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Hesperus (Vesper) and Phosphorus (Eosphorus, Lucifer) are both children of the Dawn Goddess Eos / Aurora. Phosphorus, light bringer, is the herald of the dawn. He bears a flaming torch and his name is given to the glowing mineral phosphorus. Today's Zazzle Specials Smashwords Books His half-brother Hesperus, the evening or supper star, represents the coming of night. Together they function as two parts of a dual-natured god. See also: Lucifer, Venus & Anti-Gods of Mythology Phosphorus: Element of Fatal Fascination Ambrosia: Divine Nectar & Immortal Gods Sylvia Rose Books on Smashwords Lora Ley Fantasy Fiction Series Reiker For Hire Murder Mysteries Sylvia Rose Art on Zazzle The planet is first officially observed and documented by Babylonian astrologers in the 17th century BCE. The later Greeks call the planet Aphrodite, after the Greek Goddess of beauty and sexual love. Several hundred years later, the Romans are the new invaders in town. They call the planet Venus and retain the associated Goddess under the new name. Like the ancient Hittites, Romans are fond of assimilating the various cultures they battle. See also: Amethyst - Divine Purple Quartz Gemstone Sobekneferu - Queen of the Pharaohs Anzû - Mesopotamian Monster of Mayhem Today's Zazzle Specials Smashwords Books And so Hesperus and Phosporus receive the Latin names Vesper and Lucifer. They're both sons of the Dawn Goddess but have different fathers. Concordant to the inconsistency of myths, there are a few options. Vesper is considered the brother of Atlas, the Titan who bears the Earth on his shoulders. This would make Vesper a Titan too but he's not listed as such. His association is with his mother's side of the family, the influence of Eos, the Dawn. Lucifer's father is sometimes said to be Cephalus, an Aeolian prince of divine heritage, descended from Hermes. In other tellings, Vesper's father is Cephalus and Lucifer's father is vague. See also: Ancient Deities: Proto Indo European Gods Arzawa - Rebel Kingdom of the Bronze Age Immortal - Quest for the Elixir of Life Sylvia Rose Books on Smashwords Lora Ley Fantasy Fiction Series Reiker For Hire Murder Mysteries Sylvia Rose Art on Zazzle As Hesperus, Vesper is father (or grandfather) of the Hesperides, who guard the golden apples of the Olympian Gods. Known as Daughters of the Evening or Nymphs of the West, they're considered to be dryads of evening and the golden light of sunsets. Their mother is Nyx, or night. As an evening deity Hesperus is associated with Aestraeus, the Greek God of Dusk. Aestraeus is consort of Eos, the Dawn Goddess. They are creation entities, and their magic is strongest at twilight times. See also: Cyclades Islands: Paradise of Ancients Asteria - Starry Gems of Myth & Magic Puduḫepa - Queen of the Hittites Today's Zazzle Specials Smashwords Books The Dawn Goddess and Dusk God create the four winds, and also Eosphorus (dawn bringer) aka Phosphorus, from Greek phosphoros, bringer of light. Aestraeus is therefore another possible father of the Romanized Lucifer. Cephalus then would be the father of Vesper, as the soap opera of Greco-Roman mythology hones the fine details. Greek is much older than Latin, which appears as a language c. 7-8th century BCE. Written Greek goes back to about the 3rd millennium BCE. Spoken Greek languages and Egyptian go back even further. See also: Before the Viking Age - Gods of the Sámi Sulfur - Treasure of the Underworld Agrippina & Son: Poisonous Plots of Rome Sylvia Rose Books on Smashwords Lora Ley Fantasy Fiction Series Reiker For Hire Murder Mysteries Sylvia Rose Art on Zazzle The first written language is Sumerian c. 3100 BCE. Before that, gods exist in oral tradition. Tales are twisted in the telling, sometimes to include a local god or hero, or a rival town, which is defeated no matter what history says. Hesperus and Phosphorus are a typical duo, pair or dyad, a subset favored by ancient myth. The Divine Twins and Bulls Seri and Hurri are examples of deific duos. In some cases mythological 'twins' are clear opposities. Of the Divine Twins, one's a warrior and one a healer. See also: Mythical Pagan German Gods & Spirits Mythic Fire Gods - Vulkan of Germania Women of the Wild Hunt: Holle, Diana, Frigg Today's Zazzle Specials Smashwords Books Myths evolve to involve deities from other cultures or origins. Today the name of Vesper is immortalized in the tradition of evening prayers, and as for Lucifer ... well, we all know what happened to him. Or do we? See also: Rise of Pan: Fertility Goat God Péh₂usōn Al-Mi'raj: Unicorn Hare of Arab Myth Divine Light - Sun Goddess of Arinna Back to Top

In the sparkling waters of the southwest Aegean are the Cyclades Islands. About 220 islands in all, the Cyclades are home to a thriving Bronze Age culture. In the second millenium BCE, following natural disasters such as the eruption on Thera and an unprecedented dark age, the people of the Cyclades vanish. See also: Spiritual Alchemy: Obsidian Volcanic Glass Mythic Fire Gods: Hephaestus of the Greek Silver - Queen of Precious Metals The Greek The name (Κυκλάδες νήσοι, Kykládes nísoi) or encircling islands, comes from the formation of a circular archipelago around the sacred island of Delos. It's said the Cyclades were sea nymphs who angered Poseidon, so he turned them into islands. Why is the island of Delos sacred? It's the birthplace of Apollo, Greek god of the Sun, music and poetry, and his sister Artemis, goddess of wild animals, the hunt, vegetation, chastity and childbirth. When Romans take the stage c. 8th century BCE, they equate her with Diana. See also: Women of the Wild Hunt: Holle, Diana, Frigg Elderberry Tree: Germanic Nature Lore Agrippina & Son: Poisonous Plots of Rome The brilliant blue colors of the Aegean sea come from the absorption of red color wavelengths and reflection of the blue and green tones. The water is nutrient poor and plant growth on the sea floor is minimal, allowing more intense light reflection. The islands are sporadically inhabited in prehistory. Obsidian glass from the volcanic island of Milo is found in mainland settlements as early as 11,000 BCE. See also: Nature Spirits of German Mythology Puduḫepa - Queen of the Hittites Divine Light - Sun Goddess of Arinna In the late Neolithic and Early Bronze Age, artisans of the Cyclades turned out fanstasic sculptures and stone carvings made from the stunning white marble of the islands. Before the 5th millennium BCE, an amalgamation of Greek and Anatolia cultures create a distinctive Neolithic group in the west Aegean. The people farm the land and sea. They grow emmer, a type of wheat, and wild barley. They herd sheep and goats, and keep pigs. Fishing is by spear from small boats, with tuna a plentiful food source. See also: German Myth & Folklore: Moss People Hepat - Sun Goddess of Aleppo Ancient Greece - the Mycenean Invasion Signs of copper working appear at various excavation sites on the island. An important source of copper was the Island of Cyprus, south of the Cyclades. Cyprus would become the major copper source for the Romans too. At the end of the 19th century CE, archaeologists coin the term "Cyclades Civilization" to refer to the island cultures. Although the islands are distinct they also stand together for the greater good. See also: Ancient Greek Cultures: People of Minos Lelwani - Hittite Underworld Goddess Asteria - Starry Gems of Myth & Magic The turn of the century was so filled with discoveries and advances, a bunch of islands in a small sea have little meaning. Finally, in the 20th century, interest takes hold. The ancient figurines resemble the works of contemporary artists like Jean Arp. A brisk business in forgeries begins. Archaeologists determine the cross-island spread of a farming and seafaring culture migrating from Anatolia c. 5000 BCE. Natural produce from the islands includes wine, fruit, wheat and olive oil. Pottery is also an item of trade. See also: Pagan Solstice Fests: Saturnalia 12 Days of Zagmuk: Chaos & the King Ancient Deities: Proto Indo European Gods Carvings and art depict boats and people. There are two types of ship, a small personal style and a larger vessel with up to fifty rowers who came from the nearby islands. Cycladic culture evolves in phases. Late Neolithic Period - best known for simplified flat figurines, mostly female, carved from the white marble found on the islands. About the same time the Minoan culture grows in Crete. See also: Shaushka (Šauška) - the Great Goddess Copper - Ruddy Metal of Mystic Magic Herbology & Lore: Rowan (Mountain Ash) Early Bronze Age - excavations at Knossos on Crete show influence of Cycladic civilization between 3400 - 2000 BCE, with Cycladic pottery found at Knossos. Middle Bronze Age - Cycladic culture in the Middle Bronze age moves around, as shown by discovery of pottery and artifacts on Crete and mainland Greece. In some areas, Cycladic walls dating back to the Middle Bronze Age are built onto older walls. See also: Neolithic Europe - Danube Valley Culture Ereshkigal & the Mesopotamian Underworld Sun Goddesses of World Mythology Late Bronze Age - habitation of the islands is limited, but all work together if needed. The spectacular palaces and airy frescoes of Crete and Myceneae soon overtake the more rustic structure of the islands. On some islands, inhabitants erect large stone houses. Gender roles are distinctive and men and women fill specific roles. Women take care of domestic chores, livestock, spinning and weaving, milking, cooking, gathering and light agriculture. See also: Weather God of Zippalanda: Bronze Age Gods German Nature Spirits: Evolution Song of the Loreley Men go to sea, for trade or political advancement, build, work with stone, heavy materials and agriculture. The average age is early twenties, with women dying younger than men. Pottery constitutes much of what's left of the artifacts of Cycladic culture. Pottery making, styles, materials and trade helps organize Cycladic chronology. Evidence suggests pottery is among the primary trade goods especially during the Early Cycladic period. See also: Fertility Rituals - the Sacrificial God The Mystic Victorian - Fortune Telling Magic of Music & Cats Sylvia Rose Books on Smashwords Lora Ley Fantasy Fiction Series Reiker For Hire Murder Mysteries Sylvia Rose Art on Zazzle The 'frying pan' pottery is unique to the Cyclades. It's not used for cooking food and has a more ornamental purpose. This one depicts a boat with several rowers. In the 2nd millennium BCE, the Cyclades civilization ceases to exist. The people have migrated to the mainland and into the cultures of surrounding civilizations. Myceneae and Crete evolve as dominant forces. Cyclades statuettes are still in hot demand at the market. Today the Cyclades are a favorite vacation destination. See also: Wolpertinger - German Myths & Folklore Reiker For Hire, Victorian Era & Nixies Ambrosia: Divine Nectar & Immortal Gods Today's Zazzle Specials Smashwords Books Back to Top

Sun goddess of Arinna is also called Arinniti or Wuru(n)šemu (Wurusemu). She's the chief goddess of worship in the ancient near East, and in Hittite mythology acts as companion of the ruling weather god Tarḫunna. See also: Bull of Heaven - Inanna vs Gilgamesh Ancient Deities: Proto Indo European Gods Sun Goddesses of World Mythology Sylvia Rose Books on Smashwords Lora Ley Fantasy Fiction Series Reiker For Hire Murder Mysteries Sylvia Rose Art on Zazzle She protects the Hittite kingdom and is known as "Queen of All Lands." Her cult centre is the sacred city of Arinna near the Hittite capital Hattusa. In the 14th century she and her deific family were heavily favored by the Hittite King Mursili II. It may have been during the rabbit fever plague, which lasts twenty years and devastates population and country. The Sun goddess of Arinna is originally worshipped by the Hattian people who occupy part of Anatolia. Hattians call her Eštan, and Wurunšemu ("Mother of the land"). See also: Curse of the Evil Eye & Apotropaic Magic Tiamat - Queen of Chaos & the Sea Teshub: Hurrian Bronze Age Storm God Today's Zazzle Specials Smashwords Books When the Hittites arrive c. 1600 BCE, they're quick to assimilate the Hattians. To ease this process they adopt the Sun Goddess of Arinna as a major deity. Her messenger is the Eagle. The Sun goddess of Arinna and the weather god Tarḫunna are considered the Divine King and Queen of the Gods. They are named differently across cultures but perform the same functions. Sun Goddess of Arinna and stormy Tarḫunna have a daughter Mezulla, who also has a daughter. In the sacred city Arinna the Sun Goddess forms a divine trinity with her daughter Mezulla and grand-daughter Zintuḫi. See also: Lamashtu, Baby-Eating Demon Goddess of Mesopotamia Botanical Alchemy - White Dead Nettle Ancient Wild Predators - Eurasian Lion Sylvia Rose Books on Smashwords Lora Ley Fantasy Fiction Series Reiker For Hire Murder Mysteries Sylvia Rose Art on Zazzle Mezulla is a minor goddess with formidable power. As daughter of the chief deities she can act as intermediary with them for mortals. She also accompanies military campaigns. Her name simply means 'her daughter' as Zintuhi means 'granddaughter." In the 13th century BCE the priestess queen Puduhepa labored to organize and rationalize the religion of her people. An inscription reads Sun goddess of Arinna, my lady, you are the queen of all lands! In the land of Hatti you have assumed the name of Sun-Goddess of Arinna, but in respect to the land which you made of cedars, you have assumed the name Hebat. See also: Elderberry Tree: Germanic Nature Lore Goats in German Myth: Erntebock & Habergeiß Major Cities of the Ancient Near East Today's Zazzle Specials Smashwords Books Around the 14th century BCE, the Weather God of Zippalanda, the Weather God of Nerik and the corn god Telipinu are listed as sons of the Sun Goddess and Tarḫunna. The Sun Goddess of Arinna is also connected to the Sun Goddess of the Earth and the Sun God of Heaven. The sacred site of City of the Gods, Arinna is the place early Hittite Kings were ceremoniously crowned. The most important temple of the Sun goddess is in Arinna. A golden solar disc represents the Sun Goddess in her temples. The discs may be given by Hittite queens or other gift-givers. She also receives silver and copper discs. See also: Herbology & Lore: Death Cap Mushrooms The Anxious Victorian - Mental Health German Harvest Spirits - Dragons Sylvia Rose Books on Smashwords Lora Ley Fantasy Fiction Series Reiker For Hire Murder Mysteries Sylvia Rose Art on Zazzle Deer are sacred to the Sun goddess and are on her sacrificial lists. Cultic vessels such as rhytons in the shape of deer or deer heads serve as ritual ware. Golden deer statuettes from the Early Bronze Age were found in the Kızılırmak (Red) River, belonging to the Sun Goddess during the Hattian period. The Sun Goddess of Arinna is sometimes portrayed as a woman figure. Statuettes show her as a sitting goddess with a halo. She might have a child on her lap as in the top picture. See also: Before the Vikings - Early Northern Cultures Rhytons - Animal Vessels of the Ancients Rosemary: Immortal Essence & Balm of Kings Back to Top

In the history of the ancient near East, godly pantheons play a vital role in society and culture. In the Bronze Age (c. 3300 - 1200 BCE), individual cities and regions pay homage to one or more local gods. See also: Teshub: Hurrian Bronze Age Storm God Kaska - Mountain Raiders of Anatolia Ancient Wild Predators - Eurasian Lion Sylvia Rose Books on Smashwords Lora Ley Fantasy Fiction Series Reiker For Hire Murder Mysteries Sylvia Rose Art on Zazzle They include river, valley or field gods, the sun deity, protector gods, house spirits or even demons. Most habitations worship a particular patron of the town and the consorts or sukkals associated with that God/dess. A duality of worship occurs in the mid-Bronze age, with people and cultures mingling together in Anatolia, Mesopotamia and other near East regions. Some Goddesses such as Inanna (Ishtar) and Shaushka (Šauška) are worshipped cross-culturally and often identified with each other. Other god/desses are specific to certain towns. See also: Sun Goddesses of World Mythology Pagan Solstice Fests: Mithras & the Sun Mušḫuššu - Mythic Snake Dragon Sukkal Today's Zazzle Specials Smashwords Books The center of worship for the Weather God of Zippalanda is the Hittite city of Zippalanda, notable for its status as a sacred city. Only a few settlements can claim that title, including Hattusa, the capital city of the Hittite Empire in the mid Bronze Age. The Weather god of Zippalanda is originally a Hattic deity, worshipped by the Hattians who live in the area when the Hittites move in. As they often do, the Hittites adopt deities from the local culture. See also: Ancient Greece - the Mycenean Invasion Before the Vikings - Nordic Bronze Age Rosemary: Immortal Essence & Balm of Kings Today's Zazzle Specials Smashwords Books The Weather God has several names including Ziplantil, Wašezzili, Wašezzil and Wašezzašu. At Zippalanda, he's presented as son of Tarḫunna, the Weather God of Heaven, and Alanni, Sun Goddess of the Earth. In other origin myths he's a son of Tarhunna and the Sun Goddess of Arinna. Both Goddesses are linked with the Underworld. Although the Hittites have a powerful Weather God in Tarḫunna, they prefer integration over force. The Weather God of Zippalanda becomes an important figure in the Hittite multi-pantheon as the son of Tarhunna, and a Sun Goddess with netherworld associations. See also: Shaushka (Šauška) - the Great Goddess Rabbit Fever Plague & Warfare: Hittites Lelwani - Hittite Underworld Goddess Sylvia Rose Books on Smashwords Lora Ley Fantasy Fiction Series Reiker For Hire Murder Mysteries Sylvia Rose Art on Zazzle Nerik is another town with a localized Weather God, also a son of Tarhunna. The people of Nerik move him to a different city when Nerik is conquered by the Kaskians and the population flees. The Weather God is common to many religions as one of the most powerful deities. He's linked to vegetation growth, fair weather, natural disasters such as floods and storms. Agriculture, animal migrations and herd movements depend on the favor of the God. The neighboring Hurrian Weather God is Teshub. See also: Rhytons - Animal Vessels of the Ancients Bell Beaker Culture: European Bronze Age Silver - Queen of Precious Metals Today's Zazzle Specials Smashwords Books In the ancient near East, the dominant philosophy saw human beings as attendants to the Gods. As a race the humans were created by the Gods to serve them. Thus divine temples are kept immaculate, feast days observed, proper rituals performed and sacrifices made. In exchange, the Gods protect and care for humans. It's not uncommon for warlike groups to invade a town and carry off the icon or statue of the town's sacred patron God/dess. The divinities lived inside sacred objects, and the theft of an object is a depletion in the protective power of the deity. See also: Care & Feeding of Ancient Gods - Enlil What is a Ziggurat? Anatolia - Kārum City of Trade Kültepe Today's Zazzle Specials Smashwords Books Thus, counter-raids are staged to steal back the god, and run off with the enemy's primary god figures. If recovered the God/dess may be angry at having sacred images stolen or defiled, and withhold favor from their patron towns. Fear of bad luck can could further open the town to outside attack. Worshippers can be fickle. If their patron God/dess doesn't protect them, despite rites observed, offerings made and holy days kept, inhabitants of a town are prompted to switch gods. For instance when Nippur is sacked in 1230 BCE, the residents turn their backs on established god Enlil. They change allegiance and worship the Babylonian hero-god Marduk instead. See also: Ḫurri & Šeri - Hurrian Divine Bulls Ereshkigal Goddess of Underworld & Night Gold - Precious Metal of the Sun Sylvia Rose Books on Smashwords Lora Ley Fantasy Fiction Series Reiker For Hire Murder Mysteries Sylvia Rose Art on Zazzle The Weather god of Zippalanda is also revered as sender of rain and a fertility deity. He's called a lion among the gods, therefore cast as a divine hero. His palace temple in Zippalanda drew throngs of devotees. Today, its location is an archaeological mystery, although recent discoveries suggest it's the town of Uşaklı Höyük in central Turkey. See also: Earth Mother - Goddess of Life Blacksmiths: Iron, Metal, Gods & Myth Bronze Age Europe - The Amber Road Back to Top

Especially popular in the near East of the Bronze Age, rhytons (Gr. rhyta) were common for ceremonial purposes, displays of wealth or rank, or everyday imbibing. Animal-shaped drinking vessels originate from the humble bulls' horns and are also used in ancient Greece and Persia. In Georgia, eastern Europe, they're known as kantsi. See also: Bell Beaker Culture: European Bronze Age Kaska - Mountain Raiders of Anatolia Silver - Queen of Precious Metals Sylvia Rose Books on Smashwords Lora Ley Fantasy Fiction Series Reiker For Hire Murder Mysteries Sylvia Rose Art on Zazzle When Romans enter history c. 8th century BCE, they enthusiastically adopt the rhyton. 1600 years later Vikings also enjoy the use of drinking horns and rhytons. Early drinking horns come from horns of domestic bulls or wild Aurochs who still roam the forests and plains during the Bronze Age. Later, Romans hunt them nearly to extinction, and by the time of the Vikings Aurochs no longer exist in Scandinavia. See also: Cult of the Bull - Prehistoric Aurochs Iron Age - Metallurgy & Metal Magic Anatolia - Neolithic Town of Çatalhöyük Today's Zazzle Specials Smashwords Books Drinking vessels are often unique objects of trade or heritage as the mass market phenomenon was still an approaching blip in the distance. In ancient times each drinking horn or rhyton made from real horn is hand crafted. People have hundreds of years experience with metals. It's possible to cast molten metals, so a silver or goldsmith can produce similar work for clients. Bronze is also a castable metal, an alloy of tin and copper. See also: Botanical Alchemy - White Dead Nettle Neolithic Europe - Danube Valley Culture Pazuzu - Demon God of Mesopotamia Sylvia Rose Books on Smashwords Lora Ley Fantasy Fiction Series Reiker For Hire Murder Mysteries Sylvia Rose Art on Zazzle Rhyta range from the basic drinking horns to elaborate vessels of fine craftsmanship in the shape of an animal's head or body. Rhytons can be stylized to expressive, depending on artist and place of origin. They might be dedicated to a specific god. Especially in the Greek world, the horns may be embellished at the drinking end with the head of Dionysus, god of wine, theater and madness. See also: Before the Vikings - Early Northern Cultures Tiamat - Queen of Chaos & the Sea Rosemary: Immortal Essence & Balm of Kings Today's Zazzle Specials Smashwords Books In some rhyton constructions, the beverage goes into the flaring horn and the comes out the mouth of the animal. Other rhytons like the one above have filling tubes at back or top, and again the person drinks from the mouth of the beast. Drinking from a rhyton is often a show of skill. Some rhytons are impossible to set down without spilling the contents. Rhytons range from intricate designs embellished with gold, silver or gems, to plain ceramic. See also: Ancient Wild Predators - Eurasian Lion Ereshkigal Goddess of Underworld & Night Chicken Soup: Chickens in German Folklore Today's Zazzle Specials Smashwords Books The conical rhyton form has been known in the Aegean region since the Bronze Age, and drinking horns in general go back thousands of years. Near East artisans are creating animal-shaped stone vessels c. 6000 BCE. The earliest true rhytons appear in Thrace and Scythia (Iran). The Minoans of Crete were the first in the Aegean Sea region to produce rhytons. Subjects and rhyton shapes include wild animals such as lions or deer, domestic animals such as bulls, boats or a bunch of grapes. See also: Ḫurri & Šeri - Hurrian Divine Bulls Lead: Death Metal of Metallurgy Bull of Heaven - Inanna vs Gilgamesh Sylvia Rose Books on Smashwords Lora Ley Fantasy Fiction Series Reiker For Hire Murder Mysteries Sylvia Rose Art on Zazzle They can be four-footed, two-footed or consist of a horn with animal head resting on a base. The depiction of a conflict, hero or scene of the gods may be engraved on the horn or another part of the vessel. In Roman times, some rhytons were made of glass. The two bulls above are twin divinities Ḫurri & Šeri of the Anatolians. They pull the chariot of the Weather God Teshub. See also: Ancient Greek Cultures: People of Minoa Sun Goddesses of World Mythology Curse of the Evil Eye & Apotropaic Magic Back to Top

The Danube River flows through nearly a dozen countries including modern day Germany, Austria, Hungary, Romania, Bulgaria and Ukraine. Inspiration for romance, formation of early trade routes, Neolithic and advanced valley cultures, the Danube Valley is vibrant with history, myth and mystique. See also: Bronze Age - Corded Ware Culture Before the Vikings - Early Northern Cultures Pazuzu - Demon God of Mesopotamia Sylvia Rose Books on Smashwords Lora Ley Fantasy Fiction Series Reiker For Hire Murder Mysteries Sylvia Rose Art on Zazzle Among the world's early cultures, the Danube Valley group flourish in Neolithic times to the approximate beginning of the European Bronze Age in the 4th millennium BCE. The people worked the land, growing crops such as wheat, corn and barley. They delve into selective crop breeding and agricultural enhancements such as soil irrigation. Some food grains found in settlement areas date back to 9500 BCE, just after the end of the last ice age officially recognized as c.10,000 BCE. See also: Tiamat - Queen of Chaos & the Sea Ancient Greek Cultures: People of Minoa Rosemary: Immortal Essence & Balm of Kings Today's Zazzle Specials Smashwords Books Large areas of glaciation prevail in Canada and Northern Eurasia. To the south, the weather is mild enough to foster the development of advanced Neolithic cultures. Woven objects with natural materials include fences and walls of houses. Spinning, originally done by hand, first appears about 17,800 BCE in string skirts. Weaving came a few centuries later, about 12,000 BCE. The first incidence of fabric dyeing comes from the large Neolithic settlement at Çatalhöyük in southern Anatolia. Red dyes, possibly from red ocher are in demand in the Neolithic world. See also: Anatolia - Neolithic Town of Çatalhöyük Before the Vikings - Nordic Bronze Age Spiritual Magic - Numbers Three & Nine Today's Zazzle Specials Smashwords Books Early people in the Danube Valley keep a variety of domestic animals such as cattle, sheep, pigs and chickens. Dogs are part of the population as workers and protectors. Although there are signs of close bonds between dog and human, the concept of keeping pets did not arise until well into the Victorian era of the 19th century. The domestication of horses in c. 3800 BCE by the Ponti-Caspian Steppe people affect the Danube cultures about a thousand years later. Signs of domesticated horses go back to about 2800 BCE in Europe. By 2000 BCE the horse is found in the company of people throughout Eurasia for work, transportation and trade. See also: Cult of the Bull - Prehistoric Aurochs Divine Twins: Germanic & Greek Mythology Animal Spirits - Horse, Otter, Goose Sylvia Rose Books on Smashwords Lora Ley Fantasy Fiction Series Reiker For Hire Murder Mysteries Sylvia Rose Art on Zazzle The Danube Valley cultures use oxen to pull plows until the horse arrives. Those who cannot afford oxen hitch themselves or family members to the plow. The plow appears in agriculture c. 4000 - 3000 BCE, made of heavy wood which could create grooves in soil. Before the plow, planting was done by hand, possibly with a forked digging stick. The animal-drawn implement speeds up the process, meaning more seed in the soil, more food for the family and enough left over for trade. People supplement agriculture and domestic animal keeping with hunting aurochs, wild boar, deer and smaller animals. They also subsisted from fishing, and gathering berries, nuts, wild fruit and roots. See also: Spiritual Alchemy: Obsidian Volcanic Glass Ambrosia: Divine Nectar & Immortal Gods Immortal - Quest for the Elixir of Life Today's Zazzle Specials Smashwords Books Main sites of Danubian settlement and early cultures include Bylany in Bohemia and Köln-Lindenthal in Germany. In the Neolithic Age pottery and permanent habitations indicated the development of the people from nomadic hunter gatherers to more established agrarians. They practice animal husbandry as well as specialized crop breeding. Ruins of an early Neolithic village exist c. 4300 - 4100 BCE along the River Rhine on the outskirts of Cologne (Köln) or Köln-Lindenthal. The site contains the remains of timber long houses. Borrow pits, areas of earth dug up and moved to another area, attest to soil circulation. See also: German Myth & Folklore: Dwarfs Alchemist Dippel: the Frankenstein Files Mythical Gods of Ancient Germania Today's Zazzle Specials Smashwords Books Through the ages the settlement is almost constantly occupied. At least twenty-one houses or buildings existed at a time, surrounded by wall(s). The New Stone Agers liked their libations. The earliest clear evidence of beer brewing appear in c. 4000 BCE in Sumeria (Mesopotamia). Cross-culturally, honey mead is a drink of choice, but making mead involves a lot of honey, more than one hive or bee nest can provide, especially during feasts. The prevalent fermented drink of ancient Europe is made from wheat and other grains as agriculture develops throughout the land. From wild apples comes juice and cider. See also: Gnomes: Earth Spirits of Renaissance Mythology Women of the Wild Hunt: Holle, Diana, Frigg Sun Goddesses of World Mythology The Neolithic period heralds the beginning of a favorite modern dessert - pies. The pie appears in c. 9500 BC as a sweet treat of pastry dough filled with fruit, honey, butter and grains baked on hot coals. Apple cultivation begins c. 6800 in Mesopotamia. The origin of pastry comes from delicacies served to Egyptian rulers. Porridge is another food common in the Neolithic, made with grains boiled in milk. See also: Pagan Solstice Fests: Saturnalia Before the Vikings - Únětice Culture Anzû - Mesopotamian Monster of Mayhem Sylvia Rose Books on Smashwords Lora Ley Fantasy Fiction Series Reiker For Hire Murder Mysteries Sylvia Rose Art on Zazzle A standard tool of Neolithic settlers is the shoe-last celt, a long slender polished stone tool for digging and felling trees. The celt is an axe or adze head. It appears c. 7000 BCE with other tools such as chisels, often made from stones such as jadeite, diorite, or schist. See also: Curse of the Evil Eye & Apotropaic Magic Arsenic: Murderous Metal & Miracle Cure Ancient Greece - the Mycenean Invasion Back to Top

One of the most widespread of tribal groups, the Corded Ware culture of the Bronze Age inhabits most of northern Europe 3000 - 2350 BCE. Corded Ware people occupied southern coasts of Scandinavia, south to the Black Sea and west to France. See also: Spiritual Alchemy: Elements, Rocks & Plants Bronze Age Ancients - Catacomb Culture Before the Vikings - Early Northern Cultures Sylvia Rose Books on Smashwords Lora Ley Fantasy Fiction Series Reiker For Hire Murder Mysteries Sylvia Rose Art on Zazzle The Corded Ware culture is named for its pottery style, that of impressing rope made of hemp or flax into the damp clay. Corded Ware pottery has a distinctive style and this culture begat several sub-groups. It was once thought the Corded Ware evolved from the Yamnaya people of the Steppe. Later tests such as DNA matching show Corded Ware as a separate, co-existing culture. However the mass migrations of the Yamnaya infiltrated or otherwise affected almost every culture in the known world. See also: Bull of Heaven - Inanna vs Gilgamesh What is a Ziggurat? Pazuzu - Demon God of Mesopotamia Today's Zazzle Specials Smashwords Books A couple of centuries later, the Single Grave Cultures found at the Baltic and North Sea coasts come into prominence. They're thought to emerge from a branch of the Yamnaya through the Corded Ware and characterized by the practice of single burial. Grave goods such as battle axes, amber beads and pottery vessels are placed with the body. They're considered a subgroup of the Corded Ware. As the name suggests the Single Grave people bury their dead in individual graves. There may be several graves in a burial mound, or tumulus, one atop the other. It's not unusual to find more layers of single grave burials beneath the first. See also: Curse of the Evil Eye & Apotropaic Magic Arsenic: Murderous Metal & Miracle Cure Ancient Greece - the Mycenean Invasion Today's Zazzle Specials Smashwords Books Corded Ware territory of northern Europe covers a vast area. It stretches from the Rhine on the west to the Volga in the east, including most of modern-day Germany, the Netherlands, Denmark, Poland, Lithuania, Latvia, Estonia, Belarus, Czech Republic, Austria, Hungary, Slovakia, Switzerland, northwestern Romania, northern Ukraine, and the European part of Russia. It also expands to coastal Norway and the southern parts of Sweden and Finland. In the Early Bronze Age it dominates almost the entire Balkan Peninsula. Here the Corded Ware mix with other Steppe tribes and cultures. The spread of the people create localized traditions and myths. See also: Teshub: Hurrian Bronze Age Storm God Al-Mi'raj: Unicorn Hare of Arab Myth Blacksmiths: Iron, Metal, Gods & Myth Sylvia Rose Books on Smashwords Lora Ley Fantasy Fiction Series Reiker For Hire Murder Mysteries Sylvia Rose Art on Zazzle Subgroups of the Corded Ware culture include: Middle Dnieper culture c. 3200 BCE - possible bridge bet. Yamnaya & Corded Ware Fatyanovo–Balanovo culture - in the Russian forest regions since 2900 BCE Schnurkeramikkultur - prototypical: twisted cord pressed in wet clay to make patterns Single Grave culture - Neolithic groups c. 2800 BCE Scandinavian Battle Axe culture c. 2800 BCE Most tribe or clan groups at this time were part of a larger culture, adopting certain skills, beliefs, patterns, designs and techniques of those around them. Influences come in waves. Along with the previous Yamnaya migrations, they spread the languages of Indo-European people, which would later become German, English, Hungarian and others. See also: Botanical Alchemy - White Dead Nettle Gold - Precious Metal of the Sun Amber Trade - Bronze Age on the Baltic Back to Top

A demonic deity of protection and destruction, Pazuzu appears in the Iron Age in Mesopotamia, although his worship may go back further. His father is Hapnu, God of All Evil, also known as "the staggering one" or "the perverted one." A hybrid of several animals, Pazuzu is a fearsome creature whose presence frightens even misfortune away. See also: Lamashtu, Baby-Eating Demon Goddess of Mesopotamia Curse of the Evil Eye & Apotropaic Magic Anatolia - Alaca Höyük City of the Sun Sylvia Rose Books on Smashwords Lora Ley Fantasy Fiction Series Reiker For Hire Murder Mysteries Sylvia Rose Art on Zazzle A hybrid creature, Pazuzu has the body of a dog, with scales, and feet of birds' talons. He has two pairs of wings, tail of a scorpion, and a penis resembling a serpent. He has the horns of a gazelle, a canine snout and human ears. His eyes bulge and wrinkles etch his cheeks. In depictions he holds his right hand up and his left hand down. Pazuzu is sworn enemy and rival of demon baby-eating goddess Lamashtu, who attacks pregnant women, women in childbirth, nursing mothers and infants, the latter of which she devours with bone-crunching glee. In some stories she also eats human men. See also: German Myth - Harvest Spirits 3 Before the Vikings - Nordic Bronze Age Mythic Fire Gods - Vulkan of Germania Today's Zazzle Specials Smashwords Books Pazuzu is invoked as a protector against miscarriage, childbirth problems, ailments and infections after childbirth, sickness of mother or child, injury or infant death. Overall he nullifies the evil of Lamashtu. It's not from kindness, but rivalry. Worship of the demon incurs his pleasure. He's invoked in rituals. His likeness or personification is used in defense charms. He has two specific aspects. One is as a house spirit or demon, protecting the household. The other is a wild wind demon wandering the mountains. See also: German Myth & Folklore: Dwarfs Fairy Rings, Moon & Nature Magic Rosemary: Immortal Essence & Balm of Kings Today's Zazzle Specials Smashwords Books The Demon God Pazuzu is King of the liliu wind demons. These magical Mesopotamic entities are called hlilu in Akkadian sources, and lili in Sumerian. In a cuneiform tablet, the lilû are among other wicked beings from the myth and lore of Mesopotamia. The wicked Utukku who slays man alive on the plain. The wicked Alû who covers (man) like a garment. The wicked Edimmu, the wicked Gallû, who bind the body. The Lamme (Lamashtu), the Lammea (Labasu), who cause disease in the body. The Lilû who wanders in the plain. "They have come nigh unto a suffering man on the outside. They have brought about a painful malady in his body." Pazuzu is the god of the southwestern wind, and associated with the plague and general misfortune. Honoring the demon causes his curse to bypass the home. His powers can also frighten away unwanted guests or prowlers. See also: Iron Age - Metallurgy & Metal Magic Herbology & Lore - Chamomile Tumuli - Burial Mounds of the Bronze Age Sylvia Rose Books on Smashwords Lora Ley Fantasy Fiction Series Reiker For Hire Murder Mysteries Sylvia Rose Art on Zazzle As a protector deity Pazuzu stops his demonic subjects from swooping through and destroying the house. He repels the magic of Lamashtu and that of other evil spirits. Some sources equate him with the Egyptian Bes, another domestic demon entity. Worship of Bes spreads as far north as Syria. Inscriptions on backs of his statues ascribe him deific power. His name appears in ritual texts. To gain his favor and protection, people use spells, incantations and talismans. His image and artifacts would be set in various parts of the home or worn as personal protection. See also: Kaska - Mountain Raiders of Anatolia Winter Tales - 4 Novellas Herbology & Lore: Stinging Nettle Today's Zazzle Specials Smashwords Books Pazuzu is a popular deity in ancient Mesopotamia, as attested by artifacts and tablets in large numbers, suggesting they are mass-manufactured. Bronze or carved Pazuzu heads, in ornament or jewelry form, were thought to guard against sickness. Ritual writings from the city of Uruk, southern Mesopotamia, state a woman should be given a bronze necklace or amulet of Pazuzu to protect her from miscarriage due to the evil of Lamashtu. See also: Nixies - Lora Ley Fantasy Fiction Germanic Mythology - Brook Horses Bronze Age Europe - The Amber Road As wild wind god and mountain demon, Pazuzu says in a Sumerian/Akkadian literary text: "I am Pazuzu, son of Ḫanbu, king of the evil lilû-demons. I was enraged against the strong mountains and ascended them." Another text describes Pazuzu meeting other lilû demons. He breaks their wings to prevent them from doing harm. "I ascended a mighty mountain that shook, and the (evil) winds I encountered there were heading West; One by one I broke their wings." In other texts he plays a more malicious role. He's referred to as "Agony of Mankind", "Suffering of Mankind", "Disease of Mankind". Chants telling the demon to stay out of the house are among archaeological finds. See also: Ancient Deities: Proto Indo European Gods Mythic Fire Gods: Hephaestus of the Greek Alchemy Symbols - Circle, Snake & Lion Lord of the Wind Demons Pazuzu and his subjects belong to the class of Mesopotamian spirits known as the Wind Demons. Lilû seem to be based on the earlier Babylonian "Four Winds". The wind gods are winged, and each personification relates to a specific direction: north, east, south, west. Wind demons create storms, blizzards, twisters and tempests. Entities of destruction, they're kept under control by Pazuzu. In this way the demon becomes a mediator between humanity and nature, or nature spirits. He occupies a coveted place in the spirit hierarchy, revered both by mortals and his supernatural subjects. See also: Teshub: Hurrian Bronze Age Storm God Ancient Wild Predators - Eurasian Lion Major Cities of the Ancient Near East Sylvia Rose Books on Smashwords Lora Ley Fantasy Fiction Series Reiker For Hire Murder Mysteries Sylvia Rose Art on Zazzle One of Pazuzu's crowning achievements in popular culture is his appearance in the 70's Exorcist and Exorcist II movies. He's the demon who possesses Linda Blair's character, a little girl. The movie's now a classic. We still cringe at the pea soup scene. See also: Blacksmiths: Iron, Metal, Gods & Myth Ancient Greece - the Mycenean Invasion Spagyria - Botanical Science of Alchemy Back to Top

Alaca Höyük or Alacahöyük is a vibrant Anatolian Neolithic and Hittite settlement of great impact to the known world. It's located in north central Anatolia, or present day Turkey, in broad region of flourishing trade and development, linked by some of the earliest roads. See also: Anatolia - Kārum City of Trade Kültepe Asteria - Starry Gems of Myth & Magic Major Cities of the Ancient Near East Today's Zazzle Specials Smashwords Books In the Bronze Age, Mesopotamian civilization reaches unprecedented heights. The earliest written language comes from Kültepe, a major trade and administration center and kārum to the southeast. Gold begins to have financial value, Eurasian lions prowl the night, iron makes an appearance and Baltic amber is among the gems of choice on the trader's market. In the Near East, great empires rise. The mound or tumulus (Turkish - höyük) at Alacahöyük gives a picture of continuous settlement and development from the Chalcolithic Age, when earliest copper tools showed up along with use of stone tools c. 5000 BCE. See also: Copper - Ruddy Metal of Mystic Magic German Nature Spirits: Evolution Botanical Alchemy - White Dead Nettle Sylvia Rose Books on Smashwords Lora Ley Fantasy Fiction Series Reiker For Hire Murder Mysteries Sylvia Rose Art on Zazzle Copper is a metal easily found in nature and soft enough to work with tools without melting. Once enough heat is attained to melt copper it can be combined with other metals such as tin, creating bronze. During the Early Bronze Age, c. 3300, the habitations on the mound are active and people prosper. From this time the settlement is constantly occupied. It's a small village today. The Sphinx Gate, dating to the 2nd millennium BCE, the older Royal Tombs and the mound itself are part of the legacy of the early people. See also: Ereshkigal Goddess of Underworld & Night Cult of the Bull - Prehistoric Aurochs Anatolia - Neolithic Town of Çatalhöyük Today's Zazzle Specials Smashwords Books Fourteen shaft graves from 2850–2450 BCE have been uncovered. The Royal Tombs are about 1.5 m (5 ft) below ground, sealed by beams of wood. In the tombs the dead are placed with folded legs, facing west. Raised platforms hold the heads and legs of bulls. The corpse is richly dressed, adorned with gold and gold leaf figurines, given personal items, weapons, ornaments. Bronze and silver talismans or utensils are placed in the tomb along with other valuable objects. See also: Gold - Precious Metal of the Sun Hyssop (Hyssopus) - Plant of Mystic Lore Before the Vikings - Nordic Bronze Age Sylvia Rose Books on Smashwords Lora Ley Fantasy Fiction Series Reiker For Hire Murder Mysteries Sylvia Rose Art on Zazzle Gold plays a large part in burial and a lot of solar imagery appears. One tomb contains a golden diadem, two copper mace heads, a bronze sun standard, animal statuette, small gold and silver ornaments, vessels of gold and clay, metal artefacts, two axes, five pairs of twin idols made of gold, and three female figurines. In another tomb (5 x 2.3 m or 16.5 x 7.5 ft) a golden diadem is found. Other grave contents include four sun standards, an animal statuette, metal ornaments, pieces of an iron object and two metal anthropomorphic figurines. See also: Warrior Queen: Kriemhild of the Burgundians Wine God Liber: Liberty & Liberal Libation Alchemist Dippel: the Frankenstein Files Today's Zazzle Specials Smashwords Books Numerous dams surround the city, due a decree from its King, Tudhaliya IV, in the 2nd century. A massive drought and famine hit the land and the King had to import wheat from Egypt. He ordered several dams built as water reservoirs. One still survives. A gold-handled dagger of iron was found in a grave at Alacahöyük. Dated as early as 2500 BCE, this shows a progressive understanding of metallurgy especially as blacksmiths and farriers didn't appear until at least a thousand years later. See also: Tumuli - Burial Mounds of the Bronze Age Winter Tales - 4 Novellas Herbology & Lore: Stinging Nettle The mound itself is an archaeologist's dream. Each generation builds atop the previous, giving people a perfect cross-section of life through the ages. Some mounds are historically immense, such as Neolithic Çatalhöyük which goes down at least eighteen layers. The dead were incorporated into the dwelling place. The mound of Alacahöyük is close with at least fourteen layers. The top levels come from the Phrygian, Roman, and Ottoman Empires. There's evidence of a Hittite village at one end. The Early Bronze Age layers incorporate the Royal Tombs. See also: Women of the Wild Hunt: Holle, Diana, Frigg Bronze Age Culture - Rise of Heavy Metals Ziu - Ancient Sky God of Germania Today's Zazzle Specials Smashwords Books The city is well fortified with towers and walls, due to frequent raids by the Kaska people from the northern mountains. They were Bronze Age tribal people not of the Indo-European cultural mix. Because of the Kaska, the Hittite Empire is unable to expand north to the Black Sea coast. The mountain people are less organized but impossible to beat in their craggy demesnes and flash attacks. When they aren't raiding the neighbors they ply their trade as mercenaries, raise pigs and weave linen. See also: Reiker For Hire, Victorian Era & Nixies German Myth - Werewolves Bronze Age Afterlife & Burial Beliefs Sylvia Rose Books on Smashwords Lora Ley Fantasy Fiction Series Reiker For Hire Murder Mysteries Sylvia Rose Art on Zazzle Archaeological digs at the site reveal the city is a site of wealth and progress even before the Hittites. Earliest occupation goes back to the 4th millennium BCE. Tombs of the 3rd millennium BCE contain metal vessels, jewelry, weapons, pole finials or bronze standards of bulls, stags and abstract forms which are perhaps solar symbols. See also: Beautiful Music Original Art Happy Friday! Tidbits & Trivia What is the Philosopher's Stone? Back to Top

The charismatic Vikings made themselves known in the 8th century CE. At the time Christianity was seven centuries old. The Ages of Metal had passed into history by 550 BCE. The reindeer people, the Sámi, lived in the northern reaches of Scandinavia during the European Bronze Age from c. 3300 BCE. See also: Bronze Age Cultures - Trzciniec Bronze Age Afterlife & Burial Beliefs Cleopatra the Alchemist of Greece Sylvia Rose Books on Smashwords Lora Ley Fantasy Fiction Series Reiker For Hire Murder Mysteries Sylvia Rose Art on Zazzle Civilizations in Greece, Egypt, China, the Indus Valley and Levant flourish with trade and business during the southern Bronze Age. In China, the Yangtze River Valley is a hub of commerce and activity. In 1600 BCE a dominant force appears in the Mediterranean as the future ancient Greece, the Myceneans, gradually assimilate the Bronze Age Minoan culture. In Egypt, royal decree makes gold an item of monetary value in 1500 BCE. See also: Ancient Greek Cultures: People of Minos Zircon - the Primordial Gemstone Apis - Sacred Sacrificial Bull of Egypt In Scandinavia, the Nordic Bronze Age lasts from 1700 to 500 BCE, while the southern lands come into a series of crises and collapse and stagger into the Iron Age. Subsequently the north undergoes major changes including the rise of the Battle Axe Culture of the Nordic Bronze Age. Today's Zazzle Specials Smashwords Books The Battle Axe culture evolved from earlier Corded Ware pottery cultures of northern Europe and the Baltic. A Copper Age people, also called Boat Axe, they emerged from the progress and industry of the metal ages. See also: Women of Alchemy - Mary the Jewess Copper - Ruddy Metal of Mystic Magic The Many Faces of Frau Holle The first of these was the Copper or Chalcolithic, when the Neolithic people gained skill at mastering the golden ruddy metal in its raw form. Copper is one of the seven Metals of Antiquity and has a low melting point in metallurgy. From 2800 to 2300 BCE the Battle Axe people thrived on the coastal areas of southern Scandinavia and Finland, mingling with an even earlier people, the Funnelbeaker culture, active from c. 4300–2800 BCE. See also: Spagyria - Botanical Science of Alchemy Mythic Fire Gods - Vulkan of Germania Silver - Queen of Precious Metals Sylvia Rose Books on Smashwords Lora Ley Fantasy Fiction Series Reiker For Hire Murder Mysteries Sylvia Rose Art on Zazzle The Funnelbeaker are credited with strong developments in agriculture, animal domestication and husbandry. They taught the pottery people how to farm and grow crops. From this rich intermingling comes the Battle Axe culture, who first emerge in Scania at the south tip of Sweden in 2800 BCE. As it progresses the Battle Axe culture absorbs another early people along the Scandinavian coasts, the Pitted Ware Culture. See also: Tumuli - Burial Mounds of the Bronze Age Amber Trade - Bronze Age on the Baltic Spiritual Alchemy - Touching the Divine Interest grows in the shining ruddy gold metal imported from the south through developing trade channels. Copper was somewhat known since c. 4000 BCE in the north. The Nordic Copper Age takes hold in 3800 BCE and lasts until 1700 BCE, the beginning of the Nordic Bronze Age. Today's Zazzle Specials Smashwords Books Battle Axe then occupies further coastal areas around the Baltic, North Sea and Scandinavian peninsula. Battle Axe settlements are found above the Arctic Circle as far north as Tromsø, Norway. See also: Alchemy Symbols - Circle, Snake & Lion Divine Twins: Germanic & Greek Mythology Mythic Fire Gods - Vulkan of Germania There they would have overlapped Sámi territory. The Battle Axes seem content to leave the far northern reaches in the hands of the reindeer people. Further south, routes of trade and settlement open up with the North Sea people, the Baltic cultures, Greece and the hot shifting sands of Egypt. Some routes follow the paths of the Amber Road from 1600 BCE and earlier. See also: Weapons & Warfare of Bronze Age Europe 2 Phosphorus: Element of Fatal Fascination Reiker For Hire, Victorian Era & Nixies Sylvia Rose Books on Smashwords Lora Ley Fantasy Fiction Series Reiker For Hire Murder Mysteries Sylvia Rose Art on Zazzle From their early origins on the Ponti-Caspian Steppe and subsequent migration of these tribes, the Battle Axe culture carries the blood of ancient horse people and warriors. By 2300 they own the northern coastlines, almost five hundred years before the the Nordic Bronze Age fires up in c. 1750. Today's Zazzle Specials Smashwords Books Identity as a single people wanes and the Battle Axe vanish into the overall mingling of cultures. The Battle Axe culture held sway for five hundred years (comparatively, the USA is 247 years old). In that time it was one of the most influential elements of Nordic Bronze and Copper Age history. See also: Weapons & Warfare of Bronze Age Europe 1 Nature Spirits of German Mythology Bronze Age Culture - Rise of Heavy Metals Back to Top

The Battle Axe Culture precedes the Nordic Bronze age (1700 - 500 BCE). Originally a branch of the Steppe people from the Ponti-Caspian grasslands, the Battle Axe culture came from those who went north during mass migrations of the 4th century BCE. Jump to: Battle Axe Burials Battle Axe Settlements Culture & Economy Overview The Steppe people come from Proto-Indo-European roots. They were fringe agriculturalists and the first to domesticate the horse. They were known for their fierce raiding attacks on other tribes. See also: Animal Spirits - Horse, Otter, Goose Before the Vikings: Battle Axe Culture Amber Trade - Bronze Age on the Baltic Sylvia Rose Books on Smashwords Lora Ley Fantasy Fiction Series Reiker For Hire Murder Mysteries Sylvia Rose Art on Zazzle During the migrations, some groups went to the East, southern England, Spain or the Minoan island Crete. They brought with them the Proto-Indo-European language, the source of many modern languages. Blood of the warrior ran through their veins but differences abounded. Some chose an agricultural life, some a nomadic one. Climate ruled the work of the seasons or location of the hunt, and neighbors exchanged cultural differences with the newcomers, usually on friendly terms. As use of metal weapons grew, the terms weren't always as friendly. See also: Weapons & Warfare of Bronze Age Europe 1 Spiritual Alchemy - Touching the Divine Before the Viking Age - Gods of the Sámi Today's Zazzle Specials Smashwords Books The Corded Ware forged a way toward the shores of the Baltic Sea. Some Corded Ware people had evolved into Battle Axe by the time they reached the Baltic in 2800 BCE. It wasn't long before the Battle Axe absorbed another culture, the Pitted Ware, and scattered along the coasts of Scandinavia and Finland to dominate the North. Despite their name they were more fond of assimilating existing northern cultures than killing them. Battle Axe Burials The culture is named for the boat-shaped battle axes found in burial sites. There are about 250 Battle Axe grave sites in Sweden alone. 3000 battle axes have been found throughout Scandinavia, fewer to the far north where the Sámi or reindeer people dwell. See also: Myth & Metallurgy - Metals of Antiquity What is the Philosopher's Stone? Sulfur - Treasure of the Underworld In burials, the body was placed in a single flat grave with no tumulus. The graves point north-south, with the deceased in a flexed position facing East. Men are placed on their left side, women on their right. Personal items and weapons are placed with the body. Flint axes are common to both male and female burials. With males, battle axes are placed near the head, considered to be status symbols. Ceramics of the Corded Ware style and other grave goods such as arrowheads, weapons of antler, amber beads, and polished flint axes and chisels, are found in various graves. Animal remains in burial sites include those of red deer, sheep, and goat. See also: Earth Mother - Goddess of Life Bronze Age: Ancient Tribes, Metal & Myth Women of the Wild Hunt: Holle, Diana, Frigg Battle Axe graves differ from those of nearby and preceding cultures. The previous Funnelbeaker culture for example had collective megalithic graves with several sacrifices, while the Battle Axe created individual gravesites with a single sacrifice. Because of this they're often called the Single Grave culture. Today's Zazzle Specials Smashwords Books The earliest evidence of cremation in Scandinavia comes from the Battle Axe culture, with a long house containing burnt remains of six people. It may be evidence of trade or close contact with central European cultures who began to practice cremation by the 12th century BCE. Cremation and earth burial create sociologic and historical trends as one is widely favored for a while, then the other prevails. See also: Sacrificial Creation Myths: Early People Intro Alchemy: Science, Philosophy, Magic Rise of Pan: Fertility Goat God Péh₂usōn Sylvia Rose Books on Smashwords Lora Ley Fantasy Fiction Series Reiker For Hire Murder Mysteries Sylvia Rose Art on Zazzle Battle Axe Settlements Back to Top There aren't a lot of Battle Axe culture settlements remaining. In southern Sweden archaeologists find a close spatial relation between houses and graves. Farms, farmsteads and agriculture were central to the society and economy of the Battle Axe culture. The coastal regions of the north lands is inhabited by a Pitted Ware culture and the Battle Axe is positioned slightly inland. We do know Battle Axe co-existed and eventually merged with the hunter-gatherer Pitted Ware society. Coastal distribution of settlements multiplied. See also: Apis - Sacred Sacrificial Bull of Egypt Tumuli - Burial Mounds of the Bronze Age Ancient Greek Cultures: People of Minos Most of the Bronze or Copper Age habitations along the coast and inland have been plowed under or disintegrated and returned to the earth. Items of daily life were meant more for utility than permanence, although enough early pottery and stonework survives to give valuable clues to those who once walked this land. Today's Zazzle Specials Smashwords Books Some people still maintained a nomadic lifestyle. As time went on, they settled into patterns of hunting, fishing and possibly short-season crop growing or natural cultivation of the land to yield more produce in seasonal cycles. See also: Nixies - Lora Ley Fantasy Fiction German Nature Spirits: Evolution Mythic Fire Gods - Vulkan of Germania Culture & Economy Back to Top Cattle herding and trade created much of the economic basis for the Battle Axe people. The coastal people joined in unity and a strong seafaring society emerged. The sea became the basis for commerce and travel. The Battle Axe people traveled up and down the coast exchanging goods. Amber was a valuable contribution from the depths of the stormy northern seas. At one time, the area surrounding present day Gdansk, Poland, was the midst of a massive primeval coniferous forest. See also: Bronze Age Afterlife & Burial Beliefs Rosemary: Immortal Essence & Balm of Kings Spiritual Alchemy - Attuning the Self Sylvia Rose Books on Smashwords Lora Ley Fantasy Fiction Series Reiker For Hire Murder Mysteries Sylvia Rose Art on Zazzle Amber is fossilized resin, turned to a gem-like state after hundreds of millions of years. The forest was eventually covered by the sea, and that is why the Baltic sea storms throw chunks and nuggets of amber to shore. Many ornaments, talismans and jewelry of amber find their way into Battle Axe burial sites. See also: Lora Ley Adventures - Feast of Fools Phosphorus: Element of Fatal Fascination Hyssop (Hyssopus) - Plant of Mystic Lore Back to Top

Among the Proto-Indo-European Yamna or Yamnaya tribes the Sun Goddess reigned, and before her came the Dawn. The Yamna, also called the Horse or Steppe people, were among the earliest to colonize vast swathes of land. Their ancestors settled the Steppe about 6400 - 3500 BCE. See also: German Deities: Sonne the Sun Goddess Earth Mother - Goddess of Life Baltic Amber - Gold of the North Sylvia Rose Books on Smashwords Lora Ley Fantasy Fiction Series Reiker For Hire Murder Mysteries Sylvia Rose Art on Zazzle With them they brought the culture of the Sun Goddess, the Earth Mother, Sky God, Divine Twins, Goddess of the Dawn and creation mythology. The people dwelt south of the Danube between the northern Caspian and Black Seas. It was the Yamna who first domesticated horses on the Ponti-Caspian steppe. Before the Bronze Age of c. 3300 BCE, the people worked with stone and natural metals such as copper, one of the metals of antiquity. Metal mining for gold, silver and copper began in Egypt 3700 to 3000 BCE. See also: Warrior Queen: Kriemhild of the Burgundians Wine God Liber: Liberty & Liberal Libation Nature Spirits of German Mythology Metals such as copper and gold were associated with the Sun and came to represent this solar deity in mythologies throughout the world. The ruddy glow of copper pays homage to the dawn. Today's Zazzle Specials Smashwords Books for Authors & Readers In the Proto-Indo-European cosmology H₂éwsōs or Hausos is the Goddess of the Dawn and sister to the Divine Twins. She's considered the predecessor of the Dawn Goddess Aurora of the Romans, and the Greek Sun God Helios, both of whom bear versions of her name. In some mythology Dawn combines with the Sun Goddess. See also: Rosemary: Immortal Essence & Balm of Kings Agrippina & Son: Poisonous Plots of Rome Winter Tales - 4 Novellas Sylvia Rose Books on Smashwords Lora Ley Fantasy Fiction Series Reiker For Hire Murder Mysteries Sylvia Rose Art on Zazzle The Dawn Goddess is up before the Sun to drive away the night and tinge the dark horizon with her soul-warming light. In the far north lands of endless night, the appearance of the Dawn is a symbol of hope and cause for celebration as her visits grow longer. Even today hope is associated with the Dawn. Vampires and evil spirits lose their powers at dawn. The cock crows when he sees the glow of her face. The new day is a blessing of beginnings, replaying the birth-life-death-rebirth cycles at measurable intervals. In the days of prehistory, understanding of her steady but slowly fluctuating appearance measures time and rules the activity of farmers and nomads alike. See also: Weapons & Warfare of Bronze Age Europe 1 Bronze Age Europe - The Amber Road Immortal - Quest for the Elixir of Life Calendars based on the movement of the Sun or Moon or both were known since 9,000 BCE. The first official calendar was Sumerian, c. 2,100 BC in which a year is divided into 12 lunar months of 29 or 30 days. Each month began with the sighting of a new moon. Around 2050 BCE the Egyptians came out with their own version, the first solar calendar. Today's Zazzle Specials Smashwords Books for Authors & Readers In many mythologies the Dawn and Dawn Goddess are celebrated as bringer of light. In Proto-Indo-European myth, she's the daughter of the Sky or Sky God. In nature myth the name of a God or Goddess is often also the physical manifestation, making no distinction between the deity and the event. See also: Bronze Age Culture - Rise of Heavy Metals Spagyria - Botanical Science of Alchemy Arsenic: Murderous Metal & Miracle Cure Sylvia Rose Books on Smashwords Lora Ley Fantasy Fiction Series Reiker For Hire Murder Mysteries Sylvia Rose Art on Zazzle The German Goddess Ēostre also takes her name from the Proto-Indo-European root H₂éwsōs, though she's celebrated as a Goddess of the season of Spring rather than the spirit of dawn. Her meaning, of cycles, rebirth and beginnings, is similar to that of the Dawn Goddess. Other Dawn Goddesses include the Slavic Zorya, Hindu Ushas and Greek Eos. In Sioux mythology, Anpao, spirit of the dawn, has two faces. In Munag Sumalâ, the golden Kapampangan serpent child of Aring Sinukuan represents dawn. Colors associated with the Dawn goddess are those of the Sun: hues of red, gold, saffron, orange, amber, yellow and white. See also: Mythic Fire Gods: Hephaestus of the Greek Silver - Queen of Precious Metals Agrippina & Son: Poisonous Plots of Rome Back to Top