In the House of Night . . .
Lenobia’s tattoos consist of intricate knots in the shape of two rearing horses, fitting for the equestrian professor!
Of note . . .
Among her many attributes, Queen Zenobia was especially admired for her skill in horseback riding, a rare accomplishment for a woman in third-century Syria.
Loren Blake
Loren (Latin) the short form of the name Lawrence, meaning “from Laurentum,” an ancient Roman city; Blake taken from the English poet William Blake
In history . . .
The city of Laurentum took its name from laurus, the Latin word for laurels. In ancient times, poets, heroes, and winners of athletic contests (laureates) were crowned with wreaths of laurels as a mark of honor.
In history, take two . . .
William Blake was a painter and a printmaker, but he is probably best known today as one of the prominent poets of the Romantic period (unfortunately he wasn’t appreciated much until after his death in 1827). From the age of four, Blake, a nonconformist with great respect for the creative imagination, claimed to have heavenly visions. When his brother Robert died from consumption, Blake claimed he saw Robert’s spirit fly from his body, clapping in joy. Robert’s spirit would visit Blake from time to time and even told him about a special printing method. Blake’s artwork was also highly revered, and he was commissioned to do the drawings for a version of Dante’s Divine Comedy.
In the House of Night . . .
Before his death in Betrayed, Loren Blake was the vampyre poet laureate. Though we never see him recite one of his own poems, we do see Loren draw inspiration from Shakespeare (a vampyre poet in the series) and Japanese haiku.
Neferet
(Egyptian) beautiful woman
In history . . .
Neferet from the House of Night might loosely borrow her name, and her ego, from Queen Nefertiti. While her husband remains obscure (what was his name again . . . right, Akhenaten!), Nefertiti is probably the most famous of the ancient Egyptian Queens after Cleopatra. Not only was she beautiful, history suggests she wielded quite a bit of power. She helped Akhenaten begin a radical religious revolution, monotheism, in which only Aten, the disk of the sun, was worshipped.
In the House of Night . . .
Neferet is as beautiful as she is dangerous and intelligent, and she uses her beauty and power to captivate those around her and hide her darkness. If beauty is a weapon, the Queen Tsi Sgili is an assassin who proves time after time in the series that she cannot be controlled by anyone, much less her unawares Akehenaten, Kalona.
Of note . . .
As the royal power couple and “gods upon earth,” Egyptians were expected to worship Aten by worshipping Nefertiti and Akhenaten. Nefertiti even changed her name to Neferneferuaten-Nefertiti, meaning “The Aten is radiant [because] the beautiful one has come.” See any similarities to the Neferet/Nyx, Kalona/Erebus switcheroo?
Penthesilea
(Greek) mourned by the people; mournful grip
In mythology . . .
The Amazon queen Penthesliea led her troops into battle against the Greeks in the Trojan War. She was killed by the warrior Achilles.
In the House of Night . . .
Professor Penthesilea, or Professor P as she likes to be called, teaches literature. Zoey remarks that she looks like something out of a sci-fi film, with long red-blonde hair and thin Celtic knot Marks that make her face look dramatic. The vampyre Amazon queen Penthesilea is the first historical figure Zoey learns about at the House of Night in her Vampyre Sociology class with Neferet.
Of note . . .
Another great Amazon queen’s story, that of Hippolyte and her imprint with the Greek hero Herakles, can be found in The Fledgling Handbook 101.
Sappho
(Greek) taken from the seventh-century poet Sappho of the island of Lesbos
In history . . .
Sappho is well known for her writings on the hidden lives of women. She also wrote about love between women, and it is her name from which the term “Sapphic” originates.
In the House of Night . . .
The media librarian at the House of Night is named Sappho. The historical Sappho is portrayed as a vampyre poet.
Vento
(Italian) wind
In a word . . .
The surname Vento may have derived from aventure, a bold or adventurous person. It is also the short form of the name Bonaventura, or “good fortune.”
In the House of Night . . .
Professor Vento sided with Neferet and Kalona during the takeover of the House of Night school. (It’s possible her allegiance can be swayed any way the wind blows.)
In reality . . .
Professor Vento is based on a real person, Steve Vento, a teacher and band director at South Intermediate High School in Tulsa (the basis for Zoey’s former high school).
• • •
The Sons of Erebus
Darius
(Persian/Greek) 1. To possess; rich, kingly 2. Upholder of the good
In history . . .
Darius was a popular name among ancient Persian kings, but the most well known was Darius the Great, who conquered parts of Greece to greatly expand the Persian empire. He organized a new monetary system and declared Aramaic the official language. In addition to numerous building projects, he left behind his autobiography, the Behistun Inscription, carved onto the face a cliff.
In the House of Night . . .
Darius is Aphrodite’s sworn warrior and consort. He was gifted with super speed by Nyx, and though he is a young vampyre, he demonstrates vast knowledge and skills that have kept Zoey and her circle alive from book to book. Clearly, he’s a warrior who upholds the good!
Aristos
(Greek) excellence
In a word . . .
The root word aristo can also be found in the word aristocracy, a governing body comprised of the most qualified individuals or nobility in a society.
In the House of Night . . .
Aristos is a warrior of the Sons of Erebus, whose gifted male vampyres are known for their excellence in battle and their fierce protection of their priestesses.
Ate
(Greek) taken from the Greek goddess Ate
In myth . . .
The daughter of Eris (Strife/Discord), Ate was the personification of ruin, rash foolishness of blind impulse, and delusion.
In literature . . .
P.C., who taught William Shakespeare’s Julius Caesar for over a decade, took the name Ate from one of her favorite parts of the play, Mark Antony’s soliloquy over Caesar’s body: “And Caesar’s spirit, raging for revenge, with Ate by his side come hot from hell, shall in these confines with a monarch’s voice cry ‘Havoc!’ and let slip the dogs of war, that this foul deed shall smell above the earth with carrion men, groaning for burial.”
In the House of Night . . .
Ate was the leader of the Sons of Erebus. He was killed while coming to the defense of Shekinah in Untamed. Though his actions during the rise of Kalona did not mirror that of his goddess namesake, the actions of the House of Night vampyres following his death, especially their acceptance of Kalona as Erebus and Neferet as Nyx, truly followed the spirit of the goddess of delusion and blind impulse. And, much like what happened to Brutus and the other Roman conspirators after their rash murder of Caesar, this acceptance swiftly leads the House of Night to dark ruin and tragedy in Hunted.
• • •
The Vampyre High Council
Aether
(Greek) pure fresh air; clear sky
In mythology . . .
Aether, the son of Nyx and Erebus, is the first of the elemental gods in Greek myth. He is the personification of the heavens and the upper regions of space.
In the House of Night . . .
Though her namesake is male, Aether is a woman, and a member of the vampyre high council.
Shekinah
(Hebrew) the glorious presence or man
ifestation of God dwelling among men
In mythology . . .
In Judaism, the Shekinah sometimes refers to the feminine aspects of God. As such, some scholars of the Kabbalah link the Shekinah to the Divine Feminine. In Rabbanic literature, the Shekinah is the actual presence of God come to Earth; God’s presence was said to manifest on earth during acts of personal need, public prayer, and righteous judgment. The Shekinah has taken on many forms, including a beam of light, the burning bush through which God (or Yahweh) spoke to Moses, and a cloud leading Israel out of Egypt. The Christian equivalent of the Shekinah in the New Testament is the Holy Spirit, which is often represented in scripture as a dove, light, fire, cloud, and water. As a part of the Holy Trinity, the Holy Spirit is one of the beings that constitutes God, but is also a separate entity sent down to earth to show God’s physical presence and carry out the Lord’s will. According to the New Testament, Jesus was conceived via the Holy Spirit, who also made an appearance at his baptism, and after his death the Spirit came to Jesus’ apostles in tongues of flame that graced them with the power to speak all the world’s languages.
In the House of Night. . .
Shekinah is the High Priestess of all vampyres. She is very closely allied with Nyx, and Zoey automatically detects the Goddess’ presence in the High Priestess when they first meet. As the Hebrew roots of her name imply, Shekinah is regarded by other vampyres as Nyx’s presence manifested on earth.
Thanatos
(Greek) death
In mythology . . .
Thanatos is the son of Nyx and the god of nonviolent death.
In the House of Night . . .
Thanatos is the only vampyre with an affinity for death. She can talk to and help souls as they cross over to the Otherworld, aligning her conceptually with mythic figures Erebus (see Erebus) and Charon (ferryman of the river Styx, who some myths say was one of Nyx’s children).
• • •
The Cruithne
Sgiach
Sgathaich (Gaelic) shadowy; the shadowed one
In history . . .
Sgathaich, “the Great Taker of Heads,” was a Scottish warrior queen who ran a military school on the south end of the Isle of Skye (the land of shadows). Her stronghold was Dun Sgathaich, or Dunscaith Castle. Heroes of Scottish legend were said to have gone to “the Fortress of Shadows” to learn the art of warfare.
In the House of Night . . .
Like her historical namesake, the vampyre warrior queen Sgiach runs a warrior House of Night school on the Isle of Skye (also known in the books as the Isle of Women). She, too, is called “the Great Taker of Heads,” and she has an affinity for the island. As such, she can appear and disappear anywhere on it at will, much like the shadows the real Isle of Skye are associated with.
Seoras MacUallis
Seoras (Gaelic) farmer; the Scottish form of George
MacUallis (Scottish) a loosely translated Scottish version of the last name Wallace
In reality . . .
P.C. based this character off the Scotsman Seoras Wallace, the Chieftain of Clan Wallace and the guide hired by her UK publisher when she traveled to Scotland to research Burned. He is a descendant of Scottish resistance hero William Wallace and also a sword master and fight director.
In the House of Night . . .
Seoras MacUallis is the warrior and defender of Sgiach. He is also James Stark’s ancestor and the head of the Clan MacUallis, Guardians of the Ace.
GODS AND HUMANS
Nyx
(Greek) night
In mythology . . .
Born from Chaos, Nyx is the primordial goddess of the night. Aether (upper air/atmosphere) and Hemera (day) are her children with Erebus, her consort and brother. Independently, Nyx gave birth to a number of deities, among them the Fates, Eris, and the Hesperides, the female guards of the tree with the golden apples.
In the House of Night . . .
Though she is the personification of night, Nyx is closely allied with the Black Bull of Light. She is the central goddess in the vampyre religion and embodies the personas of goddesses from various cultures. In Marked, Nyx tells Zoey she has been called:
Changing Woman: the central goddess of the Navajo religion. She ages with the seasons, representing the cycle of life and fertility. She is a close personification of the earth and also represents the natural order of the universe.
Gaea/Gaia: the Greek primordial goddess who is literally the Earth. She was part of the first group of gods who came into existence independently.
A’akuluujjusi: the great creator mother in Inuit religion.
Kuan Yin: the goddess of mercy and compassion in Eastern Buddhism. She is highly venerated for her humanity across Asia, especially in China, and it is believed that when a Buddhist dies, Kuan Yin will put their soul in a lotus flower and then send them onto paradise.
Grandmother Spider: a creator goddess in many Native American religions. She created the world, and in one Cherokee myth, she stole the sun and brought it to the Cherokee people in a large clay pot, also giving them the gifts of fire and pottery.
Dawn: Aurora (Latin) or Eos (Greek) was the goddess of the dawn. In Roman mythology, she flew across the sky to announce the coming of the sun. In Greek mythology, she opened the gates of heaven for Apollo so he could drive his sun chariot across the sky.
A-ya
(Cherokee) me
In the House of Night . . .
A-ya is an original myth created by the Casts for the House of Night series. Sculpted from earth clay, A-ya was created solely for the purposes of trapping Kalona. The Ghigua called her A-ya, or me, because she had a piece or trait of each of the wise women placed inside her. Zoey is a reincarnation of A-ya. In Burned we learn that A-ya is also the name of the persona of compassion in Zoey’s soul.
Of note . . .
P.C. chose the name A-ya in part because this figure could embody that something magickal that exists in every woman.
Brighid
(Celtic) exalted one
In mythology . . .
Brighid is the goddess of the British Isles and the patron of poets, healers, artisans, inspiration, and fertility. She is also the goddess of fire and hearth. St. Brigid of Kildare, one of Ireland’s patron saints, is closely associated with the Pagan goddess. St. Brigid’s cross resembles a Pagan sun wheel, and it is often hung in kitchens to protect homes from fire and evil.
In the House of Night . . .
In Burned, Brighid appears to Zoey in the Otherworld as a tall goddess-like woman with bright, fiery red hair. She is the strength persona of Zoey’s soul.
Erebus
(Greek) deep darkness or shadow
In mythology . . .
Erebus is the embodiment of primordial darkness. He is described as the region in Hades (the Underworld) where the dead pass immediately after dying. From Erebus, the spirits are ferried across the river Styx by Charon to enter the land of the dead.
In the House of Night . . .
Erebus is the namesake of the Sons of Erebus, the male vampyre warriors who protect their society (and Nyx’s priestesses) fiercely (see Darius).
Kalona
(Cherokee) taken from the Kalona Ayeliski, or “Raven Mockers,” also referred to as angels of death
In mythology . . .
The worst of the Cherokee witches, the Raven Mockers of Cherokee myth steal the hearts of the old and sick in order to add on to their own life spans, and these thefts contribute to their old and withered appearance. Raven Mockers can be male or female. As a Raven Mocker dives to collect the sick and dying it croaks like a raven, explaining the creature’s name and alerting all that death has come.
In the House of Night . . .
After being tossed from the Otherworld by Nyx for loving her too much, Kalona fell to earth. He became a god among the Cherokee and was good until he succumbed to his dangerous lust for the women of the tribe. Kalona, who had wings the color of night, could also change into an animal that loo
ked like an enormous raven; thus, the women he raped gave birth to Raven Mockers. After being trapped in the earth for centuries by A-ya, Kalona is resurrected by Neferet and the blood of Stevie Rae, whose affinity for earth releases him from his underground prison. No longer obsessed with stalking Cherokee maidens, he sets his sights on one in particular, Zoey, the reincarnation of A-ya and the being on earth closest to his former Goddess, Nyx.
Of note . . .
Kalona was created by the Casts to explain the origins of the Raven Mockers in the House of Night; he does not exist within actual Cherokee myth. Sylvia Redbird compares him to the Nephilim (a biblical race of half-angel supermen who survived the flood of Noah) and to the Greek and Roman Olympian gods. Both Kalona and his son Rephaim were inspired by the Christian myth of Lucifer, the “light-bearer” or “Morning Star.” Like Kalona, the former archangel was cast down from heaven after attempting to elevate his power to that of God. According to biblical stories, after his fall Lucifer, who is also called Satan, refocused his attentions on humanity, leading God’s followers astray and building an army for the time when he would attempt to overthrow his former master and take his place in heaven.
Rephaim
(Hebrew) 1. Shade or spirit (from the netherworld) 2. To heal
In mythology . . .
The term Rephaim refers to two separate things in Hebrew mythology. The first is a biblical race of giants closely related to the Nephilim (Goliath was said to be a Rephaim). Rephaim also refers to shades or spirits from the netherworld. Etymologically, the word Rephaim derives from the Hebrew verb meaning, “to heal.”
In the House of Night . . .
Rephaim is the firstborn and favorite of Kalona’s Raven Mocker children. The Hebrew spirit/shade meaning of his name is linked to the Cherokee Kalona Ayeliski, as Rephaim embodies all of these myths and implications. Like the biblical Rephaim, he is a mixture of the divine and human. As a Kalona Ayeliski, he is a creature of darkness and life-stealing shade (he kills Anastasia Lankford in Hunted). But most notably in the House of Night series, he is a source of strength and of healing for Stevie Rae. He saves her from death on two occasions and heals her rapidly with his blood.
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