A wheel of time observation

[Tacitus]

So, I was looking in Eye of The World's glossary, (Though I haven't actually finished it...) at the Trolloc bit, and noticed that it listed the main Trolloc bands. which is when I noticed that Robert Jordan shamelessly named them after common demons and monsters. That's probably already a pretty well-known factoid, but I noticed it by myself, so ha, ha.

(Ahf'frait-Ifrit/Al'ghol-unsure/Ban'sheen-banshee/Dha'vol-devil/Dhai'mon-demon/Dhjin'nen- jinn/Ghar'ghael-gargoyle/Ghob'lin-goblin/Gho'hlem-golem/Ghraem'lan-gremlin/Ko'bal-Kobold/Kno-mon-unsure) 

(Edit: You know, I really should have put this in wheel of time discussion, but it does also kinda fit here.)

Edited December 17, 2020 by Ookla the Counselor

[Weltall]

If you think that's something, this listing is going to blow your mind. And yeah, as you can tell by the dates in there, Jordan slipping in references like this has been known for a long time with the first version of that FAQ dating back to 1993.

[Tacitus]

Yeah, in reading it, I noticed a few tie-ins to christianity and stuff. Ba'alzamon was one I saw straightaway, along with Artur Paendrag but I wasn't aware there were so many (Well, I mean, it is a giant series, so I guess that's proportional, but still, it's a giant list.). I was actually COMPLETELY oblivious to the Shai'tan and satan name parallel... I mean, it seems obvious now, but...

[aneonfoxtribute]

Al'ghol just made me think of the Batman villain. If I had to guess, its just supposed to be a ghoul?

Edited December 17, 2020 by aneonfoxtribute

[Tacitus]

2 minutes ago, aneonfoxtribute said:

Al'ghol just made me think of the Batman villain. If I had to guess, its just supposed to be a ghoul?

Same, actually. But yeah, it's ghoul.

[BreezeCauthon he/him]

2 hours ago, Ookla the Crimson King said:

If you think that's something, this listing is going to blow your mind. And yeah, as you can tell by the dates in there, Jordan slipping in references like this has been known for a long time with the first version of that FAQ dating back to 1993.

My sister has started WoT and just this morning remarked on how Artur Pendraeg was clearly Arthur Pendragon, and I was telling her about how Jordan references all sorts of cultures and mythologies and so on, so I find this post a happy irony.

[aneonfoxtribute]

Yeah I noticed that Artur was probably King Arthur. I'm wondering if the other Hundred Companions are referring to other figures that I just haven't figured out because I'm dumb

[Weltall]

You mean the Heroes of the Horn? Because I don't think we get any names for the Companions. And yeah, most of the heroes have fairly clear parallels: Off the top of my head:

Amaresu: Amaterasu

Birgitte: Various figures, when she talks about various past incarnations of hers she mentions names derived from Jeanne d'Arc and Maid Marian, while her most famous name is probably derived from Brigid. Also indirectly she's a parallel to Artemis or her Roman equivalent Diana, with the silver bow.

Calian and Shivan: Kali and Shiva

Mikel: Archangel Michael

 

Edited December 17, 2020 by Ookla the Crimson King

[aneonfoxtribute]

I thought the Heroes of the Horn were the Companions? Well anyway, yeah, I did mean the Heroes of the Horn. And that's all interesting. Birgitte being a parallel to Artemis is, like, the only thing that I would have thought of and that has absolutely zero basis other than being a female archer

[Condensation she/her]

Question really quickly, sorry for going off topic.

I haven't read this, but what I've heard has made me somewhat reluctant to read it. Should I?

[aneonfoxtribute]

3 minutes ago, Ookla the Grammatical said:

Question really quickly, sorry for going off topic.

I haven't read this, but what I've heard has made me somewhat reluctant to read it. Should I?

Elaborate on what you've heard and why you're reluctant 

[Condensation she/her]

Just now, aneonfoxtribute said:

Elaborate on what you've heard and why you're reluctant 

Well, I've heard that some of the later books (before Brandon took over) are pretty dull, and I don't really have the time right now. It's also hard to get them from my library, so if I'm going to get them, I want it to be worth it.

[aneonfoxtribute]

I for one can't comment yet because I'm not st that point. Maybe someday 

[Condensation she/her]

1 minute ago, aneonfoxtribute said:

I for one can't comment yet because I'm not st that point. Maybe someday 

Ah. All right! But you enjoy the books so far?

[aneonfoxtribute]

Yes. They can be slow but I have enjoyed them

[Condensation she/her]

1 minute ago, aneonfoxtribute said:

Yes. They can be slow but I have enjoyed them

All right, I'll check the first one out.