The Great Moyad is the most important work of ancient Ithatian epic poetry in the West. Composed no later than the 8th century before Salmakhamer and attributed to the authorship of the semi-legendary bard, Memerth, the work is divided into sixteen books and narrates the principle heroic characters of the Moyan War to the culmination of the legendary conflict. The war was dated by later Ithatian scholars to the thirteenth century AS.

Principle and Subsidiary Characters: King Kuphtha of Moya; Over-King Throntiacus, Leader of the Ithatian Tribes; Iontarion, Ithatian Priest of the God Azephassus; Ixopos, hero of the Ithatian tribes; Terethunto, daughter of King Kuphtha of Moya and Queen Sabractë; Apromion: Moyan sorcerer, aficionado of Kirxios, summons fire down upon the Ithatians, but is later betrayed and slain; Bellondos: Son of Kuphtha, expert gibgibsew rider; Ilygdina, sorceress and soothsayer, held captive by King Kuphtha; she foretells their doom; Sabractë: Queen of Moya, consort to King Kuphtha; Ussemima: Consort to King Kuphtha, and worshiper of the goddess Dassena (Dáwan).; Tarassos: King of Maturn, subject to Throntiacus. Tarassos is a worshiper of Kirxios who curses the king for attacking Moya whom the god favors. He loses his magical powers and must use his cunning to outwit the Moyans.; Libiris: female divinity that helps King Kuphtha.

Principle Involved Divinities: Heliops [pro-Moyan]; Pallatha [pro-Ithatian]; Erre [pro-Ithatian]; Rhionacus [pro-Moyan]; Kirxios [pro-Moyan]; Azephassus [pro-Ithatian]; Orsis [pro-Moyan]; Magdë; Parkyo; Daia; Manduo; Asgion

Represented Groups

Ithatian Humans (including sundry tribes)
Moyan Humans (descended from Malesggite forebears with strong Pallathantic influences)
Tritons
Stone Giants
Shadevan Trolls
Ambrulian Giants
Narshadite Sea Merchants
Jaggudorn Dwarves

Represented Creatures: gibgibsews; organchan vorax; wyverns

Notable Events and Passages: Two heroes from opposite sides of the conflict exchange protective divinities as guest-friends; Apromion calls fire down from the sky at night to attack the Ithatians, some are slain some miraculously delivered, some injured; Apromion is deceived and slain shortly before the Ithatians enter Moya.; King Kuphtha’s charge to his son, Bellondos; Description of Walled Moya; Catalogue of warrior-chieftains; The god Heliops directs another divinity to send a dream with the truth to King Kuphtha. However, due to his mortal limitations, he misunderstands the dream. The message is that mortals resist the truth.

Narrative Referenced Subjects

hero Magdaias (cf Addan)
the sea merchants of Narshad
Astronomers of Kalama
Thetzisari Tribesmen and their legends
Sun priestesses of Zamaclë
Description of walled Moya

Literary Themes and Messages: Even the gods can be blinded, a man must know truth according to his inner vision; One can work great magic and power through the gods, only to be brought down to destruction

Sixteen Books (corresponding to sixteen holy months of year): Book One:; Book Two:; Book Three:; Book Four:; Book Five:; Book Six:; Book Seven:; Book Eight:; Book Nine:; Book Ten:; Book Eleven:; Book Twelve:; Book Thirteen:; Book Fourteen:; Book Fifteen:; Book Sixteen:

Great Moyad

See Also

Navigation menu

Search