Surya, an Indo-European god Surya, the Hindou Sun god is often depicted riding a chariot harnessed to horses. Their journey symbolizes the trajectory of the Sun across the sky from dawn till dusk. We find similar representations in Ancient Greece (The god Helios identified with Apollo), in ancient Iran (Mithra), in North Europa (Viking goddess […]
Nut, the Egyptian sky goddess is often pictured arched over the Earth, her naked blue body covered with stars. But she also protected the deceased in their journey to the underworld. In that task she was connected with the sycamore, one of the many sacred trees in ancient Egypt. We shall first try to understand […]
Pachamama is the ancient Inca goddess of the earth and fertility. She embodies Mother Earth and is central to Andean culture and religion. Pachamama represents the nurturing force of nature and creation. Her origins stretch back before the Inca civilization to earlier Andean and Peruvian cultures. Depictions of Pachamama often show her as a full-bodied […]
Pan is the wild and mischievous Greek god of the meadows, pastures, and forests, with the hindquarters and horns of a goat. He roamed the wooded glens of Arcadia playing his panpipes and chasing nymphs. As god of the wild, untamed places, Pan embodied fertility and the uncontrolled instincts of nature. According to legend, Pan […]
If you can’t get the deer in three shots, you shouldn’t be hunting. You are an embarrassment. —— Joe Biden Diana and her deers Roman Moon deity Diana is also the goddess of wilderness. It may seem contradictory that she protects wildlife and at the same time is a skilled huntress. We have noticed something […]
Yawkyawk is the ancient dreaming goddess of the Yawuru people in western Australia, associated with the vital Nagulagun river and the lands surrounding it. Believed to inhabit a deep pool in the river, Yawkyawk is a benevolent figure who provided the Yawuru with fresh water, fish, mangroves, and guidance. According to Yawuru legends, Yawkyawk was […]
Olokun is the powerful Yoruba ocean deity who reigns over the expansive aquatic realm along the coasts of West Africa. Usually depicted as a mermaid, Olokun personifies the sea’s terrifying force and unpredictable nature. She is venerated by coastal communities as the source of the ocean’s bounty yet also its potential wrath. According to Yoruba […]
Xiwangmu is the lofty Chinese goddess who dwells in the mystical mountains, presiding over nature, immortality, and female power. As the Queen Mother of the West, she possesses the coveted peaches of immortality that only ripen every 3,000 years on her sacred peach tree. Chinese legends describe Xiwangmu’s origin tracing back to a nine-colored tiger […]
Mielikki was the Finnish goddess of the forest and the hunt, associated with the beauty and bounty of nature. Usually depicted as a young woman, she embodied the mystical power of the deep woods. Mielikki rewarded respectful hunting and foraging, allowing the forest to replenish itself each season. However, she was said to punish excessive […]
Who let the winds out, who, who? In ancient representations, Fujin, the Japanese wind god is often shown with disheveled hair, bulging eyes and a bag around his neck that contains all the winds. This strikes a chord amongst Greek and Roman scholars. It has been said that Fujin borrowed some of his characteristics from […]
Perun was the supreme god of the ancient Slavic pantheon and ruler of the heavens, thunder, and lightning. He was one of the most revered and feared deities in Slavic mythology. Perun was generally depicted as a rugged, bearded man who carried an axe, hammer, or mace. He rode in a chariot pulled by a […]
Spirals are everywhere Inca gods are represented by statues but also by symbols, some of which are quite obvious: Inti, the Sun, is a golden disk with rays. It is perhaps more difficult to understand why Pachamama, the Earth goddess, is figured by a spiral. Spirals were already a common symbol in Prehistoric rock art […]