GODS AND MORTALS

GODS AND GODDESSES

The gods were everywhere. Human behaviour was directed by rituals, which were supposed to invoke the gods’ favour.

Every culture had its gods and goddesses to whom it had given names. There were gods for cities and wars, for crafts and everything in nature, for love, childbirth and the unknown realm of the dead – in brief for everything in human existence. Some gods were depicted with special attributes, while others were present, but invisible. The borders between the various gods’ spheres of influence were difficult to distinguish.

Most important of all were the fertility gods. They were supposed to protect new life, including life which, in one form or another of rebirth or resurrection, awaited in the next world.