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Trying to figure out names and such for my Iron hands squads and I just thought it miiiiiight help if I knew what culture/mythology they borrow from.

Anyone out there that knows?

Apple fanboys. They will cut their own limbs to get the new shiny gadget. They worship technology.

lmao, in the grim darkness of the far future, 'apple black' is the new 'apple white'

Greek I think.

Their cultural referances aren't as strong because of the emphasis on technology in their background, but Greek is a good guess given that their homeworld is Medusa.

They fit cyberpunk 2020 better than ancient greece

Some possibility for sparta though.

Iron was a major theme in sparta. They even used it as money.

Borg

Transhumanism (seriously, look up H+ sometime).

I'd second Sparta as a reasonable thematic influence as well. The desire to rid themselves of the weak and infirm, medusa as a homeworld, warrior caste/cult.

You could even make a case for servitors and the like meshing in well as the Helots from Sparta.

It's tough because they are self loathing technofiles (but badass self-loathing technofiles).

It's like they are based on emo computer geek culture (yes I'm joking).

The Iron Hands are not really based on any culture, but their names are usually either Greek or Greek-sounding.

Really? And here I thought Raukaan etc sounded almost Finish! xD

Italian Futurism of the 1920s

The 10th apparently came from Albia on Earth, which would imply England. Some aspects do make me think of punk rock England and 'heavy metal' cartoons.

Various facets are definitely greek mythology/Sparta. Ferrus does come off sounding a bit like Heracles on some levels and 'only the strong survive' is very Sparta.

Heracles had his twelve labors, going around fighting monsters, lifting the heavens, etc. Ferrus spends part of his 'youth' wandering Medusa slaying monsters, mastering the 'amazons' (the clans of Medusa), lifts a mountain range (according to legend, similar to Heracles and the rocks of Gibraltar or holding the heavens for Atlas).

Ferrus is also called the Gorgon

Their home planet is Medusa

They have plenty of greek named Marines

Definitely Anciet Greece with a few other things in the mix

 Maniac_nmt wrote:
The 10th apparently came from Albia on Earth, which would imply England. Some aspects do make me think of punk rock England and 'heavy metal' cartoons.

Good catch. British workers' culture probably factors in, too.

As for the musical edge, I'd say they draw both from Metal and german Industrial/EBM. The minimalistic black on white iconography of the legion/chapter remind me of the clean-cut, stylized logos of a host of EBM bands.

Various facets are definitely greek mythology/Sparta. Ferrus does come off sounding a bit like Heracles on some levels and 'only the strong survive' is very Sparta.

Heracles had his twelve labors, going around fighting monsters, lifting the heavens, etc. Ferrus spends part of his 'youth' wandering Medusa slaying monsters, mastering the 'amazons' (the clans of Medusa), lifts a mountain range (according to legend, similar to Heracles and the rocks of Gibraltar or holding the heavens for Atlas).

Yet, this emphasis on classic mythology is taken from a modern, romantic prism. That's why I mentioned the Italian futurists, which blended their appreciation for classic roman and greek culture with a borderline unhealthy obsession with strenght and an almost religious devotion to the machine as a paragon of strenght, purity and righteousness of purpose.

Another intriguing aspect are the art deco motifs etched on some of their Heresy era vehicles. Similar motifs are usually found as well in Objectivist (which share some traits with futurism, truth be told) imagery, so one is left to wonder if Ayn Rand and her semi-darwinistic views on man and society influenced the Iron Hands' backstory.

BTW, Ferrus Manus' current (FW) miniature has (at least to me) an astounding similarity to Roman Emperor Augustus...

Oh I don't disagree on the futurist idea behind them. It is marrying grecco/roman themes with more modern concepts.

I know the thread is LOOOONG dead, but still...

They have Greek and Roman names all over their people and places, but their appearance is like that of Serbian - pale/olive skin with thick, dark hair (which has ties to Greeks in history). Their clan lifestyle and refusing to embrace the structure of imperial chapter design is akin to Scots. Really they are the mutts.

 brassangel wrote:
I know the thread is LOOOONG dead, but still...

They have Greek and Roman names all over their people and places, but their appearance is like that of Serbian - pale/olive skin with thick, dark hair (which has ties to Greeks in history). Their clan lifestyle and refusing to embrace the structure of imperial chapter design is akin to Scots. Really they are the mutts.

While this thread has in fact been an interesting read, honestly have to wonder how you found it after an over six year break from the last post until yours.

Thread is being locked due to thread necromancy.