Eris Concordia, the patron Goddess of Systematics and Evolutionary Biology.

[Kai]

I've been thinking about this for a while now. I've talked about how the ICZN is a document of chaos, as it ensures a balance between apparent order and disorder. Now I'm considering how the whole of systematics and evolutionary biology echos this theme. Ecology has a patron, Saint Rosalia, of which Hutchinson first spoke (http://oz.plymouth.edu/~lts/ecology/santarosalia.html), so why not my science?

I've chosen the name Eris Concordia, as we well know our goddess is a personification of Chaos, composed of both apparent disorder AND order. Wallace and Darwin both recognized the Struggle for Existence, the competition (=strife) that exists between multiple levels of organization, and that this strife allows for selective processes. Thus some lineages continue and others are extinguished. This strife results in apparent ordered patterns (=concord) of life, groups, species, which we can then distinguish and relate to each other through systematic tools. I do not wish to invade ecology right out, they may keep their patron.

An Image: There stands the goddess, Eris Concordia, Strife Harmonic, She is modeled after the first Homo sapiens, dark skin and dark hair, and clothed in only a wrap. In one hand she holds The Quince, which would not say Kallisti, but "Agonistikoi", "To the fit" not "fittest". Selection does not chose those who are the best, only those who are able. "Whatever works" is nature's code. The Quince, symbolic of the Trojan War myth, is also symbolic of the creative unknown.

In the other hand, She holds a staff, a double helix, the order of life, topped with a branching tree, symbolic of the hierarchy and branching of lineages.


Or something like that.

[Cramulus]

I like it! good imagery

[Kai]

Now I just need someone to draw a representation. I'm no good at figure drawing, so I'll have to look around.

[LMNO]

Holy shit.  That's pretty fucking awesome, Kai.

[Phox]

I like this idea. But I'm going to have to check your Greek. Will get back to you tonight.

[Bebek Sincap Ratatosk]

and WIN!

[Requia ☣]

I would suggest and egg (representative of life and reproduction), rather than a Quince.

[hooplala]

I would suggest and egg (representative of life and reproduction), rather than a Quince.

That doesn't fit with the notion of Creative Unknown though.

[Requia ☣]

Point

[the last yatto]

Could the double helix have two arrows at its center

After all parents are important in evolution

[Telarus]

Great visuals, Kai. I'll keep this post in mind when I work on sketches and concept-art over the winter break.

[President Television]

Could the double helix have two arrows at its center

After all parents are important in evolution

I like this idea. It also alludes to the Five-Fingered Hand of Eris.

Also, to the OP.

[Phox]

Ok, just checked and a better transliteration of it would be "agonistikoi", meaning something along the lines of "to the one fit for competition". Default gender is masculine, so I left it masculine. (Kallisti is feminine, and poorly transliterated from classical spellings, though it maybe a good modern word, I honestly don't know.)

It's a good word for your purposes, Kai.

[Kai]

Ok, just checked and a better transliteration of it would be "agonistikoi", meaning something along the lines of "to the one fit for competition". Default gender is masculine, so I left it masculine. (Kallisti is feminine, and poorly transliterated from classical spellings, though it maybe a good modern word, I honestly don't know.)

It's a good word for your purposes, Kai.

Thanks Dkr. Phox. I'll change it in my OP. "fit for competition" was exactly what I was going for.

[Phox]

Ok, just checked and a better transliteration of it would be "agonistikoi", meaning something along the lines of "to the one fit for competition". Default gender is masculine, so I left it masculine. (Kallisti is feminine, and poorly transliterated from classical spellings, though it maybe a good modern word, I honestly don't know.)

It's a good word for your purposes, Kai.

Thanks Dkr. Phox. I'll change it in my OP. "fit for competition" was exactly what I was going for.

Glad to be of assistance.