References

[Paviel]

I guess it isn't a secret that the Wheel of Time series borrows quite a bit from real-world history and religion, so I thought I'd ask what your favorite references are.

 

To get the ball rolling, so to speak, I thought that Galad was particularly clever. Not only is he a reference to Galahad, the best of King Arthur's knights, but his name also means "Light" in Sindarin (or Elvish, if you prefer). Considering that, like the elves in the Lord of the Rings, Galad is often described as inhumanly perfect, and considering that he is now the Lord Captain Commander of the Children of the Light, I do not think that this is a coincidence.

[Dashiva]

i liked how RJ gave Rand wounds similiar to that of Jesus Christ. herons on each hand, the crown of swords that pricks him occasionally, and the half healed-never healed wound in his side. Rand always thinks thats the wound that will kill him, which is what killed Jesus. Also all the references to healing the dead 3 days gone.  I could be wrong but at least thats what i thought. And also Tarmon Gaidan (sp?) sounds alot like Armeaggedean.

[Luckers]

Actually Jesus would have suffocated--at least given the length he was on the crucifix that is the most probable cause of death.

 

Here is a fairly good listing of links--though far from complete. Take a look, its pretty interesting especially in connecting names and their sources. http://www.steelypips.org/wotfaq/3_sources/index.html

[Leopoled Boothe]

This may or may not be a reference used by Robert Jordan but if it is it is a rather obsure one that I've noted.  The Babylonians had a storm goddess by the name of Ninlil a name that sounds somewhat similar to Nyneave.  Nyneave, of couse, is not a storm goddess but she does have a tallent for predicting storms of all sorts.  Moreover, she also played a significant role in searching for and using the bowl of the winds thus giving here further connections to the weather.

 

Ninlil was later adopted by the Cananites where she evolved into the demoness, Lilith.  In Hebrew culture Lilith was the first wife of Adam who was expelled from Eden for refusing to be submissive to the man and wanting to be his equal.  Nyneave is also a bit of a feminist and certainly refuses to be submissive to any man.  While Nyneave seems to have displayed mostly Lilith-like qualities thus far her name kind of sounds like a combination of Ninlil and Eve so I have to wonder if she represents both of Adam's wives and may later take on more Eve-like characteristics (eg submissive and motherly).   This may also be a refernce to the Sea Folk wedding custom in which she can be Lilith in public but must be Eve in private (so to speak).

[Luckers]

There was a Nyneve in Arthurian Legend... the lover of Merlin.

[DemandredFO]

Nyneave will NEVER be submissive (except for the weird seafolk wedding) but the the Malkeri scene is I think a transformative moment.  I like R.J.s Lord of the rings references, naming one of his inns the Nine Rings, referencing a story abouts rings of power or something, etc.

[aussie_ashaman123]

Its not historical, but does anyone here play Warhammer from Games Workshop? They have a High Elf Army, which includes elven Swordmasters, the best swordsmen in the world, who vow to protect the White Tower of Hoerth, a place where magic is taught.

 

Historically, Jesus, our saviour figure, had 2 disciples called Matthew, close to Matrim, and onw Peter, close to Perrin. Thomas (Thom) was another disciple, and then there is Mary, or Morraine

[Dreadlady]

Tracking down references can be such fun.

 

On Rand's lost hand..

I vaguely remember a Celtic myth about the king of the Tuatha de Dannon (sp) who lost his hand, and an elven smith made a silver one to replace it.

 

Unicorn..

Did anyone notice the unicorn that chased Nynaeve and Elayne in the World of Dreams?

 

That's all I can think of now...

[Leopoled Boothe]

Nyneave will NEVER be submissive (except for the weird seafolk wedding) but the the Malkeri scene is I think a transformative moment.  I like R.J.s Lord of the rings references, naming one of his inns the Nine Rings, referencing a story abouts rings of power or something, etc.

 

That's very true, however, she could become more motherly. If in fact I guess she is pretty motherly already in that she constantly wants to protect the other Emond's Feilders.  Eve is also know as the mother of all and while I don't Nyn will ever be that she could play a role in repopulating a new Malkiar, and in a since be the mother of the new Malkiar.

[Guest Dreadlord]

Something I dont know if anyone has noticed, is that when Lan names all the Trolloc tribe names they are similar to words like goblin, gremlin, demon, devil etc.

 

Anyone here play Dungeons and Dragons? I am a player myself and have noticed that of all WoT characters, Perrin is the one that fits into a character class the most. He is a ranger all the way.

[42Bonzo88]

    What I like is how the landscape changed at the breaking. You can look at references there also. The Lost city of Atlantis, the Anazasi (not sure of the spelling) indian tribe that disapeared without a trace. Then of course you have the statues and things all over Randland that have been there for centuries. Easter Island, Stonehenge, etc.

    The Bible talks of two major upheavals where things like this could have occured (the destruction). The Flood, and the earthquakes after Jesus' death.

What do you think?