orishas and egyptian gods

Lambs are sacred to her. Osiris festivals symbolically reenacting the gods fate were celebrated annually in various towns throughout Egypt. Each region has their own main Orishas and stories may also vary. children have an innate ability for divination. Essentially, Orishas represent the powers of nature, as well as time, life, death, and rebirth. Encyclopaedia Britannica's editors oversee subject areas in which they have extensive knowledge, whether from years of experience gained by working on that content or via study for an advanced degree. relationship with the orisha of divination, Orunmila. She made it. All Of The African Goddess Names And Their Mythologies When you visit this site, it may store or retrieve information on your browser, mostly in the form of cookies. It is believed that depictions of Isis with the infant Horus influenced Christian imagery of Mary with the infant Jesus. Basically, in the beginning, there was only water. roads and doors in this world. In the Greco-Roman period she was identified with the Greek goddess Aphrodite and her cult spread as far west as Great Britain and as far east as Afghanistan. Rather than willfully trying to misguide them, his aim is to enrich their life experience, leading them to a spiritual maturation through their transgressions. There are stories that explain how he became a hunter, as well as how he started living in the forests. The pantheon of Orishas (traditionally followed by the Yoruba people) is a sequence of divine spirits dispatched by the supreme god Olodumare. Everything consists of songs, stories, and practices. Some say Shango had 3 wives. over the forces of nature and the endeavors of humanity. One day, Obatala was so busy that he asked Eshu to guard his house and prevent people from entering to offer him gifts. way Yemay displays herself as truly the mother of all. According to the form of the myth reported by the Greek author Plutarch, Osiris was slain or drowned by Seth, who tore the corpse into 14 pieces and flung them over Egypt. He was the only orisha Learn Religions, Mar. You can find out more and change our default settings with Cookies Settings. Her name, a one who has knowledge without wisdom is merely a danger to themselves White is most appropriate for He never asked a single question. Ogn out of the forests using her feminine wiles. 12. streams and rivers, embodying love, fertility. Obatala sentenced him to live there and not get closer to other Orishas or humans again. Orisha Oshun wears golden yellow dresses. From now on, Ill bring the Orisha list with the 12 most important ones. Olorun sent them Ogun, god of crafts, to find a suitable habitat. The rest is spent in the farm with Oko (a farming god). Obatala then began to build a city, but after discovering alcohol (brewed from palm leaves) he became distracted from duties. She became Oya Ibale, the queen of the dead. An Orisha is a God or a Goddess from the Yoruba Religion and Mythology. anting him with a profound wisdom. The origin of Osiris is obscure; he was a local god of Busiris, in Lower Egypt, and may have been a personification of chthonic (underworld) fertility. Instead, one of the roles of the priests of Santeria is to apply applicable patakis to the situation at hand. He stayed at Obatalas for 16 years! The two became friends and Aroni shared with Ossain all the secrets related to herbs, plants, and flowers. He is revered by all the hunting communities and is often employed by the Orishas as a scout, helping them to locate lost items. In the Osiris myth, he is the murderer of Osiris (in some versions of the myth, he tricks Osiris into laying down in a coffin and then seals it shut.). Before we can get to know each Orisha and their energies, we must understand their roots in the Yoruba Religion and Mythology. So he tried a bit more. Of course, he drinks it! Ochossi learns it quickly from his brother and becomes a great hunter! document.getElementById( "ak_js_1" ).setAttribute( "value", ( new Date() ).getTime() ); You have entered an incorrect email address! He is renowned for his skills in witchcraft and is a good friend to the nature spirits of Africa. The orishas are often best understood by observing the forces of nature While every effort has been made to follow citation style rules, there may be some discrepancies. A central feature of the festivals during the late period was the construction of the Osiris garden, a mold in the shape of Osiris, filled with soil. Osiris, also called Usir, one of the most important gods of ancient Egypt. However, hes known for being vengeful and aggressive, mainly against women. She returned to the river where the naked and ashamed Obatala was still waiting for his clothes and delivered them back to him in exchange for the knowledge she wanted so badly. So, whenever you make a purchase through an Amazon link on this website, I may earn some commissions. Like the volcano, Aganju is noted for his legendary strength and his ability to bring about drastic change. I also wrote about it, focusing on the aspect of life and death, in the article Orishas and the Balance Between Life and Death for Folklore Thursday. On his head was the atef-crown, composed of the white crown of Upper Egypt and two ostrich feathers. It is said their scars strike fear into their enemy, who see the scars of Kokou as a sign of their potency. Oshosi is the hunter and the scout of the orishas and assumes He tried to punish her, but she fled. He lived inside a forest and he would have sexual relations with any woman who entered the woods. In many Nigerian mythologies, it is believed that the gods once walked this earth and even lived . Shang (sharing lightning and fire with him) and was once the It is common in all pantheons, religions, and mythologies to find different tales for the same story. If means something like the large abode and it was the first land created by Obatala, the Creator Orisha. above them. He is ocanani with Elegba, meaning Elegba is always There is no expectation that each community would function exactly alike or understand the orishas in exactly the same way. It says that he initially had nothing. In ancient Greek religion, she was known . They were about to kill him too! Creation stories are found throughout the world. Warriors, and is received along with Elegba, Ogn and Osun in In the original African belief system from which Santeria originates, there are hundreds of orishas. It's just spreading historical, mythological and magical information. From Ogun, she learned how to wield the sword; From Oxaguia, she learned how to wield the shield; From Eshu, she learned how to use the magical power of fire; From Shango, she learned the power of make justice and how to use thunderbols; From Omulu, however, she wasnt able to learn anything as she couldnt seduce him. He is depicted as an androgynous being and is considered the union between masculine and feminine energies sometimes he is even portrayed as a woman. Firstly because of the eb she prepared to become a mother. babbling brook and the flash flood reflect her changeable moods. She always holds a mirror to admire her own beauty and to teach her children to love themselves above all. He took his clothes off and hang them on a tree. She tried a bit. them often to represent her. This trend is encouraged by the fact that each Santeria community today remains independent of other communities. The heaven realm is the domain of Olorun, a sun god. It was a strange red powder. His color is Over time, Re came to be syncretized with other sun deities, especially Amon. The goddess Isis was the mother of the king and was thus the mother of Horus and consort of Osiris. She is a very interesting Orisha because she metaphorically defied the rules of patriarchy. At the beginning of Yoruba mythology, the universe was composed of two elements, the ethereal sky above and a watery chaos below. Never metal ones! Oshun is also considered a Mother Goddess and its very common for her worshipers to be known as children of Oshun. An interesting piece of data that will illustrate how Orishas are present in these religions and also in others through syncretism: in Brazil, around 3.2% of the population follow the so-called other religions. Thoth, the god of writing and wisdom, could be depicted in the form of a baboon or a sacred ibis or as a man with the head of an ibis. There is also a more removed being known as Olodumare, who created the orishas but later retreated from his creations. There was a time when they conducted a power struggle against Olorun and tried to persuade him to abdicate for sixteen years. He takes an active role in the affairs of both heaven and earth. His element is wind. A priest could only be dedicated to that single orisha of the city, and that orisha was honored above all others. The Orishas: Orunla, Osain, Oshun, Oya, and Yemaya - Learn Religions Regarding his trickster nature, Eshu is known for playing tricks, deceiving, and even helping those who ask him for help in doing some inappropriate things. He is most often represented by a double headed In this story, we have Obatala (the Sky) and Odudua (the primordial earth) this is a similar motif found in many other mythologies such as the story of Gaia and Uranos in Greek Mythology and Nut and Geb and Egyptian Mythology. When Omulu knew that Obatala was going to his house, he fled to the forests and hid there. She Madonna. white which is often accented with red, purple and other colors to Ogun becomes aware of the situation. Osiris was not only ruler of the dead but also the power that granted all life from the underworld, from sprouting vegetation to the annual flood of the Nile River. Santeros (Santeria priests) do not believe that the orishas and the saints are identical. Even though Umbanda and Candomble seem to be unpopular here, the truth is that we can find many Christians who also believe and worship the Orishas. Ogun by Eran Fowler Even if a priest of one orisha died, there would be others in the community trained to work with that same orisha. As master of the deep, he has a great insight into the mysteries of nature. However, it was not enough to make him free of problems or curses. The man asked the king to plant seven baked yams and promised that, in twelve days, all of them would have flourished. All metals and weapons belong to Ogun, the blacksmith Orisha. They rule over the forces of nature and the endeavors of humanity. Instead, it signified the renewal of life both in the next world and through ones descendants on Earth. Inside the forest, he met Aroni, a gnome wearing a hood and hopping on one leg only. Its important to note that his behavior can also lead him to unnecessary fights. He represents the power of fortune. Shes impulsive, aggressive, and cant be controlled. As the wife of the god of the underworld, Isis was also one of the main deities concerned with rites for the dead. One tradition holds that Horus lost his left eye fighting with Seth, but his eye was magically healed by the god Thoth. She also rules Shango was the third king of the Oyo Kingdom. Eshu did it. In this After this, she fled to the top of a mountain, but he followed her. Those who worship him often seek personal empowerment, in order to make themselves better leaders. In a sense, all offerings and rituals were made using these metals, so all of them needed Oguns permission to be carried on. Perhaps the most 'popular' of the orishas, Shang rules over We are also blessed from time to time in the religion with the To start, Yoruba is a name that encompasses a group of people who live in the region of Nigeria, Benin, and Togo in West Africa. Explore the Osiris shaft, a symbolic tomb of the god Osiris. So she used her beauty and seduced many men to acquire their most treasured abilities. In this region, the powerful Oyo Empire flourished. The Santeria faith teaches that every individual has a destiny from God, a destiny fulfilled with the aid and energy of the orishas.The basis of the Santeria religion is the nurture of a personal . Orisha Nana Buruku, also known as Nana Buruque or simply as Nan, is the most respected Orisha of all. He is a man, he sometimes becomes a woman, and sometimes he becomes a snake. Kokou by Assasin Monkey predynastic and dynastic periods in ancient Egypt. This dual role was in turn combined with the Egyptian concept of divine kingship: the king at death became Osiris, god of the underworld; and the dead kings son, the living king, was identified with Horus, a god of the sky. Children are the Fish" to reflect the fact that her children are Essentially, Orishas represent the powers of nature, as well as time, life, death, and rebirth. Secrets" must devote themselves entirely to the practice of Beyer, Catherine. After passing on his secrets and guiding humanity for many years, Ogun grew old. I write this page as a way to honor these forces. Oshun went after Eshu and, when she found him, she asked the clothes back. she is the queen of witches carrying within her deep and dark secrets. When humans die, they must return to her dwelling and become mud again. Shango, the impulsive, only had a stone. this reason all who are to be initiated as priests, no matter what Aganju by Robert Love Get a Britannica Premium subscription and gain access to exclusive content. Possible Greek/Roman Equivalent (s) Other. Hes also the one whos responsible for work in general. Orisha Ogun is the blacksmith, the one who creates weapons for the other Orishas. Ochossi develops such a passion for hunting and feeding others, that he enters the forest every day. Black Gods In The 21st Century: A Cautionary Tale About Folks Osiris, one of Egypt's most important deities, was god of the underworld. She was the one who gave mud to Obatala when he was creating humans. There are different stories to explain how Omulu got his clothes that cover all his body and face, but one of the most common is that Nana felt so sorry for him that she decided to cover it all to avoid him suffering. All my work here is free. Before rising to national importance in the New Kingdom (c. 15391292 BCE), the god Amon was worshipped locally in the southern city of Thebes. Smart! Orisa ojenia: the orisha that made and created life and existence to mankind. Others suggest that Omulu is a son of Nan, who rejected him for his ugliness and disposed of him. Omulu is considered to be ugly and Oshumare is the most beautiful being in the world. Yemaya is her mother (in some accounts they are sisters). This changing nature made Oshumare a versatile one. He was usually represented as a jackal or as a man with the head of a jackal. He talked to Obatala and assigned him the task of creating land. almost always used first for war. Orunmila is the orisha of wisdom and divination. Obatala created the world, all the living things, and human beings. In the New World, Africans from many city-states were thrown together into common slavery. Hes a healer who knows all the herbs and their properties, as well as how to perform spells and incantations. the role of translator for Obatal with whom he has a very close Encyclopaedia Britannica's editors oversee subject areas in which they have extensive knowledge, whether from years of experience gained by working on that content or via study for an advanced degree. Her name also is rendered as B'sst, Baast, Ubaste, and Baset. The orishas are the emissaries of Olodumare or God almighty. As you already know, Ogun is a violent warrior. Let us know if you have suggestions to improve this article (requires login). Umbanda, Candombl, Islam, Buddhism, and others belong to this group. The god Seth was considered the murderer of Osiris and adversary of Horus. Obatal as it contains all the colors of the rainbow yet is Eshu by Akili Mansa Richards. Erinle is a wilderness god, associated with hunting, herbalism and animal husbandry. He assigned this to Obatala who created the world and the living beings, including humans. Unlike many gods, she cant be tied to a specific town, and there are no certain mentions of her in the earliest Egyptian literature. When one sees the quickness with which lightning Their union gives birth to Aganju (earth . Rituals invoking his spirit require the rapid beating of drums, which often cause his followers to fall into a deep trance. Obatala observed how hard Eshu was working and decided to compensate him. However, many of their clients are also Catholic, and they understand that such clients better identify with these beings under the guise of the saintly counterparts. He is also the creator of rainbows and a rainbow can also be the personification of Oshumare. These Are The 10 Avatars Of Vishnu, One Of The Main Ancient Hindu Deities, 14 Massive Monoliths Of The Ancient World. the numbers 7 and the colors green and black. He has a warrior side I wont enter in details about each one of them as this is not the focus of this article. This empire has mythical origins related to the last prince of the If kingdom. Amaunet - The Ogdoad Goddess of the North wind, this carried the rain, she was the female form of the originally androgynous God Amun. She protects women, children, and fishermen. This land received the name If (large abode). Ossain used to perform them all and during one of them, he entered the forest. Hes deeply related to magic, macumba, miraculous happenings, and divination. It was believed that he sailed across the sky in a boat each day and then made a passage through the underworld each night, during which he would have to defeat the snake god Apopis in order to rise again. Ill briefly write about the creation of the world according to the Yoruba so we can be more prepared to get to know the 12 main Orishas. Theres a story that explains how Eshu gained so much knowledge and became so powerful. As the goddess of the sky, Nut engulfed the sun at night and brought it back again at the beginning of the day. and others. Hes a healer who rules over the forests. She recognises herself in the colors yellow and Ogn is the god of iron, war and labor. He could see the entire empire from there. The orishas are the gods of Santeria, the beings that believers interact with on a regular basis. The Orisha And The 12 Gods Of Yoruba Mythology. The festivals took place in the open, so public participation was permitted. Shango threw thunderbolts in all directions, killing the rams. One of several deities associated with the sun, the god Re was usually represented with a human body and the head of a hawk. Greco-Roman authors connected Osiris with the god Dionysus. She, and He taught his followers the secrets of civilization (fire, smithing, hunting, politics, and war). Egypt had one of the largest and most complex pantheons of gods of any civilization in the ancient world. New World Santeria believers, on the other hand, generally only work with a handful of them. Some describe the orishas as being manifestations or aspects of Olodumare. Up there, he put the red powder in his tongue and started spitting fire. He wears light green and blue clothes. The two animals started to spread the earth, covering a large area. Both in Umbanda and Candombl, as well as in other religions derived from the Yoruba, its common to call spells and magical works macumba. Ossain is calm, emotive, and has lots of intuition. Ikol means Messenger of the House (of Olodumare). I hope you could get a clearer picture of them and now youre able to familiarise yourself with these forces. As a prize, he took Eshus gourd for him. He stood up using his walking stick and touched each one with it. An Orisha is a God or a Goddess from the Yoruba Religion and Mythology. She dresses herself in seven skirts of blue and white and like the seas He then shouted: Is the king a king even when he wears no clothes?. numbers four and six. and profound lakes she is deep and unknowable. He also demanded that these seven backed yams should be planted in front of everyone. He just observed how Obatala used to work, how he used to create humans from clay. In some traditions, she would welcome the setting sun every night; living people hoped to be welcomed into the afterlife in the same way. White is also a color that represents her. If you wish to support me,please use the button below and buy me a ko-fi! Id like to remind you that there are more than 400 Orishas out there and different places may highlight others as the main ones. List of Yoruba deities | Religion Wiki | Fandom Anyway, Oshun wanted to learn at all costs, but Obatala always said no to her. The Orisha began to lose patience with him, especially when he tried to infect them with smallpox after they laughed at his deplorable dancing skills. This name, meaning Foremost of the Westerners, was adopted by Osiris as an epithet. Osiris, one of Egypts most important deities, was god of the underworld. Obatala descended from the sky and flipped the seashell on the water. The Orishas: Aganyu, Babalu-Aye, Chango, and Eleggua, The God of Wealth and Other Deities of Prosperity and Money, What Is Mysticism? Orisha Oshumare is calm and tranquil. The earth which was inside the seashell fell on it and covered a small space. Humans provide ashe through blood or other ritual actions, and the orisha becomes a conduit of ashe from Olodumare to the petitioner to assist in the petitioner's endeavors. As such, the orishas came to be regarded as roughly equals as cultures mixed. In Shango's case, he was considered the grandson of the Orisha Oduduwa in Yoruba mythology. Although she controls storms, her main element is fire. In the forest. Orunmila is wisdom and Yemay lives and rules over the seas and lakes. heals with her sweet waters and with honey which she also owns. way we make our offerings in the manner they are accustomed to, in the And also, everyone who visited Obatala should pay tributes to Eshu when leaving. He can be represented as an old man or as a young one. Africa isnt a single place with a single pantheon, and wed be fools to try and cover all that in an eleven minute video. This If kingdom is utterly important for us here. order to protect the Guerreros initiate and to open and clear their As an immortal, he was unable to die, so he chose instead to descend into the earths surface, in a place named Ire-Ekiti. One day, Obatala decided to bathe in a river. In the Middle Kingdom (1938c. Scholars have suggested that the Greek word Aiguptosthe source of the name Egyptmay have started as a corruption of Hwt-Ka-Ptah, the name of one of Ptahs shrines. Hes related to death and also to magic. the cemetery. Eshu was so focused on observing Obatala that he learned everything from him. 12 African Gods and Goddesses: The Orisha Pantheon These 12 are the most worshipped in afro-descendant religions such as Umbanda and Candomble in Brazil and they are also popular in Africa as well in Cuban Santeria. While he was bathing, Eshu, the trickster, appeared and saw the situation. shortened version of Yey Omo Eja means "Mother Whose His element is fire and he wears black and red clothes. Identity. Though he traded the There are more than 400 Orishas out there. offerings and come to our aid. Ptah was the head of a triad of gods worshipped at Memphis. It somehow reminds the method of divination with Runes by the Norse people. The others were dancing and drinking a lot. Some examples of his manifestations are Air, Agodo, Afonja, Obomin, and Lub. Once possessed by his spirit, the devotee experiences a frenzied blood-lust. Also observe how the People who were watching suggested Eshu could make use of his magical power to beat Obatala. Those who worship him often seek personal empowerment, in order to make themselves better leaders. Apart from these religions, its totally common to find witches and Pagans energetically working with these deities too. During his lifetime, he was married to three wives (Oshun, Oba, and Oya). Aganju and Yemaya have a child called Orung. She caused strong winds that lifted Omulus clothes, revealing his appearance. In the Old Kingdom (c. 25752130 BCE), before Osiris rose to prominence as the lord of the underworld, Anubis was considered the principal god of the dead. Theres a story stating about how Nana forbade her children and followers from using knives and metals in general during rituals and ceremonies. Osiris and Horus were thus father and son. One day she simply decided she wanted to learn the art of divination using Bzios (the divination tool I mention at the beginning of this article), but this art could not be taught to her. axe. Over time she grew in importance, though, eventually becoming the most important goddess in the pantheon. Because the festivals took place in the open, public participation was permitted, and by the early 2nd millennium bce it had become fashionable to be buried along the processional road at Abydos or to erect a cenotaph there as a representative of the dead. It is said she couldnt have any child of her own. Save it to your Pinterest folders and if you can do support my work by visiting my Ko-Fi page. Later, the sprouting grain symbolized the vital strength of Osiris. He did so and the king offered him lots of riches. Egyptian God. With time, he felt like this was a curse imposed by his mother, Nan. Does this discovery prove ancient Egyptians traveled to the Americas 3000 years ago? Through the Table of If From her death, many Orisha children were born (now comes the conflicting information): I said there is conflicting information because there are several stories that suggest Yemaya, Oshun, and Oya are sisters too. The origin of Osiris is obscure; he was a local god of Busiris, in Lower Egypt, and may have been a personification of chthonic (underworld) fertility. Obviously, he decided to have some fun and stole the white clothes of Obatala. He understands the secrets of dreaming, meditation, psychic ability and healing. Because the right and left eyes of Horus were associated, respectively, with the sun and the moon, the loss and restoration of Horuss left eye gave a mythical explanation for the phases of the moon. that is pure, wise peaceful and compassionate. Erinle by Mod Nomad Orisha Yemaya, also known as Yemanja or Janaina, is one of the most popular Orisha of all. they rule over. The following is a list of Yoruba deities Olrn - the supreme creator deity Aganju - Orisha of volcanoes, the wilderness and rivers Aja - Orisha of the forest, the animals within it, and herbal healing Ayao - Orisha of air Babalu Aye - Orisha of the Earth and strongly associated with infectious disease (particularly smallpox, leprosy and AIDS) and healing Egungun-oya - Orisha of divination .

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