At times, these names could be used interchangeably. What exactly were all those men doing before she came? 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. Good, fruitful harvests were required to provide for the people and animals, therefore much emphasis was placed on gods and goddesses that represent fertility, such as ine. Now of course, being a virgin doesn't necessarily imply being asexual - Artemis, for example, seems to recognise the idea of sexuality, and some stories even have it that she was in love with her hunting companion Orion. NikeAguaraguazu. The Hill of Knockainy (orCnoc ine) in County Limerick was an important site, where ritual blessings to this Irish goddess were carried out. But when Zeus disguised himself as Artemis, she was lured into the goddess's embrace. (Just in case you were wondering, it is not completely clear whether the god Lir was the same individual named Lir in the Children of Lir.). She is always an advocate of rationality, and neither love nor sexuality are entirely rational impulses. Such deities are known as pan-Mesoamerican gods and goddesses. C Chulainn or Cchulainn features often in the Ulster Cycles of Irish mythology. 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. It's something that most people now don't understand, but back then, I guess it really wasn't a problem. 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 Goddess Athena - Asexuality and the Gods, AVEN Unofficial discord and other resources during the COVID-19 pandemic, July/August/September 2022 - Asexual Dating. Dionysus. The difference between the phonemes /p/ and /b/ in Japanese, Minimising the environmental effects of my dyson brain. These LGBT Greek gods and demigods prove gay culture is no modern invention. Ovid is Roman, not Greek, of course. Plato was a wrestler who competed in the Isthmian Games, a Greek athletic event similar to the Olympics. Her Roman equivalent is Minerva. 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. ApolloThe sun god, one of the most important in all literature, was also quite the libertine. - Athena, goddess of widsom, was a lesbian. This doesn't necessarily mean she was gay or aro ace. (From Ovid, Metamorphoses, trans. His prayer too is granted, and the pool of Salmacis was reputed to take away the virility of men. Anu is associated with the province of Munster in Ireland, where two rounded mountains near the Cork-Kerry border are known as the Paps of Anu (Breasts of Anu). As noted on Owlcation, this may have been a heterosexual ending, but the love story was laced with LGBT themes. At this time, the Dagda was living in Newgrange and Aengus tricked him into letting him live there permanently. Also - isn't "Athena wanted to make love to [Hephaestus]" something of a direct counterexample to her asexuality? 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. With her, he is the father of two children: the god of war and the god of fishing. Other tales link him romantically to the sea goddess Fand. 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. For her, love was what most people feel for their brothers and their sisters. Above: Jean-George Vibert, Narcissus, ApolloThe sun god, one of the most important in all literature, was also quite the libertine. He is usually portrayed wearing a flayed human skin representing the death of the old and the growth of the new vegetation. Greek Gods and goddesses. Edit: Totally different meaning without the "with each other" clause. It appears that Manannn took over the role of the sea god from his father, although some tales suggest that Lir was the god of the ocean and Manannn was the god of the sea. The creature of both sexes was frequently depicted in classical art as a figure with womanly breasts and form but with male genitalia. 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. 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. Despite his strong protests and attempts to throw her off, she forcibly entwines herself around him. Ultimately, Iphis fell in love with Ianthe, a woman, and was betrothed to her. I posted this at the livejournal community, and it's become a pretty interesting topic, so I thought I would post it here. Above: Francois Joseph Navez, The Nymph Salmacis and Hermaphroditus. ), the Hindu gods and goddesses began to appear in epics, like the Mahabharata and Ramayana, where they accrued mythic stories, characteristics and origins.1 Hindus still read these myths today, in addition to the many other stories that were recorded during the Classic (400- 600 C.E.) It's one of my favorite videos on the channel. At birth, Plato was given the name Aristocles, after his grandfather, according to the 3rd century Greek historian Diogenes Laertius. Today we are discussing the three virgin goddesses of the Greek pantheon, Hestia, Athena and Artem. 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. 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. Manannans father Lir, was likely the main sea god before Mannanan came to prominence., There are actually several Celtic goddesses connected with water. - Hermes, menssager of the gods, was bisexual as well. Above: Jean-Baptiste Regnault, Education of Achilles (1780-1790). I think so, yes. Lugh was the god associated with justice and held power over oaths and law. Jarilo, god of fertility and springtime, sometimes regarded as god of lust and passion. 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. Hod. There is a case to be made about the humanity itself (or some of it) being asexual at first. The Dagda was the supposed father of several other important figures in Irish mythology including the goddess Brigid and Bodb Derg who featured a key role in the tale of the Children of Lir. I find it interesting how there are so many virgin goddesses in relgions, and how respected they usually are. FebruaryMarch 2023 topic challenge: the works of Arthur Koestler, MarchApril 2023 topic challenge: Hayy ibn Yaqdhan / Philosophus Autodidactus, We've added a "Necessary cookies only" option to the cookie consent popup. Right, I just realized I misread that. You Might Like Asexual Goddesses Published: Jun 19, 2020. She is the mother of Balder. 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. Then he also transformed into a swan and flew with her to his home in the Br na Boinne.. Feel free. The Dagda is not thought to have welcomed the news of the arrival of Aengus. A gay cupbearer on Mount Olympus? He was a nourishing god who provided warmth and fertility to the people. One story exists of how the Dagda when assigning land to his children, he forgot to leave land for Aengus. Siebog, god of love and marriage. Reporting this earned him a blinding by Hera. Athena is the child of the god Zeus and the titan Metis, she never met her mother. In order to marry her, Aengus had to correctly identify her as a swan among 150 other swans, which he was able to do. Hestia, goddess of the hearth, the fireside, architecture, domesticity, the family, the home, and the state. Why not check out the, Top 10 Irish American Presidents with Irish Roots, Waterville: The Complete Charlie Chaplin Guide. Another Artemis fan here And I remember admiring the vestal virgins of ancient Rome, when I was at school. @Emrakul That's fair; I'd also like some stronger evidence, e.g. A mix of stories from ancient history and mythology merged together by bards or the kings poets to record important family history of kings. The incident drew a curse upon the city of Thebes. Niamh of the Golden Hair, who is in the legend of Oisn and Tir na ng is thought to be Manannans daughter. As I remember younger men would couple with older men prior to marriage in Greek culture. and . So what happened the rest of the year? We use cookies on our website to give you the most relevant experience by remembering your preferences and repeat visits. Stanta offered his services until he could retrain a new dog and so became known as C Chulainn. Huitzilopochtli (pronounced Weetz-ee-loh-POSHT-lee) was the patron god of the Aztecs. Bisexual. - Zeus, god of the thunder, was bisexual. Lugh is thought to have been the father of demi god and famous Irish warrior, C Chulainn. There is a case to be made about the humanity itself (or some of it) being asexual at first. iva, goddess of love and fertility. By 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. 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 very well respected by the people who worshipped her, and very important to their society. Like her son Enki/Ea she is also associated with magic. 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. It was sort of like marriage prep and mentoring, plus the cult of youth and beauty (nothing changes, eh?) Sigils Emblems Insignias Collection. Much like in Greece, Roman Gods and Goddesses were also arranged in couples: Jupiter-Juno, Neptune-Minerva, Mars-Venus, Apollo-Diana . 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. Either romantic love or sexual desire would be, in some sense, a departure from the pure reason which characterises Athena. Among Women: From the Homosocial to the Homoerotic in the Ancient World. 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. People of the ruling class - think Plato, for example - got to participate in ephebeophilia, to coin a word. ThoughtCo. Enjoyed this post? We don't even have any evidence that the men outnumbered the gods significantly. 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. Set around the 3rd century C.E. It is possible that some might have been asexual. She was a very powerful goddess as well, very strong willed. She never had any children. AVEN Unofficial discord and other resources during the COVID-19 pandemic, July/August/September 2022 - Asexual Dating. Designed by Elegant Themes | Powered by WordPress. ), 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. 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. Each group supervises one aspect of the universe: the heaven or the sky; the rain, fertility and agriculture; and, finally, war and sacrifice. But when Zeus disguised himself as Artemis, she was lured into the goddess's embrace. Athena, goddess of wisdom, warfare and craftsmanship. Ultimately, Iphis fell in love with Ianthe, a woman, and was betrothed to her. Asexual Goddess Births Starting in the Epic period of Hinduism (400 B.C.E. Brigid is widely known as the Celtic goddess associated with healing, but her other attributes include poetry and smithcraft. She never married and she never took on any lovers. 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. The Birth of Venus by Sandro Botticelli (1485), depicting Venus, the Roman goddess of sex and beauty. 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. Did asexuality as a concept ever appear in Greek writings? [36] Hatmehit - Fish goddess Heqet - Frog goddess said to protect women in childbirth [37] 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 horned god Cernunnos, was connected mostly with wild animals, especially the horned kind such as stags and bulls. There are actually several Celtic goddesses connected with water. Her major symbols include owls, snakes, olive trees, and the Gorgoneion. He searches day and night until he finds her at the Lake of the Dragons Mouth. Hestia is described as a kind, forgiving and discreet goddess with a passive, non-confrontational nature. 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. In comparison to Roman gods, many Celtic deities often represent multiple different aspects and had more all-encompassing powers. 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. 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. By clicking Accept, you consent to the use of ALL the cookies. The only difference between men and gods was that the latter were immortal. To subscribe to this RSS feed, copy and paste this URL into your RSS reader. Where does this (supposedly) Gibson quote come from? Brigid (also sometimes known as Brighid or Brigit) is another descendant of the Tuatha d Danann (her father being the god Dagda). Irish mythology usually depicts the sun as being feminine and interestingly there appears to have been two goddesses connected with the sun. She was the goddess of War, which was usually considered a man's job. While homosexual love was definitely not news to the ancient Greeks, would all of humanity be involved in homosexual love until the first human woman came? Half man. Alternatively, he also had a self-navigating boat called Sguaba Tuinne or wave-rider, which seems advanced even in the technology era of today! Manannan has a strong connection to Ireland, Scotland and the Isle of Man. I've heavily restructured the question to hopefully be a little clearer about what, exactly, I'm looking for. She was the wife and/or sister of Tlaloc and was also the patroness of childbirth. 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. Teiresias revealed the ladies had it roughly 10 times better than the lads. Among Women: From the Homosocial to the Homoerotic in the Ancient World. HermesThe wing-heeled messenger of the gods was said in multiple myths to have male lovers. 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. A gay cupbearer on Mount Olympus? What is Artemis? Badb and Nemain were the wives of Neit, the Irish god of war. The river goddess Boann was his lover and mother of his child, and fellow god, Aengus.. This list includes Etruscan, Greek, Roman, Norse and Meitei versions of similar gods and goddesses. Bisexual. 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, One ritual to ensure a fruitful harvest in the coming year was the annual coupling of the Dagda with his wife, the, Some of the Dagdas most prized possessions included an, The Dagda was the supposed father of several other important figures in Irish mythology including the goddess, The Dagda is not thought to have welcomed the news of the arrival of, It is said that upon hearing the news that Boann was pregnant, the Dagda attempted to, It is possibly fitting then that Aengus, the, One story exists of how the Dagda when assigning land to his children, he forgot to leave land for Aengus. However, many scholars now consider this myth as a creation of the Franciscan friars during the post-Conquest period. A study of Athena by Karl Kerenyi links her virginal nature to her relationship with her father. But I'm going to focus specifically on Athena. 1. Below are 10 most revered gods and goddesses in ancient Egypt: Osiris, god of the underworld Osiris- the Egyptian god of the underworld Ancient Egyptians were firm believers in life after death. By some accounts, she was Callisto's lover before the nymph was raped by Zeus. There are four Cycles or groupings in Irish mythology: Most of the legends of the deities come from the Mythological Cycles and the later Ulster Cycles (ca. While tolerance is often presented as a sign of civilization's advancement, a reading of Greek mythology reveals greater acceptance of homosexuality in ancient Athens than can be boasted within today's world religions. Of these three Aphrodite cannot bend or ensnare the hearts. 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: :). Most of the discussion around women in Greek culture seems to revolve solely around sexuality. Athena was likely a virgin goddess because people equated intelligence and wisdom with manliness. 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. Tonatiuh was also the patron of warriors. He is believed to have led the Tuatha d Danann to victory over the invading army of Fomorians as depicted in the Battle of Mag Tuired., It is said that Lugh initiated a special games event, known as the Tailteann Games or Assembly of Tailti that focused on horse racing and martial arts that ran over the last two weeks in July and culminated with the start of the harvest celebration of Lughnasadh on 1 August. Family. IsisThe Egyptian goddess, also worshipped by Greeks, is known for solving a gender identity issue of yore. Gods and Goddesses from the AI's eyes #shorts #short #aiart #midjourney #god #goddess #ai #aigenerated #shortvideo hey my avatar is Artimis (Diana) so woohoo! Tonatiuh (pronounced Toh-nah-tee-uh) was the Aztec sun god. The name Tuatha d Danann can be roughly translated as the people of the goddess Danu. She is also sometimes equated with the Welsh literary figure, Dn. Osiris was a god responsible for taking care of the departed souls in the next world. - Hermaphrodite, god(dess) of androgyny, was intersex, androgynous and nonbinary. Overly Sarcastic Productions on YouTube touches on this topic briefly in their video on Endymion. It was at this point that he also first encountered another famous Irish goddess, The Morrigan. Saint Brigid founded a monastery in County Kildare on the site of a sacred place dedicated to the goddess Brigid. Monolithic Statue of Tlaltecuhtli from the Aztec Templo Mayor, Mexico City. Seemingly not all of them, Lugh is said to have been speared and drowned in. In addition, Greek Mythology also has two other virgin goddesses, Artemis and Hestia. Legend states that Lugh was also a bit of a trickster and is sometimes known as the Celtic god of mischief. Maestri, Nicoletta. In greek culture heterosexual males would engage in sexual activities with each other. Aphrodite was, in fact, widely worshipped as a goddess of the sea and of . Artemis would count as an example of celibacy, because she's a sworn virgin. Social Science. Traditional Hindu literary sources do not speak of homosexuality directly, [1] but changes of sex, homoerotic encounters, and . 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. Aglaia - The Goddess of beauty, splendour, glory and adornment. In ancient Greek religion and mythology, Artemis ( / rtms /; Greek: ) is the goddess of the hunt, the wilderness, wild animals, nature, vegetation, childbirth, care of children, and chastity. 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. Perhaps a case can be made for Hermaphroditus. This category only includes cookies that ensures basic functionalities and security features of the website. Due to his extensive power and influence, the early Christain church tried to demonize Cernunnos. 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. Hestia was the eldest daughter of Cronos and Rhea. You also have the option to opt-out of these cookies. 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. Hestia/Vesta - The goddess of the home. His shrine was decorated with blue bands representing rain and water. Teiresias revealed the ladies had it roughly 10 times better than the lads. I've been reading through a fraction of Ancient Greek literature, lately, and an odd thought occurred to me. For some reason, I just always liked her attitude, if that makes any sense. Athena was the protector of Athens, the capital of Greece, and it was from her that the city took it's name. Site design / logo 2023 Stack Exchange Inc; user contributions licensed under CC BY-SA. Offerings to ine have also been made at Lough Gur in County Limerick. Based on that version of Orion's story (like pretty much every other myth, there are lots of different versions, and Artemis doesn't fall in love with Orion in all of them), demiromantic asexual makes a lot of sense. As with the rest of his children, Cronos ate her but eventually regurgitated her. According to some versions, the war goddess Morrigan is the wife of the Dagda and they have a special coupling around the feast of Samhain. The hunt especially was important to them, and if they didn't have her blessing, then the hunt would not turn out very well. 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. Nor does laughter-loving Aphrodite ever tame in love Artemis, the huntress with shafts of gold; for she loves archery and the slaying of wild beasts in the mountains, the lyre also and dancing and thrilling cries and shady woods and the cities of upright men. 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. At this time, the Dagda was living in. Bustin' Out! Wolfgang Sauber/Wikimedia Commons/CC BY-SA 3.0. Cattle were seen as a measure of wealth by the Celts, so it could have been only natural for them to have a deity dedicated to cattle and their fertility. 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. In addition, Greek Mythology also has two other virgin goddesses, Artemis and Hestia. There is much scholarly debate on this topic and no clear conclusions. Hesiod wrote that after this tryst was discovered, Callisto was turned into a bear before she gave birth to son Arcas. These LGBT Greek gods and demigods prove gay culture is no modern invention. Best known as the Greek god of wine, Dionysus was also the god of intersex and . C Chulainn was a skilled and dedicated warrior from an early age, and was always eager to join in the physical training sessions of the older boys. There is a strong link between Macha and horses, as well as other livestock. Hestia was the goddess of the hearth and the home, and Artemis was the goddess of the moon and the hunt. 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. Tlaltechutli represents the surface of the earth, who angrily devours the sun every evening to give it back the next day. Boann is thought to have done something similar and created the River Boyne. 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.
