 'light only agitates'.

Farron

https://en.wiktionary.org/wiki/farro

https://en.wiktionary.org/wiki/Aaron

Aside from Arstor Farron is also mentioned to have disappeared into a 'festering wood' according to the Exile Mask. But this does not have to be the Curse-rotted Greatwood. The second sentence addresses the same wood as the place where the emaciated Old Wolf sleeps. Farron might derive from faron, which in turn, just like pharros derives from the Greek Pharos. A name for Hvar, but sometimes also in use to denote the lighthouse of that location. The choice is not overly strange for a swamp filled with 3 flames similar to lighthouses.

Farron can be taken apart differently depending on how one views it but in this case the longest words that can still be used to blend into the main word were picked. Farro is a word to denote 'emmer wheat' in Italian. Arron is another way to write Aaron, which was the name of the elder brother of Moses. The exact etymology is uncertain but a few can be listed. [A]Bearer of Martyrs. [B]Warrior Lion. [C]Elevated, Exalted or High Mountain.

The name reads and sounds a lot like the DSII mentioned location Farossa. Thematics are also very similar. It is possible that Shieldless Lothian was this mysterious Farron. The Abyss Watchers were known for their shieldless combat style after all and Lothian was also mentioned earlier to be connected to Ornstein. It goes a little in contrast with the image of Sir Arthorias being the Old Wolf, but maybe Ornstein was attempting to do is old comrade a favor of sorts. It is uncertain for what type of business Ornstein would have been here.

Heysel

https://en.wiktionary.org/wiki/%D7%94%D7%99%D7%99%D7%A1

https://en.wiktionary.org/wiki/hey

It is easy to get distracted by Heysels appearance and assocation with Xanthous King Jeremiah as a pyromancer and think that that Heysel must suffer from some form of demonification. However, it can be wise not to draw premature conclusions that Heysel is hiding a form of demonhood, especially given the aforementioned information. Let us start with Heysels full title from Fingers of Rosaria as a covenant. Heysel is called Yellowfinger Heysel. The 'Yellowfinger' corresponds with the middlefinger and in medieval times monks used the middlefinger to denote problems at the nether regions, specifically the phallus(penis), testes or groin during their version of medical checkups. It eventually became 'the finger'. It is one reason why the middlefinger became adapted against the curse of the Evil Eye. Pendants and charms against the Evil Eye curse were often phallus shaped. It can be said that of the Fingers of Rosaria, Heysel represents the most contrasting value towards the dark phantoms of the Darkwraiths.

The longest names that can be stretched from Heysel are Heys and Eysel. Heys derives either from the Yiddish for 'hot' or Old English for 'weaving'. Eysel on the other hand derives from the Crystallography professor named Walter Hans Eysel, whom was known for his Eyselite. Eyselite has because of its rarity and relatively unexplored nature no known usages of industrial or exceptional kinds except for mineral collectors. In summary Heysel can mean something like hot/weaving rare/precious mineral.

Heysel is mentioned as the daughter of Farron in the great Farron Dart and as leader of the Undead Legions Acolytes. Acolytes perfom the highest of minor duties during ceremonies and are attendants, assistants or followers. In conclusion they rank below the Crystal Sages whom support the Legion by teaching sorceries. Heysel stands out because of her interest in the sorceries of Oolacile. Aside from training Heysel, the crystal sages also trained Daughter of crystal Kriemhild.

It does not become clear who Heysels mother is. For as far as naming for her would allow insight and if Farron were indeed someone like Ornstein then it could be that Heysel was adopted. Perhaps, due Ornsteins face never being revealed it and the Lion Clan Warriors being a thing it is possible that she could be hiding her face as part of a human offshoot race.

Emma

Despite the fact that Emma (especially as the shrine handmaid) could potentially one of the most important figures in both lore and life of Gwyenevere her part will be mentioned slightly later.

Lastly I want to mention something about the 'handmaidens'. Not just Gwyneveres but all of them since we are already past the point of incest many times now. It should be clear we are talking about uncomforting and uncomfortable topics. Handmaidens does not only include caretaking services associated with maids and butlers, but also sexual services. It is a bit of an unusual term to use for every day services to the higher class of society. It is not the goal to portray handmaidens as glorified prostitutes or sex slaves of the crown. What can be said is that handmaidens could have played roles in these types of things and it remains a question what role they would have played during sexual affairs in Dark Souls.

[split: part 3/4?]

Tiny Lore – Frogs and Fertility

[2/5]

Forewarning

Before I start I want to warn a little about that this topic will address graphic subjects such as sexual violence, rape and incest. You might not agree with suggestions made in this topic. If any of these subjects pose you discomfort it might be advicable to turn away or return in good company.

Segment Overview

(1/5?)https://old.reddit.com/r/sagesgrandarchives/comments/ackxt8/tiny_lore_embraced_by_foolishness/

(2/5?)https://old.reddit.com/r/sagesgrandarchives/comments/aieap0/tiny_lore_frogs_and_fertility/

(3/5?)https://old.reddit.com/r/sagesgrandarchives/comments/aieg2v/tiny_lore_scholars_of_fate/

(4/5?)

(5/5?)

In this topic we further explore the realms of incest and hubris as well as looking into the background and whereabouts of some of the most ancient beings of Dark Souls.

Mirrah and Gwynevere

‘Cinyras was the son of Paphos, and he might have been counted amongst the fortunate, if he, in turn, had been childless. I speak of terrible things. Fathers and daughters, keep away: or if your mind takes pleasure in my song, put no faith in this story of mine, and imagine it did not happen. Or, if you do believe it, believe in the punishment also, that it brought. If nature, however, allows such crimes to be visible, then I give thanks that the people of Thrace, this city, and this land, are far from the regions where such sin is born. Let the land of Panchaia, beyond Araby, produce its balsam, cinnamon, costmary; its incense, exuded from the trees; its flowers different from ours; if it produces myrrh: a strange tree is not worth such a price.

http://ovid.lib.virginia.edu/trans/Metamorph10.htm

The poetress Sappho had a rather fascinating way of writing when it came to describing the Greek myth surrounding Myrrha and the birth of Adonis. And we get to explore the her poetry on the Myth of Adonis and the relationship to Dark Souls nation known as Mirrah. It stands to reason that Mirrah is the name of a place that is likely inspired from the strange tree of myth; the myrrh. In the myth Myrrha is falling into a human forbidden love with her father because of the punishment from the goddess Aphrodite. And this subsequently led to the birth of Adonis. In Dark Souls II it is revealed to us that Mirrah was once the source of the Holy Water Urn. Holy water is also source of the Divine Blessing and despite attributed to the goddess Gwynevere, Melfia denies her existence. Although it should be added that Melfia was known to 'refuse reason' and 'distort the truth'. It is time to get to the bottem of this.

https://old.reddit.com/r/sagesgrandarchives/comments/aemive/tiny_lore_greek_mythology_aphrodite_pygmalion_and/

Perhaps, just like in myth the princess was turned into a tree for the 'forbidden' love between father and daughter. In Myth it was both punishment and blessing in one. Myrrha wished for a way to no longer be punishable by the laws of man while also repenting for her sins to the gods. Myrrhas sin against life to the gods was her attempted suicide. Suicide was treated pretty severely by both the Greek gods as well as in later Christianity. Dantes Divine Comedy shows a pretty grave and graphic example how 'Self-murderers' are treated arguably even worse than murderers and an argument can be made to not to treat these kinds of sources in this day and age with the same sense of ethics as when these pieces were written. BUT, back to the trees.

Is there anything to this story? In DSII the Bloodied Whip mentions a 'purpose forbidden by the gods' and a +7 version of the Notched Whip is found near the Pagan Tree of the sunken city of Shulva. The pagan tree that when hit with a whip repairs equipment. Strange for sure, just like the tree of myth. Is the tree Gwynevere? Are we looking for a different tree, like the Curse-Rotted Greatwood? Is the idea bogus as a whole? Let us explore a few other circumstantialities and see where the journey leads us.

Gwynevere is well known for her miracles, Bountiful Sunlight and Soothing Sunlight. Gwenevere, is the name from Arturian legend this is based off. She is commonly known as the wife of King Arthur, the king of knights. The title of king of knights is also shared by Knight King Rendal, suggesting a brother sister relationship if went by the book. Maybe Mirrah was chosen as a name for her kingdom in order to defend against the notion of incest being a bad thing. Little confirmation is given as to parentage for the in game Gwynevere compared to the Gwenevere of legend. The affair with Lancelot, is also associated with her. If incest was a bad thing, an affair with a knight is another.

Let us assume for a moment the worst case scenario, that incest and affairs are both punishable by death and that both soil the reputation of the suspected and convicted as well as their families. Let us assume that for some reason the death of royalty would be considered of greater consequence than the death of a knight in service. Not so much as a loss of life, but of political and ethnical reasons. Then perhaps the choice was made to mask the incesteous affair of Gwynevere and the Knight King with the affair with a knight.

Lancelot

Lancelot himself was perhaps well known from 'Lancelot and the Hart with the White Feet' in which he slays seve lions in order to cut off the feet of a hart only to be betrayed by a not well intended fellow knight. The traitorous knight shows up in front of Walewyn whom worries what happened to Lancelot instead. Lancelot is saved and allowed to marry the princess, but he rejects because his heart belongs to Gwenevere. In case of the Ivory King he also was mentioned to have had seven beasts, but with little information about the whereabout of the remaining four. Of course there is still question if the Ivory King and Rendal are indeed the same individuals, but the mention was not for argumentative purposes. Harts and Reindeers aren't the same either but. Farrossa(distant East) and Mirrah(East) are mentioned in similar directions.

Midir is also a name used in Arturian legend to be used again for the dragon in the Ringed City in DSIII. Midir was son of the dagda(druids) and the name is derived from 'judge' or midithir. Very fitting for a city full of strange laws, judicators giants and ritualistic magic.

Lot

Lot is also a recurring component in names and can also be connected to Arturian Legend. It is part of the Lothian kingdom and also known from King Lot. Lot can be found in prominent examples such as Shanalot and Lothric, but also Ocelot and Lothian are names to consider. There are some arguments to be made for Shieldless Lothian to be connected to the background of Ornstein, Llewellyn and the Dragonslayer Armor. Did the relationship between Oceiros and Gwynevere influence their name choice for their children? Interestingly Lorian and Gertrude appear to be the only exceptions to this lottery.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mordred

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Questing_Beast

Mordred

Now, this is where we come back to incest again. Arthur is at some point set to hunt a monster called the Questing-Beast or Barking Beast and upon his journey he has an affair with Morgause. He does not know that Morgause is daughter of King Lot and his half-sister at this point. Morgause gets pregnant with Mordred from this affair. And after his affair Arthur falls asleep experiencing the destruction of his kingdom and his own death. Upon waking up Arthur encounters the Barking Beast he set out to slay. After killing the beast Merlin informs Artur that the beast was born from a woman out of an incesteous relationship with her brother. The whole ordeal is oddly unsettling of course. After this Arthur is at some point granted a divinition that a child would be born among May that would be destined to kill him in battle. Arthur is set on averting this desperate fate of course. So he orders the May-Day-Massacre in which all newborns are killed. Even his knights are confused and desillusioned by all the killing. Somewhere newborns are set on ships and killed upon arriving upon destination. Mordred however fell off a ship as a child and drifted off as by some miracle made it out alive. After Mordred grows up he manages to prevent Arthur from fully hearing a divinition revealing his identity. Lancelot is revealed to have had an affair with Gwenevere(Arthurs wife) and Mordred uses this information to his advantage to instigate a war, but also leading to the death of Gwynevere. Mordred and Arthur meet again upon the battlefield and Mordred mortally injures Arthur as foretold, but Arthur manages to kill Mordred before succumbing to his injuries.

While there are no figures known as Mordred in the game there are some interesting points to look at that are not that well known about Arturian legend as well as a few points that are unseemingly seemingly relevant. One of the lesser known brutalities of Arturian legend is the May-Day-Massacre, which involved the infanticide of Britons newborns and goes against the better known image of king Arthur as a heroic knight king fighting for his people. Despite its brutality it is considered an established part of the legend with a rather desillusioned and sober look at heroism of legend and its contrast to murder of defenseless children. As mentioned before the Gwenevere of legend and Gwynevere of Dark Souls are supposed to be different as Gwynevere is Rendals (half?-)sister, whereas the half-sister of legend was Morgause. Once again incest is a theme although it seems to be used as a justified foreshadowing instead of the common normal that is better known from mythology. Perhaps the creators of dark souls toke note of the similarities between the names Lancelot(the knight of affair) and King Lot with the kingdom of Lothian. It would not be surprising at all if the name Gwynevere was deliberately chosen by the creators of Dark Souls to [1] hint at the possiblity of incest surrounding the firstborn son of Gwyn and [2] to create a new scenario in which Lancelots dark souls counterpart (Lothian) takes the blame in order to hide the incesteous affair.

The unknown whereabouts of the Queen of Lothric and repeated usage of what seems to be people transformed or transforming into trees suggest that dark souls might use a blend of the stories of Arturian legend and Greek mythology of Myrrha and Adonis. Dispite the clear differences between the stories there is something to say for examining them and coming to ones own conclusions. Both stories concern incesteous affairs and both stories involve how laws handle themes like infidelity and incest as a sin.

Gwydolen/Gwyndolin

Gwynevere did not always exist to Arturian legend. Her first appearance started much later. The works of Chrétien de Troyes elaborate on Guinevere as something else than the wife of Arthur. This was likely because Chrétien's audience at the time. The court of Marie, Countess of Champagne, which was composed of courtly ladies. They played highly social roles. Appearing as Queen Gwendoloena (Gwendolen)(very similar to Gwyndolin from the game), Guinevere has prophetic powers in De Ortu Waluuanii.[Slightly adjusted from the wiki for Gwenevere]

Greirat and Loretta

https://en.wiktionary.org/wiki/grei

https://en.wiktionary.org/wiki/rat

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rat_king

The name 'Greirat' is not quite uninteresting either. 'Grei' is a term used to denote a 'parish' and a 'rat' is also a well known way to describe an 'informant'. The connection to the Rat King superficially also appears very thin, but when looking into the term and the name composition it also becomes a little more interesting. A Rat King is a term based of a folktale about how a Rat King would sit on a throne of rat corpses knotted together with their tails. The term was also in use once to denote leaders who lived off others (parasytes). The Rat King is not shy in making his servants do his work for him while also rewarding strangers for bringing him the former limbs of his own servants. Once one takes the term 'King' under close examination it also becomes clearer why he might be handing out the Slumbering Dragoncrest Ring(a symbol normally associated with the archdrake sect). A 'King' is also a term for a male dragonfly or 'drake'. A good example of how the term interchanges is the contrast between the Nameless Kings mount. In English his name reads as Stormdrake, while in Japanese it reads as Stormking. This term was initially a bit more familiar with players of the first game for describing the 'distant descendants of the ancient dragons' .The archdrake priests at Shrine of Amana only consists of males. Perhaps the term was adapted to describe the connection to dragons. Dragon Apostles believe to one day turn into dragons or gain their immortality from the dragon scales. Nonetheless the covenant appears to have died out around DSIII. The Path of the Dragon exists as a gesture. Yet, strangely there are warnings that ringing the ancient bell ends this same covenant. It is questionable how far Archdragon Peak connects to the events at Shulva but there is something to say for the rattiness of the sect. The Slumbering Dragon Shield suggests the Archdrakes keep watch over keeping the secret of Shulva 'buried'. This goes merely to show how seemingly unrelated covenants and ethnic groups can have potentially a lot in common when displaying their coinceding aspects. Griggs of Vinheim also wears a Slumbering Dragoncrest Ring in DS(I). And yet it should be clear there is not wish to contradict the idea that the Rat King is still a rat in the truest sense of the word.

Perhaps players have not forgotton about how conspicious it is that someone like Patches would go and save Greirat the thief. Especially considering that Patches ridicules clerics/the players for their greed. The Ringed City sheds some light on that matter by revealing Shira, Knight of Filianore. Shira means 'white' in Japanese but 'poetry' or 'song' in Hebrew and Patches has a thing for sittng down like a 'frog', better known as the 'Patches Squat' Gesture. Patches also carries the Crescent Axe with him while his weapon of choice is in reality a spear. But Shira, she uses halberds as a weapon. The Demon of Song comes with many frog thematics, the background music is a frog song for example and the Demon is known for its cursed singing. Seemingly unrelated Laurentius of the Great Swamp tells the player about his teacher whom he describes looking like a 'frog'. There are a few ideas that come to mind. The Loyce Knights, Ruin Sentinels for their frog shaped helmets ment for jousting for one. The other would be the Demon of Song.

The Demon of Song also has some remarkable similarities to the White Preachers, whom are described as 'unruly' and fittingly Quelana describes Salaman as a little 'rascal'. That being said one can argue that Salaman might have played an important role to the Way of the White before things went down hill and he fell to demonhood. Shulva harbors some froglike creatures known as the 'imperfect' whom have an affinity for lightning and dark attacks. In DSII the Spotted whip is created from the soul of the Demon of Song. But in DSIII the Spotted Whip is described as being a weapon favored by 'women'(plural) from the great swamp. This could suggest there where more of these demons somewhere before Cuculus ventured to Smouldering Lake. What does this mean for Lorian? Greirat sends us looking for 'an old woman' named Loretta. And in DSII there exists mention Shieldless Lothian. When putting the names together we get this. Lor-etta + Loth-ian = Lorian. This suggests that prince Lorian might have been an adopted child.

While direct evidence may seem absent as to why Lorian might descent from Shieldless Lothian and the old lady Loretta there is something to be said for how Lothian seems to have lost his Dragonslayer Crescent Axe while Dragonslayer Ornstein is a thing. Ornstein uses a lion symbol on his ring, the Leo Ring. The blacksmiths name of Mirrah is known as Llewellyn, literally 'lion crest'. Then, when DSIII arrives suddenly the only thing the player faces is a Dragonslayer Armor infused with memories, whom very, very coincidentally also uses specially made Dragonslayer Greataxe? Steel is usually a mainly iron alloy and drangleic was partially responsible for the 'bradden' steel armors of Astora. 'Bradden' derives from 'fishscale' suggesting that this alloy would somehow not mix properly. Bradden steel was created in an attempt to recreate heide steel (arguably) because it is the only equipment that has not corroded over time when looking at the Old Knights compared to the Heide Knights. It stands to reason that Vendrick had a very unusual panic fueled fixation with smithing of certain alloys. The giants Vendrick had invading might have been a consequence of whatever Vendrick asked Chancelor Wellager to do. And a 'Chancelor' in religious functions is understood as a 'record keeper' of a cathedral. Wellager was ordered by Vendrick to get Llewellyn a lifetime contract 'at all cost'. It may have been mentioned that Ornstein set out to find the Firstborn, but it is never mentioned if this was not stimulated somehow. Either Vendrick or Aldia was at some point employing Royal Sorcerer Navlaan. Navlaan is selling two different armor sets. The Astrologist set and the Black Witch Set (associated with Zullie the Witch). Blackwitches (as described by the Black Witch Staff) were considered transgressors for attempting to control both the curing as well as the onset of disease. There are some interesting contrasts and parallels to draw when looking at Llewellyn stemming from mirrah which is also the source of Gwyneveres Divine Blessing. Gwynevere was 'loved by all' whereas Zullie was 'as unloving as she was unloved'. Now Aldia is not uninteresting for this matter either, because in Mirrah there exists the Allegory of Quella. In the mentioned allegory Quella the god of dream takes the shape of a shield in order to protect a young boy and Sulyvahn grew up as a little boy in the Painted World. In DSII the red invader covenant is called the brotherhood of blood, guarded by the 'Executioner's' Chariot. On the other hand the Blue sentinels (the only blue invader covenant) is guarded by Ornstein. All of which seems just oddly specific for a coincedence of this level. It is oddly fitting that Navlaan sells equipment from a disease controlling Black Witch when in DSIII Gwyndolin is mentioned to have fallen 'ill' by Yorshka. What can be confirmed however is that at some point Gwyndolin fell 'ill' and Aldritch consumed Gwyndolin eventually after having Sulyvahn feed Gwyndolin to Aldritch. The last knight to remain at the Ruined Cathedral was Executioner Smough. There are still plenty of questions to be answered surrounding what Vendrick was so affraid of. Perhaps Vendrick feared a long drawn out conflict he was about to face (or more like his forces since Vendrick disappeared to the Undead Crypt). It could have been influenced by Nashandra, but without knowing what 'great threat' Nashandra 'warned' Vendrick about there is little to go by. Also, who was the true architect behind all this? There might be too many boxes to check for now.

Kamui

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kamuy

Kamui is perhaps better known as one of the Blackhand. The Blackhand belong under the secret pillar of Hunters whom directly serve the King(Oceiros). They exist similar to assassins and weed out dangers to the crown that the other pillars can not. Perhasp, if the normal three pillars serve the established law the fourth pillar perhaps serves to assassinate those protected by the law. Those who are 'special', gods, relatives or descendants of royalty, those whose death if made public, would soil the reputation of the crown, those if connected to doing of royal forces could instigate a war. It might be not so surprising Eastern spooks known as Shadows were sent after Oceiros in order to assassinate him. Kamui is already different from this aspect because he does not serve the king but is assigned to the prince(Lothric). In the game it is scrypted so that if the player kills all the other Lords of Cinder something noticable happens. A corpse with visible weapons of Kamui can be found but actually yields items of Gotthard instead, mentioning how Gotthard fled the castle (arguably anticipating the arrival of the unkindled).

Kamui was known for his swords Onikiri and Ubadachi. Kamui or Kamuy is a term used in Ainu mythology and while similar in use to spirits and gods Kamuy serve more nuanced purposes. Splitting the name Kamui has rather divided outcomes with no consistent seemingly reasonable ways to read the possible intentions behind it. Japanese symbols are possibly the wises to examine when working with kamui. However, Kamuis name not part of the goalpost of this topic so it is possible that this will be done another time.

In context with the giant oni mentioned by the Onislayer Greatbow it might be interesting to know that Onikiri means 'oni cutter'. Perhaps Kamui adapted both the sword and bow at some point. It could be that tales of oni slaying reached the castle of Lothric after which Kamui was recruited for the Blackhand.

In context with Greyrat and Loretta it might perhaps be interesting to know that Ubadachi means 'old lady sword' or 'old lady cutter'. Since this second sword was forged (by kamui) at the Undead Settlement; a place where Greyrat mentioned Loretta to reside; one may wonder if it was Kamui whom killed Loretta. In the series one does not read a lot about those who forge their own equipment.

Gertrude

Gertrude is mentioned as being part of the angelic faith of Lothric. Gertrude is 'said to be' another one of Gwyneveres daughters, but no confirmation is given. It is difficult finding any additional clues as to her exact parentage, but it can be wise looking at the components that make up her name. Gertrude derives from 'gaizaz'(spear) and 'trut(maiden/dear)/trutito(strength)'. So arguably her name can be read as 'Spear Maiden'. The series of Dark Souls knows two famous spear wielders, Sir Yorgh and Dragonslayer Ornstein (and Patches if he counts). Gertrude is said to have been visited by an 'angel'. The name 'Sinh' can be written as a single Hebrew letter. When that letter is moved to Arabic it reads as Samekh. Samekh, also known as Samael was the Angel of Death. Pilgrim angels are perhaps their own thing, but there is little information given who it was that Gertrude exactly met. Those who played DSII Crown of the Sunken King might recall how the pursuet of wisdom or truth was one of the main motivations for the seige on Shulva. When examining both the Slumbering Dragon Shield and the Slumbering Dragoncrest Ring there is mention of how from the beginning important places like Oolacile and Vinheim were founded on the false premise of honor and truth. Admitting Sinh was an object of worship would have amounted to something that challenged the pillars of Lothric, in particular the Scholar. Let alone the fact that the real balance between the Priestess, the Scholar and the Knight could easily be questioned by the existence of the Hunter, the fourth pillar. Ironically the most heretic belief in Lothrics belief in dragons was perhaps the belief in another dragon.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Eleonora_(short_story)

https://www.reddit.com/r/DarkSouls2/comments/45py8x/nameeleum_loyce/

After looking into all these children of Gwynevere it remains a point of question why there are no mentions of Rendal/Faraam names. While there is nothing denoting that a name based around a knight king marriage would force Gwynevere to to do the same, perhaps there are second considerations to be made. Perhaps the idea is just so monstrously outrageous that it had to be inaccurate. Perhaps for all the fertility Gwynevere had attributed to her on that note maybe Rendal/Faraam was not up for the task. On the other hand the Eleonora suggests that Alsanna actually had children, but it is not mentioned with whom. Eleonora is comprised of the Provencal 'eleo'(Baltic/Scandanavion/Germanian) Latin 'alia'(from eleo)(the other) and onora(aenor)(riches/fameous) or anor(sun) if going by Tolkien standards. So it suggests a name like 'the other sun'. But perhaps the best source might be the short story of the same name Eleonora from Edgar Allan Poe. The wiki page on the book is fascinating in granting more insight what this 'madness' in Dark Souls might have been about. It is not determined if madness is 'not the loftiest form of intelligence'. Perhaps a reference to parallel how Lordran was founded on the ire of sinh and destruction of Shulva, by the honorable(lofty) Sir Yorgh. Coming with themes of creating a paradise around someone elses death, something that describes the creation of Lordran over Shulva very well. (If one were to take the land of the ancient lords/gods as a measure for heaven that is.) Maybe Eleum Loyce also lends some contribution to this, but overall it seem Eleum Loyce inspires from a mixture of Latin and Slavic with the Latin as a basis to turn Ileum (twisted) in to a slightly similar sounding Eleum(twisted) + Loyce(laws) = 'twisted laws'. Perhaps this is how Faraam and Alsanna communicated, that Alsanna would be forgiven if she found another lover after Faraams death and that it was fine if she contributed to a new place. But perhaps it would be best to not get involved in relationships between to lovers.

Mother of Gwynevere

As for Gwyneveres parents (particular her mother) it is difficult to get a firm grasp on potential background of potential partners of Gwyn for the oldest daughter. My best bet would be Elizabeth. For as far as the Dried Roots provide a measure for whom the trees is, perhaps the effect of the Dried Root is intentionally similar to the Elizabeth Mushroom. They can be obtained from killing the Pagan Tree of Shulva. While on first glance the shrooms and the roots only appear to share hp recovery properties it is also obtained in the same direction. (For as far as Lanafir indeed corresponds with the Oolacile). Gwyneveres spells are known for their 'warm' properties. It could be for this reason that such a spell as Warmth can be obtained below the Curse-Rotted Greatwood as another healing over time spell. Gwyneveres spells are associated with warmth and maybe the answer really was just this simple. Sadly many items and effects share 'warmth' and 'heat' as attributes or properties, which is also the immediate downfall of this singular perspective. Part of why the choice was made to mention this so late was to show some other directions from which the Pagan Tree and Greatwood would fall into perspective as well. Another, perhaps much weaker argument is the name(s) of the Emerald Herald(s). In DSII Shanalot reveals her name relatively late with no real background information as to why to hide it in the first place. Shanalotte could originate from the childrens book 'Lottie and Lisa' by Erich Kastner. They (twins) are called Shanalotte and Luiselotte in the German version. In the Japanese version of the game the Herald refers to her 'manifestation' as 'bunshin' which can mean copy or 'clone' and from a genetic perspective there is something to say that genetically identical twins are also considered clones. It may seem like a stretch but for as far as Lisalotte/Lizalot is real one can argue that this name may have been influenced by the name Elizabeth(Liza-Beth+Lot-hian). Now some would argue that this is wrong because Luise derives from Louise and not Lisa, but for this measure the designers might have favored the English version of these childrens book figures. This is about as much as one can find as to arguments why Elizabeth could be Gwyneveres mother.

Edit: The Muse

https://www.greekmyths-greekmythology.com/nine-muses-in-greek-mythology/

In DSII a sidequest granted by Royal Sorcerer Navlaan involves assassination assignments. One of them includes killing Shanalot in which she is referred to as the 'muse'. In Greek mythology the nine muses came to be from Zeus sleeping with the young woman Mnemosyne for (also) nine nights. Likening Gwyn with Zeus and Gwynevere with Mnemosyne portrays another narrative of forewarning. The muses assisted in creation, imagination and inspiration. There can be drawn some parallels with the myth of Myrrha sleeping repeatedly with her father and siring children together.

[split: part 2/3?]

Alastor, the Spirit of Solitude

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Alastor,_or_The_Spirit_of_Solitude

Alastor, or the Spirit of Solitude is a poem by Percy Bysshe Shelley. The poem is not being written from the perspective of a writer controlling the world of the individual. Instead the poem is written from the perspective of the individual being controlled. Alastor, the Spirit of Solitude is architecting the downfall of the individual. Basically the poet drowns himself for the sake of his evil spritit entity, with themes like the blackness, the deep and eternal youth and life.

The poet wanders the lands in search of strange truths in undiscovered lands. Basically the Middle East. The poet rejects an Arab Maiden because she does not reflect his idea of the ideal woman. Instead the poet imagines or dreams of a 'veiled maid', not a maid that is wearing a veil but a veil that is doing the conceiling of the maid. This veil creates a supernatural world, more tempting than the real thing. The veil separates the natural and supernatural for the poet and the same goes for the spirit and the element of human love. As the poet attempts to touch his idea by touching the veil his vision/dream is swallowed by blackness.

The poet seeks to reunite with the supernatural nature of his dream but can not achieve this because the natural world draws him back through his senses. Because he realizes that the senses always draw him back from the supernatural world he seeks he contemplats if death is the only way to escape back towards the supernatural again.

The poet notices shallop(a small boat) and decides to let himself drift off in a fast flowing river. As he drifts off further and further towards the source of the natural world (the water). Parallels are drawn between the surface tension keeping the boat afloat and how the supernatural world holds the changeability of nature and man.

As the poets senses grow duller his imagination grows more towards the supernatural spirit. Instead of sensing the spirit the poet percieves the spirit through fading images of the objects he encounters in nature. As the boat flows towards an immeasurable void(presumably dangerous waters) the poet considers himself ready to reach the supernatural again.

As the poet reaches the deepest chasm his last sight is of the moon. Then the poet finally meets the supernatural world. As the image fades from the mind the supernatural world becomes attainable. The death of the poet leads to his idea of an ideal world free of decay and change.

Allan Edgar Poe

For now this topic called part1 simply due me not always knowing if finding a name or concept in the game will result in another piece of short stories or literature pieces.

Sadly I am not really sure how to link certain parts of wiki articles that include links. Usually there is a preference to write a summary according to own understanding. These are intended to display that page links/sources are NOT posted for pure convenience of the writer to let the reader do all the work but to also SHOW some level of ones own time investment to make everything more convenient to read through. Help on this matter would be welcome.

[ ]

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Edgar_Allan_Poe

[ ]

Edgar Allan Poe (/poʊ/; born Edgar Poe; January 19, 1809 – October 7, 1849) was an American writer, editor, and literary critic. Poe is best known for his poetry and short stories, particularly his tales of mystery and the macabre. He is widely regarded as a central figure of Romanticism in the United States and of American literature as a whole, and he was one of the country's earliest practitioners of the short story. He is generally considered the inventor of the detective fiction genre and is further credited with contributing to the emerging genre of science fiction.[1] He was the first well-known American writer to earn a living through writing alone, resulting in a financially difficult life and career.[2]

[ ]

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Raven

[ ]

"The Raven" follows an unnamed narrator on a dreary night in December who sits reading "forgotten lore" by a dying fire [6] as a way to forget the death of his beloved Lenore. A "tapping at [his] chamber door"[6] reveals nothing, but excites his soul to "burning".[7] The tapping is repeated, slightly louder, and he realizes it is coming from his window. When he goes to investigate, a raven flutters into his chamber. Paying no attention to the man, the raven perches on a bust of Pallas above the door.

Amused by the raven's comically serious disposition, the man asks that the bird tell him its name. The raven's only answer is "Nevermore".[7] The narrator is surprised that the raven can talk, though at this point it has said nothing further. The narrator remarks to himself that his "friend" the raven will soon fly out of his life, just as "other friends have flown before"[7] along with his previous hopes. As if answering, the raven responds again with "Nevermore".[7] The narrator reasons that the bird learned the word "Nevermore" from some "unhappy master" and that it is the only word it knows.[7]

Even so, the narrator pulls his chair directly in front of the raven, determined to learn more about it. He thinks for a moment in silence, and his mind wanders back to his lost Lenore. He thinks the air grows denser and feels the presence of angels, and wonders if God is sending him a sign that he is to forget Lenore. The bird again replies in the negative, suggesting that he can never be free of his memories. The narrator becomes angry, calling the raven a "thing of evil" and a "prophet".[8] Finally, he asks the raven whether he will be reunited with Lenore in Heaven. When the raven responds with its typical "Nevermore", he is enraged, and, calling it a liar, commands the bird to return to the "Plutonian shore"[8]—but it does not move. Presumably at the time of the poem's recitation by the narrator, the raven "still is sitting"[8] on the bust of Pallas. The narrator's final admission is that his soul is trapped beneath the raven's shadow and shall be lifted "Nevermore".[8]

[ ]

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Eleonora_(short_story)

[ ]

The story follows an unnamed narrator who lives with his cousin and aunt in "The Valley of the Many-Colored Grass", an idyllic paradise full of fragrant flowers, fantastic trees, and a "River of Silence". It remains untrodden by the footsteps of strangers and so they live isolated but happy.

After living like this for fifteen years, "Love entered" the hearts of the narrator and his cousin Eleonora. The valley reflected the beauty of their young love:

The passion which had for centuries distinguished our race... together breathed a delirious bliss over the Valley of the Many-Colored Grass. A change fell upon all things. Strange, brilliant flowers, star-shaped, burst out upon the trees where no flowers had been known before. The tints of the green carpet deepened; and when, one by one, the white daisies shrank away, there sprang up in place of them, ten by ten of the ruby-red asphodel. And life arose in our paths; for the tall flamingo, hitherto unseen, with all gay flowing birds, flaunted his scarlet plumage before us.

Eleonora, however, was sick — "made perfect in loveliness only to die". She does not fear death, but fears that the narrator will leave the valley after her death and transfer his love to someone else. The narrator emotionally vows to her, with "the Mighty Ruler of the Universe" as his witness, to never bind himself in marriage "to any daughter of Earth".

After Eleonora's death, however, the Valley of the Many-Colored Grass begins to lose its lustre and warmth. The narrator chooses to leave to an unnamed "strange city". There, he meets a woman named Ermengarde and, without guilt, marries her. Eleonora soon visits the narrator from beyond the grave and grants her blessings to the couple. "Thou art absolved", she says, "for reasons which shall be made known to thee in Heaven."

[ ]

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Conversation_of_Eiros_and_Charmion

[ ]

Two people, who have been renamed Eiros and Charmion after death, discuss the manner in which the world ended. Eiros, who died in the apocalypse, explains the circumstances to Charmion, who died ten years previously:

A new comet is detected in the solar system; comets are well understood by astronomers, who believe that, being very tenuous, they could have no effect on the Earth, and are not related to ancient prophecies of the destruction of the world. Astronomers calculate that the comet is approaching the Earth; as it does so, they study it, and people increasingly take an interest.

When it is almost upon Earth, people experience exhilaration, which is at first assumed to be relief that the comet has no harmful effects; but this is followed by pain and delirium; it is as though the ancient prophecies, once dismissed by astronomers, have been confirmed. This effect on people's behavior is discovered to be caused by the loss of nitrogen from the atmosphere, leaving pure oxygen, which finally bursts into flame when the comet nucleus hits.

[ ]

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mordred

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Questing_Beast

Arturian legend is a thing but sadly not something that is either very consistent, reliable as a source or easy to refer to. For this reason the choice was made to write about only a few core aspects about Arturian legend and not everything. Chances are there will be much more to be found or be used in the future. The goal for now is to stick to something that is coherent to what will be used for future topics.

Arthur is at some point set to hunt a monster called the Questing-Beast or Barking Beast and upon his journey he has an affair with princess Morgause. He does not know that Morgause is daughter of King Lot and his half-sister at this point. Morgause gets pregnant with Mordred from this affair. And after his affair Arthur falls asleep experiencing the destruction of his kingdom and his own death in his dreams.

Upon waking up Arthur encounters the Barking Beast he set out to slay. After killing the beast Merlin informs Artur that the beast was born from a woman out of an incesteous relationship with her brother. The whole ordeal is oddly unsettling of course. After this Arthur is at some point granted a divinition that a child would be born among May that would be destined to kill him in battle. Arthur is set on averting this desperate fate of course.

Arthur orders the so-called May-Day-Massacre. Infants are taken from their homes and slain in large numbers for the sheer risk of potentially being the child of prophecy. Even his knights are confused and desillusioned by all the killing but treat the matter as a neccesary evil. Somewhere newborns are set on ships and killed upon arriving upon destination. Mordred however, fell off a ship as a child and drifted off as by some miracle made it out alive.

Mordred grows up unaware of his destiny, but as a capable young knight even managing to become part of Arthurs round table. However, after Mordred grows up he eventually finds out who he is by a prophesy of a priest. But to prevent Arthur from fully hearing a divinition revealing his identity he kills the priest before he can share the information with Arthur. Lancelot is revealed to have had an affair with Gwenevere(Arthurs wife) and Mordred uses this information to his advantage to instigate a war, but also leading to the death of Gwenevere. Mordred and Arthur meet again upon the battlefield peace negotiations fail. Mordred proofs a far superior fighter in kills most of Arthurs most capable men before the two clash. Mordred mortally injures Arthur as foretold, but Arthur manages to kill Mordred before succumbing to his injuries.

Judgement of Paris and Trojan War

Golden appels in Greek mythology often symbolized the immortality of gods as well as their fueds. They are commonly associated with Eris, the Goddess of Discord. The appels commonly come with a message that a group of gods think they excell at only to end up fighting over whom deserves the prize the most. Eris threw her appel among Hera, Athena and Aphrodite with the message 'for the fairest'.

Because the goddess could not decide whom truly was the fairest they decide to bring the matter to Zeus. But Zeus in turn, decided to leave the matter to Paris, prince of Troy. But even Paris had trouble deciding. And now the goddesses resorted to bribes. Each bribe reflected some basic properties of each goddess. Hera promised power of Europe and Asia (wife of Zeus). Athena offered wisdom, glory and fame in battle(goddess of war). Aphrodite on the other hand offered Paris the chance to marry the most beautifull woman on earth (goddess of love an fertility). The catch was once again that Aphrodite held a disregard for fidelity. She offered up Helen whom was already married to Menelaus to fall in love with Paris. And Paris took Helen to Troy.

Infidelity, not resting well with the betrayed husband had its consequences. Agamemnon, king of Mycenae and brother of Melenaus, led Achaean troops to Troy and besieged the city for ten years. After many heroes died including Achilles, Ajax, Hector and Paris the city fell to the famous Trojan Horse. The main problem was not the Trojan Horse. Ruses, plots and disregard for rules was a thing in warfare that most men could live with. The Achaeans went further than normal bloodshed and killed specifically the men while taking the woman and children as slaves. There is also mention of desecrating the temples, but that is best left to the imagination. Temples being a place of worship and the desecration being also a direct offense to the gods also resulted in their wrath.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Trojan_War

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Aphrodite#Judgment_of_Paris_and_Trojan_War

The Achaeans lost the bulk of their forces, but survivors founded colonies. The Romans later traced their origin back to Aeneas, son of Aphrodite. He led the survivors to modern day Italy.

Ares Hatred

Ares, god of war and son of Zeus earns himself a tough scolding to say the least. A lot of the wars participants were mortal children of Zeus. This is why Zues was particularly angry with Ares. Zeus suspected that Ares was responsible for the killing as a god of war. It also didn't work to Ares advantage that war was the domain that he governed over and that he was on the losing side. The mortal children of Zeus were not children of Hera which as a symbol of Zeus infidelity was not respected among the other gods and would have granted Ares motive to hate his father.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ares

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Beyond_the_Pleasure_Principle

https://www.bartleby.com/276/

Beyond the Pleasure Principle is a famous both contraversial as well as misunderstood work on the groundworks of psychiatry and psychology today. It handled understanding about how the brain controls the body in a more global way (between electric signals and complex signals with very precise outcomes). It was written in a time when the brains exact workings were not very well understood and research methods were not very well developed (1922). For the modern day it is an incredibly unscientific and unexact way to define how the brain handles. Language usage in these kinds of pieces is incredibly complex because psychoanalysis relied on principles that were difficult to express without respecting as much as people understood compared to what they for the much larger part did.

Sigmund Freud writes about the Eros(Live drives) and Thanatos(Death drives) and the whole thing is very lengthy to understand but nonetheless an important source of information for fictional writing. The oedipus complex is also of mention but not part of the core principle of the essay. If language in the essay itself is a little complex for ones taste the best course of action might be to use a wiki page or ask someone with more experience with this essay.

Sigfried (Volsunga Saga)

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sigurd#V%C3%B6lsunga_saga

It is time to adress the story of Sigurd. To keep it short but still complete enough I am mixing in parts of 'Volsunga Saga'. Fafnir is son of a sorcerer king (Hreidmar), part of a household with more siblings and Regin, Otr, Lynheidr and Lofnheidr. Odin, Loki and Hoener came accross Otr during the day, mistaking him for an otter and killing him and skinning him. They are then captured by Hreidmar whom has Loki collect ransom, but Loki uses the oppertunity to turn the situation around. When Loki is ordered to collect treasure, Loki steals the treasure of Andvari. A sorcerer whom lives in a cave behind a waterfall. One notable piece of treasure is a ring that creates wealth for the one whom possesses it, and because Andvari is not pleased about having his treasure taken he places a curse on it that it causes death to whom owns this treasure.

However, Loki does not intend to keep the treasure for himself, bringing the cursed treasure in Otrs hide to trick Hreidmar. The treasure drives Fafnir mad into killing his father Hreidmar and keeping the gold for himself, which in turn turned him into a dragon. Since Fafnir was the strongest among the brothers even before becoming a dragon it might be suggested that Lynheider and Hofnheider might have simply stayed away because of fear, but they may also have died before that due the cursed gold. The smith Regin is forced to give up on the treasure and decides to foster a child named Sigurd/Sigfried.

The exact birth background of Sigurd would take a little long to explain but the short version is what will be focused on. A generation long power struggle between in-law family and main family left Sigmund and wife Hjordis. Sigmund is killed by an angry rejected suitor to Hjordis and Sigurd. Sigurd is then handed to king Hjarlprek whom leaves him in turn to be raised by Regin.

Sigurd was a heroic figure whom wanted to be recognized as princess Kriemhilds/Gudruns partner. However, her family would not allow it. Sigurd is made an offer that he could proof himself if he were to obtain the cursed treasure of andvari. So Sigurd consults his foster father Regin how to obtain this treasure.

Regin sends his foster son Sigurd to kill Fafnir, but Regin intends to kill him once Sigurd is successfull, Odin advices Sigurd in disguise how to go about killing Fafnir. The blood then grants Sigurd the ability to speak to birds and in other stories a skin that is hard like a horn. Birds were seen as beings with foresight in Norse mythology. The birds thus warned Sigurd of Regins attempt to kill him once he returns with the treasure. Thus Sigurd decides killing Regin instead of the other way around.

But once Sigurd brings back the treasure in order to marry Gudrun/Kriemhild things start to go wrong. Gudrun/Brynhilde whom is located in a fiery prison has to be saved and Gunnar/Gunther. But the prince is not up to the task. Sigurd ends up posing as Gunnar/Gunther in order to impress Brynhilde. However, once the lovers get jalous they start provoking Gudrun/Kriemhild as well whom reveals Sigurds secret. Sigurd and Gudrun/Kriemhild already have a 3 year old son named Sigmund(same as Sigurds father) at this point. When Brynhilde hears that it was Sigurd she changes her mind and wants to marry Sigurd instead, but when he rejects her Brynhilde wants Sigurd dead. Now Gunnar/Gunther decides to have his brother Guthorm kill Sigurd and his son Sigmund. Sigmund is killed first, but when Guthorm arrives at Sigmund, Sigmund manages to kill Guthorm before succumbing to his own injuries.

tips visor

https://www.greekmyths-greekmythology.com/prometheus-fire-myth/

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Heraclitus#Ancient_characterizations

Fire

According to the Greek philosiphor Heraclitus all forms of matter was interchangeable with fire. Water could become fire. Earth could become fire. Air could become fire. It was a matter of purity. He was known to speak about obscure philosophical principles and riddles. According to Heraclitus fire gave rise to all other things. He described a 'upwards-downwards-path', 'hidden harmony' and 'turnings of fire'. Water could become half of its measures in earth. Earth could become half of its measures in special air. Heraclitus claimed that the tangible world was the same for all, and that no gods or men could have made it. According to Heraclitus the world was and always will be an ever-living fire, with some kindling, some fading.

Creation of Man

Somewhere during the Greek Golden Age, one of the great Ages of Man some major power shifts occured as a consequence of Zeus and the Olympians reigning victorious over their oppressive father Cronus. The brothers Epimetheus(Hindsight) and Prometheus(Foresight) were left in charge of the creation of life, starting with animals we know today and ending with the unfortunate humans. Unfortunate, because humans were left with no natural gift that made them stand out from the other creations. Epimetheus, came to the conclusion that there was no peculiarity left to give, but only after he had given most of it already of course(hindsight). Prometheus on the other hand, he had vision(foresight) considered something else. Prometheus knew of another option. The gift of fire was one of the gods, but Prometheus saw merit in culturing men to fire. The god saw it fit to teach men about fire and share it accordingly.

Trick at Mecone

Zeus was sceptical of mankind, and ideas of Prometheus. He felt men should not forget that gods were their superior and wished for men to make offering to the gods. Humans were taught how to worship the gods by an example. This was referred to as the 'settling of accounts' between mortals and immortals. Prometheus knew the taste of Zeus. Prometheus also knew his creation the best and was therefor left with the task of showing this example. Zeus liked fatty meat from large animals. However, prometheus was of the impression that this was not fair because as immortals they required no food to survive. Hence, when asked to prepare the offering Prometheus prepared two meals of choice for Zeus to pick from. One meal was prepared from beef inside an ox stomach (tasty food with poor appearance). Another meal was prepared from bull bones wrapped in glistening fat (inedible food with tasty appearance). Depending on versions Zeus was aware of the deception, but would inevitably choose the fat wrapped bull bones. And by setting this precedent humans were spared burdening offerings. But Zeus was angered from the deception and withdrew the fire from mankind and into the heavenly courtyard. Without fire nature became barren and men starved.

Theft of Fire

Prometheus took the suffering from starving humans to heart and decided to take the fire back to mankind. And so Prometheus came up with a plan. Prometheus threw a golden pear/apple into the heavenly courtyard having written that it was ment for the most beautifull goddess of all. But ofcourse because he did not specify which goddess they started arguing over it and a spectacle ensued. The other gods considered it quite amusing and were distracted. And as the fire was unattended Prometheus took it with him in a fennel stalk/pumpkin, back to the chtonic men. This time Zeus had thoroughly enough and Zeus ordered the creation of the most malicious gift to men. The first woman, Pandora (all-gifted or all-giving).

Pandora

Pandoras roots are explained as being created by the god of Flame Hephaestus and subsequently filled with attributes by Hermes, Aphrodite, Athena, Peitho(pursuation) and the Charites(Charms) as well as the Horae(the gods of seasons). These attributes included the skill of needlework and 'to weave', grace, cruel longing and care that weary the limbs, a shameful mind and deceitful nature, and the power of speech with 'lies and crafty words'. (Although the Horae only gave her a laural wreath and the Charites were servants of Aphrodite whom also only focus on what Pandora was wearing.) Zeus gifted Pandora to Epimetheus.Prometheus warned Epimetheus, but Epimetheus would not listen.This resulted in the spread of death and disease, from the jar/box that came with her. Only 'hope' remained in the jar. Marking the end of the Golden Age.

Bound Prometheus

Punishment was not spared against Prometheus either. Prometheus was chained to a rock by Haephestus and an eagle would soar down from the sky every day and feast on his liver. And every day his liver would grow back only for the bird to return and repeat the process. The good news was that in some versions Heracles would eventually show up to kill the bird and unchain Prometheus. The bad news was that Prometheus would have to wait all the way into the Heroic Age before this would happen.

Ages of Man

The Greek Ages of Man were estimated by Saint Jerome for how long they lasted. The Golden Age lasted from 1710-1674, the Silver Age from 1674-1628, the Bronze Age from 1628-1472 and the Heroic Age from 1460-1103, with the Iron Age supposedly still ongoing until the fourth century after dato. Tough luck for Prometheus, whom had to wait at least 214 years for Heracles to bring a treatment for his bird problem. 78 110 days waiting period would be bad practice for a hospital service of this age. The immortality of a god kinda made up for that I guess.