| Name ▲▼ | Origin ▲▼ | Description ▲▼ |
|---|---|---|
| God name "Polydeukes" | Greek | horse god. One of the Dioskouroi twins; the other is Kastor. According to tradition, they are together åśśociated with a Spartan cult whence they originated. The pair probably derive from the Indo-European model of the ASVINS in Vedic mythology. Kastor is mortal while Polydeukes is immortal. Thus, during battle, Kastor is mortally wounded but, even in death, the two brothers remain inseparable. They rescue individuals from distress and danger, particularly at sea, and are thought to be embodied in the electrical discharges known as St. Elmo's Fire. Also Castor and POLLUX (Roman).... |
| God name "Pusi" | Polynesian / Tikopia | Fish god. The apotheosis of the reef eel who probably accompanied the Tongan ancestors who migrated to Tikopia.... |
| Goddess name "Quades (the holy one)" | Western Semitic | Fertility goddess. probably originating in Syria. She epitomizes female sexuality and eroticism in the mold of ASTARTE. She was adopted by Egypt with the fertility gods MIN and RESEP and became partly åśśociated with the goddess HATHOR. She is usually depicted nude standing on the back of a lion (see also INANA and NINHURSAG A) between Min to whom she offers a lotus blossom, and Resep for whom she bears snakes. Her cult followed the typically ancient Near Eastern pattern of a sacred marriage carried out by her votary priestesses and their priests or kings.... |
| God name "Quzah (archer)" | Pre - Islamic northern Arabian | mountain and weather god. Probably equating to QOS and worshiped by the Idumaean tribe to the south of Judea as a storm god. Also claimed to have been known near Mecca. Attributes include a bow which shoots arrows of hail.... |
| God name "Resep (A) Mukal" | Western Semitic / Canaanite / Phoenician / , originating in Syria | war and plague god. Introduced into Egypt by the XVIII Dynasty during the sixteenth century BC and rapidly achieved some prominence. His wife is Itum and he was also known as Res ep-Amukal and Res epSulman. Res ep is probably modeled on the Mesopotamian NERGAL. He is depicted as a youthful, warlike god, often with a gazelle's head springing from his forehead, and with a spear in his right hand. In Egyptian iconography he is depicted wearing the crown of Upper Egypt surmounted in front by the head of a gazelle. He has links with the Theban war god MONTU and was thought of as a guardian deity in battle by many Egyptian pharaohs; he is said to have shot firebrands with a bow and arrow. He also exerted a benign influence against disease. The influence of Res ep extended to Cyprus during the preHellenic period and at the time of Hellenization he was allied to and perhaps syncretized with APOLLO. Also Ras ap, Res ef.... |
| Goddess name "Rosmerta (great provider)" | Roman / Celtic / British / Gallic | Fertility goddess. Consort to the god Mercury. Probably locally worshiped and often depicted carrying a basket of fruit, purse or cornucopia. She and Mercury frequently appear together. In addition to her purse, she may bear a twin-headed ax or, alternatively, she may carry Mercury's caduceus (snake-entwined wand).See also MERCURIUS.... |
| God name "Rudiobus" | Roman / Celtic / Gallic | Probably a horse god. Xnown from an inscription at Neuvy-en-Sullias which includes a depiction of a stallion.... |
| Goddess name "Rugiu Boba" | Lithuania | Goddess of autumn. Lithuania |
| God name "Ryujin" | Shinto / Japan | dragon god. A deity controlling thunder and Rain and probably the most significant of the group of weather gods known as the RAIJIN. He is of Chinese origin and more Buddhist than Shinto. He does not appear in the sacred Shinto texts Kojiki or Nibongi, but enjoys shrines in many Shinto sanctuaries and is worshiped by farmers, particularly in times of drought. He lives in the sea, lakes and large ponds from which he ascends in mists and winds. He generates dark Rain clouds which then burst. His main festival takes place in June.... |
| God name "S e ab" | Egypt | Minor god of wine and oil presses. Known from circa 3000 BC until the end of Egyptian history, circa AD 400. In later iconography he is depicted as a lion, but more generally is in human form. Sezmu had a definite cult following in the fertile Faiyum region of the Nile valley, but was probably represented in most sanctuaries, particularly where ritual unguents were made and stored. He is recognized in both benign and malevolent roles. In the latter he is reputed to squeeze human heads like grapes, but in beneficent mood he provides aromatic oils and ointments.... |
| God name "Sakka(n)" | Mesopotamian / BabylonianAkkadian | God of cattle. A patron god of herdsmen, probably deriving from the Sumerian god LAHAR. Also Amakandu, Sumuqan.... |
| Goddess name "Sarra lntu" | Mesopotamian / Sumerian / Babylonian - Akkadian | Fertility goddess. Originally the tutelary deity of the city of Su-Sin. By Hellenistic times she probably became the more important goddess Sarrahitu who is included in the pantheon at Uruk and mentioned in various cult texts where she is described as the bride and was presumably involved in a sacred marriage ceremony.... |
| Goddess name "Sefkhet-Abwy (she who has seven horns)" | Egypt | Local goddess of libraries and writing. Probably a form of the goddess SESAT. Depicted in human form bearing a seven-pointed star or rosette on her head below a bow-shaped object.... |
| Goddess name "Semele (earth)" | Greco - Roman but probably of Thracian or Phrygian origin | Mother goddess. According to legend she was the mortal daughter of Cadmos and became the mother of the god DIONYSOS (BACCHUS) after a brief liaison with ZEUS (JUPITER), also in mortal guise. Semele was burned to death on Olympus, unable to withstand the presence of Zeus in godly form, but was subsequently deified by him.... |
| God name "Shango" | Yoruba / Nigeria, West Africa | Chthonic storm god. As an earth deity he was once a mortal man, the king of Oyo, who transformed himself into an immortal. According to tradition, during his life he breathed tongues of fire. He then ascended into the sky by climbing a golden chain and became the god of thunder and lightning. He is also god of justice, punishing thieves and liars. His consorts include OYA, Oshun and Oba. Cult followers of Shango are believed to be able to make lightning strike an adversary. In shrines to Shango, the image of the god is adorned with a ram's head. Also SANGO.... |
| God name "Shomde" | Kafir / Afghanistan | Creator god of localized observance. Known from various villages in the southern Hindukush. Shomde is regarded either as equating or senior to the more generally recognized god IMRA. According to observers he provides gold, silver and silk as well as butter, cheese, cream and flour. The main sanctuary was probably at the village of Dewa and in various wooden sculptures Shomde is depicted in human form. Also Wushum; Usum.... |
| God name "Sisyphos" | Corinthian | Sun god. Specifically the god of the faded Sun, probably equating to the Hittite weather god TESUB.... |
| God name "Sutekh" | Hittite / Hurrian | weather god. Of Hurrian origin, but incorporated into the Hittite state pantheon. Identified on the seal of a Hittite / Egyptian treaty between Hattusilis II and Rameses II in 1271 BC. Probably another name for the god TESUB.... |
Table of Gods
Your guide to the World gods, spirits,
demons and legendary monsters
1996 - 2024 Copyright © Godfinder.org
