Difference between revisions of "Word Origins"
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(Cleaning up typographic inconsistencies and typing/spelling mistakes. Adding information.) |
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Also the trolloc bands: | Also the trolloc bands: | ||
| − | *''' | + | *'''Ahf'frait''': Ifrit, supernatural creatures in Arabic and Islamic culture |
| − | *''' | + | *'''Al'ghol''': Ghoul, a monster in folklore associated with graveyards and human flesh |
| − | *'''Bhan'sheen | + | *'''Bhan'sheen''': Banshee, from the Irish ''bean sídhe'', a female spirit |
| − | *''' | + | *'''Dhjin'nen''': Djin, a supernatural creature in the Quran |
| − | *''' | + | *'''Ghar'ghael''': Gargoyle, a grotesque carved stone figure |
| − | *''' | + | *'''Ghob'lin''': Goblin, a legendary evil or mischievous figure |
| − | *''' | + | *'''Gho'hlem''': Golem, in Jewish folklore, a a living humaniform being made of clay |
| − | *''' | + | *'''Ghraem'lan''': Gremlin, a mischievous being that interferes with technology |
| − | *''' | + | *'''Ko'bal''': Kobold, an alternate word for goblin |
| − | *''' | + | *'''Kno'mon''': Gnome, a diminutive spirit from renaissance times |
| − | *''' | + | *'''Dha'vol''': Devil |
| − | *''' | + | *'''Dhai'mon''': Demon |
| + | |||
==Forsaken== | ==Forsaken== | ||
*'''[[Asmodean]]:''' Asmodeus, a demon | *'''[[Asmodean]]:''' Asmodeus, a demon | ||
| − | *'''[[Anath]]:''' Western | + | *'''[[Anath]]:''' Western Semitic goddess of war and sister of Baal |
*'''[[Be'lal]]:''' A demon | *'''[[Be'lal]]:''' A demon | ||
| − | *'''[[Selene]]''' A Moon | + | *'''[[Selene]]:''' A Moon goddess in Greek mythology |
*'''[[Ishamael]]:''' Ishmael, son of Abraham? | *'''[[Ishamael]]:''' Ishmael, son of Abraham? | ||
| − | *'''[[Ba'alzamon]]''' Baal, a god or demon | + | *'''[[Ba'alzamon]]:''' Baal, a god or demon |
| − | *'''[[Graendal]]''' Grendel, a monster in the poem Beowulf | + | *'''[[Graendal]]:''' Grendel, a monster in the poem Beowulf |
==Words from Arthurian Legend== | ==Words from Arthurian Legend== | ||
| Line 34: | Line 35: | ||
*'''[[Egwene al'Vere]]:''' Guinevere, Arthur's wife | *'''[[Egwene al'Vere]]:''' Guinevere, Arthur's wife | ||
*'''[[Lan]]:''' Sir Lancelot | *'''[[Lan]]:''' Sir Lancelot | ||
| − | *'''[[Morgase]]:''' | + | *'''[[Morgase]]:''' Morgause, Arthur's half sister and mother of Mordred |
*'''[[Artur Hawkwing|Arthur Paendrag]]:''' King Arthur Pendragon | *'''[[Artur Hawkwing|Arthur Paendrag]]:''' King Arthur Pendragon | ||
| − | *'''[[Caemlyn]]:''' Possibly Camelot, which fits as the | + | *'''[[Caemlyn]]:''' Possibly Camelot, which fits as the Arthurian motif is particularly strong in Andor |
*'''[[Thom Merrilin]]:''' Merlin, the magician | *'''[[Thom Merrilin]]:''' Merlin, the magician | ||
*'''[[Tar Valon]]:''' Avalon, a legendary island | *'''[[Tar Valon]]:''' Avalon, a legendary island | ||
*'''[[Tigraine]]:''' Igraine, Arthur's mother | *'''[[Tigraine]]:''' Igraine, Arthur's mother | ||
| − | *'''[[Moridin]]/[[Mordeth]]''' - Mordred, Arthur's enemy | + | *'''[[Moridin]]/[[Mordeth]]:''' - Mordred, Arthur's enemy |
| − | *'''[[Nynaeve]]:''' Niviane/ | + | *'''[[Nynaeve]]:''' Niviane/Nimue/Nyneve, the Lady of the Lake |
| − | *'''''[[Sa'angreal]]'' (plus ''[[angreal]]'', ''[[ter'angreal]]''):''' | + | *'''''[[Sa'angreal]]'' (plus ''[[angreal]]'', ''[[ter'angreal]]''):''' The Holy Grail, or ''san gréal'', sometimes spelt ''sang réal'', the latter meaning royal blood, though this is a false etymology and has been used as a pun |
==Stories from Earlier Ages== | ==Stories from Earlier Ages== | ||
| Line 51: | Line 52: | ||
*'''[[Lenn]]:''' John Glenn, an American astronaut who returned to space late in his life | *'''[[Lenn]]:''' John Glenn, an American astronaut who returned to space late in his life | ||
*'''[[Salya]]:''' Sally Ride, a female American astronaut, though Salyut, the Soviet space station would also fit. | *'''[[Salya]]:''' Sally Ride, a female American astronaut, though Salyut, the Soviet space station would also fit. | ||
| + | |||
==Miscellaneous== | ==Miscellaneous== | ||
| − | *'''Algode''': | + | *'''Algode''': ''Algodon'' means cotton in Spanish, which fits the description of ''algode'' in the books. |
| − | *'''[[Tamyrlin]] (and [[Amyrlin]]):''' | + | *'''[[Tamyrlin]] (and [[Amyrlin]]):''' Tamerlane, also known as Timur, a 14th century Mongol conqueror |
*'''[[Ogier]]:''' Ogre | *'''[[Ogier]]:''' Ogre | ||
*'''[[Eelfinn]]/[[Aelfinn]]:''' Possibly "Elven" | *'''[[Eelfinn]]/[[Aelfinn]]:''' Possibly "Elven" | ||
*'''[[Perrin]]:''' Perun, Slavic god of thunder and lightening, associated with beard, hammer and axe. | *'''[[Perrin]]:''' Perun, Slavic god of thunder and lightening, associated with beard, hammer and axe. | ||
| − | *'''[[Ghoetam]]:''' Siddhārtha Gautama, the Buddha | + | *'''[[Ghoetam]]:''' Siddhārtha Gautama, the Buddha |
| − | *'''[[Amaresu]]:''' Amaterasu, the Japanese goddess of the sun | + | *'''[[Amaresu]]:''' Amaterasu, the Japanese goddess of the sun |
| − | *'''[[Shivan]]:''' Shiva, a Hindu god | + | *'''[[Shivan]]:''' Shiva, a Hindu god |
| − | *'''[[Shai'tan]]:''' The devil in Islam | + | *'''[[Shai'tan]]:''' The devil in Islam |
| − | *'''[[Shayol Ghul]]:''' Sheol, the place of punishment for the wicked dead in Judaism | + | *'''[[Shayol Ghul]]:''' Sheol, the place of punishment for the wicked dead in Judaism |
*'''[[Asha'man]]:''' Shaman | *'''[[Asha'man]]:''' Shaman | ||
*'''[[Tarmon Gai'don]]:''' Armageddon, the end of the world | *'''[[Tarmon Gai'don]]:''' Armageddon, the end of the world | ||
*'''[[Aes Sedai]]:''' Aes Sídhe, a supernatural race in Irish mythology | *'''[[Aes Sedai]]:''' Aes Sídhe, a supernatural race in Irish mythology | ||
| − | *'''[[Tuatha'an]]:''' Túath, an Irish word often translated as people or nation | + | *'''[[Tuatha'an]]:''' Túath, an Irish word often translated as people or nation |
| − | *'''Z'mai:''' A food grown in the waste, | + | *'''Z'mai:''' A food grown in the waste, likely maize, which called ''Zea mays'' in botanical Latin |
| − | *''' | + | *'''T'mat:''' A food grown in the waste, possibly tomato |
| − | *'''[[Kaf]]''' | + | *'''[[Kaf]]:''' A black-coloured Seanchan drink, likely coffee, which is known as ''kaffe'' in Scandinavian countries |
| + | |||
[[Category:The Real World]] | [[Category:The Real World]] | ||
Revision as of 07:08, 20 November 2010
Many of the names, titles and objects in the Wheel of Time books are taken from history or mythology. Here we present some examples.
Contents
Shadowspawn
Also the trolloc bands:
- Ahf'frait: Ifrit, supernatural creatures in Arabic and Islamic culture
- Al'ghol: Ghoul, a monster in folklore associated with graveyards and human flesh
- Bhan'sheen: Banshee, from the Irish bean sídhe, a female spirit
- Dhjin'nen: Djin, a supernatural creature in the Quran
- Ghar'ghael: Gargoyle, a grotesque carved stone figure
- Ghob'lin: Goblin, a legendary evil or mischievous figure
- Gho'hlem: Golem, in Jewish folklore, a a living humaniform being made of clay
- Ghraem'lan: Gremlin, a mischievous being that interferes with technology
- Ko'bal: Kobold, an alternate word for goblin
- Kno'mon: Gnome, a diminutive spirit from renaissance times
- Dha'vol: Devil
- Dhai'mon: Demon
Forsaken
- Asmodean: Asmodeus, a demon
- Anath: Western Semitic goddess of war and sister of Baal
- Be'lal: A demon
- Selene: A Moon goddess in Greek mythology
- Ishamael: Ishmael, son of Abraham?
- Ba'alzamon: Baal, a god or demon
- Graendal: Grendel, a monster in the poem Beowulf
Words from Arthurian Legend
- Elayne: Elaine, Arthur's half sister
- Gawyn: Sir Gawyn
- Galad: Sir Galahad, the pure
- Gareth Bryne: Sir Gareth
- Egwene al'Vere: Guinevere, Arthur's wife
- Lan: Sir Lancelot
- Morgase: Morgause, Arthur's half sister and mother of Mordred
- Arthur Paendrag: King Arthur Pendragon
- Caemlyn: Possibly Camelot, which fits as the Arthurian motif is particularly strong in Andor
- Thom Merrilin: Merlin, the magician
- Tar Valon: Avalon, a legendary island
- Tigraine: Igraine, Arthur's mother
- Moridin/Mordeth: - Mordred, Arthur's enemy
- Nynaeve: Niviane/Nimue/Nyneve, the Lady of the Lake
- Sa'angreal (plus angreal, ter'angreal): The Holy Grail, or san gréal, sometimes spelt sang réal, the latter meaning royal blood, though this is a false etymology and has been used as a pun
Stories from Earlier Ages
- Mosk: Moscow
- Merk: America
- Elsbet: Elizabeth the first of England
- Materese the Healer: Mother Teresa
- Lenn: John Glenn, an American astronaut who returned to space late in his life
- Salya: Sally Ride, a female American astronaut, though Salyut, the Soviet space station would also fit.
Miscellaneous
- Algode: Algodon means cotton in Spanish, which fits the description of algode in the books.
- Tamyrlin (and Amyrlin): Tamerlane, also known as Timur, a 14th century Mongol conqueror
- Ogier: Ogre
- Eelfinn/Aelfinn: Possibly "Elven"
- Perrin: Perun, Slavic god of thunder and lightening, associated with beard, hammer and axe.
- Ghoetam: Siddhārtha Gautama, the Buddha
- Amaresu: Amaterasu, the Japanese goddess of the sun
- Shivan: Shiva, a Hindu god
- Shai'tan: The devil in Islam
- Shayol Ghul: Sheol, the place of punishment for the wicked dead in Judaism
- Asha'man: Shaman
- Tarmon Gai'don: Armageddon, the end of the world
- Aes Sedai: Aes Sídhe, a supernatural race in Irish mythology
- Tuatha'an: Túath, an Irish word often translated as people or nation
- Z'mai: A food grown in the waste, likely maize, which called Zea mays in botanical Latin
- T'mat: A food grown in the waste, possibly tomato
- Kaf: A black-coloured Seanchan drink, likely coffee, which is known as kaffe in Scandinavian countries
