Deity facts for kids
A deity is a powerful being that many people believe controls events and nature. You might also hear them called gods. If a god is female, she is often called a goddess. The word for something related to a deity is 'divine'. This word comes from the Latin word deus, which means god.
People around the world have many different ideas about deities. These ideas depend on their religion. Some religions believe in many deities. This belief is called polytheism. Other religions believe in only one God. This is known as monotheism.
The two biggest religions, Christianity and Islam, are monotheistic. They believe in one God. Deism is the idea that a deity created the universe but does not usually interfere with it. Pantheism is the belief that the universe itself is the deity. If someone believes there are no deities at all, that is called atheism.
In most religions, people believe deities are immortal, meaning they cannot die. They also think deities have powers far beyond human abilities.
Contents
Who Are Some Deities?
Many different religions have their own deities. Here are some examples from various beliefs:
Ancient Greek Gods
The Ancient Greeks believed in many gods and goddesses. They thought these deities lived on Mount Olympus.
- Zeus was the king of the gods and ruled the sky.
- Hera was Zeus's wife and the goddess of marriage.
- Apollo was the god of music, poetry, and light.
- Athena was the goddess of wisdom and war.
- Ares was the god of war.
- Aphrodite was the goddess of love and beauty.
- Poseidon was the god of the sea.
- Hades was the god of the underworld.
- Dionysus was the god of wine and celebration.
Norse Gods
The Ancient Norse people, from places like Scandinavia, had their own gods.
Ancient Roman Gods
The Ancient Romans adopted many gods from the Greeks but gave them different names.
- Jupiter was the king of the gods, like Zeus.
- Mars was the god of war, like Ares.
- Venus was the goddess of love, like Aphrodite.
Ancient Egyptian Gods
Ancient Egyptians worshipped many gods and goddesses, often shown with animal heads.
- Isis was a powerful goddess, known for magic and healing.
- Osiris was the god of the afterlife and the underworld.
- Horus was the god of the sky and kingship.
- Ra was the sun god, a very important deity.
Deities in Major World Religions
Many modern religions also have specific deities or a single God they worship.
- In Christianity, people believe in one God, who they see as three parts: Jesus, Yahweh (God the Father), and the Holy Spirit.
- In Judaism, God is often called Hashem.
- In Islam, the one God is called Allah.
- Hinduism has many deities, including Brahma (the creator), Vishnu (the preserver), and Shiva (the destroyer).
- In Buddhism, some spiritual beings are called Deva.
- In Shinto, the traditional Japanese religion, deities are called kami. Examples include Amaterasu (the Sun goddess) and Inari (the Fox god).
Images for kids
-
Pantheists believe that the universe itself and everything in it forms a single, all-encompassing deity.
-
A coin from ancient Persia, possibly showing Yahweh on a winged throne.
-
The Kirkby Stephen Stone from England, which some think shows the Germanic god Loki.
-
A Roman sarcophagus from the 4th century, showing the creation of man by Prometheus, watched by Roman deities.
-
The feathered serpent deity, known as Kukulkan or Quetzalcoatl.
-
Deities from Polynesia carved from wood.
-
Holy Trinity (1756–1758) by Szymon Czechowicz, showing God the Father, God the Son, and the Holy Spirit, worshipped as one God in Christianity.
-
Padmavati, a Jain guardian deity.
-
A carving from Iran showing the emperor Shapur II with the gods Mithra and Ahura Mazda.
.jpg)
See also
In Spanish: Deidad para niños
