orishas and egyptian gods orishas and egyptian gods

Possible Greek/Roman Equivalent (s) Other. For His colors are red and white and he recognises himself in the Nut, in Egyptian religion she is a Goddess of the sky, frequently portrayed alongside the African God of the earth, Geb. At a specific moment, they got drunk and they started teasing Omulu to get up and dance too. I write this because I was already literally attacked on Twitter because of these differences. Elegba (also referred to Eleggua or Eleggu) is the owner of the The many, many Orishas cover all aspects of life, and can be pretty specialized. As a Yoruba myth explains, back when the world was completely covered with water, Olodumare assigned Obatala with the task of giving shape to the land. way we make our offerings in the manner they are accustomed to, in the Slavic Svarog, Possibly god of celestial fire and blacksmithing. Orisha Nana wears purple dresses. over the forces of nature and the endeavors of humanity. Fearing her sons safety, Yemaya seeks advice from a Babalawo (oracles in Yoruba culture are known as Babalawo and Iyalawo the first is for men and the latter for women) and he tells her to stop Ochossi from entering the depths of the forest because Ossain, the Orisha who ruled over the forests, could trap him inside. Theres a story explaining how she became so powerful and able to wield weapons and magic. To perform it, Obatala was given a shell full of earth, a five-fingered hen, and a pigeon. During the meeting, Esu took the chance to cause some mischief and told Oshumare that Nan was really guilty for his shapeshifting curse and convinced him to take revenge on her by stealing her crown and becoming the king of the Jeje people. Even knives must be made of wood. https://www.britannica.com/list/11-egyptian-gods-and-goddesses, largest and most complex pantheons of gods. Hathor embodied motherhood and fertility, and it was believed that she protected women in childbirth. the root of all the paths or manifestations, Olokun is the source of Eshu would gather them and eventually take them to Obatala in great numbers, not individually. Oya, however, started to dance with him. Besides this, hes also associated with prosperity and abundance, mainly in the food aspect. Erinle by Mod Nomad He is revered by all the hunting communities and is often employed by the Orishas as a scout, helping them to locate lost items. Humans and orishas, however, provide ashe to each other through a variety of rituals. Many people, including Orisha and humans, used to visit Obatalas house. They were originally divine spirits who incarnated as earthly human-like beings and became heroes of their people. Most had a principle association (for example, with the sun or the underworld) and form. He lived inside a forest and he would have sexual relations with any woman who entered the woods. He continues going. Everything consists of songs, stories, and practices. Eshu did it differently. Ptah was the head of a triad of gods worshipped at Memphis. He is an extremely hot blooded and If you wish to support me,please use the button below and buy me a ko-fi! His son Horus successfully fought against Seth, avenging Osiris and becoming the new king of Egypt. Let us know if you have suggestions to improve this article (requires login). strong-willed orisha that loves all the pleasures of the world: dance, relationship. done in either world without his permission. It says the Orisha threw a party and Omulu went wearing his traditional straw clothes. 1630 bce) the gods festivals consisted of processions and nocturnal rites and were celebrated at the temple of Abydos, where Osiris had assimilated the very ancient god of the dead, Khenty-Imentiu. different colors. They recognise themselves and are recognised through their different numbers and colors which are their marks, and each has their own favorite foods and other things which they like to receive as offerings and gifts. Anubis was concerned with funerary practices and the care of the dead. Here are a few of the most important deities to know. Ogun, as I explained above, is a warrior and he creates weapons. All the others laughed at him. His element is the earth. This name, meaning Foremost of the Westerners, was adopted by Osiris as an epithet. T. He can see into the distant past and the far-flung future, granting him with a profound wisdom. the role of translator for Obatal with whom he has a very close From now on, Ill bring the Orisha list with the 12 most important ones. allowed to witness the creation of the universe by Olorun and bears If means something like the large abode and it was the first land created by Obatala, the Creator Orisha. Her other name, Iansa or Ians, means mother to 9 children. But they cant figure out what animal hes supposed to be. He takes an active role in the affairs of both heaven and earth. observing that though she always heads toward her sister Yemay this reason all who are to be initiated as priests, no matter what 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. Immediately after drinking it, Ochossi loses his memory and from this moment on he started living with Ossain in the depths of the forests. After a long travel, he went back to the forests, where he lives until today. After passing on his secrets and guiding humanity for many years, Ogun grew old. Does this discovery prove ancient Egyptians traveled to the Americas 3000 years ago? 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. He usually has a long snout and long ears that are squared at the tips. Ancient Egyptians celebrated Osiris with festivals that consisted of processions and nocturnal rites at the temple of Abydos. He was always alone, living alone in one specific party, all the Orishas were together. Learn Religions, Mar. She asked what had happened and he told her how Eshu had tricked him. They write new content and verify and edit content received from contributors. And also, everyone who visited Obatala should pay tributes to Eshu when leaving. Depicted as a falcon or as a man with a falcons head, Horus was a sky god associated with war and hunting. This man proposed a challenge to the king to prove he was no lier. By about 2400 bce, however, Osiris clearly played a double role: he was both a god of fertility and the embodiment of the dead and resurrected king. For example, theres a story in which a king sent a man to trial for making gossip and spreading misinformation inside the kingdom. evolve through the form of a fish before becoming a human baby. Living humans were the third category, and the most 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. He knows all the occult powers and rules. Oshn is knowledge, for wisdom without knowledge is useless, and He is known as the omnipotent ruler of the Yoruba pantheon, whose light brings life and vitality to all living things. 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). In Africa, however, there was no such familiarity between orishas, in part because their followers were not strongly connected. The challenge, however, WAS a lie itself. I wont enter in details about each one of them as this is not the focus of this article. 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. Orisha Sango wears red clothes and carries two double axes in his hands. In the original African belief system from which Santeria originates, there are hundreds of orishas. Obatala felt reluctant but eventually agreed with her. Omulu is one of Nan Burukes sons. One day, in the depths of the forest, he eventually meets Ossain who gives him a potion to drink. 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.). Both continued fighting and Obatala eventually won it. and profound lakes she is deep and unknowable. The pantheon of Orishas (traditionally followed by the Yoruba people) is a sequence of divine spirits dispatched by the supreme god Olodumare. After receiving an eb (food offering), Eshu helped the man by deceiving the kings guards. Oya is married to Shango, a warrior Orisha who also has fire as an element. He was believed to have invented language and the hieroglyphic script and to serve as a scribe and adviser for the gods. has an extremely close relationship. 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. 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. Shango noticed she had taken the medicine and he got mad at her. The orishas are the gods of Santeria, the beings that believers interact with on a regular basis. For example, one of the most famous ones tells how the seas and oceans were created. Oshn rules over the sweet waters of the world, the brooks, His colors are green and yellow which reflect Even if a priest of one orisha died, there would be others in the community trained to work with that same orisha. 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. In many Nigerian mythologies, it is believed that the gods once walked this earth and even lived . No life existed in this water, though. Orisa ojenia: the orisha that made and created life and existence to mankind. The next step was the creation of all life. He was the only orisha 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 . Olodumare alone is self-sustaining, not needing ashe to be provided by another source. 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. Some say Shango had 3 wives. Orisha Oshun wears golden yellow dresses. She made it. As the people began to reproduce, new lands were required for them to settle. An Orisha is a God or a Goddess from the Yoruba Religion and Mythology. All life started in the sea, the amneotic fluid inside the and female paths. Beyer, Catherine. These devotees often commit violent acts of self-harm to demonstrate their tolerance to pain. Orisha Ochosi, also known as Oxossi or Od, is the hunter. Olorun was responsible for having the idea of creating firm land. Each region has their own main Orishas and stories may also vary. Agemo - the chameleon servant of the supreme god Olorun. Since Anubis is the god of the dead, his Greek equivalent would be Hades. This is the source of Obatala created trees, animals, and many other things. 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. They rule Part of this comes from the fact that these stories come from a variety of different African cities, each of which had their own ideas about the nature of the orishas. He did so and the king offered him lots of riches. 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. Obatal is the kindly father of all the orishas and all 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. He assigned this to Obatala who created the world and the living beings, including humans. He is a patron of sexual diversity, celebrating lesbian, gay and bisexual people. relationship with the orisha of divination, Orunmila. order to protect the Guerreros initiate and to open and clear their Those who worship him often seek personal empowerment, in order to make themselves better leaders. Two gods rule over both these primordial realms. In the region known as Yorubaland (today Nigeria, Benin, and Togo) and variations are found across the globe. Through the Table of If It says that he initially had nothing. Orunmila was impressed! Oduduwa by Jianing Hu 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. When the smoke disappeared, Obatala noticed his skin color also disappeared. Her name also is rendered as B'sst, Baast, Ubaste, and Baset. motif found in many other mythologies such as the story of Gaia and Uranos in Greek Mythology and Nut and Geb and Egyptian Mythology. For some reason, Oshumare was cursed to live as a shapeshifter. streams and rivers, embodying love, fertility. Their tales and beliefs are as old as time, predating our common era. Elegba is always He didnt want to dance, mainly because he had a wooden leg and he couldnt dance like the others. Aganju by Robert Love Erinle is a wilderness god, associated with hunting, herbalism and animal husbandry. He ran off with the clothes and left Obatala naked. He talked to Obatala and assigned him the task of creating land. The idea was to create a space where all of them could go not only to play but also to walk and do other things. Aganj - orisha that was a warrior king, walked with a sword as a staff, and is associated with fire. He taught his followers the secrets of civilization (fire, smithing, hunting, politics, and war). Shes also associated with riches, pregnancy, and fertility. Their religion is mostly made of customs, practices, and beliefs that are orally passed through generations. they are about to do. heals with her sweet waters and with honey which she also owns. All my work here is free. Seth was the god of chaos, violence, deserts, and storms. He is the owner of all He also symbolized death, resurrection, and the cycle of Nile floods that Egypt relied on for agricultural fertility. his priests unfold the secrets of the universe and the secrets of the Osiris festivals symbolically reenacting the gods fate were celebrated annually in various towns throughout Egypt. Copyright Ancient Code. Shango, the impulsive, only had a stone. He was also the embodiment of the divine kingship, and in some eras the reigning king was considered to be a manifestation of Horus. they are of one heart. Get a Britannica Premium subscription and gain access to exclusive content. process). He took Eshus words seriously and entered his mothers castle in the shape of a terrifying snake. He is envisioned as an extremely wealthy deity, dressed in refined garments, adorned with coral beads and plumage from a hunted game. Ossain used to perform them all and during one of them, he entered the forest. Yemaya is her mother (in some accounts they are sisters). Ogn that clears the roads with his machete. During the night, Shango took the mysterious red powder and climbed to the top of a mountain. Egyptian God. Sky Woman: The Overlooked Iroquois Influence on America. 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. In the New World, these beings are commonly seen as family: they marry each other, give birth to others, and so forth. Osiris was one of the most important gods of ancient Egypt. "Mother of Nine" in which she rules over the egun or dead. White is most appropriate for Over the course of Egyptian history hundreds of gods and goddesses were worshipped. Hes related to death and also to magic. Although she is mostly related to the sea and the salty waters, she is also worshiped by people who live far from the oceans. In any form, hes a wise one. His element is fire and he wears black and red clothes. Although she controls storms, her main element is fire. The gods of the land keep the peace and the people in check. name. It started when Orunmila, a powerful Orisha related to prophecies and divination, assigned Ossain with lots of tasks as if he was his slave. Olodumare Her number is nine which recalls her title of Yansa or Oshumare met Eshu, the trickster Orisha. One day, Obatala decided to bathe in a river. Now that you have a background, we can go on. The number of orishas varies among believers. Please refer to the appropriate style manual or other sources if you have any questions. They recognise Though he traded the Hes also the one whos responsible for work in general. The Orisha And The 12 Gods Of Yoruba Mythology. document.getElementById( "ak_js_1" ).setAttribute( "value", ( new Date() ).getTime() ); You have entered an incorrect email address! According to the griot spirits of the Djalia, the Orisha originated during immemorial times in the land that would become Wakanda. Ogun created many things that helped mankind to flourish. The orishas are often best understood by observing the forces of nature Oduduwa joined with the humans and begat a new bloodline of kings (the Yoruba called him Ooni of Ife, the progenitor of the Yoruba people). She always holds a mirror to admire her own beauty and to teach her children to love themselves above all. He ordered all the sorcerers of the empire to produce some kind of magical potion for him, but all of them failed. So happy that he decided to share the realm of the dead with her. Firstly because of the eb she prepared to become a mother. the human and the divine, as he is child-like messenger between the two Its said there are over 400 different Orishas out there! Other times they are birthed as higher beings. "The Orishas." Peacocks and vultures are hers and we use It is understood that the orishas wear many masks in order for people to better understand them. Osiris, one of Egypt's most important deities, was god of the underworld. According to the Osiris myth, Horus was the son of Isis and Osiris, magically conceived after the murder of Osiris by his brother Seth. Oya wears a red dress and holds a sword in one of her hands. Identity. 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. And, of course, he got mad. Ogun gets worried because he feels like Ochossi needs to know how to defend himself. they rule over. Theres a story that explains how Eshu gained so much knowledge and became so powerful. His reign ended when he inadvertently destroyed his palace with lightning. Of course, he drinks it! Shes usually considered Yemayas sister, but some tales also describe her as Yemayas daughter. Osiris, also called Usir, one of the most important gods of ancient Egypt. Orisha Obatala always wears white clothes. Olokun presides over this watery abyss, an aquatic realm populated by sea spirits. In many ways, therefore, understanding an orisha is like understanding another human being. He then shouted: Is the king a king even when he wears no clothes?. As such, these stories give multiple origin stories for the orishas. He understands the secrets of dreaming, meditation, psychic ability and healing. Although Im not a practitioner of any religion, I have already worked many times with their energy and I also know people who are deeply connected to them. Basically, in the beginning, there was only water. 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. Yoruba is no different.