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orishas and egyptian gods

African Pantheons and the Orishas: Crash Course World Mythology #11 CrashCourse 14.5M subscribers 1.2M views 5 years ago World Mythology So, today we're talking about African Pantheons. The curation of this content is at the discretion of the author, and not necessarily reflective of the views of Encyclopaedia Britannica or its editorial staff. Instead, one of the roles of the priests of Santeria is to apply applicable patakis to the situation at hand. In underworld scenes showing the judgment undergone by the deceased after their deaths, Thoth is depicted as weighing the hearts of the deceased and reporting the verdict to Osiris, the god of the dead. observe the orishas at work in the world and in your own lives you will Osiris was also identified with Soker, an ancient Memphite god of the dead. Inside the forest, he met Aroni, a gnome wearing a hood and hopping on one leg only. Oshosi is the hunter and the scout of the orishas and assumes Whenever he was in love with someone, he would become a monster and lose his lover. Theres a story that explains how Eshu gained so much knowledge and became so powerful. Orisha Eshu, also known as Esu or Bar is the trickster one and also the most popular Orisha out there. Omissions? creator of the world and humanity. name. In Ancient Rome, Anubis was combined with Hermes (since both play a part in . Ossain started roaming the lands. Just like her mother, shes also calm and tranquil. Besides this, hes also associated with prosperity and abundance, mainly in the food aspect. It was a strange red powder. This is the list of orisha youll find more information below: Orisha Obatala is also known as Oshala, Orishanla, and Oshaluf. Orisha Yemaya wears white and blue dresses. Obatala was enraged at his brother for usurping his position, but he eventually conceded to his Oduduwas divine authority. He is now viewed as a compassionate and humble deity, curing people of sickness and disease. These devotees often commit violent acts of self-harm to demonstrate their tolerance to pain. Ochossi and Ogun are brothers. However, Yemaya couldnt forgive Ochossi for disobeying her and she doesnt accept him back at home. Then, he placed the five-fingered hen and the pigeon in this space covered by earth. It's just spreading historical, mythological and magical information. However, since Osiris, not Anubis, rules the Land of the Dead, a more accurate Greek equivalent to Anubis would be Thanatos. the root of all the paths or manifestations, Olokun is the source of The many, many Orishas cover all aspects of life, and can be pretty specialized. The rest of the population follows Catholicism, Protestantism, Spiritism, or no religion at all. A common divination tool is called bzios (In English it is called Cowrie Shells reading) which consists of 16 shells that are thrown on a prepared surface. The heaven realm is the domain of Olorun, a sun god. The two animals started to spread the earth, covering a large area. All life started in the sea, the amneotic fluid inside the Olorun was responsible for having the idea of creating firm land. He got uncontrollable as usual and when he noticed, the entire empire was burning. So happy that he decided to share the realm of the dead with her. In the original African belief system from which Santeria originates, there are hundreds of orishas. Differently from the Hindu Religion and Mythology, for example, there are no ancient books telling the foundations of its beliefs or describing the creation of the world according to them. Learn Religions. Ogun, as a blacksmith and Orisha of wars, went well prepared for the fight. Santeros (Santeria priests) do not believe that the orishas and the saints are identical. his priests unfold the secrets of the universe and the secrets of the Thanks! He is also the owner of all heads and the mind. Orunmila is wisdom and propitiated and always called first before any other orisha as he opens Seths appearance poses a problem for Egyptologists. Through the Table of If 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. Babal-Ay (originally Shopona) is a healing god. Unlike many gods, she cant be tied to a specific town, and there are no certain mentions of her in the earliest Egyptian literature. They were here long before we came. No one wanted to dance with him as usual. From this argument, a fight started. One powerful talisman of Polish Catholicism. His most notable role is that of the psychopomp (guardian of the dead). People would wait for him to heal them. 12. One day, Ogun arrives from a battle and finds Ochossi scared and isolated. Greco-Roman authors connected Osiris with the god Dionysus. Shango returned home. As you already know, Ogun is a violent warrior. He is most often represented by a double headed Save it to your Pinterest folders and if you can do support my work by visiting my Ko-Fi page. He is revered by all the hunting communities and is often employed by the Orishas as a scout, helping them to locate lost items. Oy on Earth for a time. they are about to do. Umbanda, Candombl, Islam, Buddhism, and others belong to this group. His formidable power and has empowered humans to build civilizations and thrive from his wealth and abundance. Orunmila is the orisha of wisdom and divination. So he tried a bit more. the femme fatale of the orishas and once saved the world by luring One day she asked a Babalawo for some advice and she was told she would have children if he made an eb (food offering) with lamb. Ogun is revered as a mighty god, called upon by warriors for strength in battle. . Obatal as it contains all the colors of the rainbow yet is Their religion is mostly made of customs, practices, and beliefs that are orally passed through generations. witness to our destinies in the making as well. He continues going. done in either world without his permission. Were going to focus on a dozen or so. There are stories that explain how he became a hunter, as well as how he started living in the forests. From about 2000 BCE, it was believed that every man, not just the deceased kings, became associated with Osiris at death. There are more than 400 Orishas out there. She tells her son to avoid going to the forest, but he doesnt listen to her. Obatala descended from the sky and flipped the seashell on the water. Osiris, one of Egypts most important deities, was god of the underworld. Orisha Oya, also commonly known as Ians, is the Orisha of storms, thunder, and strong winds. The characteristics of individual gods could be hard to pin down. Table of If to Orunmila in exchange for the gift of dance, his He stood up using his walking stick and touched each one with it. Aganju by Robert Love He taught his followers the secrets of civilization (fire, smithing, hunting, politics, and war). Yes, they are While every effort has been made to follow citation style rules, there may be some discrepancies. In the New World, these beings are commonly seen as family: they marry each other, give birth to others, and so forth. He tried to punish her, but she fled. Its said there are over 400 different Orishas out there! Seven days after, Shangos wife Oya (Ians) traveled to Eshus house to get the medicine. Though it was Hes deeply related to magic, macumba, miraculous happenings, and divination. Shango asked her if Eshu gave instructions on how to use that powder. Her name, a 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. Updates? He can be represented as an old man or as a young one. This way, Ossain was capable of identifying them easily. One of several deities associated with the sun, the god Re was usually represented with a human body and the head of a hawk. Role. He saw plants capable of healing different kinds of pain, hemorrhages, fever, and much more. Obatala noticed Eshu but I was too late. drumming, women, song and eating. It is said she had some children, but two of them symbolize opposite aspects of life. Please refer to the appropriate style manual or other sources if you have any questions. After trials and errors, he finally managed to create human beings who populated the land and worshiped the Orishas as their creators and natural sources of power. This way, offerings to Nana go directly to her. Catholic. In his fully animal form, he has a thin doglike body and a straight tail with a tuft on the end. Osiris, also called Usir, one of the most important gods of ancient Egypt. In order to do so, Ossain should remove the native plants. The Orisha And The 12 Gods Of Yoruba Mythology. The heaven realm is the domain of Olorun, a sun god. and profound lakes she is deep and unknowable. Here are a few of the most important deities to know. These macumbas can be done with the energies of the Orishas too, though this is not a requirement. She lives on the riverbed. Bastet or Bast (Ancient Egyptian: bstjt, Coptic: , romanized: Oubaste /uast/, Phoenician: , romanized: 'bst, or , romanized: bst) was a goddess of ancient Egyptian religion, worshipped as early as the Second Dynasty (2890 BCE). There was no taste at all. colors which are their marks, and each has their own favorite foods and Shes also associated with riches, pregnancy, and fertility. Though a specific number can't be placed on the amount of Orishas, there is an exciting notion around it. During his lifetime, he was married to three wives (Oshun, Oba, and Oya). Cookies collect information about your preferences and your device and are used to make the site work as you expect it to, to understand how you interact with the site, and to show advertisements that are targeted to your interests. Osiris was not only the ruler of the dead but also the power that granted all life from the underworld, from vegetation to the annual flood of the Nile River. If youre interested in the religions themselves, I suggest reading the following articles: Though differences will always occur, all the 12 main Orishas Ill present here are mainly worshiped in Umbanda and Candombl. Orisha Sango wears red clothes and carries two double axes in his hands. During the night, Shango took the mysterious red powder and climbed to the top of a mountain. Kokou by Assasin Monkey Many people, including Orisha and humans, used to visit Obatalas house. The goddess Hathor was usually depicted as a cow, as a woman with the head of a cow, or as a woman with cows ears. He is the owner of all Among these religions we can highlight three, which are the biggest ones: These religions differ from each other, but their beliefs comprise the Orisha energy and presence. 11. Even if a priest of one orisha died, there would be others in the community trained to work with that same orisha. According to the myth, Osiris was a king of Egypt who was murdered and dismembered by his brother Seth. the numbers 7 and the colors green and black. evolve through the form of a fish before becoming a human baby. Living humans were the third category, and the most The god Seth was considered the murderer of Osiris and adversary of Horus. Id like to remind you that there are more than 400 Orishas out there and different places may highlight others as the main ones. Although she controls storms, her main element is fire. In that sense, they work more like Western pantheons like those of the Greeks or Romans. Catherine Beyer is a practicing Wiccan who has taught religion in at Lakeland College in Wisconsin as well as humanities and Western culture at the University of Wisconsin, Green Bay. She was the one who gave mud to Obatala when he was creating humans. Finally, there is Eshu, a trickster God, and patron of crossroads. One day, Orung waited for his father to be absent and raped Yemaya. Anubis. relationship with the orisha of divination, Orunmila. almost always used first for war. While some really wanted to be with him, others were only victims of his desires. Hathor embodied motherhood and fertility, and it was believed that she protected women in childbirth. The orishas are the gods of Santeria, the beings that believers interact with on a regular basis. Like the volcano, Aganju is noted for his legendary strength and his ability to bring about drastic change. Instead were going to focus on Yoruba religion from west Africa, and the Orishas that populate Yoruba stories. In many ways, therefore, understanding an orisha is like understanding another human being. She made it. All the others laughed at him. The purpose of this site is to share knowledge about the Goddess and mythologies in different parts of the world. Immediately, Ogun, even though he was tired, initiates a fight against all the invaders and defeats them all! 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. He can see into the distant past and the far-flung future, granting him with a profound wisdom. "The Orishas." Shang took the form of the fourth Alafin (supreme king) of Orisana : the great orisha OBA ba. Madonna. He takes an active role in the affairs of both heaven and earth. Shes a crone who knows all the secret spells and hidden knowledge out there. He decides to enter the forest and look for his brother. As such, these stories give multiple origin stories for the orishas. The 4th-dynasty architect Imhotep was deified after his death as a son of Ptah. themselves and are recognised through their different numbers and He is said to live in the forest with his Orisha brothers part of the time. The creator of mankind, and god of purity and redemption, Obatala is a great example of how the orishas can sometimes show proof of a fallible, human-like character. After receiving an eb (food offering), Eshu helped the man by deceiving the kings guards. I write this because I was already literally attacked on Twitter because of these differences. Eshu by Akili Mansa Richards. New World Santeria believers, on the other hand, generally only work with a handful of them. Second, they protected her from Shangos fury when she tried the magic powder made by Eshu to Sango (I wrote about it above, in Sangos section). Yemay lives and rules over the seas and lakes. (Amonet, Amentet, Amentit, Imentet, Imentit, and Ament) Anuket - A water Goddess whose name means "embracer." Her waters lapped the sacred island, Seheil. During the 123 years when the Polish state was absent from the map of Europe, religion played an important role in the preservation of Polish identity both among Poles at home and the many who emigrated, by choice or otherwise. Thanks for reading! Humans themselves dont have the power or knowledge to play alone. contradictory nature. Olokun presides over this watery abyss, an aquatic realm populated by sea spirits. https://www.learnreligions.com/who-are-the-orishas-95922 (accessed March 5, 2023). world) and with Oshn, who is his apetev with whom he this reason all who are to be initiated as priests, no matter what most often approach to aid us in money matters. Eshu would gather them and eventually take them to Obatala in great numbers, not individually. Ptahs original association seems to have been with craftsmen and builders. Res cult was centered in Heliopolis, now a suburb of Cairo. White is most appropriate for White is also a color that represents her. The plantation was a success! Their tales and beliefs are as old as time, predating our common era. unfolding of our lives. babbling brook and the flash flood reflect her changeable moods. Each African city-state had its own single, patron deity. The orishas are the emissaries of Olodumare or God almighty. He understands the secrets of dreaming, meditation, psychic ability and healing. With time, he felt like this was a curse imposed by his mother, Nan. When one sees the quickness with which lightning The party was over. He talked to Obatala and assigned him the task of creating land. This way, Eshu not only became knowledgeable but also rich and prosperous. numbers four and six. Oya, however, started to dance with him. In the New World, Africans from many city-states were thrown together into common slavery. Ossain used to perform them all and during one of them, he entered the forest. This If kingdom is utterly important for us here. With her dance, she causes winds and shakes the iruquer, her baton with buffalo (or horse) tail capable of sending eguns away. Nana didnt like the idea of having the permission of Ogun for her works or for being praised. Ochossi is intuitive and emotional. In her earliest forms, the cat goddess Bastet was represented as a woman with the head of a lion or a wild cat. 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. Hes the one who provides food and protection for all people. 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. 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. Sometimes these Orishas would go down from the sky using spiderwebs to play in the water. I write this page as a way to honor these forces. It is understood that the orishas wear many masks in order for people to better understand them. There was a time when they conducted a power struggle against Olorun and tried to persuade him to abdicate for sixteen years. anting him with a profound wisdom. Hes related to death and also to magic. Orisha View source The Orisha are a pantheon deities worshipped by the Yoruba people of West Africa. She also had an important funerary aspect, being known as the lady of the west. (Tombs were generally built on the west bank of the Nile.) and others. Oshumare met Eshu, the trickster Orisha. After this, she fled to the top of a mountain, but he followed her. Please refer to the appropriate style manual or other sources if you have any questions. As the wife of the god of the underworld, Isis was also one of the main deities concerned with rites for the dead. Shes usually considered Yemayas sister, but some tales also describe her as Yemayas daughter. Ogun, as I explained above, is a warrior and he creates weapons. Eshu stood at a crossroad and stopped everyone on Obatalas behalf. This land received the name If (large abode). Amon was a god of the air, and the name probably means the Hidden One. He was usually represented as a man wearing a crown with two vertical plumes. She is The goddess Isis was the mother of the king and was thus the mother of Horus and consort of Osiris. All was lost. She tried a bit. In this region, the powerful Oyo Empire flourished. Obatala became albine. Apart from this story, Oshumares stories are usually less dramatic as he is usually more associated with beauty and riches. All my work here is free. Hes a healer who rules over the forests. 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. Essentially, Orishas represent the powers of nature, as well as time, life, death, and rebirth. 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. Sky Woman: The Overlooked Iroquois Influence on America.

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