Azed 2148

[hankir]

Can someone help explain these two?

30D. Dark plain? That of Flanders was spoken ill of (4)
?ARE

Bare would be plain. But reference to Dark and Flanders needs explanation.

9D. I am attached to pagan deity - or was (5)
?ARIM

Lar is pagan deity so Larim? But how does Larim fit the "or was"?

Thanks in advance.

[kayakamina]

30d Mare

[JUNKMAN]

Anne of Cleves was nicknamed the Flanders Mare because she had a darker than normal complexion - similar to Belgian horses of that time - and she was plain

[hankir]

Thank you all for the answers.
Thank you Cruciverbalist for providing URLs.