Category: Deities

Goddesses – The Morrigan

The Morrigan – Celtic Goddess of War, Fertility and Sovereignty

The Morrigan goddess is usually thought of as the Celtic goddess of war and sometimes the Celtic goddess of death, but she has strong association with fertility and sovereignty as well. Gifted with the ability to shapeshift, she has the capacity to take many forms, but commonly takes the form of a crow.

She is a complex deity known as the Phantom Queen, who is both a single goddess and also a triple goddess. The triple goddess is composed of the goddesses Badb, Macha and Nemain.

The crow symbol is thought to connect with Badb (meaning crow in Irish). As a crow, she would fly over the battlefield and either encourage or instill fear in the warriors below. She is also said to have the ability to foretell the outcome of battles and predict violent deaths.

Macha is more usually connected with the land and its fertility and is seen as a protector. There is a strong link between Macha and horses, as well as other livestock. It has been suggested that the origin of her name possibly stems from an area used to graze cattle.

The frenzy of battle is connected with the aspect of Nemian. She is said to be responsible for the rage and fury of a battle and her terrifying scream can kill or paralyze a man.

Badb and Nemain were the wives of Neit, the Irish god of war.

According to some versions, the war goddess Morrigan is the wife of the Dagda and they have a special coupling around the feast of Samhain.

She also set her sights on Cú Chulainn and tried unsuccessfully to seduce him. After a series of failed attempts to seek revenge on him, she ultimately correctly prophesied his death in battle.

Gods – The Dagda

The Dagda – Celtic God of Agriculture, Fertility, Seasons and Weather from letsgoireland.com

Who is the king of the gods in Celtic mythology?

The Dagda Celtic god is believed to be the father of the gods and is thought of as a strong, manly figure with the knowledge and wisdom of the druids.

As a god he had immense power and influence. The Dagda is the Celtic god of agriculture, fertility of the land and animals, weather, time and seasons.

He is also connected with life and death. Donn, the Irish god of death may have been an aspect of the Dagda.

Good, fruitful harvests were critical for the survival of Celtic people and animals, so it is easy to see how central a role this god played in the Celtic pantheon.

The fertility and health of cattle was also of primary importance as a person’s wealth was often counted in terms of cattle. Retribution payments for certain crimes were also paid in cattle according to the old Irish Brehon laws.

One ritual to ensure a fruitful harvest in the coming year was the annual coupling of the Dagda with his wife, the Morrigan goddess at the feast of the Samhain (on 1 November).

Some of the Dagda’s most prized possessions included an enchanted harp and a magical staff, with which he could kill 9 men at once with or restore their lives at will. He also had a bottomless cauldron to ensure that no man left his table feeling hungry.

The Dagda was the supposed father of several other important figures in Irish mythology including the goddess Brigid and Bodb Derg who featured a key role in the tale of the Children of Lir.

The river goddess Boann was his lover and mother of his child, and fellow god, Aengus.

Gods – Charge Of The God

Oak and Holly Kings

Charge Of The God on summergoddess.wordpress.com

Since Wicca is about balance in the Universe; a newer addition to the tradition is the “Charge of the God”. Once again, there are several versions out there for you to choose from. I am listing two here for you to see; the first is from my personal Book of Shadows, the second was another version that I liked for its content and poetic flow. (Once again, you will notice that the version I use does not have the names of the God listed within the first line.)

As I said before; Wicca is about balance. For this reason I feel that the Charge of the God is necessary when invoking the combination of the Goddess and the God within your ritual. This gives you the balance of the feminine; (wisdom and emotion,) and the masculine; (strength and protection,) in your rituals and spell casting.

The Charge Of The God

Listen to the words of the Great Father, who of old was called by many names:

My law is harmony with all things.

Mine is the secret that opens the gates of life and Mine is the dish of salt of the Earth that is the body of Cernunnos, which is the eternal circle of rebirth.

I give the knowledge of life everlasting; and beyond death, I give the promise of regeneration and renewal.

I am the sacrifice, the Father of all things and My protection blankets the Earth.

Now hear the words of the dancing God, the music of whose laughter stirs the winds, whose voice circles the seasons:

I who am the Lord of the Hunt and the Power of the Light; sun among the clouds and the secret of the flame, I call upon your bodies to arise and come unto me.

For I am the flesh of the Earth and all its beings.

Through Me all things must die and with Me they are reborn.

Let My worship be in the body that sings–for behold, all acts of willing sacrifice are My rituals.

Let there be desire and fear, anger and weakness, joy and peace, awe and longing within you.

For these; too, are parts of the mysteries found within you, within Me. All beginnings have endings, and all endings have beginnings.

Goddess – Heqet

Egyptian Goddess Heqet from symbolsage.com

Heqet, also known as the ‘Frog Goddess’ was the Ancient Egyptian goddess of fertility and childbirth. She was one of the most important goddess of the Egyptian pantheon and was often identified with Hathor, goddess of the sky, of fertility and women. Heqet was usually depicted as a frog, an ancient fertility symbol and was much revered by mortals. Here’s her story.

Heqet’s Origins

Heqet is first attested to in the so-called Pyramid Texts from the Old Kingdom, where she helps the pharaoh along his journey through the Underworld. She was said to be the daughter of the sun god, Ra, the most important god in the Egyptian pantheon at the time. However, her mother’s identity remains unknown. Heqet was also considered the female counterpart of Khnum, the god of creation and she was the wife of Her-ur, Haroeris, or Horus the Elder, the Egyptian the god of kingship and the sky.

Heqet’s name was said to have the same roots as the name of the Greek goddess of witchcraft, ‘Hecate‘. While the actual meaning of her name isn’t clear, some believe that it was derived from the Egyptian word ‘heqa’, meaning ‘scepter’, ‘ruler’, and ‘magic’.  

Depictions and Symbols of Heqet

One of the oldest cults in Ancient Egypt was the worship of the frog. All frog deities were believed to have had an important role in the formation and creation of the world. Before the inundation (the annual flooding of the River Nile), frogs would begin to appear in large numbers due to which they later became associated with fertility and the beginning of life on earth. Heqet was often portrayed in the form of a frog but was also portrayed as a woman with a frog’s head, holding knives in her hand.

In the story of the Triplets, Heqet appears as a frog with ivory wands that looked more like boomerangs rather than like the batons magicians use today. The wands were to be used as throwing sticks. It was believed that if these ivory wands were used in rituals, they would draw protective energy around the user during dangerous or difficult times.

Heqet’s symbols include the frog and the Ankh, which she is sometimes depicted with. The Ankh signifies life and is also considered as one of Heqet’s symbols since giving people new life was one of her main roles. The goddess herself, is regarded as a symbol of fertility and abundance.

Heqet’s Role in Egyptian Mythology

Aside from being the goddess of fertility, Heqet was also associated with pregnancy and childbirth. She and her male counterpart often worked together to bring life into the world. Khnum would use the mud from the River Nile to sculpt and form human bodies on his potter’s wheel and Heqet would breathe life into the body, after which she would place the child in a female’s womb. Therefore, Heqet had the power to bring the body and spirit into existence. Together, Heqet and Khnum were said to be responsible for the creation, formation and birth of all living beings.

Another of Heqet’s roles was the role of a midwife in Egyptian mythology. In one story, the great god Ra sent Heqet, Meskhenet (the goddess of childbirth), and Isis (the Mother goddess) to the royal birthing chamber of Ruddedet, the royal mother. Ruddedet was about to deliver triplets and each of her children were destined to become pharaohs in the future. The goddesses disguised themselves as dancing  girls and entered the birthing chamber to help Ruddedet deliver her babies safely and quickly. Heqet quickened the delivery, while Isis give the triplets names and Meskhenet predicted their future. After this story, Heqet was given the title ‘She who hastens the birth’.

In the myth of Osiris, Heqet was regarded as a goddess of the final moments of birth. She breathed life into Horus as he was born and later on, this episode became associated with Osiris’ ressurection. Since then, Heqet was regarded as a goddess of resurrection as well and she was often depicted on sarcophagi as a protectress.

Cult and Worship of Heqet

Heqet’s cult probably began back in the early dynastic periods as frog statuettes created in that time were found that may be depictions of the goddess.

Midwives in ancient Egypt were known as ‘servants of Heqet’, as they helped deliver babies into the world. By the New Kingdom, amulets of Heqet were common among mothers-to-be. Since she was associated with resurrection, people began to make amulets of Heqet with the Christian cross and with the words ‘I am the resurrection’ on them during the Christian era. Pregnant women wore amulets of Heqet in the form of a frog, sitting on a lotus leaf, since they believed that the goddess would keep them and their babies safe all throughout their pregnancy. They continued to wear them right through the delivery as well, in hope of a quick and safe delivery.

In Brief

The goddess Heqet was an important deity in Egyptian mythology, especially for pregnant women, mothers, midwives, commoners and even queens. Her association with fertility and childbirth made her an important deity during the ancient Egyptian civilization.

Gods – Vishnu

The 10 Avatars of the Hindu God Vishnu from learnreligions.com

 Vishnu is among the most important deities of Hinduism. Together with with Brahma and Shiva, Vishnu forms the principal trinity of Hindu religious practice.

In his many forms, Vishnu is regarded as the preserver and protector. Hinduism teaches that when humanity is threatened by chaos or evil, Vishnu will descend into the world in one of his incarnations to restore righteousness.

The incarnations that Vishnu takes are called avatars. The Hindu scriptures speak of ten avatars. They are thought to have been present in the Satya Yuga (the Golden Age or Age of Truth), when mankind was ruled by gods.

Collectively, the avatars of Vishnu are called dasavatara (10 avatars). Each has a different form and purpose. When an individual is faced with a challenge, a particular avatar descends to address the issue.

The myths associated with each avatar reference a specific period of time when they were most needed. Some people refer to this as the cosmic cycle or the Time-Spirit. For instance, the first avatar, Matsya, descended long before the ninth avatar, Balarama. More recent mythology states that Balarama may have been the Lord Buddha.

No matter the specific intent or place in time, the avatars are meant to re-establish the dharma, the path of righteousness or universal laws taught in the Hindu scriptures. The legends, myths, and stories that include the avatars remain important allegories within Hinduism.

01 of 10

The First Avatar: Matsya (The Fish)

A depiction of Vishnu Matsya (left)
Wikimedia Commons

Matsya is said to be the avatar that rescued the first man, as well as other creatures of the earth, from a great flood. Matsya is sometimes depicted as a great fish or as a human torso connected to the tail of a fish.

Matsya is said to have forewarned man about the coming flood and ordered him to preserve all the grains and living creatures in a boat. This story is similar to many deluge myths found in other cultures.

02 of 10

The Second Avatar: Kurma (The Tortoise)

A depiction of the turtle avatar of Vishnu
Wikimedia Commons

Kurma (or Koorma) is the tortoise incarnation that relates to the myth of churning the ocean to obtain treasures dissolved in the ocean of milk. In this myth, Vishnu took the form of a tortoise upon which to support the churning stick on his back.

The Kurma avatar of Vishnu is usually seen in a mixed human-animal form.

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The Third Avatar: Varaha (The Boar)

Varaha (the boar) Avatar
Ann Ronan Pictures/Getty Images

Varaha is the boar that raised the earth from the bottom of the sea after the demon Hiranyaksha dragged it to the bottom of the sea. After a battle of 1,000 years, Varaha raised the earth out of the water with his tusks.

Varaha is depicted as either a full boar form or as a boar head on a human body.

04 of 10

The Fourth Avatar: Narasimha (The Man-Lion)

Narasimha, the man-lion avatar of Vishnu
CORBIS/Getty Images

As the legend goes, the demon Hiranyakashipiu obtained a boon from Brahma that he could not be killed or harmed by any means. Now arrogant in his security, Hiranyakshipiu began to cause trouble both in heaven and on earth.

However, his son Prahlada was devoted to Vishnu. One day, when the demon challenged Prahlada, Vishnu emerged in the form of a man-lion known as Narasimha to slay the demon.

05 of 10

The Fifth Avatar: Vamana (The Dwarf)

A sculpture depicting Vamana, the dwarf avatar of Vishnu
Angelo Hornak/Getty Images

In the Rig Veda, Vamana (the dwarf) appears when the demon king Bali ruled the universe and the gods lost their power. One day, Vamana visited the court of Bali and begged for as much land as he could cover in three steps. Laughing at the dwarf, Bali granted the wish.

The dwarf then assumed the form of a giant. He took the whole earth with the first step and the entire middle world with the second step. With the third step, Vamana sent Bali down to rule the underworld.

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The Sixth Avatar: Parasurama (The Angry Man)

Parasurama, the priest avatar of Vishnu
CORBIS/Getty Images

In his form as Parasurama, Vishnu appears as a priest (Brahman) who comes to the world to kill bad kings and protect humanity from danger. He appears in the form of a man carrying an ax, sometimes referred to as Rama with an ax.

In the original story, Parasurama appeared to restore Hindu social order which had become corrupted by the arrogant Kshatriya caste.

07 of 10

The Seventh Avatar: Lord Rama (The Perfect Man)

Statue depicting Lord Rama, the perfect man, an avatar of Vishnu
Instants/Getty Images

Lord Rama is the seventh avatar of Vishnu and a major deity of Hinduism. He is considered supreme in some traditions. He is the central figure of the ancient Hindu epic “Ramayana” and is known as King of Ayodhya, the city believed to be Rama’s birthplace.

According to the Ramayana, Rama’s father was King Dasaratha and his mother was Queen Kausalya. Rama was born at the end of the Second Age, sent by the gods to do battle with the multi-headed demon Ravana.

Rama is often depicted with blue skin, standing with a bow and arrow.

08 of 10

The Eighth Avatar: Lord Krishna (The Divine Statesman)

A depiction of Lord Krishna (right), an avatar of Vishnu
Ann Ronan Pictures/Getty Images

Lord Krishna (the divine statesman) is the eighth avatar of Vishnu and is one of the most widely revered deities in Hinduism. He was a cowherd (sometimes depicted as a charioteer or statesman) who shrewdly changed rules.

According to legend, the famous poem, the Bhagavad Gita, is spoken by Krishna to Arjuna on the battlefield.

Krishna is depicted in a variety of forms because there are so many stories surrounding him. The most common story describes Krishna as a divine lover who plays the flute; he is also described in his child form. In paintings, Krishna often has blue skin and wears a crown of peacock feathers with a yellow loincloth.

09 of 10

The Ninth Avatar: Balarama (Krishna’s Elder Brother)

A depiction of Balarama, an avatar of Vishnu
Wikimedia Commons

Balarama is said to be the elder brother of Krishna. It is believed that he engaged in many adventures alongside his brother. Balarama is rarely worshiped independently, but stories always focus on his prodigious strength.

In visual representations, he is usually shown with pale skin in contrast to Krishna’s blue skin.

In a number of versions of the mythology, Lord Buddha is thought to be the ninth incarnation. However, this was an addition that came after the dasavatara was already established.

10 of 10

The Tenth Avatar: Kalki (The Mighty Warrior)

Statue of Lord Kalki
Premiumstock / iStock / Getty Images Plus

Kalki (meaning “eternity” or “mighty warrior”) is the last incarnation of Vishnu. He is not expected to appear until the end of Kali Yuga, the current time period. Kalki will come, it is believed, to rid the world of oppression by unrighteous rulers. It is said that he will appear riding a white horse and carrying a fiery sword.

SOURCE: Das, Subhamoy. “The 10 Avatars of the Hindu God Vishnu.” Learn Religions, Aug. 28, 2020, learnreligions.com/avatars-of-vishnu-p2-1769984.

Goddess Of The Day is Blodeuwedd c. 2011

Blodeuwedd

by Karen Davis
Blodeuwedd was created out of flowers by Gwydion to wed Llew Llaw Gyffes. She betrayed Llew, either because she had no soul, being non-human, or because she resented being his chattel, or because the triplet of one woman and two men must play itself out in Welsh myth, and Llew Llaw Gyffes must die. At any rate, she fell in love with Goronwy and, wishing to be rid of Llew, she tricked out of him the clearly supernatural and ritual manner in which only he could be killed: neither by day nor night, indoors nor out of doors, riding nor walking, clothed nor naked, nor by any weapon lawfully made. She asked him to explain this, and he did: he could be killed only if it were twilight, wrapped in a fish net, with one foot on a cauldron and the other on a goat, and if the weapon had been forged during sacred hours when such work was forbidden. Blodeuwedd convinced him to demonstrate how impossible such a position was to achieve by chance, and when he was in it, het lover Goronwy leapt out and struck. Llew was transformed into an eagle and eventually restored to human form, after which he killed Goronwy. Blodeuwedd was transformed into an owl, to haunt the night in loneliness and sorrow, shunned by all other birds.

Gods – Anubis – Egyptian c. 2018

Anubis

 

Anubis is the Greek name of a god associated with mummification and the afterlife in ancient Egyptian religion, usually depicted as a canine or a man with a canine head. Archeologists have identified Anubis’s sacred animal as an Egyptian canid, the African golden wolf.

Like many ancient Egyptian deities, Anubis assumed different roles in various contexts. Depicted as a protector of graves as early as the First Dynasty (c. 3100 – c. 2890 BC), Anubis was also an embalmer. By the Middle Kingdom (c. 2055 – 1650 BC) he was replaced by Osiris in his role as lord of the underworld. One of his prominent roles was as a god who ushered souls into the afterlife. He attended the weighing scale during the “Weighing of the Heart,” in which it was determined whether a soul would be allowed to enter the realm of the dead. Despite being one of the most ancient and “one of the most frequently depicted and mentioned gods” in the Egyptian pantheon, Anubis played almost no role in Egyptian myths.

Anubis was depicted in black, a color that symbolized both rebirth and the discoloration of the corpse after embalming. Anubis is associated with Wepwawet (also called Upuaut), another Egyptian god portrayed with a dog’s head or in canine form, but with grey or white fur. Historians assume that the two figures were eventually combined. Anubis’ female counterpart is Anput. His daughter is the serpent goddess Kebechet.

Name

“Anubis” is a Greek rendering of this god’s Egyptian name. In the Old Kingdom (c. 2686 BC – c. 2181 BC), the standard way of writing his name in hieroglyphs was composed of the sound signs jnpw followed by a jackal over a ḥtp sign:

i n
p		 w C6

A new form with the “jackal” on a tall stand appeared in the late Old Kingdom and became common thereafter:

i n
p		 w E16

Anubis’ name jnpw was possibly pronounced [a.ˈna.pʰa], based on Coptic Anoup and the Akkadian transcription 𒀀𒈾𒉺<a-na-pa> in the name <ri-a-na-pa> “Reanapa” that appears in Amarna letter EA 315. However, this transcription may also be interpreted as rˁ-nfr, a name similar to that of Prince Ranefer of the Fourth Dynasty.

History

In Egypt’s Early Dynastic period (c. 3100 – c. 2686 BC), Anubis was portrayed in full animal form, with a “jackal” head and body.  A “jackal” god, probably Anubis, is depicted in stone inscriptions from the reigns of Hor-Aha, Djer, and other pharaohs of the First Dynasty.  Since Predynastic Egypt, when the dead were buried in shallow graves, “jackals” had been strongly associated with cemeteries because they were scavengers which uncovered human bodies and ate their flesh. In the spirit of “fighting like with like,” a “jackal” was chosen to protect the dead, because “a common problem (and cause of concern) must have been the digging up of bodies, shortly after burial, by jackals and other wild dogs which lived on the margins of the cultivation.”

The oldest known textual mention of Anubis is in the Pyramid Texts of the Old Kingdom (c. 2686 – c. 2181 BC), where he is associated with the burial of the pharaoh.

In the Old Kingdom, Anubis was the most important god of the dead. He was replaced in that role by Osiris during the Middle Kingdom(2000–1700 BC). In the Roman era, which started in 30 BC, tomb paintings depict him holding the hand of deceased persons to guide them to Osiris.

The parentage of Anubis varied between myths, times and sources. In early mythology, he was portrayed as a son of Ra. In the Coffin Texts, which were written in the First Intermediate Period (c. 2181–2055 BC), Anubis is the son of either the cow goddess Hesat or the cat-headed Bastet. Another tradition depicted him as the son of Ra and Nephthys. The Greek Plutarch (c. 40–120 AD) stated that Anubis was the illegitimate son of Nephthys and Osiris, but that he was adopted by Osiris’s wife Isis:

For when Isis found out that Osiris loved her sister and had relations with her in mistaking her sister for herself, and when she saw a proof of it in the form of a garland of clover that he had left to Nephthys – she was looking for a baby, because Nephthys abandoned it at once after it had been born for fear of Seth; and when Isis found the baby helped by the dogs which with great difficulties lead her there, she raised him and he became her guard and ally by the name of Anubis.

George Hart sees this story as an “attempt to incorporate the independent deity Anubis into the Osirian pantheon.” An Egyptian papyrus from the Roman period (30–380 AD) simply called Anubis the “son of Isis.”

In the Ptolemaic period (350–30 BC), when Egypt became a Hellenistic kingdom ruled by Greek pharaohs, Anubis was merged with the Greek god Hermes, becoming Hermanubis. The two gods were considered similar because they both guided souls to the afterlife. The center of this cult was in uten-ha/Sa-ka/ Cynopolis, a place whose Greek name means “city of dogs.” In Book XI of The Golden Ass by Apuleius, there is evidence that the worship of this god was continued in Rome through at least the 2nd century. Indeed, Hermanubis also appears in the alchemical and hermetical literature of the Middle Ages and the Renaissance.

Although the Greeks and Romans typically scorned Egypt’s animal-headed gods as bizarre and primitive (Anubis was mockingly called “Barker” by the Greeks), Anubis was sometimes associated with Sirius in the heavens and Cerberus and Hades in the underworld. In his dialogues, Plato often has Socrates utter oaths “by the dog” (kai me ton kuna), “by the dog of Egypt”, and “by the dog, the god of the Egyptians”, both for emphasis and to appeal to Anubis as an arbiter of truth in the underworld.

Roles

Protector of tombs

In contrast to real wolves, Anubis was a protector of graves and cemeteries. Several epithets attached to his name in Egyptian texts and inscriptions referred to that role. Khenty-imentiu, which means “foremost of the westerners” and later became the name of a different wolf god, alluded to his protecting function because the dead were usually buried on the west bank of the Nile. He took other names in connection with his funerary role, such as tpy-ḏw.f “He who is upon his mountain” (i.e. keeping guard over tombs from above) and nb-t3-ḏsr “Lord of the sacred land”, which designates him as a god of the desert necropolis.

The Jumilhac papyrus recounts another tale where Anubis protected the body of Osiris from Set. Set attempted to attack the body of Osiris by transforming himself into a leopard. Anubis stopped and subdued Set, however, and he branded Set’s skin with a hot iron rod. Anubis then flayed Set and wore his skin as a warning against evil-doers who would desecrate the tombs of the dead. Priests who attended to the dead wore leopard skin in order to commemorate Anubis’ victory over Set. The legend of Anubis branding the hide of Set in leopard form was used to explain how the leopard got its spots.

Most ancient tombs had prayers to Anubis carved on them.

Embalmer

As jmy-wt “He who is in the place of embalming”, Anubis was associated with mummification. He was also called ḫnty zḥ-nṯr “He who presides over the god’s booth”, in which “booth” could refer either to the place where embalming was carried out or the pharaoh’s burial chamber.

In the Osiris myth, Anubis helped Isis to embalm Osiris. Indeed, when the Osiris myth emerged, it was said that after Osiris had been killed by Set, Osiris’s organs were given to Anubis as a gift. With this connection, Anubis became the patron god of embalmers; during the rites of mummification, illustrations from the Book of the Dead often show a wolf-mask-wearing priest supporting the upright mummy.

Guide of souls

By the late pharaonic era (664–332 BC), Anubis was often depicted as guiding individuals across the threshold from the world of the living to the afterlife. Though a similar role was sometimes performed by the cow-headed Hathor, Anubis was more commonly chosen to fulfill that function. Greek writers from the Roman period of Egyptian history designated that role as that of “psychopomp”, a Greek term meaning “guide of souls” that they used to refer to their own god Hermes, who also played that role in Greek religion. Funerary art from that period represents Anubis guiding either men or women dressed in Greek clothes into the presence of Osiris, who by then had long replaced Anubis as ruler of the underworld.

Weighing of the heart

One of the roles of Anubis was as the “Guardian of the Scales.” The critical scene depicting the weighing of the heart, in the Book of the Dead, shows Anubis performing a measurement that determined whether the person was worthy of entering the realm of the dead (the underworld, known as Duat). By weighing the heart of a deceased person against Ma’at (or “truth”), who was often represented as an ostrich feather, Anubis dictated the fate of souls. Souls heavier than a feather would be devoured by Ammit, and souls lighter than a feather would ascend to a heavenly existence.

 

Source

Wikipedia

 

Goddesses – Skadi

Norse Goddess Skadi from gods-and-goddesses.com

Skadi is the Norse giant goddess of winter, hunting, and skiing. Known as the snowshoe goddess, she rules over mountains, wildernesses, winter, revenge, knowledge, damage, justice, and independence. Passionate in her pursuits, especially in the pursuit of justice, Skadi is determined to live how she wants and not be told by the gods of Asgard.

Skadi lives in the highest part of the mountain where the snow never melts in her father’s grand hall, Thrymheim. Odin once described her home as the “ancient court” and described her as the shining bride of the Gods. Skadi, a giant, is the enemy of the gods of Asgard. Being a giant, she is associated with darkness, cold, and death, just like winter. However, Skadi is seen to be more benevolent than the rest of her giant kin.

Skadi Facts

Name(s): Skadi
Rules over: Winter, Hunting
Gender: Female
Symbols: Bow and Arrow
Linked Animals: Wolves
Parents: Thiazi (Father) and Njord (Mother)
Siblings: Many half-siblings
Greek Similar: Boreas
Roman Similar: Aquilo

Family

However, Skadi becomes welcomed by the gods of Asgard when she marries one of them. Her father, the giant Thiazi, kidnapped the goddess Idun, the beautiful goddess of youth, and, therefore, the gods’ apples of immortality. Odin killed him for doing so and rescued Idun. However, Skadi was furious and determined to avenge the death of her father. She took her weapons and stormed the citadel of Asgard claiming for either revenge or compensation—she gave them the choice of a harmful or benign consequence. The gods, scared of the ferociousness of Skadi, decided they’d rather give her gold. Skadi didn’t want gold, since she was already rich from her father and grandfather’s pillaging. Odin then offered her a husband from among the Asgardian gods, giving her the status of goddess. She agreed, but Odin said she could only look at the gods’ shoes to choose her husband. Skadi agreed, hoping that she’d pick handsome Baldur, whom she had a crush on, but she chose ugly Njord, the god of the sea, because he had the best shoes.

Njord and Skadi’s marriage didn’t last long—only half a month. Njord couldn’t stand the cold and isolated mountains and Skadi couldn’t stand the brightness and noise of the coastline. So, they got a divorce. There are different myths as with whom Skadi ended up afterwards. Some say she got together with Ullr, the god of winter and archery. But, some say she married Odin and gave birth to many sons with him.

Symbols

Her bows, skis, and snowshoes are her most mentioned attributes as she is very skilled at using them all to hunt and to engage in battle.

Powers & Duties

Skadi is the Norse goddess of winter. She is the personification of strength, courage, and endurance, but is also known for her revenge as well.

Facts About Skadi

  • Skadi is pronounced SKAHD-ee;
  • Her name means “harm” or “shadow”;
  • Skadi’s name also relates to “Scandinavia,” which is said to be “Skadi’s Isle”;
  • One of Saturn’s moons, “Skathi,” is named after Skadi;
  • One of the reasons she is called the snow-shoe goddess is because she was forced to choose a husband from the gods by only looking at their shoes;
  • Skadi may not have even had snow-shoes. Some believe that the translation for snow-shoes is actually supposed to be skis;
  • After a feast, Loki started talking to Heimdall and Skadi interrupted, telling Loki he was too “light-hearted” and wouldn’t be having fun much longer because he would be bound to a sharp rock with the ice-cold entrails of his dead son;
  • Loki claimed that he got Skadi into his bed, which she denies. Loki was known to say the same about numerous goddesses;
  • When Loki was captured and bound, Skadi placed above his face a venomous snake that dripped venom onto him, causing him so much pain that it earthquakes result.

Gods – Baldur

Norse God Baldur from gods-and-goddesses.com

Baldur is the Norse god of innocence, beauty and goodness. He is known as “The Shining One.” He is the most handsome god of Asgard and known for his invulnerability. Ironically, he is most known for his death.

His name is spelled in several different ways, including Baldur, Baldr or Balder.

Baldur Facts

Name(s): Baldur
Rules over: Light, Joy, Summer.
Gender: Male
Symbols: Ringhorn (Greatest of all ships)
Linked Animals:
Parents: Odin (Father) and Frigg (Mother)
Siblings: Hod, Hermod; Thor, Vidar, and Vali are half-siblings
Greek Similar: Apollo
Roman Similar: Apollo

Appearance

The key physical attribute of Baldur is that he exuded beauty, and was possibly the most beautiful of the Aesir gods. He was said to be so beautiful that light shined from him. This can be found in the ancient Norse manuscript called the Prose Edda, from which a substantial amount of what is known about Norse mythology is derived from. The Prose Edda contains four main sections.

In the second section, called Gylfaginning, it states “Hann er svá fagr álitum ok bjartr svá at lýsir af honum, ok eitt gras er svá hvítt at jafnat er til Baldrs brár”. This passage can be roughly translated to “He is so beautiful in appearance and so bright that he shines, and one grass is so white that it is even to Baldr’s brow.”

Family

He is the son of Odin (father) and Frigg (mother). His siblings include Hod and Hermod, and his half-siblings include Vidar, and Vali.

Symbols

The greatest ship ever built was the Ringhorn, or Hringhorni, and belonged to Baldur. It a symbol commonly associated with the god.

Upon Baldur’s death, a giant fire was made on the deck of the Ringhorn, and his body was laid on top of it to be cremated.

Powers & Duties

Baldur is the god and champion of goodness, innocence, and forgiveness. His twin brother, Hod, is the god of darkness.

Myths

Baldur started to have dreams the night after some sort of grave misfortune happened to him. His mother and the other gods were nervous for Baldur because he was one of the most beloved gods in Asgard. They asked Odin what the dream meant, and Odin embarked on a quest to the underworld. There he met a dead seeress who told Odin that Baldur would soon die. When Odin got back and let everyone know, Frigg was desperate to try and save her son.

Frigg was able to get every living thing to promise not to harm him. Therefore, Baldur became invincible and he was even more beloved by everyone in Asgard. However, Loki was jealous of Baldur and tried to discover any weakness he may have. When he asked Frigg if she made sure that everything promised not to harm Baldur, she said she forgot to ask mistletoe, but that it was too small, weak, and innocent to harm him anyway.

During a party, Baldur told everyone to throw sharp objects at him as entertainment since he couldn’t be harmed. Everyone was having a good time. Loki then gave blind Hod (who was unknowingly Baldur’s twin brother) a dart made of mistletoe and told him to throw it at Baldur. When it struck Baldur, he died.

Frigg then asked everyone to travel to the land of the dead and offer Hel, the death-goddess, a ransom for Baldur’s release. Hermod, a son of Odin agreed. When he finally got to the throne room of Hel, he saw a distraught Baldur sitting next to her in a seat of honor. Hermod tried to convince Hel to let Baldur go, explaining that everyone was mourning his death. She said that she’ll let him go if everyone in the world wept for him. However, an old hag called Thokk refused to weep saying that he never did anything for her. But the hag turned out to be Loki, who was caught and chained up for eternal punishment.

But, Baldur won’t be dead forever. Although his death signaled the beginning of the events that would eventually lead to Ragnarok, his resurrection signaled the end of Ragnarok and the beginning of the new world. Once the cosmos was destroyed and recreated and all the gods had served their purposes and fallen to their prophesied fates, Baldur will return to the land of the living. He will bless the land and its inhabitants and bring with him light, happiness, and hope to fill the new world.

Facts About Baldur

  • Skadi had a crush on Baldur and had hoped to choose him based off his shoes, but instead accidentally chose Njord.
  • The name Baldur may mean “brave” or “Bold”, but it may also stem from Norse terms for “white” or “shining”.
  • Baldur’s wife is called Nanna, and they have a son named Forseti, the God of Justice.
  • Baldur’s great hall is called Breidablik.
  • After Baldur’s death, his wife, Nanna, was so distraught, that she herself died.
  • Odin placed the golden ring, Draupnir, on Baldur when he died, but later sent it back to Helheim.
  • Baldur and Hod will rule Asgard together in place of Odin after Ragnarok.
  • When Baldur died, he was placed on his ship Hringhorni for a funeral pyre. But, it was too large to launch the ship out to sea. So, the gods asked Hyrrokkin, the strongest giantess, to push it into the sea. She was successful.
  • Thor hallowed Baldur’s funeral pyre flames by holding his hammer over them.

Gods – Huitzilopochtli

Huitzilopochtli Aztec God of War from gods-and-goddesses.com

The major deities of a civilization often say quite a bit about how that civilization works. How the god is worshipped and why the people respond to that god is often as important as the stories of the god itself. At the heart of the religion of the Mexica and the Aztec empire lie Huitzilopochtli, a god of the sun and warfare that had a major impact on the daily lives of those who lived in the empire.

Huitzilopochtli Facts

Name(s): Huitzilopochtli
Rules over: War, Sun
Gender: Male
Symbols: Sun
Sacred animals: Hummingbird
Greek Similar: Apollo, Ares
Roman Similar: Apollo, Mars

Description

Though Huitzilopochtli was a god of war and battle, he didn’t always spend his time in forms that modern people would consider to be warlike. In fact, one of his most common forms was that of a hummingbird.

When Huitzilopochtli was not a hummingbird, he would keep the hummingbird imagery. He was depicted as a man who was painted blue, with feathers on an arm and a leg and a hummingbird helmet. The hummingbird imagery is so important that it has become the defining feature of most depictions of Huitzilopochtli and one of the few ways to easily identify him among the Mesoamerican gods.

Symbols

Huitzilopochtli had quite a few different symbols. One of the major symbols with which he was associated with in both his bird and human forms was the hummingbird. He was also closely associated with the sun, especially in his aspect as the warrior who fought against the darkness. Perhaps his most important symbol, though, was the capital city of Tenochtitlan.

Powers & Abilities

As the primary god of war of the Mexica and the Aztec Empire, Huitzilopochtli’s ranged wider than most war gods. While most gods in Mesoamerica would be responsible for certain types of war or certain types of weaponry, Huitzilopochtli was responsible for all of it. As such, the Mexica attributed everything that happened on the battlefield to Huitzilopochtli – even if they lost. It was a situation that saw a great deal of power handed over to the god.

The other major power of Huitzilopochtli was his ability to fight back the encroaching night. While sun gods traditionally were associated with the cycle of the day, Huitzilopochtli had a more pressing duty. It was through him that an encroaching permanent could be fought off, and only Huitzilopochtli was mighty enough for this task. Many of the major Aztec sacrifices were intended to help Huitzilopochtli fight off the darkness.

It should also be noted that Huitzilopochtli was a god of the afterlife as well. If Aztec soldiers were killed in battle or women died in childbirth, they were said to join Huitzilopochtli. Though he was not a death god, he did still have command of those souls that fell in those specific circumstances and they would serve in his palace.

Family

Huitzilopochtli actually has a fairly wide-ranging family in Aztec myth, though figuring out exactly to whom he is related requires reading specific stories. There are two separate myths about Huitzilopochtli’s creation, each of which gives him a mutually-exclusive family group.

In the first story, Huitzilopochtli is the son of Tonacatecutli and Tonacacihuatl, the universal creators. According to this myth, his brothers are two gods called Tezcatlipocas as well as Quetzalcoatl.

In a different myth cycle, he is the son of the goddess Coatlicue. This myth cycled gives him four hundred brothers, the Centzonuitznaua, as well as a sister called Coyolxauhqui. Regardless of the myth cycle, Huitzilopochtli seems to have no children.

Stature

Huitzilopochtli actually has a fairly odd place in the mythology of the Mesoamerican world. He is worshipped as one of the primary deities of the Aztec empire and he is the chief god of the Mexica people, but he’s also one of the very few gods worshipped in the region who doesn’t seem to have counterparts that stretch back through multiple civilizations.

This is unusual because Huitzilopochtli’s stature puts him on par with several other gods that can be traced at least back to the Maya, if not all the way back to the Olmec. Whether this means that Huitzilopochtli was god strictly worshipped by the Mexica or that he has further connections that have yet to be discovered is still a point of contention.

What is perhaps more important is that the stature of this god meant that he was seen as more than just a god of one aspect of nature. He was responsible for the success and failure of the Mexica, and thus of the Aztec Empire. It is hard to overstate how important he was to his worshippers at his height.

Worship

Huitzilopochtli was the primary god of Tenochtitlán, the heart of the Aztec Empire. It was here that he was worshipped along with Tlaloc atop the Temple Mayor and here that he was the recipient of bloody human sacrifices.

The southern side of the Temple Mayor had steps painted red to represent sacrificial blood, an apt color considered some of the primary methods of worship that Huitzilopochtli received. The sacrifices to Huitzilopochtli were primarily war captives, and they were beheaded and skinned in honor of the god. In fact, Huitzilopochtli’s priests would also eat parts of the sacrificial victims in order to become closer to the god.

Not all of Huitzilopochtli’s worship was bloody, though. In some ceremonies, quail eggs would be sacrificed to the god, his image would be decorated with garlands, and women would dance traditional dances. There was even a celebration in which an effigy of the god would be made out of dough and people would each eat a piece of Huitzilopochtli.

Fast Facts

– Huitzilopochtli was an Aztec god of both the sun and warfare.
– Huitzilopochtli is usually depicted as a man in a hummingbird crown.
– Huitzilopochtli was one of two major gods worshipped in Tenochtitlan and is often given credit for telling the Mexica to settle the city.
– Huitzilopochtli is one of the chief deities of the Aztec and to whom countless human sacrifices are made.

Goddesses – Freya

Norse Goddess Feyra from wytchymystique.com

Her Story:

Freya is the Norse goddess of love and war, “Queen of the Valkyries” and “Mistress of Cats”, a divine escort for the souls of the dead and especially for fallen warriors, taking them through to the afterlife.

This goddess is considered a poet’s muse and inspiration.  She’s invoked for issues involving relationships, particularly in matters of love and family.  Freya is also a potent goddess in matters of sensuality and sexuality, igniting passion.  She is considered the most beautiful of the goddesses and totally irresistable to mortal males.

In honor of Freya, Mistress of the Cats, here’s a wee bit of herbal cat magick.  Use the correspondences for this goddess, as well as the correspondences for this herb, to cast some wild wicked cat magick.

Catnip is commonly used in sleeping potions. The easiest and most pleasant way I can think of to use catnip for this purpose is to make a delicious pot of tea. Catnip is one of the herbs that I grow in my own garden, so all I have to do when I want to brew a pot of catnip tea is to step outside and snatch a handful of the fresh herb. I usually use both the flowers and the leaves. How much you use is going to depend upon how strong you like your tea and the size of your pot. You can sweeten it with honey or sugar. Since catnip is a member of the mint family, I’m guessing that if you like mint in your tea, you’ll like catnip, though to me it is more pungent.

Catnip has an absolutely intoxicating effect on cats, and it was actually hard getting the catnip started in my garden because my cats wouldn’t leave it alone. I’d plant a nice lush bunch of catnip, and the next morning I’d go out to find nothing but bare stems.  I can’t tell you how many times we’ve looked out the kitchen windows to watch one of our cats, or a stray cat, rolling around our garden in drunken bliss.

Catnip is sacred to all pagan gods/goddesses who manifest as a cat or feline creature, including: Sekhmet, Bast, Mau, Tefnut, Mafdet, and Freya.

Correspondences for Catnip:

Energy: Feminine (Receptive)
Planet:  Venus
Element: Water
Magick:  cat magick, love, beauty, well-being

It’s believed that a gift of catnip from you to your cat will create a magickal and psychic bond between the two of you. Since I’ve experienced this myself, I have to say that it truly works in beautiful ways. If you make a catnip talisman for your kitty, keep this in mind. Remember that concentrating on your intentions when crafting magickal items imbues that object with the magick. Catnip is also used in love spells, often as an ingredient in mojo bags or candle magick. Just as the cat finds this herb intoxicating and irresistable, so will the one you target in love magick, using catnip to draw them to you. Hang a bunch of dried catnip over the threshold of your home to draw good spirits and good luck, as well as to draw the blessings of cat goddesses. Catnip is also used in beauty spells, either as a tincture you can use to bathe your face, or with candle magic. It’s believed that this herb will mesmerize those targeted in such spells to see you as youthful and beautiful. This type of enchantment is considered a glamoury.

Embracing the Goddess:

Freya is the goddess for all of us “Crazy Cat Ladies”, and I’m proud to count myself in this company.  Call upon this goddess when working cat magic, to call upon the cat as a totem animal, or just to honor this magical creature.

Freya’s Correspondences:

Herbs: catnip, geranium, willow, goldenrod, magnolia
Animal: cat
Color: green, pink
Planet: Venus
Day: Friday
Element: Water
Feminine Face: Maiden
Symbol: cats, the number 13

Goddesses – Flora

Roman Goddess Flora from wytchymystique.com

Her Story:

Flora, the Roman goddess of spring, rules flowers, foliage, and springtime.  Her festivals are celebrated in April and early May.  Flora’s energies and influences include the protection of vegetation from disease, flowering plants and fruits, as well as menstruation– the flowering of young girls into budding womanhood.
____________________
The Blood of the Moon (menstrual blood) is one of the most powerful magickal potions known.   Menstrual blood is used in a variety of spells for love, as well as hexing, and has been used traditionally as such since ancient times.  It is strongly connected to Flora through her very essence as a goddess of maturation, flowering, coming of age, the ascension to womanhood.

In biblical times, menstruating women were considered unclean and banished to The Red Tent.  Here they sat out there isolation from the rest of the community until their periods stopped and they had completed a rigorous “cleansing” ritual.  Only after that were they allowed to resume normal life among the general population.

Unclean?  Really?  I don’t think so.

I have a different theory for their reasons behind isolating menstruating women:  They were afraid of them.

In those very ancient times, still immersed closely with pagan roots and practices, the power of menstrual blood and a menstruating woman would have been very clear in their minds, very close to their hearts.  The people of this time were caught in a struggle, a struggle between the old ways, the old religion– goddess worship, natural earth based spirituality– and the new religions of Judaism and Christianity.  The true power of women would have still been common knowledge.

Embrace this aspect of your womanhood.  Understand the inspiration behind menstruation of creation, and magick, strength, mystery, and miracles.  Align your energies with the Blood of the Moon.  Celebrate the miracle you are.

Embracing the Goddess:

Flora’s most amazing magic, aside from a landscape full of beautiful blossoms, is the budding of young girls into maturity, the coming of age that brings with it the menstrual cycle, emphasizing the feminine connection to the moon and its power, fertility, and passage into womanhood.

Western civilization seems to keep the blossoming of female puberty shrouded in out-dated shame and secrecy.  When a girl gets her first period, it’s generally not something that is mentioned, much less celebrated, particularly in mixed company.  By contrast, in the Apache Native American tradition, the onset of menstruation is a time of open celebration for the entire community.  There are days of rigorous rituals involving a tribal celebration of young girls who are coming of age.  They celebrate the fertility insinuated by the beginning of menstruation.  They celebrate pride in feminine puberty and growth.  They celebrate the wonder of nature and the miracle that it truly is.

Call upon Flora to celebrate the coming of age for yourself, your daughter, your granddaughter, your nieces, or other young women in your life.  Emphasize how special this time is, how beautiful, and how fulfilling it will be.

Flora’s Correspondences:

Herbs: mugwort, oleander, tulip, barley, primrose
Animal: dove
Color: green, brown
Planet: Gaia (earth)
Day: all seven
Element: Earth
Feminine Face: Maiden
Symbol: spring flowers

Gods – Heimdall

Norse God Hemidall from gods-and-goddesses.com

Heimdall (or Heimdallr in Old Norse) is the Watchman of the Norse Gods. He guards the entryway of Asgard, the realm of the gods and stands firm at the edge of the Bifrost, the rainbow bridge that connects Asgard to Midgard (the realm of humans). Heimdall’s home near the Bifrost is called Himinbjorg (“sky cliffs”), where he keeps a vigil on the Bifrost and drinks heavenly mead.

Heimdall Facts

Name(s): Heimdall
Rules over: Watchmen of the Norse gods
Gender: Male
Symbols: Gjallarhorn
Linked Animals: Ram, Gulltoppr the Horse
Parents: Odin (Father), Nine Sisters (Mothers)
Siblings: Sif
Greek Similar: None
Roman Similar: None

Family

Heimdall is said to be a son of Odin, born from 9 mothers who were all sisters; the theory is that he is the son of the 9 daughters of the sea god, Aegir.

In Norse mythology, Heimdall is also known as the Father of Humankind because he helped establish the hierarchical structure of Norse society. In the Norse poem Rigsthula, Heimdall slept with three different human couples from different social classes for three nights. In the poem, these couples are named “Great-Grandparents,” “Grandparents,” and “Parents.” The social classes were serfs, peasants, and nobles.

The first born was an ugly, but strong boy named Thrall—ancestor of all serfs. Then came Karl, the ancestor of all peasants and skilled farm worker. Finally, Jarl, the ancestor of all warriors and nobles, was born with great intellect and the skills of hunting and combat. The names of the three sons became the words that denoted the three social classes in the Norse language.

Symbols

The most common symbol affiliated with Heimdall is the Gjallarhorn, or Resounding Horn. Heimdall would blow the horn to warn Asgard of impending attacks.

In the book Gylfaginning of Prose Edda, Heimdall is said to possess a horse named Gulltoppr, which means “golden mane” or “golden top”.

Powers & Duties

He is known to have great powers of the senses. Heimdall can hear grass grow and even the wool grow on sheep. He can also see more than 100 leagues and needs less sleep than a bird. These powers make him the perfect watchman for Asgard.

Heimdall’s most important duty, besides being Watchman of the Bifrost, is warning. He owns the Gjallarhon, the Resounding Horn, and will blow it when the giants attack; the giants are the enemies of the gods of Asgard. Legend has it that Ragnarok will begin when they attack Asgard and Heimdall blows his horn. Loki will lead the giants to Asgard, while Heimdall will try to stop Loki and they will end up slaying each other.

Many believed that Heimdall sometimes liked to escape his duties of watchman and would go on adventures using the name Rig, which meant king. A very famous story of one of these adventures is how he found and returned Freya’s treasure, the Brisingamen (an amber necklace) after doing battle with Loki who was in the shape of a seal. Loki had stolen the Brisingamen and hid himself amongst seals to avoid detection. But Heimdall, who had been sitting quietly disguised as a seal for hours, watched. He then immediately got down from his rock and punched Loki in the face and retrieved the necklace for Freya.

Facts about Heimdall

  • Heimdall’s name is pronounced “HAME-doll”;
  • He is known as the shining god—the whitest of all the gods. He has golden armor and golden teeth;
  • The horn, Gjallarhon, is thought to be hidden under the world tree Yggdrasil;
  • Heimdall owns a golden horse named Gulltoppr;
  • Not only does Heimdall have super senses, but he also has foreknowledge;
  • In Old Norse, Heimdallr means “the one who illuminates the world”;
  • He is known to be the wisest and most handsome of the gods of Asgard;
  • Not much is known about Heimdall, as there aren’t a lot of surviving poems or artifacts that mention him;
  • Some other names of Heimdall are Hallinskidi, which means “ram,” and Gullintanni, which means “golden-teeth”;
  • He is sometimes associated with sheep and rams. Some believe this to be due to his “golden teeth” because older rams’ teeth have a yellow sheen;
  • Heimdall’s sword is called “Head”;
  • Sometimes, Heimdall is equated with the Vedic deity Dyaus;
  • He is also sometimes equated with the Christian archangel Michael because he is the link between the realms of the humans and gods and his horn will signal the end of the world;
  • The three main sources of knowledge about Heimdall are the medieval epic poems, Poetica Edda, Prose Edda, and Heimskringia.  There is also an earlier poem called the Heimdalargaldr, in which only two lines survive.

Goddesses – Bastet

Egyptian Goddess of home Bastet from gods-and-goddesses.com

Bastet is the Egyptian goddess of the home. She is also the goddess of felines and a protector goddess. At times, Bastet may be called or referred to as “Bast”. She is often closely associated with the goddess Sekhmet, a lion goddess.

As Egyptian mythology evolved, Bastet became known more as a docile household feline goddess and Sekhmet became known as a fierce lioness and warrior goddess.

Bastet Facts

Name(s): Bastet, Bast
Rules over: Home, Domestic
Gender: Female
Symbols: Cats, Sun, Moon
Sacred animals: Cats
Parents: Ra (Father)
Siblings: Hathor (Sister)
Greek Similar: Hestia
Roman Similar: Vesta

Origins

Bastet’s origins are uncertain, but it is believed by historians that she was already a popular goddess by the third millennium B.C.E. Some of the earliest physical evidence points to veneration of the deity close to the year 2800 B.C.E., in the form of stone vessels that were found near a temple in Saqqara.1 Saqqara is an ancient Egyptian city located about 20 miles south of Cairo, not far from Memphis.

This goddess had several names prior to being called Bastet, including Baast, B’sst and Ubaste. The American Research Center in Egypt notes that one of the stone vessels in Saqarra has the inscription b#s.t, and likely refers to the goddess.1 Over time, she became widely known as Bast. Some scholars believe that, eventually, it was changed to Bastet in order for the last “t” in “Bast” to be pronounced. Others state the additional t was to make Bastet sound more feminine.

Over the next several hundred years (circa 2600 – 2200 B.C.E.), a main cult center and city dedicated to Bastet called Bubastis began to form. This center was located approximately 50 miles (80 kilometers) north / northeast of Cairo. In addition to being centered around Bastet, it was also devoted to sacred cats. During the height of worship to Bastet, hundreds of thousands of Egyptians would make pilgrimages each year to Bubastis to honor and pay respects to the goddess.

Today, Bubastis is referred to as Tell Basta in Arabic or Per-Bast in Egyptian. Tell Basta is a substantial archaeological site with the remains of many monuments, temples and statues. The ancient city’s dedication to the goddess can easily be seen in the different buildings located at the site. First and foremost, is the Temple of Bastet, one of the largest buildings in Bubastis. A sanctuary dedicated to her son, Maahes, was close by. Excavations are ongoing at Tell Basta with researchers periodically announcing new finds to this day.

Appearance

Although Bastet initially began as a goddess of the sun based on her father’s powers, her appearance was predominantly feline. Her appearance changed over time from a wild lioness to a domesticated cat. She is often portrayed as a female cat in a seated position.

Family

Bastet was the offspring of Ra, the Egyptian god of the sun. Ra was her only parent.

Ra was believed to be the original creator deity in much of Egyptian mythology. He created a number of other deities by himself, and not in conjunction with a goddess. He was said to have created Shu and Tefnut. He also had three daughters that constituted the eye of Ra. These three daughters were Hathor, Sekhmet and Bastet. As such, Bastet has a number of siblings including Shu, Tefnut, Hathor and Sekhmet, but not in the sense of them all being from two parents.

There is some discrepancy over who Bastet was married to and who she gave birth to, due to Bastet and Sekhmet being very similar in Egyptian mythology. It is possible that in different belief systems, Bastet and / or Sekhmet were married to Ptah, the Egyptian god of architecture and craftsmanship. Ptah and Bastet gave birth to a son, Maahes. Maahes is an Egyptian war god with the head of a lion – a strong connection to Bastet.

It is also possible that Ptah and Bastet or Sekhmet had a second son named Nefertum. Nefertum was was born from a lotus flower and was associated with sweet and pleasant smelling things, including perfume.

Symbols

The primary symbol associated with Bastet is the cat. She is also associated with the sun and the moon. Her affiliations with the Sun and Moon typically occur in earlier Egyptian mythology.

Powers & Duties

Initially, Bastet protected her father from harm. In this role, she primarily protected him from harm threatened by Apep, the snake-god and his arch nemesis. As was common among female gods in later texts, she gained more power and assumed more responsibilities over time.

Coinciding with the domestication of the cat, Bastet’s image changed to become less intimidating, even as her powers increased. For example, Bastet gained the power of presiding over childbirth and expectant mothers sometime after the domestication of the house cat. This role symbolized both her growing power and influence and high fertility levels associated with the domestic cat.

Later, the goddess acquired a third major duty of protecting people against evil spirits and contagious diseases. Although it was not a main responsibility, she had unique powers to charm snakes and combat the effects of poisonous venom, which was a trait attributed to cats among ancient Egyptians. She is seen battling snakes in some mythological scenes, including engaging in combat with Apep.

Worship

In her honor, entire cemeteries of mummified house cats (often buried near their owners) appeared in Bubastis and Memphis during the Ptolemaic periods. Worshipers donated offerings of small bronze statues of the goddess. She was also honored through jewelry, especially amulets, made of gold molded into the shape of cats.

Other Symbols and Affiliations

Bastet has connections with the sun and solar system in some stories, too, due to the controlling influence of her father. These depictions are more common in earlier stories and regional mythology. Based on this association, she is sometimes also called the “Eye of the Moon.”

In addition to gender roles, her image is also influenced by politics. As the Greek empire grew in power, and eventually conquered surrounding lands, Egyptian mythology changed to reflect the influence of the Greeks. Therefore, during stories from the Ptolemaic Dynasty, Bastet is often linked to Greek goddesses and even shares overlapping powers.

Facts About Bastet

  • Women wanting children would show Bastet amulets with their desired number of offspring. She granted their wishes
  • As a feline, she was sometimes depicted with ear and nose piercings. One example is the Gayer-Anderson cat statue, named after the individuals that donated it.
  • Her name changed during the New Kingdom to add an extra “t,” which is more feminine.
  • She was honored by worshipers with golden jewelry, as cats were associated with riches and royalty.
  • Bastet was considered a good mother and had children of her own.
  • She was one of the most honored deities in ancient Egypt.
  • She had a yearly festival in her honor that attracted over 700,000 people from across Egypt.
  • Festival activities included drinking copious amounts of wine, which is a divine drink associated with the goddess
  • Bastet was sometimes portrayed wearing a necklace with a Wedjat eye, which symbolized wholeness and provided protection.
  • At times she is also portrayed holding a sistrum in her right hand, which is a percussion instrument popular in ancient Egypt.
  • Similarly, she is often seen holding an aegis with a lion’s head in her left hand, which is a protective shield made of armor.
  • Bastet was sometimes known as the goddess of dancing and singing.
  • During the annual festival dedicated to Bastet, a single torch began the celebration, followed by a torch-lighting ceremony throughout her hometown.
  • She was associated with a number of other Egyptian and Greek deities.
  • Bastet’s family included a sister named Hathor, a son named Maahes and possibly a second son named Nefertum.
  • She was the wife of Ptah, a god of creation, rebirth, and craftsmen.
  • Bastet was once worshiped for her role as a fierce protector in Lower Egypt.
  • Worshiped as a feline mother-like figure in Upper Egypt.
  • Worshiped mostly as a sun deity in Lower Egypt in association with her father.

References

Gods – Ra

Egyptian Sun God Ra from gods-and-goddesses.com

Ra is the Egyptian god of the Sun. He was also the predominant creator god in ancient Egyptian religion. He was the most powerful and most worshiped of all Egyptian gods. The sun, and therefore Ra, represented life, warmth, and growth to ancient Egyptians. He was so important that he earned the status of King of the Gods, with the Egyptian kings or pharaohs holding the title “sons of Ra.”

Understanding and describing Ra is difficult because of the many forms he was depicted in, as well as the practice of creating new deities by merging existing deities. As one of the creator gods, Ra created himself before his identity was combined with several other gods, including Horus and Atum. This resulted in new names such as Ra-Horakhty and Atum-Ra.

Ra Facts

Name(s):  Ra, Amun-Ra
Rules over: Sun, Chief God
Gender: Male
Symbols: Sun, Sun Disk, Scepter, Ankh
Sacred animals: Falcon
Parents:  None
Siblings: Thoth, Serket, Sobek, Apep

Origins

Reference to Ra was first made during the Second Dynasty of ancient Egypt (c. 2890 – c. 2686 BC), also known as the Old Kingdom. His stature grew to that of a major god by the Fifth Dynasty (c. 2494 – c. 2345 BC).

Family

The eye of Ra is an extension of Ra’s power, and is the feminine counterpart to the sun god in Egyptian mythology. His daughters Bastet, Sekhmet, and Hathor were all considered to be “eyes of Ra” and instruments of his vengeance.

Together with Atum, Ra also fathered Shu, the god of wind, and Tefnut, the goddess of rain. Tefnut gave birth to Nut and Geb, who in turn were the parents of Osiris, Isis, Set, and Nephthys. These nine make up the Heliopolitan Ennead.

Symbols

Ra is pictured and represented in many pieces of ancient Egyptian art found in temples, tombs, hieroglyphics, relics, and other relics. He was generally depicted in human form, most notably with a falcon head crowned with a sun disc; a sacred cobra called Uraeus encircled the disc. Sometimes his head also took the form of a ram or a beetle, depending on the deity with whom he merged.

Powers & Duties

The ancient Egyptians believed Ra created all forms of life by calling them into existence using their secret names. Alternatively, some narratives also stated that man was created from Ra’s tears and sweat.

The sun god was believed to travel across the sky in a solar bark with the sun on his head. He traveled through the underworld in a bark called Sektet (meaning “growing weaker”) during the night, defending himself against and overcoming monsters such as the serpent Apophis. The prayers and the blessings of the living supposedly accompanied him together with the souls of the dead. In the morning he traveled in a bark called Matet (meaning “becoming stronger”).

Worship

Egyptian pharaohs spent most of their money on sun temples during the Fifth Dynasty. They were specially aligned in Ra’s honor. By the time the New Kingdom arrived (c. 1550 BC), the worship became more elaborate. Detailed texts describing Ra’s journey on the sun boats were written on tomb walls, while hymns, prayers, and spells were created in acts of worship.

Heliopolis, meaning sun city in Greek, was the principal seat of worship of Ra. It was known as Iunu or “place of the pillars” in ancient Egypt. Its remains can still be seen today in the Cairo suburb of Al-Matariyyah.

Facts About Ra

  • Many solar temples were built in honor of Ra, but none featured a statue of him. Instead, he was represented by the sunlight openly flowing into the temple, which had an obelisk and altar at its center.
  • A scarab beetle called Khepri who rolled up the sun at sunrise was seen as Ra’s morning manifestation;
  • At sunset Ra manifested in Khnum, another creator god, normally depicted with a ram’s head;
  • At noon, when the sun was most powerful, the sun god was just Ra;
  • Apep, the god of chaos, was Ra’s greatest enemy. He supposedly tried to swallowed Ra as the sun god entered the underworld, causing the sun to set. When he spat Ra out after not succeeding in his quest, the sun rose again;
  • Many solar temples were built in honor of Ra, but none featured a statue of him. Instead, he was represented by the sunlight openly flowing into the temple, which had an obelisk and altar at its center;
  • Egyptian mythology links Ra to the Tree of Life, a sacred symbol in the solar temple at Heliopolis. The fruit of the Tree of Life gave eternal life, although it was only available to the gods and aging pharaohs;
  • The Tree of Life was seat to Bennu, the mythological phoenix that represented Ra’s soul;
  • The worship of Ra began to fade with the rise of Christianity after the Romans conquered Egypt around 30 BC.

Goddess – Ix Chel

Ix Chel Mayan goddess of the Moon, fertility, weaving. waters. from gods-and-goddesses.com

Ix Chel is the Mayan goddess of the Moon, fertility, weaving and waters. At times, she is also described as a war goddess.

Ix Chel Facts

Name(s): Ix Chel
Rules over: The Moon, Fertility, Waters
Gender: Female
Symbols: Moon, Upside-Down Jug
Sacred animals: Jaguar
Parents:
Siblings:
Greek Similar: Selene
Roman Similar: Luna

The Mayan pantheon consisted of many different gods with very specific roles. Some of these gods, however, had incredibly wide portfolios. One of these was the goddess Ix Chel, who played a number of important parts and roles in the Mayan world. She had a significant role in childbirth, was the equivalent of a midwife or even a physician goddess, and also had an importance in “weaving” the universe.

Description

Along with having various roles, Ix Chel had multiple descriptions, or profiles.

Ix Chel was capable of taking several forms, or aspects. It is quite possible that some of these aspects of Ix Chel are actually depictions of other, forgotten goddesses. With that said, there are two major aspects of Ix Chel that are relatively agreed upon.

Ix Chel was primarily depicted as an older woman who wore a serpent crown and who dressed in traditional Mayan garb. In this iteration, Ix Chel may have, at times, worn a skirt that had crossed bones on her dress. She also may have, at various times, had claws on her hands and her feet. She was commonly shown with either a large earthen vessel or with a gaping, frightening mouth.

Sometimes, Ix Chel was depicted as a young woman. In this version, she was generally attractive, and sometimes had a beak on her upper lip. She also tended to wear some sort of headdress. This younger iteration of Ix Chel was usually presented in a much friendlier manner than her elder counterpart.

Symbols

The most common symbol associated with Ix Chel is the Moon. There is a great deal of debate over which phase of the moon she should be associated with. Some scholars argue that all phases of the moon fell under her domain, while others believe only the waning moon did.

Ix Chel was also associated with an upside-down jar, which might have represented flooding or possibly abundance. She was also frequently associated with weaving tools in her role as a major figure in Mayan cosmology.

Lastly, she had a tendency to be affiliated with rainbows, which were a negative omen in the Mayan world.

There are several other symbols that were associated with Ix Chel, but there is debate as to which symbols actually belonged to this goddess and which symbols might have belonged to other related goddesses. Some of thes other minor associations included crossed bones, headdresses, and sometimes even spiders. The latter symbols are less certain than the former.

Powers & Abilities

In her role as a fertility goddess, she had power over rain and waters. She was generally considered to have the ability to cause great floods. Whether this meant she had responsibility for catastrophes or for the changing of the seasons is also a matter of debate. Regardless of the exact role of her waters, she seemed to control them through the upside-down jar that she carried.

In Ix Chel’s role as a weaver, she used a special spindle that also served as the center of the universe. Her responsibility for this spindle gave her a great deal of power, though her exact role in ensuring that the universe continued to function is unclear.

Family

As there were a host of different potential myths that may or may not have involved Ix Chel, her family could range fairly widely.

The biggest place in which her family diverged was in the matter of her husband. In some Mayan tales she’s married to Voltan/Votan, and in others she is married to Itzamna.

In the myths in which she’s married to Itzamna, she has thirteen sons. Four of these sons, the Bacabs, are the deities that hold up the sky in Mayan mythology. To make things even more complicated, it should be noted that the four Bacabs may have also been only a single son of Ix Chel and Itzamna known as Bacab.

Ix Chel also had some kind of connection with Hun Hunahpu, the Maize god. Though it’s not known if Hun Hunahpu was one of her thirteen sons, she did aid him in being reborn and also assisted with the birth of his sons.

Worship

A great deal of the worship of Ix Chel happened at Cozumel. Mayan women who wanted to ensure that their upcoming marriages would be successful would make a pilgrimage to Cozumel and speak to an oracle who was hidden in a statue there. There seems to have been a related island called Isla Mujeres where women would bring, leave, or make idols of Ix Chel.

At Tixchel, there were tales of women being sacrificed to a goddess who was most likely Ix Chel. The best evidence of this practice was the fact that the village itself was named for the goddess and that she seems to have been a primary goddess that was worshiped in the region.

There was also a Feast of Ix Chel, in which both shamans and physicians would bring out bundles of medical supplies and divination supplies. Ix Chel was frequently invoked during and after childbirth, specifically in her role as a midwife.

Facts about Ix Chel

  • Ix Chel was a goddess with many domains, including childbirth, midwifery, weaving, destruction, birth, and medicine.
  • Ix Chel had at least two different incarnations that correspond to the waxing and waning moon.
  • Ix Chel was considered not to be not just a goddess of birth, but also a goddess of warfare and perhaps even apocalyptic destruction.
  • Unlike many other Mayan gods, Ix Chel’s classical glyph is still unknown.
  • Ix Chel had several corresponding deities in the Aztec culture.
  • On of the major places she was worshiped was at the now popular tourist destination of Cozumel, Mexico.
  • She was affiliates with the Moon, waters, spindle, jaguar and spiders.

Gods – Chac

Chac Mayan God of Rain from gods-and-goddesses.com

Chac is the Mayan god of Rain. He is very similar to the Aztec god Tlaloc.

Chac Facts

Name(s): Chac
Rules over: Rain, Lightning
Gender: Male
Symbols:
Sacred animals: Snake
Greek Similar: Zeus
Roman Similar: Jupiter

At times, Chac could manifest into four different gods, or parts. Each god had a cardinal direction and color, as well as a unique name. These manifestations are as follows:

  • Sac Xib Chac, North, White
  • Chac Xib Chac, East, Red
  • Kan Xib Chac, South, Yellow
  • Ek Xib Chac, West, Black

These four gods, or parts, are sometimes referred to as The Chacs. These four could also be seen as assistants to the god Chac.

Appearance

Chac had a very unique and distinct appearance in Mayan mythology. The deity was known for his long, hooked nose, fangs and long tongue. His nose was turned up, much like an elephant’s nose.

 

He was also portrayed with animal attributes as well. He could be depicted as having scales, like those of a fish or reptile. This was likely due to his affiliation with rain.

Powers & Abilities

Rain gods had a couple of different ways of making it rain. They would use jade or stone axes to hit rain-carrying snakes, or throw the axes or snakes at the clouds, causing rain, lightning and thunder.

Worship

There are several known rituals associated with Chac. One of these is known as Burner periods and rituals. A Burner period lasted 65 days, or a quarter of the 260 day religious Mayan calendar.

Note – The Mayans had two calendars. One was similar to ours, and had 360 days. The other was a religious calendar, and had 260 days.

Each of the four Chac gods was associated with one of the four Burner periods. Not a lot is known about Burner rituals and periods, but they are mentioned in several Mayan texts. It is possible that a sacred fire was constantly lit and tended to by a priest for the duration of a 65 day Burner period. After a given Burner period ended, a new priest would tend to the fire.

Sadly, in later Mayan times, another ritual involving child sacrifice became associated with worship of Chac. These sacrifices became more numerous in periods of long droughts.

Facts about Chac

  • He is sometimes referred to as god B. This is due to Paul Schellhas’ classification of the Mayan gods around the turn of the 20th century as he examined the four Mayan codices.
  • His name can also be spelled Chaac, Chaak or Chaack.
  • Depictions of this deity can be found at Mayan sites including Chichen Itza, Copan and Peten.
  • According to Mayan mythology, he created lightning, rain and thunder by throwing his stone or jade ax at the clouds.
  • He is one of the major gods of Mayan mythology, and is depicted more than any other Mayan god.
  • Chac is also the name for the Mayan color red.

References

  • Mercatante, Anthony S., and Down, James R. The Facts on File Encyclopedia of World Mythology and Legend. Second Edition, 2004. Pages 227 and 228.
  • Jones, David M. Mythology of the Aztecs and Mayam, 2007. Anness Publishing Limited. Page 23.
  • Luxton, Richard N. The Book of Chumayel: The Counsel Book of the Yucatec Maya 1539 – 1638. Aegean Park Press, 1995. Page 279.
  • Wikipedia contributors. “Chaac.” Wikipedia, The Free Encyclopedia. Wikipedia, The Free Encyclopedia, 5 Feb. 2020. Web. 19 Feb. 2020.

Goddess – Hel

Norse Goddess of Death from gods-and-goddesses.com

Hel is the Norse goddess of the dead. She ruled over the underworld, Niflheim, where she received the dead. Her name means “one that hides.”

In general, Hel is only mentioned in passing in Old Norse literature. It means her character is ill-defined and her personality little-developed. Some historians even suggest that she is a figment of the imagination of the Norse poets.

Facts About Hel

Name(s): Hel
Rules over: The Underworld
Gender: Female
Symbols: Hagalaz Rune
Linked Animals: Hellhound (named Garmr), Crows
Parents: Loki and Angrboda
Siblings: Fenrir and Jörmungandr
Greek Similar: Hades
Roman Similar: Pluto

Family

In Norse mythology, Hel’s father was the trickster god Loki and her mother the giantess Angrboda. Loki and Angrboda had three children: the wolf Fenrir; the serpent Jörmungandr; and Hel, their only daughter.

Hel was born with the bones on one half of her body fully exposed and, thus, is often depicted as a half-black and half-white monster. She grew up with Fenrir and Jörmungandr in Jotunheim, land of the giants, until Odin, ruler of the Aesir, decided they should live in Asgard where their father came from.

Symbols

Hel is associated with a hellhound named Garmr as well as crows. She is also sometimes affiliated with the Hagalaz Rune stone.

Powers & Duties

In Asgard, the other Norse gods were uncomfortable with Hel’s appearance. For this reason, Odin agreed to send her away, and gave her the World of Niflheim – one of the Nine Realms. There she became queen of the dead.

The Norse believed that most people went to Niflheim when they died. Only warriors who were killed on the battlefield did not go to Niflheim. Instead, half of the warriors who died on the battlefield went to live with Odin in his palatial home Valhalla and the other half with Freya in her afterlife realm Folkvang.

Niflheim was divided into sections, including one called the shore of corpses. Here, a castle filled with venomous serpents stood facing north. It was full of murderers, perjurers, and adulterers who suffered while their blood was sucked by a dragon named Nidhogg.

When Odin’s son Baldur died because of a trick by Loki, his soul was also received in Niflheim. Hermod, another son of Odin’s, agreed to go to Hel to convince her to send Baldur home. But Loki played another trick to make it impossible for Baldur to return to the real world. The eventual exposure of his trickery led to the end of the world, a battle between good and evil known as Ragnarok.

In Niflheim, Hel was waited upon by two servants called Ganglati and Ganglot. It is said they moved so slowly that they appeared to be standing still. They served her meals in a dish named “hunger” and with a knife named “famine.”

Facts About Hel

  • Holland, Helvetia, Helsinki, and Holstein are well-known places that were probably named after Hel;
  • Hel’s appearance could be the inspiration of the masked harlequin who appeared in Commedia dell’ Arte;
  • No-one could hide anything from Hel. She had an eye of fire, which could only see the truth;
  • The Vikings feared Hel’s appearance, and they were wary of Niflheim;
  • Niflheim was an icy cold place rather than a place of fire and brimstone most associated with the modern idea of hell;
  • In the Prose Edda written by Snorri Sturluson in the 13 th century, Niflheim is described as a place where a constant wail can be heard from the residents. It is damp with sleet and the walls are built with worms and the bones of humans;
  • In the Gylfaginning, the first part of the Prose Edda, Hel is described as “rather downcast and fierce-looking”;
  • Hel was feared by the Vikings, but the Gauls, Dutch, and Germanic peoples were more sympathetic towards her. They did not see Niflheim as a place of punishment and had a kinder approach to death;
  • The expression “go to hell” originated with Hel and Niflheim;
  • Niflheim existed beneath the roots of the world tree Yggdrasil;
  • Jacob Grimm, a scholar of Norse mythology, had a theory that Hel was only a “half-goddess.” He argued that because Loki made the giantess Angrboda pregnant, there was no proof that Hel was of full divine blood;
  • Some scholars have suggested that several of the imitation medallions and bracteates which remain from the Migration Period depicts Hel;
  • Hela, the fictional villainess in Marvel Comics’ American comic books, is based on Hel. She is also featured in the webcomic The Order of the Stick, in which she is an antagonist who wants to destroy the world.

Gods – Loki

Loki Norse God of Mischief from .gods-and-goddesses.com

Loki is known as the trickster god and deity of mayhem and mischief in Norse mythology. He is one of the most well-known gods of Norse mythology. He is at least half-giant; however, some think he is full-giant but sneaked his way to becoming a god.

Loki Facts

Name(s): Loki
Rules over: Chaos, Mischief
Gender: Male
Symbols: Mistletoe, Horned Helmet (modern depictions)
Linked Animals: Two Intertwined Snakes
Parents: Fárbauti and Laufey
Siblings: Helblindi and Býleistr
Greek Similar: Atë
Roman Similar: Laverna

Family

Loki’s father was Fárbauti and his mother was Laufey. It is unknown whether his mother was a lesser known goddess or a giant, and his father definitely was a giant.

This duplicity may have attributed to Loki’s split feelings about the gods of Asgard. Sometimes he is helpful to them, but other times he insults them, causes trouble, and during Ragnarok leads the giants into battle against Asgard.

Symbols

Loki has been associated with mistletoe, two intertwined snakes, and also a helmet with two horns.

Powers & Duties

Loki had the power to shape-shift in Norse legends. In various stories, he turned into a salmon, mare, seal, fly, and elderly woman. He also used a combination of masterful trickery and cunning to achieve his objectives.

Stories

The first time Loki helped the gods was when they were building Asgard. The gods had run out of funds and all they had built was a wall. Loki came up with the idea that a giant should finish the job for them. The gods agreed, as did the giant. But, the giant asked for the Sun, the Moon, and the goddess Freya as payment if he completed the job on time. The gods weren’t sure, but Loki assured them that the giant would never finish on time. The giant had a huge stallion called Svadilfari to help him, and the gods got nervous. Loki changed shape into a mare and seduced the giant’s horse. As a result of Loki’s trickery, the giant wasn’t able to finish on schedule and tried to kidnap Freya. Before the giant could, Thor cracked his skull with a hammer. However, Loki, as the female horse, got pregnant and gave birth to an eight-legged stallion named Sleipnir, which he gave to Odin.

Another time he helps the gods of Asgard is when Thor lost his hammer, Mjolnir. Thor asks Loki for help and they work together to find where the hammer is located. Thrymr, the giant, had stolen the weapon and taken it to the home of the giants. He would only return it if Freya would agree to marry him. Loki came up with a plan that included his and Thor’s cross-dressing to get the hammer back. It succeeded, and Thrymr was punished.

During a great feast in Asgard, Loki wasn’t invited and was upset. He asked the guard what the gods were talking about, and the guard told him they were talking about war, weapons, and saying negative things about Loki. Loki burst in, and the gods became silent. Loki then asks for a seat, and Odin finally agrees to let him sit. Loki gives a toast to all the gods except for Bragi, whom he insults instead. They start arguing and other gods and goddesses get involved.

Loki begins to insult them all, including Odin, and when Frigg, Odin’s wife, tries to stop Loki, he ends up insulting her as well. She tells Loki that if her son Baldur were still alive, Loki wouldn’t be able to escape the wrath of the gods. Loki then reminds her that he is responsible for Baldur’s death. The insults continue when Freya calls Loki mad – he retorts that she is a whore. Heimdall tells Loki he’s drunk and to stop, but Loki insults Heimdall. Skadi tells Loki to watch it or he’ll be bound up, and Loki insults her. Sif, the wife of Thor, gives him mead in a golden goblet saying she is blameless and he can’t insult her. Loki claims she is his lover. Thor finally arrives, threatens Loki to silence with Mjolmir, and Loki finally leaves after insulting Thor. He disguises himself as a salmon, but the gods find him and finally bind him until Ragnarok.

Facts About Loki

  • In Old Norse, Loki means “close”;
  • Loki typically cheated dwarves at any opportunity given to him. They finally were able to stitch his mouth shut to keep him quiet from insults;
  • Loki is the father of Hel, the goddess of the land of the dead. He is also father of Fenrir, the wolf demon that bites off Tyr’s hand and will eat Odin during Ragnarok. He is also the father of Jormungandr, the world serpent;
  • Loki steals Freya’s amber necklace, in which Heimdall fights him and retrieves it;
  • Loki tricked blind Hod to kill Baldur with mistletoe;
  • When bound until Ragnarok, Skadi places a venomous snake above him, which causes him terrible pain with the poison.

Goddess – Nut

Egyptian Goddess Nut from gods-and-goddesses.com

Nut is the Egyptian goddess of the sky. She is a member of the Ennead, the nine original Egyptian gods and goddesses of Heliopolis, which was a city near Cairo and the birthplace of the gods.

Nut Facts

Name(s): Nut
Rules over: Sky
Gender: Female
Symbols: Water Pot, Ladder called maqet
Sacred animals: Cow
Parents: Shu (Father) and Tefnut (Mother)
Siblings: Geb

Family

She is the daughter of Shu and Tefnut, and both sister and wife to Geb, the earth god.

Egyptian mythology said that Nut and Geb were inseparable, which left no room for creation by Atum Ra, the creator god. Atum Ra and Shu, who were jealous of the closeness between Nut and Geb, did not want them to have children. Shu separated them by lifting Nut up. She continued to form the sky, while Geb remained beneath her to form the earth.

In another myth featuring Ra, Nut is referred to as his mother. The Pyramid Texts reveal that her body becomes a pathway for the sun. Ra passes over it during the day before Nut swallows him at night. Then, a new day starts when she gives birth to him again in the morning.

Ra issued a decree that Nut “shall not give birth on any day of the year.” She conspired with Thoth, the god of wisdom, who won five extra days from the moon for her to bear five children. She gave birth to Osiris, ruler of the gods; Horus the Elder, god of war; Set, god of evil; Isis, goddess of magic; and Nephthys, goddess of water. This is the story of how a year came to have 365 days.

Symbols

Nut is most commonly depicted as a naked woman with a water pot on her head; the pot is also the hieroglyph for her name. Sometimes she is pictured in an arch, with her hands and feet on the ground, touching it on the earth’s four cardinal points and serving as the pillars of the sky. Often, Shu is seen holding her as Geb rests propped up by his elbow on the earth.

Nut is often portrayed holding the key of life, called the ankh. She may also be seen holding the was scepter in depictions of her. This scepter is a long staff with an animal head on top and is a symbol of authority and divine power.

Nut is sometimes depicted as a cow with eyes representing the sun and the moon, or a giant suckling sow whose piglets were the stars. The sycamore tree, representing protection and eternity, is another symbol associated with Nut.

Powers & Duties

Nut’s primary duty is being the Egyptian sky goddess. However, because she was said to give birth to many of the major Egyptian gods, she was also referred to as “She who Bore the Gods”. There are inscriptions of Nut at Dendera, the birthplace of Isis, emphasizing her importance as “She who Bore the Gods”.

Nut was also a protector goddess, namely a protector of the dead. The Pyramid Texts contain many prayers to Nut to ask for protection for those who have died.

A picture of Nut was often painted on the inside of a coffin (sarcophagus) to protect the dead. Sometimes she is pictured with protective wings, and other times the symbol of the ladder was used to depict her. Many examples of these can be seen at the Cairo Museum.

Worship

The chief cult center for Nut was at Heliopolis, but she was also worshiped as a healing goddess in Memphis at a shrine called the House of Nut. No known temples were built exclusively for her.

Facts About Nut:

  • Alternative names for Nut are Nueth, Newet, or Nuit;
  • Pictures and depictions of Nut are present in many forms of ancient Egyptian art. They have been found in tombs, temples, and manuscripts. For example, she is represented on the vaults of tombs which are painted in dark blue and with many stars;
  • When Set killed Osiris and Isis put him back together after gathering all the body pieces, Osiris climbs a ladder (called a maqet), a sacred symbol of Nut, to enter her heavenly skies for protection. Set later became god of the underworld while she was regarded as protector of the dead.
  • An ancient Egyptian astronomical text, The Fundamentals of the Course of the Stars, was later renamed to the Book of Nut. It dates back to before 2,000 BC;
  • The passionate relationship between Nut and Geb offers an alternative myth about how night and day came to be. It is said that they separated during the day, but that she would reach down to the earth in the evening to meet him. Darkness set in when she was away from the sky.