Skana and Skata,
The Bright Flame-Bearer
&
The Pale Flame-Bearer
Goddesses of horses, the Sun & Moon, and Day & Night
Held to be twin sisters, though not known to be the children of any other Realmgardian deity, Skana and Skata are the goddess of the Sun and daytime (Skana) and the Moon and nighttime (Skata). As is the case with Treza and her daughters, the specific origin of Skana and Skata is unclear, though Skana and Skata are not recorded in mythological accounts as ever being adversaries of the gods of the Ennead.
Although widely worshipped, they are not viewed as members of the Ennead, though there are many mythological accounts of the two goddess keeping company among the gods of the Ennead.
For reasons that should be largely self-evident, Skana and Skata are commonly associated in Aurora with the native sky goddess Nainen and generally identified as Nainen’s handmaidens, tasked with aiding her in lighting up the sky. Under local names, they are similarly associated with the ancient Melkartite goddess Malketa in the Duchy of Tanith and by the people of the Wandering Coast.
Elsewhere in Realmgard, the Sun and Moon are commonly believed to be composed of fire — the Sun is a bright fire that burns hot, the Moon is a pale fire that burns cold. Thus, as a manner of fire goddess, both Skana and Skata are known as romantic partners of the impetuous fire god Azidos. Comets, meteor showers, and various other astronomic phenomena are believed to be Azidos’ attempts to woo Skana and Skata.
That Azidos’ affections alternate between Skana and Skata is recorded as a source of conflict between the two sisters and consternation among the other gods. Eclipses are said to be caused by the sisters chasing each other down across the sky when one discovers the other in the arms of Azidos. Nevertheless, when the sisters reconcile and direct their shared indignation at the infidelities of Azidos, they often call upon the righteous vindication of the goddess Pherais to punish Azidos on their account.
Skana and Skata are closely associated with horses and are almost exclusively depicted mounted on divine steeds as they travel across the sky. Skana rides the golden horse Berhat as she carries the Sun across the sky and brings the light of day. Skata rides the black horse Kalana as she carries the Moon across the sky and brings the shade of night. These two divine horses are often held to be the ancestresses of all worldly horses.
Attested as among the most beautiful goddess in Realmgard’s pantheon, Skana and Skata are popular subjects for artists — how are not generally known to pass up the opportunity to depict beautiful women — and have been for centuries. It is a common and longstanding allegorical device in Realmgardian art to depict the figures of Skana and Skata standing at either side of the image.
Similarly, Skana and Skata’s attempts to avenge Azidos’ frequent infidelities — often with the aid of Pherais — are incredibly popular with Realmgard’s comedic playwrights, for whom these provide abundant material for ribald comedies, a tradition which has been going steady in Realmgardian theatre since the Imperial era.
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