Something i've been thinking about in relation to the upcoming DLC and the trailers for it: I think Marika is actually an Omen, disgusing herself. The Omen in Elden Ring are the Jotunn of the setting.
Great video! A few thoughts: I wonder if Marika being Odin explains how Marika is connected to Melina. Odin had one eye, liked to disguise himself and travel, and rode a magic steed... just like Melina! And Marika was said to like to disguise herself too. Also, maybe the finger maidens are valkyries? They lead the tarnished to Leyndell like the valkyries led people who died in battle to Asgard. Which makes me think of Marika sending away the tarnished in the first place. Maybe she was preparing for her Ragnarok? Finally, I think Ranni actually may be a reference to Hel, who appeared half living and half dead just like Ranni. She was also involved in the story of Baldr's death. In that case I think Radagon would actually be Loki. Loki's three children with a giantess were Hel, Jormungandr, and Fenrir. I think this may have been the inspiration for the Carian family. Renalla is an astrologer whose ancestors had ties to the fire giants. Jormungandr was a giant serpent like Rykard. Not sure about Radahn and Fenrir though. Loki's children were prophesized to start Ragnarok, which mirrors Ranni and Rykard conspiring on the Night of the Black Knives.
Odin is sometimes called the father of war, or inciter of conflict (Odin's name Ofnir means this) The shattering. Also, there are some theories that Odin and Loki (blood brothers by oath) colluded behind the scenes to get Baldur sacrificed. Baldur's death follows a lot of tropes associated with those in the sagas sacrifices to Odin. King Vikar comes to mind. "Now I give you to Odin." Is said before a spear, disguised by Odin as a reed, is thrown into King Vikar. There's more to the story, but that's what's relevant to parallels to Baldur's death and Godwin and the subject of the video.
Just had mind blowing idea. Maybe Marika speaking to Radagon before the shattering (Let us both be shattered, mine other self) is a twist on Odins sacrifice to himself by hanging to get the runes in the first place. " I hung on the windswept tree whose roots go where no one knows. Marked by a spear and given to Odin. Myself to myself..." Marked by a spear. Could this be the red and black spear-like object pierced into her as she hangs, crucified on a rune ark on the Erdtree.
Fenrir is also confusing he has another name: Fenrisulfr - The Wolf of Fenrir Consider the Red Wolf of Radagon, perhaps this a play off of this concept and interplays with Radagon taking or Marika whether or not they are 2 beings or One. Odin, having many names, includes 'Lord of Frenzy'. In fact, that's what Odin itself means. Perhaps this, in game, is more of a reflection of Maria's mythological influences rather than one whole character.
@@noctugal in a moment of intense stress, it seems like new being may be able to split from a god or demi-god. Think of Millicent and her sisters and Melania. I think Melina is that to Merika. And I think, with us at her side, We may serve as a Vidar figure towards Marika's Odin figure in a way. A god of Vengeance. He is the one that slays Fenrir at Ragnarok after Fenrir consumes Odin. (pronounced Vithar in Old Norse) I think Radagon being Fenrir is a bit to simple. He plays that role, certainly. But he has the skills of both a warrior and a craftsman. His rune is that of a type of stitching. Multi-talented. Perhaps, all-talented. I think, despite Godfrey sort of being his name sake, he may be a Lugh inspired character. Funny enough, Lugh is the Gaelic cognate of the Gaulish God Lugus. The god the Romans often associated with Mercury. The same god that's associated with Wodnaz, an early Proto-Germanic Cognate of Odin. Funny detail about Lugus: Radagon spent a lot of time in Raya Lucaria. Some of the sorcerer's there have that mask with the overlapping faces. That's almost exactly how Lugus gets represented in archeological finds, with 3 faces instead. Coincidence? Probably but you never know with From Softs attention to detail. If Merika and Radagon are one and the same, in the super abstract way it already is in game, perhaps they are their own expressions of this all skilled, druid/seidr practitioner in their major mythical influences as well.
Fascinating video! It was fun to watch and to hear, and I'm happy to find people who talk about Norse references in Elden Ring. I mean, Christianity is pretty evident, but the game is loaded with references to various mythologies. Thank you for sharing your work!
What do you think of the idea of Radagon being akin to Loki? A lot of people have said this because of his children being apparently similar to Loki's. With the red wolf of Radagon being like Fenrir. Rykard being like Jörmungandr And Ranni being like Hel, half alive and half dead.
Marika is ALL western gods from Norse through Christianity. The previous age represented all the gods prior to 0 A.C.E., like Zeus and the gods of ancient Sumeria. Her becoming the singular goddess (aka monotheism) is meant to show contrast between the polytheistic gods of ancient times and she, like the Germanic tribes and subsequent Holy Roman Empire, achieved their power through conquest.
@@noctugal yeah totally! The lore in this game is really interesting and it’s clear the writers drew from many inspirations. If you’re looking to speculate about the previous age before Marika read up on the gods of Babylon, specifically Marduk. When you consider the direct hostility in Old Testament towards Babylon it really starts to bring things together.
Something i've been thinking about in relation to the upcoming DLC and the trailers for it: I think Marika is actually an Omen, disgusing herself. The Omen in Elden Ring are the Jotunn of the setting.
Great video! A few thoughts: I wonder if Marika being Odin explains how Marika is connected to Melina. Odin had one eye, liked to disguise himself and travel, and rode a magic steed... just like Melina! And Marika was said to like to disguise herself too. Also, maybe the finger maidens are valkyries? They lead the tarnished to Leyndell like the valkyries led people who died in battle to Asgard. Which makes me think of Marika sending away the tarnished in the first place. Maybe she was preparing for her Ragnarok? Finally, I think Ranni actually may be a reference to Hel, who appeared half living and half dead just like Ranni. She was also involved in the story of Baldr's death. In that case I think Radagon would actually be Loki. Loki's three children with a giantess were Hel, Jormungandr, and Fenrir. I think this may have been the inspiration for the Carian family. Renalla is an astrologer whose ancestors had ties to the fire giants. Jormungandr was a giant serpent like Rykard. Not sure about Radahn and Fenrir though. Loki's children were prophesized to start Ragnarok, which mirrors Ranni and Rykard conspiring on the Night of the Black Knives.
I love this! Could I reference this in a future video? Will shout you out of course 🙌
This is good. Your comment needs highlighted.
@@noctugal yes go ahead! i've been thinking about this for a week so it's great to see people talking about it!
Odin is sometimes called the father of war, or inciter of conflict (Odin's name Ofnir means this) The shattering.
Also, there are some theories that Odin and Loki (blood brothers by oath) colluded behind the scenes to get Baldur sacrificed.
Baldur's death follows a lot of tropes associated with those in the sagas sacrifices to Odin. King Vikar comes to mind.
"Now I give you to Odin." Is said before a spear, disguised by Odin as a reed, is thrown into King Vikar. There's more to the story, but that's what's relevant to parallels to Baldur's death and Godwin and the subject of the video.
Just had mind blowing idea.
Maybe Marika speaking to Radagon before the shattering (Let us both be shattered, mine other self) is a twist on Odins sacrifice to himself by hanging to get the runes in the first place.
" I hung on the windswept tree whose roots go where no one knows. Marked by a spear and given to Odin. Myself to myself..."
Marked by a spear. Could this be the red and black spear-like object pierced into her as she hangs, crucified on a rune ark on the Erdtree.
Fenrir is also confusing he has another name:
Fenrisulfr - The Wolf of Fenrir
Consider the Red Wolf of Radagon, perhaps this a play off of this concept and interplays with Radagon taking or Marika whether or not they are 2 beings or One.
Odin, having many names, includes 'Lord of Frenzy'.
In fact, that's what Odin itself means.
Perhaps this, in game, is more of a reflection of Maria's mythological influences rather than one whole character.
I love this all so much! Thank you for posting this! Would you mind if I referenced these comments in an upcoming video?
@@noctugal feel absolutely free to. I was listening to this several times at work last night. It's a truly amazing and mind opening video.
@@noctugal in a moment of intense stress, it seems like new being may be able to split from a god or demi-god. Think of Millicent and her sisters and Melania.
I think Melina is that to Merika.
And I think, with us at her side, We may serve as a Vidar figure towards Marika's Odin figure in a way. A god of Vengeance. He is the one that slays Fenrir at Ragnarok after Fenrir consumes Odin. (pronounced Vithar in Old Norse)
I think Radagon being Fenrir is a bit to simple. He plays that role, certainly. But he has the skills of both a warrior and a craftsman. His rune is that of a type of stitching. Multi-talented. Perhaps, all-talented. I think, despite Godfrey sort of being his name sake, he may be a Lugh inspired character. Funny enough, Lugh is the Gaelic cognate of the Gaulish God Lugus. The god the Romans often associated with Mercury. The same god that's associated with Wodnaz, an early Proto-Germanic Cognate of Odin.
Funny detail about Lugus: Radagon spent a lot of time in Raya Lucaria. Some of the sorcerer's there have that mask with the overlapping faces. That's almost exactly how Lugus gets represented in archeological finds, with 3 faces instead.
Coincidence? Probably but you never know with From Softs attention to detail.
If Merika and Radagon are one and the same, in the super abstract way it already is in game, perhaps they are their own expressions of this all skilled, druid/seidr practitioner in their major mythical influences as well.
Fascinating video! It was fun to watch and to hear, and I'm happy to find people who talk about Norse references in Elden Ring. I mean, Christianity is pretty evident, but the game is loaded with references to various mythologies. Thank you for sharing your work!
Thank you so much! I'm glad you enjoyed it!
SHE'S Odin, HE'S Odin, HE'S Odin- Is there any more Odins I need to know about?!
Everyone is odin.
What do you think of the idea of Radagon being akin to Loki?
A lot of people have said this because of his children being apparently similar to Loki's.
With the red wolf of Radagon being like Fenrir.
Rykard being like Jörmungandr
And Ranni being like Hel, half alive and half dead.
I love the idea! I have actually discussed this connection in several of my videos!
Marika is ALL western gods from Norse through Christianity. The previous age represented all the gods prior to 0 A.C.E., like Zeus and the gods of ancient Sumeria. Her becoming the singular goddess (aka monotheism) is meant to show contrast between the polytheistic gods of ancient times and she, like the Germanic tribes and subsequent Holy Roman Empire, achieved their power through conquest.
I love this! Mind if I shout this out in an upcoming video?
@@noctugal yeah totally! The lore in this game is really interesting and it’s clear the writers drew from many inspirations. If you’re looking to speculate about the previous age before Marika read up on the gods of Babylon, specifically Marduk. When you consider the direct hostility in Old Testament towards Babylon it really starts to bring things together.
Also, isn't Ofnir another name of Odin?
she's oedon