Andoni Pérez Pérez
Translation: Paula Picado Picado
Robert Jordan and Celtic mythology: its influence and permanence.
In the 1990s, the wheel of the epic fantasy industry turned and gave birth to one of its greatest renovators: Robert Jordan (1948-2007). The saga that came out of his pen is known as The Wheel of Time (1990-2013) and it is one of the essential references of the last decades as far as fantasy is concerned. The subject that interests us today is the creative process of this author.
To create his world, Robert Jordan draws from an infinite number of religions (Islam, Buddhism, Hinduism, etc.) and cultures (Nordic, classical, postmodern, etc.). This fact is no exception: all authors, to a greater or lesser extent, construct their mythos by absorbing elements of reality. Tolkien did not create elves (of Germanic origin), dwarves (of Norse origin) or demons (of Hebrew/Arabic origin) out of thin air. However, among all his references, in this article we will note the influence of the Celtic and Arthurian cultures. Let’s get closer to this world.
Onomastic creation: a new bridge between reality and fiction.
This author’s relationship with Celtic culture is very interesting: besides the events and the similarity of the characters with elements of this culture, the greatest bridge with the Celtic world is built through proper names. That is to say, the names of the characters, places, etc. in the microcosm formed by the author are phonetically similar to referents of the macrocosm. What is more, not only do they resemble each other phonetically, but if we know the referents to which they refer, it is possible to find interesting parallels that help to give depth to the author’s work. Let’s look at some parallels between this microcosm and the macrocosm.
Characters: Rand al’Thor and the Sword of Light, Thom Merrilin.

The protagonist of this gigantic story is a young, tall and strong farmer. Without him being aware of it, a prophecy is woven around him that positions him as a powerful leader who must fight the forces of evil. Throughout the story we see how the protagonist becomes aware of his destiny and acts upon it. A legendary leader who lives out his youth in the shadows of anonymity? Who might he remind us of? The answer is obvious: the legendary King Arthur. If we pay close attention, al’Thor and Arthur look and sound similar, don’t they? An interesting side note: Rand will carry a Sword of Light that may remind us of one of the treasures of the legendary Celtic kings, the Claíomh Solais (Gaelic for Sword of the Sun).
Thom Merrilin’s point of reference in the macrocosm should not be too difficult to guess either. This is, of course, the mighty wizard Merlin. In the story, Thom Merrilin is a very wise minstrel who gives guidance to our protagonist. This may remind us of the teacher-pupil relationship between young Arthur and his confidant Merlin.
Locations and festivities: Caemlyn, Bel Tine.

The capital of the realm in which our protagonist (Andor) lives is the magnificent city of Caemlyn, a magnificent citadel built by magic that serves as the nexus of the various adventures that build up as the saga evolves. If we play with the names a little, it is reminiscent of the legendary Camelot, headquarters of the Round Table and political centre of unified Britain. On a less physical level, Robert Jordan begins his story with a feast that brings winter to an end: Bel Tine. If we know a little Celtic culture, it is possible to relate this festival to the feast of Beltane (in Spain, it may be known as the Beltanario), an event where, as in the story, bonfires are lit and maidens are decorated with beautiful flowers.
Ethnic groups: Tuatha’an and the Aes Sedai, Tar Valon.

To conclude our article, we will turn to a more fairy-related and occult setting. In the novels, the protagonists encounter the Tuatha’an, friendly nomads who have an intrinsic relationship with nature, passive to violence but active in dancing and revelry. This name might lead one to associate them with the Tuatha Dé Danann, the high kings of Ireland. Although this may seem too distant to be related to our tender and compassionate companions, it is necessary to mention that it was these people who, according to legend, brought the Druidic cult to Ireland. That is to say, the Tuatha Dé Danann, like the Tuatha’an, possessed a notorious relationship with nature.
Finally, we have the Aes Sedai: powerful wizards who can be beautiful and good, or terrible and dark. In the Celtic popular imaginary we find, in turn, the aos sí (from the Gaelic aes sídhe), little fairies or elves. Robert Jordan himself admitted to taking these supernatural beings as inspiration, in one way or another. What’s more, the place where the wizards of this saga live is Tar Valon, a name that perhaps reminds us of the legendary land of the fairies: Avalon. Strange similarity, isn’t it?
OpenEdition le sugiere que cite este post de la siguiente manera:
pauppic (27 de septiembre de 2024). Robert Jordan y la mitología céltica. El blog de Tartalo. Recuperado 14 de febrero de 2025 de https://doi.org/10.58079/12dc8