The goddess Saeir is worshiped at this temple as the mistress of all magic. Technically, she is the goddess of magic and knowledge. But this temple is famous for attracting priestesses, and witchy wannabes, so her magical knowledge is emphasized during worship services.
She is most commonly represented by a white horse with giant raven wings. Sometimes this horse can be mistaken for a winged zebra because tiger stripes is a common color other than just pure white. She's known to favor young women, especially if they are in trouble with men. Therefore, sometimes she can be known as a vengeful goddess because of her bias. But occasionally she will have mercy towards men as well.
Especially if a female pleads on the behalf of a family member like a brother, father, or son. She tends to favor virgins. So revenge against lovers is less certain because she'd rather the maidens avoid romantic relationships with men altogether. Her vengeance is usually aimed against abusive fathers, brothers, sons, and masters. Aka any man a woman didn't choose to be in their lives, but must put up with anyway. A lover is usually a choice, so she is less eager to grant those requests.
The priestesses who live at this temple year-round honor her by living chaste lives and abstaining from foods made from animals. Because of their plant-rich diet, the women (and a few special men) often and easily live past 100 years old. They are renown for their wisdom and knowledge in many subjects due to their old age, and greatly respected for it.
A fire is lit under the great stone statue of the winged horse, which is painted pure white and the eyes and hooves are inlaid with silver. The priestesses make their offerings via good food from the fields or via song, dance, or another artistic endeavor. Only trusted members are allowed close to the sacred flame. Visitors must stay in the nearby courtyards where they can be overseen by guards to make sure there is no sabotage or trouble. The thought of a maiden being raped within the very grounds of Saeir's court would cause hellfire to pour forth upon the earth from the goddess.
By: Saeir Darr
She is most commonly represented by a white horse with giant raven wings. Sometimes this horse can be mistaken for a winged zebra because tiger stripes is a common color other than just pure white. She's known to favor young women, especially if they are in trouble with men. Therefore, sometimes she can be known as a vengeful goddess because of her bias. But occasionally she will have mercy towards men as well.
Especially if a female pleads on the behalf of a family member like a brother, father, or son. She tends to favor virgins. So revenge against lovers is less certain because she'd rather the maidens avoid romantic relationships with men altogether. Her vengeance is usually aimed against abusive fathers, brothers, sons, and masters. Aka any man a woman didn't choose to be in their lives, but must put up with anyway. A lover is usually a choice, so she is less eager to grant those requests.
The priestesses who live at this temple year-round honor her by living chaste lives and abstaining from foods made from animals. Because of their plant-rich diet, the women (and a few special men) often and easily live past 100 years old. They are renown for their wisdom and knowledge in many subjects due to their old age, and greatly respected for it.
A fire is lit under the great stone statue of the winged horse, which is painted pure white and the eyes and hooves are inlaid with silver. The priestesses make their offerings via good food from the fields or via song, dance, or another artistic endeavor. Only trusted members are allowed close to the sacred flame. Visitors must stay in the nearby courtyards where they can be overseen by guards to make sure there is no sabotage or trouble. The thought of a maiden being raped within the very grounds of Saeir's court would cause hellfire to pour forth upon the earth from the goddess.
By: Saeir Darr
“Bow before me!” My voice rings out over the mass before me. They are all just people, mere mortals. I do not know how they think they could resist me? The lights shimmer before all of us and I know it is time. The red robe I am wearing flashes as I step forward onto the plinth to address my people. The lights are low, but I can still see their faces glimmering excitedly before me.
“My people, until this time it has not been completely understood as to how the world has evaded captivation with me. Of course you have your deities already, but none quite like me.”
I could see their smiles, but was unable to detect as to whether or not they were planted on their faces through nervousness or admiration. I hoped for the latter, but if it were not the case then I could take it from them instead.
“The cheetah is one of the most powerful animals in the world. It does not come from our land, but it can still represent us. And why not? After all, we are so keen on representation already we seem to have quite forgotten that we are our own people. But that doesn’t matter now…” The crowd’s eyes bulged at my words.
I sashay forwards and watch the people part like Moses and the sea. They are entranced by me and I am keen to prowl among them. Until the weak realise they are the prey they do not understand that they even face any opposition. I am that opposition. But I can’t let the people know that.
It is all becoming too much; I can feel myself becoming drowsy with the effort of keeping it all in. My power is the ultimate weapon, but I can’t help but feel as though it is consuming me.
I bow to my people on all fours and let them revel in my transformation. As the spots appear on my skin perhaps they realise they cannot trust me. Or when the blood pours out of my jaws and onto the altar, I may just have given myself away.
By: Antonia Clarke
“My people, until this time it has not been completely understood as to how the world has evaded captivation with me. Of course you have your deities already, but none quite like me.”
I could see their smiles, but was unable to detect as to whether or not they were planted on their faces through nervousness or admiration. I hoped for the latter, but if it were not the case then I could take it from them instead.
“The cheetah is one of the most powerful animals in the world. It does not come from our land, but it can still represent us. And why not? After all, we are so keen on representation already we seem to have quite forgotten that we are our own people. But that doesn’t matter now…” The crowd’s eyes bulged at my words.
I sashay forwards and watch the people part like Moses and the sea. They are entranced by me and I am keen to prowl among them. Until the weak realise they are the prey they do not understand that they even face any opposition. I am that opposition. But I can’t let the people know that.
It is all becoming too much; I can feel myself becoming drowsy with the effort of keeping it all in. My power is the ultimate weapon, but I can’t help but feel as though it is consuming me.
I bow to my people on all fours and let them revel in my transformation. As the spots appear on my skin perhaps they realise they cannot trust me. Or when the blood pours out of my jaws and onto the altar, I may just have given myself away.
By: Antonia Clarke
The God Khnum (also called Khnemu, Khenmu, Khenmew or Chnum) was one of the most ancient gods of Egypt. He was depicted as a ram, a ram-headed man or a man with the horns of a ram. Very rarely that he was depicted with the head of a hawk. He often wears the plumed white crown of Upper Egypt and was sometimes holding a jar with water flowing out of it.
He was a god of the cataracts, a potter, and a creator god who guarded the source of the Nile. So originally he was a water god who ruled over all waters, including the rivers and lakes of the underworld. As he was the guard of the Nile, he made sure that the inundation deposited enough black silt onto the river banks to make them fertile. Thus from the silt formed the clay, the raw material required to make pottery. Khnum moulded everything on his potters wheel, including both the people and the other gods.
Since ram was considered to be a very potent animal, Khnum was associated with fertility. The ‘Famine Stele’, which is a carved stone tablet found on Sehel Island, contains appeals to Khnum during a terrible famine caused by a low inundation of the Nile during the reign of Pharaoh Djoser. A dream from the Pharaoh told that if a temple was built in his honour, the god would deliver the country from the famine. And as promised, after the temple was built, the famine came to an end.
Khnum was also known to be a blesser of a newborn child as well as a protective deity of the dead. Besides that, he was one of the gods who was thought to have helped Ra on his perilous nocturnal journey through the underworld. He created the boat that carried Ra and helped defend the Sun God against the serpent Apep, or Apothis.
His sanctuary was on Elephantine Island, or the island of Abu, but his best-preserved temple is at Esna.
By: Angel Pevensie
He was a god of the cataracts, a potter, and a creator god who guarded the source of the Nile. So originally he was a water god who ruled over all waters, including the rivers and lakes of the underworld. As he was the guard of the Nile, he made sure that the inundation deposited enough black silt onto the river banks to make them fertile. Thus from the silt formed the clay, the raw material required to make pottery. Khnum moulded everything on his potters wheel, including both the people and the other gods.
Since ram was considered to be a very potent animal, Khnum was associated with fertility. The ‘Famine Stele’, which is a carved stone tablet found on Sehel Island, contains appeals to Khnum during a terrible famine caused by a low inundation of the Nile during the reign of Pharaoh Djoser. A dream from the Pharaoh told that if a temple was built in his honour, the god would deliver the country from the famine. And as promised, after the temple was built, the famine came to an end.
Khnum was also known to be a blesser of a newborn child as well as a protective deity of the dead. Besides that, he was one of the gods who was thought to have helped Ra on his perilous nocturnal journey through the underworld. He created the boat that carried Ra and helped defend the Sun God against the serpent Apep, or Apothis.
His sanctuary was on Elephantine Island, or the island of Abu, but his best-preserved temple is at Esna.
By: Angel Pevensie