Re: [tied] Herakles and Verethraghna

These relations between Herakles' labours, V@...@thraghna zoomorphism and Celtic shapeshifters were pointed by Robert Graves

We can add another comparations:

Vishnu avatars: fish, turtle, lion, boar, horse, dwarf, warrior

Bogatyr Volkhv (Russia): bull, falcon, wolf, wind

Loki zoomorphism : salmon, fly, mare, hawk, seal, wolf (son Fenris), snake (daughter Jo"rmungandr), hag, flea

Amairgen: deer,wind,falcon,salmon,bull,vulture,boar,water

Slavic vily : horse, swan, falcon, wolf, wind, snake

Zeus metamorphosis : bull, rain, horse, bear, eagle, cuckoo, snake, buck, satyr, wolf, fire, swan

Proteus metamorphosis :lion, snake, panther, boar, water, fire, tree

Thetis metamorphosis: fire, wind, water, lion, tree, bird, tiger, snake, cuttlefish

Tam Lin: snake, lizard, bear, lion, red iron, coal

Tuan: eagle,salmon,child,man, deer, bull

Monga:n : salmon,seal,deer,wolf,dragon,swan

Dionysos (his forms and those who were transformed by him): lion, panther, dolphin, snake, ram, buck, deer, bull, horse, bat

Comparing all of them, I see a predominance of

bird of prey - bull - snake - horse - wolf - fish - lion - boar -deer

The question is: does it mean something?

----- Original Message -----

From: Omar Karamán

To: cybalist@yahoogroups.com

Sent: Sunday, March 25, 2001 7:03 PM

Subject: [tied] Herakles and Verethraghna

João,
And the relation between the animal foes of Herakles and the zoomorphic transformations of V@...@thraghna? Deer, Boar, Horse, Lion, Bull...

I found these attributes in Warharan Yasht (1-26):
1.- Wind.
2.- Bull.
3.- Horse.
4.- Camel.
5.- Boar.
6.- A fifteen years old boy.
7.- Raven.
8.- Ram.
9.- Buck.
10.- Man with sword.
    Perhaps we may find a link between Herakles' labours and Verethraghna's depiction in a general way, although we lack two "labours". Another link between Herakles and his deeds are perhaps in the constellations. What about Iranian sky and mythological figures? May they be linked to any of Verethraghna's attributes?
    Relating to shape shifting, I would add the story of the two Irish pig keepers in the "Táin Bó Cuailgne": humans, birds of prey, fishes, stags, warriors, phantoms, dragons, maggots and bulls. Perhaps it may be possible to link all these stories in a somewhat closer relationship. Of course, I forget Taliesin: man, crow, frog, buck, fox, squirrel, deer, bull, boar (just to mention animal forms).
    By the way, I am tempted to compare the following (from the same Yashta than the above mentioned) with the Roman farmer pray to Mars (according to Cato's On Agriculture, 141):
We sacrifice to Verethraghna, made by Ahura: who goes along the armies arrayed, and goes here and there asking, along with Mithra and Rashnu: 'Who is it who lies unto Mithra? Who is it who thrusts [his oath] against Rashnu? To whom shall I, in my might, impart illness and death?' Ahura Mazda said: 'If men sacrifice unto Verethraghna, made by Ahura, if the due sacrifice and prayer is offered unto him just as it ought to be performed in the perfection of holiness, never will a hostile horde enter the Aryan countries, nor any plague, nor leprosy, nor venomous plants, nor the chariot of a foe, nor the uplifted spear of a foe.
             (47-48)
    Compare the above pray with the main features of Cato's testimony: the farmer prays Mars to be propitious to his home and family, to avoid visible and invisible diseases and dearth; to protect shepherds and flocks, etc. The connection seems to be very close. Verethraghna has a lot of warrior attributes as well, but there is an explanation by Dumézil denying any connection with Mars/second function and the third one which in fact seems to be appropriate here too (if we assume that Verethraghna can be equated to Mars in some way, of course).
Omar