Skip to content
The Well of Daliath
Menu
Menu

History of Gloranthan Art, Part I – Dawn Age

Posted on March 17, 2022
Example: Stravulstead, 1st Century, thought to be Heort

At the Dawn, there were basically two cultural centers – Dragon Pass (also known as the Theyalans or the Unity Council) and the Peloria lowlands ruled by the Horse Lords.The Theyalans had a tradition of “realistic” art thanks to the Silver Age heroes called the Architect and the Artist (both of whom were active in Kethaela). Moreover, they had access to dwarf crafters, dragonewts and elves. And to surviving pre-Time relics. It followed geometric patterns of proportion and composition, and mortals and gods alike were depicted nude. This “Theyalan style” got spread all over the place, but also was probably really diverse. Individual artists did things in individual ways.

Meanwhile in Peloria, you start with court art that is intended to appeal to the Sons of the Sun. Lots of gold, horses, sun disks, etc. And it contrasts with Theyalan art by not being realistic or naturalistic. So very formal, very precise and almost abstracted at times.

When Dara Happa is formed, the new empire takes some of the ideas of the Theyalans and starts making sculptures of important gods and rulers (who are the same thing).

And they look at the Gods Wall for style. Because of course there are Pre-Dawn relics. Just like in Dragon Pass – we have relics from ancient times. Broken statues of unknown gods.

We also start getting more and more concentrated wealth in the later First Age. Temples spend substantial resources commissioning artists.

By the 3rd century, the Dara Happan Empire and the High Council were in contact with each other and began to influence each other. The Theyalan Orlanth was identified with the Dara Happan Umatum and Rebellus Terminus, and Yelm with the Theyalan Emperor. Once the Dara Happan Empire joined the High Council of the Lands of Genertela in the later 4th century, this influence became pervasive and the mythologies were fused.This also influenced art, as artisan went among Dragon Pass to Dorastor to Dara Happa. A rich Yelm temple might hire artists, only for them to later work for a Heortling king or Orlanth temple. This results in a cross-pollination of symbols and style from Ralios to the Redlands, Peloria, Dragon Pass, and Maniria. Regional differences, but also common influences. The later First Age is a shared language of mythology, art, and culture.

Jeff Richard

Next
Previous

Sections

  • Search Tips
  • Current RuneQuest Glorantha Publications
  • RuneQuest Glorantha Corrections and Q&A
  • Catalogue
  • References for Glorantha
    • Gloranthan Canon
  • Gloranthan Documents
  • RPG Systems & Versions
  • Gallery
  • Role-playing in Glorantha
  • About This Site
  • Get involved!

Latest Posts

  • Notes on Lay Members

    Most adult Gloranthans are an initiate of a cult, and …
  • City Gods

    Cities have a market, a degree of self-governance, and temples …
  • Cosmos & Chaos

    As I have been exploring and detailing Gloranthan mythology for …
  • Introducing New Players

    A few thoughts in introducing RQ to new players – …
  • Trying to Get your Mind Around Glorantha?

    A suggestion in trying to get one’s mind around Gloranthan …

Links

  • Chaosium
  • Glorantha on BRP Central
  • RuneQuest on BRP Central
  • RuneQuest Glorantha on MeWe
  • Glorantha Wiki on Fandom
  • Prince of Sartar Webcomic
  • Glorantha G+ Archives on Tapatalk
  • Search mailing list archive

Latest from BRP Central

  • Clans of Balazar
  • Jonstown Compendium: A Vale Ablaze
  • Who is the oldest Gloranthan?
  • Running a Valentines day adventure next week - any tips?
  • Bladesharp, Bludgeon & Dullblade: I wonder why…
  • Sacred Time at Clearwine
  • The Leaping place lakes
  • Sklar
  • Lunar Spouses
  • Reading the map - my eyes just aren't good enough !

Popular Tags

2007 Avalon Hill Boldhome Chaosium Chaos pantheon Cult demographics Cults of Glorantha (preview) Deprecated cult Doraddi pantheon Ernalda Esrolia (homeland) FR G+ post Greg Stafford Guide to Glorantha Guide to Glorantha (preview) Humakt HW Issaries Jar-eel Lhankor Mhy Lunar Empire Lunar Pantheon Magazine Map Maps Michael O’Brien Mongoose Nomad Gods Oriflam Orlanth Orlanthi pantheon Prax (homeland) RQ3 RQG Sandy Petersen Sartar (homeland) Solar pantheon Spirit Cult Subcult Tales of the Reaching Moon Tatou Troll / Uz pantheon Yelm Yelmalio

Recently added or updated

  • City Gods

  • Notes on Lay Members

  • Different Worlds (1979-1987)

  • Pegasus #04 (1981)

  • Kyger Litor

  • Kropa

  • Krjalk

  • Krarsht

  • Ω Kudran Golden Feather

  • Korgatsu

  • Kolat

  • Kogag

  • King Undine

  • King of Above

  • King of Below

  • Keraun

  • Notes on the Seven Mothers cult

  • Seven Mothers

  • Sedenya the Red Goddess

  • Glamour

©2023 The Well of Daliath | Design: Newspaperly WordPress Theme