#pre-islam persia

[zorbarsglogaboungcurture]

Persian manuscript describing how an ambassador from India, probably sent by the Maukhari King Śarvavarman of Kannauj, brought chess to the Persian court of Khosrow I.

The same scene from another manuscript.An illustration from a Persian manuscript "A treatise on chess". The Ambassadors from India present the Chatrang to Khosrow I Anushirwan, "Immortal Soul", King of Persia

From Wikipedia: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/History_of_Iran#/media/File:A_treatise_on_chess_2.jpg

[curtwilde]

i have a genuine question, what is arab colonisation? Is it a real thing? The context where I have read about it was a bigoted islamophic hindutvabadi page so I don't know if it's true or just part of their larger lie. Do you have any readings, sources on it?

According to Marriam Abboud Hourani, Arabization is a sociological process of cultural change in which a non-Arab society becomes Arab, meaning it either directly adopts or becomes strongly influenced by the Arabic language and culture. After the rise of Islam in Hejaz, there were a series of conquests in the Middle East and North Africa, after which the Rashidun Caliphate, the first Muslim empire was established. Arab culture spread through the Middle East and North Africa along with the spread of Islam, and in some places pre-Islamic religions and cultures were violently suppressed. These days, most Islamic countries have reconciled elements of their older traditions with Islam. The older religions survive among minorities in some places - Christians, Kurds, Ezidis and Mizrahi Jews for example and are still oppressed under some Islamic fundamentalist countries, like Iran.

Often, the term Arabization or Arab colonialism is used interchangeably with Islamic fundamentalism. On paper they mean entirely different things. However, in reality Islamic fundamentalists revere Arabic culture because the Quran was written in Arabic and events of the Quran are set in Arabia. The difference between the two is a slippery slope and I will let you decide on that.

The term colonization is such a red herring these days and is used to fit a lot of problematic narratives. It is a favourite with zionists, which is probably where these hindutvadis picked it up. And if you come across it on the internet I'd advise you to re-examine the source as they may have an anti-Muslim bias. That said, Islamic fundamentalism is very much a real thing and I wholeheartedly believe that any form of religious fundamentalism, and especially those fundamentalists that try to gain administrative and jurisdictional power for themselves, are a problem. All government and administrative bodies, across the world, should be compulsorily secular.

Now, in the context of South Asia, Arabization in it's strict meaning of the word, has nothing to do with our geopolitical history. Our Muslim rulers were all of Turkish, Afghan, and Central Asian origins with no connection to Arabia. Even culturally, elements of Indian Muslim culture can be traced back to Persia rather than Arabia; and linguistically the Persian influence on Hindi/Urdu is obvious. The term Arab colonization is often used by hindutvadis to mean the spread Islam in the subcontinent but of course they see the Islamic world as a monolith and I doubt they have the reading comprehension to know the difference even if they bothered to look it up.

Books:

The History of the Middle East by Peter Mansfield is a great place to start.

Islam, a short history by Karen Armstrong - very quick read + unbiased take on the Arab conquests.

The Arabization of Islam by Al Mubarak Nadir Shabaz

History of North Africa by Charles Andre Julien

From the holy mountain: a journey among the Christians of the Middle East by William Dalrymple

The Kurds: a contemporary history by Patrick S. Clancy

The Wretched of the Earth by Frantz Fanon for a general idea of colonization.

Mutuals if you have any other recommendations please feel free to add.

[dailyanarchistposts]

The Pahlavi Regime

The coup of February 1921 that brought General Reza Khan to power set into motion the creation of the modern centralized Iranian nation-state. The Pahlavi state should be seen alongside the other right-wing nationalist regimes that arose around this time in response to both the dissolutions brought about by WWI and the threat of the October Revolution. Reza Shah may be fruitfully compared to his contemporary in Turkey, Atatürk, as well as the models of authoritarian nationalist development seen in Germany, Italy, and Japan. As with these latter cases, the Pahlavi regime was “the product of a counter-attack by a weak capitalist class against a revolutionary movement, in a country that has slipped behind in the process of capitalist development. This class could only redress this position by repression and state-directed economic growth.”[10]

The political logic of this period can be summarized as state-building. Once the new government negotiated the withdrawal of Soviet and British troops, it moved to crush all remaining forms of opposition and centers of power. The powerful tribal armies were brought to heel, while autonomous and local powers, as well as rival officers in pursuit of power, were all crushed. A modern army capable of effectively asserting state power was assembled, followed soon after by nationwide conscription, government ID cards, the abolition of aristocratic titles, and the imposition of formal sur-names. Since the central pillars of the “new order” were a modern army and bureaucracy, the regime sought to extend the power of the state to all realms of society. Local languages were banned, and Persian was made the official language of the country. A modern educational system operating beyond the control of the clergy was established, and something similar was done with the courts, ushering in a modern legal system independent of the religious orders. Perhaps the most symbolic of these changes was the ban on the chador, which, alongside the rest of such reforms, provoked the ongoing ire of the clergy.[11]

Many reformists, and even some to their left, initially supported Reza Khan. Like the Lasalleans in support of Bismark, they thought that by supporting Reza Khan they could push through many of the reforms that ran into dead ends when employing exclusively democratic channels. In 1925, the Qajar Dynasty was abolished, but unlike Attaturk, who founded a republic, the following year he crowned himself Reza Shah Pahlavi and founded a new dynasty.[12] Reza Shah continued solidifying his rule with an iron fist. The regime promoted a chauvinistic nationalist ideology that appealed to the imperial glories of pre-Islamic Persia. The state in this period can be best summarized as a monarchical-military dictatorship.

While the environment was repressive, the industrialisation projects of this era increased the size and importance of the working class, within which communists organized successful union drives. This culminated in 1929, when a massive strike broke out at the Abadan oil refinery complex, which was under the ownership and control of the Anglo-Iranian Oil Company. The strike shook the ruling classes in both Iran and Britain, and served not only as a key event in the history of the working class movement in Iran, but also as a test for the state’s ability to maintain social order. The government responded with a great show of force, ratcheting up repression against communists. In 1931, a new law was enacted that criminalized the teaching and promotion of “communist” ideologies, banned trade unions, made striking illegal, and initiated a new wave of repression of socialist activists and intellectuals were imprisoned.[13]

Although the Pahlavi state enjoyed a degree of independence from the dominant classes, this also tended indirectly to facilitate the latter’s rule. Under both Pahlavi Shahs, it was through the state that capitalist development and industrialization took place. It was through the state that the modern capitalist class was consolidated and expanded, a fact that would remain no less true under the current day Islamic Republic. In many respects, it could be argued that both the Pahlavi regime and the Islamic Republic share features with the imperial state of Napoleon III after the coup of 1852: the latter built a state that was relatively autonomous from the ruling classes, yet which was in the end to the benefit of those classes as a whole, having “destroyed the political domination of the bourgeoisie only to preserve its social domination.”[14]

The reign of Reza Shah came to an end with World War Two. In the intervening years, the Iranian regime grew closer to the axis powers, particularly Germany, with whom it had affinities both political and ideological. The number of German advisors, engineers, and workers had increased greatly. When Germany invaded the Soviet Union in 1941, the Allies wanted to use Iran to send weapons from the Persian Gulf to the Russian front. When Reza Shah refused, the Allies promptly invaded and occupied the country. Reza Shah abdicated in favor of his young son, Muhammad Reza, and lived the rest of his life in exile.

The Allied invasion of 1941, which caused the fall of Reza Shah’s dictatorship, opened up a period of popular political mobilization and activity. Political prisoners were released, trade unions reconstituted themselves, and political parties began to come into shape. While the invasion caused the fall of Reza Shah, the Allies still maintained the state, particularly the monarchy and the military. The Allies would occupy Iran until after the end of the war, with once again the Soviets occupying the north and the British occupying the south. This is also the beginning of the American involvement in Iran, with a military mission sent to Iran to rebuild the army.

When the communist prisoners were released a core of them founded the Tudeh [masses] Party, which would be the official pro-Moscow communist party in Iran. The party had a democratic-populist platform and attracted many intellectuals and middle-class elements. It was also a major presence among the industrial working class, organizing what would be by the end of the decade the largest trade union confederation in the Middle East.

After the war, Iran would be the stage for the confrontation of many social struggles, as well as the first conflict of the cold war. In 1946, the Soviets continued to occupy the north after the agreed upon allied withdrawal. Two autonomous republics were founded in Mahabad and Azerbaijan under the protection of the Red Army. At the same time, a number of communists were included in the post-war coalition government. The Soviets withdrew their forces, and the imperial army moved in with great repression. The communists were also pushed from government, as would be the case with the fall of the coalition governments of France and Italy in 1947. This was the first victory of the new US-Iran military alliance that had begun during the war.

Following the Second World War, the movement for Iranian national independence experienced an upsurge, focused on the demand to nationalize Iranian oil. At the center of this surge was the National Front, led by Dr. Muhammad Mossadegh, who soon gained a mass following and was made Prime Minister in 1951. The National Front was not a party with a single ideology, but an alliance of various parties united around national independence through the oil question. When parliament voted to nationalize the oil industry, the British reacted immediately by imposing an economic blockade on Iran. The result was a great strain on the economy and a major increase in social tensions. The Tudeh Party was increasingly showing their strength. The United States feared that the uncertain situation would create an opportunity for Tudeh to seize power. This was the beginning of the successful coup by pro-Shah rightist military generals in 1953.[15]

The 1953 coup closed the door on the social movements that had opened up with WW2. The period that followed was one of severe repression. The coup would solidify the position of the Shah and the military against all rivals and competing sources of power. It also established the United States as the dominant imperialist power, supplanting the British. The main weight of the repression came against the communists in the Tudeh Party. The party’s network was rooted out and the trade union confederation destroyed. Many militants were imprisoned, executed, or went into exile. It was in order to facilitate this new order that the US helped the regime set up a new secret police force, the Organization for Information and Security of the Country, known commonly by its Persian acronym, SAVAK. Its name would come to be synonymous with repression and torture under the Shah’s dictatorship.

[losthistoryblog]

Dastangoi: The Art of Storytelling

Dastangoi is an Urdu storytelling art. Derived from Persia. Dastangoi is performed by one person who's referred to as a Dastango, the word for storyteller. Stories are referred to as Dastans. Dastan means, tale or story and the suffix -goi makes it a verb. Hence, Dastangoi translates to "to tell a story"

Dastangoi had it's origins in pre-Islamic Arabia and moved onto Iran and then the North Indian cities of Delhi and Lucknow in the 18th century.

It was very popular in Lucknow, across all classes of people and in public and private. It was done in the streets, in homes and even opium dens. Many people saw Dastans as a key part of the the experience in an opium den

Some people, who were particularly rich would hire Dastangos to entertain their clients and friends. These stories would come under themes such as, war, pleasure, beauty, love and deception.

Dastangoi enjoyed a revitalisation in India in 2005, which seemed to have stemmed from Mahmood Farooqui

[augustsappho]

'Luxury Foods' in Medieval Islamic Societies by David Waines from World Archaeology, Vol. 34, No. 3, Luxury Foods (Feb., 2003)

"We may begin with the work entitled The Meadows of Gold written by the famous historian al-Mas'udi (d. AD 956). He was born in Baghdad and died in Cairo, having, in between, travelled widely in Persia and India in addition to Iraq, Palestine and Syria. The Meadows of Gold contains a number of anecdotes related to food. One involves the Abbasid Caliph, Harun al-Rashid (d. AD 809), of 1001 Arabian Nights fame. He was invited to dine by his brother Ibrahim b. al-Mahdi (d. AD 853), a noted poet and culinary expert, of whom more later.

Harun was served a dish of what appeared to be small and delicate slices of fish arranged in the shape of a fish. When informed that the dish was made from more than 150 fish tongues, the Caliph demanded to know its price and commanded that an equivalent of 1000 silver dirhams be distributed to the poor. This was in expiation, he said, for his brother's wastefulness. Moreover, he ordered a servant to take the fish on its plate, itself an expensive item worth five times as much as the fish preparation, and give it to the first beggar he met in the street.

A second anecdote involves another Caliph, al-Mutawakkil (d. AD 861), who was relaxing one day with his courtiers and singers beside one of the many canals that traversed Baghdad. He smelled the aroma of cooking drifting from a pot being prepared by a sailor on his boat. The Caliph ordered the pot - a beef sikbaj, a sweet and sour stew dish, brought immediately to him. The Caliph sampled the stew with a piece of bread, as did his courtiers and singers, until the pot was empty. He then ordered the pot filled with 2000 dirhams and returned to the boat; the coins that did not fit into the pot were placed in a pouch and given directly to the cook. In the Caliph's judgement the dish was the best sikbaj he had ever tasted."

I found this excerpt incredibly lovely and highly recommend you check out the whole thing on JSTOR (free to access when you make an account but also on scihub). Doing a short article review on it for my Global Connections module - covering Islamic history briefly has really touched me especially when I covered it quite begrudgingly as a child/pre-teen through Saturday-Sunday school. It was always a tug of war with my mother to make me go until at 16 I finally just refused outright and there was nothing she could do. Admittedly out of all the classes taught at the mosque Tahrikh and Seerah always engaged me. I'm glad I can revisit it with a warm heart and with no expectation to be something I'm not so I can love share and appreciate it with fresh eyes.

[fae7899]

Who was the founder of the first central government in Iran? The founder of the first central government in Iran dates back to the Achaemenid period by Cyrus the Great. Achaemenid Cyrus was crowned in 550 BC and established the first central government in Iran.

The origin of the name Iran The country of Iran was not called "Iran" from the beginning and was known by the names of Persia, Pars and Pers among others. Saeed Nafisi suggested the word "Iran" instead of "Persia" in January 1313 AH. The naming initially caused opposition. Because the politicians considered "Persia" as an international name that was familiar among all types. The supporters of this naming also considered the term "Iran" as the best name to describe the political authority and cultural background of this country.

In 1314 AH, based on the circular of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Iran and the request of the then government of Reza Shah, the word "Iran" was officially used to name the country and replace other names. Professor Arthur Upham Pope, an American Iranologist, writes in the book Masterpieces of Iranian Art translated by Parviz Natal Khanleri: The word "Iran" was used for the plateau and geographical functions of Iran in the first millennium BC.

According to Mohammad Moin, the great Iranian writer, the origin of the word "Arya" is so clear that the eastern part of Indo-Europe considers themselves proud of this name. Indo-Iranian common ancestors also introduced themselves with this name and named their country as "Iran-Oejah".

Pre-Islamic era in Iranian history The pre-Islam era, which includes various events in the history of Iran, includes the time period before the arrival of the Aryans, that is, the rule of Elam until the end of the Sassanid rule and the arrival of the Arabs in Iran. According to historical sources, before the Aryans entered Iran, the Elamites lived as a native dynasty in the Iranian plateau.

The Elam dynasty was formed in the southwestern region of the Iranian plateau around 3,000 years BC, and they named their territory "Hatmati". The rule of Elam expanded during the period of the famous kings of this dynasty, and they dominated parts of Mesopotamia (Mesopotamia) in addition to southwestern Iran.

Whenever the Elamites gained more power, they played an important role in the Middle River politics. They overcame Sumer around 2,000 BC and completely subjugated the Mesopotamia. Historians divide the political history of Elam into three periods:

Ancient Elam, Middle Elam and New Elam

The migration of Aryans to the Iranian plateau

In the third period of the rule of Elam, the Medes, as a group of Aryans, established their power in the northwest of Iran and took control of that part of Iran. The Parthians (Ashkanians) and the Persians (Achaemenians and their successors, who were called the Sasanians) were two other Aryan tribes who formed a government in the Iranian plateau after the Medes. There are many theories about the ethnicity, race and migration of Aryans and their entry into Iran, which are the source of disagreement among scholars and have not yet reached a single conclusion about them. Some consider Siberia as the origin of Aryans and believe that they entered the Iranian plateau from there.

The post-Islam era in Iranian history

Yazdgerd III, the last Sassanid king, was defeated by the Arabs and left Iran to them. "Rostam Farrokhzad" was defeated by the Arabs in the battle of Qadisiyah (636 AD) and lost his life despite his bravery. He organized his forces and was defeated by the Arabs in the war that took place in Nahavand (642 AD). Yazdgerd fled to the East with his family and was killed near Merv. With the death of Yazdgerd III, his empire fell in 651 AD.According to the book "Two Centuries of Silence" by "Abd al-Hossein Zarinkoub", some Iranians were not satisfied with the arrival of Arabs in the country and continued to adhere to the Zoroastrian religion. Zoroastrian Iranians paid tribute to music during this period. According to Zarinkoob, Iranians do not accept Islam with open arms and during this time, they were fighting with the Arabs in the corners and sides of Iran in order to advance them. On the other hand, Shahid Motahari criticized Zarinkoub in his book "Mutual Services of Islam and Iran" and did not consider his opinion to be scientific. He believes that Iranians accepted Islam with open arms.

The land of Iran gradually surrendered to the Arabs and only Tabaristan and Gilan maintained their independence by resisting. During this period, government powers did not rule in Iran and local governments have power in some parts of Iran.

The domination of Arabs over Iran caused their culture to be revealed in Iran, and with the beginning of independent Islamic governments in Iran, the Hijri lunar calendar, the foundations of historians in writing the history of Iran, was published.

contemporary history

World War II brought chaos to Iran and Reza Shah resigned from the throne. Mohammad Reza succeeded his father in 1320 AH (1941 AD). The creation of the 14th Parliament, the nationalization of the oil industry, the withdrawal of Soviet forces from Iran after the end of World War II, the August 28 coup, the Baghdad Pact, and the formation of the Iranian National Front were among the most important events of this period.

With the formation of the Islamic Revolution in 1357 AH (1978 CE), the life of Pahlavi rule ended and the Islamic Republic replaced it.

[enyafans4communism]

i enjoy absolute freedom every day i have a bed to sleep on a toilet to shit in and a statutory right to a place within walls and roof to protect me from the increasingly cold weather i can choose what to eat and how to dress and im studying for my desired profession whilst deepening the knowledge in my personal interests (for free) no one can force me to become their in house sex slave maid or the mother to their children i can pick up books without fee from the library i can take a walk in the park or through the natural reserve i can go swimming i can do a pilates routine on youtube i can read every entry on the stanford encyclopaedia of philosophy i can delve into a wikipedia rabbit hole on pre-islamic religious practices in greater persia i do not only have enough money to satisfactorily cover my basic needs but i also have a lot left to spend on all the things i don’t require to live but the things that gild my existence so much despite their meaninglessness. i feel immense gratitude.

[star-arcana]

Prince of Persia The Lost Crown Immortals Showcase Nr#3: Artaban, The Calm & Brooding Sword-Master!!!

Hello everyone, I am here once again to introduce here the third Immortal from the upcoming new title in the series called Prince of Persia, The Lost Crown! Today I will show you a true warrior at heart with a kind and gentle soul, this warrior's name? Artaban!

Artaban is a sword-master, but he is also competent in the arts of patience, virtue, diplomacy and preparedness that, in his case, is actually over-preparedness.

His sharp mind and big heart makes him an invaluable asset to the Immortals, who all could learn from his wisdom in battle and beyond, especially Sargon, who would need to take a few steps back and learn from the best, especially about diplomacy and peace!

A really great thinker and fighter, he really believes strongly in the Zoroastrianism.[The former predominant fate of Persia until Islam replaced it. It still exists as a religion today in much smaller numbers around the world and, amongst other things, views life as a battle between the good god Ormazd/Ahura Mazda and the evil god known as Ahriman/Angra Mainyu...which kind of is like with in Islam with Allah and Shaitan...but this isn't a religion session, so take it as a rather brief summary here] A faith that shaped his virtues personality and could make him in addition to his other traits, a Zoroastrian paragon!!! A Holy Warrior fighting for Ormazd and his Kingdom of Persia!!!

He is also fond of making outside of battle and pre-combat poems that will touch your heart with the sweetest of poems, but only if you are lucky to see it!!!

His big sword is a large testament to his fighting prowess and his big cerebral approach to combat (and life) allows it to be put to good use! Artaban show us, that the size of a warrior's sword tells us a lot about the size of their heart!!!

He really is that type of Paragon!!! The pinnacle of heroism!!!

Will Artaban be a good example to his Immortals and lead them to the road of justice, or will all fall down in the domains of darkness and perish forever? Find out in The Lost Crown, the next Prince of Persia game, coming in 18th January and before, on 11th January the same month as free demo on the Switch, Xbox One/Series X|S, PS4/5 and PC!!!

Stay tuned for more, cuz tomorrow, you will see more Immortals coming to the mix, just before the demo!!! Bye and have good luck on your journey!!! See ya!

As an interesting trivia...on Twitter has the official's game account revealed that after 2 hours, Sargon ravishes the enemies now with little diff...wanna check that out here:

[seewetter]

Mythic Creatures by Region & Culture

Part 8: Asia and South Pacific

The Mesopotamian entries are often culture-specific and I'll need to sort them into their respective regions in future.

allegedly Asian

Barometz; Salamander

Smaller Entries:

Akathaso, Burma, tree spirit; Barmanou, Pakistan; Benzaiten; Churel; Creatures of Azerbaijan; Dab Hmong; Dakhanavar Armenian; Ḍākinī; Death; Landlord Deities; Mountain God; Peacock Princess; Sin-you; Sky Fox; Teng; Tenghuang; Xeglun Tungusic Ainu

Akkorokamui; Amemasu; Hoyau; Kenas-unarpe; Korpokkur; Mintuci Cambodia; Koan Kroach nightmare fuel; Kting voar also Vietnam; Mrenh kongveal

China

Ao; Ao Guang; Azure Lung; Bai Lung Ma; Bai Suzhen; Bai Ze; Bao Si; Bashe; Bi Fang bird; Bixi; Black Tortoise; Boto_and_Dolphin_Spirits; Cangjie; Chang; Chi; Chinas; Chinese guardian lions; Chinese Monkey Creatures; Chinese serpent killed by Li Ji; Chinese Souls; Chiwen; Chiyou; City God; Daji; Dēnglung; Dilung; Diting; Dogs in Chinese mythology; Dong Yong and the Seventh Fairy; Dǒumǔ; Dragon turtle; Fangfeng; Fangxiangshi; Feilian; Feilung; Feng; Fènghuáng; Fengli; Flying Horse of Gansu; Four Perils; Fox Spirit; Fuxi; Fuzanglung; Fuzhu; Gangcheori; Ghosts in Chinese culture; Gonggong; Guang yi ji; Hairen; He-He Er Xian; Hong; Hòutǔ; Hun and po; Hundun; Huodou; Húxiān; Jiangshi; Jiaolung; Jin Chan; Jinmenju also Japanese; Jiutian Xuannü; Jiutou Zhiji Jing; Jiuweihu; Jué yuán (Japanese version Jueyuan); King Father of the East; Kitchen God; Kuafu; Kui; Lake Tianchi Monster; Luan; Luduan; Lung; Lungma; Lungmu; Magpie Bridge; Magu; Menshen; Mo; Mogwai; Momu; Moon Rabbit; Nian; Nine-headed bird; Nüba; Nüwa; Pangu; Panhu; Panlung; Peng; Penghou; Pig Dragon; Pipa Jing; Pixiu; Pulao; Qianlima also Korean; Qilin; Qingji; Qingniao; Qiulung; Queen Mother of the West; Sanshi; Sha Wujing; Shangyang; Shen; Shen_clam_monster; Shenlung; Shi Dog; Shuimu; Spirit Turtle; Stone Sentinel Maze; Swan Maiden Yao; Taotie; The Governor of Nanke; The Painted Skin; The Nine Peahens and the Golden Apples; Three-legged crow also Japanese and Korean; Tianguo; Tianlung; Tianma; Tu'er Shen; Tubo; Tudigong; Unicorn; Watersheep (see Vegetable Lamb of Tartary); Vermillion Bird; Wangliang; White Tiger; World Turtle; Wutong Shen; Wuzhiqi; Xian; Xiangliu; Xiao; Xiezhi; Xingtian; Xirang; Yao Grass; Yāoguài; Yellow Lung; Yeren; Yeti also Tibetan and Nepali; Yinglung; Zhenniao; Zhu Bajie; Zhulung

Hittite

Annunaki; Illuyanka the equivalent of Hurrian Ḫedammu; Hittite Goddesses of Fate

Hurrian

Annunaki; Ḫedammu the equivalent of Hittite Illuyanka; Tilla; Ullikummi; Upelluri

Iran (Persia)

Akvan Div; Al but also in Mongolia, Russia, Afghanistan, Caucasus; Almas also Turkic and Mongolia; Anguiped also Greek and Roman.; Arzhang Div; Azhdaha; Chamrosh; Div; Div-e Sepid; Fulad-zereh; Gochihr; Griffon; Huma bird; Karkadann allegedly lived in India and Persia; Manticore allegedly lived in India; Peri also Turkic, Islamic (and Indian?); Rakhsh; Shabrang; Shahbaz; Shahmaran Indo-Iranian and Turkic; Shahrokh; Sheshe; Simurgh; Sphinx in a wide sense; Takam; Tyger allegedly lived in Persia; Unicorn; Vegetable Lamb of Tartary the Chinese watersheep allegedly lived in Persia; Werehyena; Winged Unicorn; Zahhāk

Java

Antaboga, pre-Islamic, Hindu; Kakawin; Keong Emas; Wewe Gombel Korea; Bulgae; Chilseok; Dokkaebi; Dokkaebi bangmangi; Egg Ghost; Gasin (house god); Gunungsin; Gwisin; Haesindang Park; Inmyeonjo; Jihaguk daejeok toechi seolhwa; Korean dragon; Korean Virgin Ghost; Munshin; Namu doryeong; Pulgasari; Qianlima also Chinese; Ryong; Samsin Halmeoni; Seonangshin; Sosamsin; The Heavenly Maiden and the Woodcutter; Three-legged crow also Japanese and Chinese; Ungnyeo; Ureongi gaksi;

Mongolia

Al but also in Persia, Russia, Afghanistan, Caucasus; Almas also Iran and Turkic; Aq Bars, winged snow leopard, heraldry from 800s onwards, also Slavic; Mongolian Death Worm Myanmar; Manussiha; Nat; Nawarupa; Pyinsarupa; Sphinx in a wide sense; Thayé; Yokkaso

Nepal

Gurumāpā; Khyāh; Kichkandi; Lākhey; Murkatta; Yeti also Chinese and Tibetan

Philippines

Alan of the Tinguian people; Amalanhig of the Visayan; type of Aswang; Amomongo of the Visayan; Angalo of the Ilocano; Anggitay Philippine centauride, female Tikbalang; Anito; Aswang; Bakunawa; Bal-Bal; Batibat of the Ilocano; Berbalang of Mindanao towns; Berberoka northern Luzon; Bernardo Carpio; Bungisngis Meluz, Orion, Bataan and Batangas; Busaw; Buso Bagobo; Dalaketnon Cebuano; Ekek; Engkanto; Ibong Adarna; Kapre; Kataw; Kumakatok; Manananggal; Manaul; Mandurugo; Minokawa; Nuno sa punso; Philippine Mytic Creatures; Pugot; Sarangay; Sarimanok; Sigbin; Sirena; Siyokoy; Tigmamanukan; Tikbalang; Tiyanak; Wakwak

allegedly Scythian (rider culture, no written records, all inhabitants and creatures based on Greek reports)

Amazons, Amazons (List); Arimaspi north Scythia; Scythian genealogical myth; Scythian religion; Scythians; Tarand; Vegetable Lamb of Tartary

Taiwan

Hanitu; Mo-sin-a; Ta'ai; Tek-ko-kui

Thai

Apsonsi; Cha kla; Hatsadiling; Hemaraj; Kong Koi; Krahang; Krasue; Kuman Thong; Mae Nak Phra Khanong; Mae yanang; Nang Mai; Nang Ta-khian; Nang Tani; Nariphon; Ninlaret; Phi phong; Phi Tai Hong; Phisuea Samut; Pop (ghost); Sphinx in a wide sense; Sudsakorn; Suvannamaccha

Tibet

Gyalpo spirits; Ro-langs; Simhamukha; Snow Lion; Tibetan myth; Wind Horse; Yeti also Chinese and Nepali

Vietnam

Hồ ly tinh; Kting voar also Cambodia; Lạc bird; Nghê; Rồng ; Vietnamese Dragons

Turkic

Äbädä, also found in Siberian mythology; Abasy, also found in Siberian mythology; Aiy Yakut; Al in Mongolia, Russia, Afghanistan, Caucasus; Al Ana; Al Basty from Sumerian; Alara, also found in Siberian mythology; Almas also Iran and Mongolia; Archura; Asena; Ayaz Ata; Bai Baianai also Yakut; Basty Turkic alp or mare; Bichura Turkic household spirit; Chai nenesi; Chesma iyesi; Çor also Siberian; Ergene iyesi; Erkenek; Hortdan; Irshi; Itbarak; İye; Konrul; Korbolko; Kormos; Mhachkay includes Tatar lore; Mu shuvuu; Örek; Peri also Persian, Islamic (and Indian?); Qarakorshaq; Sazakan; Shahmaran Indo-Iranian and Turkic; Sheka; Shurali; Su iyesi; Susulu; Tepegöz; Tulpar; Turul also Hungarian; Upiór also Slavic; Uylak; Werewolf; Yekyua; Yelbeghen; Yer iyesi; Yer-sub; Yuxa

Turkish

Gelin; İn Cin; Uzuh

Siberia

Äbädä, also found in Turkic mythology; Abasy, also found in Turkic mythology; Aiy Yakut; Alara, also found in Turkic mythology; Bai Baianai, also found in Turkic mythology; Çor also Turkic; İye also Turkic\; Menk; Oksoko Yakut; Ongon; Pitsen; Sihirtia; The Great Snake; Yekyua; Yelbeghen

South Pacific Islands

Abaia: Fiji, Solomon and Vanuatu Islands. ; Abere, unspecified "Melanesia"; Adaro, Solomon Islands, merfolk; Aitu, from Maori to various east and west Polynesian cultures; Amai-te-rangi Cook Islands; Apukohai, Hawaii; Aremata-Popoa and Aremata-Rorua; Atonga Samoa; Atua; Auriaria Kiribati; Avatea Cook Islands; Baloma; Barong; Flaming Teeth Fiji; Gazeka Papua New Guinea; Hatuibwari Solomon Islands; Ila (Samoan myth); Kae and Longopoa; Kai-n-Tiku-Aba; Kalamainu'u Hawaii; Kawas; Kihawahine; Kupua Hawaii; Losi Samoa; Menehune Hawaii; Miru Cook Islands; Moʻo Hawaii; Moso's Footprint Samoa; Nawao Hawaii; Nei Tituaabine; Nganaoa; Nightmarchers Hawaii; Pahuanui Tahiti and Society Islands; Pua Tu Tahi; Rogo-Tumu-Here; Savali; Sina and the Eel; Talamaur Vanuatu; Tamangori; Tangaroa; Taotao Mo'na Mariana Islands; Tapairu Cook Islands; Tiʻitiʻi; Tikokura; Tinirau similar to Māori Tinirau and Kae;

Māori

Aitu also common in all parts of East and West Polynesia, sometimes with slightly different meanings; Atua; Hāhau-whenua; Hākuturi; Hawakai; Hemā; Hine-nui-te-pō; Kiwa; Kumi Lizard; Kurangaituku; Maero; Manaia; Maori ghosts; Matuku-tangotango; Moehau; Nuku-mai-tore; Pania of the Reef; Paoro; Patupaiarehe; Ponaturi; Pouākai; Taniwha; Taoroinai; Te Wheke-a-Muturangi; Tinirau and Kae; Tipua; Waitoreke; Whakatau; Whiro

Indian Ocean Islands

Folklore of the Maldives; Rannamaari

Japan (separate categories for Ainu and Okinawa)

Abumi-guchi; Abura-akago; Abura-sumashi; Aka Manto; Akabeko; Akaname; Akashita; Aketeko; Akubōzu; Akugyo; Akuma; Akurojin-no-hi; Ama no Fuchigoma; Amabie; Amanojaku; Amanozako; Amazake-babaa; Amefurikozō; Ameonna; Amikiri; Amorōnagu; Aoandon; Aobōzu; Aonyōbō; Aosaginohi; Arikura-no-baba; Ashi-magari; Ashinaga-tenaga; Ayakashi; Azukiarai; Azukibabaa; Azukihakari;

Bake-danuki; Bake-kujira; Bakemono; Bakeneko; Bakezōri; Baku; Banchō; Basan; Betobeto-san; Binbōgami; Biwa-bokuboku; Boroboroton; Bukit Timah Monkey Man WWII Japanese soldiers in Bukit Timah (Singapore) saw this; Byōbunozoki;

Chimimōryō; Chōchin'obake; Chōchinbi;

Daidarabotchi; Daikokuten; Danzaburou-danuki; Datsue-ba; Dodomeki; Dōsojin;

Ehon Hyaku Monogatari; Emishi; Enenra;

Fūjin; Funayūrei; Furaribi; Furutsubaki-no-rei; Futakuchi-onna;

Gagoze; Gashadokuro; Gazu Hyakki Yagyō; Gohō dōji; Goryō;

Hagoromo (swan maiden play); Hakuzōsu; Hanako-san; Hannya; Hare of Inaba; Harionagu; Hashihime; Heikegani; Hell Courtesan; Hibagon; Hiderigami; Himiko; Hito-gitsune; Hitodama; Hitotsume-kozō; Hitotsume-nyūdō; Hone-onna; Hotoke; Hyakki Tsurezure Bukuro; Hyakki Yagyō_Wild Hunt; Hyōsube; Hyottoko;

Ibaraki-dōji; Ikiryō; Ikuchi; Inari Ōkami; Inugami; Inugami Gyōbu; Ishinagenjo; Isonade; Issie; Issun-boushi; Itsumade; Ittan-momen;

Janjanbi; Japanese Serpent; Jikininki; Jinmenju also Chinese; Jinmenken; Jorōgumo; Jubokko; Jueyuan (Chinese version Jué yuán);

Kaibyō; Kamaitachi; Kami; Kamikiri; Kappa; Karura; Kasa-obake; Kasha; Kawauso; Kechibi; Keneō (oni); Kidōmaru; Kijo (folklore); Kinoko; Kitsune; Kitsune no yomeiri; Kitsunebi; Kiyohime; Kodama; Kōga Saburō; Komono; Konaki-jiji; Konjaku Gazu Zoku Hyakki; Konjaku Hyakki Shūi; Konpira Gongen; Koromodako; Koto-furunushi; Kotobuki; Kōya Hijiri; Kubikajiri; Kuchisake-onna; Kudagitsune; Kudan; Kumiho; Kuraokami (ryu); Kuro-shima (Ehime); Kurozuka; Kuzenbo; Kuzunoha; Kuzuryū;

Makuragaeshi; Maneki-neko; Matarajin; Mazoku; Megijima; Menreiki; Miage-nyūdō; Mikaribaba; Mikoshi-nyūdō; Misaki; Mishaguji; Mishihase; Mizuchi; Mokumokuren; Momiji; Momotarō; Mononoke; Mōryō; Mujina; Myōbu;

Namahage; Namazu; Nekomata; Ningen; Ningyo; Niō; Noderabō; Noppera-bō; Nue; Nuppeppō; Nurarihyon; Nure-onna; Nuribotoke; Nurikabe; Nyūdō-bōzu;

Oboroguruma; Ochimusha; Ōkubi; Okuri-inu; Ōmukade; Oni; Oni Gozen; Onibi; Onihitokuchi; Onikuma; Onmyōji; Onryō; Ōnyūdō; Ootakemaru; Orochi; Osakabehime; Osaki; Otoroshi; Oukami; Ouni;

Raijin; Raijū; Rashōmon no oni; Reikon; Rōjinbi; Rokkaku-dō; Rokurokubi; Ryū; Ryūgū-jō; Ryūjin;

Sakabashira; Samebito; Sankai; Sarutahiko Ōkami; Satori; Sazae-oni; See-Hear-Speak No Evil; Sessho-seki; Setsubun; Shachihoko; Shapeshifter; Shibaemon-tanuki; Shichinin misaki; Shidaidaka; Shikigami; Shikome; Shinigami; Shiranui; Shirime; Shiryō; Shōjō; Shōkera; Shuihu; Shuten-dōji; Smallpox demon; Sōjōbō; Sorei; Sunekosuri; Suzuka Gozen;

Takaonna; Takarabune; Tamamo-no-Mae; Teke Teke; Tengu; Tenka; Tennin; Tenome; Tentōki and Ryūtōki; Tesso; Three-legged crow also Chinese and Korean; Tōfu-kozō; Toyotama-hime; Tsuchigumo; Tsuchinoko; Tsukumogami; Tsukuyomi-no-Mikoto; Tsurara-onna; Tsuru no Ongaeshi; Tsurube-otoshi; Tsurubebi;

Ubagabi; Ubume; Umi zatō; Umibōzu; Ungaikyō; Ushi no toki mairi; Ushi-oni; Uwan;

Waira; Wani; Wanyūdō; Watatsumi;

Yako; Yakusanoikazuchi; Yama-uba; Yamabiko; Yamabito; Yamainu; Yamajijii; Yamata no Orochi; Yamawaro; Yanari; Yashima no Hage-tanuki; Yato-no-kami; Yobuko; Yōkai; Yōsei; Yosuzume; Yotsuya Kaidan; Youkai; Yuki-Onna; Yume no seirei; Yūrei;

Zashiki-warashi; Zennyo Ryūō; Zuijin; Zashiki-warashi

Okinawa

Kijimuna

allegedly Arabic Cinnamologus

Morocco Aisha Qandicha

Mesopotamia Abyzou; Annunaki; Anzû; Ardat-lilî; Beings of Irkalla or Kur; Bull of Heaven; Dagon; Edimmu; Ghosts in Mesopotamian culture; Hanbi; Humbaba; Igigi; Kilili; Kulullû; Kusarikku; Labbu; Lahamu; Lamashtu; Lilin also in Jewish folklore; Lotan; Lugal-irra; Lulal; Mukīl rēš lemutti; Mušḫuššu; Mušmaḫḫū; Namtar; Ninimma; Ninurta; Pazuzu; Rabisu; Scorpion men; Sea goat; Serpopard; Seven-headed serpent; Six-headed Wild Ram; The Four Winds; Tiamat; Udug; Ugallu; Umū dabrūtu; Uridimmu; Urmahlullu; Wild Man, Wild Woman ; Wild Men, Wild Women Enkidu; Zaqar

allegedly Mesopotamian Sirin

Akkadian Abkallu, also Sumerian; Akhkhazu, later Babylonian; Alû also Sumerian, an utukku with no mouth, ears, lips; Asag also Sumerian; Bašmu (possibly other parts of Mesopotamia, but badly attested); Lilu; Ušumgallu

Assyrian Adrammelech killed an Assyrian king; Alal references Babylonians

allegedly Assyrian Aralez in Armenian folklore, Semiramis controls an Aralez

Babylonian Akhkhazu, earlier Akkadian; Alal from Chaldean-Assyrian sources; Kulilu

Sumerian Abkallu, also Akkadian; Al Basty, later also in Turkic traditions; Alû also Akkadian, an utukku with no mouth, ears, lips; Asag also

Akkadian Kuli-ana; Palm Tree King#

Mesopotamian (Other) Atargatis Canaanite goddess; Tannin Canaanite; Yam Canaanite

Buddhism

Acala, Vajrayana Buddhism & East Asian Buddhism; Apalala a naga king; Apsara; Asura; Āṭavaka; Cakrasaṃvara Tantra; Ḍākinī; Diting; Girimekhala; Hayagriva; Heruka; Hevajra; Hungry Ghost; Kalaviṅka; Kangiten Buddhism in Japan; Kṣitigarbha; Kuṇḍali; Mahakala; Mahamayuri; Mahoraga; Manjushrikirti; Mara; Mucalinda; Nariphon; Niō; Preta; Rakta Yamari; The sixteen dreams of King Pasenadi; Trailokyavijaya; Tulpa; Vajrakilaya; Vajrayakṣa; Vemacitrin; Wisdom King; Wrathful deities

Jainism Ambika; Dharanendra; Gomukha; Jwalamalini; Mahoraga; Nabhi; Rishabhanatha

India

Aghasura asura in shape of 8 mile serpent (500 CE to 1000 CE, but most likely between 800 and 1000 CE); Agni_deity; Airavata; Akshayavata tree (estimated between the 4th and 15th century CE. Some parts of the text may be from the 750 to 1000 CE period.); Anasuya; Andhaka asura with 1000 heads 2000 eyes 1000 arms; Angiris; Apsara; Arjuna; Asi; Asura; Bakasura a rakshasa (despite "asura" in the name); Barbarika; Basnak Dau; Bhagadatta; Bhargava; Bhoota; Bhramari; Bhringi; Brahmahatya; Brahmarākṣasaḥ; Buru; Chakora; Chana and Munda; Chaturbhuja; Chedipe; Chidambara Rahasiyam; Chinas; Chir Batti ghost light; Chitrāngada; Chyavana; Creatures from Vetala Tales; Daayan; Daitya; Daksha\; Daksha yajna; Danava; Daruka; Dawon; Devas; Devatas; Durgamasura; Durukti; Dvarapala; Dvipa; Gādhi; Gaja; Gajasimha; Gaṇa; Gandaberunda; Gandharva; Garuda; Ghosayatra Parva; Grahana; Guhyaka; Gusainji Maharaj; Halahala; Hamsa; Haryashvas and Shabalashvas; Hidimba; Hiranyakashipu; Hiranyaksha; Ichchadhari naag; Ila; Ilavida; Ilvala and Vatapi (asura); Iravati; Jahnu; Jarita; Jvarasura; Kabhanda; Kālakeya ; Kālakeyas; Kalanemi (asura); Kalanemi (Ramayana); Kaliya; Kamadhenu; Kamakhya; Ketu; Keukegen; Kimpurushas; Kinnara; Kirmira; Kirtimukha; Koka and Vikoka; Kotavi; Kubera; Kumbhakarna; Kumbhāṇḍa; Kuntilanak ; Kurma; Kuttichathan; Lajjā Gaurī; Mada; Madhu-Kaitabha; Madhusudana; Mahabali; Maharajikas; Mahishasura; Mahoraga; Makara; Manasa_Snake_Goddess; Mānasaputra; Mande Barung; Maṇibhadra; Manohara; Mara_Goddess2 identical name to another death goddess Mara_Goddess (unrelated???); Maricha; Matsya; Mayasura; Monkey-man of New Delhi; Mṛtyu; Mukasura; Naga; Naga fireballs; Naga people; Nagaraja; Naimiṣāraṇya; Nandi; Narakasura; Narantaka-Devantaka; Narasimha Half human / Half Lion --> how Vishnu fulfills a prophecy like Eowyn or MacBeth; Navagunjara; Nivatakavacha; Pahlavas; Panchajanya; Panchamukha; Pichal Peri; Pippalada; Pishachas; Pitr; Poubi Lai; Prahlada; Pratyangira; Puloman; Putana; Rāgarāja; Rākshasas; Raktabīja; Ravana; Rishyasringa; Rukmavati; Samagana; Sampati; Sarama; Sarpa Kavu; Shahmaran Indo-Iranian and Turkic; Shambara; Shankha; Shatarupa; Shesha; Shikhandi; Shukra; Sphinx in a wide sense; Srbinda; Subahu; Sunda and Upasunda; Suparṇākhyāna; Ten Giant Warriors; Tree of Jiva and Atman; Tripurasura; Trishira; Tumburu; Ucchusma; Uchchaihshravas; Ulupi; Upamanyu; Vadavagni; Vahana (Mount of a Deva); Vajranga; Vanara; Varaha; Varahi; Vasuki_Naga_King; Vel; Vetala; Vidyādhara ; Vidyādharas; Viprachitti; Viradha; Vishala; Vritra; Vritra (dragon); Vyaghrapada; World Elephant; World Turtle; Yaksha; Yakshini; Yali; Yama; Yamaduta; Yamantaka

allegedly Indian Abarimon; Acheri; Aeternae; Astomi Pliny the Elder; Bragmanni; Calingae Pliny the Elder; Crocotta; Gold-digging ant; Griffon; Indus worm; Karkadann; Kratu; Mandi; Manticore; Monopod; Nuli; Odontotyrannus; Panther; Pard; Rompo; Salabhanjika; Sciritae; Sharabha; Tandava; Unicorn; Wild Man, Wild Woman ; Wild Men, Wild Women

Ayyavazhi Sect Kroni

Assam Baak

Bengali Bengali myths; Byangoma

Kannada Nale Ba

Kashmir Bramrachokh will-o-wisp; Rantas

Kerala Aana Marutha

Malayalam South India; Kallana

Manipur / Meitei Haosi Namoinu; Helloi; Hingchabi; Kanglā Shā; Kao; Keibu Keioiba; Khoirentak tiger; Khongjomnubi Nonggarol; Lai Khutshangbi; Meitei dragons; Meitei Mythic Creatures; Nongshāba; Pākhangbā; Sagol kāngjei; Samaton; Uchek Langmeitong; Umang Lai Sanamahism; Yenakha Paotapi Sri Lanka; Devil Bird; Maha Sona; Nittaewo; Reeri Yakseya; Sphinx in a wide sense; Tharaka; Yakseya and Yakka

Tamil Mamuni Mayan; Nadi astrology; Tamil myth

Indonesia Babi ngepet; Bukit Timah Monkey Man Singapore; Hainuwele; Hantu; Hantu Air; Hantu Bongkok; Hantu Raya; Hantu Tinggi; Jenglot; Kuntilanak also India; Lang Suir aka Langsuyar; Malay Creatures; Manseren Manggoendi; Nyi Roro Kidul; O Tokata; Orang bunian; Orang Mawas; Orang Minyak; Orang Pendek; Pelesit; Penanggalan similar to Philippines Manananggal; Pocong; Polong; Putri Tangguk; Rangalau Kiulu Phantom; Seri Gumum Dragon; Seri Pahang; Singa; Suanggi; Suangi; Sundel bolong; Tuyul; Warak ngendog

allegedly Malay Á Bao A Qu; Abath

Bali Bhoma; Gajamina; Leyak; Ogoh-ogoh

Flores Ebu gogo

Notify me about any mistakes or if any of these mythic figures, beings and creatures should not be used in art or fiction.

[theredpharaoah]

Personally, I’ve always thought the main inspiration for the Singers(Children of The Forest) was Mesoamerica. Westeros itself - the landmass - is North America. The Coming of the First Men is like when the Vikings arrived in North America. The Andal invasion is the conquest. But then the political and social world of Westerosi culture is based off of Europe.

The Singers originate from the Forest of The Ifequevron in the Grasslands(Dothraki Sea). The Arm of Dorne is like the Land Bridge. The First Men would later follow the Singers over to Westeros. I can’t really come up with a reason why they would do this. Maybe after the fall of the Fisher Queens. The Grasslands are based off of Mesopotamia, Egypt, and maybe other parts of Africa. The Sarnori are based off Zaueces of Ancisnt Libya

The Ghiscari seem to be mostly based off of Egypt and Persia. Valyria is Mycenaean Greece, Macedonia, and Rome. Rhoyne is Minoan Crete, Phoenicia, Hittites, and the Indus Valley Civilization. It was thought for a while that Hittites developed iron working which makes me want to say they’re a Rhoynish influence(as they taught Andals how to work iron).

Sothoryos is based mostly off of Mesoamerica and maybe Australia. I’ve never thought Sothoryos was inspired by Africa. Because Europe knew of and traded with Africa since forever. They had a huge gold trade with West Africa - especially Mali. But I want to say Ulthos is inspired by Australia. I personally think the “Brindled Men” are just tattooed or practice ritual scarring. The stuff about the women not being able to mate with men from Essos and Westeros is probably a lie. If it’s true then it’s caused by something else. If they really couldn’t mate with these men, I’d think they’d be unable to get pregnant at all. Yeen is Teotihuacan.

Bone Mountains might be Pamir Mountains. The Hyrkoon Warrior Women could be inspired by Mino of Dahomey, commonly known as the Dahomey amazons. Alternatively, they could be representative of pre-Islamic Persian women and the Achaemenid Empire(one person said they had concubines who doubled as bodyguards. The Jogos Nhai are based off of the Alchon Huns, and I’d say the Moonsingers are largely based off of Deborah from Judges of pre-monarchic Israel(actual historical Israel, not Zionist Israhell). Jogos Nhai see gender as a behavior; not physiologically defined or bound. Males and Females can be Men or Woman in their culture - they just have to behave like whichever gender. Because the Alchon Huns are from Bactria(Ancient Iranian Civilization) the best I can come up with for this are either the Gala of Inanna, the later Galli of Cybele, and/or mukhannath of Islam. But the culture around Mukhannath - to my knowledge - don’t allow for females to become men. This makes me want to say it comes from various West African cultures who had boy-wives and female-husbands. But most likely it’s just a naïve idea of GRRM’s.

The Free Cities are based off of Italian City States and Ancient Greek City States(Lys and Lais of Corinth). The Rhoyne seems to share the Ancient Greek city state inspo.

Dragonstone and Targaryen-ruled Westeros is Eastern Roman Empire or Byzantium mixed with misconceptions about the “dark ages”.

Dorne reminds me of Moorish Spain. Nymera reminds me of Onomaris.

Summer Islands are Africa and The Caribbean.

Naath gives me Madagascar

[nulfaga]

i wanna hear more about the rampent orientalism and paper thin story please! (dos2 is my babygirl and beloved but i also have pages of corrections that i want for the story bc i'm just *confusion*)

Aww man i have thoughts on this that have been broiling for years. pandora's box etc etc.

the very short version is this. 1) re: orientalism, i take issue with the design cues attached to the lizards AND with the game's treatment of ifan. 2) re: the paper-thin story, i've turned this over in my mind and i don't think the issue is that no thought has been put into the plot; i think the game is just kind of bad at conveying that iceberg of lore to the player.

that's the tl;dr. as for the full version:

let's take these points in the same order again.

1) the ancient empire/the lizards. Here is a snippet from the dos2 artbook:

"oriental/arabian" kind of says it all: every visual we get of the ancient empire draws on this unspecific, fetishized mishmash of what the western imagination categorizes as eastern imagery. ie: sadha who is veiled and bejeweled; the fringed sedans and carriages of her entourage; the presence of elephants in drapes and gold. sadha's encampment inside the dreamscape is this dialed up to eleven: golden desert sands, rich drapes and carpeting, an ornate tent, carry on, carry on. the "forbidden city", the seat of the red prince, takes its name and concept from imperial china. elephants from india. curved weapons from moorish north africa. sedans from persia. the veil has a long and complex history: here it is used, with no further thought, to imply sex and mystery.

here's another bit from the artbook, a piece of alternate concept art for the lizards

here "Aboriginal" is treated the same way as "oriental", to wit: "this is the word we're using to describe all this completely unresearched visual spaghetti we're throwing at the lizards".

the "curved weapons" and "Arabian/oriental designs" of the ancient empire are directly contrasted with the "more recognizable" visual style of the humans.

that leaves us with an ancient empire whose design consists of a load of half-remembered "eastern" imagery, thrown together with no rhyme or reason except to evoke strangeness and otherness. i couldn't give you a better definition for "orientalism" if I tried.

there's more to be said here, ie about the textual orientalism (the ancient empire is isolationist and exceptionally depraved; they keep slaves; the house of war is renowned for its ruthlessness. The empire itself threatens the rest of rivellon by its existence. tropes on tropes on tropes about the terror of the alien east.) but I'll leave it at that for now

2) ifan. poor ifan ben-mezd.

the name "ben-mezd" itself is taken directly from the hebrew naming convention, "ben-x" meaning "son of x". (compare with the arabic "ibn".) there's also an in-game letter from one "acquillah bat-mezd", leaving no doubt about where the writers looked for inspiration ("bat", to my limited knowledge, is the female equivalent in hebrew of "ben", so: "ifan, son of Mezd" and "acquillah, daughter of Mezd").

remember how my last point was all about the writers mashing various middle eastern, south and east asian iconography together?

ifan's soul wolf is named afrit. an afrit is a mythological figure dating back to pre-islamic arabia. so is it hebrew or arabic we're supposed to look to for ifan?

reading up on Mezd itself is no help either. when it's described at all, it's in the same vague terms as the eastern empire. it's fucking... it's desert. it's sand. And it's in the east. It's the desert of the east. we're to infer it's inhabited mostly by humans—and maybe that it borders on the ancient empire?

here, from the graphic novel:

the red prince is exiled and taken just across the border to this generic eastern bazaar populated by humans, where he proceeds to harass this little aladdin-looking guy. this is my best guess for Mezd, although the city is not named in the comic.

and tying all this overwhelming use of mixed-up "oriental" imagery back to ifan, here's another bit from the artbook.

his "exotic origins". if it was possible to be vaguer than "oriental/arabic designs", then congratulations, they've done it!

here's my point. through the haze of smushed-together imagery and intentionally vague language, will you agree with me that ifan ben-mezd is coded as a brown arab man? (or, conservatively, a brown man of color?)

if so, then does it leave a sour taste in your mouth to see him compared to an animal (usually a wolf; a predator) almost constantly during his companion dialogue and romance scenes? does it feel a little off that one of his quest updates (after he learns the truth about his deathfog mission) describes him as a "suicide bomber"?

3) the thin plot. I don't have as much to say on this point, because i haven't played the other divinity games. maybe, all of them taken together, it's an intricate and masterful web without so much as a dropped stitch (tho I doubt it).

but as I see it:

the intro to the graphic novel mentions that the writers have gotten incredibly intimate with their world and characters during the process of building the game, to the point that they have countless "stories that will never be told".

that's all well and good, but i'm not convinced they knew how to lay all that out for the reader/player. for example, the comic hints at ifan's complex relationships with roost anlon, lucian and alexandar. but in-game when he interacts with these characters, we see next to none of that context, only lines that imply a shared history and leave the player foaming at the mouth for a scrap, just a scrap of lore please. the same goes for the other companions—except maybe the red prince, whose section in the graphic novel was word for word a rehash of his in-game dialogue and who may just be as shallow as he appears, lol.

but sebille, for instance: the shadow prince's greater network of handlers. the names and identities of sebille's kills. all things the comic hints at, and which the devs seem to know in detail, but they're so reluctant to share their insight with the player. ;_;

it also bothers me that there's no codified map of all the locations (at least in dos2, but maybe even across the series) and where they are relative to each other. once again, the devs know; we don't.

same thing for the calendar. we get sembten (ostensibly the equivalent to our september) and one other month (a january?), but nothing otherwise. we don't know how the timekeeping system works, by hours or seconds or minutes, how many months in a year, days in a week, etc etc.

those r my gripes. my bad for the messy post, i'm typing this up on my phone in a berlin hotel room lmao. thank you for asking <3

[ashitakaxsan]

The Value of  “The Heroic Legend of Arslan” Manga.

   Just recently the news got: Hiromu Arakawa's(the mangaka of Fullmetal Alchemist,Silver Spoon) “The Heroic Legend of Arslan” Manga is getting the great preparations for its "final,decisive battle". Namely the  outcome of the upcoming Fierce battle will certainly judge the life of Prince Arslan,and of all of the kingdom of Pars.Of course this,in one or other way, will have a Great Impact on its avid supporters in Iran.

Physician Yoshiki Tanaka created the Light Novel series Amir Arsalan,this is the basis for Hiromu Arakawa’s  action-fantasy manga through Kodansha's Bessatsu Shōnen Magazine.

The story is:

ECBATANA IS BURNING

   In the prosperous kingdom of Pars lies the Royal Capital of Ecbatana, a city of splendor and wonder, ruled by the undefeated and fearsome King Andragoras. Arslan is the young and curious prince of Pars,who despite his best efforts doesn't seem to be qualified for a proper king, like his father. At the age of 14, Arslan goes to his first battle,but loses everything as the blood-soaked mist of war gives way to scorching flames, he’s in pain witnessing the demise of his once glorious kingdom. However,Arslan is  destined to be a ruler, and despite the trials and hardships he faces,he has to reclaim his fallen kingdom.

The anime adaptation is set in ancient Persian-inspired fantasy world.

The comments for The Heroic Legend of Arslan are largely positive: "Thank you Japanese for portraying Iran's history," or "You have brought pride to the country's history and culture."

Many netizens were surprised that Japan would make an animation about Iran. One fan thought that Japan "pitied" Iranian history and that "the world is gradually coming to understand our culture and ancient stories." Many regretted how much ancient Persian history was passed over in Iran in favor of Islamic themes. "Iran only makes movies about Islam and Arabs," the above fan wrote. "Our country has many glories and stories, but it doesn't make movies or dramas about them. There are countless religious movies and dramas, but the settings and characters aren't Iranian," another lamented, going on to compare Arslan's depiction of ancient Persia favorably to Hollywood portrayals like Prince of Persia, 300 and Alexander.

Some commenters were pazzled why Iran doesn't have an active animation industry,why Arslan wasn't made in Iran. "I think the country should make animation about our own history" is a typical remark. "Those who think this anime is worthless, why don't you make a better one? This is a very good anime. If you don't like it, you don't have to watch it," huffed another commenter. An animation student defended Iran's animators and pointes out that one, Rasoul Azadani, had worked on films of the Disney Renaissance, albeit opportunities to study animation and broadcast it were severely limited.

A few comments took issue with the anime's so called immorality, especially since the priestess and formidable archer Farangis (above) is dressed immodestly. "The Japanese have certainly made a story based on Iranian civilization, but there must be ulterior motives behind this," one poster assertes. "It becomes clear when you look at the women's clothes. It's true that at that time Iranian women did not cover their heads, but they wore clothes that covered their bodies. Before others recreate Iranian history for us, why don't we study our own virtuous history?" Another viewer went further and claimed the anime was a plot to deceive Iranian girls. "The opinion that Farangis is virtuous, even though she doesn't wear a hijab, is ridiculous. There is a direct link between feminine virtue and the hijab... [but] Iranian girls are wise and the enemy is misguided."

Yet there are netizens perceiving  that Japanese animators were attempting to corrupt Iranians,or due to the anachronism of judging pre-Islamic Iran by Islamic standards of morality. "Unfortunately some people in our country think of other countries as against ours, and don't want to think that the expression of thought and speech in newspapers, animation or film is free." Another fan noted that "anime these days is full of [women dressed immodestly]. There are no Zionists or puppeteers behind the scenes. Why do Iranians question others so much?" Others pointed to ancient wall art showing nude women, or recommended the anime for its incorporation of elements from the national epic, the Shahnameh, like the stories of Rostam, Farangis and Siyavash. "You won't be able to say it has nothing to do with Iranian history and culture," a history aficionado asserted.

Below:the main cast of the series9art Hiromu Arakawa):

My say:

Both Japan and Iran have ancient history and civilization.tanaka sensei,Arakawa sensei too took this bold decision due to their fondness for iran.And the Japanese animators went along well with the decision for this anime,which is Higher than Game of Thrones.No offence,the point is GoT is lame, compared to Arslan Senki.

Either Arslan will have a solid win either will fall into the battle will make Impressions domestically ,and in Iran too. the Iranian fans of manga,anime are waiting to see...

[zorciarkrildrush]

Kind of random but it's hilarious Jews were so commonly associated with communism because wait, really? People who strongly value academics and arguing are into communism? At the very least socialism? Get out of town. The same people who were frequently pushed into banking, and practicing law and medicine? And due to this have a complex relationship with capital, and justice and equality in treatment? And speaking of capital, it being the only sort of social power this group can hope to get, since politics and state religion were barred to them, making it a frequent objective? The same people who even in the most tolerant societies* were always "other" formally or informally, so they will naturally consider a philosophy relating to absolute equality? People who already typically congregate into large-household communal lifestyles, and where lending aid to anybody in need is baked into the religion? That group?! Insane! I wonder how come one of the first forms of modern Jewish immigration to Israel/Palestine was with Kibbutz settlements who were hardcore communist. The mind boggles.

This was frequently a bad connotation, an easy example being Churchill who was extra antisemitic because naturally British Jews will be in cahoots with USSR Jews, but also like - Jews do have a predisposition towards communism, absolutely shocking.

*The most tolerant societies for Jews to be in were historically Islamic ones, as well as pre-Islamic Persia, but in all of them they were always - and usually by legal definition - set apart from others, exempted from political positions, especially taxed for protection and so on. I won't bother talking about Jews in Europe/the US, you can imagine why.

[o-craven-canto]

Re: your solar system generator

Can I ask what sources you got the names of mythological figures from? I'd love to use them for my own system building

The lists I used for my generator are, in order of addition: Greek, Norse, Egyptian, Hindu (mostly Vedic), Chinese, Yoruba, Arabic (Pre-Islamic), Babylonian, Japanese, Aztec, Slavic, Celtic (mostly a mix of Irish and Gaulish), Finnish, Maya, Polynesian (mix of Hawai'ian and Maori). TBA lists include Sumerian, Canaanite, Hittite, Persian, Turkic, Zulu, and characters from the Bible.

I did not really use scholarly sources for that: I mostly looked through Wikipedia pages for the respective traditions. I used descriptions of the various deities and heroes to find "analogues" of the Roman names used in our own solar system. For some it was easy: Roman/Greek and Sumerian/Babylonian myths largely use the same pantheon with different names. Writers from antiquity found on their own correspondences between the Roman, Egyptian, Babylonian, Germanic, and Celtic pantheons, and modern scholars have found phylogenetic relations between all Indo-European pantheons, adding Persia and India to the table. Once you get outside the greater Europe-Near East-India area, it gets harder. The domains of Aztec, Yoruba, Polynesian, and Japanese gods are all mixed around compared to West Eurasian ones (I imagine Buddhist scholars would have found some correspondence between Hindu, traditional Chinese, and Shinto deities, but I didn't find much on it.) (The religions of the African diaspora in the Americas build correspondences between Yoruba gods and Catholic saints, but that doesn't link them to the rest of the table.) Many of those choices were arbitrary.

Feel free to use literally anything I publish on the web for your own work; the only thing I'd ask is a link to one of my pages once in a while.

[ask-jaghatai-khan]

I'd love to see Araby be based on the mythology of the pre-Islamic Qureshi pantheonic religion.

That’d be cool, honestly. Less Arabian Nights and more Ancient Persia. Though idk how it would slot in next to Holy Roman Empire of Man.

[a-god-in-ruins-rises]

What are your most hated countries?

hate is a pretty strong word. i don't really know if i can say i hate any particular country.

but i might hate certain regimes of countries though. or aspects of their culture.

like i'm not a fan of a lot of muslim countries. saudi arabia is probably the closest to being a country i can say i genuinely hate. i think they're very backward and i resent how much power they have just because they have a bunch of oil. like they're so detestable and they're so smug about it. really insufferable.

i don't hate iran -- i am actually quite fond of historical persia, especially pre-islamic -- but i do despise their current regime.

i quite like the regime of china for the most part, but i really despise a lot of their culture. especially how they treat animals but also how they treat other humans honestly. i've seen too many videos of a person being hit by a car or suddenly collapsing or something and people will just stand around and watch the person die or walk by without even a second glance. and i've personally had a lot of interactions with chinese tourists and they display some of the must repugnant behavior i've ever seen in people. cutting in lines, spitting loogies, touching strangers (i was once accosted by a mob of chinese tourists and they were all touching my hair and beard and arms and stuff), yelling at people, breaking rules, etc.

i don't hate russia -- i wish we could be friends again -- but i think the current state of russia is really dire. i don't get why trads have a hard on for russia (i mean, i do -- it's because russia opposes america and so by their logic anything that opposes america is good) because russia is a really sad, degenerate, corrupt country right now.

i don't hate cuba -- i love the land and the people and it should be ours -- but i hate commies.

i hate turkey. i hate their government, i hate their stupid name, i hate their culture, etc. i don't think i will ever like them until they are re-hellenized and re-westernized.

in some ways you could say i hate the regimes of many western countries right now too, at least in part.

oh i hate the uk too. not /actually/. i love the uk tbh. it is the home of my ancestors. i feel /some/ meaningful connection to it. but i really hate the state of the uk. i hate, especially, the city of london. honestly i kinda hate england every since the norman conquest. but again, i don't /really/ hate it. i just wish it was different.