Auromon

"The old god,
Father of the sea and sky,
His children among
The rulers of all the world."

— Unknown Mythological Text

Once the patron deity of Thripia, Auromon is an ancient sea god brought to Arad by the Thalassians whose domain includes the wind and elder wisdom. He is the father of many other deities and is known in myths for his changing temperament which can in one moment bring wrathful anger and in another benevolence. Though far less powerful than they once were, the Cult of Auromon and its magi still worship him but have been in decline since they lost control of the Temple of Auromon which became the new Temple of Sargos; the sun god and Auromon's replacement as Thripia's patron. Auromon is believed to protect seafarers and is honored for blessings of good weather.

Appearance

Within Thripian myth, Auromon is regarded as an older god, one has existed before most others. As such, in artistic depictions of him, he is similar to an elderly man, albeit lacking in any infirmity. Generally, he has long thick hair and a beard, both grey, silver or white in color, with a stern expression. He wears heavy, long robes and is sometimes depicted as rising out of the ocean or with its waves swirling around his feet. In martial depictions of Auromon, he wields a spear as a weapon. In some depictions, he appears as a hunched figure dressed in beggar's robes, this being his mortal form which he was known to take in some stories.

Mythology

Auromon is one of the oldest known gods according to the myths of the Thalassians and Thripia. Supposedly, he was one of the first to exist and most assume that he was a self-created deity. At some stage, he came to be ruler of the seas and oceans of the world. He sired a great number of divine children, who became other gods and goddesses associated with the sea or the wider natural world, and was often considered the de facto leader of the gods, though never their chief as Sargos became. In some mythic interpretations, however, he has no authority of any kind. Typically, in these depictions, he is a far more temperamental and destructive god, though he is universally described as being wrathful and prone to fits of anger.

Significance

Thripia's former patron deity, Auromon is a god of great historical significance, particular in the early years of the city. His dominion over the sea and seafaring was of great relevance to Thripia's Thalassian ancestors, who migrated to Arad from across the Western Sea, and then to their first descendants who were pioneering traders, explorers and travelers. As Thripia's reliance on the sea began to dwindle, however, so too did the relevance of Auromon and ultimately the Cult of Sargos would become more popular and more dominant. Nevertheless, Auromon is still worshiped and has shrines in Thripia. His cult, too, persists.

God of the Sea and Wind

Auromon's principle role as a deity is his position as sea god and ruler of the winds. The sea, associated in Thripia with the power of untameable nature, is linked to Auromon's temperament. When he is of good favor and benevolence, the waves are gentle and pliable. When he is of wrathful anger, the water and winds rage at his command to destroy everything in their path. As such, Auromon's relationship with the sea is far more elemental than the more symbolic roles of other gods. He is linked with it inextricably and its own behavior reflects his innermost workings. It can be said that Auromon's rule as a god is more based on raw power over the world as opposed to divine authority.

Father of Gods

Beyond his position as an elemental deity, Auromon fulfills a significant mythological role as the father and sire of many other gods. His wife as a female counterpart is almost never explicitly named and is largely considered irrelevant, the belief being that gods do not need to be reared or protected as mortals do which is traditionally, in Thripia, considered the female parental role. Rather, Auromon as a patriarch, which is another source of his authority among the gods, is regarded most significantly as a life-giver and is commonly invoked for blessings of male fertility and vigor. Additionally, his fatherly role is linked with the principles of paternal wisdom and stern benevolence. Auromon is thought to be unquestioningly wise though nonetheless volatile when disrespected. His position in myth was therefore, ambiguously, either highly formative for parental gender roles in Thripia or formed originally by those gender roles.

Patron of Seafarers

The most pragmatic worshipers and devotees of Auromon are usually sailors. He is their patron and is thought to watch over them should they honor and respect him in adequate measure. Because his temperament is believed to be so closely linked to the disposition of the ocean and its winds, Thripians who spend their lives at sea consider it essential that he be appeased. Before setting off on long travels, they will typically make lavish offerings or sacrifices to a temple or shrine of Auromon. Additionally, fisherman, believing the bounties of the sea to also be in Auromon's domain, are likewise venerable of him. Notably, the journey of the Thalassians to Arad, and their reliance on the ocean therein, is likely what made Auromon such a prominent deity in Thripia's early years and gave his cult so much power and relevance to their daily lives.

Divine Classification

Sea god of the winds and fatherhood.

Church/Cult

The Cult of Auromon

Circumstances of Birth

Self-created

Related Myths

• Gods