Arnom Character Analysis in Till We Have Faces

Arnom becomes the Priest of Ungit when the original Priest dies. Orual is less afraid of him, finding him less drenched in holiness and more relatable. Even before either of them comes to power, she forms an alliance with him that brings the palace and the temple into more harmonious relations during her reign. Arnom becomes a good friend, and he learns from the Fox to speak of Ungit as a symbol of nature and the fertile earth that gives life, taking away the frightening sense of mystery around Ungit that the old Priest cultivated.

Arnom Character Timeline in Till We Have Faces

The timeline below shows where the character Arnom appears in Till We Have Faces. The colored dots and icons indicate which themes are associated with that appearance.

...is carried to his bed in pain. His thigh is broken. When the Second Priest, Arnom, tries to set the leg, the King almost stabs him. Bardia and Orual have guards... (full context)

Three nights later, Arnom tells Orual, Bardia, and the Fox that the King will probably die. Orual thinks she’ll... (full context)

Arnom brings up the long conflict over the “Crumbles,” land claimed by both Ungit and the... (full context)

Arnom comes in wearing the bird mask, and Orual knows that the Priest of Ungit has... (full context)

...the Pillar Room, where she frees the Fox from slavery. Immediately she hears Bardia and Arnom lamenting the loss of him, and she realizes he’s going to return to Greece. She’s... (full context)

Once at the appointed place, Arnom must sacrifice a bull. Argan sits with his men on the other end of the... (full context)

...which is impressive for Glome. They have Homer, Patroclus, Euripides, Socrates, and Heraclitus, among others. Arnom and other noblemen begin to learn from the Fox. (full context)

...to sacrifice in the house of Ungit. At least Ungit is weaker now, she thinks. Arnom has let more light into the temple and he keeps it cleaner. He is also... (full context)

...issues have arisen in her absence. She hears that Bardia is ill in bed, but Arnom tells her it isn’t serious. She doesn’t fear for him because she knows how his... (full context)

...has more time to write. When she finally finishes her book, she actually listens to Arnom and realizes that Bardia is far sicker than she thought. She wants to go to... (full context)

A few days later, there’s a ritual for the new year. Arnom stays in the house of Ungit overnight and then ceremonially fights his way out, although... (full context)

She sits on a flat stone opposite the stone that is Ungit. Arnom sits to her right, and the temple girls sit in rows at the doors to... (full context)

The Queen asks Arnom who Ungit is. He replies that she represents the earth, a way of thinking that... (full context)

...and knows she’s close to death, but she feels that her soul is almost ready. Arnom and her servants weep for her, but she doesn’t understand why she deserves it. She... (full context)

Arnom, who calls himself the priest of Aphrodite, writes that he has put the book in... (full context)