List of knowledge deities

A statue of Athena, the Greek goddess of wisdom

A knowledge deity is a deity in mythology associated with knowledge, wisdom, or intelligence.

Celtic mythology

• Ogma, a figure from Irish and Scottish mythology, said to have invented the Ogham alphabet
• Lugh, a figure from Irish mythology, said to be skilled in all arts.
• Brighid

Chinese mythology

• Wenchang Wang, god of literature and scholarship.
• 文殊菩萨(Manjushri), bodhisttava of wisdom
• Confucius, sage of education
• Laozi, god of wisdom
• Lü Dongbin, patron of scholars
• Bao Zheng, star of scholars
• Dou Kui, god of examination achievements
• Guan Yu, god of military scholars
• Ju Qi, god of essay/scholar paper being accepted at exams
• Nüwa

Egyptian mythology

• Neith, goddess sometimes associated with wisdom.
• Thoth, originally a moon deity, later became god of wisdom and scribe of the gods.
• Sia, the deification of wisdom.
• Seshat, goddess of wisdom, knowledge and writing. Scribe of the gods. Credited with the invention of writing and the alphabet. Later demoted in pantheon of Egyptian deities to consort of Thoth.
• Isis, goddess of wisdom, magic, health and marriage.
• Serapis, god of knowledge and education.

Etruscan mythology

• Menrva, goddess of wisdom.

Greek mythology

• Aidos, goddess of the Moral Sense and teaching right and wrong choices
• Apollo, Olympian god of light, music, poetry, knowledge, and the sun.
• Athena, Olympian goddess of wisdom, warfare, civilization, strength, strategy, crafts, and justice.
• Coeus, Titan, god of intellect, grandfather of Apollo.
• Idyia, an Oceanid, sometimes sources call her "the goddess of knowledge".
• Metis, Oceanid of wisdom, wise counsel and cunning, skill, and crafts.
• Muses, personification of knowledge and the arts
• Prometheus, he is said to be the god of forethought, the god of intelligence, a trickster, and as a champion of humanity, because he stole fire from Hephaestus, and brought it to mortals (for which he suffered great consequences)
• Theseus, god of Justice and Wisdom.

Hindu mythology

Ganesha, the Hindu god of knowledge and wisdom

• Saraswati, goddess of knowledge and all literary arts including music, literature and speech.
• Ganesha, god of intellect and wisdom.
• Vidyadevis, the sixteen knowledge-goddesses of Jainism

Hittite mythology

• A'as, god of wisdom.
• Kamrusepa

Japanese mythology

• Fukurokuju, god of wisdom and longevity.
• Kuebiko, scarecrow god of wisdom and agriculture.
• Omoikane, Shinto god of wisdom and intelligence.
• Tenjin, god of scholarship.
• Benzaiten, a Japanese form of Saraswati, goddess of everything that flows: water, words, speech, eloquence, music and by extension, knowledge

Mesopotamian mythology

• Al-Kutbay, Nabataean, god of knowledge, commerce, writing, and prophecy.
• Enki, god of intelligence, crafts, mischief, water and creation.
• Nabu, Babylonian god of wisdom and writing.
• Nidaba, Sumerian goddess of writing, learning, and the harvest.

Norse mythology

• Tīwaz/Týr, "Týr, known for his great wisdom and courage".
• Odin, the ruler of Asgard, who sacrificed his eye and was hung for nine days from the world tree Yggdrasil in order to gain the wisdom of the ages.
• Mímir, a god renowned for his knowledge and wisdom; Odin is advised by his severed head.
• Sága, goddess of wisdom.
• Vör, goddess associated with wisdom.
• Snotra, goddess associated with wisdom.
• Gefjon, goddess of knowledge, chastity and agriculture.

Persian mythology

• Anahita, goddess of 'the Waters' (Aban) - fertility, healing and wisdom.

Polynesian mythology

• Anulap, god of magic and knowledge.
• Eijebong

Roman mythology

• Egeria, water nymph who gives wisdom and prophecy in return for libations of water or milk at her sacred grove.
• Fabulinus, the god who teaches children to speak.
• Minerva, goddess of wisdom and the Roman equivalent of Athena.
• Apollo, Greco-Roman god of light, knowledge, intellect, and the sun.
• Providentia, goddess of forethought.

Slavic mythology

• Gamayun - symbol of knowledge and wisdom.

Turco-Mongol mythology

• Mergen - Turkic deity of abundance and wisdom. Mergen symbolizes the intelligence and thought.

References