asexual gods and goddesses

Male lovers of the god included the satyr Ampelos and the famously handsome Adonis. 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. Functions Actividad de Greek gods and goddesses. . 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. Aglaia is one of three daughters to Zeus and the Oceanid Eurynome. As the goddess of summer and wealth, ine represents the abundance that the land has to offer during its most plentiful season. earliest literary reference to an intersex person. Artemis - Wikipedia Offerings to ine have also been made at Lough Gur in County Limerick. Queer Greek Gods - Asexual Visibility and Education Network So what happened the rest of the year? For some reason, I just always liked her attitude, if that makes any sense. 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. Whereas the other virgin goddesses seemed more female (Hestia being the goddess of the hearth and the home, which usually seems to be related to women, and Artemis, though she was a stronger and more atheletic woman, being the goddess of the hunt, she also represented the night and the moon, the more feminine sides of nature, whereas her brother Apollo was the sun, which seems to be more associated with masculine energy,) Athena presided over things that were both masculine and feminine. At times, these names could be used interchangeably. People of the ruling class - think Plato, for example - got to participate in ephebeophilia, to coin a word. - Dionysus, god of the parties, was bisexual. - Hermes, menssager of the gods, was bisexual as well. 11 Egyptian Gods and Goddesses | Britannica Size queen. Greek Gods and goddesses. C Chulainn or Cchulainn features often in the Ulster Cycles of Irish mythology. Additionally, the goddess Brigid associations include fire, flames and light. Eir - Goddess of healing. Artemis was very wild and independent. Mayahuel (pronounced My-ya-whale) is the Aztec goddess of the maguey plant, the sweet sap of which (aguamiel) was considered her blood. The quintessential example, the way "asexuality" is used nowadays, would be if someone in some situation were to turn down a sexual situation - not because they didn't want to have sex with them, but rather because they just didn't feel like having sex, as a whole, with anyone. Researcher Johanna Hypatia-Cybelaia writes that lesbian and gay devotees worshipped her as Artemis Orthia, and that lesbian port Pamphilia referred to the goddess in hymn as Artemis Pergaea. Lists of deities - Simple English Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia 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. Elli - Goddess of old age. It is said that the games were founded in memory of Lughs foster mother Tailtiu, who was also thought to be a goddess.. It appears that Manannn took over the role of the sea god from his father, although some tales suggest that, (Just in case you were wondering, it is not completely clear whether the, Manannan was well equipped with armor and weapons, some of which he supplied to the god, He was able to make a dramatic entrance on his, In addition to his role as a sea god, Manannn also took care of the, According to some stories he was the husband, or perhaps the father of the, Manannan has a strong connection to Ireland, Scotland and the Isle of Man. In addition, Greek Mythology also has two other virgin goddesses, Artemis and Hestia. There is even some speculation that the, Deichtine decided that her son should be reared by, As a child C Chulainn was known by the name of. ) 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. We also use third-party cookies that help us analyze and understand how you use this website. She first taught earthly craftsmen to make chariots of war and cars variously wrought with bronze, and she, too, teaches tender maidens in the house and puts knowledge of goodly arts in each one's mind. Muse, tell me the deeds of golden Aphrodite the Cyprian, who stirs up sweet passion in the gods and subdues the tribes of mortal men and birds that fly in air and all the many creatures that the dry land rears, and all that the sea: all these love the deeds of rich-crowned Cytherea. I've heavily restructured the question to hopefully be a little clearer about what, exactly, I'm looking for. His shrine, on top of the pyramid of the Templo Mayor in Tenochtitlan, was decorated with skulls and painted red to represent blood. List of Egyptian deities - Wikipedia I thought of both of them as asexual (and Artemis was an aro ace arrow ace, haha!). - Dionysus, god of the parties, was bisexual. Welcome to the first episode of the history of asexuality! The Dagda is the Celtic god of agriculture, fertility of the land and animals, weather, time and seasons. Above: Rossi Domenico, Pan and Apollo (circa 1704), engraving. His name means Hummingbird of the Left and he was the patron of war and sacrifice. The Hill of Knockainy (orCnoc ine) in County Limerick was an important site, where ritual blessings to this Irish goddess were carried out. 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. Hermaphrodite was actually male(the son of Hermes and Aphrodite) but he was fused with a nymph who fell in love with him and became a symbol of marriage(the literal fusing of a man and woman). According to some stories he was the husband, or perhaps the father of the goddess ine and foster father of the god Lugh. He was also connected with rightfulness, especially in terms of kingship. I like this answer - I really do - but I think I'm going to abstain from voting, because I'm not sure it's a strong enough case for her representation of asexuality. I don't know exactly why I am writing this post, and I know that nobody else cares, I just think that it's interesting, especially in our society where sex is so valued above almost everything else, that a completely asexual woman could be viewed as one of the most powerful and respected dieties to ancient greek society. Bustin' Out! Asexual Goddess Births - Vassar College 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. The notion of reincarnation is that deceased family members make their journey back to life as a new baby in the same . The following are the most important of the 200 deities of the Aztec religion. CallistoThis nymph follower of Artemis took a vow to remain a virgin and could not be tempted even by Zeus, at least in male form. He is also connected with life and death. 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. He is usually portrayed wearing a flayed human skin representing the death of the old and the growth of the new vegetation. 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. Read our Privacy Policy and Cookie Policy to get more information and learn how to set up your preferences. Should I clarify that with an edit? She is the twin sister of the god Apollo and one of the Twelve Olympian gods who live on Mount Olympus. His sword, Moralltach, or the Great Fury given to him by thegod of the sea, Manannan mac Lir, was one of his prized possessions. The incident drew a curse upon the city of Thebes. Salmacis hides until he strips to bathe in her lake. Some myths suggest a romantic relationship between Hermes and the hero Perseus. In addition to the connection of the holy wells, Brigid and Catholic Saint Brigid are also connected by the feast day of February 1st. Asexuality has been around for a long time, and some of those asexuals were very well respected by their societies. By contrast, most Hindus (61%) and Jains (54%) say that there is . LGBT themes in Hindu mythology - Wikipedia And maybe re-check your parenthetical about Dionysian asexuality; by my understanding you've got your "former" and "latter" mixed up. The creature of both sexes was frequently depicted in classical art as a figure with womanly breasts and form but with male genitalia. We don't even have any evidence that the men outnumbered the gods significantly. 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. Much like in Greece, Roman Gods and Goddesses were also arranged in couples: Jupiter-Juno, Neptune-Minerva, Mars-Venus, Apollo-Diana . Above: Isis (seated right) welcoming the Greek heroine Io as she is borne into Egypt on the shoulders of the personified Nile, as depicted in a Roman wall painting from Pompeii. Thanks for the help! iva, goddess of love and fertility. 1st century C.E.) The Dagda Celtic god is believed to be the father of the gods and is thought of as a strong, manly figure with the knowledge and wisdom of the druids. He represented the positive counterpart of Tezcatlipoca. Monolithic Statue of Tlaltecuhtli from the Aztec Templo Mayor, Mexico City. Namma (goddess) Goddess from Eridu. I'm going to assume "Artemis" isn't a sufficient answer, so you might want to dedicate a little space to why it's not; that'll help folks get pointed in the right direction with an example of what you've tried but hasn't helped. As far as she was concerned, love didn't equal sex. The "sun-bearer," Tsohanoai is the Navajo god of the sun, which acts as his shield. After a series of failed attempts to seek revenge on him, she ultimately correctly prophesied his death in battle.. This topic is now archived and is closed to further replies. I've been reading through a fraction of Ancient Greek literature, lately, and an odd thought occurred to me. 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. 10 Most Revered Gods and Goddesses in Ancient Egypt Before the wedding, Iphis prayed in the Temple of Isis for a solution, and voila! Above: Jean-George Vibert, Narcissus. Athena really did not have any interest in sex at all. In the Golden Age, mortals and gods mingled freely. Hod. In addition, Greek Mythology also has two other virgin goddesses, Artemis and Hestia. Given the overlapping focus of the major Celtic deities, it has been suggested that some of the Celtic deities equate to the Roman ones. Above: Francois Joseph Navez, The Nymph Salmacis and Hermaphroditus. Surly Straggler vs. other types of steel frames, Bulk update symbol size units from mm to map units in rule-based symbology. Above: Caravaggio, Amor Vincet Omnia. Above: Rossi Domenico, Pan and Apollo (circa 1704), engraving. The Goddess Athena - Asexuality and the Gods, AVEN Unofficial discord and other resources during the COVID-19 pandemic, July/August/September 2022 - Asexual Dating. ine is sometimes referred to as the Irish goddess of Love or as the Faery Queen. The accuracy of this suggestion is still debated by scholars.. So what happened the rest of the year? Does anyone know of any other virgin/asexual gods or goddesses in other religions and cultures? Along with her sister Nephthys, Isis acted as a divine mourner, and her maternal care was often depicted as extending to the dead in the underworld. For her, love was what most people feel for their brothers and their sisters. As a mother goddess figure, she is most usually associated with, Some scholars have argued that Danu may be, The crow symbol is thought to connect with, in Irish). Size queen. Asexuality has been around for a long time, and some of those asexuals were very well respected by their societies. I think so, yes. Examples include the goddess Danu the supposed mother figure of the mythical superhuman race called the Tuatha d Danann and the goddess Ermas, who is said to have given birth to triple goddesses of the Morrigna.. 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. Hod is a son of Odin. Seemingly not all of them, Lugh is said to have been speared and drowned in. Irish mythology is rich in tales gods and goddesses and their rituals, battles, revenge and sexual encounters. The incident drew a curse upon the city of Thebes. Necessary cookies are absolutely essential for the website to function properly. There are a few gods and goddesses in ancient Greek mythology (assuming you count that as part of literature) who lead virgin lifestyles. Literature Stack Exchange is a question and answer site for scholars and enthusiasts of literature. Reporting this earned him a blinding by Hera. Macha is more usually connected with the land and its fertility and is seen as a protector. Why not check out the Children of Lir or learn more about the Morrigan goddess? Before the wedding, Iphis prayed in the Temple of Isis for a solution, and voila! 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. However in the Homeric Hymn to Aphrodite, we read. Asking for help, clarification, or responding to other answers. Manannn mac Lir, also known as Manannn or simply Manann was the son of Lir. These LGBT Greek gods and demigods prove gay culture is no modern invention. The Aztecs, the Late Postclassic civilization that the Spanish conquistadors met in Mexico in the 16h century, believed in a complex and diversified pantheon of gods and goddesses. Many of the other gods wanted to marry her, but she would have none of it. 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. Asexual Goddess Births Starting in the Epic period of Hinduism (400 B.C.E. It was not considered repulsive or wrong, unless you were on the receiving end, then you were considered to be of lesser status and submissive. Tlaloc (pronounced Tlh-lock), the rain god, is one of the most ancient deities in all Mesoamerica. During his female years, Teiresias became a priestess of Hera, married, and even had children, according to Hesiod. Lines 9601022 of Hesiod's. 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. Hestia was the eldest daughter of Cronos and Rhea. To subscribe to this RSS feed, copy and paste this URL into your RSS reader. Another belief revolves around reincarnation. earliest literary reference to an intersex person. Above: Zeus and Ganymede, artist and date unknown. Above: Jean-Baptiste Regnault, Education of Achilles (1780-1790). Hestia was the goddess of the hearth and the home, and Artemis was the goddess of the moon and the hunt. Above: Enrique Simonet, El Juicio de Paris (1904), ErosWhile the best-known myths of Eros depict the son of Aphrodite as a fertility god -- the version that proved inspirational to the popularized Roman god Cupid -- later Greek myths portrayed Eros as one of several winged erotes, and the one regarded as a protector of homosexual culture, according to research in the scholarly book Among Women: From the Homosocial to the Homoerotic in the Ancient World. Boann is thought to have done something similar and created the River Boyne. She was very well respected by the people who worshipped her, and very important to their society. It was at this point that he also first encountered another famous Irish goddess, Ultimately the Morrigan predicted C Chulainns violent death and a, Unfortunately there is very little information found in the surviving Medieval Irish texts about Danu. But opting out of some of these cookies may have an effect on your browsing experience. She is often associated with abundance and plentifulness. 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. Interested in more Irish Celtic mythology? In addition to the connection of the holy wells, Brigid and Catholic Saint Brigid are also connected by the, For a long time she was associated as being a, Lugh, is one of the most important of all the gods of the Celts. Interestingly, Brigid is thought to have been a pagan goddess in pre-Christian times and later transitioned from a goddess to a saint. The goddess Flidas (or Flidais) is this deity with her special focus on domestic cattle and milking. Her name means the exalted one in old Irish. - Hermaphrodite, god(dess) of androgyny, was intersex, androgynous and nonbinary. Male lovers in the Trojan War? She then jumps in. Now you might ask: how do I pick these gods? (From Ovid, Metamorphoses, trans. If you click on one of them, we might receive a small commission (at no extra cost to you). Online retellings of the myth (such as this one) don't cite sources, and might well be taking that detail from Ovid. September 8, 2006 in Asexual Musings and Rantings. There's some discussion about whether Artemis was lesbian, but either way, not asexual. For example, the Morrigan was sometimes referred to as Badb, the Crow, even when clearly not referenced as part of a trinity. List of Gods and Goddesses From Antiquity - Learn Religions Related pages [ change | change source] Demigod Divinity This page was last changed on 10 February 2023, at 02:08. Stanta offered his services until he could retrain a new dog and so became known as C Chulainn. "Important Aztec Gods and Goddesses." The table is ordered by the Greek god's name. Learn more about Stack Overflow the company, and our products. In some myths, Pandora is the first woman, created by Hephaestus for Zeus to punish humanity. 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. 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. He was also connected with rightfulness, especially in terms of kingship. What is the purpose of this D-shaped ring at the base of the tongue on my hiking boots? She too, like the Morrigan is thought to have the ability to shapeshift and is represented by a red mare, known for its speed. Perhaps a case can be made for Hermaphroditus. Codex Borgia/Wikimedia Commons/Public Domain. In comparison to Roman gods, many Celtic deities often represent multiple different aspects and had more all-encompassing powers. She is a warrior goddess who protects cities. 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. Ares God of war. It only takes a minute to sign up. Why not check out the, Top 10 Irish American Presidents with Irish Roots, Waterville: The Complete Charlie Chaplin Guide. Artemis, Goddess of the hunt, the moon, and the protector of girls and animals. 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. Here, I mean asexuality to be the total absence of sexual attraction, with anyone. Quetzalcoatl (pronounced Keh-tzal-coh-atl), the Feathered Serpent, is probably the most famous Aztec deity and is known in many other Mesoamerican cultures such as Teotihuacan and the Maya. There is just something about her that is comforting. 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. The three sisters are known as the three Charities or Graces. While many of the other greek gods - men and women alike - were promiscous, Athena was completely asexual, and not because she was a "pure" goddess of chasity or something. This name means Lugh of the long arm in Irish. Bri - Ruler of Prehistory, the first god and father of Borr. As another example, Eros is often referred to as being one of those omnipresent entities in male interactions in Greek culture. As the wife of the god of the underworld, Isis was also one of the main deities concerned with rites for the dead. Like the gods and goddesses of Ancient Egypt and Rome, there is always a supreme being keeping watch over all. 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. 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. 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. ZeusWhile a famous philanderer who sired countless demigods by every peasant girl in need of an explanation to her parents, Zeus famously selected the young mortal Ganymede to serve as his cupbearer on Mount Olympus. Above: Diego Velazquez, The Triumph of Bacchus, a.k.a. The fertility and health of cattle was also of primary importance as a persons wealth was often counted in terms of cattle. You also have the option to opt-out of these cookies. Hod is the blind god of winter who kills his brother Balder and is in turn killed by his brother Vali. Among Women: From the Homosocial to the Homoerotic in the Ancient World. 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. 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.