Severian

CHAPTER II SUMMARY

Severian claims to have perfect memory. He tells of living on Citadel Hill in the city of Nessus. He describes the orphan status of all the apprentices, and how he has made a mausoleum into his own private fort. The symbols above his mausoleum’s Master Malrubius, he was saved by an undine.

armigers (16.5/5) the social class below exhultant and above optimate; they are a fighting class – think samurai from feudal Japan.

optimate (16.5/5) the social class below armigers and above the common folk; they are wealthy traders and such.

Matachin (17.2/8) in our world, it is a masked dancer of Meso-American tradition.

bulkhead (17.2/8) an interior wall that separates the different parts of a ship … wait … isn’t Severian talking about a tower?

volant (17.4/10) a term used in heraldry to describe having wings spread open as in flight, here Severian is indeed describing a heraldric device that features a ship volant, a ship with bulkheads perhaps?

linnets (17.5/11) a small finch-like bird.

cubit (17.5/11) a unit of length measurement approximately equal to eighteen inches.

caracara (17.5/11) a South American scavenging, corpse-eating bird similar to our vulture.

saros (17.6/12) the Babylonian name for a group of 3,600 (usually in reference to years).

flambeau (18.0/12) a torch, often made of a bundle of thick wicks dipped in wax.

Nessus (18.4/16) Now we have a name for where Severian is … at least on the microcosmic scale. Nessus is a major city. In Greek mythology, Nessus is the centaur who exchanged death blows with Heracles.

cacogen (19.1/18) Ancient Greek for “those filthy born,” in Severian’s world it is an ethnic slur for “extrasolarians” or those born off-world.

Urth (19.1/18) And now we have a name for Severian’s world – Urth. In Norse mythology, Urth is the eldest of the sisters who comprise the Norns or the three fates. As the eldest, Urth represents the past.

wildgrave (19.2/19) an armiger title.

burgess (19.2/19) representative a small area or borough in a legislative body. If you grew up in NYC, as a hobbit, or in Naugatuck, Connecticut, you probably already knew this.

chain (19.3/20) a unit of length measurement equaling 100 spans or approximately seventy feet.

nenuphar (19.3/20) a water lily with a wide, colorful flower.

khan (21.10/39) an unfurnished building used to accommodate caravan travelers.

If it wasn't evident before, it is now. Severian is on Earth, or rather, Urth. Where on Urth? The text contains a few hints. Consider the name of the tower where Severian resides and the presence of the caracara. Of course, it is hard to parse out these clues because there are also references to Babylonian calendars, Asian caravans, ancient Greece, and words borrowed from French and Latin.