MT's Temple Work Thread

[MarcusTullius]

Just so I can keep everything in order

Key:
Green= we have the description
Red= description needed
Blue= description needs expansion

EDIT - DVK: DONE
ROME- COMPLETE
Order: Fulfilment (Juno), Obedience (Jupiter)
War: Discipline (Mars), Industry (Vulcan)
Growth: Health (Apollo), Farming (Ceres), Trade (Mercury)
Total: 7 Temples

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Juno

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Shrine to Juno

This Shrine is dedicated to Juno, the Queen of Heaven, and the wife and sister to Jupiter. She is the special protector of marriage, women, childbirth and family. She also has an aspect as a war goddess. As the wife of Jupiter she is associated with the Greek Hera, but the war-like aspect came from the influence of Athena. The influence of Hera can be seen in Virgil's Aeneid, where Juno maliciously hinders and plots against the hero Aeneas.\n\nJuno was important to the Romans, being part of the ‘Capitoline Triad’ alongside Jupiter and Minerva. Legend holds that it was the geese kept at Juno’s temple that alerted the Romans to a Gallic attack on the cities citadel in 390BC, with the rest of the city having already fallen to the Gauls. The Gauls failed to take the citadel, and Juno was then seen as a protector of Rome.\n\nAs the Juno Moneta (she who warns) she guarded over the finances of the empire and had a temple on the Arx (one of two Capitoline hills), close to the Mint of Rome. She was also worshipped in many other cities, where temples were built in her honor. Many festivals were held in the goddess’s honour, and the month of June, named after the Goddess, was deemed as the best time to marry.\n\nThis Shrine can be improved as the settlement grows in size and importance.


This Shrine is dedicated to Juno, the Queen of Heaven, and the wife and sister to Jupiter. She is the special protector of marriage and of women.

Jupiter

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Shrine to Jupiter

This Shrine is dedicated to Jupiter. Jupiter is the supreme god of the Roman pantheon, called dies pater, "shining father". He is a god of light and sky, and protector of the state and its laws. He is a son of Saturn and brother of Neptune and Juno (who is also his wife). The Romans worshipped him especially as Jupiter Optimus Maximus (all-good, all-powerful). This name refers not only to his rulership over the universe, but also to his function as the god of the state who distributes laws, controls the realm and makes his will known through oracles. His English name is Jove.\n\nHe had a temple on the Capitoline, together with Juno and Minerva, but he was the most prominent of this Capitoline triad. His temple was not only the most important sanctuary in Rome; it was also the center of political life. Here official offerings were made, treaties were signed and wars were declared, and the triumphant generals of the Roman army came here to give their thanks.\n\nOther titles of Jupiter include: Caelestis (heavenly), Lucetius (of the light), Totans (thunderer), Fulgurator (of the lightning). As Jupiter Victor he led the Roman army to victory. Jupiter is also the protector of the ancient league of Latin cities. His attribute is the lightning bolt and the eagle is both his symbol and his messenger.\n\nJupiter is completely identical with the Greek Zeus\n\nThis Shrine can be improved as the settlement grows in size and importance.


This Shrine is dedicated to Jupiter, the Supreme God of Rome.

Mars

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Shrine to Mars

This Shrine is dedicated to Mars, the God of War. His children from Rhea Silvia were the twins Romulus and Remus. Rhea’s uncle, Numitor, ordered a servant to kill the twins, but out of mercy the servant put the twins in a basket and placed them on the Tiber, where the River God took pity on them and gave them to a she-wolf. The she-wolf raised the twins, until they where found by local farmers. When they reached adulthood, they founded a settlement on the Palatine hill in 753BC. After an argument over where the city should be built (which Romulus won), Remus jumped the cities unfinished walls, which was considered an ill omen and an insult; suggesting that the defences would be easily breached. Romulus killed his brother, and then proclaimed himself King, and named the new city Rome.\n\nLinked with the Greek Ares, he is a more popular and heroic figure than his Greek counterpart. Mars was originally the god of fertility and vegetation (His name coming from the Latinized form of Maris, an Etruscan agriculture god), and the protector of cattle; god of spring, but later he became the Roman god of war and battle. He was said to be the protector of the soldier on the battlefield, and was also the most widely worshipped Roman god, as he fathered Romulus and Remus. To Mars was dedicated the first month of the Roman year, the month of Martius, from where we derive March. The Campus Martia is named in his honour.


This Shrine is dedicated to Mars, the God of War, and therefore a popular deity amongst the warlike Romans. He is also the patron of husbandmen.

Vulcan

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Shrine to Vulcan

This Shrine is dedicated to Vulcan, the Smith of the Gods, the God of Fire and the patron of mortal smiths. His workshops lie beneath the volcano at Etna. As might be expected weaponsmiths are much favoured by Vulcan. \n\nReligion always makes a people feel happy and content to know that the Gods are honoured. \n\nThis Shrine can be improved as the settlement grows in size and importance.


This Shrine is dedicated to Vulcan, the Smith of the Gods, the God of Fire and the patron of mortal smiths. His workshops lie beneath the volcano at Etna.

Ceres

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Shrine to Ceres

This Shrine is dedicated to Ceres, the Goddess of Grain and Fertility. She is an important figure in assuring that crops are sufficient to feed everyone. She is equated with the Greek deity Demeter, and worship of the two often overlaps. \n\nReligion always makes a people feel happy and content to know that the Gods are honoured. \n\n

She was personified and celebrated by women in secret rituals at the festival of Ambarvalia, held during May. There was a temple to Ceres on the Aventine Hill in Rome. Her primary festival was the Cerealia or Ludi Ceriales ("games of Ceres"), instituted in the 3rd century BC and held annually on April 12 to April 19. The worship of Ceres became particularly associated with the plebeian classes, who dominated the corn trade. Little is known about the rituals of Cerelean worship; one of the few customs which has been recorded was the peculiar practice of tying lighted brands to the tails of foxes which were then let loose in the Circus Maximus. \n\n
She was depicted in art with a sceptre, a basket of flowers and fruit, and a garland made of wheat ears. \n\n



This Shrine is dedicated to Ceres, the Goddess of Grain and Fertility. She is an important figure in assuring that crops are sufficient to feed everyone.

Apollo (this is taken from the Greek tree -there is no 'Roman Apollo' shrine) Also, it needs to be shortened, no?

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Shrine to Apollo

Apollo is considered to have dominion over plague, light, healing, colonists, medicine, archery, poetry, prophecy, dance, reason, intellectualism, Shamans, and as the patron defender of herds and flocks. Apollo had a famous oracle in Crete and other notable ones in Clarus and Branchidae. He is known as the leader of the Muses ("musagetes") and director of their choir. His attributes include: swans, wolves, dolphins, bows and arrows, a laurel crown, the cithara (or lyre) and plectrum. The sacrificial tripod is another attribute, representative of his prophetic powers. Among plants, the bay, used in expiatory sacrifices and also for making the crown of victory at the Pythian games, and the palm-tree, under which he was born in Delos, were sacred to him; among animals and birds, the wolf, the roe, the swan, the hawk, the raven, the crow, the snake, the mouse, the grasshopper and the griffin, a mixture of the eagle and the lion evidently of Eastern origin. .\n\n

Among the Romans the worship of Apollo was adopted from the Greeks. There is a tradition that the Delphian oracle was consulted as early as the period of the kings during the reign of Tarquinius Superbus, and in 430 a temple was dedicated to Apollo on the occasion of a pestilence, and during the Second Punic War in 212 BC the Ludi Apollinares were instituted in his honour. It was in the time of Augustus, who considered himself under the special protection of Apollo and was even said to be his son, that his worship developed and he became one of the chief gods of Rome. After the battle of Actium, Augustus enlarged his old temple, dedicated a portion of the spoil to him, and instituted quinquennial games in his honour. .\n\n

He also erected a new temple on the Palatine hill and transferred the secular games, for which Horace composed his Carmen Saeculare, to Apollo and Diana. As god of colonization, Apollo gave guidance on colonies, especially during the height of colonization, 750-550 BC. According to Greek tradition, he helped Cretan or Arcadian colonists find the city of Troy. .\n\n

This Shrine is dedicated to Apollo, who is the Greek God of Archery, Music, Poetry, Light, Truth

Mercury

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Shrine to Mercury

In Roman mythology, Mercury was a major god of trade, profit and commerce, the son of Maia Maiestas and Jupiter. His name is related to the Latin word merx ("merchandise"; compare merchant, commerce, etc.). In his earliest forms, he appears to have been related to the Etruscan deity Turms, but most of his characteristics and mythology were borrowed from the analogous Greek deity Hermes. Mercury watches over all of those who go far away and have business with foreigners, making him an ideal patron for any city where trade is important.

In his job as messenger, he wears a broad-rimmed traveller's hat called a petasos or petasus, talaria or winged sandals made "of imperishable gold whcih bore him swift as a breath of air over sea and earth," and carries a cadeuceus or herald's staff around which serpents or ribbons may be found. The cadeuceus is said to be able to charm men's eyes to sleep. He also carries a purse.The purse signifies his role as the Greek god of riches, trade and good fortune and the Roman god of trade, profit, merchants and travellers. He took over the latter job from the Dei Lucre, early Roman deities of commerce

This Shrine is dedicated to Mercury, the messenger of the Gods and also the patron of trade and travellers.

CARTHAGE- COMPLETE

EDIT - DVK: DONE

Order: Obedience (Baal)
War: Discipline (Anath), Industry (Kothar)
Growth: Farming (Tanit), Trade (Melquarth), Tribute (Eshmun)
Total: 6 Temples

NOTE: Baal and Baal Hammon have been equated as one

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Baal

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This Shrine is dedicated to Baal, the Ruler of the Universe and the Rider of the Clouds. He is the source of life, and a powerful god of war. He is the god on which all others depend, and a wielder of thunderbolts. Worship of Baal also includes child sacrifice and holy prostitution among its other observances. \n\n
In the temples there was normally a statue of the god with his arms outstretched in front, with the hands pointing down to the pit where his sacrificial victims were burned. The practice of sacrificing human victims to a god, although revolting to modern minds, was fairly commonplace in the ancient world. The Carthaginians often sacrificed their firstborn children to their gods, much as many cultures sacrificed the first fruits to gods. Even in the Old Testament you can find the tale of Abraham commanded by God to sacrifice his only son Isaac, stayed at the last moment by intercession of an angel. (Genesis 22.) \n\n



The name Baal originally referred to several local deities, but by the 14th century B.C. was taken to mean the lord of the universe, as stated in the Ugarit tablets. Baal (also known as El) had a number of other titles such as "the son of Dagan," although Dagan (biblical Dagon) does not appear as a player in the mythological texts. Baal also bears the titles "Rider of the Clouds," "Almighty," and "Lord of the Earth."
Baal Hammon was not the most important deity to Carthaginians however, at least not after about 500 B.C. when the worship of Tanit (also spelled Tinith, Tinnit or Tint) grew popular.

This Shrine is dedicated to Baal, the Ruler of the Universe and the Rider of the Clouds. He is the source of life, and a powerful god of war.

Milqart/Melquarth

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Shrine to Milqart

This shrine is dedicated to Melqart, the son of Ba'al, who was associated with the Cycle of Vegetation in ancient Carthage. The worship of Melqart has its origins in ancient Phoenicia and was originally the patron god of Tyre. As Phoenician settlers founded Carthage in the 9th century BC, they brought their gods with them, Melqart being prominent within the pantheon introduced. He soon became synonymous with the fortunes of agriculture amongst Carthaginians, who offered prayers in his honour, hoping he would favour their crops this year. His blessings were considered of such importance that Carthage herself sent a yearly tribute to the god in Tyre to ensure a good harvest for her citizens.\n\n

Supporting this interpretation is the fact that, customarily, a temple or shrine to Melqart was built in every Phoenician settlement, in the hope that this act of tribute would bless the new town with a prosperous future. As Carthaginian influence in Sicily continued to grow in the 6th century BC, so did Melqart’s, so much so that in Carthaginian settlements on the island, his head began to appear on locally-minted coins. Perhaps the most famous temple dedicated to Melqart is that of Cádiz, Spain. Strabo wrote that many believed the magnificent pillars of this temple were indeed the Pillars of Heracles, the Greek god with whom Melqart was associated.

Indeed the Greeks referred to Melqart as the ‘Tyrian Heracles’, and there are striking similarities in the appearance of the two deities. He was often depicted as a young, spritely god in sculptures and idols left at his temples. Legend has it that Hannibal himself had an unusual affinity with Melqart and Livy describes how Hannibal received a vision from Melqart on the eve of his march to Italy. The vision took the form of a beautiful youth (perhaps itself an avatar of Melqart) who wished to guide “the son of Hamilcar” into Italy. Sure enough Hannibal miraculously arrived in Italy in 217 BC having overcome seemingly impossible odds, crossing the tribal lands of Southern Gaul and the desolate paths over the Alps. Perhaps it was indeed Melqart’s guidance that almost led to the destruction of the Roman Republic. \n\n

The Shrine can be improved as the settlement grows in size and importance. It is wise to build such shrines in settlements, as it reassures the town’s inhabitants to know that the gods are being properly honoured.

This Shrine is dedicated to Melqart, the son of Baal and the Ruler of the Underworld.

Tanit

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Shrine to Tanit

This Shrine is dedicated to Tanit, the Queen of Heaven and Mother Goddess. Prayers are offered to her to ensure children, good harvests and tranquility in people's homes. Tanit was regarded as the patroness goddess of the city and was accorded special favour by her citizens. Some of the Greeks identified her as approximating Diana, the Moon goddess, and Persephone or Kore, for the grain and harvest. Similarly, to the Carthaginians she was the goddess of good fortune, the harvest, and the Moon. Tanit is equivalent to the Phoenician (the original settlers of Carthage) goddess Astarte, the mother goddess from which many think she derivates. \n\n The symbol of Tanit is a large truncated pyramid, topped with a rectangular bar, over which is depicted the Sun and the crescent Moon. Being a symbol of good fortune, t he symbol of Tanit can be found on most of the grave markers in any Punic necropolis. Tanit also required sacrifice of human victims, but perhaps not as many as Baal Hammon for which Carthage was well known.. Her full title Pene Baal meant "(Tanit) Face of Baal," and she had precedence over Baal Hammon.

This Shrine is dedicated to Tanit, the Queen of Heaven and Mother Goddess. Prayers are offered to her to ensure children, good harvests and tranquility in people's homes.

Anath

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Anath was the goddess of war, the hunt, and savagery. She is primarily depicted as an archer. Virgin, sister-in-law of peoples she was greatly revered by the people of Carthage. \n\n

According to legend she restrains Baal when he intends to attack Yam's messengers.
In missing texts, she killed Yam-Nahar, the dragon, the seven-headed serpent. She also destroyed Arsh, Atik, Ishat, and Zabib, all enemies of Baal. \n\n

She holds a feast at Baal's palace to celebrate his victory over Yam. After the guests arrive, she departs her abode and adorns herself in rouge and henna, closes the doors and slaughters the inhabitant of two nearby towns, possibly Baal's enemies. She makes a belt of their heads and hands and wades through the blood. She lures the towns' warriors inside to sit and joyfully massacres them. She then makes a ritual peace offering and cleans up. This is possibly related to a seasonal fertility ritual welcoming the autumn rains.

Kothar

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Kothar wa Khasis means Skillful-and-Wise or Adroit-and-Perceptive. Another of his names means that he is “Deft-with-both-hands”. He is smith, craftsman, engineer, architect, and inventor. He is also soothsayer and magician, as the creator of sacred words and spells. He aids Ba`al in his battles by creating and magically naming two magic weapons with which Ba`al defeats Yam. Kothar also creates beautiful furniture adorned with silver and gold as gifts for Athirat. And he builds Ba`al's palace of silver, gold, lapis lazuli, and cedar. Significantly, he is The Opener of the window through which Ba`al's rains can come and go. \n\n

Mark Smith notes that there is a possible pun involved in his epithet The Opener. According to the Phoenician mythology according to Mochos cited in Damascius' De principiis (Attridge and Oden 1981:102-03), Chusor, Kothar1s name in Phoenician Greek, was the first "opener." Assuming the West Semitic root *pt h, "to open," Albright argued that this title represents a word-play on the name of Ptah. The double abodes have been explained as reflexes of metal or craft trade from Egypt and the Mediterranean Sea to Ugarit, as Kothar is imputed to be their divine patron.

Eshmun

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Eshmun 'the holy prince' was the healing god of the Phoenicians and the great god of Sidon. The Carthaginian 'triad' of the most important gods included Baal, Tanit, and Eshmun. In the 5th century CE, Damascius identified him with the Greek god Asclepius n\n\

“The Asclepius in Beirut is neither a Greek nor an Egyptian, but some native Phoenician divinity. For to Sadyk were born children who are interpreted as Dioscuri and Cabeiri; and in addition to these was born an eighth son, Esmunus, who is interpreted as Asclepius.”

The name Astresmunim, "herb of Eshmun." was applied by Dioscorides (4.71) to the solanum, which was regarded as having medicinal qualities. Eshmun was given much tribute in the hope for a long and healthy life.

Greek Culture

EDIT - DVK: DONE

GREEKS- COMPLETE
Order: Fulfilment (Hera), Obedience (Zeus), Revels (Dionysus)
War: Discipline (Athena), Industry (Hephaistos)
Growth: Health (Apollo), Trade (Hermes)
Total: 7 Temples

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Hera

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Hera, known to the Romans as Juno, was the older sister of Zeus and child of Chronos. She was swallowed by her father along with Hestia, Demeter, Hera, Hades and Poseidon to prevent the fulfilment of a prophesy that Chronos would be usurped by his children. Saved by Zeus, she then married him becoming his queen in Olympia. It is thought that her name is linked with the Greek word for heifer (young cow), which explains one of her appellations as ‘Cow-‘ or ‘Ox- Eyed’. An extremely powerful figure, she was goddess of marriage and patron of matriarchal society and the virtues of Hellenic culture, not least because of her propensity for vengeance against Zeus’ lovers and their offspring or men such as Paris who slighted her.\n\n

She is also widely regarded as the Goddess of fertility and depicted either with a pomegranate or opiate, while the connection between her and female cows may also be a symbol of the female power in giving life (much as Zeus, depicted as a bull, is synonymous with virility). Her role as a guardian also links her with the peacock, an animal also sacred to he followers.\n\n

Legend has her birth as the Isle of Samos where it is thought one of the first enclosed Greek altars was built. There also exist major temples to her at Olympia, Corinth, Tiryns, Perachora and Delos. She has particularly strong links with the city-states of Argos and Mycenae which celebrated the Heraia festivals in her honour and Homer’s Illyad has her claiming to love best ‘Argos, Sparta and Mycenae of the broad streets’. Outside of Greece there have been two Doric temples discovered at Paestum in Magna Graeca (Southern Italy) while the discover of offerings at Samos from Armenia, Babylon, Iran, Assyria and Egypt indicates the worship of Hera beyond Greece to the extent that pilgrimages were made to her place of birth.\n\n

In addition to Hera’s role as a strong matriarchal figure and thus Goddess of married women, her traditions also included the care of animals and maintenance of herd fertility, with obvious importance for farmers and landowners. In addition she was depicted as a fierce supporter of her husband in time of war. It was this aspect of her character with which the Romans appear to have engaged, possibly conflating her with the Goddess Athena clothed in a goatskin cloak. The Greek legacy of her role as a ‘watcher’ was also maintained in Rome where she was known as ‘Juno who Warns’.

Zeus

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Shrine to Zeus

This Shrine is dedicated to Zeus who was the supreme ruler of the Olympian Gods, the Son of Cronus and Rhea. Zeus was also seen as a Lord of Justice, who guided the fate of nations; and the Protector of Kings.\n\nCronus had feared that one of his children would supplant him as supreme ruler (He himself had overthrown his own father, Uranus), and so swallowed his children. Zeus's mother replaced him with a stone, and hid Zeus away in Crete. When he was grown to a young man, Zeus returned to his father’s domain. Metis gave Cronus a potion that caused him to regurgitate his other children (Hestia, Demeter, Hera, Hades and Poseidon). Zeus then led the revolt against his father, overthrowing the Titan dynasty, imprisoning them in Tartarus. The three brothers then divided the world between them; Zeus gaining the heavens, Poseidon the sea and Hades the underworld.\n\nZeus had many offspring; including most of the other Olympian Gods. Besides these Gods, he also fathered many mortals and semi-gods, including Heracles, Helen of Troy, Perseus, Minos, the Fates, the Muses, and the Charities. Many of the most famous Greek myths concern Zeus’s mortal children and the jealousy of Hera that they often had to face.\n\nHe was originally worshipped by the early Greek tribes as a weather God, and this can be seen in the imagery of Zeus’s thunderbolt, and his control over thunder lightning and rain. As the Supreme God, Zeus had many Temples and festivals in his honor, and worship was widespread throughout the Greek world. His oldest and most famous Oracle resided at Dodona in Epirus. The most famous of his sanctuaries was at Olympia, which contained the magnificent gold and ivory statue of Zeus, one of the Seven Wonders of the World; and where the Olympic Games were held in his honour.

This Shrine is dedicated to Zeus who was the supreme ruler of the Olympian Gods, the Son of Cronus and Rhea.

Dionysus

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Shrine to Dionysus

This Shrine is dedicated to Dionysus who was the Greek God of Wine. He is known as the Liberator, freeing one from one's normal self, by madness, ecstasy, or wine. It was believed that Dionysus presided over communication between the living and the dead, and could guarantee a pleasurable afterlife to those that followed him. He is associated with wild cats ivy, and of course, the grape vine.\n\nDionysus is the son of Zeus and Semele, a mortal. When Semele became pregnant, Hera became jealous. She appeared before Semele as an old woman. When Semele told her that her lover was Zeus, Hera lied and refused to believe her; making Semele herself doubt the truth. She demanded that Zeus reveal himself, and prove he was a God. Though Zeus begged her not to ask this, she persisted. But mortals can not look upon a God in its pure form without dying, and she perished, consumed in flame. However, Zeus managed to rescue Dionysus by sewing him into his thigh. A few months later, Dionysus was born, and so became known as the ‘twice born’.\n\nMany marvelous stories concern Dionysius. When Dionysus grew up, he discovered the vine and how to make wine (Many claim that this was on the island of Sicily). But Hera struck him with madness, and he wandered across the earth. In Phrygia the goddess Rhea cured him and taught him her religious rites and he traveled through Asia, even to India, teaching people of the cultivation of the vine. When Hephaestus bound Hera to a magical chair, Dionysus got Hephaestus drunk on wine, and brought him back to Olympus on the back of a mule. For this act, he was made one of the Olympians. Dionysius once even descended in to the Underworld to rescue his mother Semele, through a bottomless lake. In another tale, when Theseus abandoned Ariadne sleeping on Naxos, after he had killed the Minotaur; Dionysus found and married her.\n\nThe worship of Dionysus is mysterious. He came in to Greek religion either from Thrace, Asia Minor or from an earlier civilization that predated the Greeks. When the worship of Dionysius was absorbed into Greek culture, it gradually evolved into a complex mystery religion, the infamous Dionysian Mysteries; that used intoxicants, dance, music, and sex to remove a persons inhibitions and constraints, causing the individual to return to a more natural and primal state.\n\nDionysius was worshipped in many places in Greece, the Dionysia festival in Athens were dedicated to Dionysus; Thebes was said to be his birthplace, and he was especially worshiped by the Thracians. Many rumours were spread about Alexander’s mother, the Epriot Olympias, and her involvement in his cult. But his worship was not limited to any particular city, and anyone who enjoyed sensual pleasures and extravagant luxuries would surely appreciate this God.

This Shrine is dedicated to Dionysus who was the Greek God of Wine.

Athena

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Shrine to Athena

This Shrine is dedicated to Athena who was the Greek God of Wisdom, War, and the protector of cities; being known as Athena Polias. She is also the patron of the crafts. The owl and the olive tree are sacred to her, and she is often accompanied by Nike, the Goddess of Victory.
Being a virgin, she was also known as Athena Parthenos, hence the name of the Parthenon; her most famous temple at the city of Athens. Athena, admiring the qualities of bravery, wisdom and virtue, aided several heroes, including Heracles, Odysseus and Jason. She helped Perseus to slay the Gorgon Medusa. (Who had been turned by Athena in to her horrid form as punishment for desecrating her temple by sleeping with Poseidon there.)\n\nAfter Zeus had sex with Metis, it had been prophesied that if Metis would bear a child, its offspring would be more powerful than Zeus himself. To protect himself, Zeus transformed Metis into a fly and swallowed her, but she was already pregnant. Metis immediately began making a helmet and robe for her daughter. The hammering as she made the helmet caused Zeus great pain and, Hephaestus was forced to cleave open Zeus’s head with a hammer and chisel. Athena leaped from Zeus's head, fully grown and armed.\n\nAthena is most widely associated with the city of Athens, and this rises through the tale over her and Poseidon’s contest for the then unnamed city. They decided that they would each give the people one gift, and they would then choose what God they preferred. Poseidon struck the ground with his trident and produced a spring, but it was salty and was of no use to the people. Athena gave them the olive tree, which could give the people oil, food and wood; and the people chose Athena to be their patron, and namesake. The Athenians did not completely disregard Poseidon, and he was worshipped in Athens second only to Athena.\n\nAnother story tells of her escape from Hephaestus, after he had tried to rape her. It is said his semen fell on the ground, fertilising the Earth goddess Gaia. When the child was born Gaia gave the boy, named Erichthonius to Athena who fostered him. He would go on to become the King of Athens. It is said that Erichthonius taught his people how to smelt silver, till the earth, harness horses, use them to pull chariots, and invented the quadriga, the four horse chariot.\n\nAs a patron of the crafts, she was skilled in many things, including weaving. A woman named Arachne once boasted that she was such a good weaver that she was better than even Athena, and even had the pride to challenge the Goddess to a contest. Athena wove a depiction of the conflict with Poseidon over Athens, while Arachne weaving made fun of Zeus and his many wives. The contest was never decided, furious at Arachne’s choice of subject, and at her pride in challenging her; she destroyed Arachne's work and transformed her into the very first spider.\n\nDespite the strong association with Athens, worship of the Goddess was widespread, and many cities held her as their principle deity. The Spartans too also held her in high esteem, as would be only natural for a war-cultured city.

This Shrine is dedicated to Athena who was the Greek God of Wisdom, War, and the protector of cities

Hephaestus/Hephaistos

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Temple of Hephaestus

This Temple is dedicated to Hephaestus who was the Greek God of Fire and Craft, but is more commonly known as the patron of craftsmen, particularly blacksmiths. Known as the lame god, Hephaestus was born weak and crippled. Displeased by the sight of her son, Hera threw Hephaestus from Mount Olympus, and he fell for a whole day before landing in the sea. Nymphs rescued him and took him to Lemnos, where the people of the island cared for him; and where it soon became apparent that he was a talented craftsmen.\n\nTo gain revenge for his rejection by Hera, Hephaestus fashioned a magic throne, and gave it as a gift to her. When Hera sat on the throne, it trapped her, making her Hephaestus’ prisoner. The other Gods pleaded for the release of Hera, but he refused. After being tricked by Dionysius, Hephaestus agreed to release Hera in return for being given the beautiful Aphrodite as his bride.\n\nThis was no bond of love; Aphrodite was not pleased, as he was lame and physically ugly. Aphrodite had a passionate affair with Ares, the handsome God of War. The sun god Helios saw them, and revealed the affair to Hephaestus, who forged a net to catch the two lovers in the act. When he did, he furthered his revenge by getting the male Gods to mock the unfortunate pair. It is said that Hephaestus really wished to marry Athena, but she would not, for he was too ugly. The Lame God even tried to overpower her, but proved unsuccessful; and the Goddess fled, preserving her virginity.\n\nBeing a master blacksmith, he created many wonderful objects. He helped the Cyclopes to make thunderbolts for Zeus, as well as his sceptre. He made Athena her shield, Eros his arrows, Helios his chariot, Hermes his winged sandals and helmet, and the armour of Achilles. It was even Hephaestus who created the first woman; Pandora.\n\nHephaestus was worshiped in most major manufacturing and industrial areas of Greece, especially in Athens; highlighting the link between the Smith God and Athena. Though his forge traditionally lay in the heart of Lemnos, Hephaestus was quickly identified by Greek colonists in Italy and Sicily with Mount Etna, where many believed the God had his smithy. He was associated amongst the Sicilian Greeks with the volcano god Adranus.(A Sicilian Fire and War God who’s temple was said to be guarded by a hundred sacred dogs), and some hold that Hephaestus drove the fearsome Adranus from Etna.

This Temple is dedicated to Hephaestus who was the Greek God of Fire and Craft, but is more commonly known as the patron of craftsmen, particularly blacksmiths.

Apollo

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Small Shrine to Apollo

This Shrine is dedicated to Apollo, who was the Greek God of Archery, Music, Poetry, Light, Truth; and a great deal of other things besides. He was also the bringer of Plague and the leader of the Muses. Apollo is also the defender of flocks and herds, the Patron of Medicine and of Colonists. He was called the ‘Striker from Afar’ and was also known as the God of Light, sometimes being called ‘Phoebus’; often being linked with Helios, the Sun God.\n\n
Apollo's most common attributes were the lyre and the bow. Animals sacred to Apollo (there are many) includes wolves, dolphins, crows, snakes and swans; on which it is said he visited the Hyperboreans every winter.\n\nWhen Hera discovered that Apollo’s mother, Leto was pregnant and that Zeus was the father, she stopped Leto from giving birth in any land. In her wanderings, Leto found the newly created floating island of Delos that was surrounded by swans, it was neither mainland nor a real island, and so there she gave birth to Artemis and Apollo. Afterwards, Zeus secured Delos to the bottom of the ocean.\n\nIn his youth, Apollo killed the Python, a Dragon Serpent that had pursued his mother while she was pregnant. Python lived in Delphi beside the Castalian Spring. This was the spring which emitted vapors that caused the oracle at Delphi to give her prophesies. Apollo killed Python, and then created his own temple at the site.\n\nThough he may seem the perfect God, he too had his dark sides. Marsyas, who dared challenge him to a music contest, was flayed alive after he lost. Apollo brought down arrows of plague upon the Greeks when they dishonored his temple and his priest during the Trojan War. Apollo, along with his sister Artemis also killed many of the children of Niobe; who, proud of having seven sons and seven daughters, had mocked Leto for having only two. Eurytos was a famous archer, but he had the arrogance to challenge Apollo to an archery contest, and was justly killed by the god for his blasphemy.\n\nHis most well known child was Asklepios, the God of Healing and Medicine, and he was cherished by Apollo dearly. But Asklepios was killed by Zeus for resurrecting dead beings, and so unbalancing the natural order of things. This infuriated Apollo, and he in turn slew the Cyclopes –who made Zeus’s thunderbolts– with his arrows. Leto prevented Zeus from sending him to Tartarus (Where the enemies of the Gods, including the Titans were exiled); and instead Apollo had to spend nine years in exile among the mortals, most of which he spent with King Admetus in Thessaly. Another son of Apollo’s was Troilus, the Trojan Prince. During the Trojan War he was ambushed by Achilles, who instantly became enamored with the handsome prince. Troilus rejected Achilles advances, and fled to the nearby Temple of Apollo. Achilles entered and slew the Prince on the Altar of Apollo, thereby provoking the anger of Apollo, who gained his revenge by guiding hectors arrow to Achilles heel, and so slaying him.\n\nApollo had many lovers, but was not always lucky. One such love was the nymph Daphne. His infatuation was caused by an arrow from Eros, who was jealous because Apollo had made fun of his archery skills. Eros also shot a hate arrow into Daphne, causing her to be repulsed by Apollo. Following a spirited chase by Apollo, Daphne prayed to her father - a river god - to help her and he changed her into a Laurel tree, which became sacred to Apollo. Apollo also fell in love with Sibyl of Cumae. He offered her anything in exchange for sex. She chose immortality, but then betrayed Apollo and refused to keep her promise and then didn't keep her side of the bargain. Apollo’s revenge was simple. Sibyl got her immortality, but she still aged as a mortal does; and as she aged, so her looks continued to worsen.\n\nApollo was a popular god, and was worshipped throughout the Greek world. His main temple and Oracle were at Delphi, and the island of Delos was sacred to him. The Trojans worshipped him above any other god (He helped found the city), as did many other Greek colonies. When establishing a colony the colonists always sent to the Delphic oracle, for Apollo was the Patron of Colonists.

This Shrine is dedicated to Apollo, who is the Greek God of Archery, Music, Poetry, Light, Truth

Hermes

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Shrine to Hermes

This Shrine is dedicated to Hermes who was the Greek God of Travellers, Commerce and also acts as a messenger of the Gods. He is also patron of Shepard’s, Orators, and is respected by thieves and liars as a god of cunning and wit. It is said the God introduced the sports of racing and boxing to mortals and so is also considered the patron of Athletes, and his statue was often found in Gymnasiums. He is a son of Zeus, and his mother, Maia, was a Pleiade, one of the daughters of the Titan Atlas (It is said that she was the oldest and most beautiful)\n\nAn example of how cunning the God was, and why he was adopted by thieves as their patron was shown on the very first night of his birth. Hermes was born on Mount Cyllene, in Arcadia, and to keep the baby safe from a would-be infuriated Hera, he was kept in the cave by his mother. But Hermes, as Gods do, matured very quickly, and that night he managed to escape from the cave while his mother was asleep. Hermes ended up in Thessaly, where Apollo was keeping his sacred cattle. The infant Hermes managed to steal several of his cattle and then hid them in a cave in a Pylos (Just to the west of Arcadia in the Peloponnese), even managing to cover his and the cattle’s tracks. In the cave, he found a tortoise and killed it. He then used the tortoise shell to make the first lyre. He managed to do all this and sneak back to the cave where his mother was sleeping and wrap himself back up in his blankets. Apollo complained to Maia that Hermes had stolen his cattle, but she would not believe him, for he was only an infant and was still in the cave when she woke up. But Zeus had seen the misadventure of his young son, and informed Maia that Hermes really did steal the cattle. The young Hermes, rather nonplussed by the accusations, begun to play on the Lyre that he had invented. Apollo, who was a god of music, fell in love with the instrument, and agreed to allow Hermes to keep the cattle he had taken in return for the instrument.\n\nTemples to Hermes were found throughout Greece, but the major enter of his cult was at Arcadia, the place of his birth. As a ‘crosser of boundaries’, travellers erected cairns in the Gods honour throughout Greece, along roads and between villages. In Athens, and later elsewhere, these were changed to rectangular pillars with a carving of the gods face on top. They were also used in the city as token of good luck outside houses. During the Peloponnesian War, as the Athenians were making preparations to launch the Sicilian Expedition, all these pillars (Or ‘Hermeia’, as they were known) were vandalised; a bad omen for what would become one of the greatest military disasters in History.

This Shrine is dedicated to Hermes who was the Greek God of Travellers, Commerce and also acts as a messenger of the Gods.

EDIT - DVK: DONE

PONTUS- COMPLETE
Order: Fulfilment (Hera), Obedience (Zeus), Revels (Dionysus)
War: Discipline (Athena), Industry (Hephaistos)
Growth: Health (Apollo), Trade (Hermes)
Total: 7 temples

EDIT - DVK: DONE

SPARTA- COMPLETE
Order: Fulfilment (Apollo Hyakinthos), Obedience (Zeus) ,
War: Discipline(Athena Chalkoikos), Industry(Hephaistos), Fury (Artemis Orthia)
Growth: Health(Asklepios), Tribute(Eurotas)
Total: 7 temples

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Apollo Hyakinthos

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The Olympian god Apollo is considered to be one of the most important and revered gods in the Hellenic, and later, Roman pantheon. This is certainly true amongst the Spartans who appear to have held Apollo in an unusually high esteem compared to other Hellenic powers. It has even been argued that the founder of the Spartan constitution, Lykourgos, was in fact merely an anthropomorphic form of Apollo, which may explain the god-like reverence that Lykourgos received in Sparta.\n\nThe centre for his worship was in one of the five villages that made up Sparta (Pitana, Limnai, Mesoa, and Kynosura). The other village, Amyklai, was just to the north of the boundary between Sparta and the rest of Lakonia. This perhaps explains why the Spartans chose Amyklai as the special location for the centre of Apollan worship, so much so that cult site of Apollo-Hyakinthos at Amyklai was richly adorned in the 6th Century BC. The Spartans had employed Bathykles, an Ionian, to design a special throne to Apollo made of stone and multiple precious materials which was to be the centre piece of the shrine to Apollo-Hyakinthos at Amyklai.\n\nThe reason as to why Apollo was matched with the mythical character of Hyakinthos is not clearly known. The myth goes that Apollo fell in love (including sexually) with a young adolescent boy named Hyakinthos. However Apollo accidentally killed Hyakinthos after throwing a discus at him. This is likely to represent the encouraged sexual relationships between young adolescent boys in the Agoge and adult Spartan warriors. One of the most important festivals in Sparta was the Hyakinthia which took place over three days. Spartan soldiers from Amyklai were allegedly given leave so that they could attend this festival.\n\nCertainly the most important festival to Apollo in Sparta was the Karneia which lasted for 9 days and was very much linked with the coming of harvest. Herodotus mentions how the Spartans were late responding to the Athenians please for aid prior to marathon because they were celebrating the Karneia festival, thus suggesting the piety of the Spartans.

Athena Chalkoikos

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The goddess Athena usually has connotations with the Greek city state of Athens, since Athens, or Athenai, had Athena as their patron deity. She had such an important status in Athens that she had a magnificent temple (the Parthenon) built upon Athens’s high and rocky acropolis. However it may seems somewhat odd to note that on Sparta’s main acropolis (Sparta had 6 knolls/acropolai) there was also an important sanctuary to Athena Poliouchos (Athena Guardian of the City) which later became known as Athena Chalkoikos (Athena of the Bronze House).\n\nThe temple was called Chalkoikos (Bronze House) due to the fact that the architect, Vathykles of Magnesia, had decorated the entire interior of the temple with sheets of bronze, an expensive material in the classical world. The sanctuary also had a large bronze statue to Athena sculpted by a local Lakonian of Perioikoi ( non Spartan citizens) origins called Gitiadas. Considering that bronze was an expensive commodity we can assume that the Spartans had a special affinity with the goddess Athena although perhaps not on the scale of the Athenians. It may have something to do with the fact that Athena was closely linked with war and heroic endeavour. This can certainly be plausible for the sanctuary of Athena Chalkoikos to have such a prominent position within Sparta not to mention the fact that a hoplitodromos (running hoplite statue) allegedly of Leonidas was found within the sanctuary, adding to the Spartans possible worship of a more war like Athena.\n\ncertainly the most famous and well documented historical event to happen at the temple was the death of King Pausanias in 470 BC. Thucydides writes, ‘Setting off at a run for the Temple of the Goddess of the Bronze House, the enclosure of which was near at hand, he succeeded in taking sanctuary before they took him, and entering into a small chamber, which formed part of the Temple, to avoid being exposed to the weather, he remained there. The ephors, for the moment distanced in the pursuit, afterwards took off the roof of the chamber, and having made sure that he was inside, shut him in, barricaded the doors, and staying before the place, reduced him to starvation. When they found that he was on the point of expiring, just as he was, in the chamber, they brought him out of the Temple while the breath was still in him, and as soon as he was brought out he died.’

Asklepios

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Shrine to Asklepios

This Shrine is dedicated to Asklepios, who was the Greek Demigod of Medicine and Healing and the son of Apollo. His children, which included Hygieia, Meditrine, and Panacea (representing Cleanliness, Medicine and Healing), also possessed powers of healing and recovery. His symbol is his staff intertwined with a snake.\n\nHis mother, Coronis, was killed by Artemis at the request of Apollo after she fell in love with another man. Apollo rescued the unborn Asklepios by performing the first caesarean section. Apollo then gave the young Asklepios to a centaur called Chiron to raise.\n\nChiron taught Asklepios the art of surgery and healing. Asklepios soon became the most respected doctor in the world, even by the Gods. Athena gave him a vial of blood from the Gorgons. If Gorgon blood was taken from the left side of the Gorgon it was poison, but from the right it had the power to bring people back from the dead. But by bringing back the dead he angered many Gods. Hades was being deprived of his souls, and Themis was insulted by the challenge to the natural order things. Zeus, already annoyed, was enraged when he found that Asklepios was accepting money in return for resurrecting dead persons. He killed Asklepios with a thunder bolt, but realising his importance to mortals placed him in the stars as the constellation Ophiuchus. Apollo was furious at the murder of his son, and promptly slew the Cyclopes, who made Zeus’s thunderbolts.\n\nAsklepios’s sanctuaries, known as ‘Asclepieions’, which also served as places of healing, appear in several places throughout Greece. The oldest known of his sanctuary was located at Trikke in Thessaly. The most famous sanctuary was at Epidaurus in the Peloponnese, which claimed to be the birth place of Asklepios. The city of Pergamon in Asia Minor also contained a famous ‘Asclepieion’, here it was said that the Asklepios would communicate with those who had bathed in the water of the sacred spring at the sanctuary.

This Shrine is dedicated to Asklepios, who was the Greek Demigod of Medicine and Healing and the son of Apollo.

Artemis Orthia

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As the name suggests this was part of the cult of the goddess Artemis which had strong roots within Sparta, however the name Artemis was never used alone but always pared up with the pre-Olympian goddess Orthia. The sanctuary of Artemis Orthia lay between the Eurotas River, running through the heart of Lakonia, and next to one of the four villages that made up Sparta which was called Limnai (the other villages being Pitana, Kynosoura and Mesoa).\n\nArchaeological records have suggested that the cult had been situated in that region from at least the 10th century BC, which supports the belief that Orthia was a pre-Olympian deity. Archaeological finds suggest that Orthia was a winged goddess holding birds in both of her hands. According to Pausanias, the wooden image (xoanon) of Orthia was found within a thicket of willows (giving rise to her other name ‘Lygodesma’ or ‘willow bound’). It is also believed that the first temple dedicated to Artemis Orthia was built in around 570 BC. Pausanias also writes that in pre-Lykourgan Sparta (pre 750 BC), a human sacrifice was given to Orthia because only human blood could make her xoanon feel lighter for the priestesses to pick up. Lykourgos allegedly changed this which gave way to the practice of diamastigosis (whipping) amongst the epheboi (young men aged between 18-20) so that their blood could be used rather than a human sacrifice.\n\nThe annual festival of Artemis Orthia involved cheeses being piled on the alter which was then guarded by adults with whips. The epheboi then had to endure the whipping while they tried to steal the cheeses off the alter. This could be interpreted as an extension of the training the epheboi would have received in the Agoge, and no doubt played a role in the Spartan mantra of discipline and endurance.

Eurotas

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The city of Sparta was hemmed in between the great Tagetus mountains in the west and the Parnon mountains in the east. Between these two mountain ranges lay a highly fertile valley, its fertility stemming from the Eurotas River which had allowed the settlement of Sparta since the Mycenaean era and earlier. It is little wonder then, that myths and legends about the Eurotas have thrived within Lakonia.\n\nAccording to local Spartan mythology, Eurotas was the son of Myles and the grandson of Lelex. Lelex himself was the son of the sun god Helios and the daughter of Poseidon, Libya. Eurotas, according to Spartan myth, was the founder of the city of Sparta as well as being credited for allowing the water trapped within Lakonia to flow freely into the sea. Pausanias tells us that Eurotas created a canal to allow the water to flow into the sea, this can lead us to conclude that the river may have been named after Eurotas. However, it is also very likely that Eurotas was a river god of the Lelagian peoples, who inhabited the Eurotas valley along with the Pelagasian Greeks prior to the Dorian migrations in around 1000 BC.\n\nEither way, given that the Eurotas valley was the life blood of Sparta, it is little wonder that Eurotas was given a sacred respect.

EDIT - DVK: DONE

MACEDON- COMPLETE
Order: Fulfilment (Hera), Obedience (Zeus), Revels (Dionysus)
War: Discipline (Athena), Industry (Hephaistos)
Growth: Health (Apollo), Trade (Hermes)
Total: 7 temples

EDIT - DVK: Done

PTOLEMIES- COMPLETE
Order: Fulfilment (Isis), Obedience (Serapis)
War: Fury (Seth), Discipline (Harpocrates)
Growth: Health (Khonsu), Trade (Ptah), Farming (Renenutet), Tribute (Ma’at)
Total: 8 Temples

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Isis

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Isis is the mother goddess of Egypt; the daughter of Nut, the wife and sister of Osiris, and the mother of Horus. She was depicted as a woman, often suckling the child Horus on her lap. A legend tells how Isis discovered the ineffable name of Re, the sun god. Weary of worldly affairs, she determined to become a goddess by using the name of the sun god, already in his dotage. She collected some of his spittle, mixed it with earth and so created a serpent, which she placed in Re's path. Bitten and poisoned, the sun god was advised by Isis to utter his own name since its divinity bestowed life on whoever spoke it. At last the working of the venom compelled Re to speak, and Isis appropriated a portion of his power. Thereafter she sparkled as the constellation Sirius, while her cult spread to Greece and Rome.

During the Hellenistic period, her image outside Egypt became increasingly Hellenic, with ideal features and locks framing her face. Isis was also a goddess of magic, and legends tell of her ability to counteract evil by casting spells. At Philae her worship persisted until the sixth century, long after the rise of Christianity and the subsequent suppression of paganism. The cult of Isis and Osiris continued up until the 6th century AD on the island of Philae in Upper Nile.


Ovid described Isis: "Upon her Isis' brow stood the crescent moon-horns, garlanded with glittering heads of golden grain, and grace of royal dignity; and at her side the baying dog Anubis, dappled Apis, sacred Bubastis and the god who holds his finger to his lips for silence sake

Serapis

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As a bridge between the various religions in the Hellenistic world, a new god was also introduced in the form of Serapis. In him the god Osiris and the Apis bull were united, but also Greek gods and gods from Asia Minor. The earliest mention of a Serapis is in the disputed death scene of Alexander (C. 323 BC), from the royal diaries (Arrian, Anabasis, VII. 26). Here, Serapis had a temple at Babylon, and is of such importance that he alone is named as being consulted on behalf of the dying king. His cult rose to become widely popular across the world.

“The land of Egypt, the praises of which you have been recounting to me, my dear Servianus, I have found to be wholly light-minded, unstable, and blown about by every breath of rumour. There those who worship Serapis are, in fact, Christians, and those who call themselves bishops of Christ are, in fact, devotees of Serapis. There is no chief of the Jewish synagogue, no Samaritan, no Christian presbyter, who is not an astrologer, a soothsayer, or an anointer. Even the Patriarch himself, when he comes to Egypt, is forced by some to worship Serapis, by others to worship Christ. (Augustan History, Firmus et al. 8)”

He rose to become the state god of the Ptolemaic Egypt. Portrayed as a man with curly hair and beard, wearing a basket upon his head, he was worshiped as a major deity across the Ptolemaic lands. As his formation was derived from the cult of the Apis Bull at Memphis, the main centre of Serapis worship was Alexandria, a centre of learning and commerce under the Ptolemies. The Serapeum there, accounted one of the wonders of the world, drew pilgrims from far and wide seeking cures. Serapis was primarily a healer of the sick, a deity who was superior to fate and who retained from Osiris the character of a god of the underworld. He also had enormous influence among the Romans until his cult was overshadowed by that of the goddess Isis.

Seth

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Seth was the ancient Egyptian god of chaos, the embodiment of hostility and even of outright evil.As the god of deserts he protects the caravans which travel through the desert, but he also causes sandstorms which bring him into conflict with the fertility god Osiris. The two are adversaries and in the Osiris myths, Seth killed his brother and scattered the remains all over Egypt. Seth belongs to the Ennead of Heliopolis and is the son of Geb and Nut (or Re and Nut). He is also the brother of Osiris, Isis, and Nephthys, who is sometimes given as his consort, although Seth is more commonly associated with the foreign, Semitic goddesses Astarte and Anat.

During the 3rd millenium BCE Seth replaced Horus as the tutelary deity of the pharaohs, but the story of Osiris' murder gained currency and Horus was restored to his original status. The war that followed lasted eighty years, during which Seth tore out Horus' left eye and Horus tore off Seth's foreleg and testicles. Eventually, Horus emerged victorious, or was deemed the victor by the council of the gods, and thus became the rightful ruler of the kingdoms of Lower and Upper Egypt. Seth was forced to return the eye of Horus and was either castrated or killed. In other versions he went to live with the sungod Re, where he became the voice of thunder. In the Book of the Dead, Seth is called "Lord of the Northern Sky" and is held responsible for storms and cloudy weather.

Seth was portrayed as a man with the head of undeterminable origin, although some see in it the head of an aardvark. He had a curved snout, erect square-tipped ears and a long forked tail. He was sometimes entirely in animal form with the body similar to that of a greyhound. Animals sacred to this god where the dog, the jackal, the gazelle, the donkey, the crocodile, the hippopotamus, and the pig. There was an important sanctuary at Ombos in Upper Egypt, his reputed birthplace, and considered to be the home of his cult. This cult was also prominent in the north-eastern region of the Nile delta.

Harpocrates

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Harpocrates is the Greek name for the Egyptian sky god Horus. His cult, combined with that of Isis and Serapis, was very popular in the across Ptolemaic Egypt, reaching even as far as the Roman Empire.

He was represented as a small boy and came to be considered the god of silence. In this way Harpocrates, the child Horus, personifies the newborn sun each day, the first strength of the winter sun, and also the image of early vegetation. Egyptian statues represent the child Horus, pictured as a naked boy with his finger on his mouth, a realization of the hieroglyph for "child" that is unrelated to the Greco-Roman and modern gesture for "silence". Misunderstanding this sign, the later Greeks and Roman poets made Harpocrates the god of Silence and Secrecy

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Ptah

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Ptah is portrayed as a bearded mummified man, often wearing a skull cap, with his hands holding an ankh, was, and djed, the symbols of life, power and stability, respectively. It was also considered that Ptah manifested himself in the Apis bull.

In Memphis, Ptah was worshipped in his own right, and was seen as Atum's father, or rather, the father of Nefertum, the younger form of Atum. When the beliefs about the Ennead and Ogdoad were later merged, and Atum was identified as Ra (Atum-Ra), himself seen as Horus which led to Ptah being said to be married to Sekhmet, at the time considered the earlier form of Hathor, Horus', thus Atum's, mother.

Since Ptah was the primordial mound, and had called creation into being, he was considered the god of craftsmen, and in particular stone-based crafts. Eventually, due to the connection of these things to tombs, and that at Thebes, the craftsmen regarded him so highly as to say that he controlled their destiny. Consequently, first amongst the craftsmen, then the population as a whole, Ptah also became a god of reincarnation. Since Seker was also god of craftsmen, and of reincarnation, Seker was later assimilated with Ptah becoming Ptah-Seker.

Renenutet

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Renenutet was a protective snake-goddess whose role evolved in unexpected ways over time. Originally, she guarded the king and later the farmers' harvests. She was depicted as a raised cobra with the sun disk and horns on her head, or two tall feathers and the solar disk. Sometimes, Renenutet was shown as a woman with a snake's head, sometimes nursing her son Nepri.

During the Old Kingdom, Renenutet was the guardian of the king on earth and in the afterlife as the uraeus. She spit fire on his enemies from her perch on his brow. In the Pyramid Texts, she was said to nourish the ka of the pharoah. Renenutet was also a protector of the king's linen robe, and later the linen bandages that wrapped mummies. Later, she became associated with Buto, who became the premier uraeus cobra.

As time passed, Renenutet assumed the role of guarding the harvest. Farmers especially revered her, and shrines to her were placed in granaries. Her son, Nepri, was the personification of corn. Nepri was associated with Osiris, as Osiris was also a god of vegetation who brought the knowledge of farming to Egypt.

A festival to Renenutet were celebrated during the last month of the winter/spring season (Peret) when crops were planted. Another celebration was held in her honor in the first month of the spring/summer season (Shemu) when the plants began to ripen.

Ma’at

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Ma'at was the goddess of the physical and moral law of Egypt, of order and truth. She said to be the wife of Thoth and had eight children with him. The most important of her children was Amon. These eight were the chief gods of Hermopolis and according to the priests there, they created the earth and all that is in it.

Maat was the personification of the fundamental order of the universe, without which all of creation would perish. The primary duty of the pharaoh was to uphold this order by maintaining the law and administering justice. To reflect this, many pharaohs took the title "Beloved of Maat," emphasizing their focus on justice and truth.

At any event in which something would be judged, Maat was said to be present, and her name would be invoked so that the judge involved would rule correctly and impartially. In the underworld, the heart of the deceased was weighed by Anubis against Maat's feather. If the heart was heavy with wicked deeds, it would outweigh the feather, and the soul would be fed to Ammit. But if the scales were balanced, indicating that the deceased was a just and honorable person in life, he would be welcomed by Osiris into the Blessed Land. Maat's presence in all worlds was universal, and all the gods deferred to her.

Khonsu

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Khonsu is the son of Amun and Mut, and is the god of the moon. He is also revered as the god of time, and is thus regarded as one of the companions of Thoth. Khonsu is a great lover of games, and is frequently shown playing a game of Senet against Thoth for one thing or another. At Thebes, Khonsu was primarily known as a lunar god known as "Khonsu in Thebes Nefer-hotep", but in fact his mythology was not limited to that role. He has several different aspects, appearing in among other forms as Khonsu pa-khered, or Khonsu the Child; Khonsu pa-ir-sekher, or Khonsu the provider (the Chespisichis of the Greeks); and Khonsu heseb-ahau, or Khonsu, decider of the life span, which was in reality one of the most important Theban manifestations of the god.\n\n

As a moon god, Khonsu was sometimes associated with Shu, the god of the air, and also with Horus. And he participated in the reckoning of time like, and as an assistant to Thoth. He was also believed to influence the gestation of both humans and animals, and was even connected to creation myths by the Khonsu Cosmogony, which was preserved in a Ptolemaic text recorded on the walls at the Khonsu temple at Karnak and which explains the connection between the Theban Khonsu and the creation myths of Memphis and Hermopolis.

EDIT - DVK: DONE

SELEUCIDS - COMPLETE
Order: Fulfilment (Hera), Obedience (Zeus)
War: Fury (Artemis), Discipline (Athena)
Growth: Health (Apollo), Trade (Hermes), Farming (Demeter), Tribute (Hades)
Total: 8 Temples

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Hades

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Hades is the lord of the dead and ruler of the nether world, which is referred to as the domain of Hades or, by transference, as Hades alone. He is the son of Cronus and Rhea. When the three sons of Cronus divided the world among each other, Hades was given the underworld, while his brothers Zeus and Poseidon took the upperworld and the sea respectively. For a while Hades ruled the underworld together with Persephone, whom he had abducted from the upperworld, but Zeus ordered him to release Persephone back into the care of her mother Demeter. However, before she left he gave her a pomegranate and when she ate of it, it bound her to the underworld forever.

Hades possesses the riches of the earth, and is thus referred to as 'the Rich One'. Possibly also because -- as Sophocles writes -- 'the gloomy Hades enriches himself with our sighs and our tears'. Of all the gods, Hades is the one who is liked the least and even the gods themselves have an aversion of him. People avoided speaking his name lest they attracted his unwanted attention. With their faces averted they sacrificed black sheep, whose blood they let drip into pits, and when they prayed to him, they would bang their hands on the ground. The narcissus and the cypress are sacred to him.

Artemis

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Artemis devoted herself to the chase. She also discovered how to effect the healing of young children, and the foods which are suitable to the nature of babes. Goddess of the hunters, and watcher over streets and harbors, Artemis remained a maid, and those who have neglected this fact have been severely punished.

That may seem a large realm; yet heaven is larger, and that is why Artemis appeared like a frightened pigeon, when Hera, angry at her on account of Artemis' support of the Trojans during the Trojan War, grabbed her by the wrists and boxed her with her own weapons, saying:

"Are you proposing to stand up to me? I know your bow and arrows, and what lioness you are to women, whom Zeus allows you to destroy at your discretion; but if you match yourself with me you will regret it. You would find it better sport to slaughter wild deer in the mountains than to fight your superiors." (Hera to Artemis. Homer, Iliad 21.470).

And having uttered these words, Hera seized Artemis and boxed her on the ears with her quiver, causing the arrows to come tumbling out of it. And while Artemis' mother Leto gathered up the crooked bow and the arrows, the mistress of the wild beasts fled in tears to be comforted by Zeus.

Demeter

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As the most nurturing of all the goddesses, the Greek goddess Demeter was responsible for the fertility and the successful cultivation of the soil and the resulting abundance of the harvest. She is also known as the Roman goddess Ceres, whose name is that from which the English word 'cereal' was derived.

Generally recognized as one of the "faces" of the "triple goddess", Demeter represents the aspect of the middle age woman in the life cycle (the maid in the mother/maid/mature configuration). Persephone and Hecate feature as the young maiden and the wise old crone, respectively.\n\n

The goddess Demeter is best known for her ferocity and endurance in the defense of her daughter, Persephone, following her abduction by Hades, the god of the Underworld. She reminds us to be firm and unswaying when we are taking a stand for what is right or what we need and deserve. \n\n

Consumed with grief following the disappearance of her daughter, the goddess Demeter wandered endlessly through the world in search for her, creating many legends along the way. Demeter made a stand and withheld the harvest, and refused to "produce" until Persephone was freed. So valuable were her gifts that the gods had to concede, and the goddesses Demeter and Persephone were eventually reunited.

Eastern

EDIT - DVK: DONE

ARMENIA- COMPLETE
Order: Fulfilment (Tsovinar), Obedience (Aramazd)
War: Fury (Vahagn), Discipline (Hayk)
Growth: Health (Ahahit), Trade (Ara Geghetsik)
Total: 6 Temples

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Tsovinar

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The goddess of water, sea and rain. She was a fire creature, who forced the rain and hail to fall from the heavens with her fury. She was worshipped for fulfilment purposes with many of her subjects hoping that their dreams would come true if they paid tribute to her greatness.

Aramazd

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Master of all Armenian gods, the father of all gods and goddess, the creator of heaven and earth. He called "Great and courage Aramazd". Aramazd was the source of earth’s fertility, making it fruitful and bountiful. The celebration in his honor was called Am'nor, or New Year, which was celebrated on March 21 in the old Armenian calendar (also the Spring equinox). Aramazd's main sanctuary was located in Ani Kamakhym, one of the cult centers of Ancient Armenia. The treasures and tribal mausoleums of Armenian Arshaguni (Arshakuni) kings were there, too.

Vahagn/Vahagan

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Shrine to Vahagan

This Shrine is dedicated to Vahagan, the God of Thunder, Clouds and Fire. He is a metalworker and smith to the other gods, a maker of weapons.It is in this capacity that he is honoured by warriors. \n\nReligion acts to make a people feel happy and content to know that the Gods are honoured. \n\n The third god of Armenian Pantheon. Vahagn was the god of thunder and lightning. Vahagn's main sanctuary was located in Ashtishat city of Taron "world" (region of Armenia). Also he was a god of war. Armenian kings and warlords before going to war asking him to support them.

This Shrine is dedicated to Vahagan, the God of Thunder, Clouds and Fire. He is a metalworker and smith to the other gods, a maker of weapons.

Hayk

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There can be little doubt that the epic songs mentioned Hayk first of all. Hayk was a handsome giant with finely proportioned limbs, curly hair, bright smiling eyes, and a strong arm, who was ready to strike down all ambition, divine or human, which raised its haughty head and dreamt of absolute dominion. The bow and the triangular arrow were his inseparable companions. Hayk was a true lover of independence. He it was, who, like Moses of old, led his people from the post-diluvian tyranny of Bel (Nimrod) in the plain of Shinar to the cold but free mountains of Armenia where he subjugated the native population n\n\

The best explanation of Hayk's name and history seems to lie in the probable identity of Hayk (Hayik, "little Hay," just as Armenak means "little Armenius") with the Phrygian sky-god Hyas whom the Greeks called ues. Both the Greeks and the Assyrians know him as an independent Thraco-Phrygian deity. The Assyrians call him the god of Moschi . In a period when everything Thracian and Phrygian was being assimilated by Dionysos or was sinking into insignificance before his triumphant march through the Thraco-Phrygian world, Hyas, from a tribal deity, became an epithet of this god of vegetation and of wine. For us Hyas is no one else but the Vayu of the Vedas and the Avesta. So in the legend of Hayk we probably have the story of the battle between an Indo-European weather-god and the Mesopotamian Bel. It is very much more natural to derive a national name like Hay from a national deity's name, according to the well-known analogies of Assur and Khaldi, than to interpret it as pati,"chief"

Armazd/Aramazd

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Shrine to Armazd

This Shrine is dedicated to Armazd, the Father of all Gods, and the Creator of heaven and earth. He is the source of all light and growth.The chief celebration in his honour is always held on the Spring equinox. \n\nReligion acts to make a people feel happy and content to know that the Gods are honoured. \n\nThe Shrine can be improved as the settlement grows in size and importance.

This Shrine is dedicated to Armazd, the Father of all Gods, and the Creator of heaven and earth. He is the source of all light and growth.

Anahit/Ahahit

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Shrine to Anahit

The daughter or wife of Aramazd. Anahit was the most loved and honored Armenian goddess. She was mother-goddess. Anahit was sculptured with the child on her hands` with specific hair style of Armenians mothers or women and was called "Great Lady Anahit". Ancient Armenians believed that Armenian world was existing by Anahit's will. Anahit was the cult of maternity and fertility. Anahit-worships were established in Eriza avan (region) and in Armavir, Artashat and Ashtishat cities . A mountain in Sophene district was known as Anahit's throne (Athor Anahta).

According to Plutarch, the temple of Eriza was the wealthiest and the noblest in Armenia. During the expedition of Mark Antony into Armenia (34 B.C), the statue was crushed into pieces by the Roman soldiers. Pliny the Elder gives us the following story about it: The Emperor Augustus, being invited to dinner by one of his generals, asked him if it was true that the wreckers of Anahit's statue had been punished by the wrathful goddess. "No"! answered the general, "on the contrary, I have to‑day the good fortune of treating you with one part of the hip of that gold statue".

This Shrine is dedicated to Anahit, once the Goddess of War, but also Goddess of Fertility and Birth. She is the chief of all the Armenian pantheon.

Ara

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"Ara the Beautiful’- the god of spring, flora, agriculture, sowing and water. He is associated with Isis, Vishnu and Dionysus, as the symbol of new life.
A version of his tale has Ara being cast upon the mountain by Semiramis after he spurns her advances. Semiramis, skilled in black magic, conjured the forces of the night to throw him into the void, and when he landed, his body sank onto the top of the mount, giving it its present contour. Yet another tale says that when Ara died, and Semiramis had him buried at the foot of the mountain, his spirit rose, forming the top of the mountain into his sleeping likeness. The top of the mountain does resemble the contour of a man's face.

PARTHIA- COMPLETE
Order: Fulfilment (Asha), Obedience (Aramazd)
War: Discipline (Verethragna)
Growth: Health (Anahita), Trade(Amesha Spenta), Tribute (Yazata)
Total: 6 Temples

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Asha

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The Parthian people had, one fundamental doctrine of Faith which they held in common, the grand conception of Asha. The concept is rather loosely translated by 'purity' or 'righteousness'. Though near enough for all practical purposes, these rendering by no means give us an adequate idea of the original concept. It is true that the words 'purity' or 'righteousness' might be more or less accurate translations of the word Asha as used in the later Avesta and in the Pahlavi works. But as we go backwards to earlier ages we find the concept gradually getting n\n\

The Parthian conception of asha was principally that of righteous conduct upon Earth-a clean body and fair and just dealing towards our fellowmen. To be in Asha or rather to possess it; its to be in harmony, not only with the Cosmos, but with the Creator. But Asha is far more than that; it is multi-faceted, being both the Order of Laws of the Universe (Physical and Ethical) and an Aspect of the nature of the Creator. In a sense, Asha, to the Parthians was God as Righteousness, Precision, Truth, Reality and the Order of the Cosmos. That "truth" is also what was commonly understood by the term is attested in Greek: In Isis and Osiris 47, Plutarch calls the divinity Αλήθεια Aletheia, "Truth."

Aramazd

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In the Avesta, “Ahura Mazda is the highest object of worship”, the first and most frequently invoked divinity in the Yasna liturgy. In Zoroastrian cosmogony and tradition, all the lesser divinities are also creations of Mazda Ahura Mazdah ("Lord Wisdom") was the supreme god, he who created the heavens and the Earth, and another son of Zurvan. Atar, his son, battled Azhi Dahaka, the great dragon of the sky, and bound it in chains on a high mountain. The dragon was, however, destined to escape and destroy a third of mankind at the final reckoning, before it was slain. Ahura Mazdah was the god of prophetic revelation, and bore both Ahriman and Ormazd. n\n\

His name means Wise Lord or Lord of Wisdom. There is an unusual significance of this. 'Mazda' , meaning Wisdom, or Wise, is a feminine noun (like the Greek 'Sophia') but 'Ahura' , meaning literally "High Being", is masculine. In the Gathas, the two names are sometimes used separately, sometimes together, but most often as Mazda Ahura (Wise Lord). As leader of the Heavenly Host, the Amesha Spentas, he battles Ahriman and his followers to rid the world of evil, darkness and deceit. His symbol is the winged disc.

Verethragna

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Verethragna, sometimes also called Vahram or Bahram, whose name means 'He who overcomes all obstacles', is a zoroastrian god of victory. Constantly fighting evil in both men and demons, Verethragna is a close helper of Asha from the Amesha Spentas, the archangels of zoroastrianism, and is sometimes even identified as a seventh Amesha Spenta himself. n\n\
Verethragna's domains are not excusively centered around war and victory. He is also associated with sexual potency, healing and the protection of travelers. Furthermore, Verethragna is said to be a shapeshifter, assuming the form of a warrior, a strong wind, and various animals. However, he is usually depicted as a man with a lion-skin and a club, causing him to be often compared to the greek half-god Heracles.

Anahita

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Anahita is a goddess of the of the Parthians. Anahita's name literally means "pure". Anahita has some parallels with the Near Eastern goddess referred to as the "Queen of Heaven". The Sumerians referred to that goddess as Inanna. Semitic peoples such as the Babylonians and Phoenicians called her Ishtar or Astarte. It is possible that Anahita is an Iranian version of that goddess. If such is the case, then the Persians added Anahita to their religion due to influences from other Near Eastern peoples. However, it has also been said that Armenians and Medes worshipped Anahita before the Persians did. n\n\

Many people outside of Persia began to revere Anahita. After Alexander the Great conquered the Persian empire, the worship of Anahita spread to the west. Some Greeks worshipped her. During the time when the Roman empire included much of the Near East, some Romans started worshipping her. The cult of Anahita spread to Rome. Mithra was another Zoroastrian deity whose worship became popular in Rome.
Anahita was sometimes represented as driving a chariot pulled by four horses. They stood for four aspects of weather, i.e. rain, wind, clouds, and hail. Anahita was also presented as wearing a gold embroidered, square gold earrings, and a diadem with jewels.

Amesha Spenta

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In Zoroastrianism, any of the six divine beings or archangels created by Ahura Mazdā, the Wise Lord, to help govern creation. Amesha Spenta, literally meaning "Bounteous Immortal," is an Avestan term for a class of six divinities in Zoroastrianism, which are identified as: Vohu Manah (Good Mind), Asha Vahistah (Truth), Khshatra Vairya (Good Dominion), Spenta Armaiti (Devotion), Haurvatat (Wholeness and Health), and Ameretat (Immortality). n\n\

Each of these beings is considered to be worthy of worship in its own right, although not in a direct fashion. Instead, cultivation of the qualities they represent serves as a means for communicating with the supreme divinity Ahura Mazda. Ministers of his power against the evil spirit, Ahriman, they are depicted clustered about Ahura Mazdā on golden thrones attended by angels. They are the everlasting bestowers of good. They are worshipped separately and are said to descend to service on paths of light. Each has a special month, festival, and flower and presides over an element in the world order. In later Zoroastrianism each is opposed by a specific archfiend.

Yazata

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YAZATAS. The term yazata occurs in the Avesta, the collection of sacred books of Zoroastrianism, as an attribute or designation of divine beings. From this term is derived the Middle Persian yazd ("god"; pl., yazdān). The word appears frequently in the Avesta, although not in the five Gāthās ("songs") attributed to Zarathushtra (Zoroaster); in Gathic it appears only in the Yasna Haptanhāiti (Yasna of the Seven Chapters), ascribed to Ahura Mazdā. Its meaning in this text is "worthy of worship, worthy of sacrifice" (from the verb yaz, "to venerate, sacrifice"), identical to that of its Vedic counterpart, yajata. This is the general meaning of the term, which is used to refer to divine beings, usually secondary gods, personifications, or cult gods of the pre-Zoroastrian Indo-European pantheon that had been absorbed into the religion.

[Father Jack]

Add Apollo-Hyakinthos to the Spartans.

Apollo was particularly venerated (more so than others) by the Spartans and they built an ornate Temple to him at Amyklai (just north of Sparta).

I can do some of these descriptions if you like? I have spent several years studying Greek religion

[MarcusTullius]

Barbarian

EDIT - DVK: DONE

BELGAE (Simple Cultures)- COMPLETE
Order: Fulfilment(Esus), Revels(Braciaca), Obedience(Sucellos)
War: Discipline(Ambiomarcae), Fury(Medocios)
Growth: Tribute(Sirona)
Total: 6 Temples

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Esus

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Esus ('the good lord' or 'the respected One') and Tarvos Trigaranos ('bull with three cranes').

Esus is a Celtic agricultural deity, and possible one of the Celtic otherworld, of the Essuvi trbe in Gaul, who derived their name from him. The name or title of Esus could also also derive from the proto-Indo European root word *eis ('passion/fury'). Another likely name for this deity is *Aisus which itself is thought to originate with the proto-Celtic *wesu- (excellent, noble).

Esus is know in many places, including Germany where he is known as Esunertus or *Aisunertos ('Strong Respected One') and even as far away as Algeria. A pillar from Paris, the Boatman's Pillar, found in 1711 A.D. beneath the Notre Dame church, shows Esus felling a willow tree, with three egrets and Tarvos Trigaranos, the bull god, nearby.

The Roman poet, Lucan, in Pharsalia mentions the Gaulish deity, Teutates, Esus, and Taranis:
"Teutates horrensque feris altaribus Esus
et Taranis Scythicae non mitior ara Dianae.
uos quoque, qui fortes animas belloque peremptas"

"Savage Teutates, Esus’ bloody shrines
and Taranis’ altar, cruel as those
loved by Diana, whom the Scythians serve;
All these destroyed in war"

Victims sacrificed to Esus were bound to a tree and stabbed repeatedly. As the blood collected at the base, an augury was taken from the direction of the blood flow.

The Gallic name Tarvos ('bull') appears many times across the Celtic world, sometimes with three horns, denoting popularity of association with the strength and power of such an animal. On a pillar found in 1711 in Paris, Tarvos is found along with Esus standing in a tree and its branches accompanied by three cranes. Virtually the exact same image is found as a relief upon a stone from Trier, Germany.

Tarvos is thought to be a god of life, death, and rebirth from the willow tree representing water, the cranes denoting the air, and Tarvos, a land animal, representing land. Esus, by cutting down the tree, kills it, but willow trees regenerate in the spring. Esus possibly represents winter and death while Tarvos is a potent symbol of fertility and the promise of spring. Tarvos' name originates with proto Indo-European words for bull (*tarwo), three (*trīs), and crane (*garanu).

Braciaca

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Braciaca ('the Brewer')is the deity of beer and malt in Britain, and Medigenus ('Drink-maker'), god of mead drinking and nature in the wild

In Brythonic the name Braciaca (or Brag in Welsh) is known from an inscription in Derbyshire. A staple beverage of the Celts everywhere, farmers continue to grow the best ingredients and thrive upon it's use. Only The Brewer himself can bless such activities as he can give his own blessings upon the crops of such a popular drink, which, as it turns out, becomes the steadfast habit of some Celts to achieve drunkenness before battle.

Medigenus is known from one of a hoard of 33 inscribed silver spoons found Britain, many of which were inscribed to the Roman deity Faunus who he is associated with. Medigenus is derived from the reconstructed proto-Celtic elements medwo- (drunk) and geno- birth, meaning 'Drunk-inducer' or 'Drunk-maker'.

Sucellos

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Sucellos ('the striker') and his consort, Nantosuelta ('Winding River') are a divine couple worship by the Celts.

Known from eleven inscriptions, Sucellos seems to have been most popular in northern Gaul, but also in Switzerland and western Germany. Most often he is depicted as a bearded middle-aged man wearing a tunic and holding a hammer. The hammer could mean judgment, metal smithing, or his power. The bowl he is alway seen holding may refer to the wine and wheat harvest indicating a link with various alcoholic drinks as well.

Sucellos' name comes from the proto Celtic *su- (good) and *keld- (strike), which also matches the proto-Indo-European *kelh- (strike).

Nanosuelta's house scepter, pot, and bee hive give her the association of being in charge of the hearth, home, cooking and food.

In iconography she is associated with the raven which could denote her association with the underworld and transporting the dead there. Given her many associations with the home and hearth, the raven could point to something other than death. In Britain she has bushy hair and carries a bowlful of apples.

*Nanto-swelt- ('river-turning spirit') is the proto-Celtic form of where her name originates. A second possibility is with the Brythonic languages and the closeness with the Gaulish language. Here the word 'nanto' which could mean 'river or stream' and also 'valley' (the Welsh cognate of 'nant' that is usually means 'stream' but which, in its older form, also meant 'valley'), could equate Nanosuelta to 'She of the Sun-warmed Valley', perhaps giving her a bountiful and plentiful role in the home.

Medocios

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Medocios ('Mead-harrower' or 'War-harrower') and Belatucadros ('Decorated by Death') a warrior god in Britain possibly with a 'hunter god' aspect and sometimes with horns.

Mediocus is a lesser known deity, discovered on a single inscription. However, the well know Celtic 'art' of drinking, sometimes heavily, before battle is seen as a possible origin of this god's name, as well as that of battle. Here you have a deity that could have possibly been associated with the best of both worlds in Celtic culture; drinking, and fighting!

The proto-Celtic *medwo-oci- ('drunk one, drunkard') with *okitā- (to harrow) translates approximately into 'Mead-harrower'.

Belatucadros is a Brythonic deity and, with Camulos, possibly one of the 'horned deities of the North' as a horned head was found of this god with an inscription to him. The British Carvetii ('The Deer People'), due to the amount of inscriptions to this deity, could have made Belatucadros a chief deity of theirs. As such Belatucadros may once have possessed a hunter aspect; not surprising for a warrior god.

Belatucadros' name can be interpreted using the reconstructed proto-Celtic elements: *belatu ('death') and *kadro- ('decorated') along with the masculine ending -os; thus 'Decorated by Death'.

Sirona

Sirona ('The Star Goddess'), and Vosegus ('The Sower').

A favored and revered goddess of the Mosel Valley, Sirona is the Gaulish goddess of astronomy, healing, fertility, and protector of cattle. Sirona has been shown wearing a long dress and a diadem, from which a veil falls down and in her left hand a cornucopia and in her right either a scepter, a patera, and offering a snake. Her healing and regenerative aspects are know as she is linked with other Gallic deities such as Grannus ('God of Corn' or 'God of Warmth') and Borvo ('the Boiler')

She can be found all across the Alpine areas where the Celts ruled; down into Hungary, Italy, all over Gaul, and Germany as well.

Vosegus can be found in both Gaul and across the Rhine in Germany. Vosegus is unmistakably the deity of the Vosges region of Gaul. The aspect of Vosegus is of one who both hunts and protects the denizens of the forest which is his realm; a woodland god associated with the powerful wild boar.

The deity's name, however, can be interpreted on the basis of the reconstructed proto-Celtic lexical element: *seg-os- (seed) or *seq-(y)o- (sow) along with the initial particle *wo-.

EDIT - DVK: DONE

CIMBRI (Simple Cultures)- COMPLETE
Order: Fulfillment (Baldr), Revels (Bragi), Obedience (Woden)
War: Discipline (Tor), Fury (Tyr)
Growth: Tribute (Freyja)
Total: 6 Temples

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Baldr

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Defying the image of mindless, war-crazed barbarians the relentless Roman propaganda machine had painted for them, the Cimbri (along with other Germanic tribes of the time) worshipped a complex, interrelating set of gods.

This shrine is dedicated to Baldr, often know as Balder or simply Balðr, the Germanic god of beauty and fulfilment. He is said to have been the most beloved of all gods by the Cimbri and they would often make him sacrifices of great worth. Baldr was also seen as the god of light and as such was associated with the sun in Cimbri society, much like Apollo’s role in the Greek pantheon.

Baldr was worshipped by various Germanic tribes throughout the Ancient period and survived to take a prominent role in the later Norse pantheon. He was exclaimed as the son of Õdin but, though young and beautiful, was one of few gods to actually die. In later works he was depicted as a spritely, handsome young man and it is thought that he was also associated with various festivities and gatherings in Germanic culture.

This shrine is a cheap way to appease the more prophetical, righteous people in any given settlement and, given time, it may well develop into the hub of activity in the town; such was the power of religion amongst the Cimbri people.

Woden

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This shrine is dedicated to Woden, also known as Wodanaz, Wodan and Óðinn in Norse mythology as the head of the Cimbri pantheon, also being the all-father of his people and the leader of Germania’s manifold deities. On the surface Wōden is the traveller, the wanderer and the seeker of knowledge who in later legends would give his eye for wisdom and hang, pierced, upon a tree as the god Odin. \n\n

To the Cimbri he is this and more, being the god of all their travels as well as their mercantile endeavours, god of wisdom and of divination and augury so that his people may peer through the vale that separates mortal and immortal, the here and now, the future and the past. In the warlike culture of the Cimbri Woden is also seen as a god of fury, rage, battle and victory as well as the keeper of slain souls that he were lead to the afterlife upon their demise. As such he is commonly consulted before any extended acts of travelling or journeying to distant places are undertaken while those who wish to see their enemies defeated would make sure to conduct a fine offering indeed. \n\n

Unlike the pantheons of the more ‘civilised’ cultures, the expansionist Romans or the philosophical Greeks, Woden is not worshipped in any established temple made of stone but in locations throughout the mist-coiled forests of Germania. Groves, streams and even lakes, that build over time into more established sites of worship, are consecrated in his name. In these places the rituals of the common tribesman to the highest chieftain can take place with offerings in the shape of coin, loot, food and even flesh are given for his protection and his blessing.\n\n

Woden, all-father, god of magic, poetry, prophecy, the hunt and god of Germania, this shrine is dedicated to him in the hope that it shall bring your people victory over any who oppose them.


Short desc: This Shrine (Grove or whatever) is dedicated to Woden who was the god of wisdom, prophecy and all-father of the Germanic pantheon.

Order - Revels - Bragi

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Bragi, son of Woden, associated with the Norse word for poetry ‘bragr’, is the Germanic god of the skaldic traditions and by connection the god of revels also. \n\n

The husband of Iðunn the ‘ever young’ and patron god of poets he plays an often overlooked part in the traditions of the Cimbri people. Although the Cimbri are known as hard drinkers during times of celebration they are also known for a fondness of music and the flare that arises with oral traditions, those of poetry being a favourite especially amongst the upper classes. Carried on in the Scandinavian traditions of the skáld it was a widespread custom, amongst the Germanian’s as well as the Celts, to compose ‘praise poems’ towards auspicious ancestors, leaders and war heroes whilst spreading the tale with every retelling.\n\n

While this was the main function of Bragi and his patronage he had one other important task in Cimbri society. In a society where a mans word is was strong as steel, and carries more weight than the heaviest lead, Bragi also served as the god of eloquence and the silver tongue. Chieftains who need to find the right words before a battle, lovers who needed to express their heartfelt feelings and even a scorned wife attempting to describe her deceitful husband all give offerings and prayers to this articulate deity.\n\n

There was never a cult of Bragi nor was he one of the major gods in the Cimbri pantheon, overall unknown outside Germania, but due to the traditions and customs of the culture he would never be unwanted or forgotten by them at least.\n\n

Bragi is often portrayed, especially in later works, as a long-bearded elderly man and in fact known as the first maker of poetry, and the long-bearded god by most. With him comes his loyal wife Iðunn, the granter of eternal youthfulness and his ever-present harp with which he composes poetry, stanzas and songs that surpass those of god or man.

War - Discipline - Tor

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Tor, known by many different names such as Þórr, Donar, Þunraz, Þunor and Thunaer is one of the most predominant and long-lasting gods amongst the Ancient and later Germanic religions. Known in later years as the frequently named god Thor his is a trail of religion and worship that spreads back centuries before the birth of Christ and the ensuing coming of his missionaries to pagan lands. \n\n

The veneration of Tor served a duel purpose to his worshippers with the very first being that of protection. Protection of people, objects and possessions and more were the concern of his many followers right up until the conversion of Norse pagans. Offerings were made to him so that a loved ones life may be preserved through the day, or in the hope that a far-off relative may be sheltered from harm, most offerings taking the form of a variety of objects from hair-pins to caskets to weaponry and more, right up until large hordes of jewellery and precious treasures. \n\n

In a society like that of the Cimbri it would be foolish to think that this venerable god, even referred to as ástvinr ("dear friend") and fulltrúi ("trusted friend"), would not have a function for those brave enough to go to war. It was in the setting of bloodshed where his protection was most needed but where a different element took precedence. In the war-bands of the Cimbri, Tor became a god of war, given offerings to steel men’s hearts and minds against the rigours of war and the sights and sounds of the battlefield. Specifically worshipped by the younger members of the war-band it was his strength and courage that they greatly wished would take over their own mortal frames. \n\n

As one of the most popular gods in Germanic religion, Tor was known throughout Germania and even in neighbouring lands where he was worshipped under a different name. Multiple groves, brooks, fields and lakes were dedicated to him right the way through Cimbri and Germanic territory complete with an assortment of offerings. The specially sacred ‘Thor’s Oak’ held in the highest regard by all Germanic tribes and the Chatti in particular, cut down centuries later by St Boniface in his bid to cleanse the land of paganism. \n\n

Unlike most of the other Germanic gods, records and artefacts dedicated to Tor have survived time and intentional destruction from a fibula bone inscribed with runic script to a seated bronze statue. \n\n

Tor, mostly represented as Thor, was often pictured as a psychically imposing and well-built man with flaming red hair and sometimes a beard. In later mythology and religion he can, more-or-less always, be seen with riding astride his chariot with Megingjord, the iron gloves which grant him strength paired with the belt Járngreipr and of course his hammer, Mjolnir, which later became a symbol of pagan defiance to conversion.

War - Fury - Tyr

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Týr, known as Tîwaz, Tiw, Ziu and by many other names is one of the more important gods in the pantheon of the Cimbri yet only truly worshipped within the sphere of warfare and granting of victory alongside Woden the all-father.\n\n

In Ancient Germanic worship and by the Cimbri especially, one aspect of Týr was praised above all others. That was the aspect of his warlike attributes, which warriors would focus upon far more than anything else. \n\n

Amongst those attributes were mingled his traits of great bravery and courage, fine things for any warrior to wish for in battle, those warriors at the front of the battle line and those grey-beards who knew better swiftly offering up anything to the venerated war-god so that he would make them both fearless and help them manage bold deeds that would be sung about for generations. \n\n

Amidst the wake of a battle, fervent prayers would be said to Týr, each man working himself into a state of fury and rage that made the blood pump crimson and clouded the mind and vision equally with the colour red. In the style of fighting familiar to the Cimbri, like that of the Celts, Týr was useful as the god of one-on-one combat. Whereas the so-called civilised nations of Rome and Greece would fight in tight formations and keep rank and time there was no shame and, in fact, glory to be had for a Cimbri warrior taking the fight alone to the enemy. \n\n

The worship of Týr was chiefly spread through western and northern Germania and Scandenavia and encompassed the Cimbri neatly into that sphere of influence. Groves and small shrines to him were there but far from common as there was little time to build such things before each battle when offerings of various sorts would be more than sufficient to a god that was present at all violent confrontations whether army against army or man against man.\n\n

Depicted in the ancient days as a psychically perfect warrior, usually with a helmet and spear in hand, he is represented later on with only one hand or arm due to a Norse tale that wasn’t around during the time of the Cimbri.\n\n

Up until the extinction of the Ancient Germanic peoples most warriors would go into battle with their spear, shield and a prayer to Týr on their lips.

Growth - Tribute - Freyja

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Freyja, also known as Freya, is the blonde-haired and blue-eyed godess of the Cimbri to who a goodly amount of tribute and loot was given by her worshippers. Known to have similar attributes to Woden she was a major deity of the Germanic pantheon and beyond into the Norse era. \n\n

Although associated with prophecy, war and death these were more the domain of Woden and therefore this godess is connected to entirely different elements within Cimbric society. Love, beauty and fertility are her realms in the supernatural hierarchy and as such great attention is paid to her lest the continuation of the tribe should be halted prematurely. \n\n

Freyja, although not the godess of tribute, is often associated with the act of tribute and important sites to her often bring great wealth to the creators from travelling pilgrims and love-struck couples in need of a goddess’s intervention. She is not only the godess of bodily fertility, however, and sometimes called upon by tribes to help with the growing of crops. \n\n

Descriped as a beautiful woman with flowing blonde hair and dazzling blue eyes it is easy to see why Freyja is the godess of both love and fertility. Her necklace and cat-driven chariot are common later identifiers although not frequently shown in pre-Norse depictions. \n\n

Places of worship included Härnevi in Sweden and a number of consecrated sites in the later Scandinavian regions of Germania. Numerous treasures where known to be found there and no doubt any village possessing such a temple would have become quite wealthy indeed.

EDIT - DVK: DONE

IBERIANS (Simple Cultures)- COMPLETE
Order: Fulfilment(Endovelicus), Revels(Tilenos), Obedience(Bandos and Bandua)
War: Discipline(Tavianos and Tabalanos)
Growth: Tribute(Brixiantos)
Total: 5 Temples

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Order
Fulfilment: Endovellicos ('He who contains loving goodness')

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Endovellicos appears to be a tutelary god, with both infernal and savior aspects. His followers were led by priests and religious devotees. Worship and appeasement to him represents animal sacrifices (swine and boars, birds, etc...) as well as the construction of many numerous altars throughout the region, taking advantage of local marble supplies in doing so. Among the worshipers of this god were also warriors and women, taking vows and oaths, for the sake of themselves and the health of their families as well. Over 80 votive inscriptions and numerous iconographic finds have been found devoted to him.

Revels

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Tilenos ('The Abundant One', or 'The Wealth Provider') and Ataegina ('Born Again').

Tilenos is a god that embodies the abundance of life, crops, and many good things in one's life. As a known Celtiberian deity, Tilenos is probably a regional variant form of the Gaulish deity, Lenos, who has curative powers.

Complicated in some respects, his name is a combination of the proto-Celtic *-ti-, *li-n-a- (stick to, but which also has the connotation of 'dirty' or 'pollute'), *lī-no- (pus''), *lī-no- ('linnen') and *linomn- ('blot' or 'erasure'). A of those words have medical and health associations of dirtiness, filth, and the cleansing of such things. Wounds, infection, and the process of bandaging or treating those afflictions are all possible under Tilenos giving him a healing and martial nature.

Ataegina is mentioned in 36 inscriptions so far in northwest Iberia. According to Pliny, belief that the center of her worship was in Turobriga, a city located in Celtic Beturia. Association with an infernal world and with agriculture are also known of Ataegina, and thus appears to have a multi role in Gallaecian beliefs.

Obedience

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Discipline: Bandos and Bandua ('Fasten with an Oath').

Both male and female deities that have names associated with oaths, promises, vows, and deals, but also water, streams, and rivers as well. Bandos can be characterized as the god of the local community and of fortified settlements and as an exclusive protector his tutelage probably also extended to the environment of war as well.

Of Bandue, that form of her name is more popular in the Gallaecian regions to the northwest, while in the Lusitanian regions, two other forms of here name are known: Bande and Bandi.

Their name comes from the root *bendh (to 'fasten' or 'bind')

War

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Tavianos ('The Broad One') and Tabalanos ('The Caster' or 'The Lancer')

A Gaulish, Galatian, and Gallaecian god, Tavianos must have been somewhat popular and widespread to have been found in so many places, in addition to Romania as well. He is believed to be a sky god, or master of the expansive heavens.

From the proto-Celtic elements *tan-nu- ('broaden') and the Celtic ending -os, which denotes masculinity, is how is name is believed to be explained.

Tabalenos is know from Galatia and also Iberia. He is a god of those that cast weapons, such as spears and javelins, and maybe slings too, as he is known to have hunting and out door wilderness associations. Tabalenos is a god known for a monument in the city of Tabala, Turkey, on the territory of Lydia where no doubt many Galatians would have as this region is adjacent to Galatia itself. Apparently the retention of the regions name after this god indicates the importance and widespread worship of him.

This god's name derives from the proto-Celtic elements: *tab(a)l- ('to throw'), *en-, and the ending -os, denoting Celtic masculinity.

Growth

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Tribute: Brixiantos ('God of the High Place') and Dulovios ('God of calves')

Brixanos has been discovered across a large areas in Europe from Italy, Gaul, and Iberia. His worship must have been rather widespread. The Cenomani tribe were once apart of the Aulurci Cenomani in northern Gaul. This migrating tribe founded a town in Northern Italy known as Brixia (modern day Brescia), which is believed to have been named after Brixanos himself.

Brixanos and Brixienos are other forms of this name which stems from the Celtic word brig- ('high' or 'lofty'), the deicitic particle -ī-, and the Gallic masculine ending -os.

Dulovios is a god in both Gaul and Iberia, where his name has been found. He is thought to be a god of cattle and or calves, and or livestock in general. This could lend Dulovios healing and curing associations perhaps as many times cattle, oxen, and livestock are seen in that manner with those beneficial associations.

His names originates with the word *deiwo- ('god' or 'deity') and *loigo- (calf).

EDIT - DVK: DONE

ARVERNI (Advanced Cultures)- COMPLETE
Order: Fulfilment(Damona), Revels(Meduio)
War: Discipline(Epomaros), Fury(Segomo)
Growth: Farming(Ambactonos), Trade(Cissonios)
Total: 6 Temples

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Damona

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Damona ('the divine cow') and Borvo ('the boiler'). Damona and Bormo are consorts in Gallic religion with similar attributes given to them. \n\n

The association of Damona with the cow, corn, and a snake on her statue suggest she was viewed as a fertility goddess, and inscriptions found elsewhere in Gaul show a curative sleep association. The serpent may be symbolic of her function as a healer and rebirth as a snake sheds off the old skin and is symbolically reborn into the new. The site of Vercingetorix's stand, in Alesia, seems to be the center of her worship, thus a fitting deity for the Arverni. \n\n

Borvo is known from inscriptions through Iberia, Gaul, and across the water into Britain. He is associated with boiling water, mineral springs and healing; sources for the ailing giving the populace comfort in their time of need. He is also the son of Sirona, the cattle goddess. An ancient thermal spa, Aquae Bormonis, in the territory of the Arverni was named after this deity.

Meduio

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Meduio ('the Drunk') is a fitting god to pay homage to during the revels, and feast that occur across the Gallic world with many occurrences of drink-induced intoxication. Known from a single inscription in Gaul, he may not have been a widespread god in name, but we know that the Celts love for drink, merry making, and fighting while drinking or drunk. Meduio represents the root of all of these aspects of Celtic culture.\n\n

His name comes from the proto-Celtic *medwo- ('drunkenness') and is possibly related to the Cymric word meddwi ('to become drunk').

Epomaros

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Epomaros ('the great stallion) and Epona ('Divine horse'), the respective god and goddess of all things equine, as well as oxen, donkeys, and mules. \n\n

Epona was perhaps the most popular goddess among the Gauls, and no doubt she would be among prime deities worshipped among the reverent and faithful cavalrymen and charioteers in the armies of the Celts. She is depicted most often sitting upon a horse, but side saddled, sometimes with a small dog in her lap. This dog may represent a companion spirit, as the dog in Celtic beliefs is often magical, malevolent, or helpful. Another common depiction is of her sitting, with two horses beside her; a horse at her left, and a stallion on her right. The collars on this horse depict a servant, or subservient position, towards the goddess. Other depictions of her as a charioteer are known, such as the bronze plaque found at Alesia with the words "To the goddess Epona, Satigenus son of Solemnis willingly fulfilled his vow."\n\n

Her inscriptions can be found in Gaul, Britain, Bulgaria, Austria, Italy, and Romania, however the most come from central Gaul. Into the later A.D. period, the Aedui, Mediomatrici, Treveri, and Ligones tribes seemed to have taken up a strong worship of Epona. In Scotland, the Epidii tribe could have derived from 'People of Epona', or, 'People of the Horse'.\n\n

Epomaros is the Great Horseman. He was also known as Atepomaros and seems to have been mainly worshipped by the once all powerful Cubi-Bituriges tribe who held sway in and around Avaricum, their capitol. Horses are associated kingship and kingly practises. Thus, Epomaros can be seen as a strong and unchallenged tribal deity and leader of his people. \n\n

Epo- is a very common word in Gallic. His names comes from the Gallic word elements atepos ('horse') and maros (great'), thus he is known as the Great Horsemen or 'grand cavalier'.

Segomo

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Segomo ('the Victorious One') and Camulos ('the Champion'), male gods of war and warriors.\n\n

Segomo is the great Gallic war god and god of victories and symbolized by majestic birds of prey, such as hawks and falcons, and revered in war across all of Celtic Europe. He is also associated with mules who are hard working and stubborn in their own right. The Segobrigii tribe may have chosen Segomo as their prime deity. His cult was taken to Ireland as well, where Celtic and Gaelic champions were known to fight in his name.\n\n

His name comes from the proto-Celtic*sego(s)- ('victory' or 'force').\n\n

Camulos is known to have been worshiped in Croatia, Italy, Romania, Belgium, Scotland, England, Germany, and France. He was an important war god, particularly in the north of Gaul among the Belgic Remi tribe, who called him Camulos of the Invincible Sword. His name reflects the high prowess of Celts to match champion vs. champion in abilities and personal combat as opposed to training armies for all-out war. Camulos gives his name to the Trinovantes town of Camulodunum, and in Scotland Camulosessa is known as 'seat of Camulos'.

Ambactonos

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Ambactonos ('Divine Plowman') a farming deity of Gaul, and Grannos ('God of Corn')\n\n

Ambactonos is also known as Amaethon in Cymric mythology. Farming, husbandry, growing, cultivation, and other related things can be attributed to this deity. Proper veneration will ensure a great harvest sustenance for the faithful of this agrarian overseer.\n\n

Found in the Netherlands, Spain, Britain, Germany, Hungary, Sweden, Romania, France, Austria, and Italy all bear mention of Grannos, an important, and popular, agrarian deity. Warmth, and or warm healing springs is another common association. His consort is Sirona, also a goddess of springs and healing waters. The god is still remembered in a chant sung round bonfires in Auvergne a modern French region named after the Arverni themselves. A sheaf of corn is set on fire, and called "Granno mio," while the people sing, "Granno, my friend; Granno, my father; Granno, my mother."\n\n

The proto-Celtic grƒno- ('grain') or *gwrensƒ- ('heat') lend the possible name original of Grannos being in harmony with summertime and the growing of corn, grain, and wheat.

Cissonios

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Cissonios, ('Protector of Transport') protector of travelers, roads, and trade. The coming and goings of trade goods and traffic is owed to this god as he oversees the merchants and travelers en route to their destinations. Without his oversight and blessings, these valuable trading lands would deteriorate into paths and lanes of banditry.

EDIT - DVK: DONE

BOII (Advanced Cultures)- COMPLETE
Order: Fulfilment(Belenos), Revels(Kamoulatis)
War: Discipline(Leucetios), Fury(Carpentos)
Growth: Farming(Aveta), Trade(Ogmios)
Total: 6 Temples

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Belenos

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Belenos ('the Shining God') the sun god who shines, is known throughout the Celtic world and his wife, Belesama ('Bright Summer'), goddess of burning, shinning, the forge and of crafts. \n\n

The Celtic fire festival on the first of May, known as Beltane, (the fires of Bel) is probably derived from the name of Belenos. He is known from northern Italy, Gaul, Britain, and Ireland. Classical writers Ausonius in the late 4th century A.D. and alludes to sanctuaries to Belenus in Aquitania. Tertullian talks of the cult of Belenus in the Norican Alps (Apologeticus 24,7); and Herodian mentions Belenus' worship at Aquileia in North Italy (History of the Empire after Marcus,8,3.6). In Ireland Beli is known as is Bilé and both are generally referred to as ‘The Father of Gods and Men’. His symbols are the horse and the wheel. A famous persons bearing his name is Cunobelios ('Hound of Bel'), a noble British chieftain. \n\n

Belenos' name is through proto-Celtic elements *belo- ('bright/shining'), the deicific particle -n- and the masculine ending -os. Thus Belenos is 'The Shining God'. \n\n

Belisama has many of the same associations of her husband, but with more associations. She is possibly a Goddess of fire and flame, sunlight and moon light. Depictions of her handling a snake may point to wisdom and healing and as a light-bearer she might have been the goddess of the forge as well. \n\n

Her name can be interpreted as being formed from the reconstructed proto-Celtic elements *belo- ('bright') and samo- ('summer'), thus her name 'Summer Bright'.

Kamoulatis

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Kamoulatis ('God of Liquor') and Meduna ('Essence of Mead') \n\n

Kamoulatis is known from two inscription discovered in Gaul. Kamoulatis has a questionable etymology, yet it is thought that his worship reflected the widespread Celtic practice of getting drunk before a battle. Braciaca, Meduio and Demetos are all deities celebrating the practice of inebriation before battle; actions apart of the warrior culture that all Celts, from Eire to Galatia, were know for. \n\n

In the proto-Celtic lexicon, kamulo- ('god') and *lati- ('liquor') give a near approximation of his name and the meaning behind it; 'God of [intoxicating] liquor'. \n\n

Like Kamoulatis, Medua has a verified connection with alcohol. Vercana ('In the Song') is associated with her, thus singing, drinking, and merry making is a sure aspect of her worship. Revels and feasts are important in Celtic society and always lifts the spirit of the appropriate settlements and oppida. \n\n

Medua's name originates with *medu- ('mead') *-un- (a particle that bears the sense of 'spirit', 'essence') along with the feminine ending *-a.

Leucetios

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Leucetios ('Lord of lightning'), a continental Celtic god of thunder, and the Taranos ('the thunderer') are gods of storms and the tumult, not unlike the sound of war and fighting men, of nature's own warlike fury. \n\n

As the Lord of lightning, Leucetios is known across Europe in Germany, Britain, and of course in Gaul. He combined with the deity Epadatextorix ('King at the Assembly Hall'). His main worship was concentrated in the territory of the Treveri Gauls, yet the aspects of lighting, thunders, and closely related things to that were found across the Celtic world. \n\n

Leucetios reconstructed proto-Celtic roots *leuxs- ('light'), *luko ('bright'), *lou(k)bro- ('light') and *loukno-/*louxsno-. The name also seems related to the Middle Cymric word lluched ('flashing'). Thus the name has the connotation of 'bright' and 'light' and may be rendered as 'Flashing Light'. \n\n

Taranos is among the most popular deities of the Celts. Not just found in Gaul and Britan, Taranos is also found in Germany, France, Belgium, Hungary, and Croatia, and was written about by Julius Caesar, Strabo, and Lucan who wrote: \n\n

Savage Teutates, Esus’ bloody shrines \n\n
and Taranos’ altar, cruel as those \n\n
loved by Diana, whom the Scythians serve; \n\n
All these destroyed in war… \n\n

Caesar and Lucan were attempting to cast the Gauls in poor light, however, as they claimed that Taranos was the deity that accepted sacrificial victim burned alive in a huge 'Wicker Man'. No proof of this alleged has ever been found. \n\n

*toranos- ('Thunder') is the origin of his name in proto-Celtic.

Carpentos

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Carpentos ('The Charioteer') and Cuntinos ('Hound of the City' or 'Protector of the Town') \n\n

Carpentos is a prime god of charioteer drivers and the heroes that would have arrived, wearing their most magnificent arms and armor, on scene riding in a chariot and challenging the enemy heroes to face them! In war, the chariot was not used to engage or melee with enemy troops. Its primary purpose was to deliver the champions and tribal heroes to the field of battle, and whisk them away if needed. The speed, sound, and tumult caused by the chariots was frightening for those not use to them. The heroes would often do tricks and maneuvers upon the chariot yoke, displaying their agility and prowess in front of armies on both sides, as each side cheered on their own champion. \n\n

In Gallic, the word for chariot is carpento- as attested by Livy and gives us a name like 'The Charioteer'. \n\n

Cuntinos is a Gallic god of protection in dog or wolf form and can also be considered as great defender of the oppida and regions that his worshipers dwell in. He is the patron god of the Cuntinii tribe in Gaul, and is associated with Segomo, another god of war and warriors. The present-day town of Contes bears the legacy of Cuntinos' namesake. \n\n

Celtic word elements cu ('dog') and dîn or dun ('fortification or protection') are the origins of Cuntinos.

Aveta

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Aveta,('She who is acquainted with birth') the Gallic goddess of birth and midwifery, and Kagiris ('King of the Meadows'). \n\n

Figurines depicting Aveta generally represent a goddess with infants at her breast. Proper homage and worship of these deities will ensure both a booming population, as well as fertile grounds and soil upon which to plant ones crops time and time again. \n\n

Kagirix watches over all cultivatable land and meadows that usher forth an abundance of vegetation for those that offer proper obeisance. Kagirix to provide gazing pastures and meadows for horses, cattle, and other grazing animals for the benefit of the tribes under him. \n\n

The mountain peak of Cagire in the in the region of Comminges, Haute-Garonne in he French Pyrenees, bears the legacy of this deities name. A such, its likely he was a very popular god in the region. \n\n

His name is thought to originate from the reconstructed proto-Celtic roots *kagyō- ('pen' or 'enclosure') and Gaulish rix ('king'). Another realted term is the Gaulish word caio ('field').

Ogmios

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Ogmios, patron god of knowledge and speech, scholars and the epitome of eloquence and persuasiveness. Homage of this well known god will ensure the faithful receive the blessings for learning and for intellectual pursuits, but also how to close deals in barter and trade with the eloquence of a true master merchant. \n\n

EDIT - DVK: DONE

GETAI (Advanced Cultures) - COMPLETE
Order: Obedience (Zalmoxes), Revels(Hesita)
War: Discipline(Gabeleizis), Fury(Dros)
Growth: Farming(Bendis), Health(Derzelas)
Total: 6 Temples

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Zalmoxis/Zalmoxes

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This Shrine is dedicated to Zalmoxis. In around the 5th century BC a new cult spread across the lands of the Getai, this was the cult of Zalmoxis. According to Herodotus, Zalmoxis was a real man who had tried to teach the Egyptians about the immortality of the soul, before traveling to lands of the Getai to spread his new religious ideas. However the new cult had little impact on the day to day religions worship of the Getic peoples. This was due to the fact that the Getai had always had a limited pantheon with a tendency to be far more monotheistic compared to their neighbors. Prior to the 5th century BC, the god Gebeleizis had been the primary centre of worship for the Getic peoples. Over the next few centuries Zalmoxis slowly began to replace the previous Getic gods such as Bendis and Derzelas so that Zalmoxis was the only god that was still worshipped, creating what was a monotheistic religion. With the cult of Zalmoxis came large changes in the way the Getic priests functioned.\n\nThe priests of the polytheistic religions were known as Kapnobatai and the natural elements played a large role in their religious practice. The new priests of Zalmoxis, called Ktistai, tended not to use the mastery of the elements but rather allow the god himself to intervene on matters in the physical world.\n\nCentral in Zalmoxian worship was the idea that once a person died their soul would 'go up to Zalmoxis', a key idea that is mirrored in Semitic religions such as Islam and Christianity today. It may even be possible to see the worship of Zalmoxis as pseudo-Christianity with the large emphasis on the separation of body and soul, monotheism and divine intervention. Although the Greeks compared Zalmoxis to Atlas or the Phoenician god Okhron and even Kronos. \n\nReligion also makes a people feel happy and content to know that the Gods are honored. \n\nThe Shrine can be improved as the settlement grows in size and importance.

This Shrine is dedicated to Zalmoxis, the Dacian Divine Defender of the People, here in an underworld aspect of forging weapons for his followers

Gebeleizis

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Also known as Nebeleizis or the Thracian Zbelsurdos. God of the Sky, of Thunderstoms, of Weather. Gebeleizis is one of the most ancient gods of the Getai pantheon who predates Zalmoxian worship by, perhaps, millennia. Prior to the growth of the Zalmoxis cult worship in the 5th century BC, Gabeleizis was considered to be the most important god to the Getic peoples. It is commonly believed that Gebeleizis was the principle god of the Earth, sky, storm, thunder and lightning. We can make a comparison with the Germano-Norse god Thor. Gebeleizis has been frequently depicted as a strong bearded man holding a bow, while be accompanied by an eagle. Other illustrations have showed him to be riding a horse, hunting a wild boar with a spear.\n\nBy 217 BC the worship of Gebeleizis was certainly rare or it may even have been abandoned. However it is not likely that such an important god to the Getai would have been abandoned so lightly or quickly. Although Herodotus points out that Zalmoxis was the same god as Gebeleizis.

Derzelas

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Also known as Darzos or the Thracian Knight: God of Health, of Grapevine, of the Underworld, of the Sun, of War. Appears often as the lover/husband of Bendis. Derzelas (or Darzalas) was the Thrakian-Getic god of health. The centre for the worship of Derzelas during antiquity was the Hellenic city of Odessos, whose coins have often depicted Derzelas, as well as a large hoard of terracotta figurines of the god also have been found in the city. The coins depict a figure wearing a himation and carrying a Cornucopia. The city of Odessos also held special annual games known as the Darzaleia in honour of this God.

Bendis

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Goddess of the Forest, of Hunt, of War (in some representations), of the Moon and of Magic. Bendis was the goddess of fertility, the hunt and the moon for the Getai. This has meant that the Greeks have often equated Bendis with their goddess, Artemis. The archaeological record has also shown Bendis to look very similar to Artemis. She is often depicted on Athenian pottery out on a hunt with a dog along with dancing satyrs and maenads, linking her to Dionysus and Pan.\n\nAs with the other gods of the Dacian pantheon, when Zalmoxian worship began to appear in the 5th Century, many people of the Getai simply abandoned the old gods and goddesses.

Hestia

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Also known as Hesta, Vesta: former Priestess of Bendis, deified as Goddess of the Hearth, of Family and of the Sacred Fire

Dros

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Also known as The Lord of the Night or the Stag-God, Ion the Magnificent: God of the Night, Song and Magic. Appears often as the lover/husband of Bendis.

EDIT _ DVK: Both Steppes factions DONE!!

Steppes

SCYTHIANS- COMPLETE
Order: Fulfilment (Api), Obedience (Papaios), Revels (Tabiti)
War: Discipline (Targitaios)
Growth: Trade (Oetosyrus), Tribute (Argimpasa)
Total: 6 Temples

Total: 6 Temples

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Api

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The exact nature of the Goddess Api is disputed by the surviving sources. One version has her as the half-woman half-snake who Hercules (Targitaio) was forced to marry, resulting in the three sons that founded the Scythian nation. However, the more accepted version (though not exclusive in meaning to the mother of Scythia’s first kings) has her as the ‘Great Goddess’ or ‘Gaia’, wife of Papaios. She is represented on surviving artefacts as a snake-legged figure similar to the Etruscan Goddess, Scilla, who is represented with snake body and bird wings, reflecting her dual nature of earth and sky. Interestingly, Api translates roughly as ‘grandmother’ or ‘old woman’ though in modern Russian it may be connected with ‘pi’ – to drink – indicating her connection with food and harvest. Unlike the other major Goddess, Tabiti, with her connection to fire and sacrificial, Api has a more earth-bound presence and hence it is possible that the two shared attributes of the Great Goddess - terrestrial and celestial.

Worship and religious buildings dedicated to Api celebrate both her sexual nature as a wife and her motherly role as a fertility goddess. For the people of the Steppes there was a natural corollary between worship of Api and those of the great rives such as the Don on which the fertility of the land demanded. When compared with the crueller Tabiti, Api would be asked to bless the crop and increase female fertility rather than champion the cause of females in a village. Nevertheless, with the hard Steppe existence depending upon the size of the harvest, worship of Api was widespread and continuous.

Papay/Papaios

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Shrine to Papay

This Shrine is dedicated to Papay, the Scythian All-Father, the eldest of the Gods. As a patriarch, he is also a lawgiver.\n\nReligion also makes a people feel happy and content to know that the Gods are honoured. \n\nThe Shrine can be improved as the settlement grows in size and importance.

This Shrine is dedicated to Papay, the Scythian All-Father, the eldest of the Gods. As a patriarch, he is also a lawgiver.

Targitaios

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The Scythian deity Targitai or Targitaios was primarily the god of sun and thunder and has been linked to the Indo-Aryan god Indra with emphasis in burial artefacts to arrows, thunderbolt, sunshine and sacrifices. It is possible that he is also the war god, mentioned by Herodotus, that appears to have borne distinct similarities to the Greek Ares. Indeed, like Ares his primary devotees appears to have been the more nomadic, less ‘civilised’ elements of Scythian society who sacrificed animals including their horses to the god. The emblem appears to have been that of a sword, emphasising the martial violence of the deity while his priests would reach a state of meditation through hemp vapours, presumably to aid predictions of the future (though this was also a bathing practice).\n\n

The other explanation of Targitaios more closely mirrors that of Heracles; he is conceived by Zeus and the daughter of Borisphen (Dnepr River) people, becoming the first of the Scythians. After completing many tasks (including the one involving bulls, which appears to be Heracles’ 7th labour of the Cretan Bull) he fell asleep. On waking he found his horse stolen and followed it to the cave of a half-woman, half-snake who he was forced to marry but whom he subsequently abandoned. This produced three sons, Lipoxais, Arpoxais and Colaxais who upon reaching manhood had to fulfil conditions before being proclaimed king. In Herodotus’ version this involved 4 golden objects that fell from heaven; a plough, a yoke, an axe and a goblet. Only the youngest was able to handle these without being burned and so was proclaimed king. In other versions the absent Targiaios / Heracles left a bow which all three tried to string, and a belt that all three tried to wear. In both cases only the youngest was able to do so. As with Herodotus, the younger son thus became the first true Scythian king.\n\n

While details of Targitaios and his worship are lost, he continued to play a part in Steppe mythology and was worshipped by the Alans (possibly their only god) up to the 4th Century AD as a simple sword thrust in to the earth, apparently without any kind of temple structure.

Tabiti

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The Scythians were a nomadic and semi-pastoral Iranian-speaking tribe from the steppes of modern-day Ukraine north of the Black Sea. They are thought to have settled in the areas between the 7th and 3rd centuries BC. They appear to have had 7 major gods of whom Tabiti seems to have been the most venerated and powerful, roughly equivalent to Hera. In Scythian culture she appears to have been linked with fire and the sun and is possibly derived from a female form of the Indo-Arian fire god Agni ‘Fire’ who in Indo-Aryan mythology inhabited the three spheres of the Universe (sky, water and among mortals) simultaneously. Interestingly, in her role as Goddess of the hearth she appears to have survived in the Russian fairy-tale of Baba-Yaga (The Old Woman Yaga) who was also known as the mother of harvest, a possible additional role of the Scythians’ Tabiti linked via the family hearth to food and well-being.\n\n

The exact method of worship has not survived, but the archaeological evidence of Scythian sacrifice of horses, cattle and humans may be linked to her as similar discoveries have been made further east in rituals for Agni. Much modern work has used the surviving pictorial remains of the Baba-Yaga mythology to deduce Tabiti’s roles which also include those of an abductor and female warrior which may indicate some later Amazonian or Sarmatian influence. In common with Hera and Juno she seems to have championed female fertility of a more chaste and motherly bearing nature than the male appetites of the Scythian Zeus (Papaeus). Also in a similar fashion to Hera are the apparent acts of cruelty to children that come through the Russian tradition.\n\n

The degree of worship of Tabiti is not known, but near the ancient capital of the Kingdom of the Bosporus Pantikapaion burial sites have been discovered. These feature both Greek and ancient Slavonic lettering including a stylised drawing of a pair of horses which often indicates the sign of the sun while the presence of the word rase is comparable with Old Indian roca ‘shining; radiant; one who lightens or makes bright’, ruc ‘to shine’, rucya ‘shining’. Though not conclusive by themselves, these are seen as possible indications of burial rites attributable to Tabiti. This is reinforced by discovering of the symbol of a hut with four chicken legs located in a circle with 27 rays (a solar sign). This character later became that of Baba-Yaga.

Argimpasa

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Oitosyros and Oiorpata Argimpasa rules life, fresh water, semen, rivers, war, breast milk, and reproduction. Her worship was widespread and she was greatly admired by the population.A single woman can ask her for a strong husband, and couples with fertility problems can ask her for a baby and such a gift will surely be bestowed upon the most devout of followers.

All contact with Argimpasa should be made during time when the sun is out. Any place where fresh water flows, such as the bend in a river, is suitable for her rituals or invocation. Praise, prayers, spells, good deeds, sexual encounters, meat, and fragrant green branches, such evergreens, are all appropriate offerings to Argimpasa .. Libations of the sacred intoxicating drink called soma or haoma, and sacrifices of oxen, lambs, male horses, and cattle, especially white cows, were offered to her in ancient times. According to a Persian hymn, a libation for Argimpasa must be cleanly prepared and well-strained. Healthy men of good character may drink her libations.

Oetosyrus

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Oitosyros and Oiorpata The Scythian name for Apollo as recorded in transliteration by Herodotus was Oetosyrus. Another variant form, Oitosyros is given by Hesychius who tries to elaborate on the nature of the name. The kinship of Scythians and Iranians which is attested both by ancient writers and by the meagre remains of the language of the Scythians has naturally suggested an Iranian source for the name Oitosyros.

According to a derivation the Scythian name of Apollo was determined by his function as the protector of cattle breeding. The kinship of Scythian and Iranian does not however exclude an origin nearer home for the Scythian name of Apollo. Nonetheless, there is a real link to the Greek god Apollo, with use of his commonly known form being seen throughout regions.

SARMATIANS- COMPLETE
Order: Fulfilment (Tabiti), Obedience (Bzenon)
War: Discipline (Afsati), Fury (Cult of the Sword)
Growth: Tribute (Argimpasa)
Total: 5 Temples

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Tabiti

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In Samartian culture Tabiti appears to have been linked with fire and the sun and is possibly derived from a female form of the Indo-Arian fire god Agni ‘Fire’ who in Indo-Aryan mythology inhabited the three spheres of the Universe (sky, water and among mortals) simultaneously. Interestingly, in her role as Goddess of the hearth she appears to have survived in the Russian fairy-tale of Baba-Yaga (The Old Woman Yaga) who was also known as the mother of harvest, a possible additional role of the goddess linked via the family hearth to food and well-being. Indeed many depictions represent a woman with big breasts decorated with three necklaces. \n\n

The exact method of worship has not survived, but the archaeological evidence of Scythian sacrifice of horses, cattle and humans may be linked to her as similar discoveries have been made further east in rituals for Agni. Much modern work has used the surviving pictorial remains of the Baba-Yaga mythology to deduce Tabiti’s roles which also include those of an abductor and female warrior which may indicate some later Amazonian or Sarmatian influence. In common with Hera and Juno she seems to have championed female fertility of a more chaste and motherly bearing nature than the male appetites of the Scythian Zeus (Papaeus). Also in a similar fashion to Hera are the apparent acts of cruelty to children that come through the Russian tradition.\n\n

Bzenon

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These are worship and religious buildings dedicated to Bzenon which celebrate both her sexual nature as a wife and her motherly role as a fertility goddess. For the people of the Steppes there was a natural corollary between worship of Bzenon and those of the great rivers such as the Don on which the fertility of the land depended. When compared with the crueller Tabiti, Bzenon would be asked to bless the crop and increase female fertility rather than champion the cause of females in a village. Nevertheless, with the hard Steppe existence depending upon the size of the harvest, worship of Bzenon was widespread and continuous. She was much revered throughout the lands for the warmth that she brought to not only mothers but the family as a whole.

Afsati

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The goddess of the hunt and of animals:

Glory to my gracious God! Whenever I appeal to you with a request,
have pity on me, Dali of the crags, glory to you! Afsati of the
crags, glory! You are in charge of a wild animal: when I come into
your domains, bring me back home in peace; give me a share in the
animal, do not begrudge a large one, do not be ashamed of a small
one. In the autumn get me and my companions back home in peace.
Whatever suits you, accept from me with my prayer, if there is
nothing from me, then simply do not be offended at me for it. I am
yours, you ought to pity and sympathise with me. Give me good
success, adding favour to favour. Outside and at home, everywhere,
hear my entreaties, do not deprive me of your mercy ...

Cult of the Sword

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From Ammianus Marcellinus we know that the Alans' "only idea of religion [was] to plunge a naked sword into the earth with barbaric ceremonies, and they worship that with great respect, as Mars, the presiding deity of the regions over which they wander." It has been suggested that this type of worship was indeed common among all of the Iranian-speaking steppe peoples. Herodotus's statement to the effect that among the Scythians of the North Pontic region the iron sword, or "scimitar," was thought to be an image of the war-god -- the "Scythian Ares" seems to be further proof that this was that case. \n\n

In many ceremonies, atop of pile of sticks an ancient iron sword was planted as an image of the god. There annual sacrifices of horses and other cattle were made to this sword, ... Prisoners of war are also sacrificed to Ares,..: one man being chosen out of every hundred; wine is poured on his head, and his throat cut over a bowl. The bowl was then carried to the platform on top of the woodpile, and the blood in it poured out over the sword. As such, the veneration of swords as divine symbols seems to have been deeply rooted in the steppe cultures. As Bachrach points out, even the non-Indo-European Huns seem to have picked up the sword cult from their Alano-Sarmatian neighbors.

Argimpasa

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Oitosyros and Oiorpata Argimpasa rules life, fresh water, semen, rivers, war, breast milk, and reproduction. Her worship was widespread and she was greatly admired by the population.A single woman can ask her for a strong husband, and couples with fertility problems can ask her for a baby and such a gift will surely be bestowed upon the most devout of followers.

All contact with Argimpasa should be made during time when the sun is out. Any place where fresh water flows, such as the bend in a river, is suitable for her rituals or invocation. Praise, prayers, spells, good deeds, sexual encounters, meat, and fragrant green branches, such evergreens, are all appropriate offerings to Argimpasa .. Libations of the sacred intoxicating drink called soma or haoma, and sacrifices of oxen, lambs, male horses, and cattle, especially white cows, were offered to her in ancient times. According to a Persian hymn, a libation for Argimpasa must be cleanly prepared and well-strained. Healthy men of good character may drink her libations.

[Father Jack]

That would be fantastic! Right, i will give you a list in a day or two once i get the planning sorted out

excellent and my last exam is on monday so thats perfect timing.

Remeber to add Apollo Hyakinthos

[Ketchup]

GREEKS

Zeus

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Shrine to Zeus

This Shrine is dedicated to Zeus who was the supreme ruler of the Olympian Gods, the Son of Cronus and Rhea. Zeus was also seen as a Lord of Justice, who guided the fate of nations; and the Protector of Kings.\n\nCronus had feared that one of his children would supplant him as supreme ruler (He himself had overthrown his own father, Uranus), and so swallowed his children. Zeus's mother replaced him with a stone, and hid Zeus away in Crete. When he was grown to a young man, Zeus returned to his father’s domain. Metis gave Cronus a potion that caused him to regurgitate his other children (Hestia, Demeter, Hera, Hades and Poseidon). Zeus then led the revolt against his father, overthrowing the Titan dynasty, imprisoning them in Tartarus. The three brothers then divided the world between them; Zeus gaining the heavens, Poseidon the sea and Hades the underworld.\n\nZeus had many offspring; including most of the other Olympian Gods. Besides these Gods, he also fathered many mortals and semi-gods, including Heracles, Helen of Troy, Perseus, Minos, the Fates, the Muses, and the Charities. Many of the most famous Greek myths concern Zeus’s mortal children and the jealousy of Hera that they often had to face.\n\nHe was originally worshipped by the early Greek tribes as a weather God, and this can be seen in the imagery of Zeus’s thunderbolt, and his control over thunder lightning and rain. As the Supreme God, Zeus had many Temples and festivals in his honor, and worship was widespread throughout the Greek world. His oldest and most famous Oracle resided at Dodona in Epirus. The most famous of his sanctuaries was at Olympia, which contained the magnificent gold and ivory statue of Zeus, one of the Seven Wonders of the World; and where the Olympic Games were held in his honour.

This Shrine is dedicated to Zeus who was the supreme ruler of the Olympian Gods, the Son of Cronus and Rhea.

Dionysus

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Shrine to Dionysus

This Shrine is dedicated to Dionysus who was the Greek God of Wine. He is known as the Liberator, freeing one from one's normal self, by madness, ecstasy, or wine. It was believed that Dionysus presided over communication between the living and the dead, and could guarantee a pleasurable afterlife to those that followed him. He is associated with wild cats ivy, and of course, the grape vine.\n\nDionysus is the son of Zeus and Semele, a mortal. When Semele became pregnant, Hera became jealous. She appeared before Semele as an old woman. When Semele told her that her lover was Zeus, Hera lied and refused to believe her; making Semele herself doubt the truth. She demanded that Zeus reveal himself, and prove he was a God. Though Zeus begged her not to ask this, she persisted. But mortals can not look upon a God in its pure form without dying, and she perished, consumed in flame. However, Zeus managed to rescue Dionysus by sewing him into his thigh. A few months later, Dionysus was born, and so became known as the ‘twice born’.\n\nMany marvelous stories concern Dionysius. When Dionysus grew up, he discovered the vine and how to make wine (Many claim that this was on the island of Sicily). But Hera struck him with madness, and he wandered across the earth. In Phrygia the goddess Rhea cured him and taught him her religious rites and he traveled through Asia, even to India, teaching people of the cultivation of the vine. When Hephaestus bound Hera to a magical chair, Dionysus got Hephaestus drunk on wine, and brought him back to Olympus on the back of a mule. For this act, he was made one of the Olympians. Dionysius once even descended in to the Underworld to rescue his mother Semele, through a bottomless lake. In another tale, when Theseus abandoned Ariadne sleeping on Naxos, after he had killed the Minotaur; Dionysus found and married her.\n\nThe worship of Dionysus is mysterious. He came in to Greek religion either from Thrace, Asia Minor or from an earlier civilization that predated the Greeks. When the worship of Dionysius was absorbed into Greek culture, it gradually evolved into a complex mystery religion, the infamous Dionysian Mysteries; that used intoxicants, dance, music, and sex to remove a persons inhibitions and constraints, causing the individual to return to a more natural and primal state.\n\nDionysius was worshipped in many places in Greece, the Dionysia festival in Athens were dedicated to Dionysus; Thebes was said to be his birthplace, and he was especially worshiped by the Thracians. Many rumours were spread about Alexander’s mother, the Epriot Olympias, and her involvement in his cult. But his worship was not limited to any particular city, and anyone who enjoyed sensual pleasures and extravagant luxuries would surely appreciate this God.

This Shrine is dedicated to Dionysus who was the Greek God of Wine.

Athena

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Shrine to Athena

This Shrine is dedicated to Athena who was the Greek God of Wisdom, War, and the protector of cities; being known as Athena Polias. She is also the patron of the crafts. The owl and the olive tree are sacred to her, and she is often accompanied by Nike, the Goddess of Victory.
Being a virgin, she was also known as Athena Parthenos, hence the name of the Parthenon; her most famous temple at the city of Athens. Athena, admiring the qualities of bravery, wisdom and virtue, aided several heroes, including Heracles, Odysseus and Jason. She helped Perseus to slay the Gorgon Medusa. (Who had been turned by Athena in to her horrid form as punishment for desecrating her temple by sleeping with Poseidon there.)\n\nAfter Zeus had sex with Metis, it had been prophesied that if Metis would bear a child, its offspring would be more powerful than Zeus himself. To protect himself, Zeus transformed Metis into a fly and swallowed her, but she was already pregnant. Metis immediately began making a helmet and robe for her daughter. The hammering as she made the helmet caused Zeus great pain and, Hephaestus was forced to cleave open Zeus’s head with a hammer and chisel. Athena leaped from Zeus's head, fully grown and armed.\n\nAthena is most widely associated with the city of Athens, and this rises through the tale over her and Poseidon’s contest for the then unnamed city. They decided that they would each give the people one gift, and they would then choose what God they preferred. Poseidon struck the ground with his trident and produced a spring, but it was salty and was of no use to the people. Athena gave them the olive tree, which could give the people oil, food and wood; and the people chose Athena to be their patron, and namesake. The Athenians did not completely disregard Poseidon, and he was worshipped in Athens second only to Athena.\n\nAnother story tells of her escape from Hephaestus, after he had tried to rape her. It is said his semen fell on the ground, fertilising the Earth goddess Gaia. When the child was born Gaia gave the boy, named Erichthonius to Athena who fostered him. He would go on to become the King of Athens. It is said that Erichthonius taught his people how to smelt silver, till the earth, harness horses, use them to pull chariots, and invented the quadriga, the four horse chariot.\n\nAs a patron of the crafts, she was skilled in many things, including weaving. A woman named Arachne once boasted that she was such a good weaver that she was better than even Athena, and even had the pride to challenge the Goddess to a contest. Athena wove a depiction of the conflict with Poseidon over Athens, while Arachne weaving made fun of Zeus and his many wives. The contest was never decided, furious at Arachne’s choice of subject, and at her pride in challenging her; she destroyed Arachne's work and transformed her into the very first spider.\n\nDespite the strong association with Athens, worship of the Goddess was widespread, and many cities held her as their principle deity. The Spartans too also held her in high esteem, as would be only natural for a war-cultured city.

This Shrine is dedicated to Athena who was the Greek God of Wisdom, War, and the protector of cities

Hephaestus/Hephaistos

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Temple of Hephaestus

This Temple is dedicated to Hephaestus who was the Greek God of Fire and Craft, but is more commonly known as the patron of craftsmen, particularly blacksmiths. Known as the lame god, Hephaestus was born weak and crippled. Displeased by the sight of her son, Hera threw Hephaestus from Mount Olympus, and he fell for a whole day before landing in the sea. Nymphs rescued him and took him to Lemnos, where the people of the island cared for him; and where it soon became apparent that he was a talented craftsmen.\n\nTo gain revenge for his rejection by Hera, Hephaestus fashioned a magic throne, and gave it as a gift to her. When Hera sat on the throne, it trapped her, making her Hephaestus’ prisoner. The other Gods pleaded for the release of Hera, but he refused. After being tricked by Dionysius, Hephaestus agreed to release Hera in return for being given the beautiful Aphrodite as his bride.\n\nThis was no bond of love; Aphrodite was not pleased, as he was lame and physically ugly. Aphrodite had a passionate affair with Ares, the handsome God of War. The sun god Helios saw them, and revealed the affair to Hephaestus, who forged a net to catch the two lovers in the act. When he did, he furthered his revenge by getting the male Gods to mock the unfortunate pair. It is said that Hephaestus really wished to marry Athena, but she would not, for he was too ugly. The Lame God even tried to overpower her, but proved unsuccessful; and the Goddess fled, preserving her virginity.\n\nBeing a master blacksmith, he created many wonderful objects. He helped the Cyclopes to make thunderbolts for Zeus, as well as his sceptre. He made Athena her shield, Eros his arrows, Helios his chariot, Hermes his winged sandals and helmet, and the armour of Achilles. It was even Hephaestus who created the first woman; Pandora.\n\nHephaestus was worshiped in most major manufacturing and industrial areas of Greece, especially in Athens; highlighting the link between the Smith God and Athena. Though his forge traditionally lay in the heart of Lemnos, Hephaestus was quickly identified by Greek colonists in Italy and Sicily with Mount Etna, where many believed the God had his smithy. He was associated amongst the Sicilian Greeks with the volcano god Adranus.(A Sicilian Fire and War God who’s temple was said to be guarded by a hundred sacred dogs), and some hold that Hephaestus drove the fearsome Adranus from Etna.

This Temple is dedicated to Hephaestus who was the Greek God of Fire and Craft, but is more commonly known as the patron of craftsmen, particularly blacksmiths.

Apollo

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Small Shrine to Apollo

This Shrine is dedicated to Apollo, who was the Greek God of Archery, Music, Poetry, Light, Truth; and a great deal of other things besides. He was also the bringer of Plague and the leader of the Muses. Apollo is also the defender of flocks and herds, the Patron of Medicine and of Colonists. He was called the ‘Striker from Afar’ and was also known as the God of Light, sometimes being called ‘Phoebus’; often being linked with Helios, the Sun God.\n\n
Apollo's most common attributes were the lyre and the bow. Animals sacred to Apollo (there are many) includes wolves, dolphins, crows, snakes and swans; on which it is said he visited the Hyperboreans every winter.\n\nWhen Hera discovered that Apollo’s mother, Leto was pregnant and that Zeus was the father, she stopped Leto from giving birth in any land. In her wanderings, Leto found the newly created floating island of Delos that was surrounded by swans, it was neither mainland nor a real island, and so there she gave birth to Artemis and Apollo. Afterwards, Zeus secured Delos to the bottom of the ocean.\n\nIn his youth, Apollo killed the Python, a Dragon Serpent that had pursued his mother while she was pregnant. Python lived in Delphi beside the Castalian Spring. This was the spring which emitted vapors that caused the oracle at Delphi to give her prophesies. Apollo killed Python, and then created his own temple at the site.\n\nThough he may seem the perfect God, he too had his dark sides. Marsyas, who dared challenge him to a music contest, was flayed alive after he lost. Apollo brought down arrows of plague upon the Greeks when they dishonored his temple and his priest during the Trojan War. Apollo, along with his sister Artemis also killed many of the children of Niobe; who, proud of having seven sons and seven daughters, had mocked Leto for having only two. Eurytos was a famous archer, but he had the arrogance to challenge Apollo to an archery contest, and was justly killed by the god for his blasphemy.\n\nHis most well known child was Asklepios, the God of Healing and Medicine, and he was cherished by Apollo dearly. But Asklepios was killed by Zeus for resurrecting dead beings, and so unbalancing the natural order of things. This infuriated Apollo, and he in turn slew the Cyclopes –who made Zeus’s thunderbolts– with his arrows. Leto prevented Zeus from sending him to Tartarus (Where the enemies of the Gods, including the Titans were exiled); and instead Apollo had to spend nine years in exile among the mortals, most of which he spent with King Admetus in Thessaly. Another son of Apollo’s was Troilus, the Trojan Prince. During the Trojan War he was ambushed by Achilles, who instantly became enamored with the handsome prince. Troilus rejected Achilles advances, and fled to the nearby Temple of Apollo. Achilles entered and slew the Prince on the Altar of Apollo, thereby provoking the anger of Apollo, who gained his revenge by guiding hectors arrow to Achilles heel, and so slaying him.\n\nApollo had many lovers, but was not always lucky. One such love was the nymph Daphne. His infatuation was caused by an arrow from Eros, who was jealous because Apollo had made fun of his archery skills. Eros also shot a hate arrow into Daphne, causing her to be repulsed by Apollo. Following a spirited chase by Apollo, Daphne prayed to her father - a river god - to help her and he changed her into a Laurel tree, which became sacred to Apollo. Apollo also fell in love with Sibyl of Cumae. He offered her anything in exchange for sex. She chose immortality, but then betrayed Apollo and refused to keep her promise and then didn't keep her side of the bargain. Apollo’s revenge was simple. Sibyl got her immortality, but she still aged as a mortal does; and as she aged, so her looks continued to worsen.\n\nApollo was a popular god, and was worshipped throughout the Greek world. His main temple and Oracle were at Delphi, and the island of Delos was sacred to him. The Trojans worshipped him above any other god (He helped found the city), as did many other Greek colonies. When establishing a colony the colonists always sent to the Delphic oracle, for Apollo was the Patron of Colonists.

This Shrine is dedicated to Apollo, who is the Greek God of Archery, Music, Poetry, Light, Truth

Hermes

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Shrine to Hermes

This Shrine is dedicated to Hermes who was the Greek God of Travellers, Commerce and also acts as a messenger of the Gods. He is also patron of Shepard’s, Orators, and is respected by thieves and liars as a god of cunning and wit. It is said the God introduced the sports of racing and boxing to mortals and so is also considered the patron of Athletes, and his statue was often found in Gymnasiums. He is a son of Zeus, and his mother, Maia, was a Pleiade, one of the daughters of the Titan Atlas (It is said that she was the oldest and most beautiful)\n\nAn example of how cunning the God was, and why he was adopted by thieves as their patron was shown on the very first night of his birth. Hermes was born on Mount Cyllene, in Arcadia, and to keep the baby safe from a would-be infuriated Hera, he was kept in the cave by his mother. But Hermes, as Gods do, matured very quickly, and that night he managed to escape from the cave while his mother was asleep. Hermes ended up in Thessaly, where Apollo was keeping his sacred cattle. The infant Hermes managed to steal several of his cattle and then hid them in a cave in a Pylos (Just to the west of Arcadia in the Peloponnese), even managing to cover his and the cattle’s tracks. In the cave, he found a tortoise and killed it. He then used the tortoise shell to make the first lyre. He managed to do all this and sneak back to the cave where his mother was sleeping and wrap himself back up in his blankets. Apollo complained to Maia that Hermes had stolen his cattle, but she would not believe him, for he was only an infant and was still in the cave when she woke up. But Zeus had seen the misadventure of his young son, and informed Maia that Hermes really did steal the cattle. The young Hermes, rather nonplussed by the accusations, begun to play on the Lyre that he had invented. Apollo, who was a god of music, fell in love with the instrument, and agreed to allow Hermes to keep the cattle he had taken in return for the instrument.\n\nTemples to Hermes were found throughout Greece, but the major enter of his cult was at Arcadia, the place of his birth. As a ‘crosser of boundaries’, travellers erected cairns in the Gods honour throughout Greece, along roads and between villages. In Athens, and later elsewhere, these were changed to rectangular pillars with a carving of the gods face on top. They were also used in the city as token of good luck outside houses. During the Peloponnesian War, as the Athenians were making preparations to launch the Sicilian Expedition, all these pillars (Or ‘Hermeia’, as they were known) were vandalised; a bad omen for what would become one of the greatest military disasters in History.

This Shrine is dedicated to Hermes who was the Greek God of Travellers, Commerce and also acts as a messenger of the Gods.

So the one we don't have is...

Hera

I'll also repost the Carthaginian ones that you missed from the other thread, MT.

CARTHAGE

Baal

Spoiler Alert, click show to read: 

Shrine to Baal

This Shrine is dedicated to Baal, the Ruler of the Universe and the Rider of the Clouds. He is the source of life, and a powerful god of war. He is the god on which all others depend, and a wielder of thunderbolts. Worship of Baal also includes child sacrifice and holy prostitution among its other observances. \n\nReligion also makes a people feel happy and content to know that the Gods are honoured. \n\nThe Shrine can be improved as the settlement grows in size and importance.


This Shrine is dedicated to Baal, the Ruler of the Universe and the Rider of the Clouds. He is the source of life, and a powerful god of war.

Milqart/Melquarth

Spoiler Alert, click show to read: 

Shrine to Milqart

This Shrine is dedicated to Milqart, the son of Baal and the Ruler of the Underworld.\n\nReligion also makes a people feel happy and content to know that the Gods are honoured. \n\nThe Shrine can be improved as the settlement grows in size and importance.

This Shrine is dedicated to Milqart, the son of Baal and the Ruler of the Underworld.

Tanit

Spoiler Alert, click show to read: 

Shrine to Tanit

This Shrine is dedicated to Tanit, the Queen of Heaven and Mother Goddess. Prayers are offered to her to ensure children, good harvests and tranquility in people's homes. She was Astarte to the Phoenicians, the original settlers of Carthage. \n\nReligion also makes a people feel happy and content to know that the Gods are honoured. \n\nThe Shrine can be improved as the settlement grows in size and importance.

This Shrine is dedicated to Tanit, the Queen of Heaven and Mother Goddess. Prayers are offered to her to ensure children, good harvests and tranquility in people's homes.

And the ones we don't have descriptions for:

Kothar

Anath

Mot/Ball Hammon

It's worth noting that in the old eb.text Tanit is for farming and Milqart is for trade whereas in the list found above these have been swapped. Is that an oversight? If not then we will have to change the descriptions accordingly. Also, I dodn't pretend to be an expert in ancient religions by any stretch of the imagination and perhaps someone with more knowledge on the subject should do the missing descriptions. having said that, if no-one steps up, I am willing to do them - it will just take a little longer as I will have to learn all the information first!

As ever, more to follow...
Cheers

[tone]

Awesome work guys. Thankyou. This stuff really makes a difference. I don't pretend to understand it all, but it looks good.

[Mulattothrasher]

marcus, is there a RTW issue with the barbs using two gods instead of just one? If its easier to enter the temple coding into the game with just one deity, thats cool, but what the player sees when they play the game, I hope, will be two gods where I've listed two of them.

Also, the descriptions I wrote for the barbs already can be added too to expanded upon if someone wishes to do so

[MarcusTullius]

marcus, is there a RTW issue with the barbs using two gods instead of just one? If its easier to enter the temple coding into the game with just one deity, thats cool, but what the player sees when they play the game, I hope, will be two gods where I've listed two of them.

Also, the descriptions I wrote for the barbs already can be added too to expanded upon if someone wishes to do so

Well I can get the consort thing done no problem. Just make 1 temple but a temple of X & Y rather than just X. Dont want to have two gods for same thing for same faction though.

And guys: please see the new temples worklist thread

[Ketchup]

Smallish Update:

ARMENIA:

We only have three gods from the EB:

Vahagn/Vahagan

Spoiler Alert, click show to read: 

Shrine to Vahagan

This Shrine is dedicated to Vahagan, the God of Thunder, Clouds and Fire. He is a metalworker and smith to the other gods, a maker of weapons.It is in this capacity that he is honoured by warriors. \n\nReligion acts to make a people feel happy and content to know that the Gods are honoured. \n\nThe Shrine can be improved as the settlement grows in size and importance.

This Shrine is dedicated to Vahagan, the God of Thunder, Clouds and Fire. He is a metalworker and smith to the other gods, a maker of weapons.

Armazd/Aramazd

Spoiler Alert, click show to read: 

Shrine to Armazd

This Shrine is dedicated to Armazd, the Father of all Gods, and the Creator of heaven and earth. He is the source of all light and growth.The chief celebration in his honour is always held on the Spring equinox. \n\nReligion acts to make a people feel happy and content to know that the Gods are honoured. \n\nThe Shrine can be improved as the settlement grows in size and importance.

This Shrine is dedicated to Armazd, the Father of all Gods, and the Creator of heaven and earth. He is the source of all light and growth.

Anahit/Ahahit

Spoiler Alert, click show to read: 

Shrine to Anahit

This Shrine is dedicated to Anahit, once the Goddess of War, but also Goddess of Fertility and Birth. She is the chief of all the Armenian pantheon. As such, she is widely worshipped and respected for he influence in all areas of life. \n\nReligion acts to make a people feel happy and content to know that the Gods are honoured. \n\nThe Shrine can be improved as the settlement grows in size and importance.

This Shrine is dedicated to Anahit, once the Goddess of War, but also Goddess of Fertility and Birth. She is the chief of all the Armenian pantheon.

This will be updated soon...

[MarcusTullius]

cheers ketchup

[tone]

Armenia must get Mithraeus. Check out www.armenianhighland.com - not all the info there is correct but there is some good stuff about the temples.

[Ketchup]

Right for PARTHIA we don't have any except that I presume "Anahit" from Armenia can be easily transferred to Parthia for "Anahita", if indeed they are the same deity...

BELGAE (again we only have one )

Esus

Spoiler Alert, click show to read: 

Shrine to Esus

This Shrine is dedicated to Esus, the Gallic god of rogues in one of his many aspects. Human sacrifices to Esus are hanged and then skewered before death. Esus is often shown as a woodcutter, a quiet image for such a potentially violent god. \n\nReligion also makes a people feel happy and content to know that the Gods are honoured. \n\nThe Shrine can be improved as the settlement grows in size and importance.

This Shrine is dedicated to Esus, the Gallic god of rogues in one of his many aspects. Human sacrifices to Esus are hanged and then skewered before death.

CIMBRI

Again, we have only one. However, can we no use Donar as one of the 'War' gods, simply because we do have a description for him?

Woden

Spoiler Alert, click show to read: 

Shrine to Woden
This Shrine is dedicated to Woden, the All-Father of the Germans' Gods. He is the source of all wisdom and magic in the world. Woden is often depicted a wanderer, an old man in search of knowledge but he also has a part to play as a warlike god of death.\n\nReligion also makes a people feel happy and content to know that the Gods are honoured. \n\nThe Shrine can be improved as the settlement grows in size and importance.

This Shrine is dedicated to Woden, the All-Father of the Germans' Gods. He is the source of all wisdom and magic in the world.

More factions to come - I'm steadily working down the list...

EDIT:

Unfortunately we don't have any IBERIAN gods

And by the way, you marked Asklepios red when we I'm sure we do have him. I'll dig it out...

EDIT: Here it is

Asklepios

Spoiler Alert, click show to read: 

Shrine to Asklepios

This Shrine is dedicated to Asklepios, who was the Greek Demigod of Medicine and Healing and the son of Apollo. His children, which included Hygieia, Meditrine, and Panacea (representing Cleanliness, Medicine and Healing), also possessed powers of healing and recovery. His symbol is his staff intertwined with a snake.\n\nHis mother, Coronis, was killed by Artemis at the request of Apollo after she fell in love with another man. Apollo rescued the unborn Asklepios by performing the first caesarean section. Apollo then gave the young Asklepios to a centaur called Chiron to raise.\n\nChiron taught Asklepios the art of surgery and healing. Asklepios soon became the most respected doctor in the world, even by the Gods. Athena gave him a vial of blood from the Gorgons. If Gorgon blood was taken from the left side of the Gorgon it was poison, but from the right it had the power to bring people back from the dead. But by bringing back the dead he angered many Gods. Hades was being deprived of his souls, and Themis was insulted by the challenge to the natural order things. Zeus, already annoyed, was enraged when he found that Asklepios was accepting money in return for resurrecting dead persons. He killed Asklepios with a thunder bolt, but realising his importance to mortals placed him in the stars as the constellation Ophiuchus. Apollo was furious at the murder of his son, and promptly slew the Cyclopes, who made Zeus’s thunderbolts.\n\nAsklepios’s sanctuaries, known as ‘Asclepieions’, which also served as places of healing, appear in several places throughout Greece. The oldest known of his sanctuary was located at Trikke in Thessaly. The most famous sanctuary was at Epidaurus in the Peloponnese, which claimed to be the birth place of Asklepios. The city of Pergamon in Asia Minor also contained a famous ‘Asclepieion’, here it was said that the Asklepios would communicate with those who had bathed in the water of the sacred spring at the sanctuary.

This Shrine is dedicated to Asklepios, who was the Greek Demigod of Medicine and Healing and the son of Apollo.

EDIT: We don't have any ARVERNI gods or BOII gods

GETAE (Just the one)

Zalmoxis/Zalmoxes

Spoiler Alert, click show to read: 

Shrine to Zalmoxis

This Shrine is dedicated to Zalmoxis, the Dacian Divine Defender of the People, here in an underworld aspect of forging weapons for his followers. Thus he helps bring them victory over their enemies. \n\nReligion also makes a people feel happy and content to know that the Gods are honoured. \n\nThe Shrine can be improved as the settlement grows in size and importance.

This Shrine is dedicated to Zalmoxis, the Dacian Divine Defender of the People, here in an underworld aspect of forging weapons for his followers

SCYTHIA

Api

Spoiler Alert, click show to read: 

Shrine to Api

This Shrine is dedicated to Api, the Scythian Earth Mother, and the mother of the Gods. She is celebrated as a sexual being as much as a fertility goddess.\n\nReligion also makes a people feel happy and content to know that the Gods are honoured. \n\nThe Shrine can be improved as the settlement grows in size and importance.

This Shrine is dedicated to Api, the Scythian Earth Mother, and the mother of the Gods. She is celebrated as a sexual being as much as a fertility goddess.

Papay/Papaios

Spoiler Alert, click show to read: 

Shrine to Papay

This Shrine is dedicated to Papay, the Scythian All-Father, the eldest of the Gods. As a patriarch, he is also a lawgiver.\n\nReligion also makes a people feel happy and content to know that the Gods are honoured. \n\nThe Shrine can be improved as the settlement grows in size and importance.

This Shrine is dedicated to Papay, the Scythian All-Father, the eldest of the Gods. As a patriarch, he is also a lawgiver.

I'm afriad that's it for the Getae.

So that means this work is finished. Now the real work of writing the remaining descriptions can begin...have fun...

[tone]

Parthia - largely Zoroastrian I think.....here's some good info:

http://ambarts.tripod.com/files/turkmen.htm

This paper deals with the problem of determination of the Parthian religion or the Parthian (Arsacid) variety of Zoroastrianism. Observation of this problem is based on some Parthian and Pahlavi sources, such as analysis of the Parthian names from the Old Nisa archives, accounts from the Pahlavi Zoroastrian books, evidences from the Sassanian literary writings of the Parthian origin: "Ayadgar i Zareran" (Memorial of Zarer) and "Drakht i asurig ud buz" (Date-tree and goat). The analysis of the Parthian names from the Old Nisa archives proves that the Parthians worshiped the following Zoroastrian divinities: Mihr (Mithra), Ohrmazd (Ahura-Mazda), Arta (Asha), Den (Daena), Ram (Rama), Rashn (Rashnu), Srosh (Sraosha), Tir (Tishtrya), Varahran (Verethragna) . Such reconstruction derives from the most typical names: Mihrdat, Ohrmazdik, Artapan, Denich, Ramenak, Rashn, Sroshdatak, Tiridat, Warahragn, and so on. Some names such as Spandarmat, Wohuman and Artawahisht prove that the Parthians recognized the holy immortal Zoroastrian archangels, the Ameshaspentas Spenta-Armaiti, Vohumana and Artavahishta.
According to the Pahlavi Zoroastrian book Denkard (Denkard IV.16), the revival of the Zoroastrian religious literature (Abastag ud Zand - Avesta and Zand) has begun during the rule of the Parthian Arsacid king Vologezes (Walakhsh i Ashkanan) . The Denkard preserved also an account on the Zoroastrian priests of the Seleucid and Arsacid periods: Arezwag, Srudog-spadag, Zrayanh, Spendo-khradwo (Denkard VII.7.5-11). Their original names are also known from the memorial part of the Avestan Fravardin Yasht: Erezva, Sruta-spada, Zrayanha and Spento-khratu (Yasht 13.115). These Zoroastrian priests were encountered in a religious controversy with an apostate and heretic Rashn-resh ("someone who harms Rashn, the divinity of justice").
Middle Persian (Pahlavi) Sassanian writings of the Parthian origin "Ayadgar i Zareran" (Memorial of Zarer) and "Drakht i asurig ud buz" (Date-tree and goat) confirm that an orthodox type of Zoroastrianism might be existing in Parthian times. Thus, "Ayadgar i Zareran" celebrating the tragical and triumphal events of the great war with the Hyon adversary, tells about the adoption of the Zoroastrian faith by the Eranian king Kay-Wishtasp. Zoroastrian faith is called here as "the Mazdayasnian unblemished faith" (dкn о abкzag о mвzdвsnвn) . The poem "Drakht i asurig ud buz" mentions many Zoroastrian themes and glorifies the adoption of the faith in creator Ohrmazd. The faith is called here as "unblemished Mazdayasnian faith" (abкzag dкn о mвzdкsnвn).
Nevertheless, the local Zoroastrian faith in the Nisa region of Parthia, as it is shown by the reconstructed divine names, should be characterized as a n orthern type of Zoroastrianism. Northern Iranian tribes such as Parthians, Dahas and Aparnis, while adopting the faith in Ohrmazd, continued to worship their local divinities in a pagan way. As it seems they glorified predominantly the Aryan Khvarenah ( cf. the names from Nisa: Aryabarzan, Aryashahrak, Aryamihrak, Aryafrianak). Conventionally the southern type of Zoroastrianism, with glorification of the Kavian Khvarenah and other local divinities, was spread not in proper Parthia, but in other Iranian provinces (Sakastan).

http://www.angelfire.com/nt/Gilgamesh/parthian.html

During the Parthian occupation the ancient religion and cults of Mesopotamia came to an end and were replaced by mixed Hellenic and Oriental mystery religions and Iranian cults. Local Semitic cults of Bel, Allat, and other deities flourished alongside temples dedicated to Greek gods such as Apollo. The sun deity Shamash was worshiped at Hatra and elsewhere, but the henotheism of the ancient Middle East was giving way to acceptance of universalist religions, if the prevalent view cannot yet be called one of monotheism. In Mesopotamia, in particular, the influence of Jewish monotheism, with the beginning of rabbinic schools and the organization of the community under a leader, the exilarch (resh galuta in Aramaic), must have had a significant influence on the local population. Toward the end of the reign of Artabanus III, the royal family of Adiabene converted to Judaism. In the first two centuries of the Common era, Christianity and various baptismal sects also began to expand into Mesopotamia. So far no Mithraeums (underground temples for the worship of the god Mithra), such as existed in the Roman Empire, have been found in Mesopotamia, except at Dura-Europus, where Roman troops were stationed. Many local cults and shrines, such as that of the Sabians and their moon deity at Harran, however, continued to exist until the Islamic conquest. Parthian Zoroastrianism reinforced local Zoroastrian communities in Mesopotamia left from the time of the Achaemenians, and one of the Gnostic baptismal religions, Mandaeanism, which is still in existence, had its beginning at this time. Although Christian missionaries were active in Mesopotamia in the Parthian period, no centres, such as the one established later at Nisibis, have been reported, and it may be supposed that their activity at first was mainly confined to Jewish communities.
Archaeological evidence indicates that the Parthians had a more marked influence on art and architecture. Local schools of art flourished, and at first Greek ideals predominated, but in the last two centuries of Parthian rule a "Parthian style" is evident in the art recovered from Mesopotamia and other regions. Whereas Achaemenian and Sasanian art are royal or imperial and monumental, Parthian art, like Seleucid art, can be characterized as "popular." Parthian works of art reflect the many currents of culture among the populace, and one may say that it is expressionist and stylized, in contrast with Greek and Roman naturalistic or realistic art. The characteristics of Parthian art in Mesopotamia are total frontality (i.e., the representation of figures in full face) in portraits, along with an otherworldly quality. In Middle Eastern art from previous periods, figures were almost always shown in profile. Another new feature of Parthian art is the frequent portrayal of the "flying gallop" in sculpture and painting, not unexpected in view of the importance of cavalry and mounted archers in the Parthian armies. Likewise, Parthian costume, with baggy trousers, became the mode over much of the Middle East and is portrayed in painting and sculpture. In architecture the use of ayvans (arches in porticoes) and domed vaults is attributed to the Parthian period; they may have originated in Mesopotamia. Parthian art influenced that of the Nabataeans in Roman territory, as it did others throughout the Middle East.

This site has a good Parthian royal family tree: http://www.friesian.com/iran.htm

Some more good info: http://zoreled.org/Parthianhistory.aspx

Changes in the Zoroastrian Religion from Zarathushtra's Birth to the End of the Parthian Period

Zarathushtra brought his religion to the Iranian people around 1200 BCE, in the time of the Kyanian king Vishtaspa. Before his time the Iranians worshipped a large number of gods associated with different aspects of nature, such as the sea, moon, water, fire, wind, rain etc. The form of worship involved offering sacrifices to these gods, who in return would be pleased and reward the worshipper with good fortune. The priests of that time performed these sacrifices and sang hymns of praise to the gods.

Zarathushtra taught an entirely new way of looking at life. He was the first to teach that there was only one powerful, almighty, wise God, who was the creator, the law-giver and the final judge. Zarathushtra called him Ahura-Mazda, the wise lord. Ahura Mazda did not want sacrifices of animals or food made to him. He required that mankind for its own happiness, live a life of righteousness and actively fight for the good and fight against evil. If man chose to do only that, he would be happy and bring about the perfection of God’s creation. By this act he would become a co-worker with God.

Zarathushtra introduced the concept of the six Amesha Spenta, the personified attributes of Ahura Mazda, which are: Asha-righteousness, Vohu Mano-wisdom, Kshathra Variya- the good power, Aramaity- benevolence or right mindedness, Houravat- perfection and Ameretat- immortality. He also introduced the concept of Spenta Mainyu the spirit of goodness and Angre Mainyu the spirit of evil. These are two opposing forces that pull creation towards perfection or away from it.

Zarathushtra was the first to teach that man’s soul exists after death and that man is responsible for his actions while living. After death, man will be judged for his actions while living. He also taught that there would be a final judgment at the end, before which a savior would appear and would bring about the total triumph of good over evil.

Soon after the death of Zarathushtra and king Vishtaspa, the Kyanian dynasty ended. The special protection granted to Zoroastrianism as a state religion also came to an end. The new ideas of Zarathushtra were accepted by the people of north eastern Iran, but the older Iranian tradition of multiple gods could not be drawn out of their culture. The priests who became Zoroastrian priests incorporated the older gods into Zoroastrianism making them the Yazatas or Adorable ones, aspects of God associated with various aspects of nature such as wind, fire water etc. or qualities such as justice, victory etc. The hymns that used to be sung to the older gods were modified to fit Zoroastrian philosophy and these became our prayers that are called Niyayeshs and Yasht. This was the state of Zoroastrianism when the Hakhamanian dynasty came to power in 559 BCE.

During the rule of the Hakhamanian kings, Zoroastrians spread out to many different parts of the empire and came into contact with other cultures and religions which were often older than theirs. Hakhamanian kings respected the religions of the territories they conquered. There is no evidence that Zoroastrianism was forced upon the subjects of any conquered lands. On the contrary we know that Cyrus the Great paid his respects to the god Marduk of Babylon, soon after he conquered the city. Because, the Hakhamanian kings, who were Zoroastrians (we know that from the inscriptions of Darius, Xerxes and the later kings) were open minded about the religion of their subjects, many Zoroastrians started to respect the gods of other religions. There appears to be a considerable mixing of religious beliefs. The Yazata, Anahaita, the female Yazata associated with water, became synonymous with the Greek goddess Artemis and the Babylonian goddess Ishtar. Similarly, the Yazata, Mehr, and the god Mithra became synonymous. The later Hakhamanian kings regarded Anahaita and Mithra almost as important as Ahura-Mazda.

Just as Zoroastrianism was influenced by other religions, it influenced the other religions of the empire. Cyrus had liberated the Jews from Babylon and allowed them to rebuild their Temple in Jerusalem. The Jewish scholars studied the religion of their new rulers, a religion which like theirs believed in one God. They were profoundly influenced by the ideas introduced by Zarathushtra. It is after this period that we see, in Judaism the idea of a universal God, as opposed to a tribal God, the soul existing after death, the idea of a judgment after death, the coming of a savior (Zoroastrian Soshyant) and the final judgment of creation. Through Judaism these ideas were introduced into Christianity and into Islam. These ideas are the central tenets of all three religions.

When Alexander conquered the Hakhamanian empire, the central library at Persepolis was destroyed, the religious books were scattered and many were taken away to Greece. Aristotle who was the tutor of Alexander and had accompanied him on his conquests is said to have gathered up most of the Zoroastrian books and was influenced by Zoroastrian philosophy. Through Aristotle and other Greek philosophers who studied these religious books, Zoroastrian ideas spread into western culture.

The invasion of Iran by Alexander was a set back to Zoroastrianism. Many temples were destroyed and learned priests who had memorized the religious literature were killed and both the written and the oral tradition suffered a great loss. Under these circumstances, the tendency of Zoroastrians believing in foreign gods seems to have increased. One of the religions that became very powerful, was Mithraism. It believed in a war-like god Mithra (in Zoroastrianism the Yazata Mehr) associated with the sun and victory in battle. Mithraism spread in Iran and spread to Greece and then to Rome. It contained many of the ideas of Zoroastrianism. It believed in the ideas of a supreme creator, an immortal soul, which is judged after death, a final victory of good over evil, and a savior at the end of time who is the god Mithra himself. In Mithraism, Ahura-Mazda is still respected but not as the supreme god. In Mithraism, time (Zurvan) is the supreme creator, Mithra acts as mediator between God and mankind. The winter solstice, after which the days become longer again, when the sun appears to grow stronger again, was celebrated as a great Mithraic festival by the Romans. When Christianity became the state religion of the Roman empire, this same festival was celebrated as the birthday of Christ.

In spite of these many influences, Zoroastrianism did not die out. In eastern Iran and in Pars it was still the dominant religion. The Parthian kings, at least the later ones were staunch Zoroastrians. Like the Hakhamanian kings they were tolerant not only of other religions but also different forms of Zoroastrianism. At this time there were two kinds of Zoroastrian temples. One kind had a consecrated fire which was worshipped as a symbol of Ahura-Mazda, this kind of temples were started in Hakhamanian rule around 400 BCE. The other kind of temples had statues of the Yazatas and Ahura-Mazda as the central focus of worship. The Parthian king Vologeses I, ordered the collection and bringing together for safe-keeping every existing oral and written pieces of the Avesta. The Parthian dynasty kept the Greeks and Romans out of Iran and prevented these western influences from spreading in Iran. In this way it allowed Zoroastrianism to flourish again. Since the Parthian kings did not interfere in the religious practices of their subjects, Zoroastrianism existed in many different forms of practice and belief from place to place in the empire. This was the state of our religion at the end of the Parthian rule in 226 CE, when Ardeshir Papakian overthrew the Parthian emperor and started the Sasanian dynasty which was to change Zoroastrianism profoundly.

and here: http://www.cais-soas.com/CAIS/Histor...n/parthian.htm

Iranian society retained its ancient traditional values under the Parthian dynasty by following of the three Zoroastrian principle divines of Good Thoughts, Goods Words, and Good Deeds. The Monolithic religion of Zarathushtra (Zoroaster) was worshipped under the Median and Achaemenian dynasties, have retained its hold on the popular and it was the semi-official religion under the Parthians.

Except the Zoroastrian religion the Iranians were worshipping the two deities; Anahita (Ânâhitâ) and Mithra. Anahita, who enjoyed most popularity beyond the western frontiers of Iran, which her cult spread to Lydia, where she was called 'the lady of Bactria', to Pontus, Cappadocia and Armenia. But Mithra, was even more popular than Anahita, which the pirates captured by Pompey took to Rome, whence it was carried by the Roman armies as far as the Rhine, Danube and Brittany.

[tone]

Mulattothrasher has done a whole load of work on the barbarian gods BTW.

[The Sloth]

''Zarathushtra introduced the concept of the six Amesha Spenta, the personified attributes of Ahura Mazda, which are: Asha-righteousness, Vohu Mano-wisdom, Kshathra Variya- the good power, Aramaity- benevolence or right mindedness, Houravat- perfection and Ameretat- immortality. He also introduced the concept of Spenta Mainyu the spirit of goodness and Angre Mainyu the spirit of evil. These are two opposing forces that pull creation towards perfection or away from it.''

Tones quote sounds interesting. How about using the Amesha Spenta for parthian temples? Like this:

Obedience: Asha (rightousness)
Fullfillment: Houravat (perfection)

Discipline: Kshatra Variya (good power)

Health: Ameretat (immortality)
Trade: Vohu Mano (wisdom)
Tribute: Aramaity (benevolence)

[Father Jack]

MT, I have returned from my exams. Do you have any work for me? Greek religion is my strength

[MarcusTullius]

MT, I have returned from my exams. Do you have any work for me? Greek religion is my strength

Can you have a look at the worklist? We need descriptions for Hera, some Spartans and then research on Seleucids and Ptolemies

[MarcusTullius]

I will look at these and then set up a work list

Check this thread: http://www.twcenter.net/forums/showthread.php?t=219231

and post which ones you want to do.....

[Ketchup]

That's quite an idea, Sloth! It would mean that we don't have to think of loads more obscure Zoroastrian deities and also the descriptions would be quite easy. You coul dhave a generic paragraph describing Zoroastrian beliefs for all the temples and then another detailing each Amesha Spenta.

[tone]

Hmmm....after reading a bit more I'm not sure you can get away without Mithra and Anahita amongst the Parthian deities. Zoroastrianism was only one of the elements there from reading this stuff.