[Glorantha] Re: The One True God (was: Ompalam)

In message <a94ec60b0607240321y290ca784n1fba548bc4f412bb@mail.gmail.com> "Simon Hibbs" writes:

>I'll try and put this another way. The real modern world has a very
>specific and rigorous concept of history and time. The only way we can
>intract wth history is through careful analysis of documents and
>detailed archaeological investigation. Based on this we can speculate
>about what life was like thousands of years ago and what people
>thought. In Glorantha they don't have that problem. If they want to
>know what the Yelmic rleigion was like 10,000 years ago they just
>heroquest the 10,000 year old myths and go and ask Yelm. They
>(generaly speaking) couldn't be less interested in archaeological
>reconstruction and historical anaylsis because they can experience it
>themsleves. But are they realy experiencing the exact same thing as
>someone performing that quest 5,000 years ago would have experienced?
>Did people 10,000 years ago in Dara Happa realy wear the clothes and
>talk the language that 'modern' gloranthan heroquesters experience in
>their quests? I don't think most Gloranthans would understand the
>question.

For real world examples of this attitude look at the art of the middle ages and renaissance. Biblical and mythalogical scenes are shown with everyone wearing contemporary dress. Shakespeare's plays were performed in the dress of the period, not the dress of the setting.

Even today Hollywood's depiction of history is significantly distorted to suit what people expect/want to see and Disney's is worse.

I believe some Lunar's are engaged on something similar to archaeology. They are searching old records and digging up old buildings to find evidence of old rituals that they can recreate to gain lost magic. The Rinliddi "Avian Return Movement" is one example and there is supposed to be a group digging up stuff in Pavis and Sun County. Possibly to restore Yelmalio's fire powers.

-- 
Donald Oddy
http://www.grove.demon.co.uk/