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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.
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. |
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 |
Wears a throne
on her headress. Taught healing and instituted marriage. Magician.
Symbols the throne, knot or buckle 
and the systrum. She was the wife and sister of Osiris. |
 |
| 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. |
 |
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./TD>
|
| 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. |
| Macha |
Mother Goddess,
she died giving birth. |
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. |
| Manawyddon |
Sea God, husband
of Rhiannon. Nautical God of enchantment. |
| 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. |
Hindu Gods and Goddesses
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
Links for Further
Information
For a direct comparison
of Norse and Greek Gods and Goddesses see Greek
vs. Norse Mythology.
For more information on a wide variety of Gods and Goddesses see About.coms
Encyclopedia of Deities.
For more information about the Greek Gods and Goddesses see
The Olympians.
For more information about the Roman Gods and Goddesses see
The Roman Gods and Goddesses.
For more information about the Egyptian Gods and Goddesses see
Summaries of the Egyptian Gods.
For more information on the Norse or Germanic Gods and Goddesses see
Timeless Myths: Norse Mythology or
or .
For more information on the Summerian Gods and Goddesses see .
For more information on the Celtic Gods and Goddesses see
Celtic Deities and Myth, or Celtic
Gods and Goddesses.
For information on Hindu Gods and Goddesses see
God in Hindu Dharma, or see
Hinduism Page.
For a listing of Shinto Gods and Goddesses see
Chrissy's Dojo of Japanese Myths.
For information on Voodoo Gods and Goddesses see
Seven Orishas from the Yoruba Pantheon, or About.com
Voodoo Deities.
For information on Santeria Gods and Goddesses see OrishaNet,
or Santeria, a
Practical Guide.
For information on Candomble (Brazilian orisha) Gods and Goddesses see
Gods
of Candomble.
For information on the Gods and Goddesses of the various Native American
Nations see Native
American Religion.
For informtion on the Aztec Gods and Goddesses see The
Aztecs/Mexicas.
For information on the Inca Gods and Goddesses see Inca
Deities.
For information on the Mayan Gods and Goddesses see Mayan
Gods.
For information on the Assyro/Babylonian Gods and Goddesses see Assyro/Babylonian
Myth.
For information on the Gods and Goddesses of Hawaii see In
the Beginning.
For information on Aboriginal religion and mythology see Australian
Aboriginal Dreamtime.
For information on the Mesopotamian Gods and Goddesses see Mesopotamian
Gods.
For information on the Gods and Goddesses of Ancient Phoenicia see Phoenician
Religion.
For translations of original sacred texts from many religions see .
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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