The impression we get of Shargash from most of the available myths seem to be from a non-Alkothi viewpoint. Some seem to be from a more generic Pelorian/Dara Happan viewpoint (I'm leaning towards an "orthodox" noble Raibanthi or Yuthuppan perspective, but it might as well be a highly genericized Pelorian one, if such a thing exists), or a somewhat more distant Theyalan one (albeit under another name).
He generally comes off as either a boisterous bully (Golden Age myths), or a raging, unstoppable, all-destroying bersker (Storm/Darkness Age myths). In either case, he is almost rage incarnate, and relies heavily on being restrained by the "innate justice"/authority of Yelm.
We know from the Sourcebook that Shargash is explicitly associated with Tolat by the few scholars in Glorantha that understand such matters, and we know that Tolat is a much more nuanced deity, however, whether he appears in Pamaltela or coastal Genertela. Some people have suggested that Tolat's more amorous aspects have been separated to Shargash's son, the city/regional patron deity Alkor.
I was just thinking about the difference between Greek views on Ares and the Roman views on Mars, and how that relation is quite interesting. There's a lot to go into there, of course, and I won't overanalyze stuff (neither were the sole war gods for their cultures of course, and they also have a separate origin - Mars started off as a Shepherd god, while Quirinius was the original Roman war deity, rendered quite obscure later on), but in short, they made me think of what seems to be a lack of an Alkothi perspective of their own founder deity, to whom their entire city is a temple.
In short, the Greeks did not like Ares. They generally portrayed him as a boisterous, bullish brute, who was best appeased in peace time, and reluctantly released in war. Even Sparta, stereotypically the most militaristic of the Greek City states, would much, much rather worship Artemis and Apollo, Athena and many other deities before Ares. Ares was in many ways the personification of the forces of destruction, unrelenting, cruel, and horrible. Not someone you elevate to a major part of a state's cultic practices, but more like a WMD you break out when necessary.
The Romans, on the contrary, seems to have delighted in Mars, dedicated plenty of things to him (temples, areas, months, days, etc.), and saw him as an ancestor (possibly in a metaphorical sense, I forget if Aeneas is supposed to have descended from him or not. I'm sure you will tell me). Mars started off as a shepherd god, a guardian of livestock from thieves, bandits and wild animals, and gradually become a general protector of boundaries (hence the name being etymologically related to "march", or border-land). As the Roman state expanded, bit by bit through war after ostensibly defensively-based war, Mars became a general war god. He was overall a good dude to have around.
Now, I want to add here that I am not suggesting that the Alkothi view Shargash as the Romans did Mars. What I am rather saying is that I strongly suspect that they have a more nuanced and expanded view of not only Shargash's actions, functions, and qualities, but also his motivations. I have seen some fan-writings trying to expand on this (which I like), but I'm interested in hearing more here what people think.
For one, I wonder how the Alkothi view the relation between Shargash and Yelm. Do they secretly hold him as high as Yelm, or do they play up the "filial piety" aspect of things, by emphasizing that the reason why Shargash destroyed the world after Yelm died was due to grief/rage, or possibly to prepare/purify the world for his father's return?
Do they add other facets to Shargash beyond simply fighting itself? Is he a maker of citadels (he did make at least one giant magical wall), a judger of duels, a protector of his family, or a keeper of social order? Does he still dance and bang his drum as a spectacle beyond preparing for battle? Is he an agent of vengeance against the dishonorouble/injust/rebellious?
In short - how does the ordinary people, as well as native nobles, that sleep, eat, defecate and love, marry and procreate inside of Alkoth's wall view their city's founding god?
Or do they, as Sparta, simply not hold him to a special reverence above other, more immediately relevant deities like Oria, Alkoth or what have you, and the extreme emphasis on Shargash for the city is to some degree a foreign fixation?
↧
How do the Alkothi view Shargash?
↧