Home Pharos Fiction Site Map Updates Search

 

                                                                                                                        Back Next

Halexandria Foundation
Communications
Sacred Mathematics
Connective Physics
Synthesis
Chronicles of Earth
Justice, Order, and Law
Daath
Extraterrestrial Life
Creating Reality
Tree of Life

Appendix

Premiered – 1 May 2004 (Beltane)

 

Appendix – Character Identification

(In Order of Appearance/Mention in the Narrative)

Heir Apparent

by

Dan Sewell Ward

1

Herman Travers -- HERMES, son of ZEUS and MAIA, Messenger God, Guide of Souls, Communicator, Trickster, and Traveler. HERMES is the God of the unexpected, luck, coincidences, and synchronicity; who introduces fluidity, motion, new beginnings, and the confusion that inevitably precedes new beginnings. He invented the lyre on the morning of his birth, and in the afternoon stole 50 of APOLLO's cows, invented fire-starting, and had a barbeque. When discovered, he played innocent, amusing both APOLLO and ZEUS. A master of ingenuity, HERMES traded the lyre for the cows and caduceus, identifying him as messenger and guide of souls to the underworld. He was the friend and lover of the NYMPHS and GRACES, the spirit of night, sleep and dreams. A messenger between realms, he united opposites, even male and female elements in a mystical and psychological manner. He is associated with HESTIA in the home as the pillar, or "herm", standing outside the door, while the round hearth inside symbolized HESTIA (the pillar and circle coming to represent male and female principles). He was the God who marked the boundary as well as the God who crossed all boundaries, the communicator of meaning, and rescuer of the child. In other myths HERMES brought PERSEPHONE back from the underworld, rescued ARES from his imprisonment in a bronze jar, acted as midwife when ZEUS gave birth to DIONYSUS, and escorted APHRODITE, ATHENA, and HERA to the Judgment of Paris.

Woman at the Well -- A MAIDEN OF THE WELL, from the Grail Legend as given by the "Elucidations", a prologue affixed to Chrétien's Perceval. In Edward C. Whitmont's book, Return of the Goddess , the Grail country is described as "formerly abounding in damsels, food, and plenty until a ruthless aggressor, Amargon, puts an end to the Golden Age. 'The land was dead and desert... so that they lost the voices of the wells... and the maidens who were in them.' Originally when a traveler approached the well, 'there issued out of the well a maiden, they could not ask a prettier, she carried in her hand a gold cup, with rolls, pastries and bread, the food he had asked for, who had come there for it. At the well he was very well received...' Yet King Amargon 'did violence to one of the maidens, against her will he violated her and took away from her the gold cup and carried it off with him... therefore... never anymore from the wells did appear maidens, nor did they serve anymore... the realm then turned to ruin... the realm then turned to waste, never did a tree have leaf, the meadows and flowers dried up, and the streams shrank away. Then no one could ever find, the court of the Rich Fisher, who made splendid the country.'" [Edward C. Whitmont, Return of the Goddess , Crossroad Publishing, New York , 1982, pg 156]

Zachary (Zak) D'Michael Gilan -- ZEUS, youngest son of CRONUS and RHEA, most powerful of the Olympian Gods, God of the Sky, Rain-God, Cloud-Gatherer, Wielder of Thunderbolts. Neither omnipotent nor omniscient, he was nevertheless more powerful than all the other divinities together. He was capable of bringing consciousness and light to humans, or becoming locked in his own structures and laws, fearing and resisting change or any threat to the status quo. [In the latter regard, see Wotan, the chief God in Wagner's Ring Cycle.] ZEUS overthrew his father, CRONUS, and the TITANS who ruled from Olympus with the help of his brothers, POSEIDON and HADES, as well as the CYCLOPS and the HUNDRED-HANDED ONES (who were grateful because ZEUS had freed them). ZEUS had seven official consorts and at least twenty-three affairs, fathering eight Olympians, the FATES, SEASONS, GRACES, MUSES, and numerous notable progeny such as PERSEUS. His major symbols are the eagle and the thunderbolt.

Tina Mettese Gilan -- ATHENA, Goddess of Wisdom and Crafts, Goddess of Health, daughter of ZEUS and METIS. Born out of the head of ZEUS as a full-grown woman, she wore gold armor, carried a spear, and emitted a war cry. Her mother, METIS, an ocean deity known for her wisdom, had been tricked into becoming small and then swallowed by ZEUS. ATHENA was also the protector, advisor, patron and ally of PERSEUS, JASON, BELLEROPHON, HERACLES, ACHILLES, ODYSSEUS, and other heroic men. She presided over battle strategy in wartime and domestic arts in peacetime. She was protector of cities, patron of military forces, and Goddess of weavers, goldsmiths, potters, and dressmakers. In all respects, she was her "father's daughter" (with the status of "first born son") and inevitably sided with the patriarchy. This aspect was emphasized in the trial of ORESTES (who had killed his mother, CLYTEMNESTRA, to avenge the murder of AGAMEMNON, the father of ORESTES). APOLLO defended ORESTES, claiming that the female only nurtured the seed planted by the male, and ranked patriarchal principles over maternal bonds. When the jury was split, ATHENA cast the decisive vote, siding with APOLLO, freeing ORESTES, and giving priority to the patriarchy in all things. She valued rational thinking, will, and intellect over instinct and nature, being ruled by her head instead of her heart. ATHENA was a virgin Goddess, who was never victimized by male deities or mortals. But unlike other virgin Goddesses (HESTIA and ARTEMIS), she sought the company of men, particularly successful men.

Delbert Pine -- DELPHINUS (Dolphin), a creature at home in his own realm and who does not try to dominate or vie for territory that belongs to others. When POSEIDON approached AMPHITRITE, a NEREID, who viewed his advances with repugnance, he overcame her by force and raped her. She then fled to the Atlas Mountains to escape him. DELPHINUS pleaded POSEIDON'S case charmingly until she consented to marry him, whereby POSEIDON gratefully placed DELPHINUS' image among the stars as a constellation.

Paul Gilan (Uncle Paul) -- POSEIDON, God of the Oceans and God of Horses, Flood-Bringer and Earth-Shaker. With pre-Olympian origins as an Earth-Father God (husband of DA, a name for the earth), he is nevertheless considered the eldest son of RHEA and CRONUS, and thus the older brother of ZEUS. POSEIDON helped ZEUS to overthrow their father, CRONUS, and THE TITANS, and then received the sea as his kingdom when the three brothers threw lots to divide up the world. POSEIDON was never content with his lot, and represents the emotional man of intense feelings and instinct, who have been devalued in a world ruled by ZEUS.

Gordon Medson -- A male version of a GORDON (as in the MEDUSA shield of ATHENA). MEDUSA had incurred the wrath of ATHENA by making love to POSEIDON in one of ATHENA's sanctuaries. The result was that MEDUSA was rendered mortal and transformed into the ugliest of hags. So ugly in fact, that looking upon her would turn a mortal to stone. ATHENA later helped PERSEUS obtain the head of MEDUSA, which ATHENA subsequently affixed as the center boss of her shield. [In the novel, Medson acts as a "shield" for Tina.]

Harold (Hal) Gilan (Uncle Hal ) -- HADES, God of the Underworld, God of Riches, middle son of RHEA and CRONUS. Grim, inexorable, sternly just, he was nevertheless not evil nor a tempter of evil, and instead was often pictured with a cornucopia or horn of plenty. His major myth dealt with the rape of PERSEPHONE who became the Queen of the Underworld, and thus initiated the growing seasons. In this respect he was also closely associated with DIONYSUS. He is also the archetype of the inner richness of man's interior world (as well as "the shadow" -- that part of everyone deemed unacceptable either to ourselves or others), an aspect not valued in ZEUS' patriarchal world. Reclusive and a loner, HADES was seldom aware of what was happening in the outer world.

Captain Griff -- A GRIFFIN , the offspring of eagles and lions with the pointed ears of a dog. GRIFFINS drew the chariots of the Sun God, as well as those of ZEUS and NEMESIS, the goddess of certain retribution. In the latter case, the GRIFFINS had black bodies and feathers, and punished humans for their too great love of riches. They also tended to eat horses, their natural competitors in chariot drawing.

Ester Gilan (Aunt Ester) -- HESTIA, Goddess of the Hearth and Temple , older sister of ZEUS, first child born of RHEA and CRONUS. By birthright, she was one of the twelve major Olympians, but made no protest when DIONYSUS replaced her as one of the twelve. She was one of three who APHRODITE was unable to subdue, persuade, seduce, or even "awaken a pleasant yearning in", even though APHRODITE did cause both POSEIDON and APOLLO to fall in love with her. She was the most honored of all the Gods and Goddesses, providing the sanctuary where people bonded together into the family -- the place to come home to. Her symbol was the circle (a mandala symbolizing wholeness or totality), her first hearths and temples round. She was never represented in human form, but felt to be a spiritually felt presence, her significance usually found in rituals, symbolized by fire. Her concentration was on her inner subjective experience, in kairos time (where one loses track of time). Her connection with HERMES was of the most basic foundation, whereby both feminine and masculine values are honored.

Joy Danielle (Zak's secretary) -- HELEN OF TROY, wife of MENELAUS and lover of PARIS, one of the fifty sons of PRIAM, the third King of Troy. HELEN was the most beautiful woman in the ancient world, in part because she had been hatched from an egg laid by the goddess LEDA, whom ZEUS raped in the form of a swan (making HELEN an illegitimate daughter of ZEUS). [In the novel, Joy is under the fatherly protection of Zak.]

Harper (flight attendant) -- A HARPIE, a huge predatory bird with eagles' talons, often used by the Gods to torment or punish humans. The HARPIE emits a harsh inhuman scream when it attacks its prey, the noise of its wings and the extremely foul stench of its unpreened feathers, makes it clear that it is executing a sentence from the Gods and from which there is no escape.

Senior Flight Attendant -- A HARPIE trainee.

Murphy (chemistry professor) -- MYRTILUS, a bastard son of HERMES and a sociopath who, bribed by a competitor, effectively killed his master in a chariot race by putting wax linchpins in the chariot axles. [In the novel, Murphy is not related to Herman, but displays all the characteristics of MYRTILUS.]

Lara (chemistry professor's secretary) -- AGLAOPE ("glorious face"), a SIREN, one of three daughters of the River Archelous, all of which are noted for the charm of their voices in luring sailors and other travelers to their deaths. It is said they may also have been playmates of PERSEPHONE, and searched the world for her after her abduction by HADES.

Jet Liner's Captain (pilot) -- A GRIFFIN trainee (see Captain Griff).

Peter (bedlam causing traveler) -- A PIXIE, malicious tricksters, delighting in leading mortals astray, often causing travelers to wander aimlessly over the countryside. They can be foiled by wearing one's coat inside-out, but can also be on good terms if one provides for their needs. Typically, they have red hair, malicious smiles, turned-up noses, and squinting green eyes.

Legislator -- ABIKU, an insatiable demon of the night who formerly preyed upon the Yoruba people of West Africa . Shapeless as smoke, he is able to filter through thick defenses where he preys on children, particularly newborn ones. He has no stomach and is thus obliged to eat continuously, never knowing the satisfaction of being full.

Thelma Pesno -- One of the SIRENS, daughters of CETO and PHORCYDES (both of whom were ancient sea deities). Specifically, THELXEPIA ("of the words which enchant") or PEISINOE ("seductress").

VIP Lounge Bartender -- GANYMEDE, son of King Tros of Phrygia who became cupbearer to the Gods and Goddesses of Olympia. GANYMEDE was graceful, beautiful, and gregarious.

Woman entering corporate jet -- (see Iris, below)

2

Arthur Lyle Cusman -- AUTOLYCUS, arch thief and perjurer, son of HERMES. [In the novel, Cusman is not related to Herman, but displays all the attributes of an arch thief and perjurer, i.e. a stockbroker.]

Bill (Tina's secretary) -- BELLEROPHON. ATHENA gave BELLEROPHON a golden bridle with which to tame the winged horse, PEGASUS.

Metese Drew Neese (Tina's mother) -- METIS, pre-Olympian Goddess of Wisdom and daughter of OCEANUS and TETHYS. METIS was ZEUS' first royal consort, and was instrumental in helping ZEUS free his brothers and sisters from ZEUS' father, CRONUS (METIS knew of and provided the enema). PROMETHEUS prophesied that ZEUS and METIS would have two children, a daughter with the courage equal to any man, and a son, "a boy of all-conquering heart, who would become king of gods and men." When METIS became pregnant, ZEUS feared she was carrying the son who would over-throw him. Consequently, he tricked her into becoming small and then swallowed her (such that her previous powers were minimized and her status as a great Goddess lost to antiquity). As it turned out, METIS had been pregnant with ATHENA, who managed to be born by bursting through ZEUS' head. ATHENA had no memory of her mother and thought of ZEUS as her sole parent. METIS' status as divine feminine wisdom was indeed swallowed by the patriarchy and disappeared from the Western World (between 5000 and 1400 BC). METIS is equivalent to SOPHIA of the Gnostic Gospels (the Nag Hammadi scrolls), or SHEKINA of Jewish mysticism, and represents forgotten feminine wisdom that had been deified for millennia prior to the emergence of the patriarchy.

3

Aaron Gilan -- APOLLO, God of the Sun, the Arts (particularly music), and Prophecy. Archer, Lawgiver, Patron of Medicine (who could also bring plagues), Protector of Herdsman, and Favorite Son. He was the son of ZEUS and LETO, and twin to ARTEMIS. He was born on the island of Delos, after nine days and nights of terrible labor, despite his twin sister's attempts to help. His two most famous precepts were "know thyself" and "nothing in excess". Despite his reputation as a pure, holy and cleansing God, he also had a dark side: his punishments could be cruel and he could act vindictively. In addition to the swan, he was also associated with the raven and the crow, as well as the snake and the wolf. Unsuccessful at love, he pursued and failed to win DAPHNE, CASSANDRA, CORONIS (whose son was ASCLEPIUS, the God of Healing and Medicine), MARPESA, SYBIL, and HYACINTH, son of the King of Sparta. APOLLO took over Delphi, a pre-Hellenic sanctuary of a Goddess (possibly a snake goddess), and ultimately shared it with DIONYSUS. APOLLO described his life's mission as: "I will reveal to mankind the exact will of ZEUS."

Aaron's female staff -- The NINE MUSES, daughters of MNEMOSYNE and ZEUS, Goddesses of art, inspiration, and creativity, who look within their souls for inspiration.

The Brotherhood (a hundred or more, some with severely limited depth perception) -- The HUNDRED-HANDED ONES and the CYCLOPES. The HUNDRED-HANDED ONES were grateful to ZEUS for freeing them, and helped him overthrow CRONUS by providing ZEUS with the firepower of one hundred throwing arms. The one-eyed CYCLOPES gave ZEUS his lightning and thunderbolts.

Androse (Metese) Gilan Neese (Andy ) -- A New God, son of ZEUS and METIS. Andy is the son of ZEUS prophesied by PROMETHEUS, who would rule over Gods and men, thus supplanting ZEUS. Andy also personifies PERCIVAL or GAWAIN, who redresses the wrong done to the Maidens of the Well, finds and restores the Grail. In this context, Andy restores the Grail in terms of the Grail/Aquarius myth which implies nothing less than the restoration of the magical all-oneness of the pre-patriarchal Garden of Eden. This restoration of the wellspring and its maidens, the Golden Age paradise and the world of the Great Goddess, is accomplished by finding the Grail, asking the question ("Whom does this serve?"), and kissing the Ugly Damsel. The latter aspect stems from Arthurian Legend, when King Arthur meets in combat the knight, Gromar, the lord of the "wicked goddess castle." Arthur is defeated by magic, but is told by an ugly female servant of Morgan le Fay that he can redeem his forfeited life by finding out what it is that women most desire in the world. This he must do within one year and a day, or else he will lose his head (literally). Gawain goes with Arthur, but they fail to find a convincing answer. Upon returning to the castle at the end of the year, they meet the ugliest lady any man had ever seen. Not only with every physical aspect of ugliness, but with eyes containing a terrifying shadow of suffering and fear. The ugly damsel offers Arthur the answer he needs to save his life in exchange for one of his knights marrying her on the spot. Arthur refuses, but Gawain offers himself. The bargain struck, Arthur redeems his life with the correct answer, i.e. what women most want is to have sovereignty with men. Subsequently, when Gawain is alone with his bride in the bridal chamber, she demands to be kissed. Gawain dutifully complies, only to find that she has transformed into the loveliest maiden ever known (Lady Ragnell), freed of an enchantment by Gawain's noble act. Unfortunately, she tells him that she must wear her hideous form for half the time, and that he may choose whether he wants her to be foul and hideous by day or by night. Gawain thoughtfully leaves the choice to her, and by thus giving her sovereignty, breaks the enchantment entirely, such that she will appear beautiful all the time. [For more details, see Edward C. Whitmont's Return of the Goddess , Crossroad Publishing, New York , NY , 1982, pages 169-170.]

April Ikaria -- APHRODITE, Goddess of Love and Beauty. APHRODITE was either the daughter of ZEUS and a sea nymph, DIONE, or more interestingly, was born from the sea in a unique fashion. CRONUS usurped the power of his father, URANUS, by cutting off his genitals and throwing them into the sea. The reaction between the sea and URANUS' sperm yielded APHRODITE, who emerged from the sea as a fully grown Goddess. She came ashore on either the island of Cythera or Cyprus , where she was met by EROS, the earlier form of a God of Love, and HIMEROS, God of Desire, who then escorted her to the assembly of the Gods where she was received in royal goddess fashion. In all cases APHRODITE chose her own mates. These notables included HAPHAESTUS to whom she was unfaithful and ARES, with whom she had three children: HARMONIA (Harmony), DEIMOS (Terror) and PHOBOS (Fear). HERMAPHRODITUS was the son of HERMES and APHRODITE and represented androgyny. She also had affairs with ANCHISES (who fathered AENEAS, the founder of Rome) and ADONIS. The latter was killed by a ferocious beast, but after a mythological rebirth APHRODITE ultimately shared him with PERSEPHONE. APHRODITE came to the aid of HIPPOMENES (helping him to win the wife he loved) and PYGMALION (transforming a statute which he loved into a mortal woman). Her myths also included such women as: MYRRHA, PHAEDRA, PSYCHE, and ATALANTA. [In the novel, April is assumed to be the illegitimate father of Kranius, i.e. CRONUS, and Diane Ikaria (DIONE, a sea nymph).]

4

Chirles Ronson -- CHIRON, Priest King of the CENTAURS (the PELASGIANS of THRACIANS), illegitimate son of CRONUS and PHYLRIA, half brother to ZEUS. CHIRON and ZEUS at one point found sanctuary in a cave on Mount Pelion together. CHIRON was also the mentor to ACHILLES, JASON, ACTAEON, PELEUS, HERCULES, ORPHEUS, ARISTAEUS, ASCLEPIUS, and in the novel the son of ZEUS and METIS. CHIRON was skilled at hunting, medicine, music, gymnastics, warfare, and astrology, and founded the ancient healing temple of the Asclepian. He is the teacher of pragmatism whose pupils came to him to discover their destiny and a pragmatic way to fulfill their highest potential. In his most notable myth, CHIRON accidentally dropped one of the poisoned arrows of HERCULES (arrows CHIRON had taught HERCULES to make), on his foot and poisoned himself. Being immortal, CHIRON returned to his cave in agony. HERCULES later made his way to the Caucasus where PROMETHEUS was fettered with vultures tearing and eating at his liver, i.e. alcoholism. PROMETHEUS had been imprisoned by ZEUS for giving fire to humans. At HERCULES' urging, ZEUS set PROMETHEUS free in exchange for CHIRON's descent into HADES. CHIRON gave himself willingly so that human kind could receive fire. In this way, CHIRON taught healing and bravery and the letting go without fear when the time came for such transformation. [The lusty, drunkenness sometimes associated with CENTAURS is due to a second side of the family, i.e. the offspring of IXION, a noted rascal, and NEPHELE -- and not the offspring of CRONUS and PHYLRIA.]

Bernie I, II, & III (Chirles' guards) -- Triple Headed CERBERUS, guardian of the gates to HADES, and who allowed dead souls in, but not out. It is said that CERBERUS is fond of honey cakes and souls with the appropriate bribe may wheedle their way past him.

Teresa Ronson (Chirles' daughter) -- THEA, The Shining One of the Moon, daughter of CHIRON and CHARICLES (the latter, a NAIAD, one of the water Goddesses who dwelt in brooks, mountains, and streams). THEA was an exceedingly famous early astrologer and seer. Ultimately, she ascended to the stars and became the constellation, Pegasus (while CHIRON became Sagittarius).

Phyllis Ronson (Chirles' mother) -- PHYLRIA, a sea nymph, sister of METIS and daughter of OCEANUS and TETHYS.

Chirles' Employer -- (See Harold Gilan)

Doc Lupus -- ASCLEPIUS, son of APOLLO and the nymph CORONIS, student of CHIRON, skilled in surgery and use of drugs -- had been given two phials of MEDUSA'S (the GORDON) blood by ATHENA. He became so skilled at curing the ills of mankind that ZEUS began to fear a super race and killed him with a thunderbolt. APOLLO, however, arranged for him to be deified. ASCLEPIUS had two sons, MACHAON and PODALIRIUS, army doctors who served at the siege of Troy, and two daughters, HYGEIA, who became the Goddess of good health, and PANACEA, who became an auxiliary Goddess of health. The family founded the first college of medicine.

Young Man (Chirles' captor) -- (see Androse Gilan Neese)

Iris -- IRIS, The Nymph of the Rainbow, daughter of ELECTRA, an ocean nymph, and granddaughter of PONTUS, the sea God and GAIA, the earth mother. A lesser known messenger of the Gods, she is a beautiful young woman associated with the rainbow, which she sometimes uses as a bridge between heaven and earth to deliver messages to mortals – much like HERMES. [In the novel, she is not related to Herman's family.]

5

Denise Spear -- DEMETER, Goddess of Grain, Nurturer and Mother, daughter of CRONUS and RHEA, sister of ZEUS and his fourth royal consort. The most generous of the Gods and Goddesses, DEMETER is often thought of as Lady Bountiful, always providing what is needed. Her primary myth involves the abduction of PERSEPHONE, the daughter of ZEUS and DEMETER. The myth ultimately became the basis for the Eleusian Mysteries, the most sacred religious rituals of ancient Greece for over two thousand years, wherein people learn to live in joy and die without fearing death. PERSEPHONE was abducted by HADES (with the knowledge of her father, ZEUS) and taken to the underground. DEMETER's search for her daughter involved DEMETER being raped by POSEIDON, her obtaining aid from HECATE (Goddess of the Dark Moon), and learning from HELIOS (a nature God who shared the title of God of the Sun with APOLLO) of ZEUS' complicity in the kidnapping. DEMETER then quit Olympus , settling in Eleusis where she became a nursemaid for DEMOPHOON. Attempting to raise DEMOPHOON, DEMETER was interrupted in a fire ritual by the boy's mother, whereupon DEMETER revealed her true identity and commanded a temple be built for her. There she installed herself and began the Eleusian Mysteries. At the same time, she refused to function as the Goddess of Grain, resulting in no food growing on earth. ZEUS was forced to intercede by sending IRIS to implore DEMETER to return to Olympus. DEMETER refused until ZEUS sent HERMES to Hades and brought PERSEPHONE home to Olympus . [In the novel, Denise is not the sister of Zak, but the two of them are involved in an affair from which Perses is born. Other aspects of the myth are part of the background of the novel.]

Denise's daughter, Perses -- PERSEPHONE, daughter of DEMETER and ZEUS, the KORE (a slender, beautiful young Goddess, symbolizing fertility), Maiden, and Queen of the Underworld. In her principal myth (described in the section on DEMETER) she was brought from the Underworld by HERMES, but had eaten of pomegranate seeds offered by her abductor, HADES. Because of this she thereafter spent one-third of her time in HADES and two-thirds of her time in the upper world with her mother. In this way, she became a central figure in the Eleusian Mysteries (the return or renewal of life after death), and also became the Queen of the Underworld.

Dennis Moon -- DEMOPHOON, son of METANIRA and the ruler of Eleusis , CELEUS. DEMOPHOON came under DEMETER's care, being fed ambrosia and held to a fire to make him immortal. His mother, however, interrupted the ritual, whereupon DEMETER revealed her true identity. DEMETER's maternal instinct includes the expression of maternal love to children other than her own.

Cathy Grey (also known as Catherine the Great) -- A Goddess from whom we haven't yet heard. Stay tuned.

Gorny, Selene, and Gretchen -- The three ERINYES or EUMENIDES, the kindly ones who pushed edible plants through the ground as gifts to humanity. As ERINYES they were the guardians and protectors of the integrity of the matrilineal blood-line. As EUMENIDES, they nourished and tended the flow of life through the feminine. With the rise of the patriarchal society, they found conflict, despite their antiquity and their well-established place in the hearts of mankind. [In the novel, we see the onset of their re-empowerment.]

6

Lodude (Nepalese driver) -- ICARUS, son of DAEDALUS. Both were banished from Athens for DAEDALUS' murder of his nephew, TALOS, and fled to Crete. There DAEDALUS incurred the wrath of King Minos of Crete, and he and his son were confined in DAEDALUS' own creation, the labyrinth where the Minotaur was kept. The two escaped by stealing eagle feathers and fastening home-made wings to their shoulders with beeswax. Unfortunately ICARUS flew too high, where the sun melted the wax and he fell into the Mediterranean Sea (one of the first examples of pilot error).

Ester's maid -- A VESTAL VIRGIN, who tended the sacred fire of HESTIA, and who was required to embody the virginity, anonymity, and lack of individuality of the Goddess. (HESTIA was worshiped in Rome as the Goddess, VESTA.)

7

Dan Davidson -- DIONYSUS, God of Ecstasy and Wine, Wanderer, Mystic, Lover and son of ZEUS and a mortal, SEMELE. DIONYSUS personified blessed ecstasy and enraptured love (an unbridled madness), but was also the persecuted and suffering God who would ultimately die, taking with him all those whom he loved and who attended him. His world was a mystical and feminine realm, close to women, nature, and the arteries of life. His mother died as the result of a jealous HERA, ZEUS' wife, but in the process, DIONYSUS was made immortal. Furthermore, at the moment of his mother's death, the unborn DIONYSUS was saved by ZEUS, who sewed the unborn child into his thigh. After his birth (with HERMES acting as midwife), he was taken to SEMELE's sister and brother-in-law. HERA drove the foster parents mad and attempted to murder DIONYSUS, but ZEUS saved his son by changing him into a ram and carrying him to the mythic Mt. Nysa, where he was raised by divine, beautiful nymphs. There he discovered the secrets of nature and making wine from his tutor, SILENUS. As a youth he traveled throughout the world, experiencing madness, violence, and murder along his path. Ultimately, CYBELE, a great mother Goddess, purified DIONYSUS of the murders he had committed while mad, and taught him her mysteries and initiation rites. In this way, DIONYSUS became a priest of the Great Goddess. In other myths, he saved ARIADNE, daughter of King Minos of Crete and abandoned lover of Theseus, and in an alternate version of his birth, was torn to pieces at birth by jealous TITANS, with only his heart being saved by ATHENA prior to his rebirth through ZEUS. Most importantly, DIONYSUS descended into HADES in order to bring his mother back to life and take her to Mt. Olympus, where she became immortal as well. As such, DIONYSUS is the only God who rescued women and restored the earlier Goddesses. He also continually evoked conflict and passion in women, spurring them into forgetting their traditional roles. Finally, DIONYSUS is closely related to HADES, in that life and death are intertwined in his mythology, particularly in his need to endure the perils of HADES and emerge strengthened by the ordeal.

Sybil -- CYBELE, pre-Olympian Mother Goddess, who purified DIONYSUS of his crimes and madness (upon his return from India ).

Samantha Davidson -- SEMELE, mortal mother of DIONYSUS. Impregnated by ZEUS, SEMELE incurred the wrath of HERA. ZEUS' jealous wife, posing as SEMELE's nursemaid, tricked the girl into forcing ZEUS to appear to her as he did to HERA. Bound by an oath to do so, ZEUS appeared as a thunderbolt, in whose presence no mortal could live. When SEMELE died in the lightning, her unborn child, DIONYSUS, was made immortal. ZEUS tore DIONYSUS from SEMELE's womb, sewed him into hip, and ultimately gave birth. SEMELE was later brought up from HADES by DIONYSUS and taken to Olympia, where she became immortal as well.

Three women (Dan's maids) -- HORAE, the nymphs of Mt. Nysa , who raised DIONYSUS, after SEMELE's sister and brother-in-law were driven mad by HERA.

Silence -- SILENUS, tutor of DIONYSUS.

Harrison Gilan -- HAPHAESTUS, God of the Forge, Craftsman, Inventor, Loner, son of HERA, who gave birth parthenogenetically as an attempt at matching ZEUS' birthing of ATHENA. HAPHAESTUS, however, was born with a club foot, humiliating HERA and causing her to reject her newborn son and throw him down from Mount Olympus. He fell to the island of Lemnos, where THETIS and EURYNOME, sea nymphs, nurtured him for nine years and taught him how to be a craftsman. HAPHAESTUS created beautiful jewelry for his foster mothers, as well as palaces for the Olympians, ZEUS' thunderbolts and scepter, ATHENA's weapons, DEMETER's sickle, APOLLO's winged chariot, ACHILLES' armor, and arrows for ARTEMIS and APOLLO. He also created a golden throne for his mother, which was an exquisitely wrought trap. When HERA sat on it, she found herself unable to move and hanging in mid-air. In one version, the trap was devised so that HAPHAESTUS could demand ATHENA or APHRODITE as a bride. When no one could free HERA, ARES was sent to drag HAPHAESTUS to Olympus by force, but the God of War was driven away by HAPHAESTUS throwing fire at him. Eventually DIONYSUS succeeded in getting HAPHAESTUS drunk and bringing him back to Olympus on a donkey. HAPHAESTUS was also the cuckolded husband of APHRODITE, and ultimately married ALGAEA, youngest of the GRACES, a lesser version of APHRODITE. He also fell in love with ATHENA and attempted to have sex with her. But when she pushed him aside, his seaman fell to earth to fertilize GAIA instead. ERICHTHONIUS ("child of the earth") was born on this unusual relationship, and went on to be raised by ATHENA and found the royal house of Athens. [In the novel, Harrison 's mother took a lover and became pregnant without the help of Zak.]

Helen Spear Gilan -- HERA, Goddess of Marriage, daughter of CRONUS and RHEA, and Queen of the Olympian Gods. Her status as Great Goddess may have preceded the Olympians. HERA had been swallowed by her father at birth, and when released, was placed in the care of two nature deities. When ZEUS showed interest, she resisted all of his amorous advances until he agreed to marry her. At the time he had already had six different consorts and a wide variety of children and after the marriage was continually unfaithful. Each affair inevitably incurred HERA's wrath. When ZEUS seduced AEGINA, HERA let loose a monstrous dragon which killed most of the population. HERA attempted to have CALLISTO's son kill her, but both were saved by ZEUS. And HERA was responsible for SEMELE's death and driving DIONYSUS' foster parents mad. Only ZEUS' intervention saved DIONYSUS. HERA was the parent of ARES, God of War, and two colorless daughters, HEBE, an adolescent cupbearer, and EILEITHYRIA, another Goddess of Childbirth. She may also have been the sole parent of TYPHAON, a "dreadful and baneful" monster. [In the novel, Helen is not the sister of Zak, but otherwise has all the characteristics of HERA.]

Grace ( Harrison 's wife) -- AGLAEA (CHARIS / GRACE), the youngest of the GRACES and a lesser version or handmaiden of APHRODITE (according to Hesiod's Theogony ).

Reeanna -- ARIADNE, daughter of King Minos of Crete , who fell in love with THESEUS. He later abandoned her on the island of Naxos where she was found by DIONYSUS, who made her his wife.

8

Eve -- HEBE, adolescent cupbearer and daughter of HERA.

Elly -- EILEITHYRIA, daughter of HERA and a Goddess of Childbirth (a role shared with ARTEMIS).

Richard (Dick) Murphy -- Another version of MYRTILUS, sociopath son of HERMES. [In the novel, Richard is not related to Herman, but he is still a sociopath.]

Lars Gilan -- ARES, God of War, Warrior, Dancer, Lover, son of ZEUS and HERA. As a boy, he was captured by the giant twins, ALOADAI, who sealed him in a bronze jar for thirteen months until freed by HERMES. ARES was also regularly defeated, shamed, and insulted by ATHENA. On the positive side, ARES was the lover of APHRODITE, fathering three or four of her children and avenging himself on a potential lover, ADONIS, by turning himself into an avenging boar and killing the youth. ARES had nearly twenty other children from his affairs with numerous women, including: three Argonauts, and the Amazon Queen PENTHESILEIA. He defended his children, killing one of POSEIDON's sons who raped ALCIPPE, his daughter, and tried unsuccessfully to defend his son CYGNUS from HERACLES (but ATHENA intervened on behalf of the Greek hero). ARES was taught by his tutor, PRIAPUS, to be a dancer before he was taught to be a warrior.

9

Cyrus -- POLYPHEMUS, the CYCLOPS, one-eyed son of POSEIDON. When POLYPHEMUS attempted to eat ODYSSEUS and his crew, the Greek hero blinded the CYCLOPS and escaped with his shipmates.

Dysus -- ODYSSEUS, Greek hero of the Odyssey, who blinded POLYPHEMUS and thus incurred the wrath of POSEIDON.

Ammaretti (Paul's wife) -- AMPHITRITE, a Nereid or sea goddess, charmed by DELPHINUS (Dolphin) to marry POSEIDON. AMPHITRITE had many of the characteristics of HERA, and as an example had CIRCE change SCYLLA, whom POSEIDON had seduced, into a twelve legged monster with six dog's heads, and who thereafter preyed on sailors sailing between Italy and Sicily.

Androse and Mehr Gilanos -- GAIA, the Earth Goddess, who materialized herself out of the void and subsequently gave birth, without consort , to the Heavens (URANUS), the Sea (PONTUS), and the Hills (UREA). GAIA is the supreme Greek Goddess and also the current name for the planet earth, which may have a consciousness itself.

Nikos Gilanos -- URANUS, ancient God of the Heavens, son and lover of GAIA, and the father of THE TITANS and other Gods. When URANUS grew resentful of GAIA's fertility, he began to hide his later children in GAIA's body, thus initiating the first violence against Mother Earth. CRONUS, youngest of THE TITANS, cut off his father's genitals and threw them into the sea, creating, according to some sources, APHRODITE, who was born from the reaction of the sea water and URANUS' sperm.

Pontus Gilanos -- PONTUS , ancient God of the Sea, son and lover of GAIA.

Mikonus Gilanos -- UREA, ancient God of the Hills, son of GAIA.

Galina Ayrion -- also GAIA. [In the novel, it is assumed that Nikos does not become the lover of his mother, Mehr Gilanos.]

Kranius Gilanos -- CRONUS, son of GAIA and URANUS, youngest of THE TITANS, the usurper of his father's position as chief God, and the father of the first-generation Olympians. CRONUS, the patriarchal progenitor, had been warned that his son would overcome him. He then followed in the footsteps of his father and tried to eliminate his children by swallowing them. His wife, RHEA, received help from her parents, GAIA and URANUS, and fooled CRONUS with the sixth birth, that of ZEUS, such that the father swallowed a stone instead. Ultimately ZEUS with the help of METIS gave CRONUS an enema, forcing him to regurgitate HESTIA, DEMETER, HERA, HADES, and POSEIDON. Then with the help of his brothers, the CYCLOPS, and THE HUNDRED HANDED ONES, ZEUS overthrew CRONUS and THE TITANS and became Chief God.

Ruth Tinos -- RHEA, sister and wife of CRONUS, one of THE TITANS, and an Earth Goddess.

Kar Spiros -- Fictional name of HERA and DEMETER's father, i.e. CRONUS. [In the novel, Helen and Denise are not sisters of Zak.]

Alfred Travers -- ATLAS, a TITAN, father of MAIA and grandfather of HERMES. When ZEUS defeated THE TITANS, ATLAS was punished by making him bear the heavens on his shoulders throughout eternity. [In the novel, Alfred avoids Zak's wrath, but with Herman as a grandkid, nevertheless bears the heavens on his shoulders.]

Creon Delos -- Fictional father of Lisa (LETO).

Oscar Kneza (Neese) -- OCEANUS, a TITAN, and father of METIS.

Tersia -- TETHYS, a TITAN, and mother of METIS.

Aphros Ikaria -- Fictional father of April (APHRODITE).

Diane Ikaria -- DIONE, a sea nymph, mother of APHRODITE (in some accounts).

Lisa Delos Gilan -- LETO, a TITAN, wife of ZEUS, and mother of ARTEMIS and APOLLO, twins. LETO was forced to wander the earth in order to find a place to give birth to her twins because of HERA's jealous wrath. She was already in labor, when she came to the island of Delos. She gave birth of ARTEMIS, but then suffered terrible labor for nine days with APOLLO, finally having him on the seventh day of the month.

Tess Gilan -- ARTEMIS, Goddess of the Hunt and Moon, daughter of ZEUS and LETO, and twin sister to APOLLO. ZEUS is said to have been so enchanted with his young daughter that he promised her all that she might desire. ARTEMIS asked for and received a silver bow and arrows, hounds to hunt with, nymphs to accompany her, and the wilderness as her special place, where she first hunted by torchlight. She became known as the light bearer (and Goddess of the Moon), Goddess of Wildlife, Protector of the young, Goddess of Childbirth (she helped her mother LETO, during her difficult delivery with APOLLO), and often came to the rescue of young women (she saved ARETHUSA, a woodland nymph from rape by turning her into a spring of water). ARTEMIS came to the aid of her mother on numerous occasions, slaying TITYUS, who would have raped LETO, and also killed NIOBE's six daughters and turned NIOBE, the mother who offended LETO, into a pillar of stone. She was merciless to ACTAEON, a blundering hunter who accidentally came upon ARTEMIS and her nymphs bathing in a forest pool. ARTEMIS often roamed the wilderness with a band of nymphs and hunting dogs. She was a noted archer, but her skill resulted in the death of another hunter that she loved, ORION, when she was goaded by APOLLO's challenge to prove her accuracy with the bow by hitting an object in the ocean (which turned out to be ORION's head). As Goddess of the Moon, she was related to both SELENE and HECATE.

Myra Travers -- MAIA, a shy Goddess, one of the Pleiades, a constellation of sister stars, mother of HERMES.

Herman's dream companion -- (See Andy)

Ugly woman -- a servant of MORGAN LE FAY, who poses the question, i.e. what is it in the world that women most want? This is the question KING ARTHUR must answer in the GRAIL/AQUARIUS myth. {The answer is sovereignty over (or with) men.} [See The Return of the Goddess by Edward Whitmont, Crossroads Publishing, New York , 1989, page 169-170.]

Gromar -- GROMAR, a knight of demonic power and lord of the "wicked goddess castle" of MORGAN LE FAY, who defeats KING ARTHUR by magic, and threatens to cut off his head. [See Ugly Woman above.]

The Great Witch -- MORGAN LE FAY, of the KING ARTHUR legend. [See Ugly Woman above and Reference.]

10

Eunice and Tess -- EURYNOME and THETIS, sea nymphs, who nurtured and taught HAPHAESTUS for nine years.

"Child of the Earth" -- ERICHTHONIUS, from the thwarted mating of ATHENA and HAPHAESTUS, father of the royal house of Athens , raised by ATHENA. [In the novel, ERICHTHONIUS is a sculpture by HAPHAESTUS, who gives it to ATHENA.]

11

Charlie (Hal's driver) -- CHARON, the ferryman, who took the dead across the river, Styx , to the gates of HADES.

Bernie, Junior -- CERBERUS (see Bernie I, II, & III) [Bernie I's son.]

Raymond, Dino & (?) -- RHADAMANTHYS, MINOS, and AEACUS, the three judges of HADES.

Helen (Hal's receptionist) -- HECATE, pre-Olympian Goddess of the dark moon, daughter of EREBUS and NYX, or daughter of THE TITANS: PERSES and ASTERIA. HECATE is thus a cousin to ARTEMIS, the Goddess of the full moon.

Tiapes Muurman -- MUMMU, Mesopotamian counterpart of METIS, the Word, the Logos, Lord of Truth and Knowledge (infinitely wise). Also the combination of the Sumerian NINGAL and NANNA, Goddess and God of the Moon. NINGAL is the daughter of ENKI, Sumerian God of Wisdom and God of the Waters. [Metaphysically, emotions are associated with the Moon, water, and deeper intuitive wisdom.]

A. P. Summu Muurman -- APSU, Mesopotamian counterpart of OCEANUS, and Sumerian ENKI. God of Wisdom and Ocean God.

Tia Matson -- TIAMAT, Mesopotamian counterpart of TETHYS. Alternatively, the Sumerian God ENLIL or Goddess NINLIL, both air deities.

Anna Tiapes Muurman -- INANNA, Sumerian Queen of Heaven and Earth, Lady of Myriad Offices, Goddess of War, Goddess of Grain, Goddess of Sexual Love, symbolized by the morning and evening star, daughter of NANNA and NINGAL, granddaughter of the Sumerian ENKI (God of Wisdom and God of the Waters). INANNA is the symbol of wholeness, the many-faceted goddess image combining earth and sky, matter and spirit, earthly bounty and heavenly guidance. She is the embodied, playful, passionately erotic feminine; the powerful, independent, self-willed feminine; the ambitious, regal, many-sided feminine. Inanna provides the food of life and emotional nurturing, and symbolizes consciousness of transitions and borders, flexibility and play, and unceasing change. Her receptivity is active. In her most important myth, she descends into the Underworld in order to gain wisdom and to face her dark side (as symbolized by her "dark" sister, ERESHKIGAL). The last three to four thousand years of human history may be viewed as the "dark days of the Moon" of the Great Goddess cycle based on the precession of the earth's axis (25,920 years). This period of the patriarchy may also be viewed as Inanna's time in the Underworld, prior to her re-emergence and the Return of the Goddess into our modern world (the date for this event tentatively set for the Winter Solstice of 2012 A.D.). Inanna's return from the Underworld does not bode well for male chauvinists, the patriarchy or those who would resist inevitable change! [In the novel, Anna is betrothed to and marries, Andy, son of ZEUS and METIS.]

Paul Meany -- PROMETHEUS, a TITAN, who gave humankind fire, and was punished by ZEUS by being chained to a rock for 30,000 years, where an eagle daily fed on his liver. PROMETHEUS is also said to have prophesied the progeny of ZEUS and METIS: ATHENA and a son (The New God who would supplant ZEUS as Chief God, but who had no myths in Greek Mythology -- until now.)

12

Li Wong Duc (Lorenzo Valentino) -- NARCISSUS, who had fallen in love with the mountain-nymph ECHO, who in turn could only repeat his words of love back to him. For his lack of understanding, the gods made him fall in love with his own image. When he died, pining away for his pool reflection, the narcissus flower bloomed where he died.

Man in Valentino's -- A male SIREN.

15

Lawrence P. Cusman (psychiatrist and brother of Arthur Lyle Cusman) -- Alternate version of AUTOLYCUS, son of HERMES, arch thief and perjurer. [In the novel, the Cusmans are not related to Herman Travers.]

Cusman's secretary -- A sexy mortal, without the brains of a mentally handicapped ground squirrel.

Don Hess (Perses' assistant) -- ADONIS, a mortal with whom APHRODITE fell in love (because of his extreme beauty), but who subsequently died in a hunting accident (killed by a boar). ADONIS subsequently spent one third of his time with APHRODITE, one third in HADES with PERSEPHONE, and one third on his own -- probably resting.

Kate -- An alternate version of HECATE, Goddess of the Dark Moon and Goddess of the Crosswords, ruling over the uncanny realms of ghosts and demons, sorcery and magic. As such HECATE became the constant companion of PERSEPHONE (who was Queen of HADES).

Doctor and three patients -- YAMA UBA, a Japanese witch who causes avalanches by throwing stones, and YOWIE, WHOWIE, and WOWIE, three versions of an Australian creature of the night, a reptile with the features of a lizard, beetle, and snake. They tend to prey on others during the night, and live in deep caves otherwise.

16

Karen (April's maid) -- One of the GRACES, ever youthful companions and hand- maidens of APHRODITE. They are also the daughters of ZEUS and EURYNOME, the latter who is the daughter of OCEANUS.

Ugly woman in Herman's dream -- KUNDRIE, of the Grail/Aquarius myth who was the Ugly Damsel, and whom King Arthur's knight, Gawain, married in order to spare his King's life. Sovereignty must be given to her, if the Grail is to be restored (aka ERESHKIGAL or the GORDON, MEDUSA) [See Androse Gilan Neese (Andy).]

17

Mr. Hyde (Aaron's chief spy) -- HYACINTH, son of the King of Sparta, loved and accidentally killed by APOLLO.

18

Thelchtereia and Peisinoe -- THELCHTEREIA ("enchantress") and PEISINOE ("seductress"), both SIRENS, daughters of the River Achelous, who were said to have lured sailors to their death by the charm of their voices. Usually appear with AGLAOPE ("glorious face").

Lars' Dungeons and Dragons playmates -- ALOADAI, giant twins who captured ARES and shut him up in a bronze jar, where ARES almost died. HERMES freed him after 13 months of captivity.

Mic -- PRIAPUS, a deformed phallic god, who was tutor to ARES. (May also be viewed as Military Industrial Complex, which is hopefully on its way out.)

19

Deceased university professor -- ACTAEON, hunter who inadvertently came upon ARTEMIS and her nymphs bathing in a forest pool. ARTEMIS turned him into a stag, who was then torn to pieces by her hounds.

Teresa (pregnant lady) -- ARETHUSA, a woodland nymph, saved from rape by ARTEMIS, who turned her into a spring of water.

Alice -- ATALANTA, heroine, notable for the myths of the Calydon Boar (where she confronted her own inner destructiveness -- necessary for any ARTEMIS archetype female), and her race with HIPPOMENES, who won with the help of APHRODITE and three golden apples (and where ATALANTA became aware of her need for intimacy and independence).

Lena -- SELENE, one of the three moon Goddesses, who ruled in heaven and during the moon phases other that the full moon (ARTEMIS) and the new moon (HECATE).

Chloris and Stefan (twin babies) -- CHLORIS, the springtime Goddess who causes plants to blossom, and her husband, ZEPHYRUS, the west wind who brings soft airs and beneficial rains. [In the novel, they are reincarnated as twins.]

Tess' old flame (deceased) -- ORION, a hunter whom ARTEMIS loved. He was inadvertently killed by ARTEMIS when APOLLO challenged his twin sister to hit an object in the ocean with one of her arrows. The object, however, was ORION, who was wading up to his neck in the sea. (ORION was thus a casualty of ARTEMIS' nature... and the fact that APOLLO was a jerk!)

21

Yurie -- EUPHROSYNE ("joy and mirth") -- one of the three GRACES, daughters of ZEUS and EURYNOME (a daughter of OCEANUS). The GRACES always received the first cup of wine at a banquet.

Percy -- PARSIFAL, a knight of King Arthur's round table, who with Gawain was credited as one of the questing knights who recovered the Holy Grail. He may also be viewed as PERSEUS, who with ATHENA's help, slew the Gordon Medusa, using his shield as a mirror and having ATHENA guide his sword hand as he decapitated Medusa. Note, however, that Medusa, the abyss of transformation, has also returned! Don't look now, but it may be time to change!

 

Chapter Twenty Two – Anna

Heir Apparent

Forward to:

Sources

Up a Creek

Novels

Fictional Works

 

 

               

                                                                                      The Library of ialexandriah       

2003© Copyright Dan Sewell Ward, All Rights Reserved                     [Feedback]    

                                                                                                            Back Next