Goddess

A goddess is a female deity. In many religions, a sacred female figure plays an important role in prayers and worship. For example, in Shaktism, one of the three major Hindu groups, the highest power is seen as a Supreme Goddess. In some forms of Shaivism, the god Shiva and the goddess together represent the basic forces of the universe. In Vajrayana Buddhism, the nature of ultimate reality is sometimes shown as two deities together, symbolizing wisdom and compassion.

Religions that believe in many gods, called polytheist religions, honor many goddesses and gods. These goddesses and gods are often thought of as separate beings. They may live together in a group called a pantheon, or they may watch over different places. Goddesses are often connected with ideas about family, beauty, love, and creating life. They can also be linked with magic, fighting, wisdom, farming, and many other things. Some goddesses are even tied to difficult or confusing parts of life. There are many different kinds of goddesses, just like there are many different kinds of gods.

Etymology

The word goddess comes from combining the word god with a special ending that shows it is a female. This idea started in Middle English around the year 1350. Many languages, like Egyptian, Classical Greek, and some Semitic languages, also add a special ending to their word for god to show it is a female. Sometimes, people use the basic word without adding this special ending.

god Middle English Egyptian Classical Greek Semitic languages

Historical polytheism

Further information: Polytheism

Ancient Near East

Mesopotamia

Main articles: Assyro-Babylonian religion and Sumerian religion

Inanna was very important in ancient Sumer. She was later joined with the East Semitic goddess Ishtar. Other Mesopotamian goddesses include Ninhursag, Ninlil, Antu and Gaga.

Ancient Africa (Egypt)

Main article: Netjeret

Goddesses of the Ennead of Heliopolis: Tefnut, Nut, Nephthys, Isis Goddesses of the Ogdoad of Hermopolis: Naunet, Amaunet, Kauket, Hauhet; originally a cult of Hathor Satis and Anuket of the triad of Elephantine

Canaan

Further information: The Hebrew Goddess

Goddesses of the Canaanite religion: Ba`alat Gebal, Astarte, Anat.

Anatolia

Arinniti: Hittite goddess of the sun. She became patron of the Hittite Empire and monarchy. Cybele: Her Hittite name was Kubaba, but her name changed to Cybele in Phrygian and Roman culture. Her effect can be also seen on Artemis as the Lady of Ephesus. Hebat: Mother goddess of the Hittite pantheon and wife of the leader sky god, Teshub. She was the origin of the Hurrian cult. Leto: A mother goddess figure in Lykia. She was also the main goddess of the capital city of Lykia League (Letoon)

Pre-Islamic Arabia

In pre-Islamic Mecca the goddesses Uzza, Manāt and al-Lāt were known as "the daughters of god". Uzzā was worshipped by the Nabataeans, who equated her with the Graeco-Roman goddesses Aphrodite, Urania, Venus and Caelestis. Each of the three goddesses had a separate shrine near Mecca.

Indo-European traditions

See also: Proto-Indo-European religion

Pre-Christian and pre-Islamic goddesses in cultures that spoke Indo-European languages.

Indian

Further information: Proto-Indo-Iranian religion and Rigvedic deities

Agneya: or Aagneya is the Hindu Goddess of Fire. Prithivi: the Earth, also appears as a goddess. Rivers are also deified as goddesses. Ushas: is the main goddess of the Rigveda and is the goddess of the dawn. Varuni: is the Hindu Goddess of Water.

Iranian

Anahita: or Nahid, or Arədvī Sūrā Anāhitā, or Aban: the divinity of "the Waters" and hence associated with fertility, healing, beauty and wisdom. Ashi: a divinity of fertility and fortune in the Zoroastrian hierarchy of yazatas. Daena: a divinity, counted among the yazatas, representing insight and revelation, hence "conscience" or "religion". Spenta Armaiti: or Sandaramet, one of the Amesha Spentas, a female divinity associated with earth and Mother Nature.

Greco-Roman

Main articles: Religion in ancient Greece and Religion in ancient Rome

Eleusinian Mysteries: Baubo (goddess of mirth), Demeter (goddess of the harvest) and Persephone (goddess of spring, queen of the Underworld as the wife of Hades). Greek muses: Calliope (goddess of epic poetry), Clio (history), Erato (love poetry), Euterpe (music, song, and lyric poetry), Melpomene (tragedy), Polyhymnia (sacred poetry), Terpsichore (dance), Thalia (comedy and pastoral poetry), and Urania (astronomy). Aphrodite: Goddess of love and beauty. Artemis: Virgin goddess of the wilderness and the hunt. Athena: Virgin goddess of strategy, warfare, and crafts. Eris: Goddess of chaos. Gaia: Primordial goddess of the Earth. Hecate: Goddess of sorcery and crossroads. Hera: Goddess of womanhood, marriage and childbirth, queen of Olympus as the wife of Zeus. Hestia: Virgin goddess of the hearth, domesticity and family. Iris: Goddess of rainbows. Leto: Titan goddess of childhood. Nike: Goddess of victory. Selene: Titan goddess of the Moon. Rhea: Titan goddess of motherhood.

Celtic

Main article: Celtic pantheon

Goddesses and otherworldly women in Celtic polytheism include:

Celtic antiquity: Brigantia Gallo-Roman goddesses: Epona, Dea Matrona Irish mythology: Áine, Boann, Brigid, The Cailleach, Danu, Ériu, Fand and The Morrígan (Nemain, Macha, and Badb) among others.

The Celts honoured goddesses of nature and natural forces, as well as those connected with skills and professions such as healing, warfare and poetry. The Celtic goddesses have diverse qualities such as abundance, creation and beauty. They have been depicted as beautiful or hideous, old or young women. In Irish mythology in particular, tutelary goddesses are often associated with various features of the land, notably mountains, rivers, forests and holy wells.

Germanic

Further information: List of Germanic deities and heroes § Goddesses

Surviving accounts of Germanic mythology and Norse mythology contain numerous tales of female goddesses, giantesses, and divine female figures in their scriptures. The Germanic peoples had altars erected to the "Mothers and Matrons" and held celebrations specific to these goddesses (such as the Anglo-Saxon "Mothers-night"). Various other female deities are attested among the Germanic peoples, such as Nerthus attested in an early account of the Germanic peoples, Ēostre attested among the pagan Anglo-Saxons, and Sinthgunt attested among the pagan continental Germanic peoples. Examples of goddesses attested in Norse mythology include Frigg (wife of Odin), Skaði (one time wife of Njörðr), that also was married to Njörðr during Bronze Age, Freyja (wife of Óðr), Sif (wife of Thor), Gerðr (wife of Freyr), and personifications such as Jörð (earth), Sól (the sun), and Nótt (night). Female deities also play heavily into the Norse concept of death.

Pre-Columbian America

Aztec

Main article: Aztec religion

Chalchiuhtlicue: goddess of water (rivers, seas, storms, etc.) Chantico: goddess of the hearth, flames Coyolxauhqui: warrior goddess associated with the moon Duality Earth Goddesses: Cihuacoatl (childbirth and ), Coatlicue (earth as the womb and grave), Tlazolteotl (filth and purification) Itzpapalotl: monstrous ruler of Tamoanchan (a paradise realm) Mictecacihuatl: queen of Mictlan (the underworld) Xochiquetzal: goddess of fertility, beauty, and female

In Aztec goddess, the concept of women is shown by skirt.

Maya

Main article: Maya religion

Ixchel: mother goddess Maya moon goddess Goddess I: human procreation, and marriage

Inca

Main article: Religion in the Inca Empire

Pachamama: the supreme Mother Earth Mama Killa: moon goddess Mama Ocllo: fertility goddess Mama Cocha: goddess of the sea and lakes

Native North America

Goddesses of various Native North American peoples include:

Spider Grandmother: Creator goddess of the Southwestern United States Atahensic: Iroquois sky goddess Atira: Pawnee earth and corn goddess Tia: Haida goddess of peaceful death Sedna: Inuit goddess of the sea and underworld Atabey: Taino mother goddess

Folk religion and animism

Further information: Folk religion and Marian devotion

African religions

Further information: Traditional African religions and African diasporic religions

Further information: Mami Wata, Ala (mythology), Asase Ya, Oshun, Oya, and Yemaja

In African and African diasporic religions, goddesses are often linked with special ways of worshipping. One example is linking goddesses with important figures in other faiths. There is also Buk, a goddess from Sudan and Ethiopia, who is still honoured today. She stands for the strength and fertility of women. She is connected to another deity named Abuk. Another Ethiopian goddess is Atete, who brings spring and helps with growing plants. Farmers sometimes leave part of their harvest as a gift and women sing old songs to show respect.

In one group of people from Sudan called the Southern Nuba, people believe in a single great Goddess who created the world and all people.

Chinese folk religion

Main article: Chinese folk religion

Further information: Queen Mother of the West

• Mazu is the goddess of the sea. She helps protect fishermen and sailors, and many people in coastal parts of China and nearby areas worship her.
• The Goddess Weaver Zhinü, daughter of a holy mother, created the stars and their light, called "the Silver River" (known in Western cultures as "The Milky Way Galaxy"), for the world. She is linked with the star Westerners call Vega.

Shinto

Goddess Amaterasu is one of the most important gods in Shinto beliefs. There are also other important female gods such as Ame-no-Uzume-no-Mikoto, Inari and Konohanasakuya-hime.

Indian religions

In Indian religions like Hinduism, Buddhism, and Jainism, many female gods, called goddesses, are honored. The oldest writings, called the Vedas, mention several goddesses. Even older art from the Indus Valley civilisation shows goddesses too.

Hinduism

Main article: God and gender in Hinduism

Further information: Devi and Shakti

Hinduism has many beliefs and includes lots of gods and goddesses. Early Hindu texts talk about goddesses like Prithvi (earth), Aditi (order), Vāc (sound), and Saraswati. Today, important goddesses include Lakshmi, Saraswati, Durga, Kali, Tripurasundari, Parvati, and Radha.

Some Hindu beliefs say all gods and goddesses come from one source called Brahman. Others think of gods and goddesses as pairs, like Lakshmi with Vishnu or Shiva with Parvati.

In Shaktism, the greatest god is the Great Goddess, also called Mahadevi or Shakti. People in this belief think she is the source of everything and the mother of all gods and goddesses. She has many forms, and one important group of her forms is called the ten mahavidyas.

A very old and important Hindu book, the Devi Mahatmya, says all goddesses are different parts of one powerful female force. This force is the creative power of the universe.

Local gods and goddesses from villages in India were often linked to better-known Hindu gods and goddesses. This mixing created new goddess stories and festivals. One big festival is Navaratri, a nine-night celebration for the goddess Durga in the autumn.

Buddhism

Many female gods are part of Buddhist traditions too. Early Buddhism in India respected goddesses like Prthivi (earth), Hariti, Lakshmi, and Mayadevi (the mother of the Buddha). Some of these goddesses are still important today, like Maya and Prthivi (called Phra Mae Thorani in Southeast Asia).

In later Mahayana Buddhism, many powerful female gods appeared. They were seen as saviors and sometimes as fully awakened Buddhas. Important ones include Prajñāpāramitā Devi, Tārā, and Guanyin. In Tibetan Buddhism, Tara is a very important goddess.

Some special Buddhist goddesses are linked to deep meditation practices. They are seen as fully awakened and sometimes shown with unusual symbols. These include Vajrayogini and Simhamukha.

Abrahamic religions

Judaism

Further information: The Hebrew Goddess and Shekhinah

In Jewish stories, there is a figure named Lilith, who was said to be Adam’s first wife. She left Adam and did not return to the Garden of Eden. Her tale became more famous later in history.

Today, many in Judaism think of Shekhinah as the gentle part of God. She is seen as God’s presence on Earth and the spirit of the Jewish people, always working to connect with God.

Christianity

Apotheosis of Mary

Main articles: Collyridianism and Al-maryamiyyun

Some Christian groups long ago thought of the Virgin Mary as a goddess. In recent times, a few people in the Philippines have also believed this.

Veneration of Mary

Main article: Veneration of Mary in the Catholic Church

In Catholic faith, Mary, the mother of Jesus, is honored with many special titles, like Mother of God and Queen of Heaven. Some other Christian groups also honor her in similar ways.

In some Christian thoughts, there is a female figure called Sophia, who stands for wisdom. She appears in old writings and is liked by many as a symbol of clever and holy ideas.

Latter Day Saint movement

Most followers of the Latter Day Saint movement believe in a Heavenly Mother, who is the partner of the Heavenly Father. They call them both Heavenly Parents. They teach that everyone, women and men, can grow to be like gods through a special process.

Neopaganism

Most modern Pagan traditions honor one or more goddesses. In Wicca, "the Goddess" is very important, along with her partner, the Horned God. In some Wiccan groups, the Goddess is seen as a universal spirit, like the Queen of Heaven. She is often linked to strong moon symbols and ideas from many cultures.

In Wicca, the Goddess is sometimes shown as three parts: the Maiden, the Mother, and the Crone. These ideas come from the work of Robert Graves and are popular in Wiccan beliefs. Some see these as stages in a woman's life, while others think of them as different ways of understanding life and growth.

Feminism

Main article: Feminist theology

Since the time of early movements for women's rights in the United States, many have looked at religion to see if it treats women fairly. Some women and men have turned to ancient ideas about powerful female spirits as a different way to think about faith. Today, groups like the Fellowship of Isis show that many people around the world are interested in worshiping a female spirit.

Main article: Thealogy

"Divine Feminine" redirects here. For the Mac Miller album, see The Divine Feminine.

"Feminine Divine" redirects here. For the Dexys album, see The Feminine Divine

The idea of the "sacred feminine" started in the 1970s and became popular in new spiritual ideas. Many faiths, like Hinduism, honor many powerful female spirits, which has interested many modern spiritual seekers.

Metaphorical use

The word "goddess" is sometimes used in poetry and everyday language to describe an amazing woman. The first known use of this meaning dates back to 1579 in a book called Lauretta the divine Petrarches Goddesse.

Famous writer Shakespeare had his male characters call female characters goddesses. For example, in A Midsummer Night's Dream, one character says to another, "O Helen, goddess, nymph, perfect, divine!" In Love's Labour's Lost, a character says, "A woman I forswore; but I will prove, Thou being a goddess, I forswore not thee." And in All's Well That Ends Well, another character calls a woman a goddess. In Cymbeline, a character also compares a woman to a goddess to show how calm she stays in a hard situation.