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• Islamic
Sherazard's ethnic origins are obviously based on Islamic and Middle Eastern motifs. This encompasses her name, religion, region and country, titles, clothing, items, animals and culture. It is very interesting that it was chosen, since games rarely are. Her job classes are also named after related statuses: Muslim, Brahman. Brahman is the highest job class for her and is a word from Hinduism. It means a highest or most holy power. • Clothing Sherazard's designs were similar to a modified sari. Saris have parts wrapping loosely around the body, are very long and always found easily coming off. Most saris are made of silk or cotton. Saladin (the name given to him by Gifarang has Arabic origins too), Rashka, Sapi Al Din and most men in Tur wear turbans. Turbans are a long scarf woven around the head. There's a lot of history to the turban so I'll mention parts relating to it here. Turbans became common among Turks in 1453, the Ottoman (a dynasty) sultan adopted the style of the Prophet Muhammad by surrounding his cap with a large amount of white muslin wound round and round. Since then, the turban has been worn by men of the Muslim faith and of such offshoots of Islam as Sikhism, though after the early 19th century it was no longer obligatory for Muslims. The turban varies in shape, colour, and size. Depending on one's position in society, the larger the turban, the higher the status. In wearing a turban, the forehead must be left bare so that the skin may touch the ground when one prays. Neela and many women (and men) in Tur also wear bindis. It's the dot you see on the forehead of someone belonging to the Hindu religion. Usually it's seen in red, the color married women wore to show they were married. There's much history and significance to bindis as there are with turbans, but it mainly has to do with your third eye and chakra. • Religions Angra, the religion Sherazard follows is also very similar to Muslim or Sikhism. The histories and political strifes of those religions sound much like what is going on in the game. This includes titles like Sultan and Caliph. The actual Angra Mainyu in the game is based on ancient Persian religion and books of Zoroastrianism (Zoroastrianism is also referred to in Chrono Trigger/Cross -- another series with some Islamic influence). Angra Mainyu is the god of darkness, the eternal destroyer of good, personification and creator of evil, bringer of death and disease. Spenta Mainyu is the god of life and the personification of the good and the light, he is also the twin brother of Angra Mainyu, and they both fight an eternal battle. • Locations Oddly enough, the word Angora is the former Europeanized name of the capital of Turkey (many things in Tur are based on Turkish terms, like Janissary). Angora is now known as Ankara. The region Sherazard visits, Mutanabi, is based on a real person's name. Al Mutanabi was a well known Muslim poet in the 10th century who wrote the likes of Arabic love poems to words of wisdom. Other locations in Tur include Zarbidan, Lazarstana, Baithor, Abu Bakur, Sizia, Kuethelan, Uhdabina, Cardis, Reocardio, Bronardi, Baruba, Karolini, Lashadia, Zamakhshari, Panagonia, Okawari, Ardrianople, Tibianc, Alamondi, Okavi, Saiyoos. Most of the location names are actual Muslim names, made up, or referencing from other fantasy stories. The buildings in Tur also are all Islamic architecture. The shape of buildings, tall open windows and doors with rounded points at the top are often seen in this episode of the game. Angora also is home to places like the Ataturk Mausoleum. Add the rounded architecture of the Taj Mahal Mausoleum and you get the palace where Sherazard later resides! • Other References The episode of War of Genesis 3 where Sherazard appears is also called Shivan Scimitar, the name of Saladin's mercenary group. Shivan Blade is also the highest job class which Saladin and some Shivan Scimitar members can be. Shivan means of Shiva. Shiva is the Hindu god of destruction and rebirth, there's a lot to say about Shiva I can't fit here. Scimitars are thick and curved Arabic swords. Actually, plenty of the weapons and artifacts in the game are carried over from previous WOG games, and most of them have mythological and/or Arabic origins. • back |
