List of war deities facts for kids

A war god or war goddess is a deity from mythology who is connected to war, fighting, and courage. In many ancient cultures that believed in multiple gods (a belief called polytheism), there were specific gods and goddesses whose job was to oversee battles, protect warriors, and grant victory. These deities could represent different parts of war, such as strategy, strength, or the chaos of battle.

Gods of War in Africa

Many cultures across Africa had powerful gods and goddesses of war.

Ancient Egypt

Sekhmet, an Egyptian goddess of warfare

The ancient Egyptians had several deities linked to war and protection.

• Sekhmet: A fierce goddess with the head of a lioness. She was known as a powerful warrior and a protector of the pharaohs. She was also a goddess of healing.
• Horus: A major god, often shown with the head of a falcon. He was a god of the sky, kings, and war. He was seen as a protector of Egypt.
• Montu: A falcon-headed god of war and bravery. He was a very important god in early Egyptian history.
• Bast: A cat-headed goddess who was a protector of Lower Egypt. While often seen as a gentle goddess, she also had a fierce, warlike side.

Gods of War in Europe

Europe has a rich history of warrior gods and goddesses, from the famous Greek and Roman deities to the powerful gods of the Norse and Celtic peoples.

Ancient Greece

Ares, the Greek god of war

The ancient Greeks had several gods and goddesses connected to battle.

• Ares: The main Greek god of war. He represented the wild, chaotic, and aggressive side of battle.
• Athena: The goddess of wisdom and war strategy. Unlike her brother Ares, Athena was a tactical warrior who fought for just causes and protected cities. She represented skill and cleverness in battle.
• Enyo: A goddess of war who was often seen with Ares. She was known for her connection to the destruction of cities in wartime.
• Nike: The goddess of victory. She was often shown with wings, flying over battlefields to reward the winners.

Ancient Rome

Mars, the Roman god of war

The Romans took warfare very seriously, and their war gods were very important to their culture.

• Mars: The Roman god of war. He was one of the most important gods in Rome, second only to Jupiter. He was seen as the protector of Rome and its armies. He was also a god of agriculture.
• Bellona: The Roman goddess of war. She was often shown with a sword and helmet and was thought to inspire soldiers in battle.
• Juno: The queen of the gods and protector of Rome. She had a warlike character and was the mother of Mars and Bellona.
• Virtus: The god of bravery and military strength. He represented the courage of the Roman soldier.

Norse Mythology

Týr, a Norse god of war

The Vikings and other Norse peoples had many gods associated with battle.

• Odin: The king of the Norse gods. He was a god of wisdom, magic, and poetry, but also a powerful god of war. Warriors who died bravely in battle hoped to go to his hall, Valhalla.
• Týr: A god of war known for his incredible bravery and sense of justice. He famously lost his hand to the giant wolf Fenrir.
• Freyja: A powerful goddess of love, beauty, and magic. She was also a warrior goddess who chose half of the warriors slain in battle to join her in her afterlife field, Fólkvangr.
• Valkyries: Female spirits who served Odin. They would fly over battlefields to choose which warriors would die and guide their souls to Valhalla.

Celtic Mythology

The Celtic peoples of Ireland, Britain, and Gaul (modern-day France) had many deities of war.

• The Morrígan: An important Irish goddess of war, fate, and destiny. She was often seen as a trio of sisters and could appear as a crow on the battlefield.
• Camulus: A god of war worshipped in Britain and Gaul. The Roman town of Camulodunum (now Colchester in England) was named after him.
• Badb: An Irish war goddess who could cause confusion among soldiers in battle. She was also part of the Morrígan trio.

Gods of War in Asia

From the samurai of Japan to the warriors of ancient India, many Asian cultures worshipped gods of war.

East Asia

China

Guan Yu, a Chinese general who became a god of loyalty and bravery.

• Guan Yu: A real-life general from the Three Kingdoms period of China. He was so famous for his bravery, loyalty, and fighting skill that he was later worshipped as a god.
• Jiutian Xuannü: A goddess of war, who is said to have helped the Yellow Emperor defeat his enemies in a legendary battle.
• Nezha: A young and powerful protector deity who is often shown flying on wheels of fire. He is a skilled warrior.

Japan

Sarutahiko, a Japanese god of strength and guidance.

• Hachiman: The Shinto god of war and the divine protector of Japan and the Japanese people. He was especially important to the samurai warriors.
• Takemikazuchi: A god of thunder, swords, and martial arts. In mythology, he won a sumo wrestling match that helped the gods take control of Japan.
• Bishamonten: A god of warriors and a protector against evil. He is one of the Seven Lucky Gods of Japan.

South Asia

Hindu Mythology

Kartikeya, the Hindu god of war.

• Kartikeya: Also known as Murugan or Skanda, he is the Hindu god of war. He is the commander of the army of the gods and is known for his strength and skill.
• Indra: The king of the gods and the god of thunder, lightning, and rain. In early texts, he is also a mighty warrior who fights against evil forces.
• Durga: A powerful warrior goddess created by the gods to defeat a demon that no man could stop. She is a symbol of strength and protection.

West Asia

Mesopotamia

The ancient civilizations in Mesopotamia (like Sumer, Akkad, and Babylon) had many war deities.

• Ishtar: The goddess of love, beauty, and war in Babylon and Assyria. She was a very powerful and sometimes unpredictable deity.
• Ninurta: A Sumerian god of farming and war. He was known for fighting monsters and demons.
• Nergal: A god of war and the underworld. He was associated with sickness and disaster.

Gods of War in the Americas

The indigenous peoples of the Americas had complex belief systems with powerful gods who played a role in warfare.

Aztec Mythology

• Huitzilopochtli: The Aztec god of the sun and war. He was one of the most important gods for the Aztec people and was seen as the protector of their capital city, Tenochtitlan.
• Mixcoatl: A god of hunting and battle, often associated with the stars.
• Tezcatlipoca: A powerful and tricky god associated with the night sky, magic, and conflict.

Mayan Mythology

• Tohil: A god of fire, the sun, and war. He was an important protector god for the K'iche' Maya people.
• Buluc Chabtan: A Mayan god associated with war and conflict.

Gods of War in Oceania

The islands of the Pacific Ocean have many stories of powerful warrior gods.

Hawaiian Mythology

• Kū: One of the four great gods of Hawaiian mythology. His full name is Kū-ka-ili-moku, which means "the island snatcher." He was the god of war and was worshipped by Hawaiian kings.
• Pele: The goddess of volcanoes and fire. Her fiery temper and destructive power also connect her to violence and war.

Māori Mythology

• Tūmatauenga: The Māori god of war. In Māori creation stories, he was the only one of the sky father and earth mother's children who wanted to fight his parents to separate them. He is seen as the ancestor of all humanity.

Images for kids

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  A statue of the Roman goddess Juno, shown here as a protector with a spear and shield.

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  A statue of Trần Hưng Đạo, a Vietnamese general who was later honored as a god of war.