Badb and Nemain were the wives of Neit, the Irish god of war. Water is strongly associated with healing and both the Celtic goddess Brigid and Saint Brigid are connected with the healing power of wells. "Important Aztec Gods and Goddesses." She also had an adopted son, Erichthonius. The "sun-bearer," Tsohanoai is the Navajo god of the sun, which acts as his shield. In a dream Aengus falls in love with a beautiful maiden, There was a catch that Caer was stuck in the form of a swan and was only able to return to a human form for one day every second year. Ovid is Roman, not Greek, of course. He was also connected with rightfulness, especially in terms of kingship. Her name means the exalted one in old Irish. Anu is associated with the province of Munster in Ireland, where two rounded mountains near the Cork-Kerry border are known as the Paps of Anu (Breasts of Anu). In later times, her role is taken on by Tiamat. A mix of stories from ancient history and mythology merged together by bards or the kings poets to record important family history of kings. Perhaps a case can be made for Hermaphroditus. Hestia was the eldest daughter of Cronos and Rhea. Gods and Goddesses from the AI's eyes #shorts #short #aiart #midjourney #god #goddess #ai #aigenerated #shortvideo Out of these cookies, the cookies that are categorized as necessary are stored on your browser as they are as essential for the working of basic functionalities of the website. Obviously, by itself this doesn't tell us anything about Athena's own sexuality, but symbolically it connects her with the idea of asexuality from the very beginning of her life. Take for example: 1. https://www.thoughtco.com/deities-of-mexica-mythology-170042 (accessed March 4, 2023). Stanta offered his services until he could retrain a new dog and so became known as C Chulainn. Codex Telleriano-Remensis/Wikimedia Commons/Public Domain. Do I need a thermal expansion tank if I already have a pressure tank? So this is more an avenue for research than a definitive answer. Jupiter, Juno and Minerva composed the Capitoline Triad - that is, the 3 main Roman Gods who went to replace the Archaic Triad of Jupiter, Mars and Quirinus, a god whose origins were found in Sabine mythology. Of these three Aphrodite cannot bend or ensnare the hearts. Half goat. As a crow, she would fly over the battlefield and either, The frenzy of battle is connected with the aspect of, Good, fruitful harvests were required to provide for the people and animals, therefore much emphasis was placed on gods and goddesses that represent fertility, such as, There are several stories that connect ine to. Lugh was a master craftsman and skilled warrior, known for his ability to throw a spear a very long distance and hence his other name Lugh Lmhfhada. - Apollo, god of the sun, was bisexual. [1] [2] She was heavily identified with Selene, the personification of the Moon, and Hecate, another . ', We're Ready to Stan 'Swarm,' a New Horror Series Based on the Beyhive, Ellie & Riley's Kiss in 'The Last of Us' Censored in Some Regions. While Artemis, for example, could have sexual desires without contradicting her status as the goddess of the hunt (or even the goddess of virginity - she was abstinent, not necessarily asexual), the whole concept seems to go against Athena's essential nature. iva, goddess of love and fertility. The creature of both sexes was frequently depicted in classical art as a figure with womanly breasts and form but with male genitalia. - Zeus, god of the thunder, was bisexual. Unfortunately there is very little information found in the surviving Medieval Irish texts about Danu. Teiresias revealed the ladies had it roughly 10 times better than the lads. Maura Healey Says Ron DeSantis Taking U.S. Backwards, Club Q Hero Richard Fierro on the Former Safe Space's Future, Betches Media's Sami Sage on Reaching People Through Humor and Championing Women's Rights, Kentucky Senator Whose Trans Son Recently Died Blasts New Anti-Drag Bill, Hershey's Chocolate Sparks Conservative Outrage Over Women's Day Campaign, Jussie Smollett's Attorneys Appeal Hate Crime Hoax Conviction, Anti-LGBTQ+ Missouri Lawmaker Challenged on Her 'Don't Say Gay' Bill, Michigan's Lesbian Attorney General Receives Anti-Semitic Death Threat, Anti-LGBTQ+ Libs of TikTok Creator Chaya Raichik Does Bizarre CPAC Talk, Iowa Republicans Seek to End Marriage Equality in State, George Santos to Be Investigated by House For Finances, Sexual Misconduct. We also use third-party cookies that help us analyze and understand how you use this website. The horned god Cernunnos, was connected mostly with wild animals, especially the horned kind such as stags and bulls. There are a few gods and goddesses in ancient Greek mythology (assuming you count that as part of literature) who lead virgin lifestyles. Above: Felice Giani, The Marriage of Poseidon and Amphitrite (1802-1805), OrpheusThe legendary poet and musician may be best known for the story of his journey to the underworld to retrieve his wife, Eurydice; he failed to do so when he succumbed to temptation and looked at her before both had returned to the world of the living. This category only includes cookies that ensures basic functionalities and security features of the website. Above: Logios Hermes (Hermes Orator); marble, Roman copy from the late first century B.C.-early second century A.D. after a Greek original of the fifth century B.C. The Greek word aphros means "foam," and Hesiod relates in his Theogony that Aphrodite was born from the white foam produced by the severed genitals of Uranus (Heaven), after his son Cronus threw them into the sea. You can find the links to the blogs here. The three sisters are known as the three Charities or Graces. Mayahuel(pronounced My-ya-whale) is the Aztec goddess of the maguey plant, the sweet sap of which (aguamiel) was considered her blood. There is a case to be made about the humanity itself (or some of it) being asexual at first. Above: Alexander Kiselev, Apollo and Hyacinth (1884). To learn more, see our tips on writing great answers. Alastor - God of vengeance and family feuds. Literature Stack Exchange is a question and answer site for scholars and enthusiasts of literature. He was closely related to Tlaloc and is usually represented as a young man with a maize cob sprouting from his headdress. ), the Hindu gods and goddesses began to appear in epics, like the Mahabharata and Ramayana, where they accrued mythic stories, characteristics and origins.1 Hindus still read these myths today, in addition to the many other stories that were recorded during the Classic (400- 600 C.E.) He was king of the glorified race of the Tuatha d Danann, who were known for their superior skills and knowledge, particularly on the battlefield. These LGBT Greek gods and demigods prove gay culture is no modern invention. 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 Birth of Venus by Sandro Botticelli (1485), depicting Venus, the Roman goddess of sex and beauty. Half goat. She is most often illustrated wearing a green/blue skirt from which flows a stream of water. Eight gods (Apollo, Areas, Dionysus, Hades, Hephaestus, Hermes, Poseidon, Zeus) are arguably the most important of the Greek gods. In nearly every work of Greek literature that is tangentially related to sexuality (which, we've got to admit, is quite nearly most of the well-known ones), sex is treated as universally desirable, and is a locus of control and power. Other myths also disclose Achilles was struck by the beauty of Troilus, a Trojan prince. Enjoyed this post? ThoughtCo. There are several stories that connect ine to rape, including one where she bites off the ear of the King of Munster after an unconsented encounter. Well, many scholars suggest the idea of a lesbian culture is just modern fantasy, though there is art from the time that depicts Amazonian Queen Penthesilia accepting a love gift from a Thracian huntress. The Aztecs, the Late Postclassic civilization that the Spanish conquistadors met in Mexico in the 16h century, believed in a complex and diversified pantheon of gods and goddesses. Quetzalcoatl is also linked to the idea that the last Aztec emperor, Moctezuma, believed that the arrival of the Spanish conquistador Cortes was the fulfilling of a prophecy about the return of the god. They said that Athena was the daughter of Zeus not from intercourse, but when the god had in mind the making of a world through a word his first thought was Athena. 1. Alternatively, he also had a self-navigating boat called Sguaba Tuinne or wave-rider, which seems advanced even in the technology era of today! Mona Koza, It appears that Manannn took over the role of the sea god from his father, although some tales suggest that Lir was the god of the ocean and Manannn was the god of the sea. Offerings to ine have also been made at Lough Gur in County Limerick. id love to hear more on this topic from people with bigger brains than I. Hestia was the goddess of the hearth and the home, and Artemis was the goddess of the moon and the hunt. Above: Athena, center, in a mural by John Singer Sargent, AphroditeWhile the goddess of love is not identified prominently as lesbian herself, the Greek poet Sappho (as in sapphic) of Lesbos (yes, as in lesbian) told many homoerotic tales and named Aphrodite as the greatest patron and ally of lesbians and homosexuals within the Greek pantheon of gods. In a way, I've always admired witches (=the good, white magic ones), though I'm not into Wicca/witchcraft myself. Chalchiuhtlicue (pronounced Tchal-chee-uh-tlee-ku-eh) was the goddess of running water and all aquatic elements. He was able to make a dramatic entrance on his horse-pulled chariot that could ride upon the waves. Now you might ask: how do I pick these gods? Tlaltechutli represents the surface of the earth, who angrily devours the sun every evening to give it back the next day. AVEN Unofficial discord and other resources during the COVID-19 pandemic, July/August/September 2022 - Asexual Dating. She is also said to have the ability to foretell the outcome of battles and predict violent deaths. In a variation of the Hyacinth myth, it was Hermes' lover Crocus who was killed by a discus thrown by a god before being turned into a flower. Before the wedding, Iphis prayed in the Temple of Isis for a solution, and voila! Indeed, the relationship with Iolaus was enshrined in Thebes, where male couples of the day could be found "exchanging vows and pledges with their beloved at his tomb," according to historian Louis Crompton. In the Golden Age, mortals and gods mingled freely. According to Ovid, he never took another female lover after that -- but did love other young men in Thrace. She is known as the mother of the god Enki/Ea as well as the mother goddess who gave birth to the cosmos and all the gods. She was one of three virgin goddesses in the Greek pantheon, and I don't really believe that they had these three virgin goddesses because they believed that sex was a sin, because to their society, it most certainly wasn't. Often they appear as wise figures who are linked with sovereignty, fertility and the ability to punish. The god Lugh, (also spelled Lug or Luga) is one of the most notable of all the Irish deities and equates to the pan-Celtic god of Lugus. During his female years, Teiresias became a priestess of Hera, married, and even had children, according to Hesiod. For example, the Morrigan was sometimes referred to as Badb, the Crow, even when clearly not referenced as part of a trinity. I'm not catholic (or any sort of Christian, or any sort of religion, actually) but I think I have prayed to the Virgin Mary before. Despite being married, C Chulainn is also known for his many affairs including with Aife, with whom he has a son and the Scandinavian Princess,Derbforgaill who turned into a swan to be with him. By continuing to use our site, you agree to our Private Policy and Terms of Use. As noted on Owlcation, this may have been a heterosexual ending, but the love story was laced with LGBT themes. Namma (goddess) Goddess from Eridu. Given the overlapping focus of the major Celtic deities, it has been suggested that some of the Celtic deities equate to the Roman ones. Above: John Macallan Swan, Orpheus (1896), HermaphroditusPerhaps the earliest literary reference to an intersex person concerns this child of Hermes and love goddess Aphrodite who as a youth encountered the nymph Salmacis, who attempted to seduce the youth and asked the gods that their forms be permanently joined. Apollo Olympian god of music, poetry, art, oracles, archery, plague, medicine, sun, light and knowledge. The accuracy of this suggestion is still debated by scholars.. He searches day and night until he finds her at the Lake of the Dragons Mouth. The stories a myth, so it's going to sound really strange, but here it is. Above: Jean-Baptiste Regnault, Education of Achilles (1780-1790). Lugh, is one of the most important of all the gods of the Celts. I personally think Artemis was Demiromantic Asexual. Hod is the blind god of winter who kills his brother Balder and is in turn killed by his brother Vali. But I'm going to focus specifically on Athena. This is a concept distinct from both celibacy (not having sex for a particular reason) and abstinence (not having sex by choice). Given all their relationships, the Celtic gods family tree is a complex one! ZeusAlthough a famous philanderer who sired countless demigods by every peasant girl in need of an explanation to her parents, Zeus also selected the young mortal Ganymede to serve as his cupbearer on Mount Olympus. Can airtags be tracked from an iMac desktop, with no iPhone? By clicking Accept, you consent to the use of ALL the cookies. @Emrakul That's fair; I'd also like some stronger evidence, e.g. Eir - Goddess of healing. His shrine was decorated with blue bands representing rain and water. Athena was the protector of Athens, the capital of Greece, and it was from her that the city took it's name. One story exists of how the Dagda when assigning land to his children, he forgot to leave land for Aengus. Good, fruitful harvests were required to provide for the people and animals, therefore much emphasis was placed on gods and goddesses that represent fertility, such as ine. Forseti - God of justice, peace and truth. The "lesser status" applied to men past adolescence who continued to be on the receiving end of things. Above: Jean-George Vibert, Narcissus, ApolloThe sun god, one of the most important in all literature, was also quite the libertine. - Poseidon, god of the seas, was bisexual. Cattle were seen as a measure of wealth by the Celts, so it could have been only natural for them to have a deity dedicated to cattle and their fertility. Now of course, being a virgin doesn't necessarily imply being asexual - Artemis, for example, seems to recognise the idea of sexuality, and some stories even have it that she was in love with her hunting companion Orion. One such example is the Celtic god Nordens, who was god of hunting and the Roman god Mars, who acted as the god of war and protector of agriculture. There are many holy wells scattered across Ireland dedicated to Saint Brigid some of which may have previously been connected with Brigid, the Celtic goddess of healing. Above: Francois Joseph Navez, The Nymph Salmacis and Hermaphroditus. Boann is thought to have done something similar and created the River Boyne. Mayahuel (pronounced My-ya-whale) is the Aztec goddess of the maguey plant, the sweet sap of which (aguamiel) was considered her blood. Interested in more Irish Celtic mythology? It is possibly fitting then that Aengus, the Irish god of love, youth, summer and poetry, was in fact a love child himself. 1 ESO. Athena really did not have any interest in sex at all. Whereas the other virgin goddesses seemed more female (Hestia being the goddess of the hearth and the home, which usually seems to be related to women, and Artemis, though she was a stronger and more atheletic woman, being the goddess of the hunt, she also represented the night and the moon, the more feminine sides of nature, whereas her brother Apollo was the sun, which seems to be more associated with masculine energy,) Athena presided over things that were both masculine and feminine. According to Ovid, he never took another female lover after that -- but did love other young men in Thrace. His name means Hummingbird of the Left and he was the patron of war and sacrifice. Making statements based on opinion; back them up with references or personal experience. While tolerance is often presented as a sign of civilization's progress, a reading of Greek mythology reveals greater acceptance of homosexuality in ancient Athens than can be seen within today's world religions. Legend states that Lugh was also a bit of a trickster and is sometimes known as the Celtic god of mischief. Or at least, the way Ovid tells it, "he did not know what love was"; and when the water nymph Salmacis offers herself to him, he spurns her. Codex Magliabechiano/Wikimedia Commons/Public Domain. I don't expect that the ancient Greeks shared our modern conception of asexuality (though I'd definitely be open to an answer discovering that they did). I'm going to have to poke through the sources you linked, too. The Dagda is the Celtic god of agriculture, fertility of the land and animals, weather, time and seasons. She was the first-born child of wily Cronos and youngest too, by will of Zeus who holds the aegis, a queenly maid whom both Poseidon and Apollo sought to wed. Quetzalcoatl (pronounced Keh-tzal-coh-atl), the Feathered Serpent, is probably the most famous Aztec deity and is known in many other Mesoamerican cultures such as Teotihuacan and the Maya. By disfiguring him, the Celtic goddess of love made him ineligible to be king (only flawless, unmarred men could rule) and so he was removed from his throne. Manannn mac Lir, also known as Manannn or simply Manann was the son of Lir. Lir is thought to have taken over the role of sea god from his father, the god Lir. Teiresias revealed the ladies had it roughly 10 times better than the lads. Antique fresco from Pompeii. September 8, 2006 in Asexual Musings and Rantings. Watch. Above: Hans Sebald Beham, Heracles and Iolaus dispatching the hydra with club and fire, PoseidonAccording to Pindar's First Olympian Ode, Pelops, the king of Pisa, once shared "Aphrodite's sweet gifts" with the ocean god himself. She was a sibling to Demeter, Hades, Poseidon, Hera, and Zeus. However, that ended poorly when Myrmex pretended to have invented the plow, one of Athena's creations, and Athena turned the girl into an ant. It is possible that some might have been asexual. Saint Brigid founded a monastery in County Kildare on the site of a sacred place dedicated to the goddess Brigid. The river goddess Boann was his lover and mother of his child, and fellow god, Aengus.. Replacing broken pins/legs on a DIP IC package. She was very well respected by the people who worshipped her, and very important to their society. Tlaltechutli (Tlal-teh-koo-tlee) is the monstrous earth goddess.