Language
Yoruba orisha of winds, lightning, and transformation through destruction. Oya guards the gates of cemeteries and transforms the dead. She wields lightning and brings change through storms. Oya represents fierce …
Elephant-headed god of beginnings, wisdom, and removal of obstacles. Ganesha's broken tusk (used to write Mahabharata) and large belly represent imperfection and abundance. As Shiva and Parvati's son, his elephant …
Primordial goddess of the salt sea, representing primeval chaos. Tiamat birthed gods but was later slain by Marduk, her body forming heaven and earth. She represents the chaotic feminine waters …
Sumerian goddess of love, war, fertility, and political power. Inanna's descent to the underworld, death, and resurrection forms a powerful myth of transformation. She strips away attributes at each gate, …
Japanese sun goddess and ancestor of imperial family. Amaterasu retreated into a cave after conflict with her brother, plunging world into darkness until lured out by her reflection and entertainment. …
Celtic horned god associated with nature, animals, fertility, and the underworld. Cernunnos sits cross-legged surrounded by beasts, holding a torc and serpent. He represents the wild masculine, the lord of …
Irish goddess of war, fate, and death, often appearing as crow or raven. Morrigan's prophecy and influence over battle outcomes make her powerful and feared. She washes the armor of …
Slavic witch who lives in a hut on chicken legs deep in the forest. Baba Yaga is ambiguous—sometimes helpful, sometimes dangerous—testing those who seek her aid. She flies in a …
West African and Caribbean spider trickster god associated with stories, wisdom, and cunning. Anansi uses intelligence to overcome more powerful beings, often through clever tricks. He obtained the world's stories …
Aztec deity of wind, learning, and creation, depicted as feathered serpent. Quetzalcoatl represents the union of earth (serpent) and sky (bird), matter and spirit. He brought agriculture, calendar, and arts …
Goddess of truth, justice, and cosmic order. Ma'at's feather is weighed against hearts of the dead—those lighter than the feather proceed to afterlife. She represents the principle of cosmic balance, …
God of mummification, the dead, and guide to the afterlife. Anubis presides over the weighing of hearts against Ma'at's feather in judgment. His jackal form associates him with cemeteries and …
God of writing, wisdom, magic, and the moon. Thoth invented hieroglyphs and serves as scribe of the gods, recording judgments of the dead. His association with measurement, time, and magic …
Goddess of magic, healing, and motherhood. Isis reassembled Osiris's body and conceived Horus, demonstrating creative power and devotion. Her magical knowledge includes the secret name of Ra. Isis represents the …
God of the afterlife, resurrection, and agriculture. Osiris was murdered by his brother Set, dismembered, and reassembled by his wife Isis, becoming ruler of the underworld. His death and resurrection …
Divine monkey deity of devotion, strength, and service. Hanuman's unwavering devotion to Rama represents the ideal of bhakti (devotional love). His supernatural strength and ability to grow or shrink demonstrate …
Fierce goddess of time, death, and transformation. Kali's terrifying appearance—black skin, skulls, severed heads—represents the destruction of ego and illusion. Her dancing on Shiva's body symbolizes the dynamic feminine power …
God of destruction and transformation, part of Hindu trinity with Brahma and Vishnu. Shiva's cosmic dance (Tandava) both destroys and creates universes. His ascetic nature and wild appearance contrast with …
Avatar of Vishnu, central figure in Bhagavad Gita and object of devotional love. Krishna's childhood pranks and divine play (lila) demonstrate the sacred in everyday life. His teaching to Arjuna …
Prince who renounced wealth to seek enlightenment, founding Buddhism. Buddha's discovery of the Middle Way between asceticism and indulgence, Four Noble Truths, and Eightfold Path offer liberation from suffering. His …
The adversary and tempter in Judeo-Christian tradition, embodying opposition to God and humanity's spiritual enemy. Satan's identity evolved from divine prosecutor to fallen angel to personification of evil. He represents …
Righteous man tested by Satan with God's permission, losing family, wealth, and health. Job's protest against undeserved suffering and his friends' theological explanations explore theodicy—the problem of evil. God's response …
Shepherd boy who became king of Israel, slayer of Goliath, and traditional author of Psalms. David's journey from humble origins to kingship embodies divine selection and the hero's rise. His …
Prophet who led Israelites from Egyptian slavery, received Ten Commandments, and established covenant with God. Moses's journey from adopted Egyptian prince to shepherd to liberator embodies transformation through calling. His …