Difference between revisions of "Word Origins"

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(Forsaken)
(Words from Arthurian Legend)
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*'''[[Gawyn]]:''' Sir Gawyn
 
*'''[[Gawyn]]:''' Sir Gawyn
 
*'''[[Galad]]:''' Sir Galahad, the pure
 
*'''[[Galad]]:''' Sir Galahad, the pure
 +
*'''[[Gareth Bryne]]: Sir Gareth
 
*'''[[Egwene al'Vere]]:'''  Guinevere, Arthur's wife
 
*'''[[Egwene al'Vere]]:'''  Guinevere, Arthur's wife
 
*'''[[Lan]]:''' Sir Lancelot
 
*'''[[Lan]]:''' Sir Lancelot
Line 42: Line 43:
 
*'''[[Nynaeve]]:'''  Niviane/Nimui/Nyneve
 
*'''[[Nynaeve]]:'''  Niviane/Nimui/Nyneve
 
*'''''[[Sa'angreal]]'' (plus ''[[angreal]]'', ''[[ter'angreal]]''):''' Sangréal, a false etymology for the holy grail, from the French Royal blood"
 
*'''''[[Sa'angreal]]'' (plus ''[[angreal]]'', ''[[ter'angreal]]''):''' Sangréal, a false etymology for the holy grail, from the French Royal blood"
 +
 
==Stories from Earlier Ages==
 
==Stories from Earlier Ages==
 
*'''[[Mosk]]:''' Moscow
 
*'''[[Mosk]]:''' Moscow

Revision as of 11:43, 18 March 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.

Shadowspawn

Also the trolloc bands:

  • Ahf’frait; Ifrit, supernatura; creatures in Arabic and slamic 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 godess 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

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

  • Tamyrlin (and Amyrlin): Tamerlaine, 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.