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List of hunting deities

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The Wild Hunt of Odin (1872) by Peter Nicolai Arbo, depicting the Wild Hunt of European folklore

A hunting deity is a god or goddess in mythology associated with the hunting of animals and the skills and equipment involved. They are a common feature of polytheistic religions.

Anglo-Saxon mythology

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Aztec mythology

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Akan mythology

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  • Ahosu, Goddess of hunting and the protector of wildlife, called upon for successful hunts. In myths, she killed people who overhunted or overharvested the forest’s resources.
  • Bosomtwe, god of fishing and sailors.

Celtic mythology

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  • Arawn, king of Annwn in some Welsh legends and associated with hunting, dogs and stags
  • Cernunnos, a horned god associated with fertility and hunting
  • Gwyn ap Nudd, another king of Annwn in Welsh Mythology, associated with the Wild Hunt
  • Nodens, god associated with healing, the sea, hunting and dogs
  • Vosagus, Gaulish god of hunting and forests; gives his name to the Vosges region
  • Flidais, Celtic goddess of hunting and nature

Chinese mythology

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Egyptian mythology

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  • Neith, goddess of war and the hunt
  • Pakhet, a lioness huntress deity, whom the Greeks associated with Artemis
  • Wepwawet, god of hunting and war, along with funerary practices
  • Bastet, a cat goddess and natural hunter of reptiles and rodents. Greeks often associated her with Artemis, giving her the name Ailuros.

Filipino mythology

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  • Abog: the Bagobo god of hunters[1]
  • Alagaka: the Tagalog protector of hunters[2]
  • Anlabban: the Isnag deity who looks after the general welfare of the people; special protector of hunters[3]
  • Amanikable: the Tagalog god of the sea who was spurned by the first mortal woman; also a god of hunters[4][1]
  • Bakero & Tawo-nga-talonon: Ati spirits of the forest; the first-fruits sacrifices of the hunt are offered to them through bits of meat, which would bring good luck to the people[5]
  • Cain: the Bugkalot headhunter creator of mankind; gave customs to the people; lived together with Abel in the sky but separated due to a quarrel[6]
  • Esa’: a Batak ancestor whose movements created the landscapes, which he named during a hunting journey with his dogs, who were after wild pigs[7]
  • Ga’ek Spirits: Bugkalot spirits in the Ga’ek magic plant used in relation to hunting and fishing; the naw-naw prayer is given to them[8]
  • Kabigat: the Bontok goddess of the moon who cut off the head of Chal-chal's son; her action is the origin of headhunting[9]
  • Kalao: Bugkalot spirit birds;[6] depicted as red hornbills who guide and protect hunters and their soul[10]
  • Kedes: the Aeta god of the hunt[11]
  • Okot: the Bicolano forest god whose whistle would lead hunters to their prey[12]
  • Paglingniyalan: the Tagalog god of hunters[2]
  • Sugudun: also called Sugujun; the Manobo god of hunters and trappers[1]
  • True: the Mamanwa deity of the forest and herder of hunting animals[13]

Finnish mythology

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  • Mielikki, goddess of forests and the hunt
  • Nyyrikki, god of the hunt
  • Tapio, East Finnish forest spirit to whom men prayed before a hunt

Georgian mythology

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  • Apsat, god of the hunt, associated with fish and birds
  • Dali, goddess of the hunt, associated with horned beasts of the mountain

Greek mythology

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  • Aristaeus, god of bee-keeping, cheese-making, herding, olive-growing and hunting
  • Artemis, goddess of the hunt, wild animals and the moon
  • Heracles Kynagidas
  • Pan, in addition to being a god of the wild and shepherds, was also a hunting god.
  • Persephone, the goddess of life and death, also known for being Hades' wife

Hindu mythology

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Hittite mythology

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  • Rundas, god of the hunt and good fortune

Inuit Mythology

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  • Arnakuagsak, goddess responsible for ensuring the hunters were able to catch enough food and that the people remained healthy and strong
  • Arnapkapfaaluk, sea goddess who inspired fear in hunters
  • Nerrivik, the sea mother and patron of fishermen and hunters
  • Nujalik, goddess of hunting on land
  • Pinga, goddess of the hunt, fertility, and medicine
  • Sedna, goddess of the sea, marine animals, and sea hunting
  • Tekkeitsertok, god of hunting and master of caribou

Japanese Mythology

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Mbuti mythology

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Mesoamerican mythology

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  • Ah Tabai, Maya god of the hunt
  • Sip, a hunting god often shown with deer ears and antlers
  • Yum Kaax, Maya god of the forest and the protector of game animals

Norse mythology

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Roman mythology

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  • Diana, goddess of the hunt, wild animals and the wilderness; the counterpart of Artemis, goddess of the hunt and wild; twin sister of Apollo, daughter of Leto and Jupiter

Siberian mythology

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Slavic mythology

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  • Devana, goddess of the hunt; the Slavic equivalent of the Roman goddess Diana

Thracian mythology

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Yoruba mythology

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  • Ogoun or loa, the Two-Spirit orisha who presides over fire, iron, hunting, politics and war
  • Oshosi, the orisha also known as the "hunter of a single arrow", also the deity of the forests.
  • Yoruba mythology Etymology: from the Yoruba people in West Africa to include the countries Nigeria and Benin, foreparents to practices or Santería, Lucumí, and other religions of the Caribbean, and the Americas.

Other

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See also

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References

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  1. ^ a b c Jocano, F. L. (1969). Philippine Mythology. Quezon City: Capitol Publishing House.
  2. ^ a b Pardo, F. (1686–1688), Carte [...] sobre la idolatria de los naturales de la provincia de Zambales, y de los del pueblo de Santo Tomas y otros cicunvecinos [...], Sevilla, Spain: Archivo de la Indias
  3. ^ Vanoverbergh, M. (1941). "The Isneg Farmer". Publications of the Catholic Anthropological Conference. III (4): 281–38.
  4. ^ Demetrio, F. R.; Cordero-Fernando, G. & Zialcita, F. N. (1991). The Soul Book. Quezon City: GCF Books.
  5. ^ Noval-Morales, D. Y. "The Ati of Negros and Panay". National Commission for Culture and the Arts. Retrieved June 4, 2022.
  6. ^ a b Wilson, L. L. (1947). Ilongot Life and Legends. Southeast Asia Institute.
  7. ^ Novellino, D. (2003). Shamanism and Everyday Life: An Account of Personhood, Identity and Bodily Knowledge amongst the Batak of Palawan Island (the Philippines) (PhD). University of Kent.
  8. ^ Mikkelsen, H. H. (2016). "Chaosmology: Shamanism and personhood among the Bugkalot" (PDF). HAU Journal of Ethnographic Theory. 6 (1). doi:10.14318/hau6.1.013. S2CID 224808433.
  9. ^ Jenks, A. E. (1905). The Bontoc Igorot. Department of the Interior: Ethnological Survey Publications. Vol. I. Manila: Bureau of Public Printing.
  10. ^ Carlson, S. E. (2014). "From the Philippines to The Field Museum: A Study of Ilongot (Bugkalot) Personal Adornment". Honors Projects (45). Illinois Wesleyan University.
  11. ^ Noche, D. (November 8, 2019). "A reclamation of one's heritage". Manila Standard.
  12. ^ Realubit, M. L. F. (1983). Bikols of the Philippines. A.M.S. Press.
  13. ^ Picardal, E. B. Jr. (2017), Socio-cultural History of Mamanwa Adaptations of Community in Sitio Palayan, Barangay Caucab, Almeria Biliran