From: markodegard@...
Message: 149
Date: 1999-11-02
This is where I myself ask the same question. I'm at a point where I want to further study IE mythology, provided I find time, and more importantly, provided I can find someone to lead me by the hand through such things as the Rig Veda.Besides pictures with the chariots and 'cowpokes' I've attached 2 more pictures of the same layer. Can we find parallels to their subjects in the IE mythology?Dumezil wallowed in things like this. Each of the three castes (priest, warrior, worker) had their own sacrificial animals. There are parallels in Greek and Indo-Aryan myths for this. The Greek word "Hecatomb" describes what seems to have constituted the biggest and most solemn of sacrifices; the word literally means '100 cows'. The Brahmins had a similar extravagant sacrifice.
With the Indic Asvins, as I remember, they are actually rather democratic gods who served the workers.