the origin of "darth vader"

hellhawk · 06-16-2009, 10:28 PM

the name btw, not vader himself

ok! so vader (pronuced with a short a) in german means father... and darth sounds like dark... (who knows it could even mean dark in some other languge.)

so there you go: dark - father.

anyone know if this was intentionel, or just a complete coincidence?

Mav · 06-16-2009, 11:11 PM

I think it becomes quite obvious with a little research, if you take a look at Vader and then you replace the "Vad" with "Skywalk".... huh huh... get it, Skywalker... I think it's quite obvious what Lucas was going for.

***Jeff*** · 06-16-2009, 11:33 PM

All the Sith lords, at least from the movies, have names like this. Sidious, Tyrannus, Maul, etc.

Darth Avlectus · 06-18-2009, 11:12 PM

I do think so, or at least according to the 2005 rolling stone interview. (should not be hard to find, it has the big guy on the front and say cult obsession with vader or the dark side or something like that.)

I think Lucas intended some kind of symbolism throughout the entire series, actually. I can pull it up for you, I suppose. If you're interested. But to answer your question I think that you are dead on.

Also the name Skywalker implies, well, walking in the sky. Sort of heavenly bound perhaps.

Recalling my college classes in english and in anthropology club with the teachers absolutely crazy over this stuff:

Metaphorically speaking: well intended. Heart in the right place even if the head isn't. And the whole idea of Anakin being conceived by midichlorians within Shmi Skywalker's body was akin to stories of greek gods who adulterated earthly women. Their offspring were half human half god.

Look also at the other sith lords' names. They are (for most part) variants on certain words. Which of course the character was supposed to be modeled after. Least as much is so for the movies. Otherwise it pertains to something in their life or origins for others. (IE Legacy era comics, new jedi order era, Old Republic era pre ruusan, etc.)

Tyrannus: Tyrant, Tyranny. While being a face of apparent compassion and strength in leadership. A leader of his word, of competence, he was manipulative and used separatists to his own ends. He actually thought he was doing a service ultimately using the elements causing corruption (trade federation, greivous, etc.) with intent of expending them when of no more use to him. Craved power over legions and people with eventuality of not serving what he saw as a self weakening institution in the republic. Ruloing at the head of it all. Didn't see it coming, his death.

Maul definition: literally is a heavy headded tool for driving wedges and splitting wood. Also a term for vicious fierce biting, like that of an attacking animal.

A brute, Maul was nothing less than a ferocious beast. On the prowl like a predator and attacking as such. Very apt. (Still, I do like his double bladed lightsaber combat form. Ray park was awesome.)

Sidious: see also insidious. In the shadows and elusive. Ominous. Describes him very well as a sith lord, otherwise a senator who became chancellor and cemented himself as emperor.

Miltiades · 06-19-2009, 08:00 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by hellhawk

ok! so vader (pronuced with a short a) in german means father

It's Dutch, not German.

Lord of Hunger · 06-19-2009, 08:34 PM

According to recent studies, the Darth title has recently been revealed as originating from the Rakata Infinite Empire. D'arth was a term for their emperor, but also meant triumph over death or immortal.

It was originally thought that the title was a shortened version of Dark Lord of the Sith, but the revelations of how much of the Infinite Empire's culture was passed down to the Sith discounts this theory.

Darth Avlectus · 06-19-2009, 09:24 PM

^^^ There was a 2005 issue if SW insider (had 4 different covers--mine was the Obey Vader cover) that actually first said that of all sources. However, that had been put into canon recently; before that uncle george had come up with it as a name.

My guess: It was probably decided that the title itself needed an origin within the time line. The irony is that if you read the novelizations of the movies, you will see that the whole time, the sith (debatably) were as far from achieving ture immortality as anyone could get in their quest for it.

Darth_Terros · 06-28-2009, 05:10 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Lord of Hunger

According to recent studies, the Darth title has recently been revealed as originating from the Rakata Infinite Empire. D'arth was a term for their emperor, but also meant triumph over death or immortal.

It was originally thought that the title was a shortened version of Dark Lord of the Sith, but the revelations of how much of the Infinite Empire's culture was passed down to the Sith discounts this theory.

The Rakata word was Daritha, not D'arth.

Darr tah meant Triumph over death.

hellhawk · 08-18-2009, 01:10 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Miltiades

It's Dutch, not German.

are you sure? i heard that from my mom who speaks german

Tommycat · 08-21-2009, 01:36 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by hellhawk

are you sure? i heard that from my mom who speaks german

Miltiades is correct.
Vater is Father in German (pronounced Fah-ter)
Vader is father in Dutch. (pronounced Va-der)

adamqd · 08-23-2009, 01:36 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Darth_Terros

The Rakata word was Daritha, not D'arth.

Darr tah meant Triumph over death.

correct. There are conflicting idea's, but not definitive Proof of the origin of the Darth title, but most recent sources Just say "There are a few Rakatan words that could be the origin, but we aint sure"