List of fertility deities

Coatlicue, Aztec goddess of fertility, life, death and rebirth

A fertility deity is a god or goddess associated with sex, fertility, pregnancy, and childbirth. In some cases these deities are directly associated with these experiences; in others they are more abstract symbols. Fertility rites may accompany their worship. The following is a list of fertility deities.

African mythology

• Ala, Igbo goddess of fertility
• Asase Ya, Ashanti earth goddess of fertility
• Denka, Dinka god of the sky, rain and fertility
• Mbaba Mwana Waresa, Zulu goddess of fertility, rainbows, agriculture, rain and beer

Ancient Egyptian Mythology

Min, ancient Egyptian god of fertility and lettuce

• Amun, creator-god, associated with fertility
• Bastet, cat goddess sometimes associated with fertility
• Bes, household protector god associated with music, dance, and sexual pleasure
• Hathor, goddess who personified the principles of love, motherhood and joy
• Heget, frog-goddess of fertility
• Heryshaf, god of creation and fertility
• Isis, goddess of motherhood, magic and fertility
• Mesenet, goddess of childbirth
• Min, god of fertility, reproduction, and lettuce
• Osiris, god of the afterlife, the dead, and the underworld agency that granted all life, including sprouting vegetation and the fertile flooding of the Nile River
• Renenutet, goddess of the true name, the harvest and fertile fields
• Sobek, god of the river, warfare and fertility
• Sopdet, goddess of the fertility of the soil
• Tawaret, goddess of fertility and childbirth
• Tefnut, goddess of water and fertility
• Qetesh, goddess of sacred ecstasy and sexual pleasure

Arabian mythology

• Allāt or al-Lāt, fertility goddess associated with the earth
• Al-‘Uzzá, a goddess worshipped at a stone cube at aṭ-Ṭā’if and Mecca.^[1][2][3]

Armenian mythology

• Anahit, goddess of fertility, birth, beauty and water
• Aramazd, creator-god and source of the Earth's fertility

Aztec mythology

• Tonacatecuhtli, god of sustenance (fertility).
• Tonacacihuatl, goddess of sustenance (fertility).
• Coatlicue, goddess of fertility, life, death and rebirth.
• Chimalma, goddess of fertility, life, death and rebirth.
• Xochitlicue, goddess of fertility, life, death and rebirth.
• Xochipilli, god of love, art, games, beauty, dance, flowers, maize, fertility, and song.
• Xochiquetzal, goddess of fertility, beauty, female sexual power, protection of young mothers, pregnancy, childbirth, and women's crafts.
• Toci, is the "Mother of the Men", see Temazcalteci
• Temazcalteci, goddess of maternity (fertility).

Baltic mythology

• Laima, goddess of luck and fate, associated with childbirth, pregnancy, marriage, and death
• Saulė, solar goddess of life and fertility, warmth and health

Canaanite mythology

• Baʿal, storm god responsible for earthly fertility
• Hadad, the later Aramaean form of Baʿal
• Tanit, consort of Baʿal Hammon at Carthage

Chinese mythology

• Celestial Registrar of Childbirth
  • Lady Yunxiao
  • Lady Yuxuao
  • Lady Bixiao
  • Madam Zhaojing
  • Miss Chenjing
  • Ninth Lady Lin
  • Third Lady Li
• Childbirth Monitors of the Nine Heavens
  • Jiǔtiān Jiānshēng Dàshén
  • Jiǔtiān Wèifáng Shèngmǔ
  • Jiǔtiān Dìngshēng Dàshén
  • Jiǔtiān Gǎnhuà Dàshén
  • Jiǔtiān Dìngtāi Dàshén
  • Jiǔtiān Yìtāi Dàshén
  • Jiǔtiān Zhù Shēngjūn
  • Jiǔtiān Shùn Shēngjūn
  • Jiǔtiān Sù Shēngjūn
  • Jiǔtiān Quán Shēngjūn
  • Liùjiǎ Fúlì
  • Cuīshēng Tóngzǐ
  • bǎoshēng Tóngzǐ
  • Sùshēng Tóngzǐ
  • Nánchāng Fēntāi Gōngcáo
  • Nánchāng Zhǔchǎn Gōngcáo
  • Zhùsǐ Gōngcáo
  • Qǐsǐ Gōngcáo

In Vietnam, Laos and Cambodia

• Sowathara, A female figure as symbol of the fertile earth.

Celtic mythology

• Brigid, Irish goddess associated with fertility
• Cernunnos, horned god associated with fertility
• Damara, fertility goddess worshipped in Britain
• Damona, Gaulish fertility goddess
• Epona, goddess of horses and fertility
• Hooded Spirits, a group of deities theorised to be fertility spirits
• Nantosuelta, goddess of nature, the earth, fire, and fertility
• Onuava, goddess of fertility
• Rosmerta, Gallo-Roman goddess of fertility and abundance

Catholic hagiology

Note: Catholicism is a monotheistic religion, and as such, saints are not considered deities. See Intercession of saints and Hagiography for details about those aspects of Catholic doctrine.

• St. Anne, patron saint of pregnancy and mothers
• St. Catherine of Sweden, patron saint of protection against abortion and miscarriage
• St. Gerard Majella, patron saint of childbirth, motherhood, children and mothers (unborn children and expecting mothers in particular)
• St. Margaret the Virgin, patron saint of childbirth and pregnant women
• Phallic saints, a group of saints invoked for fertility
• St. Raymond Nonnatus, patron saint of childbirth, midwives, children, and pregnant women
• Theotokos, Mary, Mother of God, Mother of Jesus

Etruscan mythology

• Fufluns, god of plant life, happiness and health and growth in all things
• Thesan, goddess of the dawn, associated with the generation of life
• Turan, goddess of love, fertility and vitality

Finnish mythology

• Äkräs, god of fertility
• Rauni, goddess of fertility

Germanic mythology

• Nerthus, earth goddess associated with fertility
• Freyr, a fertility god.
• Freyja, a goddess of fertility, and sister of the above god.
• Ēostre, fertility goddess, and origin of the easter holiday

Greek mythology

• Aphaea, local goddess associated with fertility and the agricultural cycle
• Aphrodite, goddess of love, beauty and sexuality
• Aphroditus, god of male and female unity, the moon and fertility
• Artemis, goddess of the hunt, wild animals, wilderness, childbirth, virginity, fertility, young girls and health and disease in women
• Cybele, Phrygian Earth Mother goddess who embodies the fertile earth
• Demeter, goddess of agriculture and the fertility of the earth
• Dionysus, god of wine and festivity, associated with fertility
• Eros, god of sexual love, fertility and beauty
  

  Priapus, Greek god of fertility, gardens and male genitalia
• Gaia, Earth Mother and goddess of the fertile earth
• Hera, goddess of the air, marriage, women, women's fertility, childbirth, heirs, kings and empires
• Ilithyia, (also called Eileithyia) goddess of childbirth and midwifery, likely of Minoan or earlier origin.
• Pan, god of shepherds, flocks, mountain wilds, hunting and rustic music; associated with fertility
• Phanes, primeval deity of procreation and the generation of new life
• Priapus, rustic god of fertility, protection of livestock, fruit plants, gardens and male genitalia
• Rhea, goddess of fertility, motherhood and the mountain wilds
• Tychon, a daemon imagined as a boy

Hawaiian mythology

• Haumea, goddess of fertility and childbirth
• Kamapua'a, demi-god of fertility
• Laka, patron of the hula dance and god of fertility
• Lono, god associated with fertility, agriculture, rainfall, and music
• Nuakea, goddess of lactation

Hindu mythology

Parvati

• Aditi, goddess of space, consciousness, the past, the future, and fertility
• Banka-Mundi, goddess of the hunt and fertility
• Bhūmi, goddess of the earth and the fertility form of Lakshmi
• Chandra, lunar god associated with fertility
• Lajja Gauri, goddess associated with abundance and fertility
• Manasa, snake goddess associated with fertility and prosperity
• Matrikas, a group of 7 - 16 goddesses who are associated with fertility and motherly power.
• Parvati, goddess associated with fertility, marital felicity, devotion to the spouse, asceticism, and power
• Sinivali, goddess associated with fecundity and easy birth.

Hittite mythology

• Hutellurra, Irsirra, and Tawara, goddesses of midwifery and nursing children
• Nikkal, goddess of fruits
• Shaushka, goddess of fertility, war and healing

Hurrian mythology

• Nikkal, goddess of fruits

Inca mythology

• Mama Quilla, the goddess of the moon, the menstrual cycle, and a protector of women
• Mama Ocllo, mother goddess, associated with fertility
• Sara Mama, goddess of grain
• Pacha Kamaq, Creator of the World
• Pachamama, fertility goddess who presides over planting and harvesting and causes earthquakes

Indigenous Australian mythology

• Anjea, goddess or spirit of fertility
• Birrahgnooloo, Kamilaroi goddess of fertility
• Dilga, Karadjeri goddess of fertility and growth
• Julunggul, Yolgnu rainbow snake goddess associated with fertility, initiation, rebirth and the weather
• Kunapipi, mother goddess and the patron deity of many heroes
• Ungud, snake god or goddess associated with rainbows and the fertility and erections of the tribe's shaman
• Wollunqua, snake god of rain and fertility

Inuit mythology

• Akna, goddess of fertility and childbirth
• Pukkeenegak, goddess of children, pregnancy, childbirth and the making of clothes

Japanese mythology

• Kichijōten, goddess of happiness, fertility, and beauty
• Inari Ōkami, goddess of fertility, rice, agriculture, foxes, industry

Maya mythology

• Akna, goddess of motherhood and childbirth
• Ixchel, jaguar goddess of midwifery and medicine

Inanna, Sumerian goddess of sexual love, fertility and warfare

Mesopotamian mythology

• Ama-arhus, Akkadian fertility goddess
• Amasagnul, Akkadian fertility goddess
• Gatumdag, Sumerian fertility goddess and tutelary mother goddess of Lagash
• Inanna, Sumerian goddess of love, fertility, and warfare
• Ishtar, Akkadian, Assyrian and Babylonian goddess of fertility, love, war and sexuality
• Nanshe, Sumerian goddess of social justice, prophecy, fertility and fishing
• Ningal, Sumerian mother goddess
• Nin-imma, goddess of the female sex organs
• Sharra Itu, Sumerian fertility goddess

Muisca mythology

• Chaquén, god of sports and fertility in the religion of the Muisca

Native American mythology

• Atahensic, Iroquois goddess associated with marriage, childbirth, and feminine endeavors
• Kokopelli, Hopi trickster god associated with fertility, childbirth and agriculture
• Hanhepi Wi, Lakota goddess associated with the moon, motherhood, family and femininity

Norse mythology

• Freyja, goddess associated with love, beauty, fertility, gold. Also a war/death goddess. Taught Odin seiðr magic.
• Freyr, god associated with farming, weather and fertility
• Frigg, goddess associated with prophecy, marriage and childbirth
• Gefjun, goddess of ploughing and possibly fertility
• Odin The allfather. God of war, wisdom and seiðr (magic)
• Thor, god associated with thunder, lightning, storms, oak trees, strength, the protection of mankind.

Oceania mythology

• Gedi (mythology), Fijian god of fertility, who taught mankind the use of fire
• Makemake, Rapa Nui creator-god, associated with fertility
• Tagroa Siria, Fijian god associated with fertility
• Tangaroa, Rarotongan god of the sea and creation, associated with fertility

Persian mythology

• Anahita, goddess of fertility, healing and wisdom

Roman mythology

• Bona Dea, goddess of fertility, healing, virginity, and women
• Candelifera, goddess of childbirth
• Carmenta, goddess of childbirth and prophecy
• Ceres, goddess of agriculture, grain crops, fertility and motherly relationships; equated with the Greek goddess Demeter
• Diana, goddess of the hunt, wilderness, the moon and childbirth; equivalent to the Greek Artemis
• *Domidicus, the god who leads the bride home
• *Domitius, the god who installs the bride
• Fascinus, embodiment of the divine phallus
• Fecunditas, goddess of fertility
• Feronia, goddess associated with fertility and abundance
• Flora, goddess of flowers and spring
• Inuus, god of sexual intercourse
• *Jugatinus, the god who joins the pair in marriage
• Juno, goddess of marriage and childbirth; equivalent to the Greek goddess Hera
• Liber, god of viniculture, wine and male fertility, equivalent to Greek Dionysus; in archaic Lavinium, a phallic deity
• Libera, goddess of female fertility and the earth
• Lucina, goddess of childbirth
• Mars, god initially associated with fertility and vegetation, but later associated with warfare and the Greek god Ares
• *Manturna, the goddess who kept the bride at home
• Mutunus Tutunus, phallic marriage deity associated with the Greek god Priapus
• Ops, fertility and earth-goddess
• Partula, goddess of childbirth, who determined the duration of each pregnancy
• *Pertuda, goddess who enables penetration

Venus, Roman goddess of love, beauty and fertility

• Picumnus, god of fertility, agriculture, matrimony, infants and children
• *Prema, goddess who holds the bride down on the bed
• Robigus, fertility god who protects crops against disease
• *Subigus, the god who subdues the bride to the husband's will
• Terra, earth goddess associated with marriage, motherhood, pregnant women, and pregnant animals; equivalent to the Greek Gaia
• Venus, goddess of love, beauty and fertility, equivalent to the Greek goddess Aphrodite
• *Virginiensis, the goddess who unties the girdle of the bride

* These 8 gods/goddesses consummate marriage and some of them are listed in the Indigitamenta ^[4]

Sami mythology

• Beiwe, goddess of fertility and sanity
• Rana Niejta, goddess of spring and fertility

Slavic mythology

• Dzydzilelya, Polish goddess of love, marriage, sexuality and fertility
• Jarilo, god of fertility, spring, the harvest and war
• Kostroma, goddess of fertility
• Radegast, West Slavic god of hospitality, fertility, and crops, associated with war and the sun
• Siebog, god of love and marriage
• Svetovid, god of war, fertility and abundance
• Zeme, goddess of the earth, associated with fertility
• Živa, goddess of love and fertility

Taíno mythology

• Atabey (goddess), mother goddess of fresh waters and fertility (of people).
• Yúcahu, masculine spirit of fertility (of crops such as Yucca) along with his mother Atabey who was his feminine counterpart.

Turco-Mongol mythology

• Umay, goddess of fertility and virginity

Ugaritic mythology

• Asherah, Queen of Heaven
• Nikkal, Great Lady and Fruitful

Vodou

• Ayida-Weddo, loa of fertility, rainbows and snakes
• Guédé, family of spirits that embody the powers of death and fertility

See also

• The Dinner Party - this artwork features a place setting for Fertile Goddess.^[5]
• Fertility rite
• Earth Mother

References

1. Ibn Ishaq, Muhammad (1955). Ibn Ishaq's Sirat Rasul Allah - The Life of Muhammad Translated by A. Guillaume. Oxford: Oxford University Press. p. 38.
2. Al-Kalbi, Hisham (1952). Kitab Al-Asnam Translated by Nabih Amin Faris. Princeton: Princeton University Press. p. 17.
3. Rice, Edward (May 1978). Eastern Definitions: A Short Encyclopedia of Religions of the Orient. New York: Doubleday. p. 433. ISBN 9780385085632.
4. Philip Wilkinson, Neil Philip. Mythology. ISBN 978-1-4053-1820-4. p.17. 2007
5. Place Settings. Brooklyn Museum. Retrieved on 2015-08-06.