List of hunting deities

A hunting deity is a god or goddess in mythology associated with the hunting of animals and the skills and equipment involved. They are a common feature of polytheistic religions.

The Wild Hunt of Odin (1872) by Peter Nicolai Arbo, depicting the Wild Hunt of European folklore

Anglo-Saxon mythology edit

Aztec mythology edit

Akan mythology edit

  • Ahosu, Goddess of hunting and the protector of wildlife, called upon for successful hunts. In myths, she killed people who overhunted or overharvested the forest’s resources.
  • Bosomtwe, god of fishing and sailors.

Celtic mythology edit

  • Arawn, king of Annwn in some Welsh legends and associated with hunting, dogs and stags
  • Cernunnos, a horned god associated with fertility and hunting
  • Gwyn ap Nudd, another king of Annwn in Welsh Mythology, associated with the Wild Hunt
  • Nodens, god associated with healing, the sea, hunting and dogs
  • Vosagus, Gaulish god of hunting and forests; gives his name to the Vosgas region
  • Flidais, Celtic goddess of hunting and nature

Chinese mythology edit

Egyptian mythology edit

  • Neith, goddess of war and the hunt
  • Pakhet, a lioness huntress deity, whom the Greeks associated with Artemis
  • Wepwawet, god of hunting and war, along with funerary practices
  • Bastet, a cat goddess and natural hunter of reptiles and rodents. Greeks often associated her with Artemis, giving her the name Ailuros.

Filipino mythology edit

  • Abog: the Bagobo god of hunters[1]
  • Alagaka: the Tagalog protector of hunters[2]
  • Anlabban: the Isnag deity who looks after the general welfare of the people; special protector of hunters[3]
  • Amanikable: the Tagalog god of the sea who was spurned by the first mortal woman; also a god of hunters[4][1]
  • Bakero & Tawo-nga-talonon: Ati spirits of the forest; the first-fruits sacrifices of the hunt are offered to them through bits of meat, which would bring good luck to the people[5]
  • Cain: the Bugkalot headhunter creator of mankind; gave customs to the people; lived together with Abel in the sky but separated due to a quarrel[6]
  • Esa’: a Batak ancestor whose movements created the landscapes, which he named during a hunting journey with his dogs, who were after wild pigs[7]
  • Ga’ek Spirits: Bugkalot spirits in the Ga’ek magic plant used in relation to hunting and fishing; the naw-naw prayer is given to them[8]
  • Kabigat: the Bontok goddess of the moon who cut off the head of Chal-chal's son; her action is the origin of headhunting[9]
  • Kalao: Bugkalot spirit birds;[6] depicted as red hornbills who guide and protect hunters and their soul[10]
  • Kedes: the Aeta god of the hunt[11]
  • Okot: the Bicolano forest god whose whistle would lead hunters to their prey[12]
  • Paglingniyalan: the Tagalog god of hunters[2]
  • Sugudun: also called Sugujun; the Manobo god of hunters and trappers[1]
  • True: the Mamanwa deity of the forest and herder of hunting animals[13]

Finnish mythology edit

  • Mielikki, goddess of forests and the hunt
  • Nyyrikki, god of the hunt
  • Tapio, East Finnish forest spirit to whom men prayed before a hunt

Georgian mythology edit

  • Apsat, god of the hunt, associated with fish and birds
  • Dali, goddess of the hunt, associated with horned beasts of the mountain

Greek mythology edit

  • Aristaeus, god of bee-keeping, cheese-making, herding, olive-growing and hunting
  • Artemis, goddess of the hunt, wild animals and the moon
  • Heracles Kynagidas
  • Pan, in addition to being a god of the wild and shepherds, was also a hunting god.
  • Persephone, the goddess of life and death, also known for being Hades' wife

Hindu mythology edit

Hittite mythology edit

  • Rundas, god of the hunt and good fortune

Inuit mythology edit

  • Arnakuagsak, goddess responsible for ensuring the hunters were able to catch enough food and that the people remained healthy and strong
  • Arnapkapfaaluk, sea goddess who inspired fear in hunters
  • Nerrivik, the sea mother and patron of fishermen and hunters
  • Nujalik, goddess of hunting on land
  • Pinga, goddess of the hunt, fertility, and medicine
  • Sedna, goddess of the sea, marine animals, and sea hunting
  • Tekkeitsertok, god of hunting and master of caribou

Mbuti mythology edit

Mesoamerican mythology edit

  • Ah Tabai, Maya god of the hunt
  • Sip, a hunting god often shown with deer ears and antlers
  • Yum Kaax, Maya god of the forest and the protector of game animals

Norse mythology edit

Roman mythology edit

  • Diana, goddess of the hunt, wild animals and the wilderness; the counterpart of Artemis, goddess of the hunt and wild; twin sister of Apollo, daughter of Leto and Jupiter

Siberian mythology edit

Slavic mythology edit

  • Devana, goddess of the hunt; the Slavic equivalent of the Roman goddess Diana

Thracian mythology edit

Yoruba mythology edit

  • Ogoun or loa, the Two-Spirit orisha who presides over fire, iron, hunting, politics and war
  • Oshosi, the orisha also known as the "hunter of a single arrow", also the deity of the forests.
  • Yoruba mythology Etymology: from the Yoruba people in West Africa to include the countries Nigeria and Benin, foreparents to practices or Santería, Lucumí, and other religions of the Caribbean, and the Americas.

Other edit

See also edit

References edit

  1. ^ a b c Jocano, F. L. (1969). Philippine Mythology. Quezon City: Capitol Publishing House.
  2. ^ a b Pardo, F. (1686–1688), Carte [...] sobre la idolatria de los naturales de la provincia de Zambales, y de los del pueblo de Santo Tomas y otros cicunvecinos [...], Sevilla, Spain: Archivo de la Indias
  3. ^ Vanoverbergh, M. (1941). "The Isneg Farmer". Publications of the Catholic Anthropological Conference. III (4): 281–38.
  4. ^ Demetrio, F. R.; Cordero-Fernando, G. & Zialcita, F. N. (1991). The Soul Book. Quezon City: GCF Books.
  5. ^ Noval-Morales, D. Y. "The Ati of Negros and Panay". National Commission for Culture and the Arts. Retrieved June 4, 2022.
  6. ^ a b Wilson, L. L. (1947). Ilongot Life and Legends. Southeast Asia Institute.
  7. ^ Novellino, D. (2003). Shamanism and Everyday Life: An Account of Personhood, Identity and Bodily Knowledge amongst the Batak of Palawan Island (the Philippines) (PhD). University of Kent.
  8. ^ Mikkelsen, H. H. (2016). "Chaosmology: Shamanism and personhood among the Bugkalot" (PDF). HAU Journal of Ethnographic Theory. 6 (1). doi:10.14318/hau6.1.013. S2CID 224808433.
  9. ^ Jenks, A. E. (1905). The Bontoc Igorot. Department of the Interior: Ethnological Survey Publications. Vol. I. Manila: Bureau of Public Printing.
  10. ^ Carlson, S. E. (2014). "From the Philippines to The Field Museum: A Study of Ilongot (Bugkalot) Personal Adornment". Honors Projects (45). Illinois Wesleyan University.
  11. ^ Noche, D. (November 8, 2019). "A reclamation of one's heritage". Manila Standard.
  12. ^ Realubit, M. L. F. (1983). Bikols of the Philippines. A.M.S. Press.
  13. ^ Picardal, E. B. Jr. (2017), Socio-cultural History of Mamanwa Adaptations of Community in Sitio Palayan, Barangay Caucab, Almeria Biliran