Includes 2 PNG files in a zipped folder: 1 Copy with Deities Colored by Archetype (i.e. Sun Gods, Fertility Goddesses, etc) and 1 Copy in Grayscale Optimized for Black & White Printing.
I (Joshua J Kes) am passionate about mythology and anthropology. I have a Bachelor of Science in Geography and Sociology; the studies of places and peoples, respectively. I've been working on a database for comparative mythological studies for a few years now, and thought I'd put together some slick informative charts/posters of family trees for various pantheons.
I also produce YouTube videos on this subject @Sapienite1, with episodes on individual motifs and pantheons. If you like what you see, you may check them out for more details!
https://www.youtube.com/@Sapienite1
My hope is that this chart can spark an interest in indigenous African religions. There is so much more to this and other traditions than I can possibly fit onto one piece of paper. And I would love to talk with more experts on this and related Nigerian and Afro-Caribbean religions, including Yoruba, Igbo, Edo, Vodun, Santeria, and Candomble. If you are versed in any of these traditions, feel free to message me and leave suggestions!
Our methodology of comparison for mythological archetypes usually involves planetary or astrological associations, but this time, I used a simple coding system including 11 motifs/archetypes/codes, each color-coded and in order from left-to-right:
1. HEARTH - Fire, Blacksmithing, or Domestic Deities like Elegba and Aje.
2. EARTH - Earth or Fertility Deities like Obatala and Iroko.
3. SKY - Sky, Storm, and Messenger Deities like Shango and Oya.
4. WATER - Sea, River, or Wellspring Deities like Yemoja and Olokun.
5. CHTHONIC - Underworld Deities like Iku.
6. DAY - Sun or Light Deities like Eke.
7. NIGHT - Moon, Night, or Dusk Deities like Iya Nla and Abonsam.
8. LOVE- Dawn, Love, or Justice Deities like Oshun and Osunmare.
9. WAR - War Deities like Ogun.
10. DEMIGOD - Demigods or Heroes like Akoda and Ashigbo.
11. SPIRIT - Monsters or Spirits like Agemo and Sigidi.
Total List of Orishas Invoked: Iya Nla/Iyamoopo, Olorun/Olodumare, Agemo, Yemoja, Ayelala, Aja, Aje, Ozain/Orunmila/Oranyan/Olouaye, Obatala, Oduduwa, Ogun, Oshosi, Elegba/Eshu, Olokun, Oba, Oshun, Shango, Dada/Bayanni, Ajaka, Iroko, Abonsam/Aboman, Osunmare, Ibeji, Akoda, Ashigbo/Akudaaya, Sigidi, Eke, Oko, Iku, Edi, Alaafia/Ela, Okoro/Oro, Ayangalu.
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