Ephara

Ephara
God of the Poleis
[[File:{{#setmainimage:Ephara.jpg}}|250px]]
Details
Race	God
Birthplace	Theros
Colors

Ephara is the God of the Polis on Theros. She is associated with white and blue mana.

Description

Ephara is the god of city-states and buildings. She holds a scroll in her right hand and pours a starry Nyxborn liquid from a large non-handled vessel resting on her left shoulder — possibly a pithos of wine or a hydria of water. Ephara represents and presides over any organized state of people, but in particular, she is worshipped in Meletis. Ephara is also the god of industry, civic wisdom, scholarship, religious sculpture, friezes, architecture, societal progress, social philosophy, and the protection and stability of the city.

History

She granted magic to the Meletians to overthrow the evil Archon Agnomakhos. Later in a confrontation amongst gods, Ephara slew the newborn god Cacophony, God of Cities.

At the beginning of the Phyrexian invasion of Theros and the multiverse, Ephara was seen by Elesh Norn defending the plane. She was not one of the three compleated gods. She blessed the defenders of Theros with godfire, a Nyx-infused incendiary substance that burned without fuel.

Gallery

• 

  Ephara, God of the Polis from Secret Lair Drop Series: Theros Stargazing.

Story appearances

Title	Author	Publishing date	Set	Setting (plane)	Featuring
Building Toward a Dream, Part 2	Ken Troop	2013-12-04	Theros	Theros	Kedarick VI, Klytessa, Lara, Udaen, Chelta, Vanin, Mogis, Phenax, Heliod, Ephara, Iroas, Ashiok
The Nature of Identity	Adam Lee	2014-01-15	Born of the Gods	Theros	Perisophia, Kyrios, Samia, Rhytho, Melia, Phelos, Salis, Matatios, Ephara
The Oracle of Ephara	Jeremiah Isgur	2014-03-19	Born of the Gods	Theros	Iris, Alexio, Perisophia, Ephara, Purphoros
Dreams of the City	Ken Troop	2014-04-23	Journey into Nyx	Theros	Cacophony, Euneas, Pollio, Melantha, Xenocrates, Koblios, Ephara, Phenax, Ashiok, Xenagos
March of the Machine - Episode 1: Triumph of the Fleshless	K. Arsenault Rivera	2023-03-15	March of the Machine	New Phyrexia	Elesh Norn, Kaya Cassir, Kaito Shizuki, Himoto, Tyvar Kell, Lukka, Rothga, Ajani Goldmane, Sheoldred, Jace Beleren, Nahiri, Nissa Revane, Tamiyo, Atraxa, Ephara

In-game references

Represented in:

• Ephara, God of the Polis
• Ephara, Ever-Sheltering

Associated cards:

• Ephara's Dispersal
• Ephara's Enlightenment
• Ephara's Radiance
• Ephara's Warden
• Temple of Enlightenment

Depicted in:

• The Birth of Meletis
• Sage of Hours
• Stern Dismissal

Quoted or referred to:

• Copy Land
• Stonewise Fortifier
• Thaumaturge's Familiar
• Urn of Godfire

Inspiration

The character of Ephara is inspired by a partial aspect of Athena, the Greek goddess of civilization, and the city of Athens (traditionally said to be named after her). To further support this analogy, the familiars she sends to her thaumaturges have the shape of owls, animals sacred to Athena. She is portraited with a jar with flowing water on her shoulder, much like the Aquarius, usually associated with Ganymede.

External links

• The Magic Creative Team (January 29, 2014). "The Gods of Born of the Gods". magicthegathering.com. Wizards of the Coast.
• Marshall Sutcliffe (January 29, 2014). "The Gods of Born". magicthegathering.com. Wizards of the Coast.
• Mike McArtor (March 24, 2014). "Born's Gods". magicthegathering.com. Wizards of the Coast.