Ithaka

Galaxy Portal

Map	Basic Data		Planetary Image
	Name:	Ithaka
	Segmentum:	Unknown
	Sector:	Unknown
	Subsector:	Unknown
	System:	Unknown
	Population:	Unknown
	Affiliation:	Imperium
	Class:	Adeptus Astartes Homeworld
	Tithe Grade:	Adeptus Non

Ithaka (also called the Cradle of Snakes) is an Ocean World and the homeworld of the Iron Snakes Space Marines Chapter^1a. The chapter's Fortress-monastery occupies Ithaka's orbiting moon of Karybdis^1b.

Though primarily oceanic, Ithaka does, however, possess significant landmass, including tropical islands^1c and viciously cold polar regions^1d.

The water from its oceans is considered sacred, and is carried by the Chapter to anoint every planet that they step foot on, in what is called the Rite of the Giving of Water^1e. When those marines return home, what remains is given back to Ithaka^1f.

Ithaka's oceans are home to a variety of sea-life, including the giant Water-Wyrms. A Kraretyer, or mature male, can grow up to three hundred metres in length^1g. The Chapter uses these Wyrms for hunting exercises for its initiates^1h, and in the judicial ritual known as oethanar¹ⁱ. These marine serpents can cause retyarion (or Wyrm-storm), ferocious squalls that seem to follow their movements. A retyarion also causes seunenae, called the folding walls of iron, giant waves that would rise out in the deep waters and come crashing in kilometres high^1j.

Trivia

Ithaca, sometimes spelled Ithaka, is an island that is a part of Greece. It is suspected, though not confirmed, to be the same Ithaca that Odysseus, the central character of Homer's Odyssey, was from.

Charybdis was one of the obstacles Odysseus had to face on his journey home.

Sources

• ¹Brothers of the Snake (Novel) by Dan Abnett
  • a: Part Five:I
  • b: Part Five:II
  • c: Part Seven:I-II
  • d: Part Seven:V
  • e: Part Two:I
  • f: Part Five:I, VII
  • g: Part Five:VI
  • h: Part Three:III
  • i: Part Five:III
  • j: Part Five:V