Tash (Narnia)
Encyclopedia
Tash is a fictional character found in C. S. Lewis
' Chronicles of Narnia series. He is an antagonist
in the novels The Horse and His Boy
and The Last Battle
.
He is the patron god of the ruling class of Calormen
. The Calormene capital is named Tashbaan and the Tisroc
s and Tarkaans and Tarkheenas claim descent from Tash. The worship of Tash is the only formal religion
depicted in the world of Narnia: there are temples to Tash, Calormenes regularly use ritual phrases such as 'Tash the inexorable, the irresistible' and 'Tash preserve us', and he is the only being referred to by characters as a god. At the end of the series, he is revealed as the antithesis of Aslan, and appears as a terrible demon
with a skeletal, humanoid body, a vulture-like head and four taloned arms.
, which explores Calormene society in some depth, the name of Tash is frequently used in oaths and exclamations. (Two other Calormene gods are mentioned, Azaroth and Zardeenah, Lady of the Night and Maidens, but only briefly.) However, Tash is not described at all, and his worship plays little part in the proceedings. Near the end, the principal antagonist Prince Rabadash
, frustrated and maddened by defeat, tries to call on Tash to inflict vengeance on the Narnians and Aslan
—such as 'lightning in the shape of scorpions'. But this results in nothing but mockery and pity from his captors, because Aslan, after repeatedly warning Rabadash to repent of his anger, turns Rabadash into a donkey. Aslan tells Rabadash that his transformation will be lifted when he visits the temple of Tash in Tashbaan during the middle of a festival (meaning he'll be seen changing back by thousands of people), and that afterwards he must never stray more than ten miles from the temple or he will be transformed again, with no ability to return.
, the final book of the series, in which he is depicted as a malevolent and real being. He is seen to be roughly humanoid, but much larger than a man, with four arms and the head of a vulture. His presence brings cold and the sickening stench of death. Illustrations by Pauline Baynes
enhance his macabre appearance. It is said that the Calormenes practice human sacrifice
to him. Narnians describe him as a god or a demon
.
However, it is revealed that many of the Calormene invaders do not really believe in Tash. Together with Shift
the scheming ape, Ginger the duplicitous cat and other treacherous Narnians, they concoct a story that Aslan and Tash are the same person, also known as Tashlan. Many (but not all) Narnians see that this as ridiculous, given Aslan's and Tash's antithetical natures, but are powerless to contradict the Calormene soldiers. Sending dissenters 'to meet Tashlan' in Puzzle's stable is meant to be a way to secretly murder troublemakers. But one Calormene soldier, Emeth
, is so devout that he insists on going in to meet Tash, and vanishes into Aslan's Country (after killing the man with a sword in the stable meant to murder aforesaid troublemakers). Ginger finds Tash inside the stable, and is terrified into losing the power of speech. When Shift is thrown in, Tash appears and devours him. Finally, the Narnian King Tirian
and Calormene warlord Rishda Tarkaan confront Tash. Tash seizes Rishda for having summoned him to Narnia, and is then banished by the command of High King Peter
and the name of Aslan.
Emeth, who expects Tash to smite unbelievers with heavenly fire, goes searching for Tash in Aslan's Country, but instead meets Aslan. It is revealed that Aslan and Tash are opposites, which each acting as antithesis to the other. Aslan tells Emeth that 'all the service thou hast done to Tash, I accept as service done to me' and further explains 'no service which is vile can be done to me, and none which is not vile can be done to him'. He explains that Emeth's pious devotion was really to Aslan, rather than to Tash, although Emeth had not been aware of this, and Emeth finds great happiness in this revelation.
C. S. Lewis
Clive Staples Lewis , commonly referred to as C. S. Lewis and known to his friends and family as "Jack", was a novelist, academic, medievalist, literary critic, essayist, lay theologian and Christian apologist from Belfast, Ireland...
' Chronicles of Narnia series. He is an antagonist
Antagonist
An antagonist is a character, group of characters, or institution, that represents the opposition against which the protagonist must contend...
in the novels The Horse and His Boy
The Horse and His Boy
The Horse and His Boy is a novel by C. S. Lewis. It was published in 1954, making it the fifth of seven books published in Lewis' series The Chronicles of Narnia. The books in this series are sometimes ordered chronologically in relation to the events in the books as opposed to the dates of their...
and The Last Battle
The Last Battle
The Last Battle is the seventh and final novel in The Chronicles of Narnia series by C. S. Lewis. It won the prestigious Carnegie Medal in Literature in 1956.-Plot summary:In The Last Battle, Lewis brings The Chronicles of Narnia to an end...
.
He is the patron god of the ruling class of Calormen
Calormen
In C. S. Lewis's Chronicles of Narnia series of novels, Calormen is a large country to the southeast of Narnia. Lewis derived its name from the Latin calor, meaning "heat". When used as an adjective Lewis spelled the name with an 'e' at the end . Narnia and Calormen are separated by a large desert...
. The Calormene capital is named Tashbaan and the Tisroc
Tisroc
In C. S. Lewis's Chronicles of Narnia, a Tisroc is a ruler of Calormen. His position is most like that of a Pharaoh, in that he is an absolute monarch, and is believed to be descended from the Calormen god Tash. Whenever a Calormen citizen speaks of the Tisroc, he adds "may he live for ever," and...
s and Tarkaans and Tarkheenas claim descent from Tash. The worship of Tash is the only formal religion
Religion
Religion is a collection of cultural systems, belief systems, and worldviews that establishes symbols that relate humanity to spirituality and, sometimes, to moral values. Many religions have narratives, symbols, traditions and sacred histories that are intended to give meaning to life or to...
depicted in the world of Narnia: there are temples to Tash, Calormenes regularly use ritual phrases such as 'Tash the inexorable, the irresistible' and 'Tash preserve us', and he is the only being referred to by characters as a god. At the end of the series, he is revealed as the antithesis of Aslan, and appears as a terrible demon
Demon
call - 1347 531 7769 for more infoIn Ancient Near Eastern religions as well as in the Abrahamic traditions, including ancient and medieval Christian demonology, a demon is considered an "unclean spirit" which may cause demonic possession, to be addressed with an act of exorcism...
with a skeletal, humanoid body, a vulture-like head and four taloned arms.
In The Horse and His Boy
In The Horse and His BoyThe Horse and His Boy
The Horse and His Boy is a novel by C. S. Lewis. It was published in 1954, making it the fifth of seven books published in Lewis' series The Chronicles of Narnia. The books in this series are sometimes ordered chronologically in relation to the events in the books as opposed to the dates of their...
, which explores Calormene society in some depth, the name of Tash is frequently used in oaths and exclamations. (Two other Calormene gods are mentioned, Azaroth and Zardeenah, Lady of the Night and Maidens, but only briefly.) However, Tash is not described at all, and his worship plays little part in the proceedings. Near the end, the principal antagonist Prince Rabadash
Prince Rabadash
Prince Rabadash is a human character and the main antagonist in C. S. Lewis's fantasy novel The Horse and His Boy. Rabadash is the heir to the throne of Calormen, being the eldest son of the Tisroc...
, frustrated and maddened by defeat, tries to call on Tash to inflict vengeance on the Narnians and Aslan
Aslan
Aslan, the "Great Lion," is the central character in The Chronicles of Narnia, a series of seven fantasy novels for children written by C. S. Lewis. He is the eponymous lion of The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe, and his role in Narnia is developed throughout the remaining books...
—such as 'lightning in the shape of scorpions'. But this results in nothing but mockery and pity from his captors, because Aslan, after repeatedly warning Rabadash to repent of his anger, turns Rabadash into a donkey. Aslan tells Rabadash that his transformation will be lifted when he visits the temple of Tash in Tashbaan during the middle of a festival (meaning he'll be seen changing back by thousands of people), and that afterwards he must never stray more than ten miles from the temple or he will be transformed again, with no ability to return.
In The Last Battle
The worship of Tash persists in The Last BattleThe Last Battle
The Last Battle is the seventh and final novel in The Chronicles of Narnia series by C. S. Lewis. It won the prestigious Carnegie Medal in Literature in 1956.-Plot summary:In The Last Battle, Lewis brings The Chronicles of Narnia to an end...
, the final book of the series, in which he is depicted as a malevolent and real being. He is seen to be roughly humanoid, but much larger than a man, with four arms and the head of a vulture. His presence brings cold and the sickening stench of death. Illustrations by Pauline Baynes
Pauline Baynes
Pauline Diana Baynes was an English book illustrator, whose work encompassed more than 100 books, notably those by C. S. Lewis and J. R. R. Tolkien. She was born in Hove, Sussex....
enhance his macabre appearance. It is said that the Calormenes practice human sacrifice
Human sacrifice
Human sacrifice is the act of killing one or more human beings as part of a religious ritual . Its typology closely parallels the various practices of ritual slaughter of animals and of religious sacrifice in general. Human sacrifice has been practised in various cultures throughout history...
to him. Narnians describe him as a god or a demon
Demon
call - 1347 531 7769 for more infoIn Ancient Near Eastern religions as well as in the Abrahamic traditions, including ancient and medieval Christian demonology, a demon is considered an "unclean spirit" which may cause demonic possession, to be addressed with an act of exorcism...
.
However, it is revealed that many of the Calormene invaders do not really believe in Tash. Together with Shift
Shift (Narnia)
Shift is a fictional character in the children's fantasy series The Chronicles of Narnia by C. S. Lewis. He is the main antagonist of The Last Battle, which is the last book of the series.Shift is an ape who, like many animals in Lewis' work, can talk...
the scheming ape, Ginger the duplicitous cat and other treacherous Narnians, they concoct a story that Aslan and Tash are the same person, also known as Tashlan. Many (but not all) Narnians see that this as ridiculous, given Aslan's and Tash's antithetical natures, but are powerless to contradict the Calormene soldiers. Sending dissenters 'to meet Tashlan' in Puzzle's stable is meant to be a way to secretly murder troublemakers. But one Calormene soldier, Emeth
Emeth
Emeth is a Calormene character from C. S. Lewis's book The Last Battle . As a Calormene, Emeth was raised to follow Tash, the antithesis of Aslan, and did so with an emphatic devotion and loyalty...
, is so devout that he insists on going in to meet Tash, and vanishes into Aslan's Country (after killing the man with a sword in the stable meant to murder aforesaid troublemakers). Ginger finds Tash inside the stable, and is terrified into losing the power of speech. When Shift is thrown in, Tash appears and devours him. Finally, the Narnian King Tirian
Tirian
King Tirian is a fictional character from C. S. Lewis's fantasy series The Chronicles of Narnia. He is the protagonist of The Last Battle, in which he is the last King of Narnia, who has to defend his kingdom against subversion and invasion. He is well respected by the Narnians, and a skilled...
and Calormene warlord Rishda Tarkaan confront Tash. Tash seizes Rishda for having summoned him to Narnia, and is then banished by the command of High King Peter
Peter Pevensie
Peter Pevensie is a major fictional character in the children's fantasy series The Chronicles of Narnia by C. S. Lewis. Peter appears in four of the seven books; as a child and a principal character in The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe and Prince Caspian, and as an adult in The Horse and His Boy...
and the name of Aslan.
Emeth, who expects Tash to smite unbelievers with heavenly fire, goes searching for Tash in Aslan's Country, but instead meets Aslan. It is revealed that Aslan and Tash are opposites, which each acting as antithesis to the other. Aslan tells Emeth that 'all the service thou hast done to Tash, I accept as service done to me' and further explains 'no service which is vile can be done to me, and none which is not vile can be done to him'. He explains that Emeth's pious devotion was really to Aslan, rather than to Tash, although Emeth had not been aware of this, and Emeth finds great happiness in this revelation.