Things you never knew

[bladespark]

I'm still reading through the Lovecraft stuff. I'm probably going to do something strange to my brain by reading the more or less complete works of Lovecraft all in one go, but I watched Evangelion more or less in one go too, and that didn't break me.

Anyhow, I encountered something that made me double-take. Namely, a mention of "Sephiroth!" Yup. Square apparently didn't invent that name, they swiped it, turns out, from the Jewish Kabbalistic tradition, where it's used to refer to the attributes of God. (I looked it up on Wikipedia.) Interestingness.

Comments

[aoanla.livejournal.com]

Actually, the sephiroth thing happened the other way around for me - for ages, I was wondering why people kept shouting words from Jewish Mysticism in IRC...

[aoanla.livejournal.com]

Also, and additionally, a lot of Japanese RPGs and other games steal many of their names from (modifications of) Western religious or cultural symbols. It's probably the equivalent of Western game writers using references to other obscure mythology (or even just Greek...) for kicks, except the Japanese seem to take it further.

[bladespark.livejournal.com]

Yeah. The Breath of Fire games have this whole thing with a !Catholic church going on that's kind of creepy.

[wolfmare.livejournal.com]

Wow... That's almost creepy, to be honest. Attributes of God? *blinks* Sure as heck not very fitting for the way the game character went. On a side note, I love that game... *sigh* Can't find it anymore.

[emirasan.livejournal.com]

I'm looking, I'm looking. LOL :)

[kainhighwind-dr.livejournal.com]

Yeah I only just found that out last year. Apparently lots of people seemed to know about this and scorn those who don't. Pah. But then, I'm not at all Jewish nor well-versed in various religions so, nyar... ;P

There are a number of ways in which the character and other story elements seem to fit the various details of the Kabal; all very intriguing.

[malakim2099.livejournal.com]

As long as we're spreading the Word of Sephiroth! *grins*

[emirasan.livejournal.com]

I've actually know about this as well for quite some time now though I was first introduced to the name through that most wonderous Square game of FFVII. Other names used that have interesting and sometimes religious backgrounds are Shiva, Fenrir, Leviathan, Titan, Carbuncle, and many others that I cannoth think of at the moment. Another interesting note is Sephiroth's sword the famed Masamune. Look up that little tale if you're curious.

>.>... Nooo I'm not obsessed with Final Fantasy...why do you ask?

[graydown.livejournal.com]

To my enduring horror, "carbuncle" is also a kind of skin disease. And it's such a cute name...

[bladespark.livejournal.com]

It's a gemstone as well, isn't it?

[graydown.livejournal.com]

Yeah -- usually a ruby that has been polished, but not faceted. The Latin root, carbunculus, means either "gem" or "tumor," and literally means "burning coal." ... I'm a dork. Sorry. ^_^;

[bladespark.livejournal.com]

*giggles* I was aware of the disease, but I always kind of assumed it was named for the gem. Although I suppose it could be a great big glowing tumor on Carbuncle's head. *grins*

[graydown.livejournal.com]

Now there's a pleasant thought... ;)