ORIGIN Hindu (Epic and Puranic) [India]. Goddess of emotional love.
KNOWN PERIOD OF WORSHIP circa 1000 BC and earlier until present day.
SYNONYMS BHUMIDEVI [southern India].
CENTER(S) OF CULT none.
ART REFERENCES virtually none.
LITERARY SOURCES later Puranic literature—the works of Vidyapati (1352-1448), including the Brahma-vaivarta-purana.
Continue reading “RADHA (prosperity)”ORIGIN Taoist (Chinese). Guardian god.
KNOWN PERIOD OF WORSHIP circa AD 300 until present.
SYNONYMS Li No Cha.
CENTER(S) OF CULT throughout Chinese culture.
ART REFERENCES paintings and sculptures.
LITERARY SOURCES various philosophical and religious texts, mostly inadequately researched and untranslated.
Continue reading “NA CHA (here is a loud cry)”ORIGIN Mesopotamian (Babylonian-Akkadian) [Iraq]. Goddess of fertility and war.
KNOWN PERIOD OF WORSHIP circa 2500 BC until circa AD 200.
SYNONYMS INANA [Sumerian].
ORIGIN Mesopotamian (Sumerian) [Iraq]. Storm god.
KNOWN PERIOD OF WORSHIP circa 3500 BC, and probably earlier, until circa 1750 BC.
SYNONYMS ADAD (Akkadian).
CENTER(S) OF CULT Karkara.
ORIGIN Egyptian. Mother goddess.
KNOWN PERIOD OF WORSHIP Early dynastic period (circa 2700 BC) and probably earlier until the end of Egyptian history (circa AD 400).
SYNONYMS none.
ORIGIN Mesopotamian (Sumerian) [Iraq]. Goddess of fertility and war.
KNOWN PERIOD OF WORSHIP circa 3500 BC to 1750 BC.
SYNONYMS Inninna; IS ˇ TAR [Akkadian]; Nin-mesar-ra (lady of a myriad offices)
CENTER(S) OF CULT Unug [Warka]; also Erbil and Nineveh.
ORIGIN Aztec (classical Mesoamerican) [Mexico]. Sun god, patron god of the Aztec nation.
KNOWN PERIOD OF WORSHIP circa AD 750, but probably much earlier, to circa AD 1500.
SYNONYMS Blue Tezcatlipoca.
Continue reading “HUITZILPOCHTLI (blue hummingbird on left foot)”
ORIGIN Nordic (Icelandic). The blind god.
KNOWN PERIOD OF WORSHIP Viking period (circa AD 700) and earlier through to Christianization (circa AD 1100).
SYNONYMS Hod, Hodur.
CENTER(S) OF CULT none known.
ORIGIN Greco-Roman, perhaps preceded by Etruscan. God of fire and smithies.
KNOWN PERIOD OF WORSHIP circa 1500 BC until Christianization (circa AD 400).
SYNONYMS Hephaestus (Roman).
CENTER(S) OF CULT sanctuaries on Lemnos and, from circa 450 BC, in Athens opposite the Acropolis on the hill above the Agora. Also a significant shrine at Ephesus.
ORIGIN Aztec (classical Mesoamerican) [Mexico]. Mother goddess.
KNOWN PERIOD OF WORSHIP circa AD 750 to AD 1500 and probably much earlier.
SYNONYMS Coatlicue-Chimalman (Valley of Mexico).
CENTER(S) OF CULT Tenochtitlan.
Witch's Well 