The following list of art deities is arranged by continent with names of mythological figures and deities associated with the arts. Art deities are a form of religious iconography incorporated into artistic compositions by many religions as a dedication to their respective gods and goddesses. The various artworks are used throughout history as a means to gain a deeper connection to a particular deity or as a sign of respect and devotion to the divine being.
Africa and the Middle East African Oshun, a goddess of beauty and is therefore associated with beautiful works of art
Afroasiatic Middle East
Canaanite Kotar or Kothar-wa-Khasis
Egyptian Bastet Bes Hathor Isis Khnum Meret Ptah Seker
Igbo mythology Ala
Mesopotamian Ishtar Nuska
Western Eurasia
Ancient Kangleipak Panthoibi
Celtic Abhean Brigid Gwydion Lugh
Norse-Germanic Bragi Odin
Etruscan Menrva
Greek / Hellenic Aphrodite, goddess of beauty which may mean beautiful works of art, goddess of fertility and love Aglaia (Grace), goddess of splendor Apollo, god of medicine, music, poetry, song and dance Athena, goddess of wisdom, smart war and weaving Dionysus, god of wine and theatre Hephaestus, god of forge, sculpture and metalwork Poseidon, god of the sea Zeus, god of the sky and lightning Hera, goddess of marriage, family, women, and childbirth, queen of the gods, wife of Zeus Hades, god of the Underworld, Demeter, goddess of agriculture Artemis, goddess of the moon, archery and virginity Eros, god of love (greek cupid) Muses Calliope, goddess of epic poetry Clio, goddess of history Erato, goddess of erotic poetry Euterpe, goddess of lyric poetry Melpomene, goddess of tragedy Polyhymnia, goddess of hymns Terpsichore, goddess of dance Thalia, goddess of comedy Urania, goddess of astronomy
Roman Apollo Minerva Venus Vulcan
Western Asia
Anatolian - Urarte Arubani
Hindu-Vedic Saraswati Ganesha Hayagriva
Sumerian Enki
Uralic Väinämöinen
Asia-Pacific / Oceania Meitei
Khamlangba, associated with smithsLisam, Khomdan Singh (2011). Encyclopaedia Of Manipur (3 Vol.). ISBN 978-81-7835-864-2. Khamnung Kikoi Louonbi, associated with enchantmentA Critical Study Of The Religious Philosophy. 1991. p. 108.Religion and Culture of Manipur - Page 25 - Moirangthem Kirti Singh · 1988 Lainaotabi, associated with charm, magic, pottery, sorcery, spell, weaving and witchcraft Nongpok Ningthou, associated with dance, music and festival Nongthang Leima, associated with enchantment and seduction Panthoibi, associated with dance, festival, handicrafts, pottery, spinning and weaving Phouoibi, associated with trickery to men Pisatao, associated with smithsBrara, N. Vijaylakshmi (1998). Politics, society, and cosmology in India's North East. Internet Archive. Delhi; New York : Oxford University Press. p. 48. ISBN 978-0-19-564331-2. Thangching, associated with divine playsSession, North East India History Association (1999). Proceedings of North East India History Association. The Association.
Far East Asia
Chinese Cao Guojiu, patron god of the theater Han Xiangzi Nüwa Zhang Guolao, who carries a fish-drum
Japanese Ame-no-Uzume-no-Mikoto Benzaiten
Vietnamese Phạm Thị Trân, the founder of Chèo Từ Đạo Hạnh, the founder of the art of water puppetry Tổ nghề Sân khấu, the three are said to be the founders of theatrical forms of Vietnam
Austronesia
Filipino
Bait Pandi: the Bagobo goddess of weavers who taught women weavingJocano, F. L. (1969). Philippine Mythology. Quezon City: Capitol Publishing House Inc. Fu Dalu: the T'boli goddess of the abaca; speak and guide weavers on how to create patterns and designs, which are remembered in dreamsPaterno, M., Castro, S., Javellana, R., Alvina, C. (2001). Dreamweavers. Makati: Bookmark. Mamiyo: the Ifugao stretcher of skeins, one of the twenty-three deities presiding over the art of weavingZaide, S. M. (1999). The Philippines: A Unique Nation. All-Nations Publishing. Monlolot: the Ifugao winder of thread on the spindle, one of the twenty-three deities presiding over the art of weavingZaide, S. M. (1999). The Philippines: A Unique Nation. All-Nations Publishing. Rirryaw Añitu: place spirit Añitus who played music and sang inside a cave in Sabtang, while lighting up fire; believed to have change residences after they were disturbed by a manHornedo, F. H. (1980). Philippine Studies Vol. 28, No. 1: The World and The Ways of the Ivatan Añitu. Ateneo de Manila University. Tumungkuyan: leaders of the Salakap from Batak beliefs who paint tree trunks that support the sky using the blood of the epidemic-deadFox, R. B. (1982). Religion and Society Among the Tagbanuas of Palawan Island, Philippines. Manila: National Museum.
Polynesian
Hawaiian Lono Pele
Native Americas
North America Kokopelli (shared among various Southwestern Native American mythologies)
Mexico
Aztec Huehuecóyotl Xochipilli
Haitian Vodou Erzulie Maîtresse Délai
Mayan Ixchel, goddess of womanly crafts
References