Derek Leman
@derekleman.bsky.social
Aspiring Fantasy Author. Realtor in Atlanta. Self-Publishing. Indie Books. Mesopotamia geek. DerekWritesFantasy.com
Nergal, #mesopotamian god of the underworld. Old Babylonian cylinder seal. Double lion-head scepter. With his foot on a departed soul. Inscription is a dedication to the god by the king of Larsa.
December 28, 2024 at 3:24 PM
Nergal, #mesopotamian god of the underworld. Old Babylonian cylinder seal. Double lion-head scepter. With his foot on a departed soul. Inscription is a dedication to the god by the king of Larsa.
The Omega sign often found with goddesses in #mesopotamian art. Related to the Omega Nebula, a sign of deity in the sky. It suggests the profound power of Creatrix goddesses. See Vanessa Lavallée, Ancient Goddess Magic.
December 26, 2024 at 3:36 PM
The Omega sign often found with goddesses in #mesopotamian art. Related to the Omega Nebula, a sign of deity in the sky. It suggests the profound power of Creatrix goddesses. See Vanessa Lavallée, Ancient Goddess Magic.
December 21, 2024 at 2:24 AM
Religion as theodicy. #mesopotamia Nergal, god of the underworld, instructs a lion-demon in punishing a sinner. A supernatural explanation of illness.
December 18, 2024 at 1:27 PM
Religion as theodicy. #mesopotamia Nergal, god of the underworld, instructs a lion-demon in punishing a sinner. A supernatural explanation of illness.
“… great storytellers are able to make emotions as compelling as anything else on the page.”
- Donald Maass
Read a short essay here: www.derekwritesfantasy.com/post/writing...
- Donald Maass
Read a short essay here: www.derekwritesfantasy.com/post/writing...
December 17, 2024 at 1:38 AM
“… great storytellers are able to make emotions as compelling as anything else on the page.”
- Donald Maass
Read a short essay here: www.derekwritesfantasy.com/post/writing...
- Donald Maass
Read a short essay here: www.derekwritesfantasy.com/post/writing...
The #mesopotamian gods had a minister / attendant. Ninsibur. A clay figurine of Ninsibur was often buried beneath the dais of the cult statue. He was associated with the constellation Orion.
December 16, 2024 at 2:03 PM
The #mesopotamian gods had a minister / attendant. Ninsibur. A clay figurine of Ninsibur was often buried beneath the dais of the cult statue. He was associated with the constellation Orion.
As spine-chilling as any demon in the AD&D manuals, Pazuzu was a god among demons. #mesopotamia #fantasy #myth
December 14, 2024 at 2:00 PM
As spine-chilling as any demon in the AD&D manuals, Pazuzu was a god among demons. #mesopotamia #fantasy #myth
Throughout the land of Haral, people say, “A witch has cursed us.” When their crops wilt or their wombs shrivel, they believe we have caused it. And they ask, “Where does their spellcraft come from?” The answer seems obvious to them: demons, the very spirits they pray for protection against.
December 10, 2024 at 10:45 PM
Throughout the land of Haral, people say, “A witch has cursed us.” When their crops wilt or their wombs shrivel, they believe we have caused it. And they ask, “Where does their spellcraft come from?” The answer seems obvious to them: demons, the very spirits they pray for protection against.
Face of the #mesopotamian demon, Humbaba (aka Huwawa). Formed to resemble animal entrails. In omenology, if entrails looked like the demon face, bad things were about to occur! Will do more posts on demons. Fascinating. #fantasy #myth #divination
December 9, 2024 at 6:50 PM
Face of the #mesopotamian demon, Humbaba (aka Huwawa). Formed to resemble animal entrails. In omenology, if entrails looked like the demon face, bad things were about to occur! Will do more posts on demons. Fascinating. #fantasy #myth #divination
I have hand-drawn this map two dozen times. I have an artist’s rendering as well. But I find the imperfect one to be charming. #fantasy #worldbuilding
December 7, 2024 at 1:47 AM
I have hand-drawn this map two dozen times. I have an artist’s rendering as well. But I find the imperfect one to be charming. #fantasy #worldbuilding
Ancient Goddess Magic #2. A short essay. Practical insights for capturing “dangerous feminine energy” in #fantasy #literature. Pictured: the goddess Inanna (Ishtar) as goddess of war. www.derekwritesfantasy.com/post/ancient...
December 6, 2024 at 12:07 AM
Ancient Goddess Magic #2. A short essay. Practical insights for capturing “dangerous feminine energy” in #fantasy #literature. Pictured: the goddess Inanna (Ishtar) as goddess of war. www.derekwritesfantasy.com/post/ancient...
Modern photo, marshlands of Iraq. Very similar to ancient Mesopotamian reed houses. What a #fantasy setting! Can’t believe there are not more Mesopotamia-based fantasy worlds! Mine will debut in 2025.
December 3, 2024 at 4:47 PM
Modern photo, marshlands of Iraq. Very similar to ancient Mesopotamian reed houses. What a #fantasy setting! Can’t believe there are not more Mesopotamia-based fantasy worlds! Mine will debut in 2025.
The deity Adad making the weather happen from the back of his trusty lion-dragon. #fantasy #mythology #mesopotamia
December 1, 2024 at 1:35 AM
The deity Adad making the weather happen from the back of his trusty lion-dragon. #fantasy #mythology #mesopotamia
In the Spirit of Thanksgiving, let me share this ancient image of a bird-hunt. Bird-beast. #mesopotamia #thanksgiving
November 28, 2024 at 2:19 PM
In the Spirit of Thanksgiving, let me share this ancient image of a bird-hunt. Bird-beast. #mesopotamia #thanksgiving
Celebrating getting unstuck on this chapter. #amwritingfantasy #fantasy
November 28, 2024 at 1:51 AM
Celebrating getting unstuck on this chapter. #amwritingfantasy #fantasy
Eridu. A real city founded in 5400 B.C.E. Sounds like a #fantasy city. Sumerian legend says it was the first city. By the waters from which creation came. #mesopotamia
November 27, 2024 at 7:21 PM
Eridu. A real city founded in 5400 B.C.E. Sounds like a #fantasy city. Sumerian legend says it was the first city. By the waters from which creation came. #mesopotamia
Marduk and his snake-dragon, from a lapis cylinder dated c. 850 B.C.E. The cylinder was supposed to hang from a golden chain about the neck of the idol. #mesopotamia
November 26, 2024 at 1:46 PM
Marduk and his snake-dragon, from a lapis cylinder dated c. 850 B.C.E. The cylinder was supposed to hang from a golden chain about the neck of the idol. #mesopotamia
They had cool fantasy art 3,000 years ago. Scene of worship before Ishtar. Neo-Assyrian cylinder seal, c. 700 B.C.E.
November 25, 2024 at 1:56 PM
They had cool fantasy art 3,000 years ago. Scene of worship before Ishtar. Neo-Assyrian cylinder seal, c. 700 B.C.E.
Stache the Tuxedo Cat!
November 24, 2024 at 8:10 PM
Stache the Tuxedo Cat!
Priest of Lies by the inimitable @petemc666.bsky.social
November 24, 2024 at 8:08 PM
Priest of Lies by the inimitable @petemc666.bsky.social
A kudurru was a large, polished stone with relief carvings. Here the power of gods was invoked over matters of civil government. The reverse side usually contains a land grant treaty. The side with carvings shows the gods presiding over the treaty. #mesopotamia
November 24, 2024 at 1:28 PM
A kudurru was a large, polished stone with relief carvings. Here the power of gods was invoked over matters of civil government. The reverse side usually contains a land grant treaty. The side with carvings shows the gods presiding over the treaty. #mesopotamia
Mesopotamian writing technology. It became more efficient to use a stylus on wet clay to make angular symbols. An improvement over hieroglyphs. Cuneiform, the predecessor of the alphabet.
November 23, 2024 at 1:07 PM
Mesopotamian writing technology. It became more efficient to use a stylus on wet clay to make angular symbols. An improvement over hieroglyphs. Cuneiform, the predecessor of the alphabet.
The lamassu—massive, winged composite creatures with the head of a man and features of a bull or lion—guarded gateways to throne rooms and other important spaces and routes throughout palace complexes.
November 22, 2024 at 12:51 PM
The lamassu—massive, winged composite creatures with the head of a man and features of a bull or lion—guarded gateways to throne rooms and other important spaces and routes throughout palace complexes.
Looking forward to this read. Fodder for my Mesopotamia-like fantasy world? You bet! #BookSky Pictured: Ancient Goddess Magic by Vanessa Lavallée.
November 21, 2024 at 4:33 PM
Looking forward to this read. Fodder for my Mesopotamia-like fantasy world? You bet! #BookSky Pictured: Ancient Goddess Magic by Vanessa Lavallée.
“Now these ruins are very old, and have long been avoided by the people of the district; for a legend of immemorial evil clings about them, and it is said that they are the dwelling-place of foul spirits, the rendezvous of sorcerers and succubi.”
- Clark Ashton Smith
- Clark Ashton Smith
September 29, 2023 at 11:56 AM
“Now these ruins are very old, and have long been avoided by the people of the district; for a legend of immemorial evil clings about them, and it is said that they are the dwelling-place of foul spirits, the rendezvous of sorcerers and succubi.”
- Clark Ashton Smith
- Clark Ashton Smith