+ Legion Cultural Influences +

[Phoebus]

 

 

I agree with what Depthcharge says as well about the Thousand Sons having a Macedonian influence (Alexander's era). If you consider that the Thousand Sons do a lot of knowledge learning and integration it follows a similar vain to what Alexander did. Following on from this with Ptolemy's bloodline ending up with Cleopatra. I'd imagine a slight bit of Persia is in here as well. I believe the lighthouse was simply called the Great Lighthouse.

 

Sorry to be pedantic, but that is Hellenistic influence, not Macedonian. I can send you some academic journals on the topic if you like!

I don't know if I agree with Archidamus' take on the Thousand Sons, but he is perfectly correct in citing an influence dating to Alexander the Great 's era as "Macedonian". The Hellenistic Era is most commonly identified with the historical period beginning after Alexander's death.

[bloodhound23]

 

 

Their helmets are the main distinct design cue the Death Guard has had for years. They didn't have any specific culture or heritage that was described in their background. "Gas war" is literally their core theme. And one prevalent detail for plague Marines is the helmet spike.

 

Saying the Death Guard is based in WW1 germans is as obvious as saying Ultramarines are based in the roman army, Space Wolves are based on Vikings, Dark Angels are based on gothic monastic orders, etc.

 

No...it is not.

 

Viking culture permeates the Space Wolves legion

 

Early 20th century German culture does not permeate the Death Guard legion. I would argue that the DG share almost zero cultural similarities with WWI Germany. 

 

Using poison gas is a battlefield tactic...not a cultural element 

The helmet spike is a very superficial similarity limited to the visual appearance of uniforms/armour

 

At most you could say, SW are very heavily based on Vikings...whereas DG are very loosely based on WWI Germany

 

Superficially they are based on WWI Germans.

 

I will also repost what I mentioned earlier about them:

 

Their earlier name of Dusk Raiders with their focus on attacking at night is similar to an ancient description of a German tribe called the Harii who were regarded as unusually strong and who'd paint themselves and their equipment black before attacking at night. The Harii have also been associated with the einherjar, warriors in Norse mythology who've died in battle but still fight, waiting for the final fight at the end of the world. They are thought to have worshipped Odin, the one eyed god (Magnus of the Thousand Sons shares a strong similarity to Odin). Rubric marines seem to have some basis in this myth too, particularly given the Magnus/Odin connection.

 

 

Many apologies for reviving an otherwise dead thread, but the Magnus/Odin connection just occurred to me. 

 

Anyone think the connection in conjunction with the rivalry between SW and TS, with Geri and Freki essentially on the side of SW and Odin personified as Magnus of TS being quite deliberate on the part of the authors of the fluff?

 

If so, that is delicious irony and quite well-done.

[Arendious]

I've often felt that there's an Odyssey/Illiad theme to the "greek themed" Legions, specifically the IVth and the XXth.  Perturabo is Agamemnon throwing his men against the walls of Troy and Ajax sulking in his tent.  Alpharius/Omegon are Odysseus, cunning and wise though sometimes too much so for his own good; and then managing to get all his men killed along the way home, only to perpetuate even more bloodshed upon returning.