Pantheons Simplified

Pantheons

So what is a pantheon?

A group of deities or spirits of a specific people

Greek

Aztec

Shinto

Babylon

Egyptian

Sumerian

Inuit

Celtic

Notable Pantheons

Norse

Hindu

Polynesian

Yoruba

Chinese

Mayan

Roman

Aboriginal

Slavic

Sumerian

• The Sumerians were an ancient civilization that thrived in Mesopotamia (modern-day Iraq) around 4,000 BCE, known for their early complex society.

• They practiced polytheism, worshipping a diverse pantheon of gods and goddesses, each representing various aspects of nature, society, and cosmic forces.

• Sumerian worship centered around grand temples and intricate rituals, reflecting the significance of their pantheon in shaping various aspects of their culture and religious practices.

An/Anu

• An or Anu is the supreme leader of the gods and father of many of the other gods as well as demons and spirits. He was the divine personification of the sky.
• Despite these obviously impressive features, he was not often worshipped, and his role was relatively passive.
• Some of his more famous offspring are Enki, Ishkur, and in some stories Inanna who is better known as Ishtar by the Babylonians

Ki

• Ki was the earth goddess of the Sumerian religion and the wife (and sometimes sister) of An. She also goes on to be the mother and then wife of Enlil, the god of air.
• There is little evidence of worship of Ki, no cult and limited writings. She is most remembered as a mother of the more widely worshipped, Enlil and also as the mother of the Annunaki. Her son Enki would inspire civilizations around Mesopotamia including the Canaanites and Hittites.

Inanna

• Inanna was the most important female deity of the ancient period. She was the goddess of love, war, and female fertility.
• As a ruler of the Erech city-state, she was responsible for sexual love and procreation as the life-giving goddess of love, ensuring the prosperity of the land and people.
• Various Sumerian poems are about Inanna and her love for Dumuzi and how she was ultimately responsible for his death

Enlil

• One of the most important gods in the pantheon. His wife was the air goddess Ninlil, and among their children are the goddess Inanna and the gods Nanna, Ninurta, and Utu.
• Often described as a supreme lord, father, creator, and a “raging storm.” Enlil allocated land and kingship to the kings and created most of the features in the cosmos.
• In many books, he is described as a violent and destructive god, but it is clear that in the myths, he was friendly and fatherly

Egyptian

• Along the Nile River in North Africa, the Egyptians were an ancient civilization with a history stretching over thousands of years.

• The Egyptians also practiced polytheism, venerating a diverse pantheon of gods and goddesses, notably often with animal heads such as a falcon, ibis, or crocodile.

• Again, similar to the Sumerian religious practices, Egyptian worship was characterized by the awe-inspiring grandeur of their temples and the elaborate rituals that showcased the power and influence of their gods. The belief in the afterlife was a major component of the religion.

Ra

• A central figure in ancient Egyptian mythology, revered as the powerful god of the sun and creator of life. His radiant presence illuminated both the physical and spiritual realms.
• Ra's journey across the sky, from sunrise to sunset, symbolized the cycle of birth, death, and rebirth. This cosmic voyage mirrored the eternal rhythm of existence.
• His association with the sun imbued pharaohs with divine authority. As the ruler of gods and humans alike, Ra exemplified the concept of divine kingship, ensuring harmony and order.

Amun-Ra

• Amun-Ra is a strange one, often considered a combination of two major gods, Amun and Ra. Amun-Ra represents the setting sun, embodying the transition from day to night and the cycle of creation and renewal.
• While both are associated with the sun, Ra is more closely tied to the rising sun and its life-giving energy, while Amun-Ra emphasizes the sun's descent and its transformative symbolism. The merging of two deities reflects the ancient Egyptians' intricate understanding of celestial forces and their dynamic interplay.

Osiris

• The oldest child of the earth god Zeb and the sky goddess Nut, Osiris was worshiped as the god of the afterlife and the underworld.
• Often portrayed with green skin, he was the god of vegetation, renewal and growth and was responsible for the fertile flooding and vegetation around the banks of the Nile.
• Osiris married his own sister Isis and was murdered by his brother Seth but brought back to life by the magic of Isis to conceive a child, Horus who avenged his father’s death.

Isis/Eset

• One of the most important goddesses of ancient Egypt. Her name translates to “throne.” Her role was to support her husband and teach the women how to weave, bake, and brew beer.
• Initially an obscure goddess who lacked her own dedicated temples, but she grew in importance as the dynastic age progressed.
• Often represented as a beautiful woman wearing a sheath dress and the hieroglyphic sign of the throne or a solar disk and cow’s horns on her head. Occasionally represented as a scorpion, a bird, or a cow.

Thoth

• An arbitrator who settled the disputes between good and evil, Thoth is considered a self-created god. Master of physical and divine laws, with his counterpart Ma’at, he maintained the universe by his mastery of calculations.
• The ancient Egyptians acknowledged him as an author of science, philosophy, and magic.
• Ibis or baboon-headed, he was considered to be the most learned god in ancient history.
• Seen as the moon god for keeping count of time even when the sun was not there, recognized as the one who created the 365-day calendar.

Norse

• Throughout the regions of Scandinavia during the Viking Age, the ancient Norse civilization has captivated imaginations with its rich mythology and seafaring culture.

• Worship of the Norse gods involved ceremonies, rituals, and offerings conducted in sacred spaces like temples and natural settings. These practices were essential to the Norse way of life, influencing their traditions, ethics, and worldview.

• The Norse pantheon was separated into two main groups, the Æsir and the Vanir, who at one point in their histories engaged in a fierce and bitter war.

Odin

• King of the Æsir clan and known as 'the father of all gods'. He was often depicted as a one-eyed, bearded old man wearing a hat and cloak, astride a flying 8-legged horse Sleipnir.
• One of the most powerful and revered of all the Norse gods, he was said to have slain the first being known as Ymir, before carving up his dead body to help create the Earth
• Associated with several themes like wisdom, knowledge, healing, death and war. He ruled over the ‘hall of the slain’ known as Valhalla.

Frigg/Friia

• As wife of Odin, Frigg was regarded as the Queen of the Æsir gods and therefore possibly the most important of all the Norse goddesses. She was the only one allowed to sit next to her husband and stuck by him despite many extra-marital affairs.
• The goddess of the sky, Frigg was associated with wisdom, marriage, family and fertility. Blessed with the power of divination, she never revealed her visions to anyone.
• Her protective motherly instincts doomed her son Balder, he was tragically killed by Loki.

Thor

• Let’s leave Marvel behind as we discuss the god of thunder and lightning who wielded the Mjölnir, a devastatingly powerful hammer that could slay giants and smash mountains. He rode a chariot drawn by two massive goats called Tanngniost and Tanngrisnir.
• Although he was the son of Odin, he was often regarded as the strongest of all the Norse deities since he was tasked with safeguarding Asgard, the stronghold of the Æsir. He was perhaps the most popular of all the gods and was worshipped by most Vikings.

Loki

• More Marvel baggage, in Norse mythology he wasn’t the son of Odin or brother of Thor. Instead, he was considered a ‘blood brother’ of Odin who lived amongst the Æsir.
• Known as the trickster god, equipped with the ability to shapeshift into a multitude of different forms. His relationship with the other gods was complex; sometimes he helped, often he did not.
• Whilst depicted as more mischievous than evil, he was still capable of causing great harm, like the death of Balder, he carved an arrow out of his only weakness, mistletoe.

Freya/Freija

• The goddess of fate, love, beauty, gold, war and fertility. She was a member of the Vanir and ruled over the heavenly meadow of Fólkvangr, where half of those who died in combat would go, whilst the other half were guided by the Valkyries to Valhalla.
• She wore a necklace called the Brísingamen, and a falcon feather cloak. She rode a chariot drawn by two cats and was often accompanied by a boar called Hildisvíni.
• Practiced Seidr (ability to control and manipulate the desires and prosperity of others).

Honorable mentions

(I really like Norse Mythology)

Jörmungandr the World Serpent

The middle child of the trickster god Loki and the giantess Angrboðaan, the unfathomably large sea serpent or worm who dwells in the world sea, encircling the Earth (Midgard) and biting his own tail.

Daughter of Loki and ruler of the land of the dead, half of her body was flesh and blood, the other half was just bones. Her role was judging and deciding the fate of the souls who entered her realm. It was said that within the underworld she was more powerful than Odin himself

Hel

Babylon

• Like the Sumerians who influenced them, the Babylonians developed their own distinct belief system, worshipping a unique pantheon of gods, goddesses, and heroes with different names, stories and roles to play in society.

• Babylonian religious rituals often included sacrifices and offerings, conducted in temples dedicated to their gods. Practices like this helped shape Babylonian culture and religious beliefs as well as secure a place in history.

• One of the largest empires in Mesopotamia, the Babylonians were an ancient civilization known for their significant contributions to art, astronomy, and law

Marduk

• The chief god of the city of Babylon and the national god of Babylonia; as such, he was eventually called simply Bel, or Lord.
• Originally a god of thunderstorms, a poem, known as Enuma elish relates Marduk’s rise to such preeminence that he was the god of 50 names, each that of a deity or of a divine attribute.
• After conquering the monster of primeval chaos, Tiamat, he became Lord of the Gods of Heaven and Earth. All nature, including humanity, owed its existence to him.

Nabu

• Patron of the art of writing and a god of vegetation. Nabu’s symbols were the clay tablet and the stylus, the instruments held to be proper to him who inscribed the fates assigned to men by the gods
• Son of Marduk, in popular devotion it was Nabu, the son, who knows all and sees all, who was chief, especially during the centuries immediately preceding the fall of Babylon.
• Many goddesses were associated with Nabu, including Nana, Nissaba; and Tashmetum, Akkadian queen of Borsippa.

Tiamat

• The primordial goddess who was the personification of the salt sea and the mother of the gods. She also was associated with the chaos of creation.
• Tiamat and Apsu, the personification of the fresh water beneath the earth, are the source of a family of gods with whom she eventually went to war. She was slain by Marduk, the chief god of the city of Babylon, and from her body he created the universe.
• In later myths, Tiamat was sometimes portrayed as a serpent or dragon.

Greek/Roman

• The Greek and Roman pantheons share striking resemblances because the Romans adopted and assimilated much of Greek mythology, renaming most of the gods to align with their own culture. As a result, many gods have analogous attributes and roles, although their names may differ.

• Roman religious practices revolved around elaborate ceremonies, prayers, and offerings at temples, reflecting the importance of the gods in shaping Roman society.

• The Greeks believing the gods were active in their day to day, worshipped their gods (Olympians) in majestic temples. Known for festivals, and rituals to honor their deities.

Zeus/Jupiter

• The god of the known universe the Olympians won from the Titans, Zeus also defeated his brothers to see who would inherit the throne after their father Kronos (Saturn), becoming the god of all skies and the acknowledged ruler of all remaining gods.
• He married Hera (Juno), the queen of all gods, but he was also notorious for romantic escapades outside his marriage. Father of the gods, he fathered quite a few children from his many affairs.
• He ruled with absolute authority and command over his universe but he also had a bad temper and was very easy to provoke.

Poseidon/Neptune

• Brother of Zeus and Hades, Poseidon drew the realm of the seas in their contest. In this way, he became the ruler of the seas and, along with his wife Amphitrite, led a group of lesser gods that included Triton and the Nereids.
• Lord of seas, and horses he was widely worshiped and followed by sailors and voyagers, his influence was far reaching. He had many dedicated temples.
• In terms of sheer power, he came second only to the mighty Zeus. As well as taming the power of the seas, he also carried a trident which could cause massive earthquakes with a single strike.

Hades/Pluto

• Brother of Zeus and Poseidon, he was the ruler of underworld – where only the dead could enter.
• Ruling over such a gloomy and dismal realm seldom led to a good impression, making him less prominent in Greek mythology.
• Many Greeks believed him to be the personification of death itself and paid him regular homage because of their superstition.
• He was also pretty fair in his dealings but Hades tricking his love interest Persephone into staying with him in the underworld is kinda indefensible.

Hera/Juno

• Hera/Juno is considered as counsellor and protector of the state. The daughter of Cronus, Juno is both the sister and the wife of the king of gods, Zeus/Jupiter.
• The mother of the god of war, Ares/Mars. Also the goddess of marriage and childbirth.
• Patron goddess of the Roman Empire, was named “regina” or queen and was part of the Capitolina Triad in Rome, with Jupiter and Minerva.
• She is often pictured dressed in a goatskin cloak sitting with a peacock, which is her main symbol.

Athena/Minerva

• Athena/Minerva is the goddess of wisdom, commerce, poetry, handicrafts, and warfare.
• Her father Zeus, was afraid of her usurping his power before she was even born. He swallowed her mother but inside, Athena caused him constant headaches so he had his head split open and she emerged as an adult bearing full armor.

• Also known as “Minerva Medica” to the Romans meaning goddess of medicine and physicians.
• A unique deity with unfathomable popularity, often depicted holding an owl and a spear.

Apollo

• The god of music, healing, the sun and light, truth and prophecy, plague, poetry, and more, Apollo was the son of Zeus/Jupiter and brother of Artemis/Diana. He is one of the most important and complex of the pantheon.
• He served as an intermediary between the people and the gods. Apollo was the most loved god of them all.
• In some stories Apollo rode a chariot pulled by fiery horses across the sky every day to bring light to the world

Celtic

• The Celtic people embraced a diverse pantheon of gods and goddesses, shapeshifters, and heroes, like the Norse they separated in two major groups, the Tuatha de Danann and the Fomorians.

• Celtic religious practices involved sacred rituals and ceremonies performed in natural settings like groves, riversides, and hilltops, reflecting their deep connection with the natural world. These practices played a vital role in shaping Celtic society and spirituality.

• Occupying various regions of mostly northern Europe, the ancient Celts were a diverse group known for their intricate art, language, and rich cultural traditions.

The Dagda

• An important father-figure in Celtic mythology, Dagda is one of the ‘good’ Celtic Mythology gods. He is the father of Aengus, Bodb Derg, Cermait, Midir and Brigit.
• The leader of the mighty Tuatha Dé Danann tribe of Celtic Gods. He had several powerful weapons: his large club which could slay 10 men with a single blow and resurrect the dead, a harp that could summon the seasons, and a cauldron for producing food.
• Dagda had many lovers like the Celtic goddess of war and fate, the Morrigan.

The Morrigan

• Known as the Celtic Goddess of war, the Morrigan is also known as the “Phantom Queen” or the “Queen of Demons”.
• A shapeshifter, she’d hover over battlefields in the form of a crow or a raven. She could also predict who was going to win in a battle.
• A story tells of when she appeared to Cú Chulainn, but he slighted her. She then attacked him as a number of different animals.
• He died in a battle soon after. Once he died, the Morrigan settled on his shoulder as a crow to taunt him.

The Cailleach

• One of the oldest figures in Celt-Irish mythology, she is the goddess of winds and winter weather. She was also known as the the Hag of Beara.
• Usually portrayed as an old woman wearing a veil, with pale blue skin, red teeth, and decorative skulls all over. She is neither fully evil nor good, much like the winds and weather she represents.
• She is a protector of wild and domestic animals during winter, particularly wolves.
• The Hag of Winter was only old in the winter months. As spring came, she would take a potion that would make her young again

Brigid

• Brigid was the daughter of the chief god, the Dagda, and she was the goddess of crafts, prophecy, divination, and poetry. Her role as the patron of metalwork and smithing led her to be associated with fire as well.
• Brigid was possibly a triple goddess as well. In some countries, Brigid was worshiped as three daughters of the Dagda with the same name, with one fostering poetry, one healing, and one metalworking.
• It is strongly believed that the Celtic goddess was assimilated into Irish Christianity as Saint Brigid.

Chinese

• Across the the vast landscapes of East Asia, the ancient Chinese civilization thrived with an exquisite tapestry of philosophy, art, and traditional wisdom.

• The ancient Chinese pantheon was deeply intertwined with the lives of the people, influencing a myriad of cultural rituals and practices. These rituals were not only confined to formal temple ceremonies but also extended to everyday life, from ancestor worship in households to offerings made at sacred mountains and natural landmarks.

• The Chinese people embraced a mosaic of spiritual beliefs and revered a mostly human-like pantheon of celestial deities, nature spirits, and legendary figures, each symbolizing fundamental aspects of the cosmos and human existence.

The Jade Emperor

• Yuhuang Shangdi is referred to as the first god in Chinese culture, traditional religions and mythology. He is also the supreme ruler of heaven and the very first emperor of China.
• As such, he was said to oversee the humans. In art, he is mostly portrayed with long hair, sitting on a throne with full imperial garments and a hat with 13 pearl-strong tassels, while carrying an imperial ceremonial tablet.
• Over 300 million years old, he passed many trials and fought countless battles, including saving the immortals from an evil entity.

Nüwa

• The first being with the ability to procreate and the creator of all mankind. Ancient Chinese society was fiercely matriarchal, so Nüwa, was considered a very important deity.
• She has a hand in a number of stories but is most commonly associated with China’s creation myth and for saving humanity by mending a hole in the sky after a great flood.
• Usually prayed to by women who need divine assistance with marital affairs or fertility issues.
• She’s usually depicted as a supernatural creature with a human face and a long serpentine bod.

Wangmu Niangniang

• Believed to be the highest and most powerful goddess in Chinese mythology. She has complete control over life, happiness, and immortality.
• The Jade Emperor’s wife, she was responsible for controlling the female gods, tending to the Peaches of Immortality in their palace gardens, and for sending babies to couples.
• In early texts, she had a wild and demonic appearance, seen as the cause catastrophes. She transformed into a goddess, a middle-aged woman who has tiger’s teeth and a leopard’s tail.

Sun Wukong

• The Monkey King, a god of questionable origins and status, best known as one of the main characters in the 16th-century Chinese novel Journey to the West and many later stories and adaptations.
• He is a monkey born from a stone who acquires supernatural powers through Taoist practices. After rebelling against heaven, Buddha had him imprisoned under a mountain for 500 years.
• He possesses many abilities, amazing strength, he is able to support two heaven mountains on his shoulders and ran extremely fast.

Chang’e

• Best known for stealing an elixir of immortality from her husband, the legendary archer Hou Yi, and then flee to become the goddess of the moon. It is one of the most important stories in the Chinese canon, the tale plays a central role in the annual Mid-Autumn Festival.
• She is consistently depicted as a graceful young lady with long, flowing robes. Before becoming the spirit of the moon she was famous for her beauty. She is sometimes holding a white rabbit. Occasionally, Chang’e may be depicted as an ugly toad. (look it up)

Yoruba

• Found throughout West Africa, the ancient Yoruba civilization was known for its vibrant art, music, and deep-rooted spiritual beliefs.

• The Yoruba people worshipped a pantheon of deities known as Orishas. They are further categorized such as the future seers, Odu or the Oriana who inhabit an otherworldly realm known as Orun.

• From vibrant festivals to intimate family gatherings, rituals fostered a profound connection between the Yoruba people and their spiritual heritage. The reverence for the Orishas permeated Yoruba society.

Olodumare

• The most powerful god according to Yoruba mythology. He is yet another “supreme God” in a patriarchal pantheon.
• He is omnipotent and is the one who breathes life into the creations of Obatala who father of all the human race.
• He is the creator also of the other orishas and powers in the universe. Historically, the Yorubas do not worship him directly: He is called on if the other Orishas do not hear the calls of their worshippers.

Obatala

• The creator of the human race. He is the father of all Orishas. Until one is initiated into the worship of the Orishas’, it is believed that Obatala is their god.
• He walked the face of the earth in a mortal body and served as the king of Ife.

• A central myth describes how he becomes drunk on palm-wine resulting in the creation of humans with various mutations. In his remorse he becomes the patron deity of the disabled.

Oya

• Barren and could only have stillborns. She gave birth to 9 children, but all dead. She and her brother Shango are the children of the mother of the sea, Yemoja.
• To get rid of the plague of barrenness Oya made a sacrifice from cloth with the colors of the rainbow. She then gave birth to nine children, four sets of twins and a ninth child, Egungun.
• The goddess of weather, she can call forth lightning, storms, tornadoes and earthquakes.