Word Origins
From Tar Valon Library
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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, 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
Words from Arthurian Legend
- Elayne: Elaine, Arthur's half sister
- Gawyn: Sir Gawyn
- Galad: Sir Galahad, the pure
- Egwene al'Vere: Guinevere, Arthur's wife
- Lan: Sir Lancelot
- Morgase: Morause, Arthur's half sister and mother of Mordred
- Arthur Paendrag: King Arthur Pendragon
- Caemlyn: Possibly Camelot, which fits as the Arthurain 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/Nimui/Nyneve
- Sa'angreal (plus angreal, ter'angreal): Sangréal, a false etymology for the holy grail, from the French Royal blood"
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.