Sources of Names and Phrases that RJ used

[Guest Jourous]

This is my first post so if this has been addressed elsewhere please forgive me. I would very much like your opinion on whether I am right on these as well as if anyone knows the origin of other names, words and phrases that Mr. Jordan used in the books. I am fascinated by the linguistic and mythological origins of the words and phrases he used in the books. I would like to compile as complete a list as possible of sources for as many things as possible. I hope ultimately to pin down in a general way the structure of the "Old Tongue" and see what linguistics origin(s) it had. I hope that many people will be as fascinated by this topic as I am but if not I would ask that you would please at least indulge me by giving of the vast collected knowledge that the members of this site have.

 

Here are the characters and major words or phrases from the books and where I believe they came from in our world.

The very first one I will show is the Dark One. Shai'tan=Shatan(sp)=Satan Shatan is the Islamic version of satan.

The 12 principal tribes of Trollocs

Ah’frait= Efreet or Ifrit=Islamic Demons

Al’ghol = Ghoul

Bhansheen= Banshee= Undead Spirit that kills with it's keen or cry or wail.

Dhjin’nen =Djinni or Jinni or Jinn or Genie=Arabic Demons/Spirits

Ghar’ghael= Gargoyle

Ghob’lin= Goblin

Gho’hlem= Golem=a creature animated by magic in the jewish tradition

Ghraem’lan= Gremlin

Ko’bal= Kobold a small goblinoid creature from what I think is Anglo-Saxon or Nordic Myth

Kno’mon = Gnome

Dha’vol= Devil

Dhai’mon = Demon

 

Some of the Forsaken Names

 

Nae'bliss=Iblis Oblis is the king of the djinn and efreets and demons and whatever else the spitritual monsters in the islamic tradition are called. He sort of holds a spot akin to satan however most important is that he is the first among the demons. SInce so many of the Forsaken have names of demons it makes sense to refer to the leader of all the demons and forsaken,,just under the Shatan, as Ibliss or Nae'bliss

 

Aginor=Angra Mainyu this God/Demon is also known as Ahriman and was known to create Devas which were supernatural monsters much like Shadowspawn.

Asmodean= Asmodeus or Ashmedai Who was a major demon in the Jewish demonology tradition. He was also worshipped in the middle east by some peoples as a god.

Be'lal= Belial or Ba'al also a Major Demon in the same tradition and also worshipped by some in that area.

Graendal= Grendal and his Mother.  I have seen many arguments back and forth on whether Graendal is related to the story of Beowulf. I believe it is and I believe that there are 2 levels to this one. Remember that Graendal was known for havning a complete and total personality transformation She was completely twisted from the good that she was to the evil she became. This is what the creature Grendal is is a twisting of the good of Hrothgar and the evil of his mother into a monster. On a more subtle but I think more important level I believe the fact that Grendals mother seduces Hrothgar and then compels him to leave her in peace,even though  their son is killing some of Hrothgar's people and their animals. SHe has compelled a king to do her bidding and made him her pet. That sounds a lot like what Graendal does,of course mutated somewhat for the books, but with the basic background being the same.

 

Ishamael=Ishmael I think that the term Forsaken is very important here. In the story of Ishmael he and his mother Hagar were turned out of Abraham's camp sometime after Abraham's son Isaac was born with Abraham's wife being the mother. Isaac displaced Ishmael as Abraham's heir. After God assured Abraham that they would survive Abraham's sent them away into the desert alone. In a very real sense Ishmael was forsaken by Abraham and Sarah. And in later times the tribes that broke off from the original Ishmaelite tribe became enemies of the Israelites.

The one I am probably the most sure of is that Lanfear=Lillith The actual translation of Lillith's name is Demon of the night Or that is one way to interpret it. Woman of the night is another way to intrepret it. Lillith was purported to come to men while they were sleeping and assault them,perhaps in their dreams? However what may be the strongest arument tying this all together for her is that according to legend she wasrejected by Adam because he didn't want to treat her as an equal(supposedly Sexually) and so she was forsaken in favor of Eve. That sounds a whole lot like the love triangle between Lews Therin, Lanfear and Ilyena.

This is the first part of this for me. I will end this first one by pointing out just a couple more things

 

Obviously Artur Hawkwing Was modeled on King Arthur however Rand has a strong conection to being King Arthur as well because His mother was Tigraine and King Arthur's mother was also named Tigraine.

 

Also Galad described as doing what is right always even if it hurts himself or others fits the role of Galahad to a T and Gawyn his 1/2 brother fits Gawain to a T as well.

 

Lastly this one may be my most controversial. I believe that

Merlin= Thom Merrilin. Thom fills the role of the wise mentor figure. He has the old knowledge that most do not due to being such an outstanding gleeman and former Court-Bard. His sleight of hand looks like magic. Yes he fits in rather nicely with the idea of what Merlin was really about. Remembeer that while Rand was in Tear after first taking it over Thom was helping to keep Rand alive and thriving by playing Daes Daemar for all he was worth. The role of adviser and sage was Merlin's true role for Arthur and Thom fills that role very well.

 

Thank you for reading this first installment I will be adding more and be compiling the things that others,I hope, add.

 

Jourous

 

[The_Wanderer]

A lot of the names seem to come from King Arthur legends, especially the main characters - but there are other name sources in this series, too. This site, which I've included some links below, has done a lot of research into the Wheel of Time name origins, which may be of interest to you.

 

Character Names Letter A, click around the site for this one http://13depository.blogspot.com/2002/02/character-names.html

Bad guys http://13depository.blogspot.com/2002/03/names-of-shadow.html

Places http://13depository.blogspot.com/2001/03/origin-of-place-names.html

[Rhienne]

Egwene al'Vere = Guinevere (from Arthurian legend)

Rand al'Thor = Thor (Norse mythology)

Nynaeve al'Meara = The Lady of the Lake, one version of her name is Nyneve (Arthurian legend)

Birgitte = Brigid (Celtic triple Goddess)

Galad Damodred = Galahad, Knight of the Round Table (Arthurian legend)

Gawyn Trakand = Gawain, Knight of the Round Table (Arthurian legend)

Artur Hawkwing/Paendrag Tanreall = King Arthur/Uther Pendragon (Arthurian legend)

Fortuona = Fortuna (Roman Goddess of Luck)

Tigraine Mantear = Igraine (Arthurian legend)

Moridin = possibly Mordred (Arthurian legend)

Morgase Trakand = Morgause (Arthurian legend)

Gareth Bryne = Gareth, Knight of the Round Table (Arthurian legend)

Lan and Isam = LAN and ISAM (computing acronyms)

Luc = Lucan (Arthurian legend)

Tar Valon = Avalon (Arthurian legend)

Caemlyn = Camelot (Arthurian legend)

Elayne Trakand = Elaine (Arthurian legend)

Moiraine Damodred = Moirai (the Fates, of Greek mythology)

Mah'alleinir = Mjolnir (Norse mythology)

[Linda]

Jourous:

 

The name Merlin was used to source a few names:

 

Thom Merrilin as you observed for his bardic and illusionist skills,

the Amyrlin as head of the order of magic wielders.

the Welsh speilling Myrddin was used for Moridin.

 

Thank you Wanderer for referring to my names articles.  The Place names has been updated for AMOL, but the Character Names have not been yet.

 

The Arthurian Myth parallels articles have also been updated for AMOL http://13depository.blogspot.com/2002/03/matter-of-britain-and-wheel-of-time.html (Arthurian themes + Pendragon men) and http://13depository.blogspot.com/2002/03/matter-of-britain-and-wheel-of-time_14.html  (Arthurian Who's Who)

 

And I have written essays on the parallels of some of the main characters: Rand, Mat, Perrin, Tuon, Faile and Berelain (together), Lews Therin. 

 

And also these Forsaken: Lanfear, Graendal, Sammael, Asmodean, Mesaana, Semirhage, Balthamel, Demandred

 

There is also an essay on the Three Strands Common to the Forsaken

 

Min and Elayne's parallels are in prep.