The Names of the Forsaken and Their Potential Paronyms

[Caelan Arendor]

I delved into literature and the internet in order to explore to which the Forsakens' names evoke parallels to mythological or religious figures, with a particular emphasis on Jewish-Christian doctrine.

 

 

I would like to begin at this point with Ishamael, an unmistakable paronym of Samael (Heb. סמאל), a multifaceted figure in rabbinic literature and Jewish mysticism. In contrast to Christian doctrine—where the Devil represents fallen angels cast out of heaven by God—“devils,” insofar as they are mentioned in the Torah or the Talmud at all, are more accurately understood as instruments of divine will and a sort of heavenly minion. 

 

Samael’s profile is shaped primarily in the Midrashim, in kabbalistic writings and in apocryphal gospels. There he resembles the later Christian concept of the angel of death, a heavenly prosecutor and a tester of humankind.  He is also said to be the consort of the demoness Lilith, a female figure who fascinates me far more than the simpleminded Eve of the Christian creation narrative.

 

Taken together, the original figure of Samael seems to me far less malevolent than Jordan’s chief villain Ishamael in his epic. Next time we shall try to shed light to an another forsaken and where his (or her name) could have been borrowed from.

 

[Caelan Arendor]

Here follow some links to "Lilith" portraits (probaly even the first "wife" to Adam, before he was provided with his "rib wife" Eve)

 

https://printler.com/at/poster/347931/

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lilith (Wiki)

https://www.reddit.com/r/Diablo/comments/14julz1/my_take_on_lilith/?tl=de

 

[Andra]

12 hours ago, Caelan Arendor said:

I delved into literature and the internet in order to explore to which the Forsakens' names evoke parallels to mythological or religious figures, with a particular emphasis on Jewish-Christian doctrine.

 

 

I would like to begin at this point with Ishamael, an unmistakable paronym of Samael (Heb. סמאל), a multifaceted figure in rabbinic literature and Jewish mysticism. In contrast to Christian doctrine—where the Devil represents fallen angels cast out of heaven by God—“devils,” insofar as they are mentioned in the Torah or the Talmud at all, are more accurately understood as instruments of divine will and a sort of heavenly minion. 

 

Samael’s profile is shaped primarily in the Midrashim, in kabbalistic writings and in apocryphal gospels. There he resembles the later Christian concept of the angel of death, a heavenly prosecutor and a tester of humankind.  He is also said to be the consort of the demoness Lilith, a female figure who fascinates me far more than the simpleminded Eve of the Christian creation narrative.

 

Taken together, the original figure of Samael seems to me far less malevolent than Jordan’s chief villain Ishamael in his epic. Next time we shall try to shed light to an another forsaken and where his (or her name) could have been borrowed from.

 

Ishamael cannot be a reference to Samael.  That job is already taken - by Sammael.

Ishamael is almost certainly a reference to Ishmael - someone who was promised to rule over men, with twelve sons chosen to be princes under him.  The name he went by in the Trolloc Wars - Ba'alzamon - is a combination of Ba'al and Beelzebub.

 

It's true that many of the names of the Forsaken appear to be direct references to characters from the Abrahamic religions, and others from pagan mythology, but some of those references are for their given names and some are for their assumed names as Forsaken.

 

For example, it appears that Lilith is referenced in Moghedien's original name - Lillen Moiral.

[Caelan Arendor]

4 hours ago, Andra said:

Ishamael cannot be a reference to Samael.  That job is already taken - by Sammael.

Ishamael is almost certainly a reference to Ishmael - someone who was promised to rule over men, with twelve sons chosen to be princes under him.  The name he went by in the Trolloc Wars - Ba'alzamon - is a combination of Ba'al and Beelzebub.

 

It's true that many of the names of the Forsaken appear to be direct references to characters from the Abrahamic religions, and others from pagan mythology, but some of those references are for their given names and some are for their assumed names as Forsaken.

 

For example, it appears that Lilith is referenced in Moghedien's original name - Lillen Moiral.

Thanks a lot for your clarification, now I guess I have to revise my opinion and delve deeper into the topic. Thanks again.