Alicorns not Goddesses?

[Jammo 986]

Is it just me or are Celestia and Luna more akin to archangels or demigoddesses than actual deities? I always looked as Celestia as the chosen head of Equestria with Luna serving as her back-up, with Cadence and Twilight being ascended ponies on the level of lesser angels. Am I the only one who feels Celestia may have ascended from a pony. A very, very long time ago of course and her size means she's ascended higher than any other in her nation?

 

I think there's a higher force than Celestia. A hands off creator who uses Alicorns as their heads for the ponies. Maybe a whole pantheon with others in charge of griffons, dragons etc. A dragon god could have a more survival of the fittest mentality so his/her children don't need a dragon alicorn equivalent. Each has their own law and system for their races.

[XxConfusedUnicornxX 834]

 

Yeah the picture sums it up.

[~Silver Essence~ 2,625]

Despite the royalty and responsibilities, they are more like well respected presidents due to their kind and respected actions towards ponyville.

 

So I say it's just a higher rank of respect.

[Jammo 986]

Well yeah of course nobody knows I'm just hoping this theory can get a good discussion going.

Theories are fun.

[Scootalove 10,689]

I didn't think they were goddesses to begin with, it's not like Luna and Celestia were based off of mythology at all. It's not like the kids pay attention to see if they are goddesses at all, if they were based on mythology then they would be goddesses. They are extremely magical and powerful.

Edited February 22, 2014 by Scootalove

[zev_zev The outcast 416]

Celestia and Luna obviously goddess. Cadence and Twilight is not.

[Puddlejumper 1,649]

Nah, not goddesses. Just very powerful beings. They all (alicorns) either evolved from unicorns after performing some special feat, or Celestia and Luna are the originals that actually do have a purpose with the whole raising of the sun/moon thing.

 

Though I've always wondered about that. I mean, did they perform those tasks when Discord ruled over the land? There is just too much darkness hiding the unknown about their past.

[NavelColt 22,883]

Lauren's stated several times that Celestia and Luna are not goddesses or deities or anything of that nature, by extension showing that alicorns in general aren't either. Unless the show goes out of its way to change that it's still worth considering canon.

 

-->http://www.equestriadaily.com/2013/05/lauren-faust-q-part-2.html

Q: Also, are they gods in your book?
A: No, but extremely magical and powerful.

 

As far as a greater force using alicorns as figureheads, that's an interesting idea.

[GONEFOREVER 518]

You have to remember that this show was originally crafted for 4-6 year old girls. I'm fairly certain that the creators were less focused on deities and designed them as princesses just for that age group.

[jaime_lion 56]

In my view, now this is just my head cannon. But i view them as not gods perse but enlightened beings that have chosen to stay in this plain of existence to help other ponies realize enlightenment and escape Samsara. A kind of Bodhisattva from Buddhism if you will.

[Discordian 6,018]

If Madame Faust says it is so, then it is so!

 

Of course, they could still be called goddesses akin to Egyptian or Roman gods and goddesses where they govern and have power over one or two things rather than one god for all things.

[TwilightDreamer 69]

There probably is a higher force watching over and monitoring the land even more so than the princesses. They are not gods or pure supernatural beings, just what people call them as Demigods. The Royal Pony Sisters were born alicorns but they're not among the ranks of all-powerful beings that can bring about true harmony or true destruction  to worlds or lands with an iron fist. They were just doing what they believe is best for their subjects and the land they live in chosen to oversee the well-being of everypony that they encounter as Equestria's princesses. Cadence and Twilight were evolved into alicorns because of great tasks or missions that they've completed out of their own free will, their stokes of curiosity and/or for the good of everypony, what they themselves believe is right in their own original states when they were just ordinary ponies.

 

There is a higher power than the princesses and all of the other possible lords and ladies of not just Equestria but also the world that resides with it but it couldn't possibly be Twilight, Celestia, Luna and/or Cadence. Lauren did mention that they are not goddesses but just ponies who are enlightened supernatural beings that can use their powers and their hearts for the well-being of others or the downfall of anyone that steps in their way. Who knows? Maybe there is a greater being or power that precedes them and everypony else in what you said.

[Nerdy Luigi 2,065]

I'm not so sure. I just think they aren't much like goddesses, but they, in a canon fashion, really are.

[Lightning Bliss 1,674]

Obviously they are capable of living like immortals but I don't think they are restricted in mortality, they can be hurt and they can be restrained. Prehaps they are god like but they aren't.

[Shine 166]

I always thought they were something like the gods of Greek myth.  They have awesome power, but they are not perfect.  Of course, then again, there could be, as you've suggested, a head-god who chooses mortal ponies to become gods.

 

I have no way of explaining Discord, though.  He's not a pony, but he is still like a god.  I wonder if he started off like Celestia and Luna or if he was born/created/came into existence/etc. with his powers.