Many have incorporated a

god In monotheistic thought, God is usually viewed as the supreme being, creator, and principal object of faith. Swinburne, R.G. "God" in Honderich, Ted. (ed)''The Oxford Companion to Philosophy'', Oxford University Press, 1995. God is typically ...

death Death is the irreversible cessation of all biological functions that sustain an organism. For organisms with a brain, death can also be defined as the irreversible cessation of functioning of the whole brain, including brainstem, and brain ...

into their

mythology Myth is a folklore genre consisting of Narrative, narratives that play a fundamental role in a society, such as foundational tales or Origin myth, origin myths. Since "myth" is widely used to imply that a story is not Objectivity (philosophy), ...

religion Religion is usually defined as a social- cultural system of designated behaviors and practices, morals, beliefs, worldviews, texts, sanctified places, prophecies, ethics, or organizations, that generally relates humanity to supernatural ...

. As death, along with

birth Birth is the act or process of bearing or bringing forth offspring, also referred to in technical contexts as parturition. In mammals, the process is initiated by hormones which cause the muscular walls of the uterus to contract, expelling the ...

, is among the major parts of human life, these deities may often be one of the most important deities of a religion. In some religions in which a single powerful deity is the object of worship, the death deity is an antagonist against whom the primary deity struggles. The related term death worship has most often been used as a derogatory term to accuse certain groups of morally abhorrent practices which set no value on human life. In

monotheistic Monotheism is the belief that there is only one deity, an all-supreme being that is universally referred to as God. Cross, F.L.; Livingstone, E.A., eds. (1974). "Monotheism". The Oxford Dictionary of the Christian Church (2 ed.). Oxford: Oxfor ...

religions, death is commonly personified by an angel or demon instead of a deity.

Occurrence

polytheistic Polytheism is the belief in multiple deities, which are usually assembled into a pantheon of gods and goddesses, along with their own religious sects and rituals. Polytheism is a type of theism. Within theism, it contrasts with monotheism, th ...

religions which have a complex system of deities governing various natural phenomena and aspects of human life, it is common to have a deity who is assigned the function of presiding over death. This deity may actually take the life of humans or, more commonly, simply rule over the afterlife in that particular belief system (a single religion may have separate deities performing both tasks). The deity in question may be good, evil, or neutral and simply doing their job, in sharp contrast to a lot of modern portrayals of death deities as all being inherently evil just because death is feared. Hades from Greek mythology is an especially common target. The inclusion of such a "departmental" deity of death in a religion's pantheon is not necessarily the same thing as the glorification of death. A death deity has a good chance of being either male or female, unlike some functions that seem to steer towards one gender in particular, such as fertility and earth deities being female and storm deities being male. A single religion/mythology may have death gods of more than one gender existing at the same time and they may be envisioned as a married couple ruling over the afterlife together, as with the Aztecs, Greeks, and Romans. In

religions, the one god governs both life and death (as well as everything else). However, in practice this manifests in different rituals and traditions and varies according to a number of factors including geography, politics, traditions, and the influence of other religions.

Africa and the Middle East

Sub-Sahara Africa

Igbo

* Ala (

Igbo mythology Ọdinani (), also ''Omenala'', ''Omenana'', ''Odinana'' or ''Ọmenani'', are the traditional cultural beliefs and practices of the Igbo people of south east Nigeria.Afulezy, Uj"On Odinani, the Igbo Religion", ''Niger Delta Congress'', Niger ...

) * Ogbunabali (

)

Yoruba

* Eshu (

Yoruba religion The Yoruba religion (Yoruba: Ìṣẹ̀ṣe), or Isese, comprises the traditional religious and spiritual concepts and practice of the Yoruba people. Its homeland is in present-day Southwestern Nigeria, which comprises the majority of Oyo, Og ...

) * Iku (god) (

)

Akan

* Owuo, Akan God of Death and Destruction. Name literally means death in the Akan language * Asase Yaa, one half of an Akan Goddess of the barren places on Earth, Truth and is Mother of the Dead * Amokye, Psychopomp in Akan religion who fishes the souls of the dead from the river leading to Asamando, the Akan underworld

Afroasiatic Middle East

Canaanite

* Mot

Egyptian

Aker Aker may refer to: Places * Aker, Norway, a geographic area in Oslo and a former municipality in Norway * Vestre Aker, a district of Oslo within former Aker municipality * Nordre Aker, a district of Oslo within former Aker municipality * Aker Br ...

(

Egyptian mythology Egyptian mythology is the collection of myths from ancient Egypt, which describe the actions of the Egyptian gods as a means of understanding the world around them. The beliefs that these myths express are an important part of ancient Egypti ...

) * Andjety, an old Egyptian god *

Anubis Anubis (; grc, Ἄνουβις), also known as Inpu, Inpw, Jnpw, or Anpu in Ancient Egyptian () is the god of death, mummification, embalming, the afterlife, cemeteries, tombs, and the Underworld, in ancient Egyptian religion, usually depi ...

, guardian of the dead, mummification, and the afterlife in ancient Egyptian religion * Aqen, a rarely mentioned deity in the Book of the Dead * Duamutef, one of the four sons of Horus * Hapi, one of the four sons of Horus * Imset, one of the four sons of Horus * Kherty Egyptian earth god *

Medjed In Ancient Egyptian religion, Medjed is a minor and obscure god mentioned in the ''Book of the Dead''. His ghost-like portrayal in illustrations on the Greenfield papyrus earned him popularity in modern Japanese culture, including as a charact ...

, an unusual looking god mentioned in the Book of the Dead *

Nephthys Nephthys or Nebet-Het in ancient Egyptian ( grc-gre, Νέφθυς) was a goddess in ancient Egyptian religion. A member of the Great Ennead of Heliopolis in Egyptian mythology, she was a daughter of Nut and Geb. Nephthys was typically paired wi ...

(NebetHuet), Anubis' mother; sister of Osiris and Isis (Aset); also a guardian of the dead. She was believed to also escort dead souls to Osiris. *

Osiris Osiris (, from Egyptian ''wsjr'', cop, ⲟⲩⲥⲓⲣⲉ , ; Phoenician: 𐤀𐤎𐤓, romanized: ʾsr) is the god of fertility, agriculture, the afterlife, the dead, resurrection, life, and vegetation in ancient Egyptian religion. He ...

, lord of the Underworld * Qebehsenuef, one of the four sons of Horus * Seker, a falcon god of the Memphite necropolis who was known as a patron of the living, as well as a god of the dead. He is known to be closely tied to Osiris. *

Serapis Serapis or Sarapis is a Graeco-Egyptian deity. The cult of Serapis was promoted during the third century BC on the orders of Greek Pharaoh Ptolemy I Soter of the Ptolemaic Kingdom in Egypt as a means to unify the Greeks and Egyptians in his r ...

, Graeco-Egyptian syncretistic deity, combining elements of

, the

Apis Bull In ancient Egyptian religion, Apis or Hapis ( egy, ḥjpw, reconstructed as Old Egyptian with unknown final vowel > Medio-Late Egyptian , cop, ϩⲁⲡⲉ ''ḥapə''), alternatively spelled Hapi-ankh, was a sacred bull worshiped in the ...

Hades Hades (; grc-gre, ᾍδης, Háidēs; ), in the ancient Greek religion and myth, is the god of the dead and the king of the underworld, with which his name became synonymous. Hades was the eldest son of Cronus and Rhea, although this also ...

, Demeter, and

Dionysus In ancient Greek religion and myth, Dionysus (; grc, Διόνυσος ) is the god of the grape-harvest, winemaking, orchards and fruit, vegetation, fertility, insanity, ritual madness, religious ecstasy, festivity, and theatre. The Romans ...

. Also, patron of the Ptolemaic Kingdom and

Alexandria Alexandria ( or ; ar, ٱلْإِسْكَنْدَرِيَّةُ ; grc-gre, Αλεξάνδρεια, Alexándria) is the second largest city in Egypt, and the largest city on the Mediterranean coast. Founded in by Alexander the Great, Alexandr ...

Mesopotamian

Ereshkigal In Mesopotamian mythology, Ereshkigal ( sux, , lit. "Queen of the Great Earth") was the goddess of Kur, the land of the dead or underworld in Sumerian mythology. In later myths, she was said to rule Irkalla alongside her husband Nergal. Som ...

(

Sumerian mythology Sumerian religion was the religion practiced by the people of Sumer, the first literate civilization of ancient Mesopotamia. The Sumerians regarded their divinities as responsible for all matters pertaining to the natural and social orders. Ov ...

, Akkadian mythology,

Babylonian mythology Babylonian religion is the religious practice of Babylonia. Babylonian mythology was greatly influenced by their Sumerian counterparts and was written on clay tablets inscribed with the cuneiform script derived from Sumerian cuneiform. The myth ...

),"The counterpart to these deities of sky, air, water, and earth was the underworld, the realm of the dead, originally seen as ruled by the powerful Goddess Ereshkigal." Ruether, Rosemary Radford. ''Goddesses and the Divine Feminine: A Western Religious History''. Berkeley: University of California Press. "After consulting his mistress Ereshkigal, the queen of the Nether World, he admits Ishtar" Kramer, "Ishtar in the Nether World According to a New Sumerian Text" ''Bulletin of the American Schools of Oriental Research''. 1940
Google scholar results
a
the JSTOR link
is unlikely to be universally available. first lady of the Underworld * Namtar (

, Akkadian mythology,

), Ereshkigal's ''

sukkal Sukkal (conventionally translated from Sumerian as "vizier") was a term which could denote both a type of official and a class of deities in ancient Mesopotamia. The historical sukkals were responsible for overseeing the execution of various comm ...

''. *

Nergal Nergal (Sumerian: d''KIŠ.UNU'' or ; ; Aramaic: ܢܸܪܓܲܠ; la, Nirgal) was a Mesopotamian god worshiped through all periods of Mesopotamian history, from Early Dynastic to Neo-Babylonian times, with a few attestations under indicating his ...

(

, Akkadian mythology,

), second lord of the Underworld * Inshushinak (Elamite mythology; also present in the Mesopotamian An-Anum god list.) *

Nungal Nungal ( sux, d''Nun-gal'', "great princess"), also known as Manungal and possibly Bēlet-balāṭi, was the Mesopotamian goddess of prisons, sometimes also associated with the underworld. She was worshiped especially in the Ur III period in ...

(

), daughter of Ereshkigal *

Erra (god) Erra (sometimes called Irra) is an Akkadian plague god known from an 'epos' of the eighth century BCE. Erra is the god of mayhem and pestilence who is responsible for periods of political confusion. He was assimilated to Nergal at some point. ...

* Ugur (

Hurrian religion The Hurrian religion was the polytheistic religion of the Hurrians, a Bronze Age people of the Near East who chiefly inhabited the north of the Fertile Crescent. While the oldest evidence goes back to the third millennium BCE, is best attested in ...

; also a ''

'' of Nergal) * Ninazu * Ningishzida * Allani *

Enmesharra Enmesharra (Enmešarra, Sumerian: "Lord of all me's") was a Mesopotamian god associated with the underworld. He was regarded as a member of an inactive old generation of deities, and as such was commonly described as a ghost or resident of the und ...

, a primordial deity described as "lord of the underworld" *

Kanisurra Kanisurra (also Gansurra, Ganisurra) was a Mesopotamian goddess who belonged to the entourage of Nanaya. Much about her character remains poorly understood, though it is known she was associated with love. Her name might be derived from the word ' ...

, a goddess whose name is derived from the term "ganzer," referring to the underworld (Mesopotamian) * Shuwala, a goddess of Hurrian origin worshiped in Ur *

Lagamal Lagamal or Lagamar (Akkadian: "no mercy") was a Mesopotamian deity associated chiefly with Dilbat (modern Tell al-Deylam). A female form of Lagamal was worshiped in Terqa on the Euphrates in Upper Mesopotamia. The male Lagamal was also at some po ...

, minor underworld deity *

Birtum Birtum (, also spelled Birdu) was a Mesopotamian god who was the husband of Nungal. He was regarded as a deity associated with the underworld. Character Birtum's name means " fetter" or "shackle" in Akkadian, and he was likely a deification of ...

, husband of Manungal

Western Eurasia

European

Albanian

* Djall, symbolizes the devil. (Djaj(plural)) * Mortja, personification of death. An equivalent of

Grim Reaper Death is frequently imagined as a personified force. In some mythologies, a character known as the Grim Reaper (usually depicted as a berobed skeleton wielding a scythe) causes the victim's death by coming to collect that person's soul. Other b ...

.(Female)(Mortjet, plural) * Vdekja, personification of death. (Female)

Balto-Finnic

* Tuoni (

Finnish mythology Finnish mythology is a commonly applied description of the folklore of Finnish paganism, of which a modern revival is practiced by a small percentage of the Finnish people. It has many features shared with Estonian and other Finnic mythologies ...

Estonian mythology Estonian mythology is a complex of myths belonging to the Estonian folk heritage and literary mythology. Information about the pre-Christian and medieval Estonian mythology is scattered in historical chronicles, travellers' accounts and in eccles ...

)

Balto-Slavic

* Giltinė (

Lithuanian mythology Lithuanian mythology ( lt, Lietuvių mitologija) is the mythology of Lithuanian polytheism, the religion of pre-Christian Lithuanians. Like other Indo-Europeans, ancient Lithuanians maintained a polytheistic mythology and religious structure. I ...

) *

Māra Māra is the highest-ranking goddess in Latvian mythology, Mother Earth, a feminine counterpart to Dievs. She takes spirits after death. She may be thought as the alternate side of Dievs (like in Yin and Yang). Other Latvian goddesses, som ...

(

Latvian mythology Latvian mythology is the collection of myths that have emerged throughout the history of Latvia, sometimes being elaborated upon by successive generations, and at other times being rejected and replaced by other explanatory narratives. These myth ...

) * Morana (

Slavic mythology Slavic mythology or Slavic religion is the Religion, religious beliefs, myths, and ritual practices of the Slavs before Christianisation of the Slavs, Christianisation, which occurred at various stages between the 8th and the 13th century. The So ...

) * Peckols (

Prussian mythology The Prussian mythology was a polytheistic religion of the Old Prussians, indigenous peoples of Prussia before the Prussian Crusade waged by the Teutonic Knights. It was closely related to other Baltic faiths, the Lithuanian and Latvian my ...

) * Peklenc * Veles * Chernobog (

)

Basque

*Erio ( Basque mythology)

Celtic

* Ankou (

Breton people The Bretons (; br, Bretoned or ''Vretoned,'' ) are a Celtic ethnic group native to Brittany. They trace much of their heritage to groups of Brittonic speakers who emigrated from southwestern Great Britain, particularly Cornwall and Devon, m ...

) * Arawn * Cichol * Crom Cruach * Donn * Mannanan * The Morrigan * Scáthach Goddess of the dead

Norse-Germanic

Freyja In Norse paganism, Freyja ( Old Norse "(the) Lady") is a goddess associated with love, beauty, fertility, sex, war, gold, and seiðr (magic for seeing and influencing the future). Freyja is the owner of the necklace Brísingamen, rides a char ...

, presides over

Fólkvangr In Norse mythology, Fólkvangr ( Old Norse: , "field of the host"Orchard (1997:45). or "people-field" or "army-field"Lindow (2001:118).) is a meadow or field ruled over by the goddess Freyja where half of those that die in combat go upon death, ...

; chooses half of those who die in battle *

Gefjon In Norse mythology, Gefjon (Old Norse: ; alternatively spelled Gefion, or Gefjun , pronounced without secondary syllable stress) is a goddess associated with ploughing, the Danish island of Zealand, the legendary Swedish king Gylfi, the legenda ...

, a goddess who oversees those who die as virgins * Hel, goddess of the dead and queen of Helheim, where people who didn't die in battle or drown go after death * OdinKveldulf Gundarsson. (1993, 2005) ''Our Troth''. The dwelling one went to after death varied depending on where one died, at the battlefield or not. If not at the battlefield, one would go to Hel (not to be confused with the Christian Hell). Of the slain at the battlefield, some went to Folkvang, the dwelling of

and some went to

Valhalla In Norse mythology Valhalla (;) is the anglicised name for non, Valhǫll ("hall of the slain").Orchard (1997:171–172) It is described as a majestic hall located in Asgard and presided over by the god Odin. Half of those who die in combat ...

, the dwelling of Odin (see

Grímnismál ''Grímnismál'' (Old Norse: ; 'The Lay of Grímnir') is one of the mythological poems of the '' Poetic Edda''. It is preserved in the Codex Regius manuscript and the AM 748 I 4to fragment. It is spoken through the voice of ''Grímnir'', one o ...

). The ninth hall is Folkvang, where bright Freyja. Decides where the warriors shall sit. Some of the fallen belong to her. And some belong to Odin. presides over

and gets half of those who die in battle; there they train for Ragnarok * Rán, the sea goddess who collects the drowned in her net

Etruscan

* Aita, god of the underworld *Culga, a female underworld spirit * Februus, god of purification, death, the underworld, and riches *Mani, spirits of the dead *

Mania Mania, also known as manic syndrome, is a mental and behavioral disorder defined as a state of abnormally elevated arousal, affect, and energy level, or "a state of heightened overall activation with enhanced affective expression together wit ...

, goddess of the dead * Mantus, god of the underworld * Orcus, god of the underworld *

Tuchulcha In Etruscan mythology, Tuchulcha was a chthonic daemon (not to be confused with the Christian term "demon") with pointed ears (perhaps those of a donkey), and hair made of snakes and a beak (perhaps that of a vulture). Tuchulcha lived in the under ...

, an underworld spirit * Vanth, winged spirit of the underworld

Greek

* Achlys, goddess who symbolizes the mist of death. Goddess of poisons, personification of misery and sadness. *

Agathodaemon An agathodaemon ( grc, ἀγαθοδαίμων, ) or agathos daemon (, , ) was a spirit ('' daemon'') of ancient Greek religion. They were personal or supernatural companion spirits, comparable to the Roman '' genii'', who ensured good luck, fer ...

, sometimes a psychopomp divine spirit *

Apollo Apollo, grc, Ἀπόλλωνος, Apóllōnos, label=genitive , ; , grc-dor, Ἀπέλλων, Apéllōn, ; grc, Ἀπείλων, Apeílōn, label=Arcadocypriot Greek, ; grc-aeo, Ἄπλουν, Áploun, la, Apollō, la, Apollinis, label= ...

, god of diseases * Atropos, one of the

moirai In ancient Greek religion and mythology, the Moirai (, also spelled Moirae or Mœræ; grc, Μοῖραι, "lots, destinies, apportioners"), often known in English as the Fates ( la, Fata, Fata, -orum (n)=), were the personifications of fa ...

, who cut the thread of life. *

Charon In Greek mythology, Charon or Kharon (; grc, Χάρων) is a psychopomp, the ferryman of Hades, the Greek underworld. He carries the souls of those who have been given funeral rites across the rivers Acheron and Styx, which separate the wo ...

, a daimon who acted as ferryman of the dead. *

Erebus In Greek mythology, Erebus (; grc, Ἔρεβος, Érebos, "deep darkness, shadow".), or Erebos, is the personification of darkness and one of the primordial deities. Hesiod's '' Theogony'' identifies him as one of the first five beings in ex ...

, the primordial god of darkness, his mists encircled the underworld and filled the hollows of the earth * Erinyes, chthonic deities of vengeance *

, king of the underworld *

Hecate Hecate or Hekate, , ; grc-dor, Ἑκάτᾱ, Hekátā, ; la, Hecatē or . is a goddess in ancient Greek religion and mythology, most often shown holding a pair of torches, a key, snakes, or accompanied by dogs, and in later periods depict ...

, goddess of witchcraft, she helped Demeter in the search for Persephone and was allowed to live in the Underworld as her magic works best at night *

Hermes Hermes (; grc-gre, Ἑρμῆς) is an Olympian deity in ancient Greek religion and mythology. Hermes is considered the herald of the gods. He is also considered the protector of human heralds, travellers, thieves, merchants, and orato ...

, the messenger god who acted as psychopompos *

Hypnos In Greek mythology, Hypnos (; Ancient Greek: means 'sleep') also spelled Hypnus is the personification of sleep; the Roman equivalent is known as Somnus. His name is the origin of the word hypnosis. Pausanias wrote that Hypnos was a deare ...

, personification of sleep, twin of Thanatos, his Roman counterpart is Somnus *

Keres In Greek mythology, the Keres (; Ancient Greek: Κῆρες), singular Ker (; Κήρ), were female death-spirits. They were the goddesses who personified violent death and who were drawn to bloody deaths on battlefields. Although they were pre ...

, goddesses of violent death, sisters of

Thanatos In Greek mythology, Thanatos (; grc, Θάνατος, pronounced in "Death", from θνῄσκω ''thnēskō'' "(I) die, am dying") was the personification of death. He was a minor figure in Greek mythology, often referred to but rarely appea ...

* Lampades, torch-bearing underworld nymphs * Limos was the goddess of starvation in ancient Greek religion. She was opposed by Demeter, goddess of grain and the harvest with whom Ovid wrote Limos could never meet, and Plutus, the god of wealth and the bounty of rich harvests. * Macaria, goddess of the blessed death (not to be confused with the daughter of Heracles) *

Persephone In ancient Greek mythology and religion, Persephone ( ; gr, Περσεφόνη, Persephónē), also called Kore or Cora ( ; gr, Κόρη, Kórē, the maiden), is the daughter of Zeus and Demeter. She became the queen of the underworld afte ...

, queen of the underworld; wife of Hades and goddess of spring growth *

, Graeco-Egyptian syncretistic deity, combining elements of

, the

, Demeter, and

. Also, patron of the Ptolemaic Kingdom and

. *

Tartarus In Greek mythology, Tartarus (; grc, , }) is the deep abyss that is used as a dungeon of torment and suffering for the wicked and as the prison for the Titans. Tartarus is the place where, according to Plato's ''Gorgias'' (), souls are judg ...

, the darkest, deepest part of the underworld, often used for imprisoning enemies of the Olympians *

, personification of death, Roman counterpart is Mors * Gods of the seven rivers of the underworld: #

Acheron The Acheron (; grc, Ἀχέρων ''Acheron'' or Ἀχερούσιος ''Acherousios''; ell, Αχέροντας ''Acherontas'') is a river located in the Epirus region of northwest Greece. It is long, and its drainage area is . Its source is ...

, god of the river Acheron # Alpheus, god of the river Alpheus # Cocytus, god of the river Cocytus # Eridanos, god of the river Eridanos # Lethe, goddess of the river Lethe # Phlegethon, god of the river Phlegethon #

Styx In Greek mythology, Styx (; grc, Στύξ ) is a river that forms the boundary between Earth (Gaia) and the Underworld. The rivers Acheron, Cocytus, Lethe, Phlegethon, and Styx all converge at the centre of the underworld on a great marsh, ...

, goddess of the river Styx, a river that formed a boundary between the living and the dead

Roman

* Dea Tacita, goddess of the dead * Di inferi, ancient Roman deities associated with death and the Underworld * Dis Pater, god of the underworld * Laverna, goddess of thieves, cheats, and the underworld * Lemures, the malevolent dead * Libitina, goddess of funerals and burials *

Manes In ancient Roman religion, the ''Manes'' (, , ) or ''Di Manes'' are chthonic deities sometimes thought to represent souls of deceased loved ones. They were associated with the ''Lares'', '' Lemures,'' '' Genii'', and '' Di Penates'' as deities (' ...

, spirits of the dead *

, goddess of death *

Mors Mors may refer to: *Mors (mythology), the personification of death in Roman mythology *Mors, Latin for death *Mors (automobile), a French car manufacturer from 1895 to 1925 :* American Mors, Mors vehicles produced under licence in America by the S ...

, personification of death, Greek equivalent is

* Nenia Dea, goddess of funerals * Orcus, punisher of broken oaths; usually folded in with Pluto *

Pluto Pluto (minor-planet designation: 134340 Pluto) is a dwarf planet in the Kuiper belt, a ring of bodies beyond the orbit of Neptune. It is the ninth-largest and tenth-most-massive known object to directly orbit the Sun. It is the largest k ...

, ruler of the Underworld *

Proserpina Proserpina ( , ) or Proserpine ( ) is an ancient Roman goddess whose iconography, functions and myths are virtually identical to those of Greek Persephone. Proserpina replaced or was combined with the ancient Roman fertility goddess Libera, whose ...

, queen of the underworld * Soranus, underworld

Sabine The Sabines (; lat, Sabini; it, Sabini, all exonyms) were an Italic people who lived in the central Apennine Mountains of the ancient Italian Peninsula, also inhabiting Latium north of the Anio before the founding of Rome. The Sabines divide ...

god adopted by the Romans * Viduus, god who separated the soul and body after death

Western Asia

Elamite

* Inshushinak

Hindu-Vedic

* Chitragupta, god of justice after death *

Mara Mara or MARA may refer to: Animals * Mara (mammal), a species of the cavy family *Mara the Lioness, in the movie ''Born Free'' Arts and entertainment Fictional characters * Mara (''Doctor Who''), an evil being in two ''Doctor Who'' serials *Mara, ...

Yama Yama (Devanagari: यम) or Yamarāja (यमराज), is a deity of death, dharma, the south direction, and the underworld who predominantly features in Hindu and Buddhist religion, belonging to an early stratum of Rigvedic Hindu deities ...

, god of death and ruler of the afterlife * Dhumavati, goddess of death, misfortune and temporality *

Shiva Shiva (; sa, शिव, lit=The Auspicious One, Śiva ), also known as Mahadeva (; ɐɦaːd̪eːʋɐ, or Hara, is one of the principal deities of Hinduism. He is the Supreme Being in Shaivism, one of the major traditions within Hin ...

, god of destruction, time, and the arts

Persian-Zoroastrian

Angra Mainyu Angra Mainyu (; Avestan: 𐬀𐬢𐬭𐬀⸱𐬨𐬀𐬌𐬥𐬌𐬌𐬎 ''Aŋra Mainiiu'') is the Avestan-language name of Zoroastrianism's hypostasis of the "destructive/evil spirit" and the main adversary in Zoroastrianism either of the ...

or Ahriman, the destructive spirit (

Persian mythology Persian mythology or Iranian mythology ( Persian:اساطیرشناسی ایرانی) is the body of the myths originally told by ancient Persians and other Iranian peoples, and a genre of Ancient Persian folklore. These stories concern the ori ...

) *Asto Vidatu or Astiwihad or Asto-widhatu, death deity (

) Ossetian *Aminon, gatekeeper of the underworld. *

Barastyr Ossetian mythology is the collective term for the beliefs and practices of the Ossetian people of the Caucasus region, which contains several gods and supernatural beings. The religion itself is believed to be of Scythian origin, but contains ma ...

, ruler of the underworld. *Ishtar-Deela, lord of the underworld in

Nakh Nakh may refer to: * Nach (Bible acronym) (NaKh), an acronym for ''Nevi'im'' ''Ksuvim''/''Ktuvim'' (the Prophets and (Holy) Writings of ''Tanach'') * Nakh languages, a group of languages within Northeast Caucasian, spoken chiefly by the Chechens ...

Uralic

*Azyren (

Mari people The Mari ( chm, мари; russian: марийцы, mariytsy) are a Finnic peoples, Finnic people, who have traditionally lived along the Volga and Kama River, Kama rivers in Russia. Almost half of Maris today live in the Mari El republic, with si ...

) * Kalma, Finnish goddess of death and decay, her name meaning "the stench of corpses" * Nga (Nenets) * Tuoni (

), with his wife and children.

Asia-Pacific / Oceania

Far East Asia

Chinese

Emperor(s) of Youdu (Capital City of the Underworld) * Di Guan Da Di * Dong Yue Da Di * Feng Du Da Di * Yanluo Wang (

King Yama Yama (Devanagari: यम) or Yamarāja (यमराज), is a deity of death, dharma, the south direction, and the underworld who predominantly features in Hindu and Buddhist religion, belonging to an early stratum of Rigvedic Hindu deities. ...

) *

Meng Po Meng Po () is the goddess of forgetfulness in Chinese mythology, who serves Meng Po Soup on the Bridge of Forgetfulness or Naihe Bridge (). This soup wipes the memory of the person so they can reincarnate into the next life without the burdens of ...

Judges of the Ten Underworld Courts * Jiang Ziwen * Bao Zheng * Dong Ji * Huang Xile The rest only have surnames including Li, Yu, Lu, Bi, Lu and Xue. Four Kings of the Underworld * Bao Zheng * Han Qinhu * Fan Zhongyan * Kou Zhun Ghost Kings of the Five Regions * Cai Yulei * Zhao He * Zhang Heng * Duzi Ren * Zhou Qi Ghost Kings of the Five Regions (Ver.2) * Shen Cha * Yang Yun * Yan Di (Shenlong) * Ji Kang * Immortal Wang Governors of Fengdu * Deng Ai * Ji Ming Imperial Censor of Fengdu * Han Yi * Zeng Yuanshan * Jiao Zhongqing * Ma Zhong * Song Youqing * Guan Yu (note: different from the famous general of three kingdoms) * Wu Lun * Tu Cha Four Generals of the Direct Altar of Fengdu * Ma Sheng * Ma Chuanzhong * Chen Yuanbo * Guo Zhongyou Eight Generals of the Inner Altar of Fengdu * Wei Tin, Ghost Capturing General * Liu Chu, Ghost Restraining General * Wang Jian, Ghost Flailing General * Meng E, Ghost Interrogating General * Che Zi, Guardian of the East Gate * Xia Dali, Guardian of the West Gate * Lie Weizhi, Guardian of the South Gate * Sang Tongguai, Guardian of the North Gate Eight Generals of the Outer Altar of Fengdu * Zhang Yuanlian * Chen Yuanqing * Li Yuande * Fan YuanZhang * Du YuanZhen * Liu Yuanfu * Chang Yuan * Jia Taoyuan Ten Masters of the Underworld * A Bang, Bull Head * Luo Cha, Horse Face * Xie Bi'an, Wondering God of the Day * Fan Wujiu, Wondering God of the Night * Hei Wuchang (Black Impermanence) * Bai Wuchang (White Impermanence) * Huangfeng (responsible for insects) * Paowei (responsible for animals) * Yusai (responsible for fishes) * Guaiwang (responsible for Hungry Ghosts) (Note: in some versions, Xie Bi'an and Fanjiu are the Bai Wuchang and Hei Wuchang, respectively.) Four Strongmen of Fengdu * Zhang Yuanzhen, Taiyi Strongman * Hu Wenzhong, Tri-day Strongman * Sun Zhongwu, Demon-smiting Strongman * Tang Bocheng, Ghost-smiting Strongman Two Agents of Fengdu * Xun Gongda, Great God of the Black Sky * Liu Guangzhong, Great God of the Black Fog Wardens of the Nine Prison of Fengdu * Wang Yuanzhen * Zhen Yan * Yao Quan * Shi Tong * Zhou Sheng * Diao Xiao * Kong Sheng * Wu Yan * Wang Tong Administers of the Six Paths of Rebirth of Fengdu * Cao Qing, Administer of the Path of Heaven * Tien Yan, Administer of the Path of Ghosts * Cui Cong, Administer of the Path of Earth * Ji Bie, Administer of the Path of Gods * Chen De, Administer of the Path of Hungry Ghosts * Gao Ren, Administer of the Path of Beasts Judges of Fengdu * Cui (Chief Judge) * Wang Fu * Ban Jian * Zi He * Jia Yuan * Zhao Sheng * Zhang Qi * Yang Tong * Fu Po * Zhu Shun * Li Gong * Xue Zhong * Rong Zhen * Lu Zhongce * Chen Xun * Huang Shou * Zhou Bi * Bian Shen * Cheng De * Liu Bao * Dong Jie * Guo Yuan

Japanese

Izanami , formally known as , is the creator deity of both creation and death in Japanese mythology, as well as the Shinto mother goddess. She and her brother-husband Izanagi are the last of the seven generations of primordial deities that manifested ...

, when she died she became queen of the underworld, Yomi, and goddess of the dead. * Enma, god and ruler of the dead in Japanese Buddhism *

Shinigami () are kami (spirits) that invite humans toward death, according to Japanese religion and culture. have been described as monsters, helpers, and creatures of darkness. are used for tales and religions in Japanese culture. Japanese religion ...

, god of death.

North and Central Asian mythology

* Erlik (

Turkic mythology Turkic mythology refers to myths and legends told by the Turkic people. It features Tengrist and Shamanist strata of belief along with many other social and cultural constructs related to the nomadic and warrior way of life of Turkic and Mongo ...

) * Xargi ( Siberian mythology)

Oceanian mythology

Wuluwaid In Australian Aboriginal mythology , Wuluwaid (see also Wuluwait) is a rain god. He is a god from northern Arnhem Land (northern Australia) and is known to work with Bunbulama as a rainmaker. He is also recorded by Charles Mountford and Ainslie ...

(

Australian Aboriginal mythology Australian Aboriginal religion and mythology is the sacred spirituality represented in the stories performed by Aboriginal Australians within each of the language groups across Australia in their ceremonies. Aboriginal spirituality includes ...

) * Degei ( Fijian mythology) * Hine-nui-te-pō ( Maori mythology) * Whiro (Maori mythology)

Southeast Asian mythology

* Batara Kala ( Balinese mythology), god of the underworld in traditional Javanese and Balinese mythology, ruling over it in a cave along with Setesuyara. Batara Kala is also named the creator of light and the earth. He is also the god of time and destruction, who devours unlucky people. He is related to Hindu concept of Kala, or time. In mythology, he causes eclipses by trying to eat the Sun or the Moon. *

Shingon (nat) Shingon ( my, ရှင်ကုန်း ; ) is one of 37 nats in the official Burmese pantheon of nats. She was a maid of King Thihathu of Ava and accompanied him to the battlefront. She died on her return to the capital, Ava (modern Inwa In ...

(

Burmese Burmese may refer to: * Something of, from, or related to Myanmar, a country in Southeast Asia * Burmese people * Burmese language * Burmese alphabet * Burmese cuisine * Burmese culture Animals * Burmese cat * Burmese chicken * Burmese (hor ...

) * Thongalel ( Manipuri mythology) *Pong Lalondong (

Toraja The Torajans are an ethnic group indigenous to a mountainous region of South Sulawesi, Indonesia. Their population is approximately 1,100,000, of whom 450,000 live in the regency of Tana Toraja ("Land of Toraja"). Most of the population is ...

), god of death

Philippines

*Tagbayan (Ifugao mythology): divinities associated with death that feast on human souls that are guarded by two headed monsters called kikilanJocano, F. L. (1969). Philippine Mythology. Quezon City: Capitol Publishing House Inc. *Fulor (Ifugao mythology): a wood carved into an image of a dead person seated on a death chair; an antique which a spirit in it, who bring sickness, death, and unsuccessful crops when sacrifices are not offered *Kabunyan (Kalanguya mythology): the almighty creator; also referred to as Agmattebew, the spirit who could not be seen; the mabaki ritual is held in the deity's honor during planting, harvesting, birth and death of the people, and other activities for livelihood *Binangewan (Aeta mythology): spirits who bring change, sickness, and death as punishment *Aring Sinukûan (Kapampangan mythology): sun god of war and death, taught the early inhabitants the industry of metallurgy, wood cutting, rice culture and even waging war *Lakandánup (Kapampangan mythology): serpent goddess who comes during total eclipses; followed by famine; eats a person's shadow, which will result in withering and death; daughter of Áring Sínukuan and Dápu *Sidapa (Bisaya mythology): the goddess of death; co-ruler of the middleworld called Kamaritaan, together with Makaptan *Sidapa (Hiligaynon mythology): god who lives in the sacred Mount Madia-as; determines the day of a person's death by marking every newborn's lifespan on a very tall tree on Madya-asLoarca, Miguel de. (1582) 1903. Relation of the Filipinas Islands. In Blair and Robertson, The Philippine Islands 5. *Hangin (Hiligaynon mythology): the spirits of the death wind; takes the life of the elderly *Patag'aes (Suludnon mythology): awaits until midnight then enters the house to have a conversation with the living infant; if he discovers someone is eavesdropping, he will choke the child to death; their conversation creates the fate of the child, on how long the child wants to live and how the child will eventually die, where the child will always get to choose the answers; once done, Patag'aes takes out his measuring stick, computes the child's life span, and then departs, sealing the child's fate *Pamulak Manobo (Bagobo mythology): supreme deity who controls good harvest, rain, wind, life, and death; in some myths, the chief deity is simply referred as the male deity, Diwata *Malakal Maut (Maranao mythology): the angel of death; takes the souls of someone after three to seven days from the falling of the person's leaf from the sacred Sadiarathul Montaha tree in the realm called Sorga; appears either a handsome prince or a grotesque monsters, depending if the soul he is getting comes from a sinner or a virtuous person; punishes the souls of sinners until final judgment, while lifting up the souls of the good onto heaven *

Kumakatok The Kumakatok (''"door knockers"'') are a group of three robed figures believed by many in the Philippines to knock on doors in the middle of the night and bring bad omens. They allegedly look like humans, but wear hoods that obscure their faces ...

- hooded and cloaked harbingers of death that would knock on doors of the dying in Tagalog mythology *Magwayen - the goddess of afterlife and the first ocean deity, according to Visayan mythology. Known for being the goddess who collects souls and takes them to Sulad with her boat. The souls are initially transferred to her via Pandaki, who gets the soul from Sidapa. *Sitan - god and caretaker of the underworld realm for evil souls known as Kasamaan in Tagalog mythology. Maca, the realm of the good dead, is jointly ruled by Sitan and Bathala. *Manduyapit - bring souls across a red river in Manobo mythology *Mama Guayen - ferries souls to the end of the world in Ilonggo mythology *Badadum - deity in Waray mythology that gathers family members at the mouth of a river to make a farewell to the deceased

American mythology

Aztec

* Cihuateteo (

Aztec mythology Aztec mythology is the body or collection of myths of the Aztec civilization of Central Mexico. The Aztecs were Nahuatl-speaking groups living in central Mexico and much of their mythology is similar to that of other Mesoamerican cultures. Accordi ...

), Divine women. Spirits of women who died during labor. * Coatlicue (

), minor goddess of death, as well as the goddess of life and rebirth * Itztlacoliuhqui (

), personification of winter-as-death * Mictecacihuatl (

), the chief death goddess; Queen of Mictlan (underworld) or Lady of the Dead * Mictlantecuhtli (

), the chief death god; lord of the Underworld * Tlaloc (

), water god and minor death god; ruler of Tlalocan, a separate underworld for those who died from drowning * Xipe Totec (

), hero god, death god; inventor of warfare and master of plagues * Xolotl (

), god of sunset, fire, lightning, and death

Cahuilla

* Muut

Guarani

* Luison,

Guarani mythology The Tupi-Guarani mythology is the set of narratives about the gods and spirits of the different Tupi-Guarani peoples, ancient and current. Together with the cosmogonies, anthropogonies and rituals, they form part of the religion of these peoples ...

Haida

* Ta'xet,

Haida mythology The Haida are one of the indigenous peoples of the Pacific Northwest Coast of North America. Their national territories lie along the west coast of Canada and include parts of south east Alaska. Haida mythology is an indigenous religion that can ...

* Tia (goddess)

Inca

* Supay (

Inca mythology Inca mythology or religion includes many stories and legends that attempt to explain or symbolize Inca beliefs. Basic beliefs Scholarly research demonstrates that Runa ( Quechua speakers) belief systems were integrated with their view of the ...

) * Vichama (

)

Inuit

Aipaloovik In Inuit mythology, Aipaloovik is an evil Water deity, sea god associated with death and destruction. He is considered the opposite of Anguta. He is a danger to all fishermen. References

Death gods Inuit gods Sea and river gods {{NorthAm- ...

Pana Pana or PANA may refer to: *Pana (mythology), a god in Inuit religion *PANA, in telecommunications, a Plain ANAlog loop Alarm circuit *Protocol for carrying Authentication for Network Access, a network access authentication protocol *Pana, used fo ...

Latin American Folk Catholicism

* El Tío, lord of the underworld, in

Cerro Rico Cerro Rico (Spanish for "Rich Mountain"), Cerro Potosí ("Potosí Mountain") or Sumaq Urqu ( Quechua ''sumaq'' "beautiful, good, pleasant", ''urqu'' "mountain", "beautiful (good or pleasant) mountain"), is a mountain in the Andes near the Boliv ...

Bolivia , image_flag = Bandera de Bolivia (Estado).svg , flag_alt = Horizontal tricolor (red, yellow, and green from top to bottom) with the coat of arms of Bolivia in the center , flag_alt2 = 7 × 7 square p ...

Santa Muerte ''Nuestra Señora de la Santa Muerte'' (; Spanish for Our Lady of Holy Death), often shortened to Santa Muerte, is a cult image, female deity, and folk saint in folk Catholicism and Mexican Neopaganism. A personification of death, she is ass ...

, folk saint and goddess of death in Mexico *

San La Muerte San La Muerte (Saint Death) folk saint and the personification of death, it is represented as a skeletal idol wearing a hooded cloak in South America. Paraguay, northeast Argentina (mainly in the province of Corrientes but also in Misione ...

, folk saint and god of death in Paraguay, Argentina, and Brazil * San Pascualito, folk saint and god of death in Guatemala and Mexico

Maya

Camazotz In the Late Post-Classic Maya mythology of the Popol Vuh, Camazotz ( from Mayan ) (alternate spellings Cama-Zotz, Sotz, Zotz) is a bat spirit at the service of the lords of the underworld. Camazotz means "death bat" in the Kʼicheʼ language. In ...

, bat god who resides in the underworld * Cizin *

Ixtab At the time of the Spanish conquest of Yucatán (1527–1546), Ix Tab or Ixtab ( ʃˈtaɓ "Rope Woman", "Hangwoman") was the indigenous Maya goddess of suicide by hanging. Playing the role of a psychopomp, she would accompany such suicides to hea ...

* Xtabay * Maya death gods known under various names (Hunhau, Uacmitun Ahau, Ah Puch, Kisin, Yum Kimil)

Narragansett

* Chepi

Taíno The Taíno were a historic indigenous people of the Caribbean whose culture has been continued today by Taíno descendant communities and Taíno revivalist communities. At the time of European contact in the late 15th century, they were the pri ...

* Maquetauire Guayaba * Opiel Guabiron

Umbanda and Candomblé

*Exu caveira *Exu Tranca-rua das almas

Haitian Vodou

Gede lwa * Baron Samedi,

Baron La Croix Baron La Croix ( ht, Bawon Lakwa), is one of the Gede, a lwa of the dead and sexuality,Torres, Rafael Agustí. "Loas y Vèvès del Vudú", p. 15 (in Spanish) along with Baron Samedi and Baron Cimetière in Vodou. He is syncretized with Saint ...

Baron Cimetiere Baron is a rank of nobility or title of honour, often hereditary, in various European countries, either current or historical. The female equivalent is baroness. Typically, the title denotes an aristocrat who ranks higher than a lord or knigh ...

, Baron Kriminel *

Ghede Nibo Gede Nibo ( ht, Gede Nibo) is a lwa who is leader of the spirits of the dead in Haitian Vodou. Formerly human, Gede Nibo was a handsome young man who was killed violently. After death, he was adopted as a lwa by Baron Samedi and Maman Brigitte. He ...

* Maman Brigitte

In fiction

Death is the protagonist in the

science fantasy Science fantasy is a hybrid genre within speculative fiction that simultaneously draws upon or combines tropes and elements from both science fiction and fantasy. In a conventional science fiction story, the world is presented as being scienti ...

novel '' On a Pale Horse'', book one in a series of 8 books, the "

Incarnations of Immortality ''Incarnations of Immortality'' is the name of an eight-book fantasy series by Piers Anthony. The books each focus on one of eight supernatural "offices" ( Death, Time, Fate, War, Nature, Evil, Good, and Night) in a fictional reality and ...

". In the novel '' The Book Thief'', Death is the narrator of the story.

Death Death is the irreversible cessation of all biological functions that sustain an organism. For organisms with a brain, death can also be defined as the irreversible cessation of functioning of the whole brain, including brainstem, and brain ...

is the name of one of " The Endless" in the

DC Universe The DC Universe (DCU) is the fictional shared universe where most stories in American comic book titles published by DC Comics take place. Superheroes such as Superman, Batman, Wonder Woman, Robin, Martian Manhunter, The Flash, Green Lante ...

. Death is a recurring character in the

Discworld ''Discworld'' is a comic fantasy"Humorous Fantasy" in David Pringle, ed., ''The Ultimate Encyclopedia of Fantasy'' (pp.31-33). London, Carlton,2006. book series written by the English author Terry Pratchett, set on the Discworld, a flat ...

series written by

Terry Pratchett Sir Terence David John Pratchett (28 April 1948 – 12 March 2015) was an English humourist, satirist, and author of fantasy novels, especially comic fantasy, comical works. He is best known for his ''Discworld'' series of 41 novels. Pratchet ...

. Books featuring Death include ''

Mort ''Mort'' is a fantasy novel by British writer Terry Pratchett. Published in 1987, it is the fourth ''Discworld'' novel and the first to focus on the character Death, who only appeared as a side character in the previous novels. The title is the ...

'', ''

Reaper Man ''Reaper Man'' is a fantasy novel by British writer Terry Pratchett. Published in 1991, it is the 11th ''Discworld'' novel and the second to focus on Death. The title is a reference to Alex Cox's movie '' Repo Man''. Plot The Auditors of Reali ...

'', ''

Soul Music Soul music is a popular music genre that originated in the African American community throughout the United States in the late 1950s and early 1960s. It has its roots in African-American gospel music and rhythm and blues. Soul music became pop ...

'', ''

Hogfather ''Hogfather'' is the 20th ''Discworld'' novel by Terry Pratchett, and a 1997 British Fantasy Award nominee. It was first released in 1996 and published by Victor Gollancz. It came in 137th place in The Big Read, a BBC survey of the most loved ...

'' and ''

Thief of Time ''Thief of Time'' is a fantasy novel by British writer Terry Pratchett, the 26th book in his ''Discworld'' series. It was the last Discworld novel with a cover by Josh Kirby. Plot summary The Auditors hire young clockmaker Jeremy Clockson to bu ...

''. He also makes a cameo appearance in ''

Interesting Times ''Interesting Times'' is a fantasy novel by British writer Terry Pratchett, the seventeenth book in the ''Discworld'' series, set in the Aurient (a fictional analogue of the Orient). The title refers to the common myth that there exists a Ch ...

''. In ''

A Song of Ice and Fire ''A Song of Ice and Fire'' is a series of epic fantasy novels by the American novelist and screenwriter George R. R. Martin. He began the first volume of the series, '' A Game of Thrones'', in 1991, and it was published in 1996. Martin, who in ...

'' by George R.R. Martin, the guild of assassins known as the Faceless Men believe that all death deities are simply different incarnations of the same god, known to them as the Many-Faced God or Him of Many Faces, while the Faith of the Seven worships The Stranger as one of Seven Aspects of God representing Death and the Unknown. In the works of J. R. R. Tolkien, especially ''

The Silmarillion ''The Silmarillion'' () is a collection of myths and stories in varying styles by the English writer J. R. R. Tolkien. It was edited and published posthumously by his son Christopher Tolkien in 1977, assisted by the fantasy author Guy Gavri ...

'', Námo AKA Lord Mandos is the Doomsman of the Valar, Judge of the Dead and Lord of the Halls of Mandos (where Elves await reincarnation and humans retreat before making the Journey into the Beyond). In the CW TV show ''

Supernatural Supernatural refers to phenomena or entities that are beyond the laws of nature. The term is derived from Medieval Latin , from Latin (above, beyond, or outside of) + (nature) Though the corollary term "nature", has had multiple meanings si ...

'',

makes a crucial appearance. He is portrayed as existing alongside God since the beginning of time and being so ancient he cannot remember when he came into existence; he may even be older than God. In the show he is the oldest and most powerful of the Four Horsemen (Death, Famine, War and Pestilence). He is not portrayed as a villain. In the

Sailor Moon is a Japanese manga series written and illustrated by Naoko Takeuchi. It was originally serialized in Kodansha's ''shōjo'' manga magazine '' Nakayoshi'' from 1991 to 1997; the 52 individual chapters were published in 18 volumes. The s ...

franchise, the last Sailor Guardian (of the Sol System) introduced is

Sailor Saturn is a fictional character in the ''Sailor Moon'' manga series created by Naoko Takeuchi. Her spirit resides deep within , a twelve-year-old Japanese schoolgirl who is her lookalike reincarnation, which makes Sailor Saturn her alter ego; entirely a ...

. Her powers revolve around destruction, ruin, and death and she can be thought of as a "god" of sorts (all Sailor Guardians can). Her weapon is the Silence Glaive that is capable of utterly obliterating and destroying entire worlds/planets if used to its maximum potential. In the Marvel Comics Universe, the personification of death is Mistress Death. The

Transformers ''Transformers'' is a media franchise produced by American toy company Hasbro and Japanese toy company Tomy, Takara Tomy. It primarily follows the Autobots and the Decepticons, two alien robot factions at war that can transform into other forms ...

mythos features the character of Mortilus, a Cybertronian deity who represents death and who later betrayed his brethren and was destroyed, leading to the longevity of the Transformer race. A similar character is The Fallen, a member of the Thirteen Primes who is identified as the guardian of

entropy Entropy is a scientific concept, as well as a measurable physical property, that is most commonly associated with a state of disorder, randomness, or uncertainty. The term and the concept are used in diverse fields, from classical thermodyna ...

. In the manga and anime,

Death Note ''Death Note'' (stylized in all caps) is a Japanese manga series written by Tsugumi Ohba and illustrated by Takeshi Obata. It was serialized in Shueisha's ''shōnen'' manga magazine ''Weekly Shōnen Jump'' from December 2003 to May ...

, gods of death (shinigami) exist in their own realm and are owners of Death Notes, which are used to kill humans. When a note falls into the human world, the person who touches it first becomes the new owner of the note, can recognize the god of death to whom it belongs, and the god follows them for the rest of their life. However, shinigami are more like Grim Reapers with freakish appearances than deities who are worshiped. This is because

shinigami () are kami (spirits) that invite humans toward death, according to Japanese religion and culture. have been described as monsters, helpers, and creatures of darkness. are used for tales and religions in Japanese culture. Japanese religion ...

are a fairly recent concept in Japanese folklore directly inspired by the European figure of the Grim Reaper, and thus, aren't "true" death gods. Despite their Western origin, many people will refer to both the

characters and the folklorical shinigami using the Japanese name instead of the English translation or even "Grim Reaper". For similar cases of shinigami being more akin to Grim Reapers in anime, see Bleach (anime) and

Soul Eater (anime) Soul Eater may refer to: * Soul eater (folklore), a folk belief of African and other traditional cultures * ''Soul Eater'' (manga), a Japanese manga series by Atsushi Okubo, which has been adapted into an anime television series ** Soul Eater Eva ...

. In the 2018 Nintendo published title Kirby Star Allies a Butterfly is revealed to be the embodiment of death, ruling the underworld after atomizing and absorbing

Galacta Knight This is a list of characters from the Kirby (series), Kirby franchise. These characters are featured in video games and other types of media from the franchise. Many characters have been introduced into the series spanning across multiple decades ...

to become

Morpho Knight The morpho butterflies comprise many species of Neotropical butterfly under the genus ''Morpho''. This genus includes more than 29 accepted species and 147 accepted subspecies, found mostly in South America, Mexico, and Central America. ''Morph ...

. Very little is known about it but it is awaiting something called the

Day of Judgement The Last Judgment, Final Judgment, Day of Reckoning, Day of Judgment, Judgment Day, Doomsday, Day of Resurrection or The Day of the Lord (; ar, یوم القيامة, translit=Yawm al-Qiyāmah or ar, یوم الدین, translit=Yawm ad-Dīn, ...

. In Nintendo's Metroid franchise one of the bosses, Ridley, is also known as "the Cunning God of Death". In the series

Malazan Book of the Fallen ''Malazan Book of the Fallen'' is a series of epic fantasy novels written by the Canadian author Steven Erikson. The series, published by Bantam Books in the U.K. and Tor Books in the U.S., consists of ten volumes, beginning with ''Gardens of ...

, Hood is the God of Death, and King of High House Death. In the Warhammer fantasy battle universe of Games Workshop, Morr is the god of death.

References

{{DEFAULTSORT:Death Deity Comparative mythology Lists of deities

Occurrence

Africa and the Middle East

Sub-Sahara Africa

Igbo

Yoruba

Akan

Afroasiatic Middle East

Canaanite

Egyptian

Mesopotamian

Western Eurasia

European

Albanian

Balto-Finnic

Balto-Slavic

Basque

Celtic

Norse-Germanic

Etruscan

Greek

Roman

Western Asia

Elamite

Hindu-Vedic

Persian-Zoroastrian

Uralic

Asia-Pacific / Oceania

Far East Asia

Chinese

Japanese

North and Central Asian mythology

Oceanian mythology

Southeast Asian mythology

Philippines

American mythology

Aztec

Cahuilla

Guarani

Haida

Inca

Inuit

Latin American Folk Catholicism

Maya

Narragansett

Taíno The Taíno were a historic indigenous people of the Caribbean whose culture has been continued today by Taíno descendant communities and Taíno revivalist communities. At the time of European contact in the late 15th century, they were the pri ...

Umbanda and Candomblé

Haitian Vodou

In fiction

See also

References