Indo-European Death and the Goddess of the Grave

How did our Indo-European ancestors think of death? Where did they go? How did they get there? Who ruled this world? But most importantly who decided when they would die? Here I present the mythology around death and the Indo-European Goddess that was a representation of it, Kolyo the Coverer.

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► References
Güntert, H. Kalypso - Studies of the history of meaning in the field of Indo-European languages. 1919
Lincoln, B. Death, War, and Sacrifice. The University of Chicago Press. 1991

Chapters
0:00 Introduction
1:03 Who were the Indo-Europeans?
2:54 Indo-European Cosmology
8:31 How the Indo-Europeans viewed Death
11:27 The King of the Otherworld
15:17 What was the Otherworld?
21:57 The Goddess of Death
25:25 The Bonds of Death
33:33 The Journey to Death

[Crecganford]

Are there any other old videos of mine you would like me to remake?

[Crowhag]

"We are all immortal. But we must die first." (Eliade)
As always, fascinating video!

[gaufrid]

Jon, it is my great pleasure to be married to a Filipina whose name is Helly. I knew that Hel was the "coverer or hider", and explained to her that her name is usually found most often in Scandinavia. As is often the case with names, there is a story behind her name. Her mother gave birth to her at age 18 in Baungon, Bukidnon Province, Mindanao. An American midwife named Helly delivered her. There is also a twist to the tale of her name, which lines up with the topic of this video. The midwife was killed when hit by a vehicle later the same day my wife Helly was born, and as a result her mother named her in memory of the one who brought her into this world. My wife will be 59 this November, is a polyglot, and a Higaonon baylan. In her tribe, the baylan is the one who is in communication with the spirits, can perform rituals, knows herblore, performs hilot massage, and in the past was also a midwife. I am honoured to be married to her.

[leekestner]

Sometime you may want to look at the Cadence Calls of the American military. When a great number of Irish immigrants came into the American military the cadence calls were born. The ones that apply to this subject are the ones about The Old Lady. In these marching cadences she is an old lady dressed in battle gear. In one way or another she imparts the soldiers she meets with courage. I believe she is derived from the Irish Morrigan. Morrigan the battle goddess who could also appear as an old woman. She appears in at least 5 different cadences although I only remember one now. "See the Old Lady walking down the street, Rucksack on her back, jump boots on her feet. Say Old Lady where you going to? I'm going to US Airborne School." There is also one called Queen of Battle that I think is linked though it never refers to The Old Lady by name.

[crypto]

I envy cultures with such colorful harbingers of the grave. The closest thing we have to a psychopomp in indigenous Philippine beliefs--at least, in Tagalog mythology--is a crocodile with a stone casket on its back. It just shows up, and you either get in the box or in its mouth.

[yuricrespimandrade-dtbc]

I find it so amazing the strange coincidence that this very old religion believed that we are part of the cosmos, and now modern science actually proved that we are indeed made out of the cosmos

[SunduskSagas]

Your mention of ritual sacrifices and their role in maintaining the cosmic balance reminded me of the power of ritual in our personal lives. It's fascinating to see how such ancient practices can be adapted for contemporary spiritual growth.. I know my viewers would benefit from this knowledge. Thanks! 🔥🌙

[janerkenbrack]

I wonder if the convention of naming children after ancestors is more than just a convenience of society. (I does help keep near relations from breeding). But maybe there is also the idea that when these people are asked about their names, the stories of where the names came from would keep the memory of that person alive, thereby prolonging immortality?

[Deepak_Dhakad]

ig Yama later became god. Because he is considered God of death and everyone fears from his noose. He rides on buffalo. He also has two watchdogs, Sharvara is identified with the constellation Canis Major, and Shyama with Canis Minor; together they guard the gates of the underworld, the domain of Yama. Also Sarama is considered mother of all dogs including those two 4 eyed dogs of Yama. She also helped Indra to fight against Asuras.

[tdkokoszka]

There’s a very strange thing going on in Slavic folk tradition where Frau Holle and Cailleach seem to to relate Baba Yaga and her relatives. Including Marena. Whose name contains the Indo-European “-na” ending meaning “Master/ Mistress of” in conjunction with the word for death.

But the “Marena” figure can also be a sister of the Dawn. There are countless little hints of her counterpart being “Marya Morning Star” in Slavic charms and stories. But this would make her a daughter or granddaughter of the Holle-like hag figure in many folktales. So there’s a mother and daughter who are hard to distinguish from one another here. Just some observations on Slavic folk traditions.

[werebitch]

"When the first living thing was born, I was there waiting. When the last living thing dies, my work here will be done. I'll put the chairs on the tables, turn off the lights, & lock the universe up behind me when I leave."

- Death of the Endless, "The Sandman."

[kristinamanion]

Your section on fame being immortality makes me give second thought to all the people who chase fame today. But it also makes me wonder if that is what the cultures who have ancestor worship are all about. So long as the family continues and someone remembers your name, you have not truly died. Just pondering.
Fascinating video. Thank you.

[raynotten]

About the motif of sacrificing Kings: Interestingly the pre-Viking Swedish Yngling King Domald sacrificed himself as his rule was plagued by famine and distress, hoping to end the time of scarcity. Earlier in the story it was told that he was descended of Odin who came from the eastern steppes. Odin is by Jon White hypothesized to be (partly) Yemo if I’m not mistaken. In any way, the motif of King sacrificing himself to do good to the land is clearly there.
In another example, the Gothic King Airmanareiks (whose people also stem from Scandinavia by the way) sacrificed himself as he was unable to effectively protect his peoples lands against the invasion of the Huns.

[TenguXx]

If the Indo Europeans had no concept of a soul, than what is it that they envisioned as reaching the otherworld? It couldn’t have been their physical body if that was supposed to be returned to the elements.

[tupacca]

This is the best channel to fall asleep to. The content is so interesting, so I actively try to stay up, but your voice is so soft and soothing. It's win-win.

[ashleyklump]

The name Kolyo made me think of Kore, which is theorized to have become Persephone, wife of Hades. That would be a great follow up to do just the goddess or the evolution of goddesses. Like Aphrodite from Ishtar. 😁

[javikus]

Забыли упомянуть Мару (Марену). Мара является славянским божеством смерти и стужи, что отчасти связывает её и с похожими функциями Велеса, бога скота и сказителей, который в Балтской мифологии представлен ещё и божеством потустороннего, хтонического мира мёртвых.

Балтские и Славянские божества в этом особенно интересны, так как у них ещё нет таким огромных историй, как у Хель, Аида, Танатоса и других божеств смерти. Они сохраняют архаичность, чем и подкупают жителей Восточной Европы.

[Noeaskr]

One thing about Manu and Yemo, after some thought I’m wondering if the cow is symbolic for the earth. In Germania it says tuisto was born of the earth and this symbolic association makes sense if it’s true. Cattle were associated with wealth and resources, so the two first people suckling on a cow/using the earth is an interesting take. Then from Yemo’s sacrifice the world is given vegetation and additional features.

The story might have been thought to repeat with some koryos moving to a new land/cow, taking its resources and founding new villages. The Romulus and Remus story being one of them.

Anyway it’s a weird thought by seems worth mentioning.

[planig]

Of all the depictions of afterlives in Pirates of the Caribbean, I had no idea Calypso being released of her earthly bonds was yet another displayed.

[ProtoIndoEuropean]

Interestingly in Japan, the deity of death is also female (Izanami who died giving birth to the god of fire and became goddess of death by cursing her husband for leaving her in the underworld)