Ark’tohlian Pantheon (South Legonian Polytheism)
From Legonia
State religion in the Skorpion Emirates. The Ark'tohlian pantheon consists of just 7 gods chosen by the high priests of Ark'tohl. Their origins can be tracked back far to the past in various southern myths and religions. Since the seven temples are political chosen and other pre existed gods are kept being denied, many aspects were changed and added. Their purpose varies much in different cultural groups.
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Origin
Compared to the northern monotheism, the big something has a secondary role in the south. The variety of southlegonian cultures created countless small religions and gods. Since the ancient Ark’tohl Empire and partly before, a pantheon of gods were in the minds of human, Ba’tohl and other races of the jungle. The big something is still the force of creation but isn’t prayed anymore. Instead, younger gods seem to lead the history of present. Every god except the big something used to have its own idol and temple. To homogenize its many citizen, die high priests of the heptarchy reduced a number of recognized gods to only 7, other gods are denied and their cults political hunted. In conclusion, the seven main gods variate a lot from what they had to be used seen as.
Gods of Ark'tohlian pantheon
In former times, many gods were known, today only a few left:
The 7 official venerated:
(Main god; god of sun, desert,war,desire,power,strenght,masculinity)
(Godess of fertility, women, family, home)
(God of jungle, hunt, animals, acriculture)
(God of death, sleep, curses and disease)
(God of air, sky, science, magic, creativity and free minds)
(God of earth, crafting and trade)
(God of water and oceans)
- See also: Others
Politics&church
Long ago, the heptarchy of the Skorpion Emirates has used the temple cults as political instruments and integrated the priests to the administration. The old myths and rules of the desert cultures are long-forgotten and partly distorted. The heptarchs are presented as god-choosen representatives on earth, so because there are 7 lords, only 7 temples survived, although there were over 20 gods originally known. That’s why the resting gods often have various meanings, which they hadn’t before. Every god has its own temple, which is leaded by a priesthood and a high priest. The high priests of Arkos are traditionally also heptarchs everytime. So, if the heptarch die, not his first son, but the next high priest get the position. For the other heptarchs inheritance law is set, but if there aren’t any children high priests will be prefered if they want to become heptarch. At moment, the high priest of the temples Arkos and Jangalis are heptarchs at same time.
Churches/cults
The seven temples
The official church of the Skorpion Emirates has developed and praised the Ark'tohlian Pantheon. Every temple has a high priest and an own priesthood, which decides over the rules of their god. The seven temples aren't interested in truth, they just use their religion to gain more power and to manipulate the people of the Emirates.
Circle of elements
A small separation of priests who mainly whorship those gods, who are masters of the holy elements because only who controls these has real god-power.
So, the gods Arkos(fire), Onyxo(earth), Airos(wind), Okeanos(water) and the big something (mana) belong to the circle of elements-pantheon. Other gods are seen as unimportant for these priests. Of course, the great heptarchy of the Skorpion Emirates doesn't allow this religion, so its cult is living secretly.
