Glen,
I have some points regarding your theory of realms (if you may apologize
me for my bad English :-))
> > societal ruling realm
> > colour animal function deity deity
> > -------------------------------------------------------------
> > overworld light bird priest *Dye:us *Wextnos
> > earth dark mammal commoner *Manus *Yemos
> > underworld red serpent warrior *PerkWnos *Nepo:t
> >
>
1.- Warriors
According to which IE myths can you affirm that the Underworld is
associated with the warrior function and in which way?
I admit that the hero has to go to the Underworld to get some
knowledge or skill specifically related to his warrior function, but
it doesn't happen always. Sometimes his descent has nothing to do with
fighting but knowledge (Odysseus) or adventures (Theseus, in this case
not very suitable for a renowned warrior).
2.- Colours
Red colour seems to be more appropriate for living beings. Roman
generals in triumph had artificial coloured cheeks, and I remember
having
read that some buried skeletons (I haven't the source, unfortunately, so
perhaps I am wrong) had painted bones, in red, of course.
> So in the underworld, *PerkWnos is in charge, the god of war and
> storms.
But storms are originated in the sky. The Underworld may explain
earthquakes or floods, but storms?
> The wife of *PerkWnos is the beautiful *Xste:r (Venus), goddess of love.
I can't swear that all Underworld goddesses are ugly, but beauty suits
better to Overworld deities, excepting if we consider that Nymphs like
Calypso or goddesses like Freyja are in fact Underworld deities in
disguise.
> > Now, underworld deities are easily made into chthonic deities since
> the
> > ground and the underworld are in the same direction - down. The
> association
> > of the earth (as well as the underworld) with death is readily
> associable by
> > the typical IE act of burial. The act of burying the dead brings
> them closer
> > to their journey to the underworld, in a manner of speaking.
I think that Underworld deities are the product of a higher
developed thought. The Greek Underworld according to the Iliad, for
example, is very simple and bothering, and the Iliad is a comparatively
young work, so probably the IE believing was not so much elaborated
either.
Regards,
Omar