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Difference between revisions of "Besokan river"
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==Course and Hydrology== | ==Course and Hydrology== | ||
[[File:Loire in Amboise.jpg|thumb|The Besokan is shallow for most of its upper course, passing fields of sand and gravel, comparable to the Loire in central France.]] | [[File:Loire in Amboise.jpg|thumb|The Besokan is shallow for most of its upper course, passing fields of sand and gravel, comparable to the Loire in central France.]] | ||
The source of the Besokan is located in the Erkenmian Mountains north of Kernogori. It has no major tributary on its course through the [[Kernogori|Dark Valley]] but is said to be ‘fed by a thousand streams’ as it passes through the fertile landscape, and reaching Dom the river has already grown to a major body of water. From there, it turns south, passing the southeastern end of the Reknayan Wall and entering a narrower valley, the '''Besokan Valley''' proper, between the Herna mountains and the Párian Ridge. For most of its upper course, passing large beds of gravel and sand, and despite its renowned width, the Besokan does not achieve a great depth, remaining relatively shallow until it enters the plain of Tár. The river proceeds in a trough close to the Herna mountains, again fed by countless small streams and growing in sizeuntil it forms Lake Marin immediately north of the gorge of the same name, the southern entrance of Tár. Exiting the gorge and passing Nishûnâc, the remainder of its course is hemmed by rolling hills and dense woodland, the Forests of the Besokan. It is here that the Besokan meets its major tributary, the [[Estennil river]]. The combined bodies of water reach a maximal width of 317 elôrini, the widest of any river in Elondor. They mouth into the Gulf of Seligon forming a bar-built estuary between the islands of Golim and Kirospel. | The source of the Besokan is located in the [[Erkenmian Mountains]] north of [[Kernogori]]. It has no major tributary on its course through the [[Kernogori|Dark Valley]] but is said to be ‘fed by a thousand streams’<ref>[[Tonin of Senongrál]], ''Praise to the Kernogori''</ref> as it passes through the fertile landscape, and reaching [[Dom]] the river has already grown to a major body of water. From there, it turns south, passing the southeastern end of the [[Reknayan Wall]] and entering a narrower valley, the '''Besokan Valley''' proper, between the [[Herna]] mountains and the [[Pár|Párian Ridge]]. For most of its upper course, passing large beds of gravel and sand, and despite its renowned width, the Besokan does not achieve a great depth, remaining relatively shallow until it enters the plain of [[Tár]]. The river proceeds in a trough close to the Herna mountains, again fed by countless small streams and growing in sizeuntil it forms [[Lake Marin]] immediately north of the [[Marin gorge|gorge of the same name]], the southern entrance of Tár. Exiting the gorge and passing [[Nishûnâc]], the remainder of its course is hemmed by rolling hills and dense woodland, the [[Forests of the Besokan]]. It is here that the Besokan meets its major tributary, the [[Estennil river]]. The combined bodies of water reach a maximal width of 317 elôrini, the widest of any river in Elondor. They mouth into the [[Gulf of Seligon]] forming a bar-built estuary between the islands of [[Golim]] and [[Kirospel]]. | ||
==Cultural Significance== | ==Cultural Significance== | ||
The lower Besokan Valley was the original homeland of the Besokian peoples, who referred to it as ‘Great Mother’, equating it with their main goddess (a figure comparable to both the goddess Ílgar and the titan Kána in Olgish mythology). Much of the early | The lower Besokan Valley was the original homeland of the [[Besokian peoples]], who referred to it as ‘Great Mother’, equating it with their main goddess [[Kônôwis]] (a figure comparable to both the goddess [[Ílgar]] and the titan [[Kána]] in [[Olgish mythology]]). Much of the early [[Besokian cult]] at Nishûnâc was centred on reverence of the Besokan as ‘life-giver’ to the [[Three Hills|Second Hill]]. The river is noted on the [[Old Besokian World Map]], and several of the younger [[Nishûnâc carvings|Nishûnâc hymns]] are devoted to it. Worship of Kônôwis seems to have declined with the decline of Nishûnâc. As the Besokian nations spread across the [[Reknaya]] and [[Belkondíl]], separating them further and further from their ancestral homeland, the river’s significance in their cult diminished, remaining notable only in [[Reknayan religion]]. | ||
The [[Olgish peoples|Olgs]], knowing the river as ''Besokan'', were aware of its existence and religious significance at least since their first contact with the [[Soskish peoples|Sosks]] c. 2400 B.E.B., and from its first mention in writing, in the [[Lonsorigi|Elder Lonsorigi]] (c. 700 B.E.B.), it was designated the border between [[Belkondíl]] (the Olgish world) and [[Seligon]] (the foreign east). Even after its decline as a spiritual landmark, the Besokan was recongized as a major body of water and critical resource to the Kernogori and eastern Belkondíl. [[Melvas of Bernab]], writing in the 4th century L.R., lists it as one of the ‘seven great rivers’ in his ''Landmarks of the World'', beside [[Cëlac]], [[Brethan]], [[Ilathw]], [[Kalpa]], [[Muïnulis]], and [[Eargliss]]. | |||