Morgause

by Brian Edward Rise

 
The daughter of Ygerna and Gorlois, the Duke of Cornwall and therefore half-sister to Arthur. She marries Lot of Orkney and their sons are Gawain, Gaheris, Agravain, and Gareth. In the Vulgate cycle, Malory and other later versions, Mordred is also her son by Arthur. Though unaware of it at the time, Arthur has committed an incestuous act which serves to emphasize Mordred’s role as Arthur’s nemesis. Morgause later has an affair with Lamorak de Galis and she is slain by her son Gaheris who discovers the two in bed.

Auseklis

by Aldis Putelis

 
Auseklis (ausma, “dawn”; aust “to dawn”) is a Latvian stellar (masculine) god. In astronomic interpretations usually understood as planet Venus (there is proof that Venus was called Lielais Auseklis – the Great Auseklis). He is connected with Meness (the moon), but also with Saule (the sun). In the myth of the heavenly wedding, he is one of the suitors of Saules meitas (along with Dieva deli, Meness, and other gods), but in some versions he is just one of the bride’s party. He might also be the only suitor, the mythic material is not clear enough because there is also a great number of texts with an obscure hint to Auseklis as the original bridegroom of Sun’s daughter, which is later stolen by Meness (Moon), in turn being punished by Saule or Perkons.