NCERT Textbook: Glossary (Introduction to Indian Art) | Old & New NCERTs for IAS Preparation (Must Read) - UPSC PDF Download

 Page 1


AN INTRODUCTION TO INDIAN ART 126
GLOSSARY
Agate A fine-grained variegated chalcedony, its
colours arranged in stripes, blended in clouds,
or showing moss like forms
Amalaka Ribbed, lenticular or globoid part resembling the
amalaka (Indian gooseberry fruit) crowning the
top of the North Indian style shikhara
Anda Semi-circular dome
Arabesque An ornamental design consisting of intertwined
flowing lines, leaves and flowers
Ardhmandap Semi-hall in front of the temple
Ashtadikpalas Guardians of the eight directions
Ayudhas Weapons
Batter Slope in the wall
Bosses Circular embossed decorations, usually in stone
of contrasting colours located on either side of
an arch and within the spandrels
Burin A pointed tool of flint or stone with a transverse
edge made by the removal of one or more flakes.
Used for working bone, antler, and ivory, and,
perhaps, for engraving
CE Common Era, replacing AD or Anno Domini
(after the birth of Christ)
Calligraphy The art of producing decorative handwriting
Caturasra Square
Chhatra Umbrella like structure on top of the stupa
Chhatri Cupola resting on four pillars with a dome or
pyramid-shaped roof
Chahar Bagh A square, walled garden divided into four by
intersecting water channels
Chaitya Arch Semi-circular arch with pointed tip in the centre
towards the top
Chaitya Place of congregation and worship
Chakra Wheel
Chamfer To cut off the edge or corner, thereby increasing
the number of sides
Chert A flint like material, usually black or dark
brown in colour. Although it has a conchoidal
fracture like flint it is not so fine-textured
Chevron Patterning V- shaped patterns
Corbel The stone or wooden bracket laid horizontally
to support a cornice or an arch
Page 2


AN INTRODUCTION TO INDIAN ART 126
GLOSSARY
Agate A fine-grained variegated chalcedony, its
colours arranged in stripes, blended in clouds,
or showing moss like forms
Amalaka Ribbed, lenticular or globoid part resembling the
amalaka (Indian gooseberry fruit) crowning the
top of the North Indian style shikhara
Anda Semi-circular dome
Arabesque An ornamental design consisting of intertwined
flowing lines, leaves and flowers
Ardhmandap Semi-hall in front of the temple
Ashtadikpalas Guardians of the eight directions
Ayudhas Weapons
Batter Slope in the wall
Bosses Circular embossed decorations, usually in stone
of contrasting colours located on either side of
an arch and within the spandrels
Burin A pointed tool of flint or stone with a transverse
edge made by the removal of one or more flakes.
Used for working bone, antler, and ivory, and,
perhaps, for engraving
CE Common Era, replacing AD or Anno Domini
(after the birth of Christ)
Calligraphy The art of producing decorative handwriting
Caturasra Square
Chhatra Umbrella like structure on top of the stupa
Chhatri Cupola resting on four pillars with a dome or
pyramid-shaped roof
Chahar Bagh A square, walled garden divided into four by
intersecting water channels
Chaitya Arch Semi-circular arch with pointed tip in the centre
towards the top
Chaitya Place of congregation and worship
Chakra Wheel
Chamfer To cut off the edge or corner, thereby increasing
the number of sides
Chert A flint like material, usually black or dark
brown in colour. Although it has a conchoidal
fracture like flint it is not so fine-textured
Chevron Patterning V- shaped patterns
Corbel The stone or wooden bracket laid horizontally
to support a cornice or an arch
GLOSSARY 127
Cornice A moulded roof-line
Crystal A high quality, clear, colourless glass or an
object, especially a vessel or ornament, made
of such glass
Dado panel Lower part of the interior wall when it is finished
differently from the rest of the wall. Some
excellent examples are Jamali Kamali tomb in
Mehrauli and Turkish Sultan’s palace in
Fatehpur Sikri, Agra
Dargah Shrine of a Sufi saint, where the saint’s grave
called mazar is located
Dhammachakrapravartan First sermon by Buddha at Sarnath near
Varanasi
Dravid People, culture, language and architectural
style of South India
Dressed stone Stone which is cut to size and polished
Encaustic tile work Inlay in ceramics
Faience Blue-coloured artificial glass-like material.
Faience was used in a variety of ornaments and
pieces of jewellery
Gahapati Big land-owner or big farmer involved in farming
and trade
Garbhgriha Sanctum sanctorum
Gopuram Main gateway; the storeyed structure over the
entrance or entrances through the enclosing
walls to the premises of a temple, palace, or city
Hamam Turkish public bath for massage and sauna
Harmika Small square fencing about the anda or semi-
circular  dome of stupa
Imam The person who leads a Muslim congregation
in prayers. Over a passage of time this position
became hereditary
Intaglio The process of cutting a design into the surface
of a small hard stone or gem
Jagmohan Rectangular or square hall in front of sanctuary
or main temple
Jali Ornamental, perforated lattice screens with
arabesques, star motifs and other geometric
designs such as pentagons, hexagons, octagons
and circles
Jasper A variety of quartz that may be red, yellow or
brown; long used for jewellery and
ornamentation
Jataka Stories of the previous births of Buddha
Jati Caste
Page 3


AN INTRODUCTION TO INDIAN ART 126
GLOSSARY
Agate A fine-grained variegated chalcedony, its
colours arranged in stripes, blended in clouds,
or showing moss like forms
Amalaka Ribbed, lenticular or globoid part resembling the
amalaka (Indian gooseberry fruit) crowning the
top of the North Indian style shikhara
Anda Semi-circular dome
Arabesque An ornamental design consisting of intertwined
flowing lines, leaves and flowers
Ardhmandap Semi-hall in front of the temple
Ashtadikpalas Guardians of the eight directions
Ayudhas Weapons
Batter Slope in the wall
Bosses Circular embossed decorations, usually in stone
of contrasting colours located on either side of
an arch and within the spandrels
Burin A pointed tool of flint or stone with a transverse
edge made by the removal of one or more flakes.
Used for working bone, antler, and ivory, and,
perhaps, for engraving
CE Common Era, replacing AD or Anno Domini
(after the birth of Christ)
Calligraphy The art of producing decorative handwriting
Caturasra Square
Chhatra Umbrella like structure on top of the stupa
Chhatri Cupola resting on four pillars with a dome or
pyramid-shaped roof
Chahar Bagh A square, walled garden divided into four by
intersecting water channels
Chaitya Arch Semi-circular arch with pointed tip in the centre
towards the top
Chaitya Place of congregation and worship
Chakra Wheel
Chamfer To cut off the edge or corner, thereby increasing
the number of sides
Chert A flint like material, usually black or dark
brown in colour. Although it has a conchoidal
fracture like flint it is not so fine-textured
Chevron Patterning V- shaped patterns
Corbel The stone or wooden bracket laid horizontally
to support a cornice or an arch
GLOSSARY 127
Cornice A moulded roof-line
Crystal A high quality, clear, colourless glass or an
object, especially a vessel or ornament, made
of such glass
Dado panel Lower part of the interior wall when it is finished
differently from the rest of the wall. Some
excellent examples are Jamali Kamali tomb in
Mehrauli and Turkish Sultan’s palace in
Fatehpur Sikri, Agra
Dargah Shrine of a Sufi saint, where the saint’s grave
called mazar is located
Dhammachakrapravartan First sermon by Buddha at Sarnath near
Varanasi
Dravid People, culture, language and architectural
style of South India
Dressed stone Stone which is cut to size and polished
Encaustic tile work Inlay in ceramics
Faience Blue-coloured artificial glass-like material.
Faience was used in a variety of ornaments and
pieces of jewellery
Gahapati Big land-owner or big farmer involved in farming
and trade
Garbhgriha Sanctum sanctorum
Gopuram Main gateway; the storeyed structure over the
entrance or entrances through the enclosing
walls to the premises of a temple, palace, or city
Hamam Turkish public bath for massage and sauna
Harmika Small square fencing about the anda or semi-
circular  dome of stupa
Imam The person who leads a Muslim congregation
in prayers. Over a passage of time this position
became hereditary
Intaglio The process of cutting a design into the surface
of a small hard stone or gem
Jagmohan Rectangular or square hall in front of sanctuary
or main temple
Jali Ornamental, perforated lattice screens with
arabesques, star motifs and other geometric
designs such as pentagons, hexagons, octagons
and circles
Jasper A variety of quartz that may be red, yellow or
brown; long used for jewellery and
ornamentation
Jataka Stories of the previous births of Buddha
Jati Caste
AN INTRODUCTION TO INDIAN ART 128
Kalash Wide-mouthed pot; ornamental pot-design
decorating the shikhara
Keystone A central stone at the summit of an arch
Kos minar Distance marker or milestone in the shape and
size of a tower
Kuta A shrine of square plan
Lapis lazuli A rich blue semi-precious stone sometimes
flecked with gold. The main source in the
ancient world was the mountains of
Badakshan, northern Afghanistan, from where
it was traded widely. Lapis lazuli was used as
inlay in ornaments, jewellery, seals, etc.
Linga Phallus, the form in which Lord Shiva is being
worshipped
Mahamandapa Big hall in front of the temple
Mahaparinibban Death of Lord Buddha
Mandap Hall
Maqbara Mausoleum or tomb
Mastak Head
Medallion Circular discs in the spandrels of arches
decorated with motifs or calligraphy
Medhi Cylindrical drum
Mihrab Prayer niche indicating the direction of Mecca
Mimbar Stepped pulpit in the Jama Masjid or Friday
mosque from where the Khutba was read
Mukhlinga Phallus with face
Multiple foliations Many curves in an arch
Nagara North Indian style temple architecture
Naqqar khana Drum house from where ceremonial music was
played which was usually situated over the gate.
It was a popular feature in Mughal palace-
complexes
Natyamandapa Dancing hall in front part of the temple
or Rangmandapa
Panchayatana Main temple surrounded by four sub-shrines
in each corner
Pathan architecture Austere style of architecture favoured by the
Khalji rulers in Delhi who were considered
Afghans
Pendentive A triangular bracket in the angle of two walls,
connecting the base of the dome to its
supporting arches
Pietra-dura Pictorial mosaic work using semi-precious
stones. Found on walls, cenotaphs and marble
jalis in the Taj Mahal
Page 4


AN INTRODUCTION TO INDIAN ART 126
GLOSSARY
Agate A fine-grained variegated chalcedony, its
colours arranged in stripes, blended in clouds,
or showing moss like forms
Amalaka Ribbed, lenticular or globoid part resembling the
amalaka (Indian gooseberry fruit) crowning the
top of the North Indian style shikhara
Anda Semi-circular dome
Arabesque An ornamental design consisting of intertwined
flowing lines, leaves and flowers
Ardhmandap Semi-hall in front of the temple
Ashtadikpalas Guardians of the eight directions
Ayudhas Weapons
Batter Slope in the wall
Bosses Circular embossed decorations, usually in stone
of contrasting colours located on either side of
an arch and within the spandrels
Burin A pointed tool of flint or stone with a transverse
edge made by the removal of one or more flakes.
Used for working bone, antler, and ivory, and,
perhaps, for engraving
CE Common Era, replacing AD or Anno Domini
(after the birth of Christ)
Calligraphy The art of producing decorative handwriting
Caturasra Square
Chhatra Umbrella like structure on top of the stupa
Chhatri Cupola resting on four pillars with a dome or
pyramid-shaped roof
Chahar Bagh A square, walled garden divided into four by
intersecting water channels
Chaitya Arch Semi-circular arch with pointed tip in the centre
towards the top
Chaitya Place of congregation and worship
Chakra Wheel
Chamfer To cut off the edge or corner, thereby increasing
the number of sides
Chert A flint like material, usually black or dark
brown in colour. Although it has a conchoidal
fracture like flint it is not so fine-textured
Chevron Patterning V- shaped patterns
Corbel The stone or wooden bracket laid horizontally
to support a cornice or an arch
GLOSSARY 127
Cornice A moulded roof-line
Crystal A high quality, clear, colourless glass or an
object, especially a vessel or ornament, made
of such glass
Dado panel Lower part of the interior wall when it is finished
differently from the rest of the wall. Some
excellent examples are Jamali Kamali tomb in
Mehrauli and Turkish Sultan’s palace in
Fatehpur Sikri, Agra
Dargah Shrine of a Sufi saint, where the saint’s grave
called mazar is located
Dhammachakrapravartan First sermon by Buddha at Sarnath near
Varanasi
Dravid People, culture, language and architectural
style of South India
Dressed stone Stone which is cut to size and polished
Encaustic tile work Inlay in ceramics
Faience Blue-coloured artificial glass-like material.
Faience was used in a variety of ornaments and
pieces of jewellery
Gahapati Big land-owner or big farmer involved in farming
and trade
Garbhgriha Sanctum sanctorum
Gopuram Main gateway; the storeyed structure over the
entrance or entrances through the enclosing
walls to the premises of a temple, palace, or city
Hamam Turkish public bath for massage and sauna
Harmika Small square fencing about the anda or semi-
circular  dome of stupa
Imam The person who leads a Muslim congregation
in prayers. Over a passage of time this position
became hereditary
Intaglio The process of cutting a design into the surface
of a small hard stone or gem
Jagmohan Rectangular or square hall in front of sanctuary
or main temple
Jali Ornamental, perforated lattice screens with
arabesques, star motifs and other geometric
designs such as pentagons, hexagons, octagons
and circles
Jasper A variety of quartz that may be red, yellow or
brown; long used for jewellery and
ornamentation
Jataka Stories of the previous births of Buddha
Jati Caste
AN INTRODUCTION TO INDIAN ART 128
Kalash Wide-mouthed pot; ornamental pot-design
decorating the shikhara
Keystone A central stone at the summit of an arch
Kos minar Distance marker or milestone in the shape and
size of a tower
Kuta A shrine of square plan
Lapis lazuli A rich blue semi-precious stone sometimes
flecked with gold. The main source in the
ancient world was the mountains of
Badakshan, northern Afghanistan, from where
it was traded widely. Lapis lazuli was used as
inlay in ornaments, jewellery, seals, etc.
Linga Phallus, the form in which Lord Shiva is being
worshipped
Mahamandapa Big hall in front of the temple
Mahaparinibban Death of Lord Buddha
Mandap Hall
Maqbara Mausoleum or tomb
Mastak Head
Medallion Circular discs in the spandrels of arches
decorated with motifs or calligraphy
Medhi Cylindrical drum
Mihrab Prayer niche indicating the direction of Mecca
Mimbar Stepped pulpit in the Jama Masjid or Friday
mosque from where the Khutba was read
Mukhlinga Phallus with face
Multiple foliations Many curves in an arch
Nagara North Indian style temple architecture
Naqqar khana Drum house from where ceremonial music was
played which was usually situated over the gate.
It was a popular feature in Mughal palace-
complexes
Natyamandapa Dancing hall in front part of the temple
or Rangmandapa
Panchayatana Main temple surrounded by four sub-shrines
in each corner
Pathan architecture Austere style of architecture favoured by the
Khalji rulers in Delhi who were considered
Afghans
Pendentive A triangular bracket in the angle of two walls,
connecting the base of the dome to its
supporting arches
Pietra-dura Pictorial mosaic work using semi-precious
stones. Found on walls, cenotaphs and marble
jalis in the Taj Mahal
GLOSSARY 129
Polychrome An object or a work composed of or decorated in
many colours
Pradakshina Circumambulation
Qibla Liwan The wall of the mosque in the direction of Mecca
Qila-i Kuhna Masjid Built by Humayun or Sher Shah between 1530
and 1545, it is located inside Purana Qila in
Delhi
Quartz A variety of stone found in many parts of the
world and variously used for toolmaking and in
ceremonial contexts. Varieties of quartz include
agate, chalcedony, chert, flint, opal and rock
crystal
Rekhaprasad or This type of temple has square shikhar at the
Latina base and its walls curve slowly inward towards
the top
Rupkar Artisan
Sabha Mandapa Assembly hall
Saracenic A style of architecture popular with Muslims in
West Asia particularly from the eleventh to the
fourteenth century
Sarai Dharamshala or a traveller’s lodge
Shala ayatasara Elliptical
Shikhar Superstructure above the garbhagriha in the
north Indian style of temple
Shilpa texts Ancient Indian texts/manuals describing the
elements and principles of art and architecture
to be practised by artists
Shilpi Artisan
Shraman A Buddhist sect, followers of which use to
wander from place to place
Sovereignty The authority of a ruler/state to govern himself/
itself absolutely independently
Spandrels The almost triangular space between two sides
of the outer curves of an arch and a rectangular
enclosure
Squinch An arch spanning the corners of a square
chamber and acting as support for a dome
Steatite A greyish or greenish stone which is generally
soft and can easily be worked to make figurines,
vessels, seals and other objects
Stellate Arch nets arranged in a radiating pattern like
that of a star
Page 5


AN INTRODUCTION TO INDIAN ART 126
GLOSSARY
Agate A fine-grained variegated chalcedony, its
colours arranged in stripes, blended in clouds,
or showing moss like forms
Amalaka Ribbed, lenticular or globoid part resembling the
amalaka (Indian gooseberry fruit) crowning the
top of the North Indian style shikhara
Anda Semi-circular dome
Arabesque An ornamental design consisting of intertwined
flowing lines, leaves and flowers
Ardhmandap Semi-hall in front of the temple
Ashtadikpalas Guardians of the eight directions
Ayudhas Weapons
Batter Slope in the wall
Bosses Circular embossed decorations, usually in stone
of contrasting colours located on either side of
an arch and within the spandrels
Burin A pointed tool of flint or stone with a transverse
edge made by the removal of one or more flakes.
Used for working bone, antler, and ivory, and,
perhaps, for engraving
CE Common Era, replacing AD or Anno Domini
(after the birth of Christ)
Calligraphy The art of producing decorative handwriting
Caturasra Square
Chhatra Umbrella like structure on top of the stupa
Chhatri Cupola resting on four pillars with a dome or
pyramid-shaped roof
Chahar Bagh A square, walled garden divided into four by
intersecting water channels
Chaitya Arch Semi-circular arch with pointed tip in the centre
towards the top
Chaitya Place of congregation and worship
Chakra Wheel
Chamfer To cut off the edge or corner, thereby increasing
the number of sides
Chert A flint like material, usually black or dark
brown in colour. Although it has a conchoidal
fracture like flint it is not so fine-textured
Chevron Patterning V- shaped patterns
Corbel The stone or wooden bracket laid horizontally
to support a cornice or an arch
GLOSSARY 127
Cornice A moulded roof-line
Crystal A high quality, clear, colourless glass or an
object, especially a vessel or ornament, made
of such glass
Dado panel Lower part of the interior wall when it is finished
differently from the rest of the wall. Some
excellent examples are Jamali Kamali tomb in
Mehrauli and Turkish Sultan’s palace in
Fatehpur Sikri, Agra
Dargah Shrine of a Sufi saint, where the saint’s grave
called mazar is located
Dhammachakrapravartan First sermon by Buddha at Sarnath near
Varanasi
Dravid People, culture, language and architectural
style of South India
Dressed stone Stone which is cut to size and polished
Encaustic tile work Inlay in ceramics
Faience Blue-coloured artificial glass-like material.
Faience was used in a variety of ornaments and
pieces of jewellery
Gahapati Big land-owner or big farmer involved in farming
and trade
Garbhgriha Sanctum sanctorum
Gopuram Main gateway; the storeyed structure over the
entrance or entrances through the enclosing
walls to the premises of a temple, palace, or city
Hamam Turkish public bath for massage and sauna
Harmika Small square fencing about the anda or semi-
circular  dome of stupa
Imam The person who leads a Muslim congregation
in prayers. Over a passage of time this position
became hereditary
Intaglio The process of cutting a design into the surface
of a small hard stone or gem
Jagmohan Rectangular or square hall in front of sanctuary
or main temple
Jali Ornamental, perforated lattice screens with
arabesques, star motifs and other geometric
designs such as pentagons, hexagons, octagons
and circles
Jasper A variety of quartz that may be red, yellow or
brown; long used for jewellery and
ornamentation
Jataka Stories of the previous births of Buddha
Jati Caste
AN INTRODUCTION TO INDIAN ART 128
Kalash Wide-mouthed pot; ornamental pot-design
decorating the shikhara
Keystone A central stone at the summit of an arch
Kos minar Distance marker or milestone in the shape and
size of a tower
Kuta A shrine of square plan
Lapis lazuli A rich blue semi-precious stone sometimes
flecked with gold. The main source in the
ancient world was the mountains of
Badakshan, northern Afghanistan, from where
it was traded widely. Lapis lazuli was used as
inlay in ornaments, jewellery, seals, etc.
Linga Phallus, the form in which Lord Shiva is being
worshipped
Mahamandapa Big hall in front of the temple
Mahaparinibban Death of Lord Buddha
Mandap Hall
Maqbara Mausoleum or tomb
Mastak Head
Medallion Circular discs in the spandrels of arches
decorated with motifs or calligraphy
Medhi Cylindrical drum
Mihrab Prayer niche indicating the direction of Mecca
Mimbar Stepped pulpit in the Jama Masjid or Friday
mosque from where the Khutba was read
Mukhlinga Phallus with face
Multiple foliations Many curves in an arch
Nagara North Indian style temple architecture
Naqqar khana Drum house from where ceremonial music was
played which was usually situated over the gate.
It was a popular feature in Mughal palace-
complexes
Natyamandapa Dancing hall in front part of the temple
or Rangmandapa
Panchayatana Main temple surrounded by four sub-shrines
in each corner
Pathan architecture Austere style of architecture favoured by the
Khalji rulers in Delhi who were considered
Afghans
Pendentive A triangular bracket in the angle of two walls,
connecting the base of the dome to its
supporting arches
Pietra-dura Pictorial mosaic work using semi-precious
stones. Found on walls, cenotaphs and marble
jalis in the Taj Mahal
GLOSSARY 129
Polychrome An object or a work composed of or decorated in
many colours
Pradakshina Circumambulation
Qibla Liwan The wall of the mosque in the direction of Mecca
Qila-i Kuhna Masjid Built by Humayun or Sher Shah between 1530
and 1545, it is located inside Purana Qila in
Delhi
Quartz A variety of stone found in many parts of the
world and variously used for toolmaking and in
ceremonial contexts. Varieties of quartz include
agate, chalcedony, chert, flint, opal and rock
crystal
Rekhaprasad or This type of temple has square shikhar at the
Latina base and its walls curve slowly inward towards
the top
Rupkar Artisan
Sabha Mandapa Assembly hall
Saracenic A style of architecture popular with Muslims in
West Asia particularly from the eleventh to the
fourteenth century
Sarai Dharamshala or a traveller’s lodge
Shala ayatasara Elliptical
Shikhar Superstructure above the garbhagriha in the
north Indian style of temple
Shilpa texts Ancient Indian texts/manuals describing the
elements and principles of art and architecture
to be practised by artists
Shilpi Artisan
Shraman A Buddhist sect, followers of which use to
wander from place to place
Sovereignty The authority of a ruler/state to govern himself/
itself absolutely independently
Spandrels The almost triangular space between two sides
of the outer curves of an arch and a rectangular
enclosure
Squinch An arch spanning the corners of a square
chamber and acting as support for a dome
Steatite A greyish or greenish stone which is generally
soft and can easily be worked to make figurines,
vessels, seals and other objects
Stellate Arch nets arranged in a radiating pattern like
that of a star
AN INTRODUCTION TO INDIAN ART 130
Sthapati Architect
Stupa A mound like structure containing relics of a
monk worshipped by the Buddhists
Sutradhara Chief artisan
Suzerainty A sovereign/state having some control over
another ruler/state who/that is internally
autonomous
Tablet A regularly shaped, separate panel, or a
representation thereof, often bearing an
inscription or image
Terracotta Literally, ‘baked earth’ mainly used to refer to
fairly coarse, porous clay that, when fired,
assumes a colour ranging from dull ochre to
red
Tessellation Decoration on walls and floors with mosaic
Torans Carved, serpentine-shaped ceremonial
gateways
Trefoil Three curves in an arch
Turquoise A semi-precious stone, sky blue to pale green
in colour, highly prized for its use in jewellery
by many ancient cultures
Valabhi Sub-type of nagara temple
Vang Ancient name of the Bengal region
Varna Four-fold division of the society based on
profession i.e. Brahmana, Kshatriya, Vaishya,
Shudra during ancient India
Vesara Term used for the independent style of the
temple during the time of the Chalukyas of
Karnataka. It consists of a combination of the
northern and southern styles
Vihara Place of residence of Buddhist monk
Vijanain Temples having a rectangular building with a
roof that rises into a vaulted chamber
Viman Superstructure over the shrine in the south
Indian temples
Volute A scroll or spiral ornament on a pillar
Voussoir A wedge-shaped or tapered stone used to
construct an arch
Vritta Circular
Yakshas/Yakshanis Demi-gods and demi-goddesses