An often-used phrase in Mesoamerican (environmental) politics is la agua es vida: water is life. Even the Aztecs had a strong emphasis on water, and any deity that is related to this realm was per definition of great importance. The Aztec god Tlaloc was no different. Some of the most important Aztec temples have been …
The Greek goddess Ceto is a curious figure. Like Switzerland, she mostly became famous because of her neutrality. It allowed her to hold on to the sea realm that she was the co-ruler of, while it enabled her to give many unorthodox children to the world. What Was Ceto the Goddess Of? While Pontus and …
As with many Chinese gods and goddesses, Mazu was an everyday person that became deified after her death. Her legacy would be long-lasting, to the point that she even made it to the UNESCO list for unintelligible cultural heritage. Calling her a Chinese goddess, however, might be somewhat contested by some. That’s because her impact …
Did you know that the modern Icelandic president is referred to as forseti? The name comes directly from the god Forseti, a god that is even worshiped to this very day by a small group of people. Associating Forseti, a god, with the role of the president seems like a bit of an overstatement. However, …
Are you still looking for a being that caused a solar eclipse? Well, look no further, because Quetzalcoatl is your guy. While at first a fully zoomorphic feathered serpent, Quetzalcoatl would later be represented in his human form. The worship of Quetzalcoatl is wide-reaching, has a rich history, and exemplifies the complex world of Aztec …
Myths have, per definition, a certain level of fiction to them. Whether you think about Greek mythology, Chinese gods and mythology, or anything in between: they are never fully true. In fact, the characters in the stories often didn’t exist. Celtic mythology is a bit different, and Medb, the queen of Connacht and the goddess …