Hi Everyone,
I'm well into my 3rd draft from my novel and I'm struggling to nail down the titles for a religious caste in a post-apocalyptic world. Some things about the religious caste, they worship the elements in a way (fire, earth, wind, etc.), and are structured similar to the Catholic clergy (e.g., lowly priests up to a pope-type figure), live very long compared to others castes, and they have parental feel to them, or that's what they try to exude, almost acting as mothers/fathers.
To be more specific, it is one class within the hierarchy of this religious caste I'm struggling with. There are only 5 people within this class (so they are very high up - so like cardinal bishops). I currently call them Archons, as they are addressed formally as Matriarch/Patriarchs (similar to the orthodox church).
While I like the idea of formally addressing them as Matriarch/Patriarch, I'm leaning now currently leaning towards having their titles be Bishops or ArchBishops rather than Archons, which having each bishop having special interests of elemental nature. So, for example, since there are 5 positions, each bishops would be called by a color that is associated with an element. For example, Red Bishop would worship the fire element and be interested in trade/industry related to the fire element (foundries, etc.). But what poses are problem is that their are 5 positions and only 4 elements (I know I could fit a 5th element in there - perhaps ether, but I don't want to, that would change the story), so trying to find a color/title for that last bishop may be problematic.
Also, they have no evident magical powers, or do not use them openly, though there are rumors that some of them are sorcerers. So I think changing them to Bishops with an elemental feel (e.g., Red Bishop) might give it more of supernatural feel which I like.
I apologize if I'm getting to deep into it, but thought I should give some reference. So any thought; bishops, archons, archpriests? Any other advice.
Thanks!
I'm well into my 3rd draft from my novel and I'm struggling to nail down the titles for a religious caste in a post-apocalyptic world. Some things about the religious caste, they worship the elements in a way (fire, earth, wind, etc.), and are structured similar to the Catholic clergy (e.g., lowly priests up to a pope-type figure), live very long compared to others castes, and they have parental feel to them, or that's what they try to exude, almost acting as mothers/fathers.
To be more specific, it is one class within the hierarchy of this religious caste I'm struggling with. There are only 5 people within this class (so they are very high up - so like cardinal bishops). I currently call them Archons, as they are addressed formally as Matriarch/Patriarchs (similar to the orthodox church).
While I like the idea of formally addressing them as Matriarch/Patriarch, I'm leaning now currently leaning towards having their titles be Bishops or ArchBishops rather than Archons, which having each bishop having special interests of elemental nature. So, for example, since there are 5 positions, each bishops would be called by a color that is associated with an element. For example, Red Bishop would worship the fire element and be interested in trade/industry related to the fire element (foundries, etc.). But what poses are problem is that their are 5 positions and only 4 elements (I know I could fit a 5th element in there - perhaps ether, but I don't want to, that would change the story), so trying to find a color/title for that last bishop may be problematic.
Also, they have no evident magical powers, or do not use them openly, though there are rumors that some of them are sorcerers. So I think changing them to Bishops with an elemental feel (e.g., Red Bishop) might give it more of supernatural feel which I like.
I apologize if I'm getting to deep into it, but thought I should give some reference. So any thought; bishops, archons, archpriests? Any other advice.
Thanks!
