Proto-IE Poytheism

[Skeptikos Examiner]

Once all Aryans shared the same religion, when the Aryan race split into sub-races and the Aryans in different regions eventually lost track of each other, and just like their language, the religion they once shared split as well. From a single source-religion, Proto-IE-Polytheism, different believe systems emerged; Germanic-, Celtic-, Roman-, Greek-, and Slavic-, polytheism, just to name a few.

The existence of similarities among the deities and religious practices of the Indo-European (IE) peoples allows glimpses of a common Proto-Indo-European (PIE) religion and mythology. This hypothetical religion would have been the ancestor of the majority of the pagan religions of Europe, and of the Indian religions as well as Zoroastrianism in Iran.

Indications of the existence of this ancestral religion can be detected in commonalities between languages and religious customs of Indo-European peoples. The scientific method of triangulation is used by historical linguists to reconstruct the names of gods and goddesses, the names and processes for religious rituals and many related elements of belief and practice. In addition, many texts relating to the Indo-European religions exist, such as mythological tales and descriptions of religious rituals, including explicit instructions on how to perform them. Archaeological evidence is difficult to match to any specific culture in the earliest period of the Indo-European culture, which is defined as the time when all Indo-European-speaking people could still understand each other and conservatively thought to be about 4000 BCE[1]. However, there is a vast amount to archaeological evidence that can be connected to specific Indo-European cultures and especially religious topics, such as temple site digs, votive offerings and inscriptions. The names of gods are often the first words we find written in each of the Indo-European languages. (From wiki)

Proto-Indo-European religion - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia


Germanic, Celtic, and Greek polytheism are infact so akin to each other that in some cases only the names of the gods, creatures, and places differ which makes it is pretty clear that the European paganism of the different sub-races originated from a common proto-religion. For example it is very likely that this proto-religion had a tale of the gods fighting against some kind of giants which they than banished into some kind of underworld.

1) The Irish race of gods defeated the Formorians, a race of giants, driving them into Connacht (a kind of underworld)

2) The Greek gods defeated the titans, a race of giants that were the prior rulers of the world, and send them into the Tartarus (the deepest region of the underworld)

3) The Nordic gods defeated the frost giants and drove them into the underworld

Just one example of many similarities between those ancient European religions. I do not know much, if at all, about the other IE religions of the other sub-races but most likely a similar tale abouts the gods fighting giants exists in them as well. Anyone knows some of them?

"some Western Aryans, who seem to have a retrospective consciousness of what their race was, and an idea of what perhaps it could have been still, had their ancestors been faithful to the old national cults of Europe. This nostalgia for the past is not a new thing in the Christian West and Near East. It begins sixteen hundred years ago, with the desperate attempt of the Emperor Julian to restore the religion and society of the "Ancient World" to their former splendour, and it increases, in the heart of the few, as the "Ancient World," seen from a greater distance of time, seems more and more lovable. ..

It is said that, one day, Julian tried to organise a procession through the streets of Constantinople, in honour of Dionysos, the God of impetuous Joy, and overflowing Life.

But it was already too late, and the attempt proved a failure. The procession was but a ridiculous show, and when returning, at evening, after it was finished, Julian was as sad as if his eyes had embraced the whole gloomy future of the Mediterranean World. It is said that he was sitting in the gardens of his palace, in front of old blocks of marble, half-hidden with ivy, when a faithful friend, guessing the cause of his sadness, asked him: "What else did you expect? These are the days of our death."

Indian Paganism


Reconstructing this IE-Proto-Religion, this fragment of our common past, is something I wanted to do for a long time. I would appreciate any links, infos, and thoughts, on the subject and hope for a good discussion!


Some Links:

Irish gods

Nordic gods

The Greek Gods

[Monolith]

1) The Irish race of gods defeated the Formorians, a race of giants, driving them into Connacht (a kind of underworld)

2) The Greek gods defeated the titans, a race of giants that were the prior rulers of the world, and send them into the Tartarus (the deepest region of the underworld)

3) The Nordic gods defeated the frost giants and drove them into the underworld

This reminds me of a probable struggle between homo sapiens sapiens and homo sapiens neanderthalensis, having that Neanderthals were physically superior to the ancestors of modern humans. Perhaps these two matters are unrelated, but it sparks the imagination nevertheless..

[Savorgnan]

Originally Posted by Monolith

This reminds me of a probable struggle between homo sapiens sapiens and homo sapiens neanderthalensis, having that Neanderthals were physically superior to the ancestors of the modern humans. Perhaps these two matters are unrelated, but it sparks the imagination nevertheless..

I don't think it was the Neanderthals, who were rather shorties, though ultra-bold. I think that the so-called "giants" were the unreduced Cro-Mags who were civilized by the more advanced farmers...

[Menydh]

Strange that no one has wondered yet what was the ancient pantheon of the Gypsies, since they are at least as much "Aryan" as all other mentioned if we go by language (as it is the case). If they are not in fact more "Aryan".

[Monolith]

Originally Posted by Savorgnan

I don't think it was the Neanderthals, who were rather shorties, though ultra-bold. I think that the so-called "giants" were the unreduced Cro-Mags who were civilized by the more advanced farmers...

Weren't the Neanderthals similar in height to homo sapiens of that time, but much more robust? Anyway, your theory sounds plausible too.

[Savorgnan]

Originally Posted by Monolith

Weren't the Neanderthals similar in height to homo sapiens of that time, but much more robust? Anyway, your theory sounds plausible too.

Neanderthals were around 1m60/65 for 90/100 kilos. Powerhouses... Cro-Mags were around 1m75/77, sometimes more, but were very lean, though being still robust.

[Ariets]

Originally Posted by Mynydd

Strange that no one has wondered yet what was the ancient pantheon of the Gypsies, since they are at least as much "Aryan" as all other mentioned if we go by language (as it is the case). If they are not in fact more "Aryan".

Gypsies ware propably of Dravidian origin.

Originally Posted by Savorgnan

Neanderthals were around 1m60/65 for 90/100 kilos. Powerhouses... Cro-Mags were around 1m75/77, sometimes more, but were very lean, though being still robust.

Depends place and period, "Cro-Mags" as you call it ware rather taller and thinner for a 179cm/67kg. Beside "robust" is subiective word.
Dienekes\' Anthropology Blog: Stature of early Europeans

[Menydh]

Originally Posted by Ariets

Gypsies ware propably of Dravidian origin.

The Romani language does belong to the Indo-Aryan family. And there are suggestions that they were a warrior people. That they were of a Dravidian origin is speculation.

[Monolith]

Originally Posted by Mynydd

The Romani language does belong to the Indo-Aryan family. And there are suggestions that they were a warrior people. That they were of a Dravidian origin is speculation.

Warriors? How so? I thought they were always wanderers.

[Menydh]

Originally Posted by Monolith

Warriors? How so? I thought they were always wanderers.

One theory goes that they were not an actual warrior caste but that they were sort of mercenaries who were granted warrior status. Something more recent I read suggested that they were actually a tribe with different trades including warriors, and that they started wandering after being defeated.

That's of course before they arrived to the Byzantine Empire.

[Menydh]

By the way, remember that many Germanic and Slavic, as well as other tribes (such as the Indo-Iranian Alans) were wanderers too.

[Ariets]

Originally Posted by Mynydd

The Romani language does belong to the Indo-Aryan family. And there are suggestions that they were a warrior people. That they were of a Dravidian origin is speculation.

Genetically are closer to Sri Lankan's than to high-caste population of India.

Ps. Speaking kind of language does not mean being originated from them.

[Menydh]

Originally Posted by Ariets

Genetically are closer to Sri Lankan's than to high-caste population of India.

Not denying that, the fact is that most Roma populations are genetically closer to the Punjabi and Rajput, than those Europeans who claim "aryanness"...

Ps. Speaking kind of language does not mean being originated from them.

.. on account of a language origin.

[Savorgnan]

Originally Posted by Ariets

Depends place and period, "Cro-Mags" as you call it ware rather taller and thinner for a 179cm/67kg. Beside "robust" is subiective word.
Dienekes\' Anthropology Blog: Stature of early Europeans

175, 177 or 179 cm, what a huge difference... But you are right on this point: with an estimated body weight of 67 kg, they were genuine wimps.

[Ariets]

Originally Posted by Savorgnan