List of art deities

The following list of art deities is arranged by continent with names of mythological figures and deities associated with the arts. Art deities are a form of religious iconography incorporated into artistic compositions by many religions as a dedication to their respective gods and goddesses. The various artworks are used throughout history as a means to gain a deeper connection to a particular deity or as a sign of respect and devotion to the divine being.

Africa and the Middle East

Afroasiatic Middle East

Canaanite

Kotar or Kothar-wa-Khasis

Egyptian

Mesopotamian

Ishtar
Nuska

Western Eurasia

Celtic

Norse-Germanic

Bragi
Odin

Etruscan

Menrva

Greek / Hellenic

Apollo, god of medicine, music, poetry, song and dance
Athena, goddess of wisdom and smart war
Dionysus, god of wine
Hephaestus, god of forge and sculpture
Poseidon, god of the sea, one of the big three
Zeus, god of the sky and lightning, one of the big three
Hades, god of the Underworld, one of the big three
Demeter, goddess of agriculture
Artemis, goddess of the moon, archery and virginity
Aphrodite, goddess of beauty, fertility and love
Eros, god of love (greek cupid)
Muses
- Calliope, goddess of epic poetry
- Clio, goddess of history
- Erato, goddess of erotic poetry
- Euterpe, goddess of lyric poetry
- Melpomene, goddess of tragedy
- Polyhymnia, goddess of hymns
- Terpsichore, goddess of dance
- Thalia, goddess of comedy
- Urania, goddess of astronomy

Roman

Western Asia

Anatolian - Urarte

Arubani

Hindu-Vedic

Uralic

Väinämöinen

Asia-Pacific / Oceania

Meitei

Khamlangba, associated with smiths^[1]
Khamnung Kikoi Louonbi, associated with enchantment^[2]^[3]
Lainaotabi, associated with charm, magic, pottery, sorcery, spell, weaving and witchcraft^[4]
Nongpok Ningthou, associated with dance, music and festival^[5]
Nongthang Leima, associated with enchantment and seduction^[6]
Panthoibi, associated with dance, festival, handicrafts, pottery, spinning and weaving^[7]
Phouoibi, associated with trickery to men^[8]
Pisatao, associated with smiths^[9]
Thangching, associated with divine plays^[10]

Far East Asia

Chinese

Cao Guojiu, patron god of the theater ^[11]
Han Xiangzi
Nüwa
Zhang Guolao, who carries a fish-drum

Japanese

Vietnamese

Phạm Thị Trân, the founder of Chèo
Từ Đạo Hạnh, the founder of the art of water puppetry
Tổ nghề Sân khấu, the three are said to be the founders of theatrical forms of Vietnam

Austronesia

Filipino

Bait Pandi: the Bagobo goddess of weavers who taught women weaving^[12]
Fu Dalu: the T'boli goddess of the abaca; speak and guide weavers on how to create patterns and designs, which are remembered in dreams^[13]
Mamiyo: the Ifugao stretcher of skeins, one of the twenty-three deities presiding over the art of weaving^[14]
Monlolot: the Ifugao winder of thread on the spindle, one of the twenty-three deities presiding over the art of weaving^[15]
Rirryaw Añitu: place spirit Añitus who played music and sang inside a cave in Sabtang, while lighting up fire; believed to have change residences after they were disturbed by a man^[16]
Tumungkuyan: leaders of the Salakap from Batak beliefs who paint tree trunks that support the sky using the blood of the epidemic-dead^[17]

Polynesian

Hawaiian

Lono
Pele

Native Americas

North America

Kokopelli (shared among various Southwestern Native American mythologies)

Mexico

Aztec

Haitian Vodou

References

^ Lisam, Khomdan Singh (2011). Encyclopaedia Of Manipur (3 Vol.). ISBN 978-81-7835-864-2.
^ A Critical Study Of The Religious Philosophy. 1991. p. 108.
^ Religion and Culture of Manipur - Page 25 - Moirangthem Kirti Singh · 1988
^ Ray, Bharati (2005-09-15). Women of India: Colonial and Post-colonial Periods. SAGE Publications India. ISBN 978-81-321-0264-9.
^ Noni, Arambam; Sanatomba, Kangujam (2015-10-16). Colonialism and Resistance: Society and State in Manipur. Routledge. ISBN 978-1-317-27066-9.
^ Singh, L. Bhagyachandra (1991). A Critical Study Of The Religious Philosophy. p. 51.
^ Jain, Jyotindra (1998). Other Masters: Five Contemporary Folk and Tribal Artists of India. Crafts Museum and the Handicrafts and Handlooms Exports Corporation of India.
^ Meitei, Sanjenbam Yaiphaba; Chaudhuri, Sarit K.; Arunkumar, M. C. (2020-11-25). The Cultural Heritage of Manipur. Routledge. ISBN 978-1-000-29637-2.
^ Brara, N. Vijaylakshmi (1998). Politics, society, and cosmology in India's North East. Internet Archive. Delhi; New York : Oxford University Press. p. 48. ISBN 978-0-19-564331-2.
^ Session, North East India History Association (1999). Proceedings of North East India History Association. The Association.
^ Fang, Jing Pei (2004). Symbols and Rebuses in Chinese Art: Figures, Bugs, Beasts, and Flowers. Berkeley: Ten Speed Press. p. 68. ISBN 9781580085519.
^ Jocano, F. L. (1969). Philippine Mythology. Quezon City: Capitol Publishing House Inc.
^ Paterno, M., Castro, S., Javellana, R., Alvina, C. (2001). Dreamweavers. Makati: Bookmark.
^ Zaide, S. M. (1999). The Philippines: A Unique Nation. All-Nations Publishing.
^ Zaide, S. M. (1999). The Philippines: A Unique Nation. All-Nations Publishing.
^ Hornedo, F. H. (1980). Philippine Studies Vol. 28, No. 1: The World and The Ways of the Ivatan Añitu. Ateneo de Manila University.
^ Fox, R. B. (1982). Religion and Society Among the Tagbanuas of Palawan Island, Philippines. Manila: National Museum.

[1] Lisam, Khomdan Singh (2011). Encyclopaedia Of Manipur (3 Vol.). ISBN 978-81-7835-864-2.

[2] A Critical Study Of The Religious Philosophy. 1991. p. 108.

[3] Religion and Culture of Manipur - Page 25 - Moirangthem Kirti Singh · 1988

[4] Ray, Bharati (2005-09-15). Women of India: Colonial and Post-colonial Periods. SAGE Publications India. ISBN 978-81-321-0264-9.

[5] Noni, Arambam; Sanatomba, Kangujam (2015-10-16). Colonialism and Resistance: Society and State in Manipur. Routledge. ISBN 978-1-317-27066-9.

[6] Singh, L. Bhagyachandra (1991). A Critical Study Of The Religious Philosophy. p. 51.

[7] Jain, Jyotindra (1998). Other Masters: Five Contemporary Folk and Tribal Artists of India. Crafts Museum and the Handicrafts and Handlooms Exports Corporation of India.

[8] Meitei, Sanjenbam Yaiphaba; Chaudhuri, Sarit K.; Arunkumar, M. C. (2020-11-25). The Cultural Heritage of Manipur. Routledge. ISBN 978-1-000-29637-2.

[9] Brara, N. Vijaylakshmi (1998). Politics, society, and cosmology in India's North East. Internet Archive. Delhi; New York : Oxford University Press. p. 48. ISBN 978-0-19-564331-2.

[10] Session, North East India History Association (1999). Proceedings of North East India History Association. The Association.

[11] Fang, Jing Pei (2004). Symbols and Rebuses in Chinese Art: Figures, Bugs, Beasts, and Flowers. Berkeley: Ten Speed Press. p. 68. ISBN 9781580085519.

[12] Jocano, F. L. (1969). Philippine Mythology. Quezon City: Capitol Publishing House Inc.

[13] Paterno, M., Castro, S., Javellana, R., Alvina, C. (2001). Dreamweavers. Makati: Bookmark.

[14] Zaide, S. M. (1999). The Philippines: A Unique Nation. All-Nations Publishing.

[15] Zaide, S. M. (1999). The Philippines: A Unique Nation. All-Nations Publishing.

[16] Hornedo, F. H. (1980). Philippine Studies Vol. 28, No. 1: The World and The Ways of the Ivatan Añitu. Ateneo de Manila University.

[17] Fox, R. B. (1982). Religion and Society Among the Tagbanuas of Palawan Island, Philippines. Manila: National Museum.

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