Velchanos

Velchanos
Tammuz, the posible origin of Velchanos (Photograph by Rama)
Vegetation
General Information
Species	Deity
Race	God
Biological sex	Male
Relationships
Parents	a Mother Goddess
Consorts	a Mother Goddess
Languages
Hellēnikḗ(Ancient Greek)	Ϝελχάνος
Equivalents
Akkadian equivalent	Tammuz, Marduk
Canaanite equivalent	Adon, Hadad
Egyptian equivalent	Osiris, Amun
Etruscan equivalent	Atunis, Tinia
Gnostic equivalent	Adonaios, Iao
Graeco-Egyptian equivalent	Serapis
Greek equivalent	Adonis, Zeus
Hindu equivalent	Balarama, Parjanya
Israelite equivalent	Adonides, Amon
Proto-Indo-European equivalent	Dyēus, Indo-European smith god
Roman equivalent	Jupiter, Attis, Vulcanus
Zoroastrian equivalent	Indra

Velchanos was an ancient deity worshipped by the Minoans in the island of Crete, he was a deity related with the vegetation and consort of a Mother Goddess, being the patron god of Crete, the Minoans would see to Velchanos less powerful than the Mother Goddess.

Mythology

Origins

Presumably Velchanos has his origins in the Mesopotamian God Dumuzid, this is mainly due in their importance of vegetation and the worship of male and female deities in the festivals, that were common elements of Mesopotamian religion, the consort of Velcahnos was also his own mother, which represents the union between the Mother Earth Goddess and the divine child.

Worship

During the Bronze age, in which point Mycenaean civilization identified Velchanos with their national god Zeus, this syncretism gave Zeus the epithet "Zeus Velchanos", even the mythical history of Zeus was changed by the influence of Velchanos. Curiously some elements of Velchanos' iconography were absorbed by Zeus like the eagle and oak tree.

Hellenistic period

For the 4th century BC, in the beginning of Hellenization, Hagia Triad fell under control of the polis of Phaistos. During this time, they installed an aedicula dedicated to Zeus Velchanos, also in the same location was found a bull protome; it has been theorized that this was an image of the cult for Velchanos, apparently Velcanos was worshipped in Gortyna, as they found coins depicting Velchanos as well.

The festival of Velchanos, the Velchania was presumably celebrated on the Cretan poleis of Gortyna, Lyttos, and Knossos.

Legacy

Roman Religion

It has been theorized that there is a possible influence of the Cretan Velchanos in the Roman Vulcanus, due to mainly for their similar names, curiously in the neighborhood dedicated to Vulcanus; sometimes Vulcanus is referred to as Chania, that it would a modern version of an epithet for Velchanos.

Modern Use

The modern words like Volcán and Volcano are derived from Vulcanus and if the theory that Vulcanos is derived from Velchanos is correct then therefore Velchanos is still in use in this times.

Popular culture

• There exists a rock band call Velkhanos, whose name is due to Velchanos.

Gallery

Modern depiction of Velchanos (Art by grumpycat0805)