4. The names of the characters

[CBC]

The characters of this book are given names that mean something or point to something. Some of them are easy, others are more complex. You can discuss here your ideas about them.

[Steven R.]

In the biblical narrative names being changed often have significance. In this piece did you think about using that element?

[Manuel]

Steven R. wrote: "In the biblical narrative names being changed often have significance. In this piece did you think about using that element?"

No, what I did is give mixed names to some of the characters, that carry more than one meaning. I did it with Isha and Bab-El-Kair, for instance.

[Fonch]

It is a very interesting question because i also ask me for the meaning of the names. I did it when i was playing for Internet to the Neverwinter Nights when i was in Eternam. I wanted to know the meaning and the reason because they called to their characters with these names.

[Manuel]

I will explain the names of the characters:

1. Nicholas Ur and Adele Lagash have the names of two cities in Sumer. They represent the Mesopotamian antecedents of Israel.

2. Bab-el-Kair means "the door of Cairo" ("Bab" in Arabic means "door"), because he represents the pharaoh of Egypt in the chapter titled "Exodus." On the other hand, in the chapter titled "Second captivity" he represents Nebuchadnezzar of Babylon (Bab-el or Babel). So his name has two meanings.

3. Cleopatra Taylor also represents Egypt. Her family name is a wink to Elizabeth Taylor, who represented Cleopatra in the famous 1963 film of the same title.

4. Cyrus Smith represents Cyrus of Persia, but it's also a wink towards the protagonist of my favorite novel by Jules Verne (The mysterious island).

5. Marius and Cornelia represent the Roman domination.

Now the children:

6. Israel represents Cain, Abraham, Jacob, Moses, and finally Caiaphas. He also represents the people of Israel, before and after Christ.

7. Isha represents Isaac, Joseph (son of Jacob), Elijah, and Simon Peter. Her name is a contraction of the three first.

8. Ba-Ba represents Africa, Yin China and Muley the Arab world.

9. Baxter is the name of one of the characters in "Two years' vacation" by Jules Verne.

10. Finally, Kial and the Marhan are a wink to myself. They appear in my series The Chronicles of the Magic Jigsaw Puzzle.

[Mariangel]

I thought that Isha represents also the prophets: Isaiah (almost the same name) and Jeremiah (who was put in a cistern when his prophecy did not go down well)

[Manuel]

Mariangel wrote: "I thought that Isha represents also the prophets: Isaiah (almost the same name) and Jeremiah (who was put in a cistern when his prophecy did not go down well)"

Elijah represents all the prophets, as in the Transfiguration.

[Fonch]

Manuel wrote: "I will explain the names of the characters:

1. Nicholas Ur and Adele Lagash have the names of two cities in Sumer. They represent the Mesopotamian antecedents of Israel.

2. Bab-el-Kair means "the..."

Interesting names. I will start the book on saturday, and after i will follow with Penury City was written by Thomas E. https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/6...

[Fonch]

Yes it is that i am going to say that Isha reminded or she was an allegory of the all prophets of the old testament.