A constant is sci-fi has always been an elder race that is far more powerful or knowledgeable than humans. A good example would be the Minbari from Babylon 5. We humans are always trying to understand their motives, society and technology. In fantasy literature the idea also exists. The name Eldar was invented by Tolkein in his Elvish language, and means "People of the Stars", so-called because Tolkein’s elves were very fond of the stars, which were the first thing they say when they were created. It takes on a much more literal meaning when you consider the Craft-world dwelling Eldar, the People of the Stars.

Now the idea of the Eldar craftworlds is another constant for the genre, cities in space, and years beyond our own abilities. Most of their names have been taken from Celtic holidays. This fits in with the probability of another Eldar source, the Sidhe. The Sidhe (pronounced shee), from Irish-Celtic mythology, are an elf like group whose goals and actions were difficult to understand. Much like the Eldar, their help or advice always had other consequences. Also the Sidhe predated humanity but were displaced from their lands by the arrival of the younger and more vigorous race. Iyandon (Craftworld Imbolc) is a time of rebirth or reawakening. This could be seen as the waking of the dead (wraith lords and wraith guard) during the Tyranid invasion. Biel-Tan (Craftworld Beltaine) is the last of the three spring fertility festivals and means bright fire. The young king is probably taken from the custom of the bean king. This is where every year someone would be given the bean (randomly, put in a feast dish, usually a cake) and be treated like a king. After a short time they would be sacrificed to ensure a prosperous year, similar to being chosen as the one to wake the Avatar. Saim Hann (Craftworld Samhain) is modern Halloween; a wild time of spirits wandering the world. The craftworld with its tribes is similar to the Scottish clans and septs. Celts also believed trees had their own spirits and may be the source for the farseers becoming crystal trees.

Howling Banshees are clearly Banshees from Irish folklore, female spirits who wail to warn of impending death. Jain Zar, the first Banshee, may come from Zar, which is czar/tsar in Spanish and German. Baharroth may take part of his name from baha, meaning splendour in Arabic. Now Maugan Ra has two sources. Depending on how Maughan is supposed to be pronounced, it is close to the hieroglyphic Egyptian word for ferry while the Egyptian sun god was called Ra. Asurmen could come from Ashur, which was an ancient Assyrian war god. Nuadhu “Fireheart” could be Nuada, from Irish mythology, who was one of the Tuatha de Danaan. One of the four great treasures of the Tuatha de Danaan was his sword, which cut his enemies in half which, this can be seen as a power weapon. Avatars are the manifestation of Hindu deities in human, superhuman or animal form. Their possession of a vessel however does not destroy or absorb it however. The Exodites can represent any group that has undertaken an exodus due to a catastrophic event in their history. A viceroy who governed a large province in the Roman Empire was known as an exarch.

The beloved Harliquins do tend to remind people of the Cirque Du Sole. However the Harlequin character from the Commedia Dell'Arte and the commedia, itself, is more of a homage for them. The Comedy of Professional Artists, the translation, was a form of improvisational theatre in which the performances were improvised around preordained situations. This is very similar to the performances of the Eldar mythos acted out by the Harliquins.

The Eldar gods are taken from several old religions and almost imply a visit from them at one time in our history. Vaul the Smith god would be Hephaestus from Greek mythology, the lame god of fire and metal-working while Kurnous the god of the hunt is Cernunnos form Celtic mythology, the Horned God, God of Nature, (Also known as Herne the Hunter). Isha the goddess of the harvest has several incarnations, particularly Ishtar and Isis. Kaela-Mensha Khaine, who is marked with hands that drip blood, brings to mind another murderer who was also marked (though the mark is never specified), Cain of the bible. Asuryan must be Ashur, chief god of the Assyrians. Lileath could be a reference to Adam’s first wife, from Jewish traditions, Lilith. Which bring me to the last god, Ynnead, god of the dead. It could be the Ennead, from Egyptian mythology, who were the nine most important gods and goddesses. Most had some form of association with the dead or after world.