Pharika

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

Pharika is the God of Affliction on Theros. She is associated with black and green mana.

Description

Pharika, the god worshipped mostly in Setessa's Winter Nexus, is associated with grief and old age. Deadly poison can be healing medicine in small amounts, and this dichotomy is reflected in the god whose province is such tinctures. Pharika is the keeper of apothecary knowledge and the source of dark magic, potions, and poison. She holds a fuming bowl - possibly an apothecary's mortar filled with medicine or poison. She is also the mother of all Gorgons, who are said to have hidden many cures within their blood. Pharika herself is thought to take the form of a gorgon. Prayers to her are usually letters rolled up in ceramics and dumped in bogs. Stories say that the secretive god has hidden medicinal knowledge within the natural world, such as in basilisk blood, although most die trying to learn them.

Story appearances

Title	Author	Publishing date	Set	Setting (plane)	Featuring
The Lost Confession	Jenna Helland	2013-09-11	Theros	Theros	Elspeth Tirel, Ajani Goldmane, Pharika, Koth of the Hammer, Melira, Tezzeret, Elesh Norn, Urabrask, Sheoldred, Karn, Jin-Gitaxias, Venser, Heliod
Cowardice of the Hero	Matt Knicl	2014-01-22	Born of the Gods	Theros	Vinack, Athreos, Heliod, Pharika, Zerili, Mogis

Gallery

• 

  Pharika, God of Affliction from Secret Lair Drop Series: Theros Stargazing.

In-game references

Represented in:

• Pharika, God of Affliction

Associated cards:

• Pharika's Chosen
• Pharika's Cure
• Pharika's Disciple
• Pharika's Libation
• Pharika's Mender
• Pharika's Spawn
• Temple of Malady

Depicted in:

• Extinguish All Hope (Journey into Nyx)
• Extinguish All Hope (Commander Masters, #157)
• Nyx Infusion

Quoted or referred to:

• Aspect of Gorgon
• Asphyxiate
• Lifeblood Hydra
• Moss Viper
• Necrobite
• Squelching Leeches
• Venomous Hierophant
• Viper's Kiss

Inspiration

The character of Pharika is inspired by aspects of several Greek gods, including Hecate, goddess of witchcraft, herbs, and poisonous plants, Circe, goddess of magic and plants, or Asclepius and his son Telesphorus who dealt with medicine and recuperation from illness (the snake is the sacred symbol of Asclepius).

Pharika is also remarkably similar to the Egyptian god Serket, which also represents the dichotomy of poison and cure. She may also be based on Panacea, goddess of salves, droughts, and medicine, and Angitia, a Roman snake goddess of healing, and the Gorgons.

Pharika's name may have been partly taken from the Ancient Greek word φάρμακον (phármakon), which could refer to a curative drug or a poison and is the root of the English word 'pharmacy'.

External links

• The Magic Creative Team (September 04, 2013). "Planeswalker Guide to Theros, Part 3". magicthegathering.com. Wizards of the Coast.
• Jenna Helland (September 11, 2013). "The Lost Confession". magicthegathering.com. Wizards of the Coast.
• The Magic Creative Team (April 02, 2014). "Planeswalker's Guide to Journey into Nyx". magicthegathering.com. Wizards of the Coast.