One of several deities associated with the sun, the god Re was usually represented with a human body and the head of a hawk. Oya is married to Shango, a warrior Orisha who also has fire as an element. And, of course, he got mad. where one or more of their priests will be mounted (see trance possession). His most notable role is that of the psychopomp (guardian of the dead). So these are the 12 most powerful and important Orishas, Gods from Yoruba Mythology and religions derived from this amazing culture. In the end, he finds Ochossi and peacefully brings him back home. 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. Most had a principle association (for example, with the sun or the underworld) and form. 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. Orisha Oshumare is the Orisha related to the rainbow and also to beauty and riches. https://www.britannica.com/list/11-egyptian-gods-and-goddesses, largest and most complex pantheons of gods. Since Anubis is the god of the dead, his Greek equivalent would be Hades.
The Meaning Of The Orisha Deities - AfrikaIsWoke.com uncountable. He wears light green and blue clothes. He continues going. If means something like the large abode and it was the first land created by Obatala, the Creator Orisha. And,in her relationship with the orisha of divination, Orunmila. Other times they are birthed as higher beings. witnessed the temper of Shang in action. It is said he punishes all those who lie and deceive others. Ancient Code is a website founded in 2012 that covers articles and scientific discoveries that help understand humanitys past, present, and future. Ogun gets worried because he feels like Ochossi needs to know how to defend himself. One day, Shango Oguns brother wanted to have Oya as a wife. Orisha Eshu, also known as Esu or Bar is the trickster one and also the most popular Orisha out there. different colors. You pay nothing extra for it and you help to keep the website alive! predynastic and dynastic periods in ancient Egypt. Egypt had one of the largest and most complex pantheons of gods of any civilization in the ancient world. She hid among rams. In many ways, therefore, understanding an orisha is like understanding another human being.
African Pantheons and the Orishas: Crash Course World - YouTube Oya hid below the dead rams and managed to escape Shangos wrath. We are also blessed from time to time in the religion with the Obatala created the world, all the living things, and human beings. 4 In the light of the foregoing; the present study would attempt to explore these religio- . He assigned this to Obatala who created the world and the living beings, including humans. 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. observing that though she always heads toward her sister Yemay Orisha Omulu is quiet and vengeful. Of course, he drinks it! Osiris played a double role: he was both a god of fertility and the embodiment of the dead and resurrected king. He didnt need them. It is said their scars strike fear into their enemy, who see the scars of Kokou as a sign of their potency. Anubis was concerned with funerary practices and the care of the dead. 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. 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. He took his clothes off and hang them on a tree. A priest could only be dedicated to that single orisha of the city, and that orisha was honored above all others. Oshosi is the hunter and the scout of the orishas and assumes numbers four and six. This is the list of orisha youll find more information below: Orisha Obatala is also known as Oshala, Orishanla, and Oshaluf. Kokou is a warrior god, renowned for his violence and ferocity. Olodumare Their tales and beliefs are as old as time, predating our common era. 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 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. She is able to heal wounds and diseases, as well as cast curses and plagues. (the Sea) she does so on her own circuitous route.
The Egyptian Goddess List In this region, the powerful Oyo Empire flourished. Whenever people are sad, for example, he appears in the sky as a rainbow and reminds people that beauty is all around them. Obatala then began to build a city, but after discovering alcohol (brewed from palm leaves) he became distracted from duties. Ikol means Messenger of the House (of Olodumare). 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. According to the myth, Osiris was a king of Egypt who was murdered and dismembered by his brother Seth. She took the less ferocious form of a domestic cat in the first millennium BCE. Using these sacred materials, he created fields, forests, hills, and valleys. Obatala became aware of the situation and decided to punish Omulu for spreading the disease among the Orishas. Hes deeply related to magic, macumba, miraculous happenings, and divination. with quick wits, quick temper and is the epitomy of virility. He was hiding because invaders had conquered most of the village he lived in and killed lots of people. Before rising to national importance in the New Kingdom (c. 15391292 BCE), the god Amon was worshipped locally in the southern city of Thebes. Catholic. From this moment on, whenever Orunmila was asked to help people with divination, he would also ask Ossain to prescribe herbs for healing. So, whenever you make a purchase through an Amazon link on this website, I may earn some commissions. Once, he wanted to enhance his powers in an absurd way. In this role, it is not surprising that he has a very close Save it to your Pinterest folders and if you can do support my work by visiting my Ko-Fi page. His element is wind. The mold was moistened with the water of the Nile and sown with grain. Creation stories are found throughout the world. Through the Table of If However, it was not enough to make him free of problems or curses. Ochossi learns it quickly from his brother and becomes a great hunter! Hes followed by dogs. Oshn is knowledge, for wisdom without knowledge is useless, and In the Ptolemaic period she came to be associated with the Greek goddess Artemis, the divine hunter and goddess of the moon. White is also a color that represents her. But these could change over time as gods rose and fell in importance and evolved in ways that corresponded to developments in Egyptian society. 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. It is said she had some children, but two of them symbolize opposite aspects of life. In many Nigerian mythologies, it is believed that the gods once walked this earth and even lived . He was also the embodiment of the divine kingship, and in some eras the reigning king was considered to be a manifestation of Horus. Oya traveled back to deliver the medicine to Shango but during the journey, she stopped to rest and wondered how that strange red power tasted. So, today were talking about African Pantheons. In this Definition and Examples, Haile Selassie Biography: Ethiopian Emperor and Rastafari Messiah, M.A., History, University of Wisconsin, Milwaukee. He rules over the fire element, but hes also related to storms and thunderbolts, like his wife Ians (Oya). His formidable power and has empowered humans to build civilizations and thrive from his wealth and abundance. He threatened to kill people there until his mother intervened and offered him the crown as a way to make him stop. Oshun is also considered a Mother Goddess and its very common for her worshipers to be known as children of Oshun. babbling brook and the flash flood reflect her changeable moods. This If kingdom is utterly important for us here. There, she cried and formed the rivers that flooded the earth and created the oceans. He is ocanani with Elegba, meaning Oya married Shango and lived with him in his palace in Oyo. One day, Obatala decided to bathe in a river. above them. Erinle by Mod Nomad They were here long before we came. Elegba (also referred to Eleggua or Eleggu) is the owner of the
The Orishas: Orunla, Osain, Oshun, Oya, and Yemaya - Learn Religions 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. For Orisha Oshun, also known as Osun, is the Orisha of Rivers and Love. Oshun, who was passing by, found a naked and ashamed Obatala by the river. Eshu used to roam free with no destination at all. An Orisha is a God or a Goddess from the Yoruba Religion and Mythology. Now, its said that albino people are highly protected by Obatala. axe. These Are The 10 Avatars Of Vishnu, One Of The Main Ancient Hindu Deities, 14 Massive Monoliths Of The Ancient World. Obviously, he decided to have some fun and stole the white clothes of Obatala. Orunla Her number is nine which recalls her title of Yansa or Today its known as Yorubaland. colors red and black or white and black are his and codify his Obatala was enraged at his brother for usurping his position, but he eventually conceded to his Oduduwas divine authority. On his head was the atef-crown, composed of the white crown of Upper Egypt and two ostrich feathers. Be sure to check my YouTube Channel and follow me on Twitter too! No life existed in this water, though. order to protect the Guerreros initiate and to open and clear their Obatala created trees, animals, and many other things. Ossain became known as a doctor! So she used her beauty and seduced many men to acquire their most treasured abilities. And by nothing, we can understand no knowledge at all, no job, no riches, no place to live. He is known as the omnipotent ruler of the Yoruba pantheon, whose light brings life and vitality to all living things. The challenge, however, WAS a lie itself. Humans and orishas, however, provide ashe to each other through a variety of rituals. In ancient Greek religion, she was known . The orishas are the gods of Santeria, the beings that believers interact with on a regular basis. Once possessed by his spirit, the devotee experiences a frenzied blood-lust. name. The Orisha And The 12 Gods Of Yoruba Mythology. 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. 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 . Those who worship him often seek personal empowerment, in order to make themselves better leaders. her children by watching the rivers and streams she rules over and This name, meaning Foremost of the Westerners, was adopted by Osiris as an epithet. There are more than 400 Orishas out there. Eshu did it differently. 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). He is the owner of all his priests unfold the secrets of the universe and the secrets of the 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. She made it. The plantation was a success! His element is the earth. Even if a priest of one orisha died, there would be others in the community trained to work with that same orisha. 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. Aganj - orisha that was a warrior king, walked with a sword as a staff, and is associated with fire. This was not enough, he continued to be teased and provoked. Besides his apparent ugliness, Omulu also had many skin diseases, including smallpox which contributed to his ugly appearance. Eshu was not willing to give them back, but the beauty of Oshun was capable of driving any man or woman crazy. Historically, If (aka Ile-Ife) showed advanced urbanism and is one of the most urbanized centers of ancient Africa. He is a warrior orisha Now, Oshun became the first woman able to play the Bzios and to obtain the power of divination! The main ones are Umbanda and Candomble (Brazil), Santeria (Cuba), and Vodou (Haiti). Egyptian God. Oduduwa by Jianing Hu All the others laughed at him. From about 2000 BCE, it was believed that every man, not just the deceased kings, became associated with Osiris at death. the female orishas but retains the title of Iyalode or great queen.
Everyone got surprised because he was looking handsome. Even though he has this nice aspect, Ogun is mainly regarded as an impulsive man who uses violence to get what he wants thats why hes also associated with war! Learn Religions. himself and is recognised by the numbers 3 and 21. way we make our offerings in the manner they are accustomed to, in the Orisha Obatala always wears white clothes. Seth was the god of chaos, violence, deserts, and storms. He is the most feared of the Orisha. Slavic Svarog, Possibly god of celestial fire and blacksmithing. Many scholars now believe that no such animal ever existed and that the Seth animal is some sort of mythical composite. Its said there are over 400 different Orishas out there! streams and rivers, embodying love, fertility. The gods of the land keep the peace and the people in check. One powerful talisman of Polish Catholicism. offerings and come to our aid. . In Ancient Rome, Anubis was combined with Hermes (since both play a part in . Orisha Nana Buruku, also known as Nana Buruque or simply as Nan, is the most respected Orisha of all. As the wife of the god of the underworld, Isis was also one of the main deities concerned with rites for the dead. way they have always received them, so that they will recognise our Ossain became so famous that he was asked to heal a king. However, everyone would visit him, stay a few days, and go back home. He is known as the omnipotent ruler of the Yoruba pantheon, whose light brings life and vitality to all living things. heals with her sweet waters and with honey which she also owns. One tradition holds that Horus lost his left eye fighting with Seth, but his eye was magically healed by the god Thoth. Today we can find them, alongside branches of their cult and worship practices, outside from Africa. As a prize, he took Eshus gourd for him. shortened version of Yey Omo Eja means "Mother Whose almost always used first for war. When humans die, they must return to her dwelling and become mud again. He was usually represented as a jackal or as a man with the head of a jackal. Orisha Oshumare is calm and tranquil. Crash Course is on Patreon! They teased him so much, that he stood up and danced a bit. Ill start with the male ones, the Orisha Gods as we can call them. Beyer, Catherine. The Orishas already existed and they lived in the sky, above this watery space. She is also known for the colors of maroon, flowery patterns and nine Both are fighters who protect their followers. After some time, the land was firm enough for the Orishas to walk on it. However, Yemaya couldnt forgive Ochossi for disobeying her and she doesnt accept him back at home. From here on, every offering dedicated to Obatala should be delivered at the crossroad to Eshu. Orisa ojenia: the orisha that made and created life and existence to mankind. gain a better understanding of them and their ways. witness to our destinies in the making as well. path or manifestation of Ib Ikol she saved the world There is no expectation that each community would function exactly alike or understand the orishas in exactly the same way. Olorun was responsible for having the idea of creating firm land.
Orisha | Myths and Folklore Wiki | Fandom Eventually, Isis and her sister Nephthys found and buried all the pieces, except the phallus, thereby giving new life to Osiris, who thenceforth remained in the underworld as ruler and judge. In that sense, they work more like Western pantheons like those of the Greeks or Romans. Thanks! Does this discovery prove ancient Egyptians traveled to the Americas 3000 years ago? He got uncontrollable as usual and when he noticed, the entire empire was burning. Though a specific number can't be placed on the amount of Orishas, there is an exciting notion around it. In any form, hes a wise one. Over the course of Egyptian history hundreds of gods and goddesses were worshipped. 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. All metals and weapons belong to Ogun, the blacksmith Orisha. Their religion is mostly made of customs, practices, and beliefs that are orally passed through generations. Ogn is the god of iron, war and labor. Theres a story explaining how Ossain become knowledgeable about the power of plants and eventually became a great healer.
Egyptian and Greek God Comparisons | Riordan Wiki | Fandom She became Oya Ibale, the queen of the dead. Over time, Re came to be syncretized with other sun deities, especially Amon. Irish Morrigan appears to have been a goddess of battle, strife, and sovereignity, although she was not referred to as a goddess in the mythology. Each African city-state had its own single, patron deity. She tried a bit. world) and with Oshn, who is his apetev with whom he roads. Taweret, In Ancient Egyptian religion Taweret is the defensive Ancient Egyptian goddess of labor and . Both continued fighting and Obatala eventually won it. Africa isnt a single place with a single pantheon, and wed be fools to try and cover all that in an eleven minute video. Agemo - the chameleon servant of the supreme god Olorun. After this, she fled to the top of a mountain, but he followed her. These macumbas can be done with the energies of the Orishas too, though this is not a requirement. The god Seth was considered the murderer of Osiris and adversary of Horus. The Yoruba people thrived in the region of Nigeria, Benin, and Togo in West Africa. He was believed to have invented language and the hieroglyphic script and to serve as a scribe and adviser for the gods. The earth which was inside the seashell fell on it and covered a small space. As master of the deep, he has a great insight into the mysteries of nature. During his lifetime, he was married to three wives (Oshun, Oba, and Oya). Thanks! The heaven realm is the domain of Olorun, a sun god. In the New World, these beings are commonly seen as family: they marry each other, give birth to others, and so forth. divination and the accompanying arts. Apart from this story, Oshumares stories are usually less dramatic as he is usually more associated with beauty and riches. It is said that Ogun had many lovers. Ochossi is intuitive and emotional. When the smoke disappeared, Obatala noticed his skin color also disappeared. His element is fire and he wears black and red clothes. themselves and are recognised through their different numbers and Then, he placed the five-fingered hen and the pigeon in this space covered by earth. Ossain is calm, emotive, and has lots of intuition. She always holds a mirror to admire her own beauty and to teach her children to love themselves above all. Shango, the impulsive, only had a stone. Now that you have a background, we can go on. Shango threw thunderbolts in all directions, killing the rams. This land received the name If (large abode). His youngest son, Obatala, asked if he could create a new realm made of earth. The purpose of this site is to share knowledge about the Goddess and mythologies in different parts of the world. He did so and the king offered him lots of riches. He knows all the occult powers and rules. Copyright Ancient Code. The festivals took place in the open, so public participation was permitted. Osiris festivals symbolically reenacting the gods fate were celebrated annually in various towns throughout ancient Egypt.
Black Gods In The 21st Century: A Cautionary Tale About Folks Theres another story that tells how Oya became the queen of the dead, being responsible for sending eguns (souls of the dead) to the otherworld. The pantheon of Orishas (traditionally followed by the Yoruba people) is a sequence of divine spirits dispatched by the supreme god Olodumare. Seven days after, Shangos wife Oya (Ians) traveled to Eshus house to get the medicine. one who has knowledge without wisdom is merely a danger to themselves Olokun presides over this watery abyss, an aquatic realm populated by sea spirits. His colors are red and white and he recognises himself in the He is recognised in Updates? New World Santeria believers, on the other hand, generally only work with a handful of them. Osiris and Horus were thus father and son. Ancient Egyptians celebrated Osiris with festivals that consisted of processions and nocturnal rites at the temple of Abydos. Theres a story that explains how Eshu gained so much knowledge and became so powerful. She, and It says that he initially had nothing. Oy is the ruler of the winds, the whirlwind and the gates of 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. Orisha Sango wears red clothes and carries two double axes in his hands. Yemaya found, healed, and adopted him.
The Orishas - Gods of Santeria - Learn Religions By symbolically placing these two double axes on the chest, one can summon Shango for protection. Just like a storm. 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. He just observed how Obatala used to work, how he used to create humans from clay. The Orishas. Omulu got happy! the human and the divine, as he is child-like messenger between the two roads and doors in this world. The One was the gods, another was the spirits of deceased humans, who existed in the divine realm and possessed many of the gods' abilities. There was a time when they conducted a power struggle against Olorun and tried to persuade him to abdicate for sixteen years. Perhaps the most 'popular' of the orishas, Shang rules over
OBATALA - The Yoruba Religious Concepts - Google This way, Eshu not only became knowledgeable but also rich and prosperous. After passing on his secrets and guiding humanity for many years, Ogun grew old. He is now viewed as a compassionate and humble deity, curing people of sickness and disease. Oya, however, started to dance with him. Obatal is the source of all She is a very interesting Orisha because she metaphorically defied the rules of patriarchy. She protects women, children, and fishermen.
11 Egyptian Gods and Goddesses | Britannica Olorun had two sons, Obatala and Oduduwa, who helped him develop the features of the Earth. Her element is fire and she wears red clothes. But not a river or an ocean. The many, many Orishas cover all aspects of life, and can be pretty specialized. Soon after, she had 9 children, earning the name Ians. The first step he took on this realm became known as Ile-Ife (the capital of the Yorubaland). As an immortal, he was unable to die, so he chose instead to descend into the earths surface, in a place named Ire-Ekiti. 2023 All Rights Reserved. All was lost. Olodumare is the source of ashe, which all living things must have in order to survive and succeed, including the orishas. 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. Priests were trained to work with multiple orishas instead of being exclusively dedicated to a single one. His element is water. In her earliest forms, the cat goddess Bastet was represented as a woman with the head of a lion or a wild cat. White is most appropriate for Ogun is revered as a mighty god, called upon by warriors for strength in battle. You can support us directly by signing up at http://www.patreon.com/crashcourseThanks to the following Patrons for their generous monthly contributions that help keep Crash Course free for everyone forever:Mark, Les Aker, Bob Kunz, Mark Austin, William McGraw, Jeffrey Thompson, Ruth Perez, Jason A Saslow, Eric Prestemon, Malcolm Callis, Steve Marshall, Advait Shinde, Rachel Bright, Ian Dundore, Tim Curwick, Ken Penttinen, Dominic Dos Santos, Caleb Weeks, Frantic Gonzalez, Kathrin Janen, Nathan Taylor, Yana Leonor, Andrei Krishkevich, Brian Thomas Gossett, Chris Peters, Kathy \u0026 Tim Philip, Mayumi Maeda, Eric Kitchen, SR Foxley, Tom Trval, Andrea Bareis, Moritz Schmidt, Jessica Wode, Daniel Baulig, Jirat--Want to find Crash Course elsewhere on the internet?Facebook - http://www.facebook.com/YouTubeCrashCourseTwitter - http://www.twitter.com/TheCrashCourseTumblr - http://thecrashcourse.tumblr.com Support Crash Course on Patreon: http://patreon.com/crashcourseCC Kids: http://www.youtube.com/crashcoursekids gold and her number is five. Shango returned home. The orishas are the emissaries of Olodumare or God almighty. Olorun agreed and gave Obatala a shell to help fashion this new world. 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. In the New World, Africans from many city-states were thrown together into common slavery. 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. In the Middle Kingdom (1938c. Olorun who created the universe, it is Obatal who is the Omulu is considered to be ugly and Oshumare is the most beautiful being in the world. over the forces of nature and the endeavors of humanity. Shang took the form of the fourth Alafin (supreme king) of His son Horus successfully fought against Seth, avenging Osiris and becoming the new king of Egypt. Sometimes these Orishas would go down from the sky using spiderwebs to play in the water. his title of Eleri Ipin or "Witness to Destiny in its The other two members of the triad were Ptahs wife, the lion-headed goddess Sekhmet, and the god Nefertem, who may have been the couples son. In the region known as Yorubaland (today Nigeria, Benin, and Togo) and variations are found across the globe. He recognises Eshu accepted the task and said he would produce a kind of medicine capable of granting Shangos wishes. 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. She asked what had happened and he told her how Eshu had tricked him. Even if he needs to fight Ossain in his realm, he wants his brother back. Madonna. Role. Many countries in the Americas feature the Orishas in their religions. In this way, he is certainly a difficult teacher, but in the end, is usually found to be a good one.
BBC - Religions - Santeria: Santeria deities