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Asahel

Asahel or Asah

Regions with significant populations
Asah Sub-Continent
Languages
Asahelian Dialects: Souhern Asahelian, Harro-el, Javanel
Religion
Mashiati
Related ethnic groups
Corel, Javanites, Myrel, etc.
From the fiction novel, "Son of Fire"

File:History of Åsahêł (1).png

Topographical map of the Asah Sub-Continent

Asahel, or Asah, is a fictional nation in the world introduced by the three-part novel Son of Fire by the novelist Peter Jeremiah Williams. Asahel appears in other books by the same author involving the same fictional world. The term "Asah" is used interchangeably with Asahel, though it is important to note that Asah is most often referring to the people/ethnic group, deriving from a pan-Asahian philosophy developed during the Golden Age of the 1st Empire of Asahel. The inception of Asah is considered by most Asahian historians to be linked with the beginnings of the ethnic group, as recorded in the religious texts of the Asahians. The first Asahians were of the family of a man named Asahel, one of the patriarchs of the original families in creation, with in the context of the books.

Etymology

The name Asahel comes from the Hebrew tongue, borrowed for the purposes of the novel. The Hebrew word "asah," עשה, means "to do" or "to make." The name Asahel, עשהאל, which comes from the Hebrew word "made by God," was given for the nation and people in the novel. In context of the novel, it is assumed that Asahel comes from the a combination of "Asah" and "-el," coming together to make the more formal title for descendents of Asah, the ancient patriarch. The Hebrew name Asahel is found in the Bible, appearing in the book of Samuel. The man Asahel, in the biblical narrative, ended tragically while pursuing the enemy; this is said to be a foreshadowing of the eventual prophetic end of the Asahel nation in the novel or of the character of the people, although no clear connection between the biblical figure and the books has been confirmed by the author.

History

Ancient History

According to the novel Son of Fire, the people of Asah trace their ethnic/national heritage through the Family of Asahel. Much of the people's ancient history was revealed in the Latahel Texts discovered in the Lake Districts (a region in Asahel). The Latahel Texts confirmed many of the original thoughts. The "Place of Hayim" is described in the ancient Asahelian texts as the area where the Asahian god created their world. Directly following, there was a man by the name of Asah to whom "Mashai" (the name given to their god) revealed himself to and instructed Asah. This is considered to be the beginning of the Asah people and their religion.

This is revealed in the Son of Fire chapter thirteen:

"At the time, they [the families of Asah] were migrating from the Place of “Hayim,” the origin of mankind where The True One, Mashai, created the universe. But, according to [the] scrolls, after men disobeyed Mashai, they were cast out Hayim. Humanity went through various events, as recorded in the scrolls, until they were scattered amongst all the world. Then, The True One spoke to a man named Asah and anointed him and all his descendants as His Chosen People. The True One instructed him to move through the desert and through the Great Savannah into the Mountains where The True One had promised all the land seen from the highest peak..."

Zehon became the homeland of the Asahian people, though certain cousins migrated away from the original family off into western and southern regions early on in the first arrival to Zehon. This event is depicted in ancient texts but details of what happened remain obscure. As the descendents of Asah settled the land, they began to transition into agricultural life styles. Initially, the Asah families lived in the mountains but eventually began to cultivate the fertile valleys below, especially the fertile valley where the Thysia River flows from snow shed from Mount Yareah, ending at the Willish Sea to the north. The people began to build farming settlements along the Thysia River. During this early period, they had little to no contact with other people groups outside of Zehon. This early history of Asahians is paralleled to the Jewish people, an intentional allegorical strategy for the sake of the novel. Zehon is meant to reflect the concept of Zion, or Eretz Israel. Many parallels can be made between the Asahians and the history of the Jews, especially in regards to the Old Testament.

Pre-Modern Period

By this time, the Asahian people had established, at the very least, economic ties with the land. The people, by most accounts, lived simple and separated lives. Economically, the people were diverse. Different trades and products developed within each family units, as Asahian generally stayed with in close family-based communities. The largest industries became sheep herding (pastoral farming) and agriculture based on wheat, olives (used mostly for its oil), and a variety of grains. As mentioned, Asahians were family based, and thus were slow to develop a central system of government. There is little written on the political structure. However, from what we do know, small community theocracies formed that acted mostly in judicial capacities and also became the framework for the religious leadership. This theocratic oligarchy would develop into the earliest power structure in the Asah communities.

The Prophet

During this period, there are a few accounts of a series of select men that brought the people together and preformed various duties as leaders in the Asahian faith and community. There were several of these men recorded though there identities have been lost. In Asahian literature, there are referred to as simply "the Prophets." There is one particular man noted in the first volume of Son of Fire who was said to have been the one to have brought the people down from the Mountains of Zehon and down into the valley, estimating the year to circa 2000, in our time. This man had a mysterious death and there is no concrete records of how he died. The Prophet's influence on Asahian society was significant, and contributed to preserving and cultivating Asahian culture.

The Great Holy War

In first volume of Son of Fire we read that the Asahians living in Zehon eventually had a major civil war that marked a turning point. This war is considered to be a "crusade" for reestablishing Mashaiti (the faith of Mashai). Two factions emerged, the Kadoshites and the Delarashians. The Kadoshites were lead by a man named Alexander, and the latter was a man named Gethen. The war waged between the two for seven years. Alexander, who was called the Zealous, contracted an illness and the Kadoshite took refuge in the highlands. The events that transpired are best described by the text in chapter thirteen of the first volume:

Battles of the Great Holy War

...Gethen was instituting shrines of worship to gods and goddesses from the far south and east. Alexander was deeply angered that Gethen was deceiving the Delarashian Asahelians into pagan religion. Alexander prayed and fasted for three days, when he returned to his military leaders, he said a famous prayer which became a famous motto among the Asah military even today: “Lord, [M]ashai! Send us a Fire so we may overcome the evil.” Then, it is said Alexander prophesied, or in other words, The True One spoke through Alexander. In the Scrolls, it was recorded: “Hear me! My people, I establish a covenant with thee, the House of Alexander and the nation of Asah! I will send my Fire in the days of destruction and oppression, but the outcome will be revival. The Evil shall bruise your head, and you shall bruise the dragons heel. Watch, for with my Fire shall the Areli fight alongside you. Take hold your sword of fire and sweep down those who blaspheme. Thus Saith mashai…”

Alexander the Zealous went on to fight a decisive battle that defeated Gethen's forces. This established the Kingdom of Asahel under Alexander's rule. Many legends and folk tales come from this war and the life of Alexander the Zealous, a popular hero.

Remains of an early Asahelian settlement.

Middle Ages

The Great Holy Way marked the end of the ancient period. The establishment of the first Asahelian Kingdom also brought about the use of the name Asahel to describe the Asahian state, nation, and peoples. As the Asahel state evolved, the Kings of Asahel became more ambitious. General thought among society began to think beyond the Zehon mountains. Relations and trade first began across the Wilish Sea, with the Aevenronian Kingdoms. Asahelians built several settlements on the northern cost of the Wilish Sea. Cities such as Rel, Madara, and others were built in the lands outside of Zehon. Connections with cousin ethnicities such as Myrel and Corland were made. The influence of Asahel grew as so did it's culture. This was called the First Expansion. By the end of this period, the Asahelian Kingdom had established itself as a powerful nation on the northern half of the modern day Asah sub-continent. Nations such as Corland, Aevenro, and Javan payed tribute to Asahel, most with mixed sentiments. The people of Corland particularly were content with the relationship with Asahel. There positive feelings are explained because of their ethnic ties to Asah. There was a sense of national ties to what was being called "Greater Asahel" which included cousin ethnicities across the continent that had left Zehon since the first arrival.

Religion

Deity

The Asahian people worship a singular, monotheistic, deity known in the books under a few names. The most common are "The True One" and "Mashai" [Ma-shay]. The latter is from where the religion bears it's name, Mashaiti [Ma-sha-ītī]. Many parallels are made betwixt Mashaiti and Judeo-Christian tradition. The author explains this through a theory for novels entitled "Unus Deus-Plures Tellures" which is latin for "One God, Many Lands." This fictional theological theory helps explain the multitude of appearances of a "Christian" God in other fantasy worlds. According to the theory, deities such as Aslan in C.S. Lewis's Chronicles of Narnia are not seperate gods but the same God as the one in the Jewish and Christian religions of our universe. Aslan in Narnia is the creator that is paralled to God, and in fact there are points in C.S. Lewis's books that refer to Aslan being the same God in our world. It is in this same light that Williams, the author, approaches the religion depicted in the novels.

Depiction of an Areli

Angels

There appear to exist some kind of angelic beings who do work in the physical world on behalf of Mashai. In the novels, there are called "Areli." These creatures take the form of winged beasts with four legs. Although not explicitly said, it is best assumed that the physical make-up of the Areli is similar to that of earthly griffin that appear in European, Egyptian, and Persian legends. The Areli's are said to descend from the Zehon mountains, coming down at the bidding of Mashai to defend the people of Asah. Some accounts record different occasions.

Symbols

In the Mashaiti religion and culture, fire is the most common symbol. Fire is very important to Mashaiti tradition, involved in several historical texts, in prophecies, and in art. The seemingly obsession with fire makes reference to the Christian theology of the Holy Spirit, who, in Acts chapter 2, descended upon the heads of the disciples of Christ after Jesus had ascended into heaven:

Descending of Fire

When the day of Pentecost came, they were all together in one place. (2) Suddenly a sound like the blowing of a violent wind came from heaven and filled the whole house where they were sitting. (3) They saw what seemed to be tongues of fire that separated and came to rest on each of them. (4) All of them were filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak in other tongues[a] as the Spirit enabled them.

Acts Chapter 2:1-4

Just as Pentecost and the Holy Spirit plays a very important role in Christianity, so does "the Fire" in the world of Asah. In the novels, "the fire" is often referred to as a giver of spiritual strength and ability to recieve prophetic gifts. Some say that the Fire also references to the mythical Phoenix bird.

The Evil One

Mashaiti teaches in a figure similar to the Jewish and Evangelical Christian concepts of Satan. In the novels, many references to "the evil one" are made. These references refer to a spirit that is the opposite of Mashai. The evil one is consistently working against the will of Mashai, but is not necessarily the same to the traditional Catholic idea of Satan. In Catholisicism, Satan is a distinct individual, while Mashaiti does not make the distinction of a specific creature, or fallen angel, that operates on behalf of the opposition to God's will. Rather, Mashaiti doctrine generally believes in the existence of an over-arching force that makes up the "evil one." This view is more closely aligned to Jewish thought. In Mashaiti, the whole world is in a spiritual war between Mashai and the Evil One. The Evil One has been depicted in the novels most commonly as either a black serpent or black mist.