posted
I'm looking for a word that can apply to a supernatural creature that is associated with a particular place/geographic location. I would rather stay away from Greek/classical mythology, but at this point I'm growing open to anything.
Posts: 612 | Registered: Jul 2005
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posted
The Lares and Penates of ancient -- um, Greece? Rome? I forget -- were household gods. I know you're staying away from the classical, but that's as close as I get to anything historically interesting.
Posts: 671 | Registered: May 2006
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posted
Genius loci is a Roman concept and it just means 'local spirit'. It is probably because the idea is relatively undeveloped in the classical world that it has no single word to capture the concept. Similarly, it is not well defined in many cultures heavily influenced by classical ideas. It may be easiest for you to find the concept in non-western cultures. You may want to look into the various manifestations of the shinto concept of kami or kami spirits or obake.
But, if you really want to avoid being identified with a particular culture, you may just have to do as the Romans did and say 'local spirit' or as mikemunsil suggests: 'haunt'.
[This message has been edited by hoptoad (edited October 10, 2006).]
I've been offline for a few days. Thanks for all the responses and suggestions.
For those that asked. These are "made up" creatures that are associated with specific geographic places (e.g., a particular valley or a particular river), but not with structures like say a castle or a house (or a graveyard for that matter). Also, they are not associated with the dead or gods, and have a corporeal existence of sorts.
Non-classical cultures/belief systems are ideal. Two that would work very well are Celtic and Native American. But as I said, I'm not excluding anything. I just want to avoid unintentional allusion to the better known aspects of classical mythology. I'll look into each of the suggestions, as they all have some promise.
Thanks again, and if I find anything really cool I'll let you know.
posted
Well, here are just a few thoughts: A(n): Elemental Avatar Effigy A-One-of-Those(j/k) a First-syllable-of-the-source-ling(i.e. Rivling, Valling, Mountling, Starling, Fireling, so on and so forth)
posted
We are talking about multiples of the same creature, "People of the Sun" or Mosswalkers? In which case, I would name them like tribes or clans. You could do bastardized gaelic, MacNis for 'son of the river' or Ingenis for 'river daughter'. What would the creatures call themselves? What would their enemies call them? Humans? I think whatever you do call them will echo with classical mythology. This is a common symbol in all mythologies, spirits/creatures of a location. Classical myth is just what most people know. A rose by any other name...
Posts: 36 | Registered: Jan 2006
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