In greek culture heterosexual males would engage in sexual activities with each other. Yes, I think Athena (and possibly Artemis) were virgins. The only difference between men and gods was that the latter were immortal. Tlaltechutli represents the surface of the earth, who angrily devours the sun every evening to give it back the next day. His shrine, on top of the pyramid of the Templo Mayor in Tenochtitlan, was decorated with skulls and painted red to represent blood. 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. Though, of course, they didn't have words like "asexual" to discribe her, nobody tried to hid the fact that Athena was a virgin and that she was completely not interested in sex. The Dagda, god of agriculture, weather, the seasons and time is one such example. The river goddess Boann was his lover and mother of his child, and fellow god, Aengus.. 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. His name means Hummingbird of the Left and he was the patron of war and sacrifice. Overly Sarcastic Productions on YouTube touches on this topic briefly in their video on Endymion. Take for example: 1. 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. She prays that the two of them will never be separated, and as a result, Hermaphroditus becomes a hermaphrodite. He was closely related to Tlaloc and is usually represented as a young man with a maize cob sprouting from his headdress. In Aztec mythology, Tonatiuh governed the era under which the Aztec believed to live, the era of the Fifth Sun; and it is Tonatiuh's face in the center of the Aztec sun stone. No emphasis seems to be placed in any writings on the absence of sexuality in the Greek gods. Wolfgang Sauber/Wikimedia Commons/CC BY-SA 3.0. Some of the Dagdas most prized possessions included an enchanted harp and a magical staff, with which he could kill 9 men at once with or restore their lives at will. While Homer never explicitly states a gay relationship between Achilles and sidekick Patroclus, many scholars read a romantic connection between the two, as only Patroclus ever drew out a compassionate side to the famously arrogant warrior. Above: Hans Sebald Beham, Heracles and Iolaus dispatching the hydra with club and fire, PoseidonAccording to Pindar's First Olympian Ode, Pelops, the king of Pisa, once shared "Aphrodite's sweet gifts" with the ocean god himself. She was the wife and/or sister of Tlaloc and was also the patroness of childbirth. - Zeus, god of the thunder, was bisexual. At this time, the Dagda was living in. Why is it so hard for so many people now to do the same? Enjoyed this post? 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. The incident drew a curse upon the city of Thebes. It was at this point that he also first encountered another famous Irish goddess, The Morrigan. I've always been a pretty big mythology nerd, and Athena was always my favorite of the gods, from any culture. NarcissusA figure mostly known for his obsessive vanity, this son of a nymph and a river god would spend his last days gazing at his own reflection, but the first man he showed affection for was not himself. Tlaloc (pronounced Tlh-lock), the rain god, is one of the most ancient deities in all Mesoamerica. 1. It has been suggested that the origin of her name possibly stems from an area used to graze cattle. In one myth, she she fell in love with the hunter Orion, but only after being friends for a while. Live worksheets > ingls > Social Science > Ancient History > Greek gods and goddesses. Artemis, Goddess of the hunt, the moon, and the protector of girls and animals. Thanks for your support! There are several stories that connect ine to rape, including one where she bites off the ear of the King of Munster after an unconsented encounter. Mary M. Innes; Penguin Books, 1955, p. 101104). 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. During the great migration from their legendary home of Aztalan, Huitzilopochtli told the Aztecs where they should establish their capital city of Tenochtitlan and urged them on their way. She was one of three virgin goddesses in the Greek pantheon, and I don't really believe that they had these three virgin goddesses because they believed that sex was a sin, because to their society, it most certainly wasn't. 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. Do we want tags for literary movements and periods? You can find the links to the blogs here. Elli - Goddess of old age. He also had a bottomless cauldron to ensure that no man left his table feeling hungry. Ovid is Roman, not Greek, of course. On the other hand, she was the goddess of the crafts, many of which (such as weaving) are more associated with women. The goddess Flidas (or Flidais) is this deity with her special focus on domestic cattle and milking. But the story is of Greek origin. ), While there isn't a whole lot of evidence either way, the speculation I've read about whether Athena had sex with anyone seems to have trouble differentiating between Athena as an asexual figure or an abstinent one. 29, 2021, thoughtco.com/deities-of-mexica-mythology-170042. Obviously, by itself this doesn't tell us anything about Athena's own sexuality, but symbolically it connects her with the idea of asexuality from the very beginning of her life. There is a case to be made about the humanity itself (or some of it) being asexual at first. I've heavily restructured the question to hopefully be a little clearer about what, exactly, I'm looking for. 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. 2. There's some discussion about whether Artemis was lesbian, but either way, not asexual. The horned god Cernunnos, was connected mostly with wild animals, especially the horned kind such as stags and bulls. This doesn't necessarily mean she was gay or aro ace. She was the first-born child of wily Cronos and youngest too, by will of Zeus who holds the aegis, a queenly maid whom both Poseidon and Apollo sought to wed. Namma (goddess) Goddess from Eridu. This name means Lugh of the long arm in Irish. ace artemis asexual athena bow clouds greek helmet hestia mythology olympus owl pantheon pride quiver spear virgins pridemonth acepride fire . Pelops for a time was taken to Olympus by Poseidon and trained to drive the divine chariot. She is a warrior goddess who protects cities. In addition to his abilities as a warrior, C Chulainn terrified his enemies by flying into a frenzied rage in battle. Reporting this earned him a blinding by Hera. 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. What sort of strategies would a medieval military use against a fantasy giant? So what happened the rest of the year? (I note that it is wide spread that Dionysius married Ariadne, against the abstinent view.). A gay cupbearer on Mount Olympus? a more solid source for that version of the Erichthonius story. Scholars studying the Aztec (or Mexica) religion have identified no fewer than 200 gods and goddesses, divided into three groups. Frigg is a Norse goddess of love and fertility. Stack Exchange network consists of 181 Q&A communities including Stack Overflow, the largest, most trusted online community for developers to learn, share their knowledge, and build their careers. There was a catch that Caer was stuck in the form of a swan and was only able to return to a human form for one day every second year. 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 Lugh Lmhfhada. Majorities or pluralities of Muslims (66%), Christians (68%), Sikhs (57%) and Buddhists (39%) say "there is only one God.". 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. The Symposium goes into some manner of detail on this point about Eros, describing maleness and sexuality as effectively identical concepts with no real distinguishing factors. 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. 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. He represented the positive counterpart of Tezcatlipoca. In a dream Aengus falls in love with a beautiful maiden, Caer Ibormeith. 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. By clicking Accept all cookies, you agree Stack Exchange can store cookies on your device and disclose information in accordance with our Cookie Policy. There are actually several Celtic goddesses connected with water. Then he also transformed into a swan and flew with her to his home in the. Above: Francois Joseph Navez, The Nymph Salmacis and Hermaphroditus. Is Artemis the goddess of archery? Siebog, god of love and marriage. When Prosymnus died before that deal would be consummated, the god created a wood phallus to ritually fulfill the promise, according to research by a number of Christian historians, including Hyginus and Arnobius. Much turns on whether "bend" means "influence at all" or "arouse desire to such an extent that consquences would ensue," but it is certainly less than "ensnare," and that she has no influence at all on all three is a probable reading. Now you might ask: how do I pick these gods? Well most of them cheated on their spouse anyway. It is in the Cattle Raid of Cooley that Flidias had a magical herd of cattle who produced so much milk that they could supply for the entire army every seven days. Social Science. In another story of rape, ine exacted revenge by turned her offender, Additionally, the goddess Brigid associations include, Interestingly, Brigid is thought to have been a. Brigid was the goddess Celtic people turned to when they needed to be healed. Often they appear as wise figures who are linked with sovereignty, fertility and the ability to punish. 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. Badb and Nemain were the wives of Neit, the Irish god of war. - 400 C.E. Half man. Some scholars have argued that Danu may be associated with water and may in fact have originated from the River Danube that flows through Europe. The "lesser status" applied to men past adolescence who continued to be on the receiving end of things. This topic is now archived and is closed to further replies. You also have the option to opt-out of these cookies. In nearly every work of Greek literature that is tangentially related to sexuality (which, we've got to admit, is quite nearly most of the well-known ones), sex is treated as universally desirable, and is a locus of control and power. By continuing to use our site, you agree to our Private Policy and Terms of Use. 17 Favourites. 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. Enjoyed this post? There is even some speculation that the Isle of Man was named after him and vice versa. Alternatively, he also had a self-navigating boat called Sguaba Tuinne or wave-rider, which seems advanced even in the technology era of today! Necessary cookies are absolutely essential for the website to function properly. The Virgin Mary - the mother of Jesus and one of the most respected women probably in the world. 10 of 10 Tlaltecuhtli, Earth Goddess The inscriptions on some early texts suggest that the Tuath d Danann were deities, while others allude more to them having magical powers, including shapeshifting. Artemis didn't want to get married or have sex with men because in those days a woman attaching herself to a man would mean giving up her autonomy and independence. Actividad de Greek gods and goddesses. Spurned, Ciconian women would eventually tear Orpheus apart during a Bacchic orgy. It was sort of like marriage prep and mentoring, plus the cult of youth and beauty (nothing changes, eh?) katepanomegas/Wikimedia Commons/CC BY 3.0. The goddess ine is strongly associated with the feast of midsummer and the summer sun. Legend states that Lugh was also a bit of a trickster and is sometimes known as the Celtic god of mischief. You can find the links to the blogs here. Some of the figures from the Mythological Cycle are again present in this cycle. In comparison to Roman gods, many Celtic deities often represent multiple different aspects and had more all-encompassing powers. 1 ESO. After the gods changed him back, Zeus asked who enjoyed sex more, men or women. 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. Her cloak is said to have extended until the plot of land was sufficiently big enough to support a monastery. vegan) just to try it, does this inconvenience the caterers and staff? In another story of rape, ine exacted revenge by turned her offender, Gerald, Earl of Desmond into a goose.. Online retellings of the myth (such as this one) don't cite sources, and might well be taking that detail from Ovid. The Hill of Knockainy (orCnoc ine) in County Limerick was an important site, where ritual blessings to this Irish goddess were carried out. 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. Mayahuel (pronounced My-ya-whale) is the Aztec goddess of the maguey plant, the sweet sap of which (aguamiel) was considered her blood. HermesThe wing-heeled messenger of the gods was said in multiple myths to have male lovers. Half goat. 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. Interested in more Irish Celtic mythology? Few Indians believe 'there are many gods'. The best answers are voted up and rise to the top, Start here for a quick overview of the site, Detailed answers to any questions you might have, Discuss the workings and policies of this site. For a long time she was associated as being a woodland goddess, somewhat similar to the Roman goddess Diana, scholars now deem this association with woodland to be incorrect. Like the gods and goddesses of Ancient Egypt and Rome, there is always a supreme being keeping watch over all. Athena didn't catch the innuendo. 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. In some myths, Pandora is the first woman, created by Hephaestus for Zeus to punish humanity. Above: Rossi Domenico, Pan and Apollo (circa 1704), engraving, DionysusBest known as the Greek god of wine, Dionysus was also the god of intersex and transgender people. Given all their relationships, the Celtic gods family tree is a complex one! There are a few gods and goddesses in ancient Greek mythology (assuming you count that as part of literature) who lead virgin lifestyles. Before the wedding, Iphis prayed in the Temple of Isis for a solution, and voila!