orishas and egyptian gods

Ill start with some history, so you can be situated, and then Ill enter the mysterious and magical realm of the Orishas. Her name, a Warriors, and is received along with Elegba, Ogn and Osun in Orisha Shango is a warrior whos always ready to fight and protect those who need it. He wears light green and blue clothes. A central feature was the construction of the Osiris garden.. She took the less ferocious form of a domestic cat in the first millennium BCE. Africa isnt a single place with a single pantheon, and wed be fools to try and cover all that in an eleven minute video. In his fully animal form, he has a thin doglike body and a straight tail with a tuft on the end. Osiris, also called Usir, one of the most important gods of ancient Egypt. She usually holds a mirror in one hand. other things which they like to receive as offerings and gifts. roads. All the touched ones became severely sick! The first step he took on this realm became known as Ile-Ife (the capital of the Yorubaland). As you streams and rivers, embodying love, fertility. He is most often represented by a double headed 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. Updates? These devotees often commit violent acts of self-harm to demonstrate their tolerance to pain. 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. The man asked the king to plant seven baked yams and promised that, in twelve days, all of them would have flourished. Besides this, hes also associated with prosperity and abundance, mainly in the food aspect. They write new content and verify and edit content received from contributors. There was no taste at all. Shango was the third king of the Oyo Kingdom. Orisha Omulu, also known as Obalua or Sopona is the healer, but also the one who spreads diseases. His reign ended when he inadvertently destroyed his palace with lightning. For example, one of the most famous ones tells how the seas and oceans were created. In the original African belief system from which Santeria originates, there are hundreds of orishas. The battle started and Shango emerged victorious, against all odds. Scholars have suggested that the Greek word Aiguptosthe source of the name Egyptmay have started as a corruption of Hwt-Ka-Ptah, the name of one of Ptahs shrines. As I mentioned above, Orishas are worshiped not only in their cradle but also in many other countries around the world. Now, Oshun became the first woman able to play the Bzios and to obtain the power of divination! Anyway, Oshun wanted to learn at all costs, but Obatala always said no to her. Some say Shango had 3 wives. At a specific moment, they got drunk and they started teasing Omulu to get up and dance too. And then Ill follow with the female ones, the Orisha Goddesses. offerings and come to our aid. 4, 2021, learnreligions.com/who-are-the-orishas-95922. Hes a healer who knows all the herbs and their properties, as well as how to perform spells and incantations. All the others laughed at him. He decided to stay alone in a corner, sitting down. Others suggest that Omulu is a son of Nan, who rejected him for his ugliness and disposed of him. Her element is fire and she wears red clothes. feet (or rise out our chairs if we are sitting) at the mention of his One tradition holds that Horus lost his left eye fighting with Seth, but his eye was magically healed by the god Thoth. Humans themselves dont have the power or knowledge to play alone. makes short work of a tree or a fire rage through an area, one has Today the massive temple complex devoted to Amon-Re at Karnak is one of the most visited monuments in Egypt. Let us know if you have suggestions to improve this article (requires login). Yemaya found, healed, and adopted him. Interestingly, most of them share things in common in one way or another. Egyptian God. Corresponding Orishas and Saints Chart | | Orisha, Santeria, African 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. ORISHAS - the Yoruba Spirits of Many Things (Yoruba mythology) - Godchecker Please refer to the appropriate style manual or other sources if you have any questions. Ochossi and Ogun are brothers. 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. almost always used first for war. As a prize, he took Eshus gourd for him. Forever. It is said their scars strike fear into their enemy, who see the scars of Kokou as a sign of their potency. Obatala was enraged at his brother for usurping his position, but he eventually conceded to his Oduduwas divine authority. As the god of wisdom, Thoth was said to possess knowledge of magic and secrets unavailable to the other gods. This article was most recently revised and updated by, https://www.britannica.com/topic/Osiris-Egyptian-god, Ancient Origins - The Outstanding Story of Osiris: His Myth, Symbols, and Significance in Ancient Egypt. There was a time when they conducted a power struggle against Olorun and tried to persuade him to abdicate for sixteen years. 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. One day, Obatala decided to bathe in a river. He was hiding because invaders had conquered most of the village he lived in and killed lots of people. He is recognised in 2023 All Rights Reserved. They rule over the forces of nature and the endeavors of humanity. anting him with a profound wisdom. However, since Osiris, not Anubis, rules the Land of the Dead, a more accurate Greek equivalent to Anubis would be Thanatos. Eshu used to roam free with no destination at all. Amon was a god of the air, and the name probably means the Hidden One. He was usually represented as a man wearing a crown with two vertical plumes. Eshu is intrusive and sometimes aggressive. The orishas are the gods of Santeria, the beings that believers interact with on a regular basis. Aganju by Robert Love Ikol means Messenger of the House (of Olodumare). Osiris was also identified with Soker, an ancient Memphite god of the dead. For According to the griot spirits of the Djalia, the Orisha originated during immemorial times in the land that would become Wakanda. There are several stories about Yemaya and some of them have some conflicting pieces of information. Elegba is always In this universalized form Osiriss cult spread throughout Egypt, often joining with the cults of local fertility and underworld deities. No life existed in this water, though. Essentially, Orishas represent the powers of nature, as well as time, life, death, and rebirth. She asked what had happened and he told her how Eshu had tricked him. The female Orishas, Yemaya, Nan Buruku, and Oshun, are commonly associated with the Divine Feminine and can be considered different aspects of the Triple Goddess. Wherever he would go, his fame was already there. According to the Osiris myth, Horus was the son of Isis and Osiris, magically conceived after the murder of Osiris by his brother Seth. Kokou by Assasin Monkey Ogn that clears the roads with his machete. Beyer, Catherine. Orunmila's relationship with Osayn (the secrets of the plant It started when Orunmila, a powerful Orisha related to prophecies and divination, assigned Ossain with lots of tasks as if he was his slave. Other times they are birthed as higher beings. One powerful talisman of Polish Catholicism. He threw his stone on Ogun and Oguns body went ablaze. Smart! The pantheon of Orishas (traditionally followed by the Yoruba people) is a sequence of divine spirits dispatched by the supreme god Olodumare. African Pantheons and the Orishas: Crash Course World - YouTube Talisman. He understands the secrets of dreaming, meditation, psychic ability and healing. There is also a more removed being known as Olodumare, who created the orishas but later retreated from his creations. Osiris and Horus were thus father and son. Each orisha has its own distinct personality and has a wide variety of strengths, weaknesses, and interests. Obatala created the world, all the living things, and human beings. (the Sea) she does so on her own circuitous route. Osiris | Description, Myth, Symbols, & Facts | Britannica Many countries in the Americas feature the Orishas in their religions. Shes impulsive, aggressive, and cant be controlled. Peacocks and vultures are hers and we use Oguns permission would not be requested to make offerings to Nana. He got a gourd and opened it, spreading a mysterious white smoke over Obatala. 11 Egyptian Gods and Goddesses | Britannica Seth was the god of chaos, violence, deserts, and storms. However, everyone would visit him, stay a few days, and go back home. All had to be rebuilt again. lightning, thunder, fire, the drums and dance. Oshun is also considered a Mother Goddess and its very common for her worshipers to be known as children of Oshun. It is said he punishes all those who lie and deceive others. Some of the most important skills were obtained like this: She even enhanced the magical power she learned from Eshu and became able to transform herself into a water buffalo. Obatala felt reluctant but eventually agreed with her. relationship. world) and with Oshn, who is his apetev with whom he They rule At the beginning of Yoruba mythology, the universe was composed of two elements, the ethereal sky above and a watery chaos below. Hes followed by dogs. that is pure, wise peaceful and compassionate. done in either world without his permission. In her earliest forms, the cat goddess Bastet was represented as a woman with the head of a lion or a wild cat. One of several deities associated with the sun, the god Re was usually represented with a human body and the head of a hawk. The purpose of these stories today is to teach lessons rather than relate some literal truth. List of Yoruba deities | Religion Wiki | Fandom Orisa ojenia: the orisha that made and created life and existence to mankind. And also, everyone who visited Obatala should pay tributes to Eshu when leaving. Ogun becomes aware of the situation. The person salutes the Orishas and talks to them during the session. When one sees the quickness with which lightning 12 Most Popular Yoruba Gods and Goddesses - World History Edu Since Anubis is the god of the dead, his Greek equivalent would be Hades. Obatal as it contains all the colors of the rainbow yet is Among these religions we can highlight three, which are the biggest ones: These religions differ from each other, but their beliefs comprise the Orisha energy and presence. But these could change over time as gods rose and fell in importance and evolved in ways that corresponded to developments in Egyptian society. 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. Never metal ones! He just observed how Obatala used to work, how he used to create humans from clay. If you enjoyed this article, please share it with people who may also find it interesting. Orisha Yemaya, also known as Yemanja or Janaina, is one of the most popular Orisha of all. Shango learned how to control the fire and started using it to protect the ones who needed it. Sometimes these Orishas would go down from the sky using spiderwebs to play in the water. So we can say West Africa, specifically Nigeria, Benin, and Togo form the place where Yoruba is located. The Orisha And The 12 Gods Of Yoruba Mythology - The Ancient Code His most notable role is that of the psychopomp (guardian of the dead). For some reason, Oshumare was cursed to live as a shapeshifter. Most had a principle association (for example, with the sun or the underworld) and form. An Orisha is a God or a Goddess from the Yoruba Religion and Mythology. Finally, there is Eshu, a trickster God, and patron of crossroads. observe the orishas at work in the world and in your own lives you will If you wish to support me,please use the button below and buy me a ko-fi! So she used her beauty and seduced many men to acquire their most treasured abilities. Osiris played a double role: he was both a god of fertility and the embodiment of the dead and resurrected king. Also observe how the Learn Religions. As you already know, Ogun is a violent warrior. 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. One day, Orung waited for his father to be absent and raped Yemaya. The 5 Most Influential Orishas - Nigeria and World News He is a man, he sometimes becomes a woman, and sometimes he becomes a snake. Olodumare Agemo - the chameleon servant of the supreme god Olorun. Ogun gets worried because he feels like Ochossi needs to know how to defend himself. He tried to create humans from air (his element), from wood, and from many other types of material, but he was not successful. 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. Olodumare is the source of ashe, which all living things must have in order to survive and succeed, including the orishas. Ogun by Eran Fowler Shang took the form of the fourth Alafin (supreme king) of Omulu got happy! Orisha Oya, also commonly known as Ians, is the Orisha of storms, thunder, and strong winds. Its said there are over 400 different Orishas out there! The Orishas - Indiana University Bloomington Id like to remind you that there are more than 400 Orishas out there and different places may highlight others as the main ones. (2021, March 4). Olodumare alone is self-sustaining, not needing ashe to be provided by another source. Now, you might say, thats ridiculous. 12 African Gods and Goddesses: The Orisha Pantheon 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 also symbolized death, resurrection, and the cycle of Nile floods that Egypt relied on for agricultural fertility. Yoruba mythology involves the presence of the supreme being and other more minor "gods" or "spirits" known as orishas (which are both male and female). He is known as the omnipotent ruler of the Yoruba pantheon, whose light brings life and vitality to all living things. He then shouted: Is the king a king even when he wears no clothes?. Everything consists of songs, stories, and practices. Orisha | Myths and Folklore Wiki | Fandom During the 123 years when the Polish state was absent from the map of Europe, religion played an important role in the preservation of Polish identity both among Poles at home and the many who emigrated, by choice or otherwise. This fight was mainly a physical fight, no magic was involved. In isolation he learned humility, becoming Babal-Ay. heals with her sweet waters and with honey which she also owns. 12. Beyer, Catherine. creator of the world and humanity. He never asked a single question. She is He taught his followers the secrets of civilization (fire, smithing, hunting, politics, and war). The oldest known depiction of Osiris dates to about 2300 bce, but representations of him are rare before the New Kingdom (15391075 bce), when he was shown in an archaizing form as a mummy with his arms crossed on his breast, one hand holding a crook, the other a flail. different colors. Each orisha has its own distinct personality and has a wide variety of strengths, weaknesses, and interests. He was the only orisha In this way, he is certainly a difficult teacher, but in the end, is usually found to be a good one. Archaeologists discover 24 new lines at Nazca, DNA Results Show The Elongated Paracas Skulls Are Not Native American, Ancient people knew that the Earth was round 2000 years before Columbus. He continues going. Orisha: the 12 most powerful Gods from Yoruba Mythology People from other religions usually have some prejudice against macumba, stating it is a form of so-called black magic. Obatala then began to build a city, but after discovering alcohol (brewed from palm leaves) he became distracted from duties. Just like a storm. One day, Olorun, the supreme creator, thought about creating firm land. With time, he felt like this was a curse imposed by his mother, Nan. Osiris, one of Egypts most important deities, was god of the underworld. Through the Table of If Humans provide ashe through blood or other ritual actions, and the orisha becomes a conduit of ashe from Olodumare to the petitioner to assist in the petitioner's endeavors. He usually has a long snout and long ears that are squared at the tips. However, many of their clients are also Catholic, and they understand that such clients better identify with these beings under the guise of the saintly counterparts. I wont enter in details about each one of them as this is not the focus of this article. The purpose of this site is to share knowledge about the Goddess and mythologies in different parts of the world. the female orishas but retains the title of Iyalode or great queen. Nothing can be Before rising to national importance in the New Kingdom (c. 15391292 BCE), the god Amon was worshipped locally in the southern city of Thebes. Ochossi learns it quickly from his brother and becomes a great hunter! Mustatils in Saudi Arabia: Gates for Animal Sacrifice to Unknown Gods? The answers are given according to the way the shells fall on the surface. one who has knowledge without wisdom is merely a danger to themselves Hes also the one whos responsible for work in general. One day, Ogun arrives from a battle and finds Ochossi scared and isolated. Omulu was considered to be the ugly one, while his brother Oxumare was the beautiful one. Oya, however, started to dance with him. Oshosi is the third member of the group known as the Guerreros or In the Ptolemaic period she came to be associated with the Greek goddess Artemis, the divine hunter and goddess of the moon. Orisha Oshumare is the Orisha related to the rainbow and also to beauty and riches. This dual role was combined with the Egyptian concept of divine kingship: the king at death became Osiris, though the living king was identified with Horus, a god of the sky. Orisha Oshun wears golden yellow dresses. shortened version of Yey Omo Eja means "Mother Whose Shango threw thunderbolts in all directions, killing the rams. The intention of this site is not to indoctrinate anyone. It is said she couldnt have any child of her own. In particular, Elegba stands at the crossroads of The Egyptian Goddess List The many, many Orishas cover all aspects of life, and can be pretty specialized. In later periods she was often represented as a regal-looking seated cat, sometimes wearing rings in her ears or nose. In a sense, all offerings and rituals were made using these metals, so all of them needed Oguns permission to be carried on. This is the source of In that sense, they work more like Western pantheons like those of the Greeks or Romans. Inside the forest, he met Aroni, a gnome wearing a hood and hopping on one leg only. And he spat more fire. Eshu was so focused on observing Obatala that he learned everything from him. He is a warrior orisha He recognises Get a Britannica Premium subscription and gain access to exclusive content. The Orishas already existed and they lived in the sky, above this watery space. From here on, every offering dedicated to Obatala should be delivered at the crossroad to Eshu. The association of jackals with death and funerals likely arose because Egyptians would have observed jackals scavenging around cemeteries. This trend is encouraged by the fact that each Santeria community today remains independent of other communities. 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 . In the Middle Kingdom (1938c. She He took his clothes off and hang them on a tree. Their union gives birth to Aganju (earth, in a way we can walk upon it) and Yemaya (water). So happy that he decided to share the realm of the dead with her. Apart from this story, Oshumares stories are usually less dramatic as he is usually more associated with beauty and riches.

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