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
Western Eurasia
Celtic
Norse-Germanic
Etruscan
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
Hindu-Vedic
Uralic
Asia-Pacific / Oceania
Meitei
Main article: Meitei mythology- Khamlangba, associated with smiths
- Khamnung Kikoi Louonbi, associated with enchantment
- Lainaotabi, associated with charm, magic, pottery, sorcery, spell, weaving and witchcraft
- Nongpok Ningthou, associated with dance, music and festival
- Nongthang Leima, associated with enchantment and seduction
- Panthoibi, associated with dance, festival, handicrafts, pottery, spinning and weaving
- Phouoibi, associated with trickery to men
- Pisatao, associated with smiths
- Thangching, associated with divine plays
Far East Asia
Chinese
- Cao Guojiu, patron god of the theater
- 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
Main article: List of Philippine mythological figures- Bait Pandi: the Bagobo goddess of weavers who taught women weaving
- 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
- Mamiyo: the Ifugao stretcher of skeins, one of the twenty-three deities presiding over the art of weaving
- Monlolot: the Ifugao winder of thread on the spindle, one of the twenty-three deities presiding over the art of weaving
- 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
- Tumungkuyan: leaders of the Salakap from Batak beliefs who paint tree trunks that support the sky using the blood of the epidemic-dead
Polynesian
Hawaiian
Native Americas
North America
- Kokopelli (shared among various Southwestern Native American mythologies)
Mexico
Aztec
Haitian Vodou
References
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