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A water deity is a
deity
A deity or god is a supernatural being who is considered divine or sacred. The ''Oxford Dictionary of English'' defines deity as a god or goddess, or anything revered as divine. C. Scott Littleton defines a deity as "a being with powers greate ...
in
mythology
Myth is a folklore genre consisting of narratives that play a fundamental role in a society, such as foundational tales or origin myths. Since "myth" is widely used to imply that a story is not objectively true, the identification of a narrat ...
associated with
water
Water (chemical formula ) is an inorganic, transparent, tasteless, odorless, and nearly colorless chemical substance, which is the main constituent of Earth's hydrosphere and the fluids of all known living organisms (in which it acts as a ...
or various
bodies of water
A body of water or waterbody (often spelled water body) is any significant accumulation of water on the surface of Earth or another planet. The term most often refers to oceans, seas, and lakes, but it includes smaller pools of water such as p ...
. Water deities are common in mythology and were usually more important among civilizations in which the sea or ocean, or a great river was more important. Another important focus of worship of water deities has been springs or
holy well
A holy well or sacred spring is a well, spring or small pool of water revered either in a Christian or pagan context, sometimes both. The water of holy wells is often thought to have healing qualities, through the numinous presence of its gua ...
s.
As a form of
animal worship
The term Animal worship (or zoolatry) is an umbrella term designating religious or ritual practices involving animals. This includes the worship of animal deities or animal sacrifice. An animal 'cult' is formed when a species is taken to repres ...
,
whale
Whales are a widely distributed and diverse group of fully aquatic placental marine mammals. As an informal and colloquial grouping, they correspond to large members of the infraorder Cetacea, i.e. all cetaceans apart from dolphins and ...
s and
snake
Snakes are elongated, Limbless vertebrate, limbless, carnivore, carnivorous reptiles of the suborder Serpentes . Like all other Squamata, squamates, snakes are ectothermic, amniote vertebrates covered in overlapping Scale (zoology), scales. Ma ...
s (hence
dragon
A dragon is a reptilian legendary creature that appears in the folklore of many cultures worldwide. Beliefs about dragons vary considerably through regions, but dragons in western cultures since the High Middle Ages have often been depicted as ...
s) have been regarded as godly deities throughout the world (as are other animals such as
turtle
Turtles are an order of reptiles known as Testudines, characterized by a special shell developed mainly from their ribs. Modern turtles are divided into two major groups, the Pleurodira (side necked turtles) and Cryptodira (hidden necked tu ...
s, fish, crabs, and
shark
Sharks are a group of elasmobranch fish characterized by a cartilaginous skeleton, five to seven gill slits on the sides of the head, and pectoral fins that are not fused to the head. Modern sharks are classified within the clade Selachimo ...
s). In Asian lore, whales and dragons sometimes have connections.
Serpents are also common as a symbol or
as serpentine deities, sharing many similarities with dragons.
Africa and the Mediterranean
Sub-Sahara Africa
Western Niger-Congo
Benin
*
Ezili
Erzulie (sometimes spelled Erzili or Èzili) is a family of loa, or spirits, in Vodou.
Overview
The Erzulie is a family of loa that are often associated with water (fluidity), femininity, and feminine bodies. They are one of the only group of ...
, goddess of sweet water, beauty, and love.
Dogon
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Nommos
The Nommo or Nummo are primordial ancestral spirits in Dogon religion and cosmogony (sometimes referred to as demi deities) venerated by the Dogon people of Mali. The word Nommos is derived from a Dogon word meaning "to make one drink." Nommos a ...
, amphibious spirits that are worshiped as ancestors.
Serer
*
Mindiss (or Mindis) is not a deity in
Serer religion
The Serer religion, or ''a ƭat Roog'' ("the way of the Divine"), is the original religious beliefs, practices, and teachings of the Serer people of Senegal in West Africa. The Serer religion believes in a universal supreme deity called Roog (o ...
, but a
pangool
Pangool (in Serer and Cangin) singular: Fangool (var : ''Pangol'' and ''Fangol''), are the ancient saints and ancestral spirits of the Serer people of Senegal, the Gambia and Mauritania. The Pangool play a crucial role in Serer religion and hist ...
with goddess–like attributes. She is a female protector of the
Fatick Region
Fatick is the southwest region of the northern outcrop of Senegal. Its alternative name is Jinnak Bolon. The region is named for its capital city, Fatick. . Offerings are made in her name at the
River Sine. She appears to humans in the form of a
manatee
Manatees (family Trichechidae, genus ''Trichechus'') are large, fully aquatic, mostly herbivorous marine mammals sometimes known as sea cows. There are three accepted living species of Trichechidae, representing three of the four living species ...
, She is one of the best known ''fangool'' (singular of ''pangool''). She possess the attributes of a typical ''water fangool'', yet at the same time, she is a ''blood fangool''. The Senegalese Ministry of Culture added the ''Mbind Ngo Mindiss'' site to its list of monuments and historic sites in
Fatick
Fatick ( wo, Fatik, srr, Fatik) is a town in Senegal, located between M'bour and Kaolack and inhabited by the Serer people. Its 2005 population was estimated at 24,243. It is the capital of the Fatick Region and the Fatick Department.
Toponymy ...
. It is the site where offerings are made, situated on the
arms of the sea which bears her name, in the
Sine
In mathematics, sine and cosine are trigonometric functions of an angle. The sine and cosine of an acute angle are defined in the context of a right triangle: for the specified angle, its sine is the ratio of the length of the side that is oppo ...
.
Yoruba
*
Oshun
Ọṣun, is an orisha, a spirit, a deity, or a goddess that reflects one of the manifestations of the Yorùbá Supreme Being in the Ifá oral tradition and Yoruba-based religions of West Africa. She is one of the most popular and venerated ...
, a orisha of fresh “sweet” waters and the Osun River.
*
Olokun
Olokun (Yoruba: Olókun) is an orisha spirit in Yoruba religion. Olokun is believed to be the parent of Aje, the orisha of great wealth and of the bottom of the ocean. Olokun is revered as the ruler of all bodies of water and for the authority ov ...
, an ocean orisha and is the owner of all waters.
*
Yemoja, originally only the orisha of the Ogun River but became orisha over the sea waves by way of the Trans-Atlantic Slabe Trade.
*
Olosa, wife of Olokun, orisha over lagoons.
*
Oya, orisha of storms and the Niger River.
*
Oba, orisha of the Oba River.
*
Yewa
The Ẹgbado, now Yewa, are a subgroup of the Yoruba people and inhabit the eastern area of Ogun West Senatorial District, Ogun State, in south-west Nigeria, Africa. In 1995 they changed their name to the Yewa which comes from the Yewa River whi ...
, orisha of the Yewa River.
*
Otín, orisha if the Otín River.
*Yemoo, original wife of Obatala and orisha over waters and maternity. Said to be the original form of most female water orishas
Lugandan
*
Sezibwa
The Sezibwa River is a river in Central Uganda, in East Africa. The name is derived from the Luganda phrase "sizibwa kkubo", which translates into "my path cannot be blocked".
Location
River Sezibwa is located in the southern central part of Ug ...
, goddess of the
Sezibwa River
The Sezibwa River is a river in Central Uganda, in East Africa. The name is derived from the Luganda phrase "sizibwa kkubo", which translates into "my path cannot be blocked".
Location
River Sezibwa is located in the southern central part of Ugan ...
.
Batonga
*
Nyami Nyami
The Nyami Nyami, otherwise known as the Zambezi River God or Zambezi Snake Spirit, is one of the most important gods of the Tonga people of Zambia and Zimbabwe, Tonga people. Nyami Nyami is believed to protect the Tonga people and give them sust ...
, a river spirit of the Batonga of Zambia and Zimbabwe.
Kongo
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Bunzi
Bunzi, in Kongo mythology (mainly in Woyo people), is a goddess of rain. She is the daughter of Mboze, the Great Mother. Bunzi appears as a multicolored serpent, and rewards those who worship her with an abundant harvest. Mboze took her own son ...
, goddess of rain, rainbow and waters.
* Chicamassichinuinji, king of oceans.
*
Funza
Funza () is a municipality and town of Colombia in the Western Savanna Province, of the department of Cundinamarca. Funza is situated on the Bogotá savanna, the southwestern part of the Altiplano Cundiboyacense with the urban centre at an altit ...
, goddess of waters, twin phenomenon and malformations in children. Wife of Mbumba.
*
Kalunga
The Kalungas are Brazilians that descend from people who freed themselves from slavery, and lived in remote settlements in Goiás state, Brazil. The Kalungas are one group of Quilombola, or people of African origin who live in hinterland s ...
, god of death and border between world of Alives and world of dead.
* Kimbazi, goddess of sea storms.
* Kuitikuiti, serpent god of Congo river.
* Lusunzi, god of spring and waters.
*
Mamba Muntu, goddesses of waters and sexuality.
* Makanga.
* Mbantilanda.
* Mbumba, rainbow serpent of terrestrial waters and warriors.
* Mboze.
*
Mpulu Bunzi, god of rain and waters.
* Mundele, albino gods of the sea.
*
Simbi dia Maza, nymphs or goddesses of waters, lakes and rivers.
Mediterranean
''Hamito-Semitic regions of North Africa, Arabia, and the Levant.''
Canaanite
*
Yam (god)
Yam (also ''Yamm''; Semitic: ) is the god of the sea in the Canaanite pantheon.
He takes the role of the adversary of Baal in the Ugaritic ''Baal Cycle''.
The deity's name derives from the Canaanite word for "Sea", and is one name of the Ugar ...
, god of the sea.
Egyptian
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Anuket
Anuket was the ancient Egyptian goddess of the cataracts of the Nile and Lower Nubia in general, worshipped especially at Elephantine near the First Cataract.
Etymology
In ancient Egyptian, she was known as Anuket, Anaka, or Anqet. Her name ...
, goddess of the Nile and nourisher of the fields.
*Bairthy, goddess of water, was depicted with a small pitcher on her head, holding a long spear-like sceptre.
*
Hapi, god of the annual flooding of the Nile.
*
Khnum
Khnum or also romanised Khnemu (; egy, 𓎸𓅱𓀭 ẖnmw, grc-koi, Χνοῦβις) was one of the earliest-known Egyptian deities, originally the god of the source of the Nile. Since the annual flooding of the Nile brought with it silt an ...
, god of the source of the Nile.
*
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 ...
, goddess of rivers, death, mourning, the dead, and night.
*
Nu, uncreated god, personification of the primordial waters.
*
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 was ...
, god of the dead and afterlife; originally a god of water and vegetation.
*
Satet
Satet, Satit or Satjet, Satjit in Ancient Egyptian ( egy, Sṯt or ', ."Pourer" or "Shooter"), Greek: Satis, also known by numerous related names, was an Upper Egyptian goddess who, along with Khnum and Anuket, formed part of the Elephantine ...
, goddess of the Nile River's floods.
*
Sobek
Sobek (also called Sebek or Sobki, cop, Ⲥⲟⲩⲕ, Souk) was an ancient Egyptian deity with a complex and elastic history and nature. He is associated with the Nile crocodile or the West African crocodile and is represented either in its f ...
, god of the Nile river, is depicted as a crocodile or a man with the head of a crocodile.
*
Tefnut
Tefnut ( egy, ; cop, ⲧϥⲏⲛⲉ ) is a deity of moisture, moist air, dew and rain in Ancient Egyptian religion.The Routledge Dictionary of Egyptian Gods and Goddesses, George Hart She is the sister and consort of the air god Shu and the m ...
, goddess of water, moisture, and fertility.
*
Wadj-wer
Wadj-wer, also spelled Uatch-ur is an Egyptian god of fertility whose name means the "great green".
It was commonly believed that Wadj-wer was a personification of the Mediterranean Sea; however, it is apparently more likely that he rather repr ...
, personification of the Mediterranean Sea or represented the lagoons and lakes in the northernmost Nile Delta.
Hebrew
*
Leviathan
Leviathan (; he, לִוְיָתָן, ) is a sea serpent noted in theology and mythology. It is referenced in several books of the Hebrew Bible, including Psalms, the Book of Job, the Book of Isaiah, the Book of Amos, and, according to some ...
, sea serpent.
Mesopotamian
*
Abzu
The Abzu or Apsu ( Sumerian: ; Akkadian: ), also called (Cuneiform:, ; Sumerian: ; Akkadian: — ='water' ='deep', recorded in Greek as ), is the name for fresh water from underground aquifers which was given a religious fertilising qualit ...
, god of fresh water, father of all other gods.
*
Enbilulu
Enbilulu ( sux, ) was a Mesopotamian god associated with irrigation, and by extension with both canals and rivers. The origin of his name is unknown, and there is no agreement among experts in which way he was related to the similarly named dei ...
, god of rivers and canals.
*
Enki
, image = Enki(Ea).jpg
, caption = Detail of Enki from the Adda Seal, an ancient Akkadian cylinder seal dating to circa 2300 BC
, deity_of = God of creation, intelligence, crafts, water, seawater, lakewater, fertility, semen, magic, mischief
...
, god of water and of the river
Tigris
The Tigris () is the easternmost of the two great rivers that define Mesopotamia, the other being the Euphrates. The river flows south from the mountains of the Armenian Highlands through the Syrian and Arabian Deserts, and empties into the ...
.
*
Marduk
Marduk (Cuneiform: dAMAR.UTU; Sumerian: ''amar utu.k'' "calf of the sun; solar calf"; ) was a god from ancient Mesopotamia and patron deity of the city of Babylon. When Babylon became the political center of the Euphrates valley in the time of ...
, god associated with water, vegetation, judgment, and magic.
*
Nammu
Nammu ( dENGUR = dLAGAB×ḪAL; also read Namma) was a Mesopotamian goddess regarded as a creator deity in the local theology of Eridu. It is assumed that she was associated with water. She is also well attested in connection with incantations and ...
, goddess of the primeval sea.
*
Nanshe
Nanshe ( sux, ) was a Mesopotamian goddess in various contexts associated with the sea, marshlands, the animals inhabiting these biomes, namely bird and fish, as well as divination, dream interpretation, justice, social welfare, and certain admin ...
, goddess of the
Persian Gulf
The Persian Gulf ( fa, خلیج فارس, translit=xalij-e fârs, lit=Gulf of Persis, Fars, ), sometimes called the ( ar, اَلْخَلِيْجُ ٱلْعَرَبِيُّ, Al-Khalīj al-ˁArabī), is a Mediterranean sea (oceanography), me ...
, justice, prophecy, fertility and fishing.
*
Tiamat
In Mesopotamian religion, Tiamat ( akk, or , grc, Θαλάττη, Thaláttē) is a primordial goddess of the sea, mating with Abzû, the god of the groundwater, to produce younger gods. She is the symbol of the chaos of primordial creati ...
, goddess of salt water and chaos, also mother of all gods.
*
Sirsir
Sirsir, also known as Ninsirsir, was a Mesopotamian god. He was associated with sailors. It has been proposed that he corresponds to the so-called "boat god" motif known from cylinder seals, but this theory is not universally accepted.
Character
...
, god of mariners.
Greek / Hellenic
*
Achelous
In ancient Greek religion and mythology, Achelous (also Acheloos or Acheloios) (; Ancient Greek: Ἀχελώϊος, and later , ''Akhelôios'') was the god associated with the Achelous River, the largest river in Greece. According to Hesiod, he ...
, Greek river god.
*
Aegaeon, god of violent sea storms and ally of the Titans.
*
Alpheus, river god in Arcadia.
*
Amphitrite
In ancient Greek mythology, Amphitrite (; grc-gre, Ἀμφιτρίτη, Amphitrítē) was the goddess of the sea, the queen of the sea, and the wife of Poseidon. She was a daughter of Nereus and Doris (or Oceanus and Tethys).Roman, L., & Rom ...
, sea goddess and consort of Poseidon and thus queen of the sea.
*
Anapos
Anapos was a water god of eastern Sicily in Greek mythology. When he opposed the rape of Persephone along with the nymph Cyane, Hades turned them into a river (the river Anapo in southern Sicily
(man) it, Siciliana (woman)
, population_n ...
, water god of eastern Sicily.
*
Asopus
Asopus (; grc, Ἀ̄σωπός ''Āsōpos'') is the name of four different rivers in Greece and one in Turkey. In Greek mythology, it was also the name of the gods of those rivers. Zeus carried off Aegina, Asopus' daughter, and Sisyphus, who had ...
, river god in Greece
*
Asterion
In Greek mythology, Asterion (Greek: , gen.: , literally "starry") or Asterius () may refer to the following figures:
* Asterion, one of the Potamoi.
* Asterius, one of the Giants.
* Asterion, an attendant of the starry-god Astraeus.
* Aster ...
, river-god of
Argos
Argos most often refers to:
* Argos, Peloponnese, a city in Argolis, Greece
** Ancient Argos, the ancient city
* Argos (retailer), a catalogue retailer operating in the United Kingdom and Ireland
Argos or ARGOS may also refer to:
Businesses
* ...
*
Brito-Martis
Britomartis (; grc-gre, Βριτόμαρτις) was a Greek goddess of mountains and hunting, who was primarily worshipped on the island of Crete. She was sometimes believed to be an oread, or a mountain nymph, but she was often conflated or syn ...
, the goddess Brito-Martis is always depicted in arms.
*
Brizo
Brizo (Greek: Βριζώ; derived from Ancient Greek word βρίζω meaning "to slumber") is an ancient Greek goddess
A major branch of classical mythology, Greek mythology is the body of myths originally told by the ancient Greeks, and a g ...
, goddess of sailors.
*
Carcinus
''Carcinus'' ( '' Karkinos'') is a genus of crabs, which includes ''Carcinus maenas'', an important invasive species, and '' C. aestuarii'', a species endemic to the Mediterranean Sea.
''Carcinus maenas''
''C. maenas'' is among the 100 "worl ...
, a giant crab who allied itself with the Hydra against Heracles. When it died, Hera placed it in the sky as the constellation
Cancer
Cancer is a group of diseases involving abnormal cell growth with the potential to invade or spread to other parts of the body. These contrast with benign tumors, which do not spread. Possible signs and symptoms include a lump, abnormal b ...
.
*
Ceto
Ceto (; grc, Κητώ, Kētṓ, sea monster) is a primordial sea goddess in Greek mythology, the daughter of Pontus and his mother, Gaia. As a mythological figure, she is considered to be one of the most ancient deities, and bore a host of ...
, goddess of the dangers of the ocean and of sea monsters.
*
Charybdis
Charybdis (; grc, Χάρυβδις, Khárybdis, ; la, Charybdis, ) is a sea monster in Greek mythology. She, with the sea monster Scylla, appears as a challenge to epic characters such as Odysseus, Jason, and Aeneas. Scholarship locates her in t ...
, a sea monster and spirit of whirlpools and the tide.
*
Cymopoleia
In Greek mythology, Cymopoleia or Cymopolia (; Ancient Greek: Κυμοπόλεια ''Kymopoleia'') was a daughter of sea god Poseidon and the wife of Briareus, one of the three Hundred-Handers. Her only known mention occurs in the Hesiodic ''Th ...
, a daughter of Poseidon and goddess of giant storm waves.
*
Doris, goddess of the sea's bounty and wife of Nereus.
*
Eidothea
''Eidothea'' is a genus of two species of rainforest trees in New South Wales and Queensland, in eastern Australia, constituting part of the plant family Proteaceae. The plant family Proteaceae was named after the shape-shifting god Proteus of ...
, prophetic sea nymph and daughter of Proteus.
*
Electra
Electra (; grc, Ήλέκτρα) is one of the most popular mythological characters in tragedies.Evans (1970), p. 79 She is the main character in two Greek tragedies, '' Electra'' by Sophocles and '' Electra'' by Euripides. She is also the centra ...
, an Oceanid, consort of
Thaumas
In Greek mythology, Thaumas (; grc, ; grc, , label=gen.) was a sea god, son of Pontus and Gaia, and the full brother of Nereus, Phorcys, Ceto and Eurybia.
Etymology
Plato associates Thaumas' name with ("wonder").
Mythology
According to Hesio ...
.
*
Enipeus, a river god
*
Eurybia, goddess of the mastery of the seas.
*
Galene (Γαλήνη), goddess of calm seas.
*
Glaucus
In Greek mythology, Glaucus (; grc, Γλαῦκος, Glaûkos, glimmering) was a Greek prophetic sea-god, born mortal and turned immortal upon eating a magical herb. It was believed that he came to the rescue of sailors and fishermen in storms, ...
, the fisherman's sea god.
*
Gorgons
A Gorgon ( /ˈɡɔːrɡən/; plural: Gorgons, Ancient Greek: Γοργών/Γοργώ ''Gorgṓn/Gorgṓ'') is a creature in Greek mythology. Gorgons occur in the earliest examples of Greek literature. While descriptions of Gorgons vary, the te ...
, three monstrous sea spirits.
**
Euryale
In Greek mythology, Euryale ( ; grc, Εὐρυάλη, lit=far-roaming") was the name of the following characters:
* Euryale, one of the Gorgons.
* Euryale, daughter of Minos, possible mother of the great hunter Orion.
* Euryale, one of the Ama ...
**
Medusa
In Greek mythology, Medusa (; Ancient Greek: Μέδουσα "guardian, protectress"), also called Gorgo, was one of the three monstrous Gorgons, generally described as winged human females with living venomous snakes in place of hair. Those ...
**
Stheno
In Greek mythology, Stheno ( or ; Greek: Σθενώ, 'forceful') was the eldest of the Gorgons, vicious female monsters with brass hands, sharp fangs and "hair" made of living venomous snakes.
Mythology
The daughter of Phorcys and Ceto, Stheno wa ...
* The
Graeae
In Greek mythology the Graeae ( grc, Γραῖαι; ; English translation: "old women", "grey ones", or "grey witches"; alternatively spelled Graiai and Graiae) were three sisters who had gray hair from their birth and shared one eye and one t ...
, three ancient sea spirits who personified the white foam of the sea; they shared one eye and one tooth between them.
*
Hippocampi, the horses of the sea.
* The
Ichthyocentaurs
In late Classical Greek art, ichthyocentaurs ( el, ἰχθυοκένταυρος, plural: ) were centaurine sea beings with the upper body of a human, the lower anterior half and fore-legs of a horse, and the tailed half of a fish. The earliest e ...
, a pair of centaurine sea-gods with the upper bodies of men, the lower fore-parts of horses, ending in the serpentine tails of fish.
*Kymopoleia, daughter of Poseidon and goddess of violent sea storms.
*
Leucothea
In Greek mythology, Leucothea (; grc-gre, Λευκοθέα, Leukothéa, white goddess), sometimes also called Leucothoe ( grc-gre, Λευκοθόη, Leukothóē), was one of the aspects under which an ancient sea goddess was recognized, in this ...
, a sea goddess who aided sailors in distress.
*
Nerites, watery consort of Aphrodite and/or beloved of Poseidon.
*
Nereus
In Greek mythology, Nereus ( ; ) was the eldest son of Pontus (the Sea) and Gaia (the Earth), with Pontus himself being a son of Gaia. Nereus and Doris became the parents of 50 daughters (the Nereids) and a son ( Nerites), with whom Nereus liv ...
, the old man of the sea, and the god of the sea's rich bounty of fish.
*
Nymph
A nymph ( grc, νύμφη, nýmphē, el, script=Latn, nímfi, label=Modern Greek; , ) in ancient Greek folklore is a minor female nature deity. Different from Greek goddesses, nymphs are generally regarded as personifications of nature, are ty ...
s
**
Naiad
In Greek mythology, the naiads (; grc-gre, ναϊάδες, naïádes) are a type of female spirit, or nymph, presiding over fountains, wells, springs, streams, brooks and other bodies of fresh water.
They are distinct from river gods, who ...
es, freshwater nymphs.
**
Nereid
In Greek mythology, the Nereids or Nereides ( ; grc, Νηρηΐδες, Nērēḯdes; , also Νημερτές) are sea nymphs (female spirits of sea waters), the 50 daughters of the 'Old Man of the Sea' Nereus and the Oceanids, Oceanid Doris ...
es, sea nymphs.
**
Oceanid
In Greek mythology, the Oceanids or Oceanides (; grc, Ὠκεανίδες, Ōkeanídes, pl. of grc, Ὠκεανίς, Ōkeanís, label=none) are the nymphs who were the three thousand (a number interpreted as meaning "innumerable") daughters o ...
es, nymphs of freshwater sources.
*
Oceanus
In Greek mythology, Oceanus (; grc-gre, , Ancient Greek pronunciation: , also Ὠγενός , Ὤγενος , or Ὠγήν ) was a Titan son of Uranus and Gaia, the husband of his sister the Titan Tethys, and the father of the river gods a ...
, Titan god of the Earth-encircling river Okeanos, the font of all the Earth's fresh water.
*
Palaemon, a young sea god who aided sailors in distress.
*
Phorcys
In Greek mythology, Phorcys or Phorcus (; grc, Φόρκυς) is a primordial sea god, generally cited (first in Hesiod) as the son of Pontus and Gaia (Earth). Classical scholar Karl Kerenyi conflated Phorcys with the similar sea gods Nereus a ...
, god of the hidden dangers of the deep.
*
Pontus
Pontus or Pontos may refer to:
* Short Latin name for the Pontus Euxinus, the Greek name for the Black Sea (aka the Euxine sea)
* Pontus (mythology), a sea god in Greek mythology
* Pontus (region), on the southern coast of the Black Sea, in modern ...
, primeval god of the sea, father of the fish and other sea creatures.
*
Poseidon
Poseidon (; grc-gre, Ποσειδῶν) was one of the Twelve Olympians in ancient Greek religion and myth, god of the sea, storms, earthquakes and horses.Burkert 1985pp. 136–139 In pre-Olympian Bronze Age Greece, he was venerated as a ch ...
, Olympian god of the sea and king of the sea gods; also god of flood, drought, earthquakes, and horses. His Roman equivalent is
Neptune
Neptune is the eighth planet from the Sun and the farthest known planet in the Solar System. It is the fourth-largest planet in the Solar System by diameter, the third-most-massive planet, and the densest giant planet. It is 17 times ...
.
*
Potamoi
The Potamoi ( grc-gre, Ποταμοί, "Rivers") are the gods of rivers and streams of the earth in Greek mythology.
Mythology
The river gods were the 3000 sons of the great earth-encircling river Oceanus and his wife Tethys and the brothers of ...
, deities of rivers, fathers of Naiads, brothers of the Oceanids, and as such, the sons of Oceanus and Tethys.
*
Proteus
In Greek mythology, Proteus (; Ancient Greek: Πρωτεύς, ''Prōteus'') is an early prophetic sea-god or god of rivers and oceanic bodies of water, one of several deities whom Homer calls the "Old Man of the Sea" ''(hálios gérôn)''. ...
, a shape-shifting, prophetic old sea god, and the herdsman of Poseidon's seals.
*
Psamathe Psamathe may refer to:
Greek mythology
* Psamathe (Nereid)
* Psamathe (Crotopus), Daughter of Crotopus
Other
* Psamathe (moon), moon of Neptune
* ''Psamathe'' (polychaete), polychaete
Polychaeta () is a paraphyletic class of generally marine ...
, goddess of sand beaches.
*
Scylla
In Greek mythology, Scylla), is obsolete. ( ; grc-gre, Σκύλλα, Skúlla, ) is a legendary monster who lives on one side of a narrow channel of water, opposite her counterpart Charybdis. The two sides of the strait are within an arrow's r ...
, a sea monster, later authors made up a backstory of her being a Nereid transformed into a monster due to Circe's jealousy.
* The
Telchines
In Greek mythology, the Telchines ( grc, Τελχῖνες, ''Telkhines'') were the original inhabitants of the island of Rhodes and were known in Crete and Cyprus.
Family
Their parents were either Pontus and Gaia or Tartarus and Nemesis or else ...
, sea spirits native to the island of Rhodes; the gods killed them when they turned to evil magic.
*
Tethys, Titan goddess of the sources fresh-water, and the mother of the rivers (
Potamoi
The Potamoi ( grc-gre, Ποταμοί, "Rivers") are the gods of rivers and streams of the earth in Greek mythology.
Mythology
The river gods were the 3000 sons of the great earth-encircling river Oceanus and his wife Tethys and the brothers of ...
), springs, streams, fountains and clouds.
*
Thalassa
Thalassa (; grc-gre, Θάλασσα, Thálassa, sea; Attic Greek: , ''Thálatta'') was the general word for 'sea' and for its divine female personification in Greek mythology. The word may have been of Pre-Greek origin.
Mythology
According t ...
, primordial goddess of the sea.
*
Thaumas
In Greek mythology, Thaumas (; grc, ; grc, , label=gen.) was a sea god, son of Pontus and Gaia, and the full brother of Nereus, Phorcys, Ceto and Eurybia.
Etymology
Plato associates Thaumas' name with ("wonder").
Mythology
According to Hesio ...
, god of the wonders of the sea and father of the
Harpies
In Greek mythology and Roman mythology, a harpy (plural harpies, , ; lat, harpȳia) is a half-human and half-bird personification of storm winds. They feature in Homeric poems.
Descriptions
They were generally depicted as birds with the head ...
and the rainbow goddess
Iris
Iris most often refers to:
*Iris (anatomy), part of the eye
*Iris (mythology), a Greek goddess
* ''Iris'' (plant), a genus of flowering plants
*Iris (color), an ambiguous color term
Iris or IRIS may also refer to:
Arts and media
Fictional enti ...
.
*
Thetis
Thetis (; grc-gre, Θέτις ), is a figure from Greek mythology with varying mythological roles. She mainly appears as a sea nymph, a goddess of water, or one of the 50 Nereids, daughters of the ancient sea god Nereus.
When described as ...
, leader of the Nereids who presided over the spawning of marine life in the sea, mother of Achilles.
*
Triteia
Triteia ( grc, Τρίτεια) was, in Greek mythology, the daughter of the sea-god Triton (mythology), Triton and mother, by Ares, of Melanippus who gave to a town in Achaea (ancient region), Achaea the name of his mother. Sacrifices were offered ...
, daughter of Triton and companion of Ares.
*
Triton
Triton commonly refers to:
* Triton (mythology), a Greek god
* Triton (moon), a satellite of Neptune
Triton may also refer to:
Biology
* Triton cockatoo, a parrot
* Triton (gastropod), a group of sea snails
* ''Triton'', a synonym of ''Triturus' ...
, fish-tailed son and herald of Poseidon.
*
Tritones
Tritones may refer to:
* Tritones (mythology)
** Triton (mythology)
** Daimones of the sea, see daemon (classical mythology)
See also
* Tritone (disambiguation)
* Tritons, several
* Triton (disambiguation)
* Tritonia (disambiguation)
Tritonia ...
, fish-tailed spirits in Poseidon's retinue.
*
Aspidochelone
According to the tradition of the ''Physiologus'' and medieval bestiaries, the aspidochelone is a fabled sea creature, variously described as a large whale or vast sea turtle, and a giant sea monster with huge spines on the ridge of its back. No ...
, colossal sea monster from the medieval bestiary ''
Physiologus
The ''Physiologus'' () is a didactic Christian text written or compiled in Greek by an unknown author, in Alexandria; its composition has been traditionally dated to the 2nd century AD by readers who saw parallels with writings of Clement of Alex ...
''.
Roman
*
Coventina
Coventina was a Romano-British goddess of wells and springs. She is known from multiple inscriptions at one site in Northumberland county of England, an area surrounding a wellspring near Carrawburgh on Hadrian's Wall. It is possible that other ...
, Romano-British goddess of a sacred spring at
Carrawburgh
Carrawburgh is a settlement in Northumberland. In Roman times, it was the site of a -acre (1.5 ha) auxiliary fort on Hadrian's Wall called Brocolitia, Procolita, or ''Brocolita''. This name is probably based on the Celtic name for the pla ...
on
Hadrian's Wall
Hadrian's Wall ( la, Vallum Aelium), also known as the Roman Wall, Picts' Wall, or ''Vallum Hadriani'' in Latin, is a former defensive fortification of the Roman province of Britannia, begun in AD 122 in the reign of the Emperor Hadrian. R ...
.
*
Fontus
Fontus or Fons (plural ''Fontes'', "Font" or "Source") was a god of wells and springs in ancient Roman religion. A religious festival called the Fontinalia was held on October 13 in his honor. Throughout the city, fountains and wellheads were ado ...
, god of wells and springs.
*
Juturna
In the myth and religion of ancient Rome, Juturna, or Diuturna, was a goddess of fountains, wells and springs, and the mother of Fontus by Janus.
Mythology
Juturna was an ancient Latin deity of fountains, who in some myths was turned by Jupit ...
, goddess of fountains, wells, and springs.
*
Neptune
Neptune is the eighth planet from the Sun and the farthest known planet in the Solar System. It is the fourth-largest planet in the Solar System by diameter, the third-most-massive planet, and the densest giant planet. It is 17 times ...
, god-king of the sea. His Greek counterpart was
Poseidon
Poseidon (; grc-gre, Ποσειδῶν) was one of the Twelve Olympians in ancient Greek religion and myth, god of the sea, storms, earthquakes and horses.Burkert 1985pp. 136–139 In pre-Olympian Bronze Age Greece, he was venerated as a ch ...
.
*
Salacia
In ancient Roman mythology, Salacia ( , ) was the female divinity of the sea, worshipped as the goddess of salt water who presided over the depths of the ocean. Neptune was her consort. That Salacia was the consort of Neptune is implied by Va ...
, goddess of saltwater. Neptune's consort.
*
Tiberinus, the genius of the river
Tiber
The Tiber ( ; it, Tevere ; la, Tiberis) is the third-longest river in Italy and the longest in Central Italy, rising in the Apennine Mountains in Emilia-Romagna and flowing through Tuscany, Umbria, and Lazio, where it is joined by the Riv ...
.
*
Volturnus
The VolturnUS is a floating concrete structure that supports a wind turbine, designed by University of Maine Advanced Structures and Composites Center and deployed by DeepCwind Consortium in 2013. The VolturnUS can support wind turbines in water ...
, a god of the
Tiber
The Tiber ( ; it, Tevere ; la, Tiberis) is the third-longest river in Italy and the longest in Central Italy, rising in the Apennine Mountains in Emilia-Romagna and flowing through Tuscany, Umbria, and Lazio, where it is joined by the Riv ...
who may originally have been a god of all rivers.
Anatolian - Hittite
*
Aruna, god of the sea.
Armenian
*
Astłik
In the earliest prehistoric period Astłik ( hy, Աստղիկ) had been worshipped as the Armenian deity of fertility and love, later the skylight had been considered her personification, and she had been the consort of Vahagn. In the later heathe ...
, goddess of water sources.
*
Tsovinar, goddess of seas and storms.
Persian Zorostarian
*
Ahurani
Ahurani is the Avestan language name of a Zoroastrian (class of) divinity associated with "the waters" ( ''āpō''). In scripture, the expression ''ahurani'' appears both in the singular and in the plural, and may - subject to context - either den ...
, Ahurani is a water goddess from ancient Persian mythology who watches over rainfall as well as standing water.
*
Anahita
Anahita is the Old Persian form of the name of an Iranian goddess and appears in complete and earlier form as ('), the Avestan name of an Indo-Iranian cosmological figure venerated as the divinity of "the Waters" (Aban) and hence associate ...
, the divinity of "the Waters" (
Aban
Apas (, ae, āpas) is the Avestan language term for "the waters", which, in its innumerable aggregate states, is represented by the Apas, the hypostases of the waters.
''Āb'' (plural ''Ābān'') is the Middle Persian-language form.
Introdu ...
) and associated with fertility, healing, and wisdom.
*
Apam Napat
Apam Napat is a deity in the Proto-Indo-Iranian religion, Indo-Iranian Pantheon (gods), pantheon associated with water. His names in the Vedas, ''Apām Napāt'', and in Zoroastrianism, ''Apąm Napāt'', mean "child of the Ap (water), waters" in San ...
, the divinity of rain and the maintainer of order.
*
Haurvatat
Haurvatat /ˈhəʊrvətət/ (Avestan: ') is the Avestan language word for the Zoroastrian concept of "wholeness" or "perfection."
In post-Gathic Zoroastrianism, Haurvatat was the Amesha Spenta associated with water (''cf.'' '' apo''), prosperi ...
, the
Amesha Spenta
In Zoroastrianism, the Amesha Spenta ( ae, , Aməša Spəṇta—literally "Immortal (which is) holy/bounteous/furthering") are a class of seven divine entities emanating from Ahura Mazda, the highest divinity of the religion. Later Middle Persian ...
associated with water, prosperity, and health in post-Gathic Zoroastrianism.
*
Tishtrya
Tishtrya ( ave, 𐬙𐬌𐬱𐬙𐬭𐬌𐬌𐬀, Tištrya, fa, تیر, Tir) or Roozahang is the Avestan language name of a Zoroastrian benevolent divinity associated with life-bringing rainfall and fertility. Tishtrya is Tir in Middle- and Moder ...
,
Zoroastrian
Zoroastrianism is an Iranian religion and one of the world's oldest organized faiths, based on the teachings of the Iranian-speaking prophet Zoroaster. It has a dualistic cosmology of good and evil within the framework of a monotheistic on ...
benevolent divinity associated with life-bringing rainfall and fertility.
Northwest Eurasia
Balto-Slavic
Lithuanian
*
Bangpūtys
Bangpūtysor “bryanē is the name of a masculine deityStraižys, Vytautas; Gods and Goddesses of the Ancient Balts, Lietuvos Dangus (Sky of Lithuania), Vilnius, p.115, 1990. in Lithuanian mythology. Basing on very scanty sources, some mythologi ...
, god of sea and storm.
*
Laumė
Latvian Lauma or Lithuanian Laumė is a fairy-like woodland spirit, and guardian spirit of orphans in Eastern Baltic mythology. Originally a sky spirit, her compassion for human suffering brought her to earth to share our fate.
In Lithuanian ...
, goddess of wild spaces, including waters.
Slavic
*
Kostroma
Kostroma ( rus, Кострома́, p=kəstrɐˈma) is a historic city and the administrative center of Kostroma Oblast, Russia. A part of the Golden Ring of Russian cities, it is located at the confluence of the rivers Volga and Kostroma. Popu ...
, goddess of fertility. After discovering that her husband, Kupala, is her brother, she jumped into the forest lake (in other legends into the river Ra). After her death, she became a
mavka
''Mavka'' ( uk, Мавка) is a type of female spirit in Ukrainian folklore and mythology. She is a long-haired figure, sometimes naked, who may be dangerous to young men.
Terminology
There is variation in the names and spelling, including uk ...
(or rusalka).
*
Mati-syra-zemla, moist mother, also the Earth goddess.
*
Mokosh
Mokosh ( orv, Мóкошь) is a Slavic goddess mentioned in the Primary Chronicle, protector of women's work and women's destiny. She watches over spinning and weaving, shearing of sheep, and protects women in childbirth. Mokosh is the Mother G ...
, moistness, lady of waters, goddess of moisture.
*
Dodola
Dodola (also spelled ''Dodole'', ''Dudola'', ''Dudula'' etc.) and Perperuna (also spelled ''Peperuda'', ''Preperuda'', ''Preperuša'', ''Prporuša'', ''Papaluga'' etc.), are Balkans, Balkan Rainmaking (ritual), rainmaking pagan customs practiced ...
, goddess of rain.
* Morskoy Tsar, the god and king of the sea.
*
Moryana Moryana (russian: Моря́на, ) is a female sea spirit in Slavic folklore, possibly a goddess. Moryana was a sea vodyanitsa and daughter of the Morskoy Tsar, and also, according to some beliefs, she ruled the winds. Sometimes the ''moryany/mor ...
, a giant female sea spirit.
*
Rusalki
In Slavic folklore, the rusalka (plural: rusalky/rusalki; ; pl, rusałka}) is a typically feminine entity, often malicious toward mankind and frequently associated with water, with counterparts in other parts of Europe, such as the French Melus ...
, female ghosts, water nymphs, succubi or mermaid-like demons that dwell in waterways.
*
Veles, god of Earth, waters, and the underworld.
*
Vodyanoi
In Slavic mythology, vodyanoy or vodyanoi ( rus, водяно́й, p=vədʲɪˈnoj; lit. ' efrom the water' or 'watery') is a water spirit. In Czech and Slovak fairy tales, it is called ''vodník'' (or in Germanized form: ), and it is consider ...
, water demon who lived in lakes and rivers.
Celtic
*
Belisama
Belisama (Gaulish ''Belesama''; epigraphically ) is a Celtic goddess. She was identified by Roman commentators with Minerva by ''interpretatio romana''.
Name
The Gaulish theonym ''Belesama'' has been traditionally interpreted as meaning 'the ...
, goddess of lakes and rivers, fire, crafts, and light.
*
Grannus
Grannus (also ''Granus'', ''Mogounus,'' and ''Amarcolitanus'') was a Celtic deity of classical antiquity. He was regularly identified with Apollo as Apollo Grannus and frequently worshipped in conjunction with Sirona, and sometimes with Mars and ot ...
, a god associated with spas, the sun, fires and healing thermal and mineral springs.
*
Nantosuelta
In Celtic mythology, Nantosuelta is the goddess of nature, the earth, fire, and fertility.
Pseudo-historical texts explain how there is an uncanny resemblance between Nantosuelta and what we know of the Irish goddess The Morrígan, who was associ ...
, river goddess of fire, the earth, healing, and fertility.
*
Nodens
*''Nodens'' or *''Nodons'' ( reconstructed from the dative ''Nodenti'' or ''Nodonti'') is a Celtic healing god worshipped in Ancient Britain. Although no physical depiction of him has survived, votive plaques found in a shrine at Lydney Park (G ...
, god associated with healing, the sea, hunting and dogs.
*
Damona
In Gallo-Roman religion, Damona was a goddess worshipped in Gaul as the consort of Apollo Borvo and of Apollo Moritasgus.
Name
The theonym ''Damona'' is a derivative of the Proto-Celtic stem ''*damo-'', meaning 'bull' or 'deer' (cf. Old Irish ...
, water goddess associated with healing and rivers
*
Selkie
In Celtic and Norse mythology, selkies (also spelled ', ', ') or selkie folk ( sco, selkie fowk) meaning 'seal folk' are mythological beings capable of therianthropy, changing from seal to human form by shedding their skin. They are found ...
*
Llŷr
Llŷr ( cy, Llŷr Llediaith (); ''Lleddiaith'' meaning "half-speech" or "half-language") is a figure in Welsh mythology, probably originally a deity, probably derived from Irish Ler ("the Sea"), father of ''Manannán mac Lir''.
Other than his pro ...
English Folklore
![Father Thames outside Ham House](https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/0/0e/Father_Thames_outside_Ham_House.jpg)
*Father Thames, human manifestation and/or guardian of the
River Thames
The River Thames ( ), known alternatively in parts as the The Isis, River Isis, is a river that flows through southern England including London. At , it is the longest river entirely in England and the Longest rivers of the United Kingdom, se ...
that flows through Southern England, while his ancient worship is obscure, he has become a popular symbol of the river in modern times, it being the subject of the song "Old Father Thames" and the model of several statues and reliefs scattered around
London
London is the capital and largest city of England and the United Kingdom, with a population of just under 9 million. It stands on the River Thames in south-east England at the head of a estuary down to the North Sea, and has been a majo ...
.
*
Davy Jones, the
Devil
A devil is the personification of evil as it is conceived in various cultures and religious traditions. It is seen as the objectification of a hostile and destructive force. Jeffrey Burton Russell states that the different conceptions of t ...
of the seas in Western
piratical lore.
Gaulish
*
Acionna
Acionna was a Gallo-Roman water goddess, attested in the Orléanais region.
In 1822, Jean-Baptiste Jollois, one of the founding fathers of archaeology in the region, carried out excavations on the so-called "fontaine de l'Étuvée", an ancient ...
, a water goddess/
genius loci
In classical Roman religion, a ''genius loci'' (plural ''genii locorum'') was the protective spirit of a place. It was often depicted in religious iconography as a figure holding attributes such as a cornucopia, patera (libation bowl) or snake. ...
of the
Orleanais region and the
Essonne
Essonne () is a department of France in the southern Île-de-France region. It is named after the river Essonne. In 2019, it had a population of 1,301,659 across 194 communes.[Condatis
Condatis (Gaulish: 'confluence') was an ancient Celtic deity worshipped primarily in northern Britain but also in Gaul.''L'Arbre Celtique.'"Condatis"/ref> He was associated with the confluences of rivers, in particular the River Wear which runs i ...]
, god of the
River Wear
The River Wear (, ) in North East England rises in the Pennines and flows eastwards, mostly through County Durham to the North Sea in the City of Sunderland. At long, it is one of the region's longest rivers, wends in a steep valley through th ...
and healing.
* Segeta, goddess of the
Loire
The Loire (, also ; ; oc, Léger, ; la, Liger) is the longest river in France and the 171st longest in the world. With a length of , it drains , more than a fifth of France's land, while its average discharge is only half that of the Rhône ...
.
*
Sequana In Gallo-Roman religion, Sequana is the goddess of the river Seine, particularly the springs at the source of the Seine, and the Gaulish tribe the Sequani. The springs, called the ''Fontes Sequanae'' ("The Springs of Sequana"), are located in a va ...
, goddess of the
River Seine
)
, mouth_location = Le Havre/Honfleur
, mouth_coordinates =
, mouth_elevation =
, progression =
, river_system = Seine basin
, basin_size =
, tributaries_left = Yonne, Loing, Eure, Risle
, tributarie ...
.
*
Souconna, goddess of the
Saône
The Saône ( , ; frp, Sona; lat, Arar) is a river in eastern France. It is a right tributary of the Rhône, rising at Vioménil in the Vosges department and joining the Rhône in Lyon, at the southern end of the Presqu'île.
The name deri ...
.
*
Sirona
In Celtic polytheism, Sirona was a goddess worshipped predominantly in East Central Gaul and along the Danubian limes. A healing deity, she was associated with healing springs; her attributes were snakes and eggs. She was sometimes depicted with A ...
, a goddess associated with healing springs.
Irish
*
Brigid
Brigid ( , ; meaning 'exalted one' from Old Irish),Campbell, MikBehind the Name.See also Xavier Delamarre, ''brigantion / brigant-'', in ''Dictionnaire de la langue gauloise'' (Éditions Errance, 2003) pp. 87–88: "Le nom de la sainte irlandais ...
, a goddess sometimes associated with water and where three streams join together (relating to her being a
Triple Goddess
A triple deity is a deity with three apparent forms that function as a singular whole. Such deities may sometimes be referred to as threefold, tripled, triplicate, tripartite, triune, triadic, or as a trinity. The number three has a long history ...
).
*
Boann
Boann or Boand (modern Irish spelling: Bónn) is the Irish goddess of the River Boyne (the river-name now always in the nominalised dative/prepositional case, Bóinn), a river in Ireland's historical fifth province, Meath (from Middle Irish '' ...
, goddess of the
River Boyne
The River Boyne ( ga, An Bhóinn or ''Abhainn na Bóinne'') is a river in Leinster, Ireland, the course of which is about long. It rises at Trinity Well, Newberry Hall, near Carbury, County Kildare, and flows towards the Northeast through C ...
.
*
Danu (Dana), Continental Celtic river goddess. Her Irish variation was an ancestor/mother goddess.
*
Manannán mac Lir
Manannán or Manann, also known as Manannán mac Lir ("son of the sea"), is a warrior and king of the Otherworld in Irish mythology who is associated with the sea and often interpreted as a sea god, usually as a member of the Tuatha Dé Danann ...
, god of the sea.
*
Lí Ban
Lí Ban (; thus 'paragon of women') may refer to an otherworldly female figure in Irish mythology.
This Lí Ban claimed the beautiful Fand as sister, and was wife to Labraid Luathlám ar Claideb ("Labraid of the swift sword-hand"), the ruler of ...
, water goddess.
*
Lir
Lir or Ler (meaning "Sea" in Old Irish; ''Ler'' and ''Lir'' are the nominative and genitive forms, respectively) is a sea god in Irish mythology. His name suggests that he is a personification of the sea, rather than a distinct deity. He is na ...
, god of the sea.
*
Sinann
The River Shannon ( ga, Abhainn na Sionainne, ', '), at in length, is the longest river in the British Isles. It drains the Shannon River Basin, which has an area of , – approximately one fifth of the area of the island of Ireland.
The Shan ...
, goddess of the
River Shannon
The River Shannon ( ga, Abhainn na Sionainne, ', '), at in length, is the longest river in the British Isles. It drains the Shannon River Basin, which has an area of , – approximately one fifth of the area of the island of Ireland.
The Shan ...
.
Welsh
*
Dylan Eil Ton Dylan ail Don () (in Middle Welsh) is a character in the Welsh mythic Mabinogion tales, particularly in the fourth tale, "''Math fab Mathonwy''". The story of Dylan reflects ancient Celtic myths that were handed down orally for some generations b ...
, god of the sea
*
Llŷr
Llŷr ( cy, Llŷr Llediaith (); ''Lleddiaith'' meaning "half-speech" or "half-language") is a figure in Welsh mythology, probably originally a deity, probably derived from Irish Ler ("the Sea"), father of ''Manannán mac Lir''.
Other than his pro ...
, god of the sea.
Lusitanian
*
Bandua Bandua was a theonym used to refer to a god or goddess worshipped in Iberia by Gallaeci and Lusitanians. Whether the name referred to a discrete deity or was an epithet applied to different deities is arguable.
Epigraphy
The deity's name is foun ...
, theonym associated with fountains.
*
Duberdicus Duberdicus or Duberdico, was a god of fountains, lakes, and oceans in Lusitanian mythology, in the cultural area of Lusitania (in the territory of modern Portugal).
See also
* List of Lusitanian deities
*Lusitanian mythology
Lusitanian mythology ...
, god of the sea and rivers.
*
Durius Durius or Durio was a god worshiped by the ancient Lusitanians and Celtiberians of the Iberian peninsula. He was a personification of what is today known as the river Douro and is usually depicted holding a fishing net. A shrine dedicated to him was ...
, personification of the
Douro
The Douro (, , ; es, Duero ; la, Durius) is the highest-flow river of the Iberian Peninsula. It rises near Duruelo de la Sierra in Soria Province, central Spain, meanders south briefly then flows generally west through the north-west part of ...
river.
Norse-Germanic
*
Ægir
Ægir (anglicised as Aegir; Old Norse 'sea'), Hlér (Old Norse 'sea'), or Gymir (Old Norse less clearly 'sea, engulfer'), is a jötunn and a personification of the sea in Norse mythology. In the Old Norse record, Ægir hosts the gods in his halls ...
, personification of the sea.
*
Freyr
Freyr (Old Norse: 'Lord'), sometimes anglicized as Frey, is a widely attested god in Norse mythology, associated with kingship, fertility, peace, and weather. Freyr, sometimes referred to as Yngvi-Freyr, was especially associated with Sweden an ...
, god of rain, sunlight, fertility, life, and summer.
*
Nehalennia
Nehalennia (spelled variously) is a goddess of unclear origin, perhaps Germanic or Celtic. She is attested on and depicted upon numerous votive altars discovered around what is now the province of Zeeland, the Netherlands, where the Schelde River ...
, goddess of the
North Sea
The North Sea lies between Great Britain, Norway, Denmark, Germany, the Netherlands and Belgium. An epeiric sea on the European continental shelf, it connects to the Atlantic Ocean through the English Channel in the south and the Norwegian S ...
.
*
Nerthus
In Germanic paganism, Nerthus is a goddess associated with a ceremonial wagon procession. Nerthus is attested by first century AD Roman historian Tacitus in his ethnographic work ''Germania''.
In ''Germania'', Tacitus records that a group of Germ ...
, mostly an earth goddess, but is also associated with lakes, springs, and
holy waters.
*
Nine Daughters of Ægir
9 is a number, numeral, and glyph.
9 or nine may also refer to:
Dates
* AD 9, the ninth year of the AD era
* 9 BC, the ninth year before the AD era
* 9, numerical symbol for the month of September
Places
* Nine, Portugal, a parish in the ...
, who personify the characteristics of waves.
*
Nix
Nix or NIX may refer to:
Places
* Nix, Alabama, an unincorporated community, United States
* Nix, Texas, a ghost town in southwestern Lampasas County, Texas, United States
* Nix (moon), a moon of Pluto
People
* Nix (surname), listing people with ...
, water spirits who usually appear in human form.
*
Njord, god of the sea, particularly of
seafaring
Seamanship is the art, knowledge and competence of operating a ship, boat or other craft on water. The'' Oxford Dictionary'' states that seamanship is "The skill, techniques, or practice of handling a ship or boat at sea."
It involves topics a ...
.
*
Rán
In Norse mythology, Rán (Old Norse: ) is a goddess and a personification of the sea. Rán and her husband Ægir, a jötunn who also personifies the sea, have nine daughters, who personify waves. The goddess is frequently associated with a net, w ...
, sea goddess of death who collects the drowned in a net, wife of Ægir.
*
Rhenus Pater
''Rhenus Pater'' ("Father Rhine", German ''Vater Rhein'') is the personification or river god of the Rhine, attested in epigraphy and associated with Neptunus, called "father of nymphs and rivers" by Martial (10.7).
Because of his depiction with ...
, god of the
Rhine
), Surselva, Graubünden, Switzerland
, source1_coordinates=
, source1_elevation =
, source2 = Rein Posteriur/Hinterrhein
, source2_location = Paradies Glacier, Graubünden, Switzerland
, source2_coordinates=
, so ...
river
*Rura, goddess of the
Rur
The Rur or Roer (german: Rur ; Dutch and li, Roer, , ; french: Rour) is a major river that flows through portions of Belgium, Germany and the Netherlands. It is a right (eastern) tributary to the Meuse ( nl, links=no, Maas). About 90 perce ...
river
*
Sága, wisdom goddess who lives near water and pours Odin a drink when he visits.
*
Tiddy Mun Tiddy Mun was a legendary bog spirit in England, who was believed to have the ability to control the waters and mists of The Fens of South Lincolnshire, The Carrs of North Lincolnshire and fens of the Isle of Ely.
Legend
The belief in Tiddy Mun wa ...
, a bog deity once worshiped in Lincolnshire, England who had the ability to control floods.
Hindu-Vedic
![Varunadeva](https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/4/48/Varunadeva.jpg)
*
Ap, group of water goddesses.
*
Apam Napat
Apam Napat is a deity in the Proto-Indo-Iranian religion, Indo-Iranian Pantheon (gods), pantheon associated with water. His names in the Vedas, ''Apām Napāt'', and in Zoroastrianism, ''Apąm Napāt'', mean "child of the Ap (water), waters" in San ...
, god of fresh water, such as in rivers and lakes.
*
Danu, goddess of primordial waters, mother of
Vritra
Vritra () is a danava in Hinduism. He serves as the personification of drought, and is an adversary of the king of the devas, Indra. As a danava, he belongs to the race of the asuras. Vritra is also known in the Vedas as Ahi (Sanskrit: ', li ...
and the
Danavas
In Hindu mythology, the danavas are a race descending from Kashyapa and his wife Danu, a daughter of the progenitor god, Daksha. It is mentioned that there are one hundred danavas.
Origin
The danavas are a mythological race of demigods, t ...
.
*
Ganga
The Ganges ( ) (in India: Ganga ( ); in Bangladesh: Padma ( )). "The Ganges Basin, known in India as the Ganga and in Bangladesh as the Padma, is an international river to which India, Bangladesh, Nepal and China are the riparian states." is ...
, goddess of the
Ganges river
The Ganges ( ) (in India: Ganga ( ); in Bangladesh: Padma ( )). "The Ganges Basin, known in India as the Ganga and in Bangladesh as the Padma, is an international river to which India, Bangladesh, Nepal and China are the riparian states." is ...
and purity.
*
Yami
Yamuna is a sacred river in Hinduism and the main tributary of the Ganges River. The river is also worshipped as a Hindu goddess called Yamuna. Yamuna is known as Yami in early texts, while in later literature, she is called Kalindi. In Hindu scr ...
, goddess of
Yamuna
The Yamuna (Hindustani language, Hindustani: ), also spelt Jumna, is the second-largest tributary river of the Ganges by discharge and the longest tributary in List of major rivers of India, India. Originating from the Yamunotri Glacier at a ...
river.
*
Sarasvati
Saraswati ( sa, सरस्वती, ) is the Hindu goddess of knowledge, music, art, speech, wisdom, and learning. She is one of the Tridevi, along with the goddesses Lakshmi and Parvati.
The earliest known mention of Saraswati as a god ...
, goddess of knowledge, music and the
Sarasvati river
The Sarasvati River () is a deified river first mentioned in the Rigveda and later in Vedic and post-Vedic texts. It played an important role in the Vedic religion, appearing in all but the fourth book of the Rigveda.
As a physical river, i ...
.
*
Kaveri, celestial nymph, avatar of Parvati, goddess of the Kaveri rive
*
Tapati
Tapati ( sa, तपती, tapatī) is a goddess in Hinduism. She is known also as the goddess of the river Tapati and mother-goddess of the South (home of the sun) where she brings heat to the earth. According to certain Hindu texts, Tapati wa ...
, goddess of
Tapti river
The Tapti River (or Tapi) is a river in central India located to the south of the Narmada river that flows westwards before draining into the Arabian Sea. The river has a length of around and flows through the states of Maharashtra, Gujarat ...
.
*
Varuna
Varuna (; sa, वरुण, , Malay: ''Baruna'') is a Vedic deity associated initially with the sky, later also with the seas as well as Ṛta (justice) and Satya (truth). He is found in the oldest layer of Vedic literature of Hinduism, such ...
, god of the water and the celestial ocean.
*
Mariamman
Mariamman, often abbreviated to Amman, is a Hindu goddess of rain, predominantly venerated in the rural areas of South India. Her festivals are held during the late summer/early autumn season of Ādi throughout Tamil Nadu and the Deccan region, ...
, goddess of the rains, medicine, and disease
*
Makara
''Makara'' ( sa, मकर, translit=Makara) is a legendary sea-creature in Hindu mythology. In Hindu astrology, Makara is equivalent to the Zodiac sign Capricorn.
Makara appears as the vahana (vehicle) of the river goddess Ganga, Narmada, a ...
, mystical creature of waters.
Ossetia
*
Donbettyr
Donbettyr ( os, Донбеттыр) is the god of all waters, and the protector of fish and fishermen in Ossetian mythology. He is related to a Scythian deity of the same name. His name is possibly derived from ''don'', meaning 'river', derived fr ...
, master of all waters.
Uralic
Finnish
*
Ahti
In Finnish mythology, Ahti () is a heroic character in folk poetry who is sometimes given the epithet Saarelainen (, "Islander").
Ahto is a Finnish sea god.
The connection between the hero Ahti and the god Ahto, if any, is unclear.
Descript ...
, god of the depths and fish.
*
Iku-Turso
Iku-Turso (, "the eternal Turso"; also known as Iku-Tursas, Iki-Tursas, Meritursas, Tursas, Turisas among others) is a malevolent sea monster in Finnish mythology, best known for appearing in the ''Kalevala''. Nowadays ''Meritursas'' means octop ...
, a malevolent sea monster.
*
Vedenemo, a goddess of water.
*
Vellamo
Vellamo (), also spelled Wellamo, is the goddess of water, lakes and seas in Finnish mythology.
Vellamo is said to be tall and beautiful, and is much respected by fishermen, who pray to her for good fishing luck. Vellamo can also control the win ...
, the wife of Ahti, goddess of the sea, lakes, and storms.
Asia-Pacific / Oceania
Far East Asia
Taoism and Chinese folk religion
*
Emperor the Water Official (shuǐguān)
*
Ehuang & Nuying, goddesses of the Xiang River.
*
Gonggong
Gonggong () is a Chinese water god who is depicted in Chinese mythology and folktales as having a copper human head with an iron forehead, red hair, and the body of a serpent, or sometimes the head and torso are human, with the tail of a serpen ...
, red-haired dragon with the head of a man and water god who, together with his associate Xiang Yao, is responsible for the great floods.
*
Hebo
Hebo () is the god of the Yellow River (''Huang He''). The Yellow River is the main river of northern China, one of the world's major rivers and a river of great cultural importance in China. This is reflected in Chinese mythology by the tales su ...
, god of the
Yellow River
The Yellow River or Huang He (Chinese: , Standard Beijing Mandarin, Mandarin: ''Huáng hé'' ) is the second-longest river in China, after the Yangtze River, and the List of rivers by length, sixth-longest river system in the world at th ...
.
*
Longmu
In Chinese mythology, Longmu (), transliterated as Lung Mo in Cantonese, was a Chinese woman who was deified as a goddess after raising five infant dragons. Longmu and her dragons developed a strong bond for each other and have thus become an e ...
, goddess of the Xijiang River in the Lingnan area.
*
Mazu
Mazu or Matsu is a Chinese sea goddess also known by several other names and titles. She is the deified form of the legendary figure Lin Mo or Lin Moniang, a Fujianese shamaness whose life span is traditionally dated from 960 to 987. Re ...
, goddess of the sea and protector of seafarers.
*
Shuimu
Shuimu (), or Shuimu Niangniang (), is a water demon, spirit or witch of Buddhist and Taoist origin in Chinese mythology. She is also identified with the youngest sister of the transcendent White Elephant (Buddha’s gate-warder). According to Chi ...
, goddess of the water.
*
Shui Wei Niang, goddess of the water.
* Shuidexianjun (水德星君)
*
Tam Kung
Tam Kung () or Tam Tai Sin () is a sea deity worshiped in Hong Kong and Macau.
In Chinese folk legends, Tam Kung was one of gods who could forecast the weather. He was born in Huizhou Prefecture. It was said that he could cure patients in hi ...
, sea deity worshiped in Hong Kong and Macau with the ability to forecast weather.
*
Honorable Kings of the Water Immortals (''Shuixian Zunwang'').
**Han Ao or
Lu Ban
Lu Ban (–444BC). was a Chinese architect or master carpenter, structural engineer, and inventor, during the Zhou Dynasty. He is revered as the Chinese Deity (Patron) of builders and contractors.
Life
Lu Ban was born in the state of Lu; a few ...
, the inventors.
**
Qu Yuan
Qu Yuan ( – 278 BCE) was a Chinese poet and politician in the Chu (state), State of Chu during the Warring States period. He is known for his patriotism and contributions to Classical Chinese poetry, classical poetry and verses, ...
,
Wu Zixu
:''Note: names are in simplified characters followed by traditional and Pinyin transliteration.''
Wu Yun (died 484 BC), better known by his courtesy name Zixu, was a Chinese military general and politician of the Wu kingdom in the Spring and Aut ...
, and
Xiang Yu
Xiang Yu (, –202 BC), born Xiang Ji (), was the Hegemon-King (Chinese: 霸王, ''Bà Wáng'') of Western Chu during the Chu–Han Contention period (206–202 BC) of China. A noble of the Chu state, Xiang Yu rebelled against the Qin dynas ...
, famous suicides lost in rivers.
**
Yu the Great
Yu the Great (大禹) was a legendary king in ancient China who was famed for his introduction of flood control, his establishment of the Xia dynasty which inaugurated dynastic rule in China, and his upright moral character. He figures prominen ...
, tamer of China's Great Flood.
*
Dragon King
The Dragon King, also known as the Dragon God, is a Chinese water and weather god. He is regarded as the dispenser of rain, commanding over all bodies of water. He is the collective personification of the ancient concept of the '' lóng'' in Ch ...
s of the Four Seas.
**
Ao Kuang
Ao Guang (; or ) is the Dragon King of the East Sea in Chinese folklore. He featured prominently in different works including ''Fengshen Yanyi'' and ''Journey to the West''.
''Fengshen Yanyi''
According to the ''Fengshen Yanyi'', after the passa ...
, Dragon King of the Eastern Sea.
** Ao Qin, Dragon King of the Southern Sea.
** Ao Run, Dragon King of the Western Sea.
** Ao Shun, Dragon King of the Northern Sea.
Japanese
*
Ebisu, god of fortunes and fishery, often being referred to marine
megafauna
In terrestrial zoology, the megafauna (from Greek μέγας ''megas'' "large" and New Latin ''fauna'' "animal life") comprises the large or giant animals of an area, habitat, or geological period, extinct and/or extant. The most common threshold ...
s such as whales and
whale shark
The whale shark (''Rhincodon typus'') is a slow-moving, filter-feeding carpet shark and the largest known extant fish species. The largest confirmed individual had a length of .McClain CR, Balk MA, Benfield MC, Branch TA, Chen C, Cosgrove J, D ...
s (hence being also called "Ebisu-shark").
*Hanzaki Daimyojin, gigantic
Japanese giant salamander
The Japanese giant salamander (''Andrias japonicus'') is a species of fully aquatic giant salamander endemic to Japan. With a length of up to ,[Kuraokami Okami (淤加美神, Okami-no-kami) in the Kojiki, or in the Nihon Shoki: or , is a legendary Japanese dragon and Shinto deity of ice, rain, snow and winter . In Japanese mythology, the sibling progenitors Izanagi and Izanami gave birth to the ...]
, one of Suijin.
*
Mizuchi
The is a type of Japanese dragon or legendary serpent-like creature, either found in an aquatic habitat or otherwise connected to water. Some commentators perceived it to have been a water deity. It is described in the ancient pseudo-chronicle '' ...
,
Japanese dragon
Japanese dragons (, ''Nihon no ryū'') are diverse legendary creatures in Japanese mythology and folklore. Japanese dragon myths amalgamate native legends with imported stories about dragons from China, Korea and the Indian subcontinent. The ...
and sea god.
*
Ōyamatsumi
Ōyama-tsumi or Ohoyama-tsumi (Kojiki: 大山津見神 or Nihon Shoki: 大山祇神, 大山積神, 大山罪神; Ōyama-tsumi-mi'oya-no-mikoto 大山祇御祖命) is a god of mountains, sea, and war in Japanese mythology. He is an elder brother of ...
, god of mountains, sea and war.
*
Ryūjin
Ryūjin ( 龍神), which in some traditions is equivalent to Ōwatatsumi, was the tutelary deity of the sea in Japanese mythology. In many versions Ryūjin had the ability to transform into a human shape. Many believed the god had knowledge on ...
or
Watatsumi
, also pronounced Wadatsumi, is a legendary ''kami'' (神, god; deity; spirit), Japanese dragon and tutelary water deity in Japanese mythology. is believed to be another name for the sea deity Ryūjin (龍神, Dragon God) and also for the , which ...
, Japanese dragon and tutelary deity of the sea.
*
Suijin
is the Shinto god of water in Japanese mythology. The term Suijin (literally: ''water people'' or ''water deity'') refers to the heavenly and earthly manifestations of the benevolent Shinto divinity of water. It also refers to a wide variety of my ...
,
Shinto
Shinto () is a religion from Japan. Classified as an East Asian religion by scholars of religion, its practitioners often regard it as Japan's indigenous religion and as a nature religion. Scholars sometimes call its practitioners ''Shintois ...
god of water.
*
Sumiyoshi sanjin
is the generic name for the three Shinto gods ''Sokotsutsu no O no Mikoto'' (底筒男命), ''Nakatsutsu no O no Mikoto'' (中筒男命), and ''Uwatsutsu no O no Mikoto'' (表筒男命). The Sumiyoshi sanjin are regarded as the gods of the sea and ...
, god of ocean and sailing.
*
Susanoo
__FORCETOC__
Susanoo (; historical orthography: , ) is a in Japanese mythology. The younger brother of Amaterasu, goddess of the sun and mythical ancestress of the Japanese imperial line, he is a multifaceted deity with contradictory chara ...
, Shinto god of storms and the sea.
*
Watatsumi
, also pronounced Wadatsumi, is a legendary ''kami'' (神, god; deity; spirit), Japanese dragon and tutelary water deity in Japanese mythology. is believed to be another name for the sea deity Ryūjin (龍神, Dragon God) and also for the , which ...
, dragon king and ocean god.
*
Yamata no Orochi
, or simply , is a legendary eight-headed and eight-tailed Japanese dragon/serpent.
Mythology
Yamata no Orochi legends are originally recorded in two ancient texts about Japanese mythology and history. The 712 AD transcribes this dragon name ...
, serpentine monster but also regarded as an incarnation of violent river.
Ainu
*
Amemasu
or is a giant whale- or fish-like creature from Ainu folklore. Some of the largest ''amemasu'' are said to live in Lake Mashū and Lake Shikotsu in Hokkaidō, with smaller ones inhabiting lakes throughout northern areas of Honshu. The ''amemasu ...
, monster in the lakes.
*
Rep-un-kamui, god of the sea, often referring to
orca
The orca or killer whale (''Orcinus orca'') is a toothed whale belonging to the oceanic dolphin family, of which it is the largest member. It is the only Extant taxon, extant species in the genus ''Orcinus'' and is recognizable by its black ...
.
Korean
*
Imoogi
Korean dragons are legendary creatures in Korean mythology and folklore. The appearance of the dragon reflects its relation to its East Asian counterparts, including the Chinese dragons.
Korean dragons
Whereas most European dragon, dragons in Eur ...
or Imugi, giant serpents of Korean folklore which later become true dragons.
*
King Munmu
Munmu of Silla (626–681; reigned 661–681) was the 30th king of the Korean kingdom of Silla. He is usually considered to have been the first ruler of the Unified Silla period. Munmu was the son of King Muyeol and Munmyeong, who was the youn ...
, a king who wished to become a dragon before his death to protect Korea from the
Sea of Japan
The Sea of Japan is the marginal sea between the Japanese archipelago, Sakhalin, the Korean Peninsula, and the mainland of the Russian Far East. The Japanese archipelago separates the sea from the Pacific Ocean. Like the Mediterranean Sea, it h ...
(East Sea).
*
Yongwang, an undersea deity believed to determine the fortunes of fishermen and sailors.
South Asia
Hindu
In Hindu culture, each water body is worshipped as a form of God. Hence, the rivers are worshipped as goddesses and the ocean is worshipped as a god.
*
Varuna
Varuna (; sa, वरुण, , Malay: ''Baruna'') is a Vedic deity associated initially with the sky, later also with the seas as well as Ṛta (justice) and Satya (truth). He is found in the oldest layer of Vedic literature of Hinduism, such ...
, the God of the ocean and rains and water.
*
Indra
Indra (; Sanskrit: इन्द्र) is the king of the devas (god-like deities) and Svarga (heaven) in Hindu mythology. He is associated with the sky, lightning, weather, thunder, storms, rains, river flows, and war. volumes/ref> I ...
, King of the Gods, God of weather, and bringer of rain, thunderstorms and clouds.
*
Saptasindhu, the seven holy rivers of India, namely:
*
Ganga
The Ganges ( ) (in India: Ganga ( ); in Bangladesh: Padma ( )). "The Ganges Basin, known in India as the Ganga and in Bangladesh as the Padma, is an international river to which India, Bangladesh, Nepal and China are the riparian states." is ...
, the Goddess of the Ganges River.
*
Yamuna
The Yamuna (Hindustani language, Hindustani: ), also spelt Jumna, is the second-largest tributary river of the Ganges by discharge and the longest tributary in List of major rivers of India, India. Originating from the Yamunotri Glacier at a ...
, the Goddess of the Yamuna River.
*
Saraswati
Saraswati ( sa, सरस्वती, ) is the Hindu goddess of knowledge, music, art, speech, wisdom, and learning. She is one of the Tridevi, along with the goddesses Lakshmi and Parvati.
The earliest known mention of Saraswati as a go ...
, the divine Goddess of knowledge and wisdom who was personified as a river that dried up in ancient times.
*
Indus
The Indus ( ) is a transboundary river of Asia and a trans-Himalayan river of South and Central Asia. The river rises in mountain springs northeast of Mount Kailash in Western Tibet, flows northwest through the disputed region of Kashmir, ...
, also called Sindhu. The river is considered the eldest daughter of the Himalaya mountains.
*
Narmada, the river Goddess often worshipped as a deity and daughter of Lord
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 Hindu ...
.
*
Godavari
The Godavari ( IAST: ''Godāvarī'' od̪aːʋəɾiː is India's second longest river after the Ganga river and drains into the third largest basin in India, covering about 10% of India's total geographical area. Its source is in Trimbakesh ...
, the longest river of South India. The river is also considered as Dakshina Ganga.
*
Kaveri
The Kaveri (also known as Cauvery, the anglicized name) is one of the major Indian rivers flowing through the states of Karnataka and Tamil Nadu. The Kaveri river rises at Talakaveri in the Brahmagiri range in the Western Ghats, Kodagu dis ...
, a river of South India, worshipped by people as a goddess who was previously incarnated as
Lopamudra
Lopamudra, ( sa, लोपामुद्रा) also known as Kaushitaki and Varaprada, was a philosopher according to ancient Vedic Indian literature. She was the wife of the sage Agastya who is believed to have lived in the Rigveda period ...
, the wife of Sage
Agastya
Agastya ( kn, ಅಗಸ್ತ್ಯ, ta, அகத்தியர், sa, अगस्त्य, te, అగస్త్యుడు, ml, അഗസ്ത്യൻ, hi, अगस्त्य) was a revered Indian sage of Hinduism. In the I ...
.
*Rivers such as
Tapi, also known as Tapati, is worshipped as a daughter of the sun god,
Surya
Surya (; sa, सूर्य, ) is the sun as well as the solar deity in Hinduism. He is traditionally one of the major five deities in the Smarta tradition, all of whom are considered as equivalent deities in the Panchayatana puja and a m ...
.
*The river
Krishna
Krishna (; sa, कृष्ण ) is a major deity in Hinduism. He is worshipped as the eighth avatar of Vishnu and also as the Supreme god in his own right. He is the god of protection, compassion, tenderness, and love; and is one ...
, worshipped as Krishnaveni Devi/Krishna Mai, is considered to be Lord
Vishnu
Vishnu ( ; , ), also known as Narayana and Hari, is one of the principal deities of Hinduism. He is the supreme being within Vaishnavism, one of the major traditions within contemporary Hinduism.
Vishnu is known as "The Preserver" within t ...
born as a river.
*
Tungabhadra, a tributary of Krishna, is worshipped as a goddess. The river is also known as Pampa.
*
Pamba River
The Pamba River (also called Pampa River) is the longest river in the Indian state of Kerala after Periyar and Bharathappuzha, and the longest river in the erstwhile former princely state of Travancore. Sabarimala temple dedicated to Lord Ayyapp ...
and
Suvarnamukhi River
A river is a natural flowing watercourse, usually freshwater, flowing towards an ocean, sea, lake or another river. In some cases, a river flows into the ground and becomes dry at the end of its course without reaching another body of wate ...
flowing past the holy temple towns of
Sabarimala
The Sabarimala Temple (; ml, ശബരിമല ക്ഷേത്രം) is a temple complex located at Sabarimala hill inside the Periyar Tiger Reserve in the Perinad Village, Pathanamthitta district, Kerala, India. It is one of the largest ...
in Kerala and
Tirupati
Tirupati () is a city in the Indian state of Andhra Pradesh. It is the administrative headquarters of the Tirupati district. The city is home to the important Hindu shrine of Tirumala Venkateswara Temple and other historic temples and is refe ...
and
Srikalahasti
Srikalahasti is a holy town in Tirupati district of the Indian state of Andhra Pradesh. It is a municipality and the revenue division of Srikalahasti mandal & Srikalahasti revenue division. It is a part of Tirupati Urban Development Authority, wh ...
in Andhra Pradesh, respectively.
*The river
Brahmaputra
The Brahmaputra is a trans-boundary river which flows through Tibet, northeast India, and Bangladesh. It is also known as the Yarlung Tsangpo in Tibetan, the Siang/Dihang River in Arunachali, Luit in Assamese, and Jamuna River in Bangla. It ...
is the only river to have a male personification, whose name means "son of Brahma", the creator.
Mariamman
Mariamman, often abbreviated to Amman, is a Hindu goddess of rain, predominantly venerated in the rural areas of South India. Her festivals are held during the late summer/early autumn season of Ādi throughout Tamil Nadu and the Deccan region, ...
, regional goddess of the rain and medicine
Manipuri
*
Wangbren
)
* Wangpuren ( omp, Wangpulen)
* Wangbaren ( omp, Wangpulen)
* Wangbren ( omp, Wangpulen)
* Wangpurel ( omp, Wangpulel)
* Wangbarel ( omp, Wangpulel)
* Wangbrel ( omp, Wangpulel)
, hiro =
, Old_Norse =
, script_name = Ancient M ...
, the Sea God who holds storm, rain and disaster .
*
Poubi Lai
Poubi Lai (also, Paubi Loi) was an ancient dragon python, who dwelled in the Loktak Lake of Manipur, in Meitei mythology and folklore. It is also referred to as ''"Loch Ness Monster of Manipur"''.
Mythology
In the Loktak lake, the spirit of ...
, the giant dragon who ruled its tyranny in the
Loktak lake
, image =
, caption = Different scenes of the Loktak lake of Manipur
, alt = View of Loktak Lake and Phumdis
, image_bathymetry =
, caption_bathymetry =
, location = Manipur
, coords ...
.
*
Irai Leima
)
, deity_of = Goddess of water and aquatic life
, member_of = Lairembis
, image = IRAI LEIMA.jpg
, alt =
, caption = The name "Irai Leima", written in Meitei Mayek abugida
, other_names =
* Ireima ( omp, I ...
, the Goddess of water and aquatic life.
Meitei
*
Irai Leima
)
, deity_of = Goddess of water and aquatic life
, member_of = Lairembis
, image = IRAI LEIMA.jpg
, alt =
, caption = The name "Irai Leima", written in Meitei Mayek abugida
, other_names =
* Ireima ( omp, I ...
, goddess of water, sent down to Earth to teach humanity to build a civilisation
* Ngāreima, goddess of fish
* Wangbren, god of the underwater world
* Thongjarok Lairembi of Thongjaorok River
* Iril Lairembi of Iril River
* Imphal Turel Lairembi of Imphal River
* Kongba Turel Lairembi of Kongba River
* Loktak Lairembi of Loktak Lake
* Pumlenpat Lairembi of Pumlenpat Lake
Southeast Asia
Filipino
*Sirinan: the Isnag spirit of the river
*Limat: the Gaddang god of the sea
*Oden: the Bugkalot deity of the rain, worshiped for its life-giving waters
*Ocean Deity: the Ilocano goddess of the ocean whose waters slammed the ediface of salt being built by Ang-ngalo and Asin, causing the sea's water to become salty
*Gods of the Pistay Dayat: Pangasinense gods who are pacified through the Pistay Dayat ritual, where offerings are given to the spirits of the waters who pacify the gods
*Anitun Tauo: the Sambal goddess of win and rain who was reduced in rank by Malayari for her conceit
*Sedsed: the Aeta god of the sea
*Apûng Malyari: the Kapampangan moon god who lives in Mt. Pinatubo and ruler of the eight rivers
*Lakandanum: variant of the Kapampangan Naga, known to rule the waters
*
Bathala
In the indigenous religion of the ancient Tagalogs, Bathala Maykapal was the transcendent Supreme Being, the originator and ruler of the universe. He is commonly known and referred to in the modern era as Bathala, a term or title which, in ea ...
: the Tagalog supreme god and creator deity, also known as Bathala Maykapal, Lumilikha, and Abba; an enormous being with control over thunder, lightning, flood, fire, thunder, and earthquakes; presides over lesser deities and uses spirits to intercede between divinities and mortals
*Anitun Tabu: the Tagalog goddess of wind and rain and daughter of Idianale and Dumangan
*Lakapati: the Tagalog hermaphrodite deity and protector of sown fields, sufficient field waters, and abundant fish catch
*Amanikable: the Tagalog god of the sea who was spurned by the first mortal woman; also a god of hunters
*Amansinaya: the Tagalog goddess of fishermen
*Haik: the Tagalog god of the sea who protects travelers from tempests and storms
*Bulan-hari: one of the Tagalog deities sent by Bathala to aid the people of Pinak; can command rain to fall; married to Bitu-in
*Makapulaw: the Tagalog god of sailors
*Great Serpent of Pasig: a giant Tagalog serpent who created the Pasig river after merchants wished to the deity; in exchange for the Pasig's creation, the souls of the merchants would be owned by the serpent
*Quadruple Deities: the four childless naked Tau-buid Mangyan deities, composed of two gods who come from the sun and two goddesses who come from the upper part of the river; summoned using the paragayan or diolang plates
*Afo Sapa: the Buhid Mangyan owner of rivers
*Apu Dandum: the Hanunoo Mangyan spirit living in the water
*Tubigan: the Bicolano god of the water
*Dagat: the Bicolano goddess of the sea
*Bulan: the Bicolano moon god whose arm became the earth, and whose tears became the rivers and seas
*Magindang: the Bicolano god of fishing who leads fishermen in getting a good fish catch through sounds and signs
*Onos: the Bicolano deity who freed the great flood that changed the land's features
*Hamorawan Lady: the Waray deity of the Hamorawan spring in Borongan, who blesses the waters with healing properties
*Maka-andog: an epic Waray giant-hero who was friends with the sea spirits and controlled wildlife and fish; first inhabitant and ruler of Samar who lived for five centuries; later immortalized as a deity of fishing
*Maguayan: the Bisaya god who rules over the waters as his kingdom; father of Lidagat; brother of Kaptan
*Maguyaen: the Bisaya goddess of the winds of the sea
*Magauayan: the Bisaya sea deity who fought against Kaptan for eons until Manaul intervened
*Lidagat: the Bisaya sea deity married to the wind; daughter of Maguayan
*Bakunawa: the Bisaya serpent deity who can coil around the world; sought to swallow the seven "Queen" moons, successfully eating the six, where the last is guarded by bamboos
*Makilum-sa-tubig: the Bisaya god of the sea
*Kasaray-sarayan-sa-silgan: the Bisaya god of streams
*Magdan-durunoon: the Bisaya god of hidden lakes
*Santonilyo: a Bisaya deity who brings rain when its image is immersed at sea
*Magyawan: the Hiligaynon god of the sea
*Manunubo: the Hiligaynon and Aklanon good spirit of the sea
*Launsina: the Capiznon goddess of the sun, moon, stars, and seas, and the most beloved because people seek forgiveness from her
*Kapapu-an: the Karay-a pantheon of ancestral spirits from whom the supernatural powers of shamans originated from; their aid enables specific types of shamans to gush water from rocks, leap far distances, create oil shields, become invisible, or pass through solid matter
*Neguno: the Cuyonon and Agutaynen god of the sea that cursed a selfish man by turning him into the first shark
*Polo: the benevolent Tagbanwa god of the sea whose help is invoked during times of illness
*Diwata Kat Sidpan: a deity who lives in the western region called Sidpan; controls the rains
*Diwata Kat Libatan: a deity who lives in the eastern region called Babatan; controls the rain
*Tagma-sa-Dagat: the Subanon god of the sea
*Tagma-sa-uba: the Subanon god of the rivers
*Diwata na Magbabaya: simply referred as Magbabaya; the good Bukidnon supreme deity and supreme planner who looks like a man; created the earth and the first eight elements, namely bronze, gold, coins, rock, clouds, rain, iron, and water; using the elements, he also created the sea, sky, moon, and stars; also known as the pure god who wills all things; one of three deities living in the realm called Banting
*Dadanhayan ha Sugay: the evil Bukidnon lord from whom permission is asked; depicted as the evil deity with a human body and ten heads that continuously drools sticky saliva, which is the source of all waters; one of the three deities living in the realm called Banting
*Bulalakaw: the Bukidnon guardian of the water and all the creatures living in it
*Python of Pusod Hu Dagat: the gigantic Bukidnon python living at the center of the sea; caused a massive flood when it coiled its body at sea
*Bulalakaw: the Talaandig deity who safeguards the creatures in the rivers; the lalayon ritual is offered to the deity
*Tagbanua: the Manobo god of rain
*Yumud: the god of water
*Pamulak Manobo: the Bagobo supreme deity and creator of the world, including the land, sea, and the first humans; throws water from the sky, causing rain, while his spit are the showers
*Eels of Mount Apo: two giant Bagobo eels, where one went east and arrived at sea, begetting all the eels of the world; the other went west, and remained on land until it died and became the western foothills of Mount Apo
*Fon Eel: the Blaan spirit of water
*Fu El: the T;boli spirit of water
*Fu El Melel: the T'boli spirit of the river
*Segoyong: the Teduray guardians of the classes of natural phenomena; punishes humans to do not show respect and steal their wards; many of them specialize in a class, which can be water, trees, grasses, caves behind waterfalls, land caves, snakes, fire, nunuk trees, deers, and pigs
*Tunung: the Maguindanao spirits who live in the sky, water, mountain, or trees; listens to prayers and can converse with humans by borrowing the voice of a medium; protects humans from sickness and crops from pests
*Tonong: divine Maranao spirits who often aid heroes; often lives in nonok trees, seas, lakes, and the sky realm
*Umboh Tuhan: also called Umboh Dilaut, the Sama-Bajau god of the sea and one of the two supreme deities; married to Dayang Dayang Mangilai
*Umboh Kamun: the Sama-Bajau totem of mantis shrimp
*Sumangâ: the Sama-Bajau spirit of sea vessels; the guardian who deflects attacks
[Stacey, N. (2007). Boats to Burn: Bajo fishing activity in the Australian fishing zone. Canberra, Australia: ANU E Press.]
Indonesian
*
Dewi Danu
Dewi Danu is the water goddess of the Balinese Hindus, who call their belief-system Agama Tirta, or ''belief-system of the water''. She is one of two supreme deities in the Balinese tradition.
See also
*Danu (Asura)
External links
*''Ulun Danu ...
, Balinese Hindu water goddess.
*
Dewi Lanjar
Dewi Lanjar is an Indonesian goddess of the sea, the opposite of Nyai Roro Kidul and the Queen of the Northern Sea, according to Javanese beliefs. She is a popular goddess in the city of Pekalongan, Central Java. Her name "Lanjar" means a woman wh ...
, Javanese Queen of the North Sea.
*
Nyai Roro Kidul
''Kanjeng Ratu Kidul'' Sundanese: ᮑᮤ ᮛᮛ ᮊᮤᮓᮥᮜ᮪, Nyai Rara Kidul) ( Javanese: ꦚꦻꦫꦫꦏꦶꦢꦸꦭ꧀, Nyi Rara Kidul) ( Balinese: ᬜᬶᬭᭀᬭᭀᬓᬶᬤᬸᬮ᭄, Nyi Rara Kidul) is a supernatural being in Ind ...
, Javanese Queen of the South Sea (Indian Ocean).
Vietnam
*
Động Đình Quân,
Kinh Dương Vương
Kinh Dương Vương ( Hán tự: 涇陽王; "King of Kinh Dương") is a legendary ancient Vietnamese figure, mentioned in the 15th-century work ''Đại Việt sử ký toàn thư'' by having unified all the tribes within his territory into one ...
's father-in-law, grandfather of Lạc Long Quân, he was a Long Vương who lived in
Dongting Lake
Dongting Lake () is a large, shallow lake in northeastern Hunan Province, China. It is a flood basin of the Yangtze River, so its volume depends on the season. The provinces of Hubei and Hunan are named after their location relative to the lak ...
.
*
Lạc Long Quân
Lạc Long Quân (Chữ Hán:貉龍君; "Dragon King of Lạc"; also called Sùng Lãm 崇纜) is a semi-mythical king of the Hồng Bàng dynasty of ancient Vietnam. Quân was the son of Kinh Dương Vương, the king of Xích Quỷ. He is the ...
, he is the ancestor of the Vietnamese people and is also one of the top Long Vươngs under the Water Palace.
*
Bát Hải Long Vương or Vua Cha Bát Hải Động Đình, he is a Long Vương and also the father of
Mẫu Thoải Mẫu Thoải ( Chữ Hán: 母水, or Thủy Cung Thánh Mẫu ( Chữ Hán: ) is a goddess in Vietnamese non-Buddhist traditional religion. The goddess features in Chầu văn religious ceremonies and music.
She presides over the heavenly water ...
. He is the son of
Lạc Long Quân
Lạc Long Quân (Chữ Hán:貉龍君; "Dragon King of Lạc"; also called Sùng Lãm 崇纜) is a semi-mythical king of the Hồng Bàng dynasty of ancient Vietnam. Quân was the son of Kinh Dương Vương, the king of Xích Quỷ. He is the ...
and one of the heads of the Water Palace.
*
Đông Hải Long Vương, was the 25th son of Lạc Long Quân and
Âu Cơ
Âu Cơ ( Chữ Hán: ; ) was, according to the creation myth of the Vietnamese people, an immortal mountain snow fairy who married Lạc Long Quân (), and bore an egg sac that hatched a hundred children known collectively as Bách Việt, a ...
who ruled the whole Bồ Sào region, ruled the Red River, gathered people scattered because of floods to re-explore the hamlets, and kept quiet villages throughout the delta form Ngã ba Hạc to the sea estuary.
*
Mẫu Thoải Mẫu Thoải ( Chữ Hán: 母水, or Thủy Cung Thánh Mẫu ( Chữ Hán: ) is a goddess in Vietnamese non-Buddhist traditional religion. The goddess features in Chầu văn religious ceremonies and music.
She presides over the heavenly water ...
, the head goddess of all rivers, lakes and seas. She governs water and all things related to water.
*
Long Vương
Long may refer to:
Measurement
* Long, characteristic of something of great duration
* Long, characteristic of something of great length
* Longitude (abbreviation: long.), a geographic coordinate
* Longa (music), note value in early music mens ...
, the Long Vương is a common name for the gods who rule over the sea and ocean.
*
Tô Lịch Giang Thần Tô or To is a Vietnamese surname. It was formerly written in chữ Nôm as .
It derived from the Chinese surname Su, which is written identically to the chữ Nôm in traditional characters but as in modern simplified characters.
List of person ...
, god of
Tô Lịch River
Tô Lịch River ( vi, Sông Tô Lịch, links=no) is a small river, flowing in the territory of the Hanoi capital. Mainstream Tô Lịch river flows through the districts Cầu Giấy, Thanh Xuân, Hoàng Mai and Thanh Trì. It is also known a ...
.
*
Hà Bá
Hà is a Vietnamese surname. The name is transliterated as He (surname), He in Chinese language, Chinese and Ha (Korean name), Ha in Korean language, Korean.
Ha is the anglicized variation of the surname Hà. It is also the anglicized variation o ...
, the god who manages the rivers (note that each river has its own governing god, and each person's power may be less or more powerful than Hà Bá).
*
Bà Thủy, goddess with a job similar to Hà Bá
*
Cá Ông, this god often appears in the form of large fish (such as whales, dolphins, sperm whales,...) to help ships that have accidents due to weather at sea.
*
Độc Cước, god of protection for the people of the sea.
*
Thuồng Luồng or Giao Long, They can be water monsters, they can also be water gods.
Turkic
*
Talay, god of ocean.
Polynesian
Fijian
*
Dakuwaqa
In Fijian mythology, Dakuwaqa (Dakuwanga) is a shark-Deity, god. He was greatly respected by Fisherman, fishermen because he protected them from any danger at sea and sometimes protected them from evil denizens of the sea.
He was once going inl ...
, a shark god.
*
Daucina
In Fijian mythology (Fiji), Daucina ("torchbearer") is the great god of seafaring Fiji. When Daucina was a toddler, he was only quiet when looking at a lamp. His mother tied fiery reeds to his head so that he would be calm. He has roamed the cora ...
, god of seafaring.
Hawaiian
*
Kamohoalii, shark god.
*
Kanaloa
In the traditions of ancient Hawaii, Kanaloa is a god symbolized by the squid or by the octopus, and is typically associated with Kāne. It is also an alternative name for the island of Kahoolawe.
In legends and chants, Kāne and Kanaloa are por ...
or
Tangaroa
Tangaroa (Takaroa in the South Island) is the great of the sea, lakes, rivers, and creatures that live within them, especially fish, in Māori mythology. As Tangaroa-whakamau-tai he exercises control over the tides. He is sometimes depicted as ...
, god of the ocean and magics and underworld with forms of
cephalopod
A cephalopod is any member of the molluscan class Cephalopoda (Greek plural , ; "head-feet") such as a squid, octopus, cuttlefish, or nautilus. These exclusively marine animals are characterized by bilateral body symmetry, a prominent head ...
.
*
Nāmaka
In Hawaiian mythology, Nāmaka (or Nā-maka-o-Kahai, the eyes of Kahai) appears as a sea goddess in the Pele family. She is an older sister of Pele-honua-mea.
She is the daughter of Ku-waha-ilo and Haumea, whose other children are Pele, the Hi ...
, sea goddess.
*
Ukupanipo
In Hawaiian mythology, Ukupanipo is a shark god who controls the amount of fish close enough for the fisherman to catch.
He occasionally adopts a human child who gains the power to transform
Transform may refer to:
Arts and entertainment
* Trans ...
, shark god who controls the amount of fish close enough for the fisherman to catch.
Māori
*
Ikatere
In Māori and Polynesian mythology, Ikatere, also spelled Ika-tere, ('fast fish') is a fish god, the father of all sea creatures, including mermaids.
He is a son of Punga, and a grandson of Tangaroa, and his brother is Tū-te-wehiwehi (Grey 19 ...
, a fish god, the father of all the sea creatures including mermaids.
*
Kiwa, a guardian of the sea.
*
Rongomai In Māori mythology, Rongomai refers to several entities:
* a deity by whose assistance Haungaroa traveled from Hawaiki to New Zealand as she went to tell Ngātoro-i-rangi that he had been cursed by Manaia.
* a being in whale form which attacke ...
, a whale god.
*
Ruahine
The Ruahine Range is the largest of several mountain ranges in the North Island of New Zealand that form a ridge running parallel with the east coast of the island between East Cape and Wellington. The ridge is at its most pronounced from the cen ...
, an eel god.
*
Taniwha
In Māori mythology, taniwha () are large supernatural beings that live in deep pools in rivers, dark caves, or in the sea, especially in places with dangerous currents or deceptive breakers (giant waves).
They may be considered highly respected ...
, deities or
monster
A monster is a type of fictional creature found in horror, fantasy, science fiction, folklore, mythology and religion. Monsters are very often depicted as dangerous and aggressive with a strange, grotesque appearance that causes terror and fe ...
s (often take forms resembling dragons).
*
Tangaroa
Tangaroa (Takaroa in the South Island) is the great of the sea, lakes, rivers, and creatures that live within them, especially fish, in Māori mythology. As Tangaroa-whakamau-tai he exercises control over the tides. He is sometimes depicted as ...
, god of the sea.
*
Tawhirimātea, god of the weather, rain, storms and wind
*
Tinirau
In Polynesian mythology, stories about Tinirau are found throughout the islands of Polynesia. He is a guardian of fish. Many themes recur in the various versions. Often he travels to another land in search of his wife, or his wife travels to anot ...
, a guardian of the sea.
*
Tohora (
Maori name for
southern right whale
The southern right whale (''Eubalaena australis'') is a baleen whale, one of three species classified as right whales belonging to the genus ''Eubalaena''. Southern right whales inhabit oceans south of the Equator, between the latitudes of 20 ...
s), the great whale who saved legendary hero
Paikea
is a notable ancestor who originated in Hawaiki according to Māori tradition. He is particularly known to tribes with origins in the Gisborne District such as , and . is the name assumed by because he was assisted by a whale to survive an at ...
, famously known as the
Whale Rider
''Whale Rider'' is a 2002 New Zealand Drama (film and television), drama film written and directed by Niki Caro. Based on the 1987 novel ''The Whale Rider'' by Witi Ihimaera, the film stars Keisha Castle-Hughes as Kahu Paikea Apirana, a twelve- ...
, (also the Maori name for
humpback whale
The humpback whale (''Megaptera novaeangliae'') is a species of baleen whale. It is a rorqual (a member of the family Balaenopteridae) and is the only species in the genus ''Megaptera''. Adults range in length from and weigh up to . The hump ...
s) from drowning and carried him to land. This led to the creation of New Zealand.
Samoan
''other island nations''
*
Agunua
Agunua (alternate name Hatuibwari) is the cosmic serpent god of the people of San Cristobal Island (now better known as Makira) of the Solomon Islands, He is the chief god, and all other gods are only an aspect of him. The first coconut from each ...
, serpentine god of the sea of
Solomon Islands
Solomon Islands is an island country consisting of six major islands and over 900 smaller islands in Oceania, to the east of Papua New Guinea and north-west of Vanuatu. It has a land area of , and a population of approx. 700,000. Its capita ...
.
*
Ayida-Weddo
Ayida-Weddo is a loa of fertility, rainbows, wind, water, fire, and snakes in Vodou, especially in Benin and Haiti. Ayida-Weddo is known as the "Rainbow Serpent". Variants of Ayida-Weddo's name include Aida-Weddo, Ayida-Wedo, Aido Quedo, and A ...
, serpentine spirit among several island nations.
Cook Islands
)
, image_map = Cook Islands on the globe (small islands magnified) (Polynesia centered).svg
, capital = Avarua
, coordinates =
, largest_city = Avarua
, official_languages =
, lan ...
*Tangaroa, God of the Ocean and Seas
*Momoke, fair maidens, said to be water spirits with skin as pale as milk. These 'white ones' approach those on land during the night, emerging from deep pools of water to collect food or to seduce men before returning to the water depths. It is said that the Momoke come from an underwater nation, though some have said that this watery kingdom is also 'Avaiki'; paradise, heaven and the source of all of creation.
Australia
*
Eingana
Eingana is a creator goddess in Australian Aboriginal mythology (specifically: Jawoyn). Otherwise known as the "Dreamtime Snake", she is the mother of all water animals and humans. She is a snake goddess of death who lives in the Dreamtime. She ha ...
, mother of all.
*
Rainbow Serpent
The Rainbow Serpent or Rainbow Snake is a common deity often seen as the creator God, known by numerous names in different Australian Aboriginal languages by the many different Aboriginal peoples. It is a common motif in the art and religion ...
s, creators of
dreamtime
The Dreaming, also referred to as Dreamtime, is a term devised by early anthropologists to refer to a religio-cultural worldview attributed to Australian Aboriginal mythology, Australian Aboriginal beliefs. It was originally used by Francis Ja ...
.
*
Ungud, serpent god bring fortunes.
*
Wirnpa
Wirnpa is a rainmaking snake who according to Aboriginal legend created the land around the Percival Lakes in Wirnpa country, Australia in the Dreamtime
The Dreaming, also referred to as Dreamtime, is a term devised by early anthropologists ...
, creator of rain.
*
Yurlungur
The Rainbow Serpent or Rainbow Snake is a common deity often seen as the creator God, known by numerous names in different Australian Aboriginal languages by the many different Aboriginal peoples. It is a common motif in the art and religi ...
, the copper serpent.
Native Americas
North America
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- ...
, an evil sea god associated with death and destruction.
*
Alignak
In Inuit mythology, Alignak is a lunar deity and god of weather, water, tides, eclipses, and earthquake
An earthquake (also known as a quake, tremor or temblor) is the shaking of the surface of the Earth resulting from a sudden release ...
, a lunar deity and god of weather, water, tides, eclipses, and earthquakes.
*
Arnapkapfaaluk
Arnapkapfaaluk ("big bad woman") was the sea goddess of the Inuit of Canada's Coronation Gulf area. Although occupying the equivalent position to Sedna (mythology), Sedna within Inuit religion, in that she had control of the animals of the seas, sh ...
, a fearsome sea goddess.
*
Idliragijenget
In Inuit mythology, Idliragijenget is the god of the ocean
The ocean (also the sea or the world ocean) is the body of salt water that covers approximately 70.8% of the surface of Earth and contains 97% of Earth's water. An ocean can also ...
, god of the ocean.
*Kanajuk, the scorpionfish god and husband of the goddesses Nuliajuk and Isarraitaitsoq.
*
Nootaikok
In Inuit mythology, Nootaikok was a god who presided over icebergs and glacier
A glacier (; ) is a persistent body of dense ice that is constantly moving under its own weight. A glacier forms where the accumulation of snow exceeds its Ablati ...
, god who presided over icebergs and glaciers.
*
Nuliajuk
Nuliajuk is a goddess of the Netsilik Inuit. According to Rasmussen Nuliajuk lives on the bottom of the sea and controls sea mammals (seals, walruses, and sea lions). Whenever humans neglect to observe ritual prohibitions, she imprisons the sea-m ...
and Isarraitaitsoq, goddesses of the sea's depths and its creatures among the Netsilik Inuit.
*
Sedna, goddess of the sea and its creatures.
Central America and the Caribbean
Mexica
*
Atlaua
In Aztec mythology, Atlahua, Ahtlahua, Atlahoa, Atlavâ or Atlaua was a water God (the blue version of Tlaloc, the Tlaloc from the South), fisherman and archer. There were said to be at least four ancient Aztec temples at which he was worshipe ...
, god of water, archers, and fishermen.
*
Chalchiuhtlicue
Chalchiuhtlicue (from ''chālchihuitl'' "jade" and ''cuēitl'' "skirt") (also spelled Chalciuhtlicue, Chalchiuhcueye, or Chalcihuitlicue) ("She of the Jade Skirt") is an Aztec deity of water, rivers, seas, streams, storms, and baptism. Chalch ...
, goddess of water, lakes, rivers, seas, streams, horizontal waters, storms, and baptism.
*
Opochtli
In Aztec mythology, Opochtli was a god of hunting and fishing.
He is said to have invented the atlatl, the net, the canoe pole, and the bird snare
SNARE proteins – " SNAP REceptor" – are a large protein family consisting of at least 2 ...
, god of fishing and birdcatchers.
*
Tlāloc
Tlaloc ( nci-IPA, Tlāloc, ˈtɬaːlok) is a deity in Aztec religion. The supreme god of the rain, Tlaloc is also a god of earthly fertility and of water. He was widely worshipped as a beneficent giver of life and sustenance, as well as feared f ...
, god of water, fertility, and rain.
*
Tlaloque, a group of rain, water, and mountain gods.
Ewe / Fon
*
Agwé, a sea loa.
*
Clermeil
Clermeil is a loa who makes rivers flood their banks in Haitian Haitian Vodou, Vodou. He is usually depicted as a white male.
Haitian Vodou gods
Sea and river gods
{{Deity-stub ...
, a river loa.
*
Mami Wata
Mami Wata (Mammy Water), or La Sirene, is a water spirit venerated in West, Central, and Southern Africa and in the African diaspora in the Americas. Mami Wata spirits are usually female but are sometimes male., p. 1.
Attributes
Appearance
T ...
, a water loa.
*
Pie
A pie is a baked dish which is usually made of a pastry dough casing that contains a filling of various sweet or savoury ingredients. Sweet pies may be filled with fruit (as in an apple pie), nuts ( pecan pie), brown sugar ( sugar pie), swe ...
, a lake and river loa.
Mayan
*
Chaac
Chaac (also spelled Chac or, in Classic Mayan, Chaahk ) is the name of the Maya god of rain, thunder, and lighting. With his lightning axe, Chaac strikes the clouds, causing them to produce thunder and rain. Chaac corresponds to Tlaloc among ...
, god of rain.
*
Kukulcan
K’uk’ulkan, also spelled Kukulkan, ( "''Plumed Serpent''", "''Amazing Serpent''") is the name of a Mesoamerican serpent deity that was worshipped by the Yucatec Maya people of the Yucatán Peninsula before the Spanish conquest of Yucatán. ...
, god of the seas, oceans, and storms
Taíno
*
Atabey (goddess)
Atabey is an ancestral mother of the Taino, one of two supreme ancestral spirits in the Taíno religion. She was worshipped as a zemi, which is an embodiment of nature and ancestral spirit, (not to be confused with a goddess, how she is common ...
, Mother goddess of fresh water and fertility. Female counterpart of the god
Yúcahu
YúcahuFray Ramón Pané 1999, p.4 —also written as Yucáhuguama Bagua Maórocoti, Yukajú, Yocajú, Yokahu or Yukiyú— was the masculine spirit of fertility in Taíno mythology.Stevens-Arroyo 2006, p.221 He was the supreme deity or zemi of t ...
.
South America
Tupi-Guarani (Brazilian Myth)
*
Amanasy, Goddess of the rain and frogs
*
Iara, Guardian of the water and of the
Amazon River
The Amazon River (, ; es, Río Amazonas, pt, Rio Amazonas) in South America is the largest river by discharge volume of water in the world, and the disputed longest river system in the world in comparison to the Nile.
The headwaters of t ...
*
Ipupiara
Ipupiara is a municipality in the state of Bahia in the North-East region of Brazil.
See also
*List of municipalities in Bahia
This is a list of the municipalities in the state of Bahia (BA), located in the Northeast Region of Brazil. Bahia ...
, Guardian of the sea
*
Luruaçu, Goddess of the storms
*
Tupã, God of the thunder, weather, storms and clouds
Incan
*
Pariacaca
Pariacaca, Paria Caca'','' Paryaqaqa, Parya Qaqa, (possibly from Quechua ''parya'' reddish; copper; sparrow, ''qaqa'' rock) or Tullujuto (possibly from Quechua ''tullu'' bone, ''qutu'' heap, "bone heap") is the highest mountain in the Pariacaca ...
, god of water and rainstorms.
*
Paricia
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 c ...
, god who sent a flood to kill humans who did not respect him adequately.
Panche/
Muisca
The Muisca (also called Chibcha) are an indigenous people and culture of the Altiplano Cundiboyacense, Colombia, that formed the Muisca Confederation before the Spanish conquest. The people spoke Muysccubun, a language of the Chibchan langu ...
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Mohan, a mischievous entity associated with rivers, lakes and water in general.
See also
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Holy wells
A holy well or sacred spring is a well, spring or small pool of water revered either in a Christian or pagan context, sometimes both. The water of holy wells is often thought to have healing qualities, through the numinous presence of its guard ...
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Nadi (yoga)
( sa, नाडी, lit=tube, pipe, nerve, blood vessel, pulse) is a term for the channels through which, in traditional Indian medicine and spiritual theory, the energies such as prana of the physical body, the subtle body and the causal body ...
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Nature worship
Nature worship also called naturism or physiolatry is any of a variety of religious, spiritual and devotional practices that focus on the worship of the nature spirits considered to be behind the natural phenomena visible throughout nature. A nat ...
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Sea monster
Sea monsters are beings from folklore believed to dwell in the sea and often imagined to be of immense size. Marine monsters can take many forms, including sea dragons, sea serpents, or tentacled beasts. They can be slimy and scaly and are ofte ...
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Water chakra
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Water spirit
A water spirit is a kind of supernatural being found in the folklore of many cultures:
African
Some water spirits in traditional African religion include:
* Mami Wata is a transcultural pantheon of water spirits and deities of the African dias ...
References
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Water deities
A water deity is a deity in mythology associated with water or various bodies of water. Water deities are common in mythology and were usually more important among civilizations in which the sea or ocean, or a great river was more important. Anoth ...