Abaios (Greek) Byname of Apollo after the city of Abae, where he had a temple and an oracle. [3]
Aban (Zoroastrian) Water spirit. [3]
Abarbarea (Greek) A Nymph of the Nayades. Mother of the twins Aesepos and Pedasos; affiliated with Bukolion. [3]
Abas (Greek) Son of Poseidon and Arethusa. There also was a centaur known by this name. [3]
Abellio (Celtic) God of the apple trees. Sometimes equaled to Mars or Apollo. [3]
Abeona (Roman) Patron goddess of the departing wanderers. [3]
Abida (Mongolian) Ruler over the souls of the dead, decides who enters paradise and who has to go back to life to try again. [3]
Abija goni (Hindu) "Bearer of the clouds and the moon," another name for Brahma. [3]
Abnoba (Celtic) Mother goddess. Personifies the Blackforest and is concerned with the well-being and thriving of plant and animal life. Her attribute seems to be the hare. She was largely equalled to Diana; this is found to be confirmed in another inscription which refers to her as Dianae Abnobae.
Abobas (Greek) Byname for Adonis, from Aboba=Flute. [3]
Abraxas (Gnostic) The eternal elementary being from which the five elements have come forth: Spirit, Word, Wisdom, Power and Providence. A demon of the years, depicted with a rooster's head and snakes for feet. [2,3]
Abseus (Greek) A Titan, son of Tartaros and Gaia. [3]
Abudad (Zoroastrian/Zoroastrian) A bull, created by Ahura Mazda. Ahriman is said to have sent two evil spirits to kill Abudad, who, already dying, prophesied the downfall of evil at the end of the world. From Abudad's right front, the first man came forth, from the left the basics of all animals, from the remaining parts the plants. [3]
Abu Jahja (Islam) Angel of death, taking the souls from the bodies of the dead. Azrael. [3]
Abulis (Arabian) Evil demons. [3]
Abundantia (Roman) The goddess of abundance, depicted with a cornucopia held with its opening down; otherwise similar to Ceres. [3]
Abutto (Japanese) God of well-being. Travellers and the sick ask for his aid; sailors sacrifice coins tied to pieces of wood in order to get benevolent winds. [3]
Acca Laurentia (Roman) Goddess of the fields and protector of Rome; she was the nurse of Romulus and Remus. [3]
Achaea (Greek/Roman) "The Mourning One," Ceres got this name because of the loss of her daughter Proserpina.
Acheloides (Greek) The Sirens named after their father, Acheloos. [3]
Acheloos (Greek) A river god, oldest son of Okeanos and Tethys {or Okeanos and Gaia?}. Acheloos was defeated by Herakles when both were courting Deïanira, losing one of the horns of the bull's shape A. had taken on, and had to give Herakles the Cornucopia in exchange for getting his horn back. Acheloos is said to have created five islands, the Echinades. [3,10]
Acheron (Greek) Son of the Sun and the Earth, he is the husband of the Gorgo. During their war against the Olympian gods, he supported the Titanes with water. Therefore, he was transformed into a muddy river and banned into the underworld, where he is the river the dead have to cross. Charon. Several rivers bear A.s name. [3,10]
Achinaon (?) God of winds. [3]
Achlys (Greek) The primal night, which was there even before the Chaos from which the gods came. The word bears connotations of hunger, misery, tears, scratched cheeks and long fingernails, all of which are depicted on Herakles' shield. [3]
Acholoë (Greek) One of the Harpyias. [3]
Achor (Greek) God of the flies: The one who kills them. Especially revered in Cyrene. [3]
Achren (Celtic) Probably a mother goddess, with the probable attributes of the dog, the deer and the lapwing. [9]
Achtariel (Jewish) One of the three Angels who gather up the prayers of the devout and bind them into wreaths to set down upon the head of the one god. The others are Matatron and Sandalfon. [3]
Achynayarerax (Guancho) The highest being of the original inhabitants of Tenerife. During draughts, lambs and young goats were offered up to him. [3]
Ada (Syrian) Moon goddess; possibly identical to Mylitta. [3]
Adad (Semitic/Babylonian) Storm god and god of the tides, partially also fertility god, according to some a sun god; called the "Master of Superfluence" for his bringing on the rains. His attribute is the pomegranate. Also called Hadad (Baal Hadad). Recorded from the 2nd millennium BCE. [2,3,10]
Adamanthea (Greek) Amalthea. [3]
Adamastos (Greek) "The Invincible," a byname of both Herakles and Ares. [3]
Adanos (Greek) One of the Titanes.
Adeona (Roman) Goddess of arrival. She had no temples, but people offered oaths in her honour to ensure a safe arrival. [3]
Adephagia (Greek) Gluttony personified. In Sicily, she had a temple where she was worshipped together with Ceres. [3]
Adephagos (Greek) A name for Herakles, "the Glutton," for two incidents where he ate one resp. two Oxen for a single meal. [3]
Aditi (Hindu) The Hindu primal goddess, personification of light, wife of Kasyapa; has twelve sun gods as sons, the Aditya. She is the fulfiller of wishes, personifying the holy cow; the opposite of Nandi. Aditi is also the mother of Vamana. [2,3]
Aditya (Hindu) The twelve sun gods, sons of Aditi and Kasyapa, each related to a solar month; the oldest is Indra, who is also the highest of the Aditya. [3,10]
Admete (Greek) Daughter of Okeanos and Tethys. [3]
Adon (Phoenician) The cooling sun of the time after the summer solstice; the name means "Master." Probably connected to the Phoenician Adonis. [3]
Adonaia (Greek) Byname for Aphrodite from her marriage to Adonis. [3]
Adonai (Jewish) One of the ten secret names of JHWH, in this case called upon as "my Lord." [2,3,10]
Adone (Zoroastrian?) The sun. Possibly connected to Adon. [3]
Adoneos (Greek) Byname of Dionysos in Asia Minor. [3]
Adonis 1.) (Greek) Fertility god, son of Phoenix and Alphesiboia, or of Myrrha and king Thias of Assyria; he was put in the care of Persephone and became the lover of Aphrodite, to whom he was later wedded (married on July 19, which is their festival day).
After he was killed by horned husband Hephaistos (according to [2], by Ares who had taken the shape of a wild boar), Aphrodite prevailed upon Zeus to return Adonis to her. He now spends winter with Persephone in the underworld, and summer with Aphrodite.
Primarily worshipped by women. His spring festivals were celebrated with the planting of little gardens, dances and fluteplay, sometimes also hierogamy. His worship was centred in Syria and the Lebanon; he is similar to Dumuzi. [2,3,4,10]
2.) (Phoenician) The god of becoming and unbecoming of nature, or its cyclic nature. Probably similar to the Greek god of the same name. The Phoenician word "Adon" means "master." [2,10]
Adrammelech (Zoroastrian) A god who demanded human sacrifice; usually children were given. Possibly a sun god. [3]
Adranus (Italian) God of the Sicilian peoples. His main temple at Adranum was guarded by a pack of dogs who were said to keep drunks safe but kill evil people. [3]
Adrastea (Greek) Daughter of Okeanos and the Nux, depicted with a rudder and/or a wheel. The name means "the Ineluctable;" she is probably identical to Nemesis. According to some, daughter of Zeus and Ananke, the distributor of rewards and punishments.
Adrasthea (Greek) Amalthea.
Adrastos (Greek) From the chthonic or dionysian area. He was one of the heroes of the trek of the Seven against Thebes. [10]
Advaia (Hindu) "The one similar to himself," another name for Brahma. He is similar only to himself because he has no equal. [3]
Aeaea (Greek) Byname for Kirke, from the island Aea, where she resides. [3]
Aeantis (Greek) Byname of Athene, whose temple in the castle of Megara was under this name. [3]
Aed (Celtic: Irish) "Fire," is one of the legendary names of the sun god. He is a lightning thrower and maker of thunder. Married to Bé Find. Originally split into several times of day, he was also known as Mac Greine ("son of the Sun," the morning sun), and Christian legend has taken over a lot of his aspects, even going as far as adopting the name. [9]
Aega (Greek) Amalthea. Also daughter of Olenos, later foster mother of Zeus and set amongst the stars by him (Capella). [3]
Aegaea (Greek) Another name for Aphrodite from the fact that on the Aegaean islands, she was held in special reverence and received more sacrifices than any other gods. She was also called the "Inhabitant of the Isles." [3]
Aegaeeos (Greek) Byname of Poseidon from the city of Aega, where he had a temple. [3]
Aegaeon (Greek) One of the Hekatoncheires, sons of Uranos and Gaia. With his brothers Kottos and Gyges tied up and put in a cave by his father, who was afraid of their strength. In the war against the Titanes, the brothers sided with Zeus. Aegaeon was instrumental in putting down a revolt against Zeus after having been placed at Zeus' side by Thetis. [3]
Aege (Greek) Daughter of Olenos, a Nymph; one of the governesses of the young Zeus. [3]
Aegina (Greek) Daughter of Asopos. She was abducted by Zeus, who had taken on the shape of an eagle for the occasion. [3]
Aeginaia (Greek) The Spartan name for Artemis. [3]
Aegiochos (Greek) Zeus, named for his shining shield Aegis, which he uses to spread terror. Zeus often lets Apollon and especially Athene borrow his shield, which has the head of Medusa in its middle.
Aegipan (Greek) A young god, possibly Zeus' childhood playmate, or his son by Pan's wife. Aegipan is a healing god, capable of good surgery and knowing his herbs.
As a group, the Aegipanes were seen as rural gods of the woods and hills. Their description was very similar to that of of Pan himself. [3]
Aegir (German) A sea god, standing for the endless width and calm of the sea. Son of the primal ice and brother of air and fire, he counts as a Thurse; he is nevertheless rich and hospitable to the Aesir. Married to Ran. His holy day is July 23 (Neptun). Also called Oegir. Aegir reigns from the island of Lessø in the Kattegat. His valets are Fimafengur and Eldir. [3,10]
Aegle (Greek) 1.) One of the Hesperides, probably a daughter of Asklepios. According to others, the daughter of Zeus and Neära. [3]
2.) A Nayad. [3]
Aegletes (Greek) "The Sender of Rays," a name for Apollon on the island Anaphe. [3]
Aegobolos (Greek) The "Goat-Killer," a Boötian byname for Dionysos, for whom the people sacrificed a goat every year. [3]
Aegozeros (Greek) "The Goat-Horned," a byname of Faunus. [3]
Aëllo (Greek) "The Storm-Fast," one of the Harpyias. Daughter of Elektra, married to Thaumas and mother of some rather ugly children and of Iris. [3]
Aëllopos (Greek) "Storm-Footed"; Aëllo. Also a name for Iris. [3]
Aenesios (Greek) Byname of Zeus. Could come from a temple hill. [3]
Aenaeas (Roman) The deified founding father of Rome. Descended from Mars, he led the defeated Trojans to Italy. [3]
Aequitas (Roman) The personified equity. Depicted with scales and a cornucopia, looking like a young, earnest woman. Often seen on coins. [3]
Aericura (Celtic) Mother Goddess, mostly southern Germany and the Balcans. Possibly associated with Dispater. [9]
Aesa (Greek) The personified fate, who sharpens Dike's sword.
Aesculanus (Roman) The coinage deity of copper coins. His son is Argentinus; he is one of the dii lucrii. [3]
Aesir (Nordic) The children of Odhin, the younger race of gods in the Nordic pantheon. They are warlike and some of them are a bit touchy. Even though they are a bit at war with the Vanir, Aesir and Vanir practise intermarriage, and actually formed an alliance to defeat the Thursir. They live on the world of Asgarth, which is the highest of the Nine Worlds. [3,4,10]
Aeskulap (Greek) Asklepios. [3]
Aes Sidhe (Celtic) Gods of the dead and the burial mounds, who can also exist outside the mounds. Their worship partially survived the Christianization of southern Europe. [9,10]
Aestas (Roman) Goddess of Summer, with a festival Initia Aestatis at the beginning of summer [according to the Roman calendar, which makes it June 27 or 28]. [4]
Aesymnetes (Greek) Byname of Dionysos. [3]
Aeternitas (Roman) "Eternity" personified, depicted as a female figure together with symbols of eternity, like the snake biting its own tail (Ouroboros), the sphere, lions, elephants, and the Phoenix. [3]
Aether (Roman) Aither.
Aethiopaes (Greek) A byname of Dionysos, probably from a black statue he had in Egypt. [3]
Aethiopia (Greek) "Goddess of the Fiery Face," a byname of Artemis when she was equalled to Hekate. [3]
Aethiops (Roman) A byname of Iupiter with the people of Chios. Also a son of Volcanus, from whom Ethiopia got its name. [3]
Aethrios (Greek) "The Clear Sky," byname of Zeus from his place of living. [3]
Aethusa (Greek) Daughter of Alkyone and Poseidon. [3]
Aethyia (Greek) A byname of Athene as the inventor of seafaring. It is the name of a bird whose shape Athene took on occasion. [3]
Aetna (Greek) Daughter of Uranos and Gaia, possibly daughter of Aegaeon. Demeter and Hephaistos chose her as a referee when they were discussing the ownership of Sicily. The volcano is named after her; under the mountain lies Typhon -- the volcano is still smoking because of the lightning bolts thrown at him, and is used as a smithy by the Zyklopes. [3]
Aetnaios (Greek) Byname of Zeus because he threw the mountain at the attacking Gigantes; byname of Hephaistos because he has his smithy inside the volcano -- when Aetna is spewing fire, Hephaistos is hard at work. [3]
Aetola (Greek) Byname of Artemis at Naupaktos. She was depicted there with a spear in throwing position. [3]
Afer (Roman) Son of Herakles; ancestor of the Africans. [3]
Africana (Roman) Ceres. In northern Africa, she had temples which were run by priestesses who had to be widows and unwilling to marry again. [3]
Aganippe (Greek) A Nymph of the spring of the same name, daughter of Permessos. [3]
Agathalyos (Greek) "Joy-Killer." Another name for Hades. [3]
Agathodaimon (Greek) The snake that winds around Asklepios' staff; a good god who was honoured after meals by drinking a cup of undiluted wine. [3]
Agatkon (Iroquois) The common name of the natural deities living in all things; singly called Manitou. See also Nant-e-na. [3]
Agdistis (Greek/Sumerian) A hermaphrodite, probably a child of Zeus and Kybele, conceived in a dream. The gods unmanned Agdistis; from his male member an almond tree grew, from which Nana [probably Nanna] picked some almonds and thereby conceived Attes (Attis). [3]
Ageberen (Tcheremissan) God of the harvest; he gets sacrifices before and a thanksgiving feast after the harvest. [3]
Agelastos (Greek) "The Never-Laughing"; another name for Hades. [3]
Agelea (Greek) "Bringer of Loot;" byname of Athene. [3]
Ageleïs (Greek) "Bringer of Loot;" byname of Athene. [3]
Agenor (Greek) Son of Libya and Poseidon. Father of Kadmos, the Phoenix, Kilir and Europa. Husband of Argiope. [3]
Agenorides (Greek) The offspring of Agenor. [3]
Agerona (Roman) Goddess of activity. She drives people to get things done.
Agesander (Greek) Another name for Hades. [3]
Agetor (Greek) "The Leader." A byname of Zeus, Hermes and Apollon, describing them as the leaders of the gods in general, of the dead, and of the sun respectively. The Cyprian priests of Aphrodite were also called by this name. [3]
Aghdi (Hindu) A granddaughter of Brahma which married a poor priest. [3]
Aglaia (Greek) "Shine," daughter of Zeus and Eurynome; one of the Charites. Possibly wife of Hephaistos. [2,3]
Aglaope (Greek) One of the Sirens. The name means "Beautifully Shining." [3]
Aglaopes (Greek) The Dorian name of Asklepios. [3]
Aglaopheme (Greek) One of the Sirenes.
Aglaophonos (Greek) One of the Sirenes. The name means "Beautiful-Sounding." [3]
Aglibolus (Syrian) A name for the sun god used in Palmyra. Depicted as a young man with a staff in his hand. [3]
Agni (Hindu) Fire god, the "fire of heaven" as well as the sacrificial fire. Son of Aditi and Kasyapa. A mediator between gods an men, he unites both in the sacrifice.
Depicted with four arms, holding two daggers, his head engulfed in flames, riding a he-goat. He lives in a place called Agniloga. His fire is present in the house of every Brahmana. Agni is also said to be one of the Rishis.
Etymologically, the name is related to latin ignis, "fire." [3,10]
Agnisvattas (Hindu) The "Children of the Light," which are the ancestors of the gods. The Brahmanas also count them as their own ancestors. [3]
Agnites (Greek) Byname of Asklepios in Lakedaimon. [3]
Agnostos Theos (Greek) The "unknown gods" were worshipped only as a group, never as a single entity. The reason was not to leave any god without worship. St. Paul is said to have intentionally misinterpreted this to mean that the Greek were in fact worshipping the Christian JHWH without knowing his name. [10]
Agon (Greek) The god of contests of all kind. His statue, showing him with a couple of the weights then usual for the long jump contests, stood in Olympia. [3]
Agoraia (Greek) Agoraioi.
Agoraioi (Greek) Byname for the gods protecting the Agora (the people's assembly); male form: Agoraios, female form: Agoraia. Usually for Zeus, Hermes, Athene and Artemis. [3]
Agoraios (Greek) Agoraioi. [3]
Agotkon (Iroquois) The lesser spirits, inhabitants of the lower heavens. People familiar with the Agotkon are highly respected and much sought after as advisors. [3]
Agoye (African) A god depicted as an ape-like being wearing all kinds of red ornaments, including lizards, feathers and others. His head is depicted crowned with a spear blade penetrating a lizard. The priests of Agoye use two pots with small balls for the purpose of an oracle. [3]
Agraule (Greek) "The Rural," a byname for Athene. [3]
Agresbur (Iroquois) War god, the highest deity. Iroquois and Hurons used the war cry "Areskovi" {we really could use some help concerning the transcription of Amerindian words...}, which is related to the name. [3]
Agreos (Greek) "The Hunter," byname for Faunus and Aristaios. [3]
Agrios (Greek) One of the Gigantes, who fought with an iron club. Killed by one of the Graiai and Herakles. [3]
Agrostines (Greek) Mountain Nymphs. Oreades. [3]
Agrotera (Greek) Artemis, from the temple at Agrae. From the time the Greeks defeated Xerxes, 500 goats were sacrificed for her at this temple. [3]
Agyieos (Greek) Byname for the aspect of Apollon that acts as a protector of roads. [3]
Ahalya (Hindu) Daughter of Brahma, wife of a priest named Gautama. Indra had a crush on her. [3]
Aharaigichi (Abiponian) The highest being and creator of both the Abiponians and the Spanish conquistadores. His stellar counterpart are the Pleiades. He obviously preferred the Abiponians over the Spanish, because he gave the Spanish only fancy clothes and gold, while the Abiponians have courage and strength. [3]
Ah Kin (Mayan) The sun god has aspects of Itzamna. During his nightly trip through the underworld he becomes a jaguar. [10]
Ahmose-Nofretari (Egyptian) Sister and wife of Pharao Ahmose (1539-1514 BCE). She was deified and worshipped by later Pharaos at Thebes. [1]
Ahriman (Zoroastrian) Angra Mainyu.
Ahura Mazda (Zoroastrian) The all-knowing creator god came from the Zervana Akherene at the same time as Angra Mainyu (who according to others is AMs son). He lives in eternal light, and after the twelve thousand years of the world and the twelve thousand years of the fight of good against evil, will recreate earth from the primal mountain Albordji, and rule henceforth. Depicted with wings.
He has sent the prophet Zoroaster (Zarathustra), and will also send forth the redeemer, a grandson of Zoroaster named Sesiosh, who will be born by a virgin.
The decision which path to follow is the responsibility of man, who is charged with keeping order. Ahura Mazda is, amongst others, a sun god. Also called Ormuzd, which likely is a bowdlerized form of his name. Spenta Mainyu. [2,3,10]
Aiakos (Greek) Son of Zeus and either Europa or Aegina. A just and wise king, he was respected even by the high gods. He is one of Hades' judges of the dead. [3]
Aïdoneos (Greek) "The Invisible." A byname for Hades. [3]
Aiëtes (Greek) Brother of Perses, son of Helios and Perseïs, husband of Hekate. [3]
Aïdes (Greek) Hades.
Aífe (Celtic) A manifestation of the goddess of the Otherworld. Could possibly have been a sun goddess; together with Scátach and Uatach she was a teacher of Cúchulainn. Also shows aspects of a mother or fertility goddess. [9]
Aijkthyrnir (Nordic) A stag standing in Valhalla, eating from the tree Laerad. His horns are dripping water into a spring in Niflheimr. [3]
Aijukal (Mongolian) One of the four highest gods. Depicted with ten hands and three heads. [3]
Ailekes Olmak (Lapponian) The three gods of the holy days (Friday through Sunday), being Frit Ailek, Lava Ailek and Shodnobriv Ailek. [3]
Ailley (Hindu) Mother of Kubera. [3]
Aimak (Tartar) House deities, similar to the Penates. [3]
Áine (Celtic) Literally, "light," "heat" or "quickness," both male and female in character. Probably a really old, possibly pre-Celtic sun deity. [9]
Aiolos (Greek) The master of the winds received his capacity from Zeus. His home is the island of Aiolia. There is no known worship. [3,10]
Aion 1.) (Greek) Personification of a measure of time or a certain amount of time. A son of Kronos. In the mysteries, Aion is the author of the world come forth from the darkness. He created the primal silver egg. Probably an adaptation of Chronos, his symbol is the hourglass. [2,10]
2.) (Manichaeic/old Zoroastrian/Mithraic) "Time of long duration," a primal and creator god; as Aion Plutonios in connection with Angra Mainyu; in this aspect his worship was restricted to the reign of the Ptolemaians in Alexandria. in the religion of Mithras pictured with a lion's head. [10]
3.) (Gnostic) In the Gnosis the Aions are middlemen between the worlds. [10]
Airaput (Hindu) A huge, white elephant who bears the firmament. He came out of the ocean when the gods turned a mountain upside down. Airaput is the mount of Indra. [3]
Aïs (Greek) Short for Aïdes: Hades. [3]
Aita (Etruscan) Equivalent to Hades, depicted sitting on a throne next to his wife, wearing a wolfskin cap. [1]
Aither (Greek) "Ether," son of Chaos and Caligo (or of Nyx and Erebos), in communion with Gaia a primal deity that brought forth the Titanes and the Giants. Later identified with Iupiter. [2,3]
Aitu (Maori) Local deities of lower rank. [10]
Aitvaros (Lithuanian) A spirit present in hedges and fences; he can induce nightmares and is able to follow people around to tease them. [3]
Aiushi (Kalmuck) God of health and long life. Depicted sitting cross-legged on a flower. [3]
Aius Locutius (Roman) "The Announcing Speaker," a voice which was heard in the city of Rome in 390 BCE announcing the oncoming of the Gauls. It was ignored. After the Gauls had sacked the city, a temple was built to conciliate the deity. [3]
Aiyapas (Hindu) The forebears of the Vaisyas. The Aiyapas live on the moon. [3]
Akakallis (Greek) Daughter of Minos and Pasiphaë; mother of Lydon by Hermes, and of Miletus by Apollon. Possibly also mother of Phylakis and Phylander. [3]
Akakesios (Greek) Byname of Hermes. [3]
Akaketes (Greek) "Averter of evil," byname of Hermes. [3]
Akambue (Karaibo) Spirits and Genies in general, divided into Opoiem and Maboiem (good and evil spirits). [3]
Akaste (Greek) A Nymph, daughter of Okeanos and Tethys. [3]
Akesios (Greek) "The Saviour," a byname of Apollon. [3]
Akestor (Greek) "The Healing," another byname of Apollon. [3]
Akis (Greek) Son of Pan and Symaethis, lover of Galateia. Killed by the Kyklop Polyphemos. [3]
Akmëtes (Greek) "The freshly greening," byname of the young Dryades and Nayades at Elis. [3]
Akmonides (Greek) A Kyklop. [3]
Akraia (Greek) Daughter of the river god of the Asterion (near Mykene). She and her two sisters Prosymna and Euboia were the first wet nurses of Hera. The name Akraia is often used of godesses with temples in high places. [3]
Akraios (Greek) Byname of gods whose temples are up high. [3]
Akratophoros (Greek) Byname of Dionysos; some of his temples used this name. [3]
Akratopotes (Greek) "The drinker of undiluted wine," a local god of an Athenian harbour city named Munychia. [3]
Akratos (Greek/Roman) A companion of Dionysos/Bacchus, the name meaning "undiluted" and hinting at undiluted wine; therefore maybe just a different name for Dionysos himself. [3]
Akrorites (Greek) Dionysos, after a mountain on which one of his temples was situated. [3]
Aktaia (Greek) A Nereid. The name means "shore-dweller." [3]
Aktis (Greek) Son of Helios and Rhode; Aktis is said to have brought astronomy and astrology to the Egyptians. [3]
Aktius (Greek) Apollon, from his worship in Actium. [3]
Akuman (Zoroastrian) The first of the evil spirits, created by Angra Mainyu to oppose the good spirits of Ahura Mazda. He is said to be the worst of the spirits. Akuman was killed by the Zoroastrian Rustan after a fight lasting seven days. [3]
Alagonia (Greek) Daughter of Zeus and Europa. [3]
Alako (Slavic) The Romanian moon god. [0]
Alala (Greek) Daughter of Ares. The Greek used this name as a warcry. [3]
Alalkomeneïs (Greek) "The Strongly Retaliating," Athene. [3]
Alalkomenia (Greek) Goddess of oaths. Granddaughter of Zeus, daughter of Thebe and Ogyges. She had two sisters, Thelxinoa and Aulis, and together with them received sacrifices of animals' heads. [3]
Alastor (Greek) Byname of Zeus, the Furies and of a few others, as the punishers of evil. [3]
Alben (German/Celtic) The Elves as viewed by the Nordic tradition. Spirits of the land. The old southern English kingdom Albion was probably named after them, possibly after the goddess of the same name, though. [3,10]
Albion (Celtic) Mother as well as patroness of the British, holy day on March 24 (Albion is one of the old English kingdoms). [4]
Alborak (Islam) The silvery horse of the Archangel Gabriel. It is known to be very, very fast. [3]
Albunea (Roman) A Nymph, keeper of the eponymous fountain, which is inside a grotto. She had an oracle: The questioner sacrificed a couple of animals, and slept on the sacrificial beasts' skins to get the answers in a dream. She was also hailed as the "tenth Sibyl;" her temple still stood in Tivoli in the 1880s. [3]
Alea (Greek) Byname of Athene in Arcadia, from Aleos, who is supposed to have built her first temple there. [3]
Alebion (Greek/Roman/Celtic) A son of Poseidon/Neptun, living near Massilia [modern-day Marseille, France]. There is a stone-strewn field between Marseille and the Rhône that has been shown off as the site of a battle between A. and Herakles. [3]
Alekto (Greek) "The Unrelenting," one of the Erinnyias, daughter of Aether and Gaia. [2,3]
Alektryon (Greek) A servant of Ares. Turned into a chicken by his master for some misdemeanor. [3]
Alemone (Roman) The goddess who feeds children in the mother's womb. [3]
Alêthea (Greek) Goddess of truth, a daughter of Zeus or Kronos. Possibly also nurse of Apollon. Mother and/or patroness of virtue and justice. Depicted wearing a white dress. [3]
Alexander (Greek) Alexandros III "The Great" (356–323 BCE), king of Makedonia, received divine honours when he visited the sanctum of Zeus Amon at Memphis and was heroified after his death. He was said to have been born by a virgin.
After conquering most of the world known to the Greeks at the time, Alexander died of a sudden fever attack (some sources say he was murdered) during his retreat from India.
Mystified not only by the Greeks, but also by Arabs, Persians, Uighurs, Syrians and Indians in epics similar to that of Gilgamesh (Sulkharnai, Iskander-Nameh). Depicted similar to Amun with a ram's horns. [2]
Alexandra (Greek) Kassandra. [2]
Alexanor (Greek) Son of Machaon. He is said to have built a temple for his grandfather Asklepios in Sicyonia. In this temple, Alexanor himself had a statue which received sacrifices after sundown. [3]
Alexiares (Greek) Son of Herakles and Hebe. [3]
Alexikakos (Greek) "Harm-Averter," byname of Apollon in Athens. [3]
Alexiraia (Greek) Mother of Karmon. [3]
Alf (Nordic) Elf.
Alfadur (Nordic) The highest being, never seen except in holy copses. This is a very old figure that was later assimilated to Odhin. [3]
Al Glahat (Arabian) Several deities, powerful, but less so than Allah Taala.
Algos (Greek) The personified pain, daughter of Eris. [3]
Ali (Nordic) God of spring, bringing longer days in the north. Son of Odhin and Rinda. Ali owns a castle named Valaskjalf. He is said to be courageous and a good shot. [3]
Aliger (Roman) Byname of winged gods like Mercur or Cupido. [3]
Alilat (Arabian) Highly revered goddess; her statue in the temple at Nakklawas desecrated and destroyed by Muhammad. Possibly identical to Ilithyia. [3]
Alipes (Roman) Byname of Mercur because of the wings on his feet. [3]
Aliterios (Greek) Byname of the deities concerned with justice and revenge. [3]
Alitta (Arabian) Bedouin goddess, similar to Astarte or Anaïtis. She was revered in a meteorite that was mounted on a golden pedestal. The stone still exists -- as the centrepiece of the Ka'aba in Mecca. [3]
Alke (Greek) Daughter of Kybele and Olympos. [3]
Alkides (Greek) Byname of Herakles, from the name of his grandfather, Alkaeos. [3]
Alkimache (Greek) "The Courageous Fighter," a byname of Athene. [3]
Alkione (Greek) Festival of peace on December 15. Alkyone.
Alkippe (Greek) One of the Alkyonides. Daughter of the Titan Alkyoneos, who died in the war against the Olympians, wherefore A. dove off a cliff. To save her, she was converted into a kingfisher (alcedo attis). According to others, a daughter of Ares and Agraulos. [3]
Alkis (Greek) "The Strong," byname of Athene in Macedonia. [3]
Alkmene (Greek) Mother of Herakles by Zeus, while she was married to Amphitryon. Shipped to the Island of the Blessed by Zeus right after her death, she was worshipped as a goddess in Thebes. A.s grave was opened in classical Greek times; it contained, amongst other things, a couple of writings that resembled Hieroglyphs; the Egyptians of the time could not decipher them, though.
Alkon (Greek) A son of Ares; a very sophisticated hunter and bowman who is capable of splitting hairs with his bow and arrow at a distance. [3]
Alkyone (Greek) Daughter of Atlas and Pleïone; had a couple of children by Poseidon: Aethusa, Hyrieos, Hyperenor and Anthas. [3,4]
Alkyoneos (Greek) A Giant, son of Gaia, conceived via the blood of the unmanned Uranos. He was killed by Herakles. A. had seven beautiful daughters, the Alkyonides. [3]
Alkyonides (Greek) The daughters of Alkyoneos, all of whom went off a cliff after their father's death. They were Alkippe, Anthe, Asteria, Drimo, Methone, Pallene and Phthonia. The Olympic gods transformed them to birds out of commiseration. [3]
Allah (Arabian/Islam) Originally probably a creator and justice deity of the pre-Islamic Arabs. Was the highest god in their pantheon. Muhammad used the creator aspect of this god and made him the only god of Islam. In Islam, Allah is almighty, omniscient and all-gracious, and man is a slave of Allah. JHWH. [3,10]
Allah Taala (Arabian) The definitely highest deity, a primal god. [3]
Allat (Nabataean/Arabian-Sabaean) Mother and vegetation goddess. Her altars are always high on mountains. [10]
Alloprosallos (Greek) "The Unreliable Ally," a byname for Ares because of the uncertainties of warfare. [3]
Alma (Roman) "Nourisher," byname of several goddesses, but especially for Ceres. [3]
Almaquah (Minaean/Sabataean/Aksumitic) Moon and empire god. Sin. [10]
Aloée (Inca) Evil spirit, originator of all evil. He is also the reason for death; he takes people out of life. [3]
Aloëos (Greek) Son of Helios and Kirke; according to others of Poseidon and Kanaze. [3]
Aloza (Arabian) "The Mighty," daughter of Allah Taala. Her symbol was the acacia. The priestess of Aloza was murdered, her temple ruined and the holy tree felled by Muhammad. [3]
Alp (middle European) Demonic spirit that causes nightmares by taking on the form of a cat or bear and laying down on the sleeper, thus hindering respiration. Also called Schrat, Drud or Mahr. Known from words like the German "Alptraum" (nightmare) or the mediaeval "Drudenfuss" (the pentagram, which in the late middle ages was regarded as one of the most typical magical signs).The name derives from the nordic Alf or Elf. [3,10]
Alpheaea (Greek) Alpheonia. [3]
Alphenor (Greek) Son of Niobe, killed by Apollon. [3]
Alpheonia (Greek) Byname of Artemis, derived from the name of Alpheos, who was following her around so much she had to take refuge amongst some Nymphs. [3]
Alpheos (Greek) A river god, son of Okeanos and Tethys. He went to great lengths to get the attention of Arethusa. [3]
Alphesiboia (Greek) Mother of Adonis. Also a Nymph that had a crush on Dionysos. [3]
Alsvidur (Nordic) "All-Scorching," Alswinn. [3]
Alswinn (Nordic) One of the pair of horses who pull the sun wagon. The other is Arwakr.
Altan Dshidakti Burchan (Mongolian) "The Golden" or "The Unputrefiable," a heavenly warner who came down to earth to admonish when people were, because of their great decadence, down to living for only 30.000 years... [3]
Altan Gatusun (Kalmuck) A god, depicted as a snake with four feet. Wearing an amulet with his image is supposed to protect from harm. [3]
Altercatio (Roman) The personified vice of quarreling. [3]
Althjofi (Nordic) One of the primal dwarves, famous for his craftiness with metals. [3]
Altios (Greek) Byname of Zeus, after the holy copse Altis near Olympia. [3]
Altor (Roman) Byname of Pluto. [3]
Altvater (Saxonian/folk myth) The "Old-Father" is a mountain spirit in fairy tales; in legends and myths he is the "king under the mountain," master of the dwarf miners of the Altvater mountains of southeast Saxony and northeastern Bohemia. Originally probably a Saxonian deity, his actual origins are quite diffused by the Christian influence; he was at one time quite obviously made over into a being of Christian aspects. His legends tell of a dwarf with a long beard, acting as a master of the mountains that are his home to the degree that the earth opens and shuts when he wishes it to. He is described as a defender of the poor, saviour of the hopeless and [right] undoer of evildoers.
Alvaldi (Nordic) Father of the giant (Thursir) Thjazi, possibly often equalled to him.
Alvée (Inca{?}) A great evil spirit, destroyer of all good things and murderer of the dead. He is said to have been brought to Chile by the Spanish. [3]
Alymnios (Greek) Byname of Hermes. [3]
Alysios (Greek) Byname of Zeus from the mountain Alysos on Crete, where he was worshipped. [3]
Ama (Hindu) Another name for Parvati. [3]
Amaea (Greek) "The Harvester," byname of Demeter. [3]
Amaleïdes (Greek) One of the Tritopatores worshipped at Athens.
Amalthea (Greek)An Okeanide. Zeus' nurse. She was the one who hid Zeus from his father Kronos by hanging his cradle into a dense tree crown. She fed Zeus with goat's milk. One of the goat's horns broke off and was made into the Cornucopia, which was given to Acheloos. Amalthea herself was rewarded by Zeus by being set amongst the stars. [3]
Amarynthia (Greek) Byname of Artemis. [3]
Amaterasu (Shinto) The sun goddess is the inventor of rice agriculture. Attribute: Mirror. She was created by Izanagi. When Susano-o ruined her fields, she hid in a cave and could only after a long time be persuaded to come back out and shine again.
She is regarded as the ancestor of the Tenno. The Kurozumiko sect acceps her as only deity, creator of the world and all life. She gave man the silkworm.
Amaterasu is worshipped by sacrificial prayers, cleansing and sanctifying rituals, which serve to achieve union with her. [2,10]
Amateru-oon-gami (Japanese) Oldest son of Izanami and Izanagi, the ancestor of the Japanese and especially of the emperor. His son was Osi-mo-nino-mikotto. His festival is Matsuri. [3]
Amathea (Greek) A Nereid. Associated with Thetis. [3]
Amatheon (Celtic) A son of Dôn. [9]
Amazonios (Greek) A byname of Apollon in Laconia. [3]
Ambest (Hindu) The tree of life, which grows on a mountain in Indra's capital. [3]
Ambulia (Greek) The Spartan name of Athene. [3]
Ambulios (Greek) The Spartan name for Zeus. [3]
Ambulli (Greek) The Spartan name of the Dioscuri. [3]
Ambrosia (Greek) One of the Pleïades, daughter of Atlas and Pleïone. Ambrosia is also the name of the food and drink of the gods. She is also named as one of the Hyades. [3]
Amenhotep (Egyptian) Pharao vrom 1514-1493 BCE; he started the custom of burial in rock tombs and was deified later to become patron god of the tomb workmen. [1]
Ame-no-minaka-nushi (Shinto/Omotyoko) The Shinto god of appearances. The Omotyoko sect sees him as its only deity. [10]
Ame-no-uzume (Japanese) A goddess. She teased Amaterasu out of a cave by performing an obscene dance, making the sun goddess curious. [2]
Ameretat (Zoroastrian) "The Giver of Immortality," one of the A Mesha Spentas. He is the patron of all plants. The seventh day of each month is in his honour. The very first tree created by Ahura Mazda was given to Ameretat to care for. [3,10]
A Mesha Spentas (Zoroastrian) "The Immortal Saints," seven immortal saints, spirits personifying virtuous mindset, best justice, wished-for realm of god, perfect health, devout (Demut), rejuvenated immortality and wakeful obedience. Reigned over by Ahura Mazda, who is both one of their number and their creator.
They are the seven immortal saints, spirits personifying good mindset, best justice, wished-for realm of god, perfect health, devout humility, rejuvenated immortality and wakeful obedience. They created Earth and all visible creatures on behalf of Ahura Mazda. Their names are Bahman, Ardibehesht, Shahriver, Sapandomad, Khordat and Ameretat, and possibly Hamul. [2,3,10]
Amicitia (Roman) Friendship, the daughter of Erebos and Nux. [3]
Amida (Shinto) The highest god, father of all the spirits, creator of the universe, ruler of the regions of bliss, without beginning or end. He stayed on earth for more than a thousand years, taught the people and worked miracles, to die out of his own volition and become a god and mediator between men and god. He has seven heads symbolizing his 7,000 centuries of reigning over the world and is depicted biting a golden armring which he holds in his right hand, riding a seven-headed horse. [3]
Amid Aba (Kalmuck) Goddess of flowers. Depicted sitting amidst other goddesses on a large flower, she can turn flowers into humans. [3]
Amimitl (Aztec) God of fishing. Especially revered on the island Kuitlahuar. [3]
Amin Deva (Mongolian) One of the four main deities. [3]
Amitabha (Buddhist) One of the oldest Buddhas. The chief of the western paradise Sukhavati. His help can be reached by simply calling his name. He looks like the classic Buddha, only his symbolic colour is red. [10]
Ammas (Greek) Byname of Kybele and Ceres. [3]
Ammonia (Greek/Roman) Byname of Hera at Elis. [3]
Amnisides (Greek) The spring Nymphs of the river Amnisos on Crete. [3]
Amon (Egyptian) Local god of Thebes/Heliopolis; he has the head of a ram. His breath is the cooling north wind. He came in use as a sun god only late, by association with Re (Amon-Re). He is the father of each Pharao, whom he sires with the wife of the predecessor. Married to Mut. Depicted with ram's horns.
In Amon's honour, the Opet Feast is held. His religion was made over into a monotheistic system by Amenhotep IV. The Greeks identified him with Zeus. [2,3,10]
Amor (Roman) God of love, the most beautiful of the gods. Equivalent to Eros. Might be a son of Uranos and Gaia, or of Mercur and Artemis, or of Zephyros and Iris, or of Iupiter and Venus. He is the god of feelings in general, his arrows having tips of either gold for good feelings, or of lead for bad feelings. One of the dii aligeri as well as of the dii nuptiales.
Also a bit of a Trickster, in that he managed to steal Iupiter's lightning, Apollon's arrows, Herakles' club, Mars' helmet, Mercur's winged sandals, Neptun's trident and Luna's torch.
Amor's sacred animals are the hare, the chicken and the goat, the rose was associated with him as well. His main festival are the Erotia, which were celebrated with games and contests of all kinds every five years. Amor is associated with Psyche. [2,3]
Amoretti (Roman) Consorts of Amor. Possibly the children of several Nymphs, or of Venus. [3]
Amphietes (Greek) "The Yearly," a byname for Dionysos, from his feasts in Athens and Thebes which were held every year or every second year. [3]
Amphigyeïs (Greek) "The Limping on Both Legs," a byname for Hephaistos, both of whose legs are stunned.
Amphiktyonis (Greek) Byname of Demeter. [3]
Amphiktyonis (Greek) Byname of Demeter. [3]
Amphilogiae (Greek) "The Contradictions," according to Hesiod children of Eris. [3]
Amphiktyonis (Greek) Byname of Demeter. [3]
Amphimaros (Greek) Son of Poseidon and beloved of Urania, father of Linus, who is said tohave been the first Greek poet. Probably killed by Apollon out of jealousy. [3]
Amphinome (Greek) One of the Nereides, one of the companions of Thetis. [3]
Amphion (Greek) Son of Zeus and Antiope. Abandoned after birth with his twin brother Zethos, he was gifted with a Lyra by Apollon (or by the Muses), which he learned to play so well that even stones would dance to his tunes. Married unhappily to Niobe. [3]
Amphipyros (Greek) "Torch-Bearer," Byname of Artemis. [3]
Amphiro (Greek) An Okeanide. [3]
Amphissos (Greek) Son of Apollon and Dryope. [3]
Amphistratos (Greek) One of the drivers of the Dioscuri. His brother is Rhekes. [3]
Amphithemis (Greek) Son of Apollon and Akakallis; he was in love with the Nymph Tritonis. With her father of Nasamon, Kephalion and Kaphauros. [3]
Amphithoë (Greek) A Nereid from the circle around Thetis. [3]
Amphitrite (Greek/Roman) One of the Nereides, wife of Poseidon, mother of Triton. Depicted with a net and crab's claws on her head. One of the dii marini.
Amphitrite hid out with Atlas in order to escape Poseidon's courtship; she was then convinced by a dolphin to at least listen to the sea god's pleas. Later, Amphitrite changed Skylla into a monster with six heads and twelve legs when Poseidon got a bit too friendly with Skylla. [3,10]
Amphitryonides (Greek) Herakles, named after his foster father Amphitryon. [3]
Amphrysos (Greek) River god of the eponymous river. [3]
Amurdvali (Hindu) Daughter of Vishnu and Lakshmi. [3]
Amyklakos (Greek) Byname of Apollon after the city of Amyclae in Laconia. There used to be a very old iron likeness of Apollon there which got lost in the 4th century CE. It was said to show head, hands, and feet, and to hold a lance and a bow, standing on the sarcophagus of Hyazinthos. [3]
Amykos (Greek) Son of Poseidon and Melia. He was known to be a braggart, and was killed by Pollux. [3]
Ana (Brasilian) An evil demon, living in caves in the rainforest. [3]
Anadyomene (Greek) "The Arising (from the sea)," byname of Aphrodite for her appearing from the foam. [2,3]
Anagnidagdas (Hindu) The forebears of the Brahmanas, named so because they could not be consumed by flames. [3]
Anahit (Armenian) Anahita.
Anahita (Armenian/Semitic/Zoroastrian) A fertility goddess, also the personified evening and morning star. Originally not a deity, she was found worthy of that status by the other gods for having withstood the advances of two fallen Angels, Harut and Marut, and remaining a virgin. Her worship was practised by sacral intercourse.
Anahita had a couple of temples along the caravan roads of the time, and even a couple of places existed where it was not unusual for almost every young woman of the area to first serve a couple of years as a priestess of Anahita and then marry after having had intercourse with just about the whole city. At least, the young men didn't frown on it. [3,10]
Anaideia (Greek) "Shamelessness," which had a temple of its own in order to avert it in Athens. [3]
Anaïtis (Babylonian) Anahita.
Anaka (Brasilian) An evil spirit, possibly deified by several tribes. [3]
Anakos (Phoenician/Syrian) King of Syria, who predicted the deluge. He lived for 300 years and was adopted by the gods.
Anaktes (Greek/Samothrakian) "Rulers," meaning the gods in general (sing. "Anax"), but especially the Dioscuri, and in the Samothrakian religion, the sons of Demeter. [3]
Ananda (Hindu) 1.) "The Unending," a byname of Parabrahma.
2.) The snake bearing the world, with five heads that are a sunscreen for Vishnu. Ananda came out second best in a contest with Vishnu; her thousand and then some heads are crowned by jewels which reflect the greatness of Vishnu. Ananda also played a role in the war of the gods. [3]
Anandatus (Old Zoroastrian) An incarnation of Omanus. [3]
Ananga (Hindu) "The Bodyless," a byname of Kamadeva. [3]
Ananke (Greek) "Necessity," beloved of the Orphic creator, mother of the Moires and of Adrastea by Zeus. She is a mighty goddess who is never challenged by the Olympic gods. She had a temple together with Bia, which nobody was allowed to enter. [3]
Ananya (Hindu) "The Proud;" Kamadeva. [3]
Anar (Nordic) The second of the three husbands of the Thurse Not, father of Joerd. His name means "Work." [3]
Anath (Syrian) Virgin war goddess, daughter of Il (El) and Athirat (Ashirat). Sister and wife of Baal Hadad; also said to be a fertility goddess. Later identified with Sechmet in Egypt. [10]
Anatole (Greek) One of the Horai. [3]
Anax (Greek) Anaktes. As a person, son of Uranos and Gaia, father of Asterios. [3]
Anaxandra (Greek) Daughter of the Spartan Thersandros, twin sister of Lathria. Both sisters have an altar behind the temple of Lykurgos. [3]
Anaxibia (Greek) A Nymph. Persecuted by Helios up to a temple of Artemis Orthia near the river Ganges, she vanished. [3]
Anaxiroë (Greek) Daughter of Kronos, wife of Epeos, mother of Hyrmina. [3]
Anbehe (Hindu) The endless, deep primal sea that was created out of itself and has no boundaries. [3]
Ancha Deyan (Tibetan) Beneficient spirits which rule the three heavens. [3]
Ancharia (Roman) A local goddess in Etruria; could be identical to Nemesis. [3]
Anchesimos (Greek/Roman) A byname of Zeus from a hill in Attika, on which he had a temple. [3]
Anchiale (Greek) Daughter of Iapetos, mother of Kydnos. [3]
Anchinoë (Greek) Daughter of Nilos, mother of Danaos and Aegyptos. [3]
Anculae (Roman) The patron deities of the Roman slaves. [3]
Andate (Celtic) Andraste.
Andes (Greek) A Titan, son of Uranos and Gaia. [3]
Andra (Zoroastrian) One of the highest evil spirits, embodying the dark and smoky earthly fire as an opposite to the A Mesha Spenta named Ardibehesht. [3]
Andhrimnir (Nordic) The cook who prepares the meals for the Einherjer. His cauldron is Eldhrimnir, and it is big enough to feed all the gods as well as the Einherjer. The foodstock he uses is the boar Saehrimnir, who comes back to life every day from its own leftover bones. [3]
Andirena (Greek) Byname of Demeter from a temple she had close to one entrance of a cave that reaches from the city Andirena to Palaia. [3]
Andraste (Celtic) Associated with hares, she is the goddess Boadicea when asked for protection and victory against the Romans. Women were sacrificed to her, which points into the direction of a representation of the Celtic mother goddess, in her aspect as a protector and revenger of the clan. She had a temple in the shire of Essex (England), which was built of unstripped timber and surrounded by a large copse. Prisoners of war were sacrificed there. [9]
Androgynes (Greek) Monsters with two heads, four arms, four legs, and both male and female genitalia. They tried to overrun Zeus, who split them each in two and asked Apollon to heal them. The result were humans. The navel is said to be the leftover scar where Apollon had to bind the severed skin together. By being parted, the Androgynes lost their powers, but won the emotions of longing and love. [3]
Androktasioi (Greek) "Manslaughters," the personified fights and battles, daughters of Eris. [3]
Andromeda (Greek) Daughter of Kassiopeia and Perseos. Due to an oracle, Andromeda was sacrificed to ameliorate the wrath of a sea monster that devastated her mother's kingdom. She was set amongst the stars thereafter as the constellation bearing her name. [3]
Androphonos (Greek) Byname of Ares and Aphrodite. [3]
Andrus (Roman) Personification of maleness and virility. Festival on November 30. [3,4]
Anemotis (Greek) "The Master of the Winds," byname of Athene. [3]
Anesidora (Greek) "The Sender of Gifts," a byname of Demeter. [3]
Anga (Hindu) Wife of the Raja Dasapragavadi, a really beautiful woman. She was so beloved by Parvati that the two became one and bore Shiva's son Ganesha together. [3]
Angat (Madagascan) A Trickster, who always receives some of the sacrifices for the highest god. [3]
Angekoks (Inuit) Protector spirits, who consult with their master Torngarseak rather often. [3]
Angelia (Greek) "The Announcement" or "The Prophesy," daughter of Hermes and Metis. [3]
Angeliea (Greek) "The Prophetess," byname of Eos. [3]
Angelos (Greek) "Messenger," a byname of Hermes, Artemis, and Hekate. Also a son of Poseidon and a Nymph. [3]
Angels (Jewish/Christian/Islam) Heavenly beings, godlike in their powers, who were created by or are part of the one god (JHWH) and do his bidding. According to the Jewish faith, there are seven classes of Angels who have differing tasks and numbers. The Christians believe, amongst others, in guardian Angels who watch out over people and keep them out of trouble. The most common image associated with angels is that of a female body with added wings. This is a form that can be traced back to several pagan deities of the classic religions (Valkyrja). [3]
Angerona (Roman) Goddess of the troubled mind and of fear, depicted with a sealed mouth. Her statue was mounted on the altar of Volupia. [3]
Angeyja (German) One of the nine daughters of Ran, who collectively bore Heimdall in their form as waves of the sea. [3]
Angitia (Roman) "Throttler," a goddess known to have throttled snakes with her singing. Especially revered in the area around the lacus fucinis. According to some, identical to the Bona Dea. [3]
Angra Mainyu (Zoroastrian) Also called Ahriman, the "evil spirit" of Zoroastrian religion, son of Ahura Mazda, the brother and antagonist of Spenta Mainyu. He made a compact with Falsehood, which is his constant companion; he managed to infiltrate the ephemeral world by taking on the shape of a fly.
According to others, Angra Mainyu and Ahura Mazda were both created by the one eternal god Zervan Akerene. One of the figures that helped shape the image of the Christian Devil. [2,3,10]
Angrboda (German) A Thurse, wife of Loki, mother of Fenrir, Hel, and Joermungand. [3]
Anhuret (Egyptian) Probably war god of the upper egyptian city Thinis. Depicted wearing four feathers in his headdress. [2]
Anidoti (Chaldaean) Four beings half human, half animal that came forth from the sea close to the shores of Babylon to educate mankind. The first of them, Oannes, gave man science, culture, religion and law, and the following three repeated its teachings to ingrain them in their listeners.
Anigrides (Greek) The Nymphs of the eponymous river. They had a holy grotto near the mouth of the stream. The springs of the river put out water with a high sulfur content and were known to heal skin diseases and used for that purpose. [3]
Aninka (Finnish) Wife of Tapio. Enchanted by hunters' songs, she was capable of ensuring good hunting and birdcatch even during times of her husband's ill humour. [3]
Anios (Greek) A patron god who was worshipped at Elis. [3]
Aniran (Zoroastrian) The elemental spirit of the pure primal light, principal of the connection between fire and water. The 30th day of each month is holy to him, and he presides at weddings. [3]
Anitis (Marianas) The spirits of the dead; people try to allay them by setting flowerpots next to the bodies -- these are supposed to take up the spirit, so it cannot haunt the living, which it would otherwise do. [3]
Aniunga (Inuit) Moon deity; the varying colour of the moon depends on the diet of the deity. A deified mortal, Aniunga lives among the stars. [3]
Anka (Oriental) A huge, very intelligent bird, capable of speech, who was there before there were any humans. [3]
Ankylometes (Greek/Roman) "The wily," a byname of Kronos rsp. Saturn. [3]
Anna Perenna (Roman/Italian) An old Italic goddess of spring, possibly a Nayade of the river Numicius. Her feast is at the beginning of spring. Her name means "the perennial year." [3]
Annapurna (Hindu) "The Rich of Foods," mother of the gods.
Anninga (Inuit) The moon, in love with his beautiful sister Malina, wherefore he waxes and wanes: Tearing himself apart with longing, he wanes, and coming back from the seal hunt, he is strengthened and waxes. He shines less than his beloved because he once followed her, both of them using burning moss for light, and his moss burnt down faster... A deified person on Greenland. [3]
Annona (Roman) The grace goddess of the harvest, depicted as a woman with her right arm naked, carrying a cornucopia in the left and a bushel of corn in her right hand. She was called upon to keep produce prices acceptable and to ensure a good harvest. [3]
Anonymos (Greek) "Nameless," a Titan, son of Gaia, said to be of formidable shape. Killed by Herakles. [3]
Anos (Chaldaean) One of the three primal powers, son of Kisara and Asoron. His brothers were Aos and Illinos. [3]
Anosia (Greek) "The Sacrilegious," a byname of Aphrodite. [3]
Antaea (Greek) "The one you turn to with prayers," byname of Demeter, Kybele and Hekate. [3]
Antaios (Greek) A Titan, huge and strong, son of Poseidon and Gaia. He reigned over Libya. Feared by all strangers, Antaios had planned to build his father a castle out of the skulls of the opponents he had overcome. He was pressed to death by Herakles, who kept him in the air so A. could not regain his strength by touching the earth. [3]
Anteros (Greek) Son of Aphrodite. Originally the revenging spirit of love unrequitted. Later the counterpart of his older brother Eros, personifying love returned. [3]
Anteverta (Roman) The goddess of the knowledge of the past, with her sister Postverta the consorts of Carmenta. [3]
Anthas (Greek) Son of Poseidon and Alkyone. Founder of the city Anthea. [3]
Anthe (Greek) One of the Alkyonides. [3]
Anthea (Greek) "The Flower-Friend," a byname of Hera in Argos, and of Aphrodite on Crete. [3]
Anthedon (Greek) A Nayade from Böotia; the city Anthedon is supposed to have been named after her. [3]
Antheos (Greek) "The Flower-Friend," a byname of Dionysos. [3]
Anthrazia (Greek) "The Coal-Black," a Nymph from Arcadia. [from anthrax, Greek: Coal]. [3]
Antianira (Greek) A Nymph, lover of both Apollon and Hermes. She had children from both of them. [3]
Antias (Roman) Byname of Fortuna, from the city of Antium, where she was especially revered. [3]
Antichrist (Christian) The embodiment of evil, appearing in several shapes under differing names. The title was also given to several historical persons, including a number of rulers and popes as well as to the Roman Catholic church in toto. He is said to lead the armies of the Devil during the Armageddon. [2]
Antumalgumen (Araugano) Wife of the sun god. [3]
Antrimp (Prussian/Wendish) God of the sea, one of the great twelve. [3]
Anu (Sumerian/Babylonian) Heavenly deity. Recorded from the 4th millennium BCE by a stepped temple in the shape of a ziqqurat. He gave his world power to his son Kummarbi -- if not exactly by choice. Also father of Ishtar. Together with Ki, Enlil and Enki at the top of the Sumerian pantheon. [10]
Anubis (Egyptian) The god of the dead, also god of mummification. The son of Osiris and Nephthys is depicted as a human with the head of a jackal or as a cross between human, jackal and wolfhound. He plays a major role in the judgment of the dead, where he weighs the hearts. He was sometimes equalled to Hermes. Anubis was brought up by Eset and later helped her collecting the parts of Osiris for mummification. [2,3,10]
Anurat (Siamese) Pupil of the siamese saint Sommona Khodom, he was turned into an Angel during one of his teacher's sermons. [3]
Anytos (Greek) A Titan, son of Uranos and Gaia, and probably the educator of Hera. [3]
Aoede (Greek) "Song," one of the Aonides. [3]
Aoibheal (Celtic: Irish) A motherly protector goddess of northern Munster. She is said to have predicted the O'Brians' victory against the Vikings in 1014. [9]
Aonides (Greek) The three original Muses Aoede, Mneme and Melete. [3]
Aora (Greek) A Nymph, known on Crete. [3]
Aos (Chaldaean) With Anos and Illinos one of the three primal principles. [3]
Apalexikakos (Greek) "Averter of Evil," a byname of Asklepios. [3]
Apanchomene (Greek) "The Strangled," a byname of Artemis from an incident which involved the death of a couple of children which had, playing, hung a string around her statue's neck. The inhabitants of a nearby city wanted to avenge the honour of the goddess and stoned the children to death, whereupon Artemis made all their wives have premature deaths until the children were properly buried and got yearly sacrifices. [3]
Apasson (Chaldaean) The male primal principle, together with Tanthe the origin of all being. [3]
Apate (Greek) "Deception," daughter of Nux. [3]
Apedemak (Nubian) War god, with the head of a lion. He sometimes appears as a substitute for Osiris, as the Nubian pantheon is largely that of the Egyptian religion. He can also appear with the body of a snake, three snakes' heads and four arms. He also has aspects of Shu and Tefnut. [10]
Apeliotes (Greek) The Eastern Wind, depicted flying, with a light mantle in which he carries flowers and fruit. A friendly god bringing beneficient rains from the sea. [3]
Apemios (Greek) "Damage-Averter," a byname of Zeus in Attika. [3]
Aperta (Roman) "The Open," a byname of Apollon. [3]
Apesantios (Greek) A byname of Zeus, from the mountain Apesas. [3]
Apevesh (Zoroastrian) One of the evil spirits of Angra Mainyu, embodying draught. His main opponent is Tashtra. [3]
Aphacitis (Greek) A byname of Aphrodite, from a place called Aphaca between Heliopolis and Byblos (Syria). She had an oracle there, and a temple which was destroyed by order of emperor Constantine I. [3]
Aphaia (Greek) A byname of Britomartis. [3]
Aphesios (Greek) "The Saviour," a byname of Zeus. [3]
Aphetor (Greek) "The Marksman," a byname of Apollon; also the title of the highest priest of Apollon at Delphi. [3]
Aphiraphe (Greek) Daughter of the Titanes Coeos and Phoebe. [3]
Aphnaios (Greek) "The Giver of Stores," a byname of Ares. [3]
Aphrodite (Greek) Originally a mother and fertility goddess from the Semitic and Syrian religions, which would be identical to Astarte; probably brought to Greece by the Phoenicians. Goddess of the heavens, also known as Dione or her daughter.
To the Greeks, she originally probably was a sea and fishing goddess, depicted even in later times with a bronze net. She later became the goddess of love and beauty in classical times, the most beautiful of the Olympic gods. She came out of the seafoam at Cyprus. A distinction is made between A. Pandemos (the popular goddess) and A. Urania (the celestial goddess), symbolic figure of love.
Married to Hephaistos, she horned her husband with Ares, which was publicized by the all-seeing Helios. By the Troian Anchises, she is mother of Hektor, Aeneas and Lyros, by Adonis mother of Golgos and Beroë, from her double marriage with Ares and Adonis, mother of Priapos. From Hermes, she bore Hermaphroditos, for Butes, Eryx, and by Poseidon, she was mother of Rhodos.
Holy plants are myrtle, rose, apple, linden and poppy, holy birds are sparrow, dove, swallow, wryneck and swan, holy animals are fish in general, dolphin, buck, swallow and turtle. Her favourite animal and possibly sacred to her is the hare. Also sacred to her are the planet Venus, Fridays, the number six and the month of April. Associated to mice, and copper. At her temples, holy doves are kept.
Her attributes are helmet, lance, shield, sword and victory; she is the winner of all hearts. Her chariot is pulled by doves or swans. Her name is put together from aphros = "foam," and either dyô = "diving" or dios = "(celestial) deity." The Romans equalled her with Venus. [2,3,4,10,11]
Apia (Scythian) Earth goddess, daughter of Borysthenes, wife of Papaios. [3]
Api Doma (Slavic) "The Safekeeper of the House," a domestic god that was asked for protection when moving to a new house. [3]
Apis (Egyptian) The holy bull, black with a white spot on his brow and a spot in the form of the waxing moon on one side. Deity of reincarnation and death, a manifestation of Ptah, often also equalled to Re and Osiris. Main centre of worship was Memphis, where a bull was kept which personified Apis. Sacrifices were rare; mostly at the beginning of the year at the beginning of the Nile flood.
When the bull dies, his divinity merges with that of Osiris. He is mummified and then entombed in a ceremony which the nobility was allowed to attend, and the priests travelled around the country to find another bull with the necessary characteristics, and the departed was embalmed and gifted with sacrifices of red bulls and other animals sacred to Typhon, who was the antagonist of Apis.
The religion of Sarapis takes some of its cues from Apis' worship. [2,3,10]
Apollo (Asian, Etruscan, possibly Indian) A mighty slayer of enemies, who kills his opponents with arrows bearing plague. Later seen to bring healing as well as sickness, according to the principle that "he who wounds, must also heal." This, by the way, is the motto of surgeons even today.
Apollon (Greek/Roman) God of poetry, music, ethics and the fine arts in general. Born on the island of Delos, the son of Zeus and Latona, twin brother of Artemis. Strongly connected to earth. God of the Delphic Oracle. Holy days on February 9 and May 18, which is Apollon Day.
Originally probably an old oriental deity with a rather dark, warlike character (Apollo), a revenger and marksman who killed the sons of Niobe and sends ruin against warriors. He was also perceived as a being of light by the Greeks, averting mishaps, and a healer, the father of Asklepios. As god of the oracle, he killed the guardian of Delphi, Python, and took over the oracle from Themis. As a god of song and play, he invented the Cythera and took over the Lyre from Hermes.
Holy to Apollon are the raven, swan, goshawk and rooster, wolf and snake; laurel, olive tree and palm, and the griffin. His atributes are the cythera, the tripod, bow and quiver, and a shepherd's cane and chariot. Usual sacrifices are cakes and frankincense; wreaths of laurel are worn in his honour.
His symbolic plant is the laurel, which he used to cleanse himself and to give oracles. His temples are usually surrounded by laurel copses, and his priestesses at Delphi chewed laurel leaves. Apollon is associated with horse (which pulls the sun chariot) and is accompanied by ravens. At Apollon's birth, a swan was present; he carries the god through the air and can predict the future.
He is said to have been made over into the Christian St. Vincent from his aspect as a sun god. [2,3,4,10]
Apomyios (Greek) "Flies-Evicter," a byname of Zeus in Elis from an incident involving Herakles, who was plagued by flies and was freed of them after having sacrificed to Zeus. [2,3]
Apostrophia (Greek) "Off-Turner," byname of Aphrodite as the goddess preventing too immoral a love-life. [3]
Apotropaios (Greek) "The Averter," a byname of all gods who avert unbill. [3]
Apophis 1.) (Egyptian) Snake deity or demon; he had his head removed by the sun god's cat. Associated with the colour red. The sun god in question is most likely Atum. [2]
2.) (Greek) World-girding snake which threatens the ship of Helios in its passage. [2]
Appias (Roman) The Nymph of the Appian well, which was in the Forum. [3]
Apsara (Hindu) These twelve passengers of the sun wagon have the task to worship the sun goddess by dancing. [10]
Apsaras (Hindu) 600 million young women from the entourage of Indra. All are unmarried and were created out of thin air and fragrance when the gods turned the mountain Mandar upside down. Their leaders are Ranka, Manka, Urbekri and Kertshi.
When dwelling on earth, they inhabit Lotos ponds and try to seduce ascetics. [2,3]
Apseudes (Greek) A Nereid, daughter of Nereos and Doris. [3]
Apsund (Hindu) Formerly a good spirit, who has turned away from the Gods and was banned to the Patals. With his brother Sund, he is responsible for all of the wars Indra has to fight. [3]
Apteros (Greek) "The Wingless," a byname of Nike in Athens where she was depicted without wings so she couldn't leave the city. [3]
Apulu (Etruscan) Equivalent to Apollon. The region Apulia in Italy possibly derived its name from him. [1]
Arabios (Greek) Son of Apollon and Babylonia; his daughter was Kassiopeia. [3]
Aracynthias (Greek) A byname of Athene. [3]
Arael (Jewish) The Angel leading the hosts of the birds. [3]
Araios (Greek) A byname of Zeus as the recipient of prayers. [3]
Arakos (Greek) A Heros, apotheosis in 405 BCE. He was one of those who fought with Lysander against the Athenians. He had a Heroön in Delphi.
Arambe (Hindu) The lead dancer of the gods. A Nymph from the lower heavens, daughter of Kassyapa and Arete. [3]
Aramech (Arabian) A mighty Heros who was elevated to the firmament. His constellation is Boötes, his particular star Arcturus. He is called Haris el Semai, "Keeper of the Sky." [3]
Aratos (Greek) A deified Heros who freed the city Sicyon. He had two festival days; the day of his liberating the city and his birthday. His priests wear headbands with purple spots in commemoration of the bloody fight.
Arawn (Celtic: Welsh) King of Annwn, which is the Welsh Otherworld. [9]
Arbios (Greek) A byname of Zeus from the mountain Arbios on Crete, where he had a temple. [3]
Arbitrator (Roman) "The Ruler," a byname of Iupiter under which he had a temple in Rome called the Pentapylon. [3]
Archangels (Jewish/Christian) A class of angels, according to some the highest class. There are four of them: Uriel, Michael, Gabriel and Raphael. [3]
Archegetos (Greek) A byname of both Apollon and Asklepios, having to do with the founding of cities. [3]
Archia (Greek) An Okeanide. [3]
Archirrhoë (Greek) A Nymph known in Arkadia. [3]
Arcitenens (Roman) "Steering the Bow," byname of Apollon and Diana. [