A dawn deity is a deity in a polytheistic religious tradition who is in some sense associated with the dawn. These deities show some relation with the morning, the beginning of the day, and, in some cases, become syncretized with similar solar deities.
Africa In Egyptian mythology, Tefnut, in part of her being goddess of the morning dew. Pinch, Geraldine (2002). Egyptian Mythology: A Guide to the Gods, Goddesses, and Traditions of Ancient Egypt, Internet Archive, 24 February 2021. https://archive.org/details/egyptianmytholog0000pinc p. 196
Americas In Sioux mythology, Anpao, the spirit of the dawn, has two faces.
Asia Japanese Ame-no-Uzume, goddess of dawn, mirth, meditation, revelry and the arts.
Indo-European Hindu-Vedic – Ushas is a prominent figure in the Rigvedic hymns. Representing the dawn, "she is said to rouse all life, to set all things in motion," Kinsley, David (1988). Hindu Goddesses: Visions of the Divine Feminine in the Hindu Religious Tradition, Internet Archive, 10 August 2020. https://archive.org/details/hindu-goddesses-david-kinsley p. 7 and is commonly associated with cows.
Ugarit - Canaanite
Shahar 𐎌𐎈𐎗, שחר. Mentioned in the Ugarit scriptures canon. Brother of Shallem - Dusk, and sun of El (head of the local pantheon). The term is still used as a personal name in the middle east: Hebrew, Persian, and Arabic.
Roman Syria and Galilee Lucifer and Jesus of The Bible are both referred to as the “morning star” since in ancient times, the morning star had been referred to as an entity of great power.
Philippines
Munag Sumalâ: the golden Kapampangan serpent child of Aring Sinukuan; represents dawnNicdao, A. (1917). Pampangan Folklore. Manila. Tala: the Tagalog goddess of stars;Calderon, S. G. (1947). Mga alamat ng Pilipinas. Manila : M. Colcol & Co. daughter of Bathala and sister of Hanan;Jocano, F. L. (1969). Philippine Mythology. Quezon City: Capitol Publishing House Inc. also called Bulak Tala, deity of the morning star, the planet Venus seen at dawnPardo, F. (1686–1688). Carte [...] sobre la idolatria de los naturales de la provincia de Zambales, y de los del pueblo de Santo Tomas y otros cicunvecinos [...]. Sevilla, Spain: Archivo de la Indias. Hanan: The Tagalog goddess of the morning; daughter of Bathala and sister of Tala Liwayway: the Tagalog goddess of dawn; a daughter of BathalaRomulo, L. (2019). Filipino Children's Favorite Stories. China: Tuttle Publishing, Periplus Editions (HK) Ltd.
Europe Indo-European Proto-Indo-European – Hausos (reconstructed proto-goddess) Albanian – Afërdita (), Prende Armenian – Ayg, Arshaluys Greek – Eos Germanic – Ēostre Hindu - Ushas Norse – Dellingr Roman – Aurora (and later Mater Matuta) Slavic – Zorya Irish – Brigid Lithuanian – Aušra or Aušrinė Latvian – Austra Mesopotamian - Aya
Non-Indo-European Etruscan – Thesan, Albina (possibly) Georgian – Dali
See also
Aurvandil Proto-Indo-European religion List of Lithuanian mythological figures List of Philippine mythological figures List of solar deities
References
External links