The belief in reincarnation is linked to ideas from their ancestors. Additionally, the goddess Brigid associations include fire, flames and light. However in the Homeric Hymn to Aphrodite, we read. She is also said to have the ability to foretell the outcome of battles and predict violent deaths. As far as she was concerned, love didn't equal sex. In the Golden Age, mortals and gods mingled freely. The triple goddess is composed of the goddesses Badb, Macha and Nemain. 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. You also have the option to opt-out of these cookies. Lugh, is one of the most important of all the gods of the Celts. She also had an adopted son, Erichthonius. Above: Diego Velazquez, The Triumph of Bacchus, a.k.a. You Might Like Asexual Goddesses Published: Jun 19, 2020. 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. Short story taking place on a toroidal planet or moon involving flying, How to handle a hobby that makes income in US. Eight gods (Apollo, Areas, Dionysus, Hades, Hephaestus, Hermes, Poseidon, Zeus) are arguably the most important of the Greek gods. Alastor God of family feuds and avenger of evil deeds. She was the wife and/or sister of Tlaloc and was also the patroness of childbirth. Lugh was a master craftsman and skilled warrior, known for his ability to throw a spear a very long distance and hence his other name, He is believed to have led the Tuatha d Danann to victory over the invading army of, It is said that Lugh initiated a special games event, known as the, Legend states that Lugh was also a bit of a trickster and is sometimes known as the. His name means Hummingbird of the Left and he was the patron of war and sacrifice. The notion of reincarnation is that deceased family members make their journey back to life as a new baby in the same . 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. - 400 C.E. 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: :). The crow symbol is thought to connect with Badb (meaning crow in Irish). Their roles appear to be more all encompassing than just related to birth and children. Among Women: From the Homosocial to the Homoerotic in the Ancient World. The three sisters are known as the three Charities or Graces. Reporting this earned him a blinding by Hera. Traditional Hindu literary sources do not speak of homosexuality directly, [1] but changes of sex, homoerotic encounters, and . She was a very powerful goddess as well, very strong willed. By continuing to use our site, you agree to our Private Policy and Terms of Use. Above: Francois Joseph Navez, The Nymph Salmacis and Hermaphroditus. There is one story in which the god [Hephaestus] was told by Ares that Athena wanted to make love to him, so when she asked him to make her some new weapons, he said that the only payment he would need was her love. You can find the links to the blogs here. On the other hand, she was the goddess of the crafts, many of which (such as weaving) are more associated with women. 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. She never married and she never took on any lovers. 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. He covered the mounds in mist so as to make them invisible to outsiders. As I remember younger men would couple with older men prior to marriage in Greek culture. His prayer too is granted, and the pool of Salmacis was reputed to take away the virility of men. Quetzalcoatl is also linked to the idea that the last Aztec emperor, Moctezuma, believed that the arrival of the Spanish conquistador Cortes was the fulfilling of a prophecy about the return of the god. I don't expect that the ancient Greeks shared our modern conception of asexuality to a T; however, if it's possible to identify that ancient Greek writings reflect an idea of asexuality comparable to our modern one, that would probably count as an example. Forseti - God of justice, peace and truth. Why not check out the Children of Lir or learn more about the Morrigan goddess? 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. Enjoyed this post? Are there any recorded discrepancies between The Odyssey as oral tradition and The Odyssey as Homer transcribed it? As the goddess of summer and wealth, ine represents the abundance that the land has to offer during its most plentiful season. - Dionysus, god of the parties, was bisexual. For some reason, I just always liked her attitude, if that makes any sense. Mona Koza, She too, like the Morrigan is thought to have the ability to shapeshift and is represented by a red mare, known for its speed. In all the temples of the gods she has a share of honor, and among all mortal men she is chief of the goddesses. 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. Does anyone know of any other virgin/asexual gods or goddesses in other religions and cultures? He is primarily the god of justice and oaths. By Above: Caravaggio, Amor Vincet Omnia. The fertility and health of cattle was also of primary importance as a persons wealth was often counted in terms of cattle. Size queen. The hunt especially was important to them, and if they didn't have her blessing, then the hunt would not turn out very well. During his female years, Teiresias became a priestess of Hera, married, and even had children, according to Hesiod. Tezcatlipoca was the patron of the night, of the north, and in many aspects represented the opposite of his brother, Quetzalcoatl. Huitzilopochtli (pronounced Weetz-ee-loh-POSHT-lee) was the patron god of the Aztecs. Maestri, Nicoletta. Here, I mean asexuality to be the total absence of sexual attraction, with anyone. Most of the evidence supporting the worship of Cernunnos was found in Gaul (the name given to France by the Romans) and Britain, with less influence in Ireland. Above: Peter Paul Rubens, Artemis and Callisto, The AmazonsThe original race of warrior women, the Amazons of myth lived in a society free of men, one where the powerful women would only have heterosexual sex once or twice a year -- for reproductive purposes only -- with male slaves abducted from neighboring villages or taken prisoner during wars, according to Strabo. 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. 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. I'm not catholic (or any sort of Christian, or any sort of religion, actually) but I think I have prayed to the Virgin Mary before. Maestri, Nicoletta. While tolerance is often presented as a sign of civilization's progress, a reading of Greek mythology reveals greater acceptance of homosexuality in ancient Athens than can be seen within today's world religions. Lugh is thought to have been the father of demi god and famous Irish warrior, Are Celtic gods immortal? Where does this (supposedly) Gibson quote come from? Other tales link him romantically to the sea goddess Fand. Above: Diego Velazquez, The Triumph of Bacchus, a.k.a. Tezcatlipoca (pronounced Tez-cah-tlee-poh-ka)'s name means Smoking Mirror and he is often represented as an evil power, associated with death and cold. Iphis was born female but raised male by his mother, who concealed the truth because her husband wanted a male heir. Often, the origins of the Aztec gods can be traced back to those from earlier Mesoamerican religionsor shared by other societies of the day. Her name means the exalted one in old Irish. Plato was a wrestler who competed in the Isthmian Games, a Greek athletic event similar to the Olympics. Athena, Artemis, and Hestia come to mind as examples. If so, is there both asexuality in the Pantheon and asexuality outside of it, or is it just one of the two? IsisThe Egyptian goddess, also worshipped by Greeks, is known for solving a gender identity issue of yore. He is usually portrayed wearing a flayed human skin representing the death of the old and the growth of the new vegetation. Consort: Iunn. 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. In a variation of the Hyacinth myth, it was Hermes' lover Crocus who was killed by a discus thrown by a god before being turned into a flower. 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. Bisexual. Well, many scholars suggest the idea of a lesbian culture is just modern fantasy, though there is art from the time that depicts Amazonian Queen Penthesilia accepting a love gift from a Thracian huntress. 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. Do we want tags for literary movements and periods? Athena really did not have any interest in sex at all. I posted this at the livejournal community, and it's become a pretty interesting topic, so I thought I would post it here. She also set her sights on C Chulainn and tried unsuccessfully to seduce him. Today we are discussing the three virgin goddesses of the Greek pantheon, Hestia, Athena and Artem. However, that ended poorly when Myrmex pretended to have invented the plow, one of Athena's creations, and Athena turned the girl into an ant. She acquired the land from the King of Leinster by promising to only take as much ground as her cloak covered. Hestia/Vesta - The goddess of the home. Hestia, goddess of the hearth, the fireside, architecture, domesticity, the family, the home, and the state. Why is it so hard for so many people now to do the same? Half goat. Donn, the Irish god of death may have been an aspect of the Dagda. Despite his strong protests and attempts to throw her off, she forcibly entwines herself around him. This category only includes cookies that ensures basic functionalities and security features of the website. I am not familiar with the Greek sources enough to know whether the detail of Hermaphroditus being uninterested in sex with Salmacis is them. 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. Besides dalliances with numerous nymphs, Apollo was also lover to Macedonian Prince Hyakinthos, who died catching a thrown discus, then turned by the god into the hyacinth flower. They took him on as a foster son and taught him the skills of a warrior, an orator and how to defend the vulnerable. By some accounts, she was Callisto's lover before the nymph was raped by Zeus. Good, fruitful harvests were critical for the survival of Celtic people and animals, so it is easy to see how central a role this god played in the Celtic pantheon. It is said that upon hearing the news that Boann was pregnant, the Dagda attempted to hide the pregnancy by keeping the sun still in the sky for 9 months so that the gestation would take place in the space of a day. The "sun-bearer," Tsohanoai is the Navajo god of the sun, which acts as his shield. This name means Lugh of the long arm in Irish. His shrine was decorated with blue bands representing rain and water. 29, 2021, thoughtco.com/deities-of-mexica-mythology-170042. But I'm going to focus specifically on Athena. https://www.thoughtco.com/deities-of-mexica-mythology-170042 (accessed March 4, 2023). Hestia was the eldest daughter of Cronos and Rhea. Many of the other gods wanted to marry her, but she would have none of it. It is possibly fitting then that Aengus, the Irish god of love, youth, summer and poetry, was in fact a love child himself. Retribution payments for certain crimes were also paid in cattle according to the old Irish Brehon laws. Are there tables of wastage rates for different fruit and veg? 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. Her Roman equivalent is Minerva. Hesiod wrote that after this tryst was discovered, Callisto was turned into a bear before she gave birth to son Arcas. As noted on Owlcation, this may have been a heterosexual ending, but the love story was laced with LGBT themes. Much like in Greece, Roman Gods and Goddesses were also arranged in couples: Jupiter-Juno, Neptune-Minerva, Mars-Venus, Apollo-Diana . These LGBT Greek gods and demigods prove gay culture is no modern invention. In addition, Greek Mythology also has two other virgin goddesses, Artemis and Hestia. 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. Welcome to the first episode of the history of asexuality! Salmacis hides until he strips to bathe in her lake. Ultimately, Iphis fell in love with Ianthe, a woman, and was betrothed to her. ingls. Lir is thought to have taken over the role of sea god from his father, the god Lir. I don't expect that the ancient Greeks shared our modern conception of asexuality (though I'd definitely be open to an answer discovering that they did). 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. Somebody pointed out to me the topic on LJ (it was Naissur9, who doesn't come here much anymore) and I read it there. Her brain and the way that she thought and acted seemed to have characteristics of both. Above: Rossi Domenico, Pan and Apollo (circa 1704), engraving. Designed by Elegant Themes | Powered by WordPress. They were chosen at a young age, and it was considered the greatest honor a girl could ever have to be chosen to serve Vesta. She is always an advocate of rationality, and neither love nor sexuality are entirely rational impulses. She is often associated with abundance and plentifulness. If that isn't asexual reproduction, I don't know what is. One story exists of how the Dagda when assigning land to his children, he forgot to leave land for Aengus. Among them: Abderos, who kept the mares of Diomedes for Heracles but was eaten by the beasts; Hylas, Heracles' companion when he sailed on the Argo, who was eventually kidnapped by nymphs in Mysia; and Iolaus, who help cauterize the necks of the hydra when Heracles famously chopped off the beast's many heads. Out of these cookies, the cookies that are categorized as necessary are stored on your browser as they are as essential for the working of basic functionalities of the website. 650 Views. katepanomegas/Wikimedia Commons/CC BY 3.0. Reporting this earned him a blinding by Hera. Some myths suggest a romantic relationship between Hermes and the hero Perseus. Brigid is widely known as the Celtic goddess associated with healing, but her other attributes include poetry and smithcraft. Athena didn't catch the innuendo. Codex Magliabechiano/Wikimedia Commons/Public Domain. The only difference between men and gods was that the latter were immortal. And for those who think same-sex nuptials are a 21st-century invention, Apollo also was in a relationship with Hymen, the god of marriage. Above: Logios Hermes (Hermes Orator); marble, Roman copy from the late first century B.C.-early second century A.D. after a Greek original of the fifth century B.C. 1 ESO. Bisexual. By continuing to use our site, you agree to our Private Policy and Terms of Use. The Hill of Knockainy (orCnoc ine) in County Limerick was an important site, where ritual blessings to this Irish goddess were carried out. Water is strongly associated with healing and both the Celtic goddess Brigid and Saint Brigid are connected with the healing power of wells. Greek Gods and goddesses. Half man. The river goddess Boann was his lover and mother of his child, and fellow god, Aengus.. Above: Jean-Baptiste Regnault, Education of Achilles (1780-1790). Irish mythology is rich in tales gods and goddesses and their rituals, battles, revenge and sexual encounters. Wolfgang Sauber/Wikimedia Commons/CC BY-SA 3.0. She is the mother of Fand, the goddess of the sea and of the lover of Fergus mac Rich, who apparently needed seven women or just Flidas to satisfy his sexual appitite., While there are many different Celtic deities, they can be sometimes grouped together according to certain aspects. Above: Chrysippus, kidnapped by Laius, looks for his father Pelops running behind the chariot; Volute Krater image (320 B.C.). Hod is the blind god of winter who kills his brother Balder and is in turn killed by his brother Vali. Seemingly not all of them, Lugh is said to have been speared and drowned in Loch Lugborta(or Loch Lugh) in County Westmeath, by the sons of Cermait after he killed their father. Necessary cookies are absolutely essential for the website to function properly. Are there recorded instances of asexuality in the body of ancient Greek writings? She is occasionally depicted as having flames coming out of her hair. And while some stories list Daphnis, the inventor of pastoral poetry, as the son of Hermes, other sources claim him to be the god of speed's favorite lover. This list includes Etruscan, Greek, Roman, Norse and Meitei versions of similar gods and goddesses. Goddess of Running Water, Xipe Totec, God of Fertility and Sacrifice, Ph.D., Anthropology, University of California Riverside, M.A., Anthropology, University of California Riverside. Macha is more usually connected with the land and its fertility and is seen as a protector. Do new devs get fired if they can't solve a certain bug? Who is the king of the gods in Celtic mythology? 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. It's something that most people now don't understand, but back then, I guess it really wasn't a problem. First is the daughter of Zeus who holds the aegis, bright-eyed Athena; for she has no pleasure in the deeds of golden Aphrodite, but delights in wars and in the work of Ares, in strifes and battles and in preparing famous crafts. Retrieved from https://www.thoughtco.com/deities-of-mexica-mythology-170042. She was also the Goddess of more things then you can count - most notably, wisdom, stratigic and honorable warfare (not fighting for the sake of fighting, that was Ares' realm) and the crafts - and she seems to have been either directly or indirectly responsible for what seems like most of the great myths that were told.