As another example, Eros is often referred to as being one of those omnipresent entities in male interactions in Greek culture. I didn't know what asexuality was when I first got into mythology, but now I've decided that Athena - one of the most powerful gods in any mythological culture - was completely and totally asexual. We don't even have any evidence that the men outnumbered the gods significantly. Among Women: From the Homosocial to the Homoerotic in the Ancient World. A few more things that I find interesting about Athena and her asexuality is that she really does seem sexless in the way that she acts. Thanks for the help! In addition, Greek Mythology also has two other virgin goddesses, Artemis and Hestia. Mayahuel(pronounced My-ya-whale) is the Aztec goddess of the maguey plant, the sweet sap of which (aguamiel) was considered her blood. Friday is named for her. Antique fresco from Pompeii. After a series of failed attempts to seek revenge on him, she ultimately correctly prophesied his death in battle.. Pan frequently was depicted in sculpture chasing both women and men around with his always-erect penis and oversized scrotum. She is biologically female - and a very beautiful one, given how the other gods wanted to marry her - but she did not act really like a female or a male. Above: Alexander Kiselev, Apollo and Hyacinth (1884). Athena was likely a virgin goddess because people equated intelligence and wisdom with manliness. Stack Exchange network consists of 181 Q&A communities including Stack Overflow, the largest, most trusted online community for developers to learn, share their knowledge, and build their careers. She is a complex deity known as the Phantom Queen, who is both a single goddess and also a triple goddess. But when Zeus disguised himself as Artemis, she was lured into the goddess's embrace. He is believed to have led the Tuatha d Danann to victory over the invading army of Fomorians as depicted in the Battle of Mag Tuired., It is said that Lugh initiated a special games event, known as the Tailteann Games or Assembly of Tailti that focused on horse racing and martial arts that ran over the last two weeks in July and culminated with the start of the harvest celebration of Lughnasadh on 1 August. Despite being married, C Chulainn is also known for his many affairs including with, In addition to his abilities as a warrior, C Chulainn terrified his enemies by flying into a. Tlaltechutli represents the surface of the earth, who angrily devours the sun every evening to give it back the next day. [1] [2] She was heavily identified with Selene, the personification of the Moon, and Hecate, another . ZeusAlthough a famous philanderer who sired countless demigods by every peasant girl in need of an explanation to her parents, Zeus also selected the young mortal Ganymede to serve as his cupbearer on Mount Olympus. Later he got a really bad headache, so he had Haephestus split his head open to release the pressure, and Athena came out of his head, fully grown and dressed in battle armor. Elli - Goddess of old age. By disfiguring him, the Celtic goddess of love made him ineligible to be king (only flawless, unmarred men could rule) and so he was removed from his throne. Above: Johann Georg Platzer, The Amazon Queen Thalestris in the Camp of Alexander the Great, TeiresiasThe blind prophet of Apollo was most famous in Greek myth for being transformed from a man into a woman for seven years. Clodhna, was the daughter of the sea god Manannan and like him, also has a special connection to the Celtic Otherworld., In Irish folklore,Snann was responsible for the overflowing of a well that led to creation of the River Shannon, the longest river in Ireland. Gifted with the ability to shapeshift, she has the capacity to take many forms, but commonly takes the form of a crow. Son of Baldr and Nanna. Above: John Macallan Swan, Orpheus (1896), HermaphroditusPerhaps the earliest literary reference to an intersex person concerns this child of Hermes and love goddess Aphrodite who as a youth encountered the nymph Salmacis, who attempted to seduce the youth and asked the gods that their forms be permanently joined. The goddess Flidas (or Flidais) is this deity with her special focus on domestic cattle and milking. He was the patron of knowledge and learning and also a creative god. Male lovers of the god included the satyr Ampelos and the famously handsome Adonis. If you say something like that about anyone, people are bound to think that the person who is asexual is a crazed lunatic of some kind. ine, the goddess of the summer and summer sun and Grian (asgrian means sun in Irish) was the goddess of the pale winter sun., Water was considered a sacred element and Manannn the sea god is one of the most notable of all the gods in Irish mythology. She was a very powerful goddess as well, very strong willed. 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Seemingly not all of them, Lugh is said to have been speared and drowned in. 29, 2021, thoughtco.com/deities-of-mexica-mythology-170042. Interested in more Irish Celtic mythology? One such example is the Celtic god Nordens, who was god of hunting and the Roman god Mars, who acted as the god of war and protector of agriculture. She then jumps in. Athena, goddess of wisdom, warfare and craftsmanship. There are several stories that connect ine to rape, including one where she bites off the ear of the King of Munster after an unconsented encounter. She was the goddess of War, which was usually considered a man's job. Above: Caravaggio, Amor Vincet Omnia. Above: Antonio Verrio, The Gods on Mount Olympus (1690-1694), AchillesThe Greek hero Achilles was invulnerable excepting his famous weak heel, but a male shieldbearer broke through the warrior's romantic defenses. She is known as the mother of the god Enki/Ea as well as the mother goddess who gave birth to the cosmos and all the gods. vegan) just to try it, does this inconvenience the caterers and staff? There are several divine mother goddess figures in ancient Celtic mythology. As the wife of the god of the underworld, Isis was also one of the main deities concerned with rites for the dead. The god Lugh, (also spelled Lug or Luga) is one of the most notable of all the Irish deities and equates to the pan-Celtic god of Lugus. The only difference between men and gods was that the latter were immortal. I posted this at the livejournal community, and it's become a pretty interesting topic, so I thought I would post it here. Irish mythology is rich in tales gods and goddesses and their rituals, battles, revenge and sexual encounters. Lugh, is one of the most important of all the gods of the Celts. They took him on as a foster son and taught him the skills of a warrior, an orator and how to defend the vulnerable. Athena actually had a mother, her name was Metis, and she was Zeus' first wife. - Zeus, god of the thunder, was bisexual. after killing the trusted guard dog of Culainn in self defense, by accurately hitting a sliotar (ball used in the Irish game of hurling) down its throat as it attacked him. Bisexual. Mona Koza, There is a strong link between Macha and horses, as well as other livestock. Yeah, this is still a very interesting answer. The names of Celtic gods and the names of Celtic goddesses that occur often in Celtic mythology are listed below.. She is also said to have the ability to foretell the outcome of battles and predict violent deaths. It was sort of like marriage prep and mentoring, plus the cult of youth and beauty (nothing changes, eh?) Most of the discussion around women in Greek culture seems to revolve solely around sexuality. @BESW I suppose the former. I am not familiar with the Greek sources enough to know whether the detail of Hermaphroditus being uninterested in sex with Salmacis is them. Ultimately the Morrigan predicted C Chulainns violent death and a crow (the most common symbol of the Morrigan goddess) signified his death on the battlefield when it landed on his shoulder. To learn more, see our tips on writing great answers. Good, fruitful harvests were required to provide for the people and animals, therefore much emphasis was placed on gods and goddesses that represent fertility, such as ine. ArtemisTwin sister to Apollo, the goddess was by differing accounts a nearly asexual virgin or a lesbian with many nymph lovers, including Cyrene, Atalanta, and Anticleia as well as moon goddess Dictynna. As noted on Owlcation, this may have been a heterosexual ending, but the love story was laced with LGBT themes. HermesThe wing-heeled messenger of the gods was said in multiple myths to have male lovers. No emphasis seems to be placed in any writings on the absence of sexuality in the Greek gods. Above: Chrysippus, kidnapped by Laius, looks for his father Pelops running behind the chariot; Volute Krater image (320 B.C.). Reporting this earned him a blinding by Hera. Before the wedding, Iphis prayed in the Temple of Isis for a solution, and voila! Delling - God of the dawn. Despite his strong protests and attempts to throw her off, she forcibly entwines herself around him. Athena didn't catch the innuendo. If so, is there both asexuality in the Pantheon and asexuality outside of it, or is it just one of the two? While tolerance is often presented as a sign of civilization's advancement, a reading of Greek mythology reveals greater acceptance of homosexuality in ancient Athens than can be boasted within today's world religions. Manannans father Lir, was likely the main sea god before Mannanan came to prominence., There are actually several Celtic goddesses connected with water. It has been suggested that the origin of her name possibly stems from an area used to graze cattle. Family. ), While there isn't a whole lot of evidence either way, the speculation I've read about whether Athena had sex with anyone seems to have trouble differentiating between Athena as an asexual figure or an abstinent one. Manannan has a strong connection to Ireland, Scotland and the Isle of Man. Boann is thought to have done something similar and created the River Boyne. The Goddess Athena - Asexuality and the Gods, AVEN Unofficial discord and other resources during the COVID-19 pandemic, July/August/September 2022 - Asexual Dating. Twin sister to Apollo, the goddess was by differing accounts a nearly asexual virgin or a lesbian with many nymph lovers, including Cyrene, Atalanta, and Anticleia as well as moon goddess. You Might Like Asexual Goddesses Published: Jun 19, 2020. Above: Jean-George Vibert, Narcissus, ApolloThe sun god, one of the most important in all literature, was also quite the libertine. Above: Felice Giani, The Marriage of Poseidon and Amphitrite (1802-1805), OrpheusThe legendary poet and musician may be best known for the story of his journey to the underworld to retrieve his wife, Eurydice; he failed to do so when he succumbed to temptation and looked at her before both had returned to the world of the living. Stanta offered his services until he could retrain a new dog and so became known as C Chulainn. She also had an adopted son, Erichthonius. Hesiod wrote that after this tryst was discovered, Callisto was turned into a bear before she gave birth to son Arcas. Her name means the exalted one in old Irish. Greek Gods and goddesses. Above: Alexander Kiselev, Apollo and Hyacinth (1884), ChrysippusEuripedes wrote that this divine Peloponnesian hero was on the way to compete in the Nemean Games when his Theban tutor Laius ran off with him and raped him. She is occasionally depicted as having flames coming out of her hair. The triple goddess is composed of the goddesses Badb, Macha and Nemain. Teiresias revealed the ladies had it roughly 10 times better than the lads. Short story taking place on a toroidal planet or moon involving flying, How to handle a hobby that makes income in US. He is usually portrayed wearing a flayed human skin representing the death of the old and the growth of the new vegetation. There is even some speculation that the Isle of Man was named after him and vice versa. This list includes Etruscan, Greek, Roman, Norse and Meitei versions of similar gods and goddesses. Pan frequently was depicted in sculpture chasing both women and men around with his always-erect penis and oversized scrotum. These LGBT Greek gods and demigods prove gay culture is no modern invention. She was the wife and/or sister of Tlaloc and was also the patroness of childbirth. Alastor God of family feuds and avenger of evil deeds. He was also connected with rightfulness, especially in terms of kingship. Lir is thought to have taken over the role of sea god from his father, the god Lir. The Pseudo-Apollodorus also said Apollo had been with Thracian singer Thamyris in the first man-on-man relationship in history. A gay cupbearer on Mount Olympus? The god Lugh, (also spelled Lug or Luga) is one of the most notable of all the Irish deities and equates to the pan-Celtic god of Lugus. This is a series I started about asexual greek gods. She acquired the land from the King of Leinster by promising to only take as much ground as her cloak covered. In another story of rape, ine exacted revenge by turned her offender, Gerald, Earl of Desmond into a goose.. The following are the most important of the 200 deities of the Aztec religion. Are there any recorded discrepancies between The Odyssey as oral tradition and The Odyssey as Homer transcribed it? ine is sometimes referred to as the Irish goddess of Love or as the Faery Queen. The creature of both sexes was frequently depicted in classical art as a figure with womanly breasts and form but with male genitalia. It only takes a minute to sign up. She too, like the Morrigan is thought to have the ability to shapeshift and is represented by a red mare, known for its speed. As with the rest of his children, Cronos ate her but eventually regurgitated her. Suggested Deviants. Dionysus (1629), HeraclesThe famous hero had a number of male companions through his many trials. This website saves cookies to your browser in order to improve your online experience and show you personalized content. I'm going to have to poke through the sources you linked, too. Tonatiuh (pronounced Toh-nah-tee-uh) was the Aztec sun god. This category only includes cookies that ensures basic functionalities and security features of the website. He prays to his parents in turn: O my father, and my mother, grant this prayer to your son, who owes his name to you both: if any man enter this pool, may he depart hence no more than half a man, may he suddenly grow weak and effeminate at the touch of these waters. - Athena, goddess of widsom, was a lesbian. For a long time she was associated as being a woodland goddess, somewhat similar to the Roman goddess Diana, scholars now deem this association with woodland to be incorrect. Associated with fertility and agriculture, hisorigins can be traced back to Teotihuacan, the Olmec and the Maya civilizations. - Poseidon, god of the seas, was bisexual. Do I need a thermal expansion tank if I already have a pressure tank? Above: Athena, center, in a mural by John Singer Sargent, AphroditeWhile the goddess of love is not identified prominently as lesbian herself, the Greek poet Sappho (as in sapphic) of Lesbos (yes, as in lesbian) told many homoerotic tales and named Aphrodite as the greatest patron and ally of lesbians and homosexuals within the Greek pantheon of gods. She never married and she never took on any lovers. You can find the links to the blogs here. Callisto and Arcas were later put in the stars as the constellations Ursa Major and Ursa Minor. There is much scholarly debate on this topic and no clear conclusions. This is a series I started about asexual greek gods. "Important Aztec Gods and Goddesses." Manannan was well equipped with armor and weapons, some of which he supplied to the god Lugh when the Fomorians attacked the Tuatha d Danann. Both the gods of Lugh and the Dagda are supposedly buried in the sacred center of the island of Ireland, Uisneach. Monolithic Statue of Tlaltecuhtli from the Aztec Templo Mayor, Mexico City. Brigid was the goddess Celtic people turned to when they needed to be healed. Chalchiuhtlicue (pronounced Tchal-chee-uh-tlee-ku-eh) was the goddess of running water and all aquatic elements. Iphis was born female but raised male by his mother, who concealed the truth because her husband wanted a male heir. Due to his extensive power and influence, the early Christain church tried to demonize Cernunnos. October 11, 2016 in Romantic and Aromantic Orientations, So, who's interested in talking about the sexuality of mythological greek gods, here are some statements, pls correct me if i'm wrong: :). In Rome, the Vestal Virgins (the servants of Hestia, who kept the fires of Rome burning) were some of the most respected people in the realm. His shrine, on top of the pyramid of the Templo Mayor in Tenochtitlan, was decorated with skulls and painted red to represent blood. Despite being married, C Chulainn is also known for his many affairs including with Aife, with whom he has a son and the Scandinavian Princess,Derbforgaill who turned into a swan to be with him. Deichtine decided that her son should be reared by seven nobles to ensure that he received a wide ranging education. As a crow, she would fly over the battlefield and either encourage or instill fear in the warriors below. Aengus skill with poetry was thought to be so great that he was able to break magic spells with this gift, such as the one placed on tain in the love story with Midir. As far as she was concerned, love didn't equal sex. She is the mother of Balder. She is always an advocate of rationality, and neither love nor sexuality are entirely rational impulses. Asking for help, clarification, or responding to other answers. Egyptian Gods Ancient Egyptian gods are recorded on tombs and manuscripts beginning in the Old Kingdom of about 2600 BCE and lasting until the Romans conquered Egypt in 33 BCE. The Aztec Religion and Gods of the Ancient Mexica, Tlaloc the Aztec God of Rain and Fertility, Tezcatlipoca: Aztec God of Night and Smoking Mirrors, Xipe Totec: Grisly Aztec God of Fertility and Agriculture, Tonatiuh, the Aztec God of the Sun, Fertility and Sacrifice, Quetzalcoatl - Pan-Mesoamerican Feathered Serpent God, Chalchiuhtlicue - Aztec Goddess of Lakes, Streams, and Oceans, The Founding of Tenochtitlan and the Origin of the Aztecs, Profile of Huehueteotl-Xiuhtecuhtli, Aztec God of Fire, Tlaltecuhtli - The Monstrous Aztec Goddess of the Earth, History of Animal and Plant Domestication, Chalchiuhtlicue. and . Another belief revolves around reincarnation. DionysusBest known as the Greek god of wine, Dionysus was also the god of intersex and transgender people. Dagur - God of the daytime, son of Delling and Ntt. The name Tuatha d Danann can be roughly translated as the people of the goddess Danu. She tried unsuccessfully to seduce him and when this failed, she sought revenge for his spuned rejections by attacking C Chulainn in the form of an eel, a wolf and a heifer. Reporting this earned him a blinding by Hera. While Artemis, for example, could have sexual desires without contradicting her status as the goddess of the hunt (or even the goddess of virginity - she was abstinent, not necessarily asexual), the whole concept seems to go against Athena's essential nature. Edad: 12-14. 1. Size queen. She was one of the most important goddesses to the daily lives of the romans and the greeks because she was the one who looked out for and protected their homes. Codex Telleriano-Remensis/Wikimedia Commons/Public Domain. hey my avatar is Artimis (Diana) so woohoo! By Codex Magliabechiano/Wikimedia Commons/Public Domain. (This might make it hard to demonstrate asexuality through the absence of sexual writings.). Namma (goddess) Goddess from Eridu. At this time, the Dagda was living in Newgrange and Aengus tricked him into letting him live there permanently. Ovid is Roman, not Greek, of course. It's something that most people now don't understand, but back then, I guess it really wasn't a problem. Aengus (or engus as is sometimes used) was another member of the Tuatha d Danann with expert knowledge of weaponry. His sword, Moralltach, or the Great Fury given to him by thegod of the sea, Manannan mac Lir, was one of his prized possessions. These LGBT Greek gods and demigods prove gay culture is no modern invention. The Aztec believed that the cries and tears of newborn children were sacred to the god, and, therefore, many ceremonies for Tlaloc involved the sacrifice of children. Alternatively, he also had a self-navigating boat called Sguaba Tuinne or wave-rider, which seems advanced even in the technology era of today! But when Zeus disguised himself as Artemis, she was lured into the goddess's embrace. Hod. Apollo Olympian god of music, poetry, art, oracles, archery, plague, medicine, sun, light and knowledge. Patroclus's death at the hands of Trojan Prince Hector sent Achilles into a rage in which he killed Hector and dragged his body around Troy. Above: Antonio Verrio, The Gods on Mount Olympus (1690-1694), AchillesThe Greek hero Achilles was invulnerable excepting his famous weak heel, but a male shieldbearer broke through the warrior's romantic defenses. Mary M. Innes; Penguin Books, 1955, p. 101104). Dionysus. Where does this (supposedly) Gibson quote come from? Additionally, the goddess Brigid associations include fire, flames and light. Maestri, Nicoletta. The relationship provided the foundation of the custom of paiderastia, the practice of Greek men at the time maintaining erotic relationships with adolescent boys on the side. Mayahuel (pronounced My-ya-whale) is the Aztec goddess of the maguey plant, the sweet sap of which (aguamiel) was considered her blood. Lugh was the god associated with justice and held power over oaths and law. Some myths suggest a romantic relationship between Hermes and the hero Perseus. She was the first-born child of wily Cronos and youngest too, by will of Zeus who holds the aegis, a queenly maid whom both Poseidon and Apollo sought to wed. It was at this point that he also first encountered another famous Irish goddess, The Morrigan. He only earned his name C Chulainn (Irish for Hound of Culainn) after killing the trusted guard dog of Culainn in self defense, by accurately hitting a sliotar (ball used in the Irish game of hurling) down its throat as it attacked him. Isis was one of the last of the ancient Egyptian gods to still be worshipped. Their roles appear to be more all encompassing than just related to birth and children. People of the ruling class - think Plato, for example - got to participate in ephebeophilia, to coin a word. This topic is now archived and is closed to further replies. I personally think Artemis was Demiromantic Asexual. Half goat. The crow symbol is thought to connect with Badb (meaning crow in Irish). After the gods changed him back, Zeus asked who enjoyed sex more, men or women. But she was wholly unwilling, nay, stubbornly refused; and touching the head of father Zeus who holds the aegis, she, that fair goddess, swear a great oath which has in truth been fulfilled, that she would be a maiden all her days. He also once made a journey to Hades and was guided by the shepherd Prosymnus, who led the way in exchange for the chance to make love to the party god. Spurned, Ciconian women would eventually tear Orpheus apart during a Bacchic orgy. Athena, Artemis, and Hestia come to mind as examples. A myth traced in origin to the Boeotia region mentions a relationship between Narcissus and the smitten Ameinias, whom Narcissus would eventually grow tired of before sending him a sword as a kiss-off. Tonatiuh was also the patron of warriors. Often they appear as wise figures who are linked with sovereignty, fertility and the ability to punish. Brigid is widely known as the Celtic goddess associated with healing, but her other attributes include poetry and smithcraft. There are plenty of instances of goddesses sleeping with mortal men. Given the overlapping focus of the major Celtic deities, it has been suggested that some of the Celtic deities equate to the Roman ones. Hesiod wrote that after this tryst was discovered, Callisto was turned into a bear before she gave birth to son Arcas. As the goddess of summer and wealth, ine represents the abundance that the land has to offer during its most plentiful season. I find it interesting that such a sexual society had three virgin goddesses. Above: Hans Sebald Beham, Heracles and Iolaus dispatching the hydra with club and fire, PoseidonAccording to Pindar's First Olympian Ode, Pelops, the king of Pisa, once shared "Aphrodite's sweet gifts" with the ocean god himself. Lugh is thought to have been the father of demi god and famous Irish warrior, Are Celtic gods immortal? (From Ovid, Metamorphoses, trans. She prays that the two of them will never be separated, and as a result, Hermaphroditus becomes a hermaphrodite.
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