Theory about Sophia in Eorzea

[Frederick22]

Yes, which suggests the symbol of Azeyma is Meracydian in origin (or at least the symbol we have come to know as that of Azeyma) as these are the oldest known ruins with these symbols on them.

My theory is that the Ruins of Qarn, or rather the ruins that Qarn was built on, was originally used by Goddess worshippers who had travelled from Meracydia. I don't know if you were trying to make a point, that was just kind of a statement.

There is an old thread were we had an answer from koji about this.
It was explained the relation between sephirot and its worshipers, and that simbol on the cathedral. It had to do with the sun.

[Griffey]

There is an old thread were we had an answer from koji about this.
It was explained the relation between sephirot and its worshipers, and that simbol on the cathedral. It had to do with the sun.

Right. And how did that symbol get to Eorzea? Did the tree people bring it and build temples in Thanalan?

I'm thinking that the symbol of the sun and Goddess worship from Meracydia over the centuries became one and the same. Also, the symbol of the scales in Qarn. Whilst Nald'thal is depicted as a man carrying scales, his ancient symbol is the cowrie. So when the founders of Belah'dia found these ruins they assumed that these were built dedicated to the Twelve and not to a Meracydian goddess. Well, that's my theory.

Edit: I had to go and have a look at the stone scales right at the beginning of Qarn to check again. It's called The Warden. the symbol of scales has nothing to do with Azeyma or her legend so why would they be there? Eh, maybe I am putting 2 and 2 together and getting 5, but it's still a strange coincidence...

[Frederick22]

Right. And how did that symbol get to Eorzea? Did the tree people bring it and build temples in Thanalan?

I'm thinking that the symbol of the sun and Goddess worship from Meracydia over the centuries became one and the same. Also, the symbol of the scales in Qarn. Whilst Nald'thal is depicted as a man carrying scales, his ancient symbol is the cowrie. So when the founders of Belah'dia found these ruins they assumed that these were built dedicated to the Twelve and not to a Meracydian goddess. Well, that's my theory.

Well according to what we were told.
The allagans copy/paste the structures of meracydia. When their empire falled some of this structures survived by lack, and their models were used as a reference for the builders of Qarn and later Mhach, and after that Bela'hia.

On case you did not know, at the begining the allagans worshiped the twelve, they found the simbol on meracydia very similar to theirs. That imply a common origin.

We cant be sure if the scale of the goddess is related to the scale we found on Bela'dhia.

[Eloah]

Whilst Nald'thal is depicted as a man carrying scales, his ancient symbol is the cowrie.

Where is Nald'thal depicted as a man with scales? Nald'thal is two people, not one person.

[Anonymoose]

Where is Nald'thal depicted as a man with scales? Nald'thal is two people, not one person.

Nald'thal is the single manifestation of the deific twins Nald and Thal. He is most often depicted as a discerning merchant holding a balance. His symbol is the cowry, an ancient shell currency.

In-game, though, you get the two statues.

I'd like to go back to the "seeds of faith" issue for a second, though. We can go back and forth about how related Sophia and Azeyma (and Azim) might be until the catoblepas come home, but clearly the motifs found in these seeds of faith are flowing down through the ages.

Compare:

Sophia

The Balance

The horns alone give me pause, never mind that Azeyma is theoretically based on Egyptian sun goddesses; pretty much anyone related to the Eye of Ra, especially Wadjet, Bast, Shekmet ... even even Maat, Ra's daughter, whom interestingly is associated with order and holds the balance scales. (Hells, even Qarn has a little bit of the Ancient Egypt thing going on.) And Egypt associated divinity and royalty with the winged sun. The big head could be a literal representation of the GODHEAD via the mofits of the sun disc, with the wings coming right out of the face.

[Griffey]

Interesting, and of course the Balance is fire-aspected too and associated with Azeyma and Nald'thal.

Could this mean the gods of Meracydia have their origins in astrology? We also have the Bole and Sephirot tree motifs.