Gods and various divine deities were always an object of interest in all times. The phenomenon of an unknown past explains this; contemporary people did not witness any of the Gods, and it encourages even more interest towards these creatures. Fortunately, now almost every human has access to the sources to scrutinize the information about Gods. However, it is interesting to examine how ancient stories, literature, and cosmogonies describe Gods and their attributes and compare these mysterious deities.
Cosmogonies are stories that tell about the creation of the world and how life started. Cosmogonic myths also refer to theological explanations of life and creation (Rooyen). Cosmogonies often contained descriptions of great creators (Gods) and frequently described them as human rulers connected with their divine equivalents. Greek Gods, found in Ancient Greek stories, are compared to powerful creatures eligible to do everything.
For instance, Ancient Greek goddess Medea is described as a “bewitching femme fatale” who can seduce and hypnotize men for her purposes (Mayor 9). Greek Gods can even be dangerous for mortals, according to multiple epic poems. Additively, Celtic Gods are often compared to Greek Gods in their power, will, and belligerence (Freeman). Almost every ancient text contains the scenes of Gods’ battles between each other or with mortals.
In contrast, some sources describe Egyptian Gods as life-loving deities who set a harmonical order in nature. The force of nature drives Egyptian Gods, and they personify water, air, soil, and planets. For example, Egyptian mythology is often associated with wellness and harmony; the goddess Maat personifies prosperity and life balance through her principles (Van Blerk 2). Egyptian Gods seem to be more amicable than Greek and Celtic gods.
Overall, the Gods of the three abovementioned mythologies are different. Various texts draw these Gods in their own way; however, it is noticeable that Greek Gods often strive for revenge (Dillon). Celtic Gods are similar in their strength, power, and capacity. In contrast, Egyptian Gods differ because of their attitude to life. It is possible to learn something from the Gods, for example, the positivity and balance from Egyptian Gods. Greek and Celtic Gods can teach how to be strong and persistent. To sum up, it is feasible to find similarities and differences in Gods of all religions with the help of ancient, lyrical, and scientific texts.
Works Cited
Van Blerk, N. J. “The Emergence of Law in Ancient Egypt: The role of Maat.” Fundamina, vol. 24, no. 1, 2018, pp. 60–88. Web.
Mayor, Adrienne. Gods and Robots: Myths, Machines, and Ancient Dreams of Technology. Princeton University Press, 2020.
Freeman, Philip. Celtic Mythology. Oxford University Press, 2017.
Rooyen, Johan A. van. “Cosmogonic or Creation Myths a Mythical, Philosophical and Theological Interpretation of the Diverse Cosmogonic Myths: In Conversation with Charles Long.” HTS Teologiese Studies / Theological Studies, vol. 76, no. 1, 2020. Crossref. Web.
Dillon, Matt. “Gods in Ancient Greece and Rome.” Oxford Research Encyclopedia of Religion, 2019. Web.