Leitandár and the Beer of Underworld

Leitandár and the Beer of Underworld is a mythic cycle about god Leitandár.
Leitandár is the winemaker of the Heavenly Gods. He tends the wineyards in the Garden of the Heavenly Lord, and every night serves drinks in the Palace of Naralte. However, he is also thought to be the Brewer of the Underworld, who descends each winter to the underworld, Waumin. There he brews a dark beer for Ulalte, the Lord of the Dead, and all the demons of the underworld.

Agricultural Metaphor

The Leitandár Cycle is thought to originate as a metaphor of the changing seasons. The nature dying as the winter comes is seen as the representation of the God of Nature dying and descending to the Underworld, to be reborn again once the spring comes. The myth also illustrates the Faren perspective of the underworld as the extension of life, where Táldar, the souls of the dead, continue their existense much the same as on mortal lands, living from agriculture and needing food and drink to sustain themselves.

Variations

Leitandár's abduction

Some versions expand on the myth, explaining that Lord of the Underworld Ulalte was jealous of the heavenly wine, and thus sent his demons to capture Leitandár, and force him to spend half a year in the Underworld serving him.

Ásinnár's Journey to the Underworld

Ásinnár's Journey to the Underworld tells the myth from the perspective of Hero Ásinnár, mortal daughter of Leitandár, who hears of the adduction of her father, and descends to Ulalte's realm to save him. On the journey she discovers Deep crawler nectar that the Stone Giants brew, and offers the recipe to Ulalte in exchange for the freedom of her father. Thus Leitandár is allowed to return on mortal lands, but must return each winter to brew the beer of the Underworld.

In the header: Leitandár and wild beasts fighting after becoming drunk from wine. A mosaic.

The Beer of the Underworld is thought to be fermented Deep crawler nectar, sweet secretion, produced by the Deep crawlers, large insects, that live in the tunnels of the Stone Giants. They myths describe it as being brown and thick, with strong earthy smell. Few humans can stomack it, but giants seem to consume it like beer.

by Osama Shukir Muhammed Amin

Stone Giants getting drunk on deep crawler nectar