Updates, Quotes, and Nike Lore

Wishing you all a safe and September!

We are really looking forward to meeting the upcoming conventions! Thank you for your patience and support.

Fast Updates:

Added events: ICON, OddMall Hallowondrous, and Davenport Quad Con! (*Important update for Midwest Monster Fest*)

We are honored that “The Blood Inheritance Novels Series Two-Book Set: Endow and Resist” has received a Literary Titan gold book award!

Unique Mythology

To see the other amazing books that have received the award select the link below.

Literary Titan Book Award August 2023

Also:

readersfavorite.com will have two of my available books listed as prizes in the monthly book giveaway. If you are interested in winning some amazing books by great authors you can check out the monthly giveaway here: book giveaway /Rise and here for The Warning Signs: giveaway/the-warning-signs

Upcoming Event Reminders:

2023

Concealed Realms will be participating at Quad Con on September 16th and 17th! This event will be held at the Brookfield Square Mall in Brookfield, WI.

~~Concealed Realms plans to participate at Midwest Monster Fest on September 23rd and 24th . This event is scheduled to take place in East Moline, IL at The Rust Belt~~:mwmonsterfest (This event has been canceled) Please check their website for updates.

Concealed Realms is participating in a day of family fun at the Discovery World Science and Technology Center located in Milwaukee, WI on October 7th.

Concealed Realms is scheduled to return to Icon in Ceder Rapids Iowa.! This year’s event takes place October 13th -15^th.

Concealed Realms plans to return to OddMall:Hallowondrous in Berea, Ohio. The event is set to take place on October 20^th, 21^st, and 22nd

We are scheduled to participate in the 8th Annual Indie Author Book Expo on November 4^th at the Iowa State Fairgrounds.

On November 18th and 19th we plan to participate at the Madison Quad Con! This event is set to take place at the East Towne Mall.

We plan to participate at the Davenport Quad Con! This event is set to take place on December 9^th and 10^th at the Northpark Mall.

Concealed Realms is scheduled to participate in the Quad Con which will be held at the Des Moines Merle Hay Mall on December 16th and 17th!

2024

On February 3rd and 4th we plan to participate at the Champaign, IL Quad Con! This event is set to take place at the Market Place Shopping Center.

We are scheduled to participate at the Hall of Heroes Comic Con on March 2nd and 3rd. This event takes place at the Northern Indiana Event Center, located in Elkhart, IN

Concealed Realms is scheduled to return to Saluki Con! This Eclipse Con will be held on April 6th and 7th.

Quotes about Myth and Lore :

“I see folktales and myths as humankind’s first stories.

They are a kind of collective dreaming,

filled with timeless symbols and images we can all relate to,

regardless of age or culture.”
-Marianna Mayer

“I believe that legends and myths are largely made of “truth,”

and indeed present aspects of it that can only be received in this mode.” -J.R.R. Tolkien

“Faerie footprints are specks of magic that the earth couldn’t bear to part with.”
-J.Z.N. McCauley, The Oathing Stone

“So that the lover of myths,

which are a compact of wonders,

is by the same token a lover of wisdom.” – Aristotle

“Myth embodies the nearest approach to absolute truth than can be stated in words.”

– Ananda Coomaraswamy

“Myths are seldom simple, and never irresponsible.” – Robert Graves

“A myth is far truer than history, for a history only gives a story of the shadows, whereas a myth gives a story of the substances that cast the shadows.” -Annie Besant

“I’ve always preferred mythology to history. History is truth that becomes an illusion.

Mythology is an illusion that becomes reality.” -Jean Cocteau

“Without a knowledge of mythology much of the elegant literature of our own language

cannot be understood and appreciated.” – Thomas Bulfinch

“When we lose our myths we lose our place in the universe”

– Madeleine L’Engle

Definition of Goddess :

Dictionary.com

Noun

“a female god or deity.” – www.dictionary.com

Merriam Webster.com

Noun

” a female god”

“ a woman whose great charm or beauty arouses adoration” – merriamwebster.com

Nike

I love learning about lore from all over the world and recently I found myself continuously encountering one being from ancient history in particular. Nike. Although this goddess may not be one of the first to come to mind when thinking of famous deities, she played a critical role in the early days of mythology and is one of the most widely depicted Greek goddesses. As such, I thought it would be fun to dive in and learn more about this deity, so in this mythology post I will share a quick look at the origin and legend surrounding this Goddess of Victory.

Roots

According to etymonline.com, Nike means “victory, upper hand” and is believed to have originated from the word “Neikos” (a word of uncertain etymology) meaning “quarrel, strife,” neikein “to quarrel with. “

Origins

In the Theogony, Nike is described as the daughter of Pallas, who is often regarded as the Titan god of warcraft, and the nymph Styx. Who is usually depicted as the goddess of the river which separates the living world from the Underworld. Although this is the most common explanation for her parentage, it should be noted that in the Homeric hymns, the deity is briefly mentioned to the daughter of Ares, with no mother noted.

Seen as strong and quick this Greek goddess of Victory, was not only associated with warfare but was also closely connected with athletics and other contests. In fact, overtime the goddess came to be recognized as a sort of mediator of success between gods and men, so Greeks from all walks of life called upon her when facing a struggle.

Appearance

Statues of Nike were commonplace and would often be constructed to commemorate battles. Her image can also be found on vases, in paintings, and on a range of coins. She is typically depicted as a beautiful, winged woman and is generally shown carrying a blade or a symbol of victory, such as a lyre, wreath, palm frond, or sash.

Myth

One of the most famous tales of Nike in Greek mythology comes early in the story of Zeus, when the god was seeking to usurp the power of his father Cronus and the other Titans. The goddess was one of the first to offer her allegiance to Zeus during this time, along with her mother and 3 siblings, Zelus, Bia and Cratus. Nike would become the charioteer of Zeus during battles, cementing her role as a companion and helper of Zeus, while later she and her siblings, would act as the guardians of his throne.

Another important portrayal comes from Nonnos’ Dionysiaca. Here Nike is described as an emissary of Athena who was sent to aid Zeus in his battle against the many snake-headed giant Typhon as he attempted to overthrow Zeus for the supremacy of the cosmos.

In this version of events, after expressing disapproval for Zeus’s hesitancy in confronting Typhon, Nike encourages him to gather his thunderbolts in preparation to defend Olympus. Then Nike led him into battle, where during the fight the deity used her shield to protect Zeus as he attacked with his thunderbolts and frigid rain.

Although it should be mentioned that in the Theogony, this battle is described in a different manner altogether. This version describes Zeus as neither being hesitant nor fearful of his opponent, and Nike makes no appearance to encourage or aid in the fighting.

Final thoughts

Although Nike does not appear in many stories, it is clear that her role in myth and legend as that of a companion of Zeus was an important one, especially during the Titanomachy and the Gigantomachy. Perhaps that’s why today, her imagery and her name live on and continue to inspire us.