Myth ~ ANCIENT HINDU & NORSE ~ In Hindu, Vala (Sometimes the same as Vrtra, sometimes his brother) was a serpent demon who liked to steal the heaven/cloud cows and hid them in his cave. In the Vedas, Indra battled and defeated Vala. This story represented the fight between order and chaos. It is compared to the battles between: Thor & Jörmungandr, Zeus & Typhon, Svarog & Zmey, Marduk & Tiamat, Baal & Lotan, and St. George & the dragon. ~ In Norse, a Vala (cunning woman or sibyl; also spelled: wala, völva, seiðkona, or wicce) was a priestess in the Norse and Germanic tribes. They were the origin of witches, however they wore white. It was practiced mainly by women because it was considered unmanly, however there were afew male followers (called seiðmaðr). The Valas were practicioners of Galðr (plural galðrar; "spell, incantation"). Odin consulted Valas because they possessed great powers. A tale of this is in the Völuspá (“Prophecy of the Seeress;” part of the Edda). Heidi/Heith was a Vala in the Völuspá and Groa was a Vala in the Svipdagsmál (also The Lay of Svipdag; part of the Edda). Learn More: (Hindu) Vala and (Norse) Völva, Svipdagsmál, Völuspá. (PS: Mal. Bad. In the Latin & Doran: Irish/Gaelic; stranger or exile)
The Show (Stargåte SG-1)
~ She is a con artist and a thief. SG-1 first encounters her when she hijacks the Prometheus disguised as a Kull warrior. She claims that she was host to a Goa’uld ten years ago, but was freed by the Tok-ra after the uprising on her home planet. She hijacks the Prometheus to sell it to Tenat, an employee of the Lucian Alliance (812 – Prometheus Unbound). She brings an Ancient tablet to the SGC, which tells of a treasure. They find it at Avalon along with an Ancient long-range communication device that sends Vala’s and Daniel’s consciousnesses to another galaxy where they meet the Ori (901-903 – Avalon, Origin). Her Goa’uld was named Qetesh, and was removed by the Tok-Ra (905 – The Powers That Be). She is sent to the Ori Galaxy while destroying the Supergate (906 – Beachhead). Vala uses the Ancient long-range communication device to tell of the Ori Galaxy and that she is pregnant (919 – Crusade). She returns to the Milky Way with the Ori fleet (920 – Camelot). Vala gives birth to her baby, who she names Adria. Adria is a genetically engineered Ori in human-form and ages rapidly to full-grown (1001 – Flesh and Blood). She watches One Life to Live (The best soap opera ever! Not just because I watch it, but because it is) (1014 – The Shroud). Vala’s father, Jacek, trades information of Arkad’s plans in exchange for sanctuary on Earth. Jacek says Arkad’s Jaffa sent cargo ships loaded with Naquadah to blow up Earth (1018 – Family Ties).
Language/Geography ~ LATIN/SPAIN ~ In Latin, the original form of this name is Valentia ("Strength, Vigour"). In Spain, Valencia was a taifa (an independent Moorish petty kingdom) located on the Mediterranean coast of Al-Andalus (the section of the Iberian Peninsula ruled by Muslims from 711 to 1492). It was formed in 1031 after the end of the Umayyad Caliphate of Córdoba. The Valencia Cathedral also houses an artifact said to be the Sangreal. Today, Valencia is the capitol of the Kingdom/Land of Valencia, an autonomous community. It is the third largest city in Spain. Learn More: Ayuntamiento ("city council") de ("of") Valencia, TurisValencia: Official website of Tourism, and Valencia: A Virtual Trip.
The Show (Stargåte SG-1)
~ A native of Camelot, she helped train her brother, Ramus, in sword fighting (They pretend to be Arthur and Mordred). She leads Mitchell and Daniel to Merlin's library. She secretly wishes to become a one of Arthur's knights even though women are forbidden. When the Black Knight attacks Mitchell, Valencia successfully pulls the Sword from the Stone to save him. Her pulling the Sword also ushers a new era, in which they believe Arthur will return from his quest to recruit new knights from Camelot for his next crusade (920 -- Camelot).
Myth ~ ANCIENT NORSE ~ From the Old Norse: Valhöll ("Hall of the Slain" i.e. heaven). Odin presides over Valhalla. It is a Hall where half of those who die in battle go (the other half go to Freya’s hall, Sessrumnir). The hall was enormous and said to have five hundred and forty doors, with the roof being made of shields and the rafters being made of spears. The slain warriors that dwell here are called Einherjar ("Heroic Dead"). When the Viking warriors were killed in battle (and with honor), they were taken to the Asgard plain by the Valkyries. Once there, they had to successfully pass through several obstacles. Only after that could they enter Valhalla by a door named Valgrind ("The Sacred Barred-Gate of the Slain"). Here the Einherjar fight by day and feast by night, while waiting for Ragnarok during which they will fight on Odin’s side.
The Show (Stargåte SG-1)
~ (See also Halla) The Valhalla is commanded by Aegir and helps destroy the Replicator ship above the new Asgard home world of Orilla (801/802 – New Order).
Myth ~ ANCIENT NORSE ~ ("Chooser of the Slain") A group of maidens who serve the god Odin. They were sent by him to the battlefields to choose the slain that were worthy of a place in Valhalla. They wore helmets, carried shields, and rode into the battlefield on horses. Some had the power to kill the warriors they did not like, while others, were guardians. It is thought that their armor causes the Aurora Borealis (Northern Lights).
The Show (Stargåte SG-1)
~ Kendra, a woman who used to be a host for a Goa’uld, asks for guidance from the Valkyries, who speak to her through the thunder (109 – Thor’s Hammer).
Geography ~ CANADA ~ The largest city of the province of British Columbia. It is located in the southwest region on the Strait of Georgia near Vancouver Island. Simon Fraser University opened in September 1965 and is located in Burnaby with satellite campuses in downtown Vancouver and Surrey. Pender is a street in Vancouver. There is also a Pender Island in the Strait of Georgia. Holden-Corso Road is located near Holden Lake. Montrose Park is located on the northern border of Vancouver on Boundary Road. Langara is a neighborhood and also a College. Kelowna is a city that is about 244.8 mi. (394 km) from Vancouver. Learn More: Vancouver - Wikipedia, Welcome to the City of Vancouver, Simon Fraser University, and Pender Island Tourism Information. (If any Vancouverites know of other references, let me know!)
The Show (Stargåte SG-1)
~ Simon Fraser University is the location of Tollana (315 – Pretense, 318 – Shades of Grey, 509 – Between Two Fires). Liam Pender is a member of the Hebridan race and a member of the false crew of the Sebrus. Aden Corso is the fake captain (618 – Forsaken). La’el Montrose is a Hebridian independent cargo runner and winner of the 59th Loop of Kon Garat (708 – Space Race). Langara (P2S-4C3) is the home planet of Jonas Quinn; his home continent is Kelowna (714 – Fallout).
Geography ~ ALBANIA ~ Also called Vlora, Vlonë in the Geg dialect, and Valona in Italian. It is a seaport town. It was founded as one of three Greek colonies on the Illyrian coast and called Aulon. It became strategically important during the Roman Era and later in the Eleventh-Twelfth-century wars between the Byzantines and Normans. The Italians occupied the city in 1915-20 and again in 1939. The population includes Greek Orthodox, Muslims, and a small number of Roman Catholics.
The Show (Stargåte SG-1)
~ Velona’s (P4X-636) civilization dates back to about 3000 years. The weapon, however, dates back to about 400 years when the inhabitants were confronted with an attack from the Goa’uld. Orlin (one of the same aliens as Oma Desala) brought a weapon to them for defense. The Velonans used it to defeat the Goa’uld and then began to use it for conquest of other races. The “Others” decided to destroy the civilization to prevent further disaster (503 – Ascension).
History/Myth ~ ANCIENT EGYPT ~ After a person died, Anubis took their Ka (soul) to the underworld. The Egyptian underworld was an expansive land with deserts, islands, rivers, and lakes of fire that were all inhabited by demons. The souls needed the Book of the Dead to cast spells to give them a safe journey. Once the deceased reached the throne room of Osiris, they had to declare themselves innocent of certain crimes (similar to sins) before a panel of 42 judges. The heart, which represented the conscience of the deceased, was then weighed on a scale against the feather of Ma’at (Goddess of Truth). Thoth would record the result. When the person was innocent, the heart was lighter than the feather, and if the person was guilty, the heart was heavier. The Book of the Dead contained a spell to keep the heart from being heavy with guilt. Once judged innocent, the soul was made pure and aloud entrance to the paradise called the Field of Reeds (heaven) where they became able to move among the gods. If they were guilty, Ammut, The Devourer of the Dead (sometimes called the Devourer of Souls), ate their heart and they were condemned to eternal pain and torment in the Field of Iaru. Other times, it was said the when Ammut ate the heart, it was as it the person never existed. Ammut was a female beast with the head of a crocodile, the front half of a lion, and the back half of a hippopotamus.
The Show (Stargåte SG-1)
~ Daniel performs the ceremony at Amonet/Sha-re’s funeral on Abydos (310 -- Forever In A Day).
