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Gods and
Goddesses from every ancient pantheon are worshipped by the modern world
these days; Greek, Roman, Egyptian, Germanic, Celtic and others. Every
deity from prehistoric fertility Goddesses to transformed Roman Catholic
Saints is a part of one tradition or another. These figures have been
worshipped for hundreds or even thousands of years by diverse cultures
and the cataloging of them and their powers and quirks is a matter for
anthropologists and mythologists. I cannot cover every possible minor
deity here, but there is information on some of the better known ones.
The information is presented in the following tables and charts. At the
bottom of the page there are a large number of links to information on
specific pantheons for further study. In addition, you may want to consult
this site's sister site at Full
Moon Magic Deities for information on Aztec, Inca, Mayan, Etruscan,
Roman, Greek, Norse, Japanese, Chinese, and other Deities.
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Comparison of the
Deities of Ancient Religions
|
| God
or Goddess |
Germanic |
Roman |
Greek |
Egyptian |
| Supreme
God |
Frigg,
Woden |
Jupiter,
Juno |
Zeus,
Hera |
Ra |
| Sky |
Frigg |
Jupiter |
Zeus |
Nuit |
| Sun |
- |
Apollo |
Helios |
Ra |
| Moon |
- |
Diana |
Artemis |
Thoth |
| Earth |
Sif |
Tellus |
Gaia |
Geb |
| Fire |
Hoenir |
Vulcan |
Hephaestus |
- |
| Sea |
Niord |
Neptune |
Poseidon |
- |
| Water
& Rain |
Thor |
Jupiter |
Zeus |
Tefnut |
| Light |
Balder |
Apollo |
Apollo |
- |
| Thunder |
Thor |
Jupiter |
Zeus |
- |
| Dawn |
- |
Aurora |
Eos |
- |
| Mother
Goddess |
Nerthus |
Venus |
Aphrodite |
Isis |
| Fertility |
Frey |
Bona
Dea |
Rhea |
Osiris |
| Harvest |
Balder |
Saturn |
Cronos |
- |
| Vegetation |
Balder |
Ceres |
Adonis |
Osiris |
| Death |
Hel |
Pluto |
Hades |
Osiris |
| Wisdom |
Nimir |
Minerva |
Athena |
Thoth |
| War |
Tiu |
Mars,
Bellona |
Aries,
Athena |
- |
| Love |
Freya |
Cupid |
Eros |
- |
| Messenger |
Hermod |
Mercury |
Hermes |
- |
| Healing |
Eira |
Apollo |
Apollo |
- |
| Hunting |
Uller |
Diana |
Artemis |
- |
|
| |
 |
Gods and Goddesses
of the Greek Pantheon
|
| Name |
Information |
| Zeus |
The
ruler of the sky and all atmospheric phenomena. Oracle at Dodona,
worshiped in high places. Oak tree sacred. Shown as a mature man,
robust; with thick, dark, curly hair and a beard. Holds a sceptre
in left hand and has a thunderbolt and eagle at his feet. Color
is imperial purple.
|
| Hera |
Goddess
of marriage and all phases of women's lives. A noble and severely
beautiful woman. Zeus's wife, symbols are the peacock and pomegranate.
|
| Athena |
Daughter
of Zeus and Metis. Goddess of war, born fully armed and carrying
a spear. Emblem the owl. Born from the head of her father who had
swallowed her mother while she was pregnant. Goddess of wisdom.
|
| Apollo |
Son
of Leto, former lover of Zeus. Twin brother of Artemis. Zeus his
father. Hera pursued Leto who was forced to give birth on an island
shielded by the sea which was raised up over the island like an
umbrella by Poseidon. Oracle at Delphi. Celestial archer who's arrows
never missed. God of musicians. a handsome, golden haired youth.
Patron of prophesy. Represents solar force in all aspects.
|
| Artemis |
Sister
of Apollo. Symbolic animal the bear. Animals sacred to her. Eternally
virginal. Shown carrying a torch. Protector of women against personal
violation, Goddess of childbirth.
|
| Hermes |
God
of travel and commerce. Messenger of the Gods. Shown as atheletic
with a round, winged hat and winged sandals. Holds the caduceus.
Father of Pan, associated with air.
|
| Aries |
Represents
blind energy and uncontrolled passion. War God. Father of Harmonia
and Aphrodite. Shown as a muscled warior with a crested helmet.
|
| Hephaestus |
Son
of Hera. Husband of Aphrodite. Lame, short and swarthy. Holds hammer
and tongs. Smith to the Gods.
|
| Aphrodite |
Fair
haired, blue eyed, beautiful and voluptuous. Goddess of love. Symbol
was her girdle (belt).
|
| Poseidon |
God
of the Sea. Brother of Zeus. Marine life and the white horse sacred
to him.
|
| Hestia |
Goddess
of the hearth. Circle sacred to her, her temples were circular.
Protected hearth and home.
|
| Demeter |
Goddess
of the soil and all growing things. Temples were located in forests
and called megara. Shown as a mature, rather sad looking, lady with
a crown of corn. Mother of Persephone.
|
| Hades |
Ruler
of the underworld. Husband of Persephone.
|
| Persephone |
Wife
of Hades, daughter of Demeter. Symbols the bat, narcissus and pomegranate.
Goddess of the underworld and of Spring.
|
| Hecate |
Giver
of wisdom, victory and wealth. Queen of the dead as Prytania. Goddess
of purification, expiations, enchantments, magical charms, hauntings
and crossroads. Accompanied by the infernal hounds.
|
| Dionysus |
Son
of Zeus with a mortal woman. Wandered the earth drunch and angry
for many years before being admitted to Olympus.
|
| Pan |
Son
of Hermes. Magical pipes. Nature God.
|
| Themis |
Goddess
of justice. Regulated ceremonial events and kept order on Olympus.
|
| Helios
and Selene |
The
Sun and the Moon respectively.
|
| Ilythia |
Daughter
of Hera. Original Goddess of childbirth.
|
| Iris |
The
rainbow, a messenger of Zeus.
|
| Hebe
and Ganymede |
Goddess
of youth and Zeus's cup bearer.
|
| Zagreus |
Son
of Zeus and Persephone. A shape changing immortal.
|
| The
Muses |
Clio/History,
Euterpe/Flute, Thalia/Comedy, Melpomene/Tragedy, Terpsicore/Lyric
Poetry and Dance, Erato/Love Poetry, Polyhmnia/Mimic Art, Urania/Gastronomy,
Calliope/Epic Poetry and Eloquence.
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The
Fates |
Clotho/The
spinner of the thread of life, Lachesis/Chance or luck, Atropos/Cuts
the thread of life when the time has come and karma.
|
| The
Four Winds |
Sons
of Eos (dawn) and Astraeus (starry sky). Zephyrus/West Wind, Boreas/North
Wind, Eurus/East Wind, and Notus/South Wind.
|
|
| For
pictures of many of the above Gods and Goddesses see
Olympians and Minor
Gods |
| |
The Egyptian Deities
|
| Name |
Information |
Image
if Available |
| Osiris |
Nature
God and king, Universal Lord. Always accompanied by his grand vizier,
Thoth and his nephew Anubis. Husband of Isis, father of Horus. Always
shown with a greenish face and dressed in white. Carries a crook
and flail, the insignia of order and discipline. Sometimes shown
seated on a throne surrounded by water and lotuses.
|
 |
| Symbol
the djed or tet. |
 |
| Isis |
She
was the wife and sister of Osiris.Wears a throne on her headress.
Taught healing and instituted marriage. Magician.
|
 |
| Symbols
the knot or buckle, the throne, and the systrum |
 |
| Set |
Brother
of Osiris and Isis. Red hair. Represents chaos and destruction.
Sought to destroy Osiris.
|
 |
| Nephthys |
Sister
and wife of Set, mother of Anubis. The revealer, psychic receptivity,
light and truth. Colors pale green or silver.
|
 |
| Symbols
the lotus and the cup. |
 |
| Horus |
Son
of Isis. Color yellow or gold. Lord of prophesy, god of music and
art. Patron of all things beautiful.
|
 |
| Symbols
the hawk and the all seeing eye. |
  |
| Hathor |
Daughter
of Ra. Dual aspects, the benign celestial cow that nourished the
gods, protects women, confers the comforts of life, patroness of
astrology and rules womens beauty and adornment. Her other aspect
was Sekhmet, war goddess with a lions head. Colors coral, peach
and copper.
|
 |
| Mirror
or shield her symbol. |
 |
| Anubis |
Dark
hunting hound or jackal. Guardian against the forces of the lower
world. Patron of anaesthetics, psychiatrists, and seekers of lost
items. He guards the spirit of the unconcious. .
|
 |
| Color
is terracotta, symbol the sarcophagus |
 |
| Thoth |
Shown
as a man with the head of an Ibis. Patron of history, keeper of
the divine archives, lord of karma, herald of the gods. Eldest son
of Ra. Symbols the cadceus and the white feather. God of medicine,
learning, magic, truth, books and libraries.
|
 |
| Bast |
Wife
of Ptah, sister of Horus, daughter of Isis and Osiris. goddess of
music and dance. Sacred intrument the sistrum. Sacred animal the
cat.
|
 |
| Ptah |
Artisan
god, parton of builders and craftsmen. Known as the architect of
the universe. Performed miracles. Symbols the masons tools and cord.
|
 |
| Sekhmet |
Wife
of Ptah. Head of a lioness crowned with the sun disk.
|
 |
| Selkhet |
A scorpion-goddess,
shown as a beautiful woman with a scorpion poised on her head. Protectress
of women in childbirth.
|
 |
| Nefertum |
Son
of Ptah and Sekhmet. Wears a lotus on his head. Guards the sun at
night.
|
None
Available |
| Nuit |
Mother
Goddess, the sky Goddess, mother of Osiris, Horus, Set, Isis, Nephthys.
Protectress of the dead. Wife of Geb, earth God.
|
 |
| Geb |
Egyptian
earth god. Son of Shu and Tefnut. Brother and hisband of the sky
god Nuit. Father of Osiris, Seth, Isis, and Nephthys. Geb was generally
depicted with green skin. The goose was his sacred animal.
|
|
| Ra |
The
creator and sovereign lord of the sky. Sacred object the obelisk.
Created the universe.
|
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The Deities of the
Tuatha De Danaans of Ireland
|
| Name |
Information
|
| The
Dagda |
Known
as Eochaid Ollathair (Father of All), and Ruad Ro-fhessa (Lord of
Perfect Knowledge). Appeared as a gross and ugly peasant carrying
a huge magic club. possessed a cauldron which could never be emptied.
Master of music and magic.
|
| Lugh |
Possessed
magical gifts the Boat of Mananan which knew a mans thoughts and
would sail whereever he wanted, a sword named Fragarach (The Answerer)
which could conquer all, and the horse of Mananan which could go
over land and sea.
|
| Brigid |
Goddess
of learning, culture and skills, soverenty, fire, healing and poetry.
|
| Angus
Og |
Love
god. Son of the Dagda. Associated with youth, beauty, music and
charm.
|
| Len
of Killarney |
Brother
of the Dagda. A goldsmith.
|
| Midir
the Proud |
Son
of the Dagda. A youth of great physical beauty. Fairylike and ethereal.
Golden yellow hair, grey eyes an a purple tunic.
|
| Mananan |
Lord
of the Sea. Master of tricks and illusions. Guide to the Islands
of the Dead. Wore a great cloak that could take on any color.
|
| Ogma |
God
of learning and writing. Invented the Ogham alphabet.
|
| Dana |
The
mother of all. Benign and benificent, giver of plenty.
|
| Aine |
Corn
Goddess. Giver of fertility and love. Kind watchfulness and patroness
of peasants.
|
| The
Morrigan |
War
Goddess, enchantress and ruiner with considerable prognostic powers.
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| Macha |
Mother
Goddess, she died giving birth.
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The Deities of the
Houses of Don and Llyr of Wales
|
| Name |
Information
|
| Gwydion |
Hero
and God of science and light. Slayer of Pryden the son of Phyll
(Head of the Underworld) and Rhiannon, he was punished for this
by Math.
|
| Math |
God
of wealth and increase. Sister Don. Giver of justice.
|
| Don |
The
Mother Goddess. Not the literal mother, but the guide of the other
deities. Wife of Beli.
|
| Llew
Llaw Gyffes |
Solar
deity. Son of Arianrod. Raised by Gwydion, her brother.
|
| Arianrod |
Dawn
goddess. Name means Silver Circle. Sister of Gwydion. Goddess of
reincarnation.
|
| Gwyn |
Warder
of Hades, the Night Hunter. Guardian of the Dark Portal.
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| Manawyddon |
Sea
God, husband of Rhiannon. Nautical God of enchantment.
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| Rhiannon |
Horse
Goddess. First husband Phyll, second Manawyddon. Goddess of fertility
and the otherworld. Three birds of Rhiannon were magical. Rode a
white horse.
|
| Bran
and Branwen |
Brother
and sister. Bran a mighty giant who was killed saving his people.
His severed head continued to speak after he was dead. Bran was
a harpist, poet and singer.
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Hindu Gods and Goddesses
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| I
found so much material on the Hindu Pantheon that I have put it on a page
of it's own. See Hindu Gods and Goddesses |
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Links for Further
Information
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| For
information on Voodoo Gods and Goddesses see
Seven Orishas from the Yoruba Pantheon, or About.com
Voodoo Deities. |
| For
a listing of Shinto Gods and Goddesses see
Chrissy's Dojo of Japanese Myths |
| For
information on Hindu Gods and Goddesses see
God in Hindu Dharma, or see
Hinduism Page. |
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For more
information on the Celtic Gods and Goddesses see Celtic
Deities and Myth, or Celtic
Gods and Goddesses.
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| For
more information on the Summerian Gods and Goddesses see Gods
of Sumer |
| For
a direct comparison of Norse and Greek Gods and Goddesses see Greek
vs. Norse Mythology |
| For
more information on the Norse or Germanic Gods and Goddesses see
Timeless Myths: Norse Mythology or
or Norse Myths |
| For
more information about the Egyptian Gods and Goddesses see
Summaries of the Egyptian Gods |
| For
more information about the Roman Gods and Goddesses see
The Roman Gods and Goddesses |
| For
more information about the Greek Gods and Goddesses see
The Olympians |
| For
more information on a wide variety of Gods and Goddesses see About.coms
Encyclopedia of Deities |
| For
translations of original sacred texts from many religions see Sacred
Texts. |
| For
information on the Gods and Goddesses of Ancient Phoenicia see Phoenician
Religion. |
| For
information on the Mesopotamian Gods and Goddesses see Mesopotamian
Gods |
| For
information on Aboriginal religion and mythology see Australian
Aboriginal Dreamtime. |
| For
information on the Gods and Goddesses of Hawaii see In
the Beginning. |
| For
information on the Assyro/Babylonian Gods and Goddesses see Assyro/Babylonian
Myth. |
| For
information on the Mayan Gods and Goddesses see Mayan
Gods. |
| For
information on the Inca Gods and Goddesses see Inca
Deities. |
| For
informtion on the Aztec Gods and Goddesses see The
Aztecs/Mexicas. |
| For
information on the Gods and Goddesses of the various Native American Nations
see Native
American Religion. |
| For
information on Candomble (Brazilian orisha) Gods and Goddesses see Gods
of Candomble. |
| For
information on Santeria Gods and Goddesses see OrishaNet,
or Santeria, a Practical
Guide. |
| For
information on the various Pagan traditions and the Gods and Goddesses they
use see the collection of links at Pagan
Traditions. |
| For
links to information on a wide variety of religions and pantheons see Myths
and Legends they have a problem with dead links, but there is some good
information. |
| For
a great all around list of Gods and Goddesses from many cultures see Book
of Deities has search facility. |
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Credits:
Egyptian Clipart courtesy of :
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