{{Short description|none}} [[File:Vienna Pallas closeup.jpg|thumb|A statue of Athena, the Greek goddess of wisdom]]A '''knowledge deity''' is a deity in mythology associated with knowledge, wisdom, or intelligence.

==Akan mythology== *Abena Motianim, goddess of wisdom, knowledge and divination.{{Citation needed|date=May 2024}} *Anansi, an Akan folktale character associated with stories, wisdom, knowledge, and trickery, most commonly depicted as a spider.

==Ancient Egyptian mythology== * Neith, goddess sometimes associated with wisdom * Thoth, originally a moon deity, later became the god of knowledge and wisdom and the scribe of the gods * Sia, the deification of wisdom * Isis, goddess of wisdom, magic and kingship. She was said to be "more clever than a million gods". * Seshat, goddess of wisdom, knowledge, and writing. Scribe of the gods. Credited with the invention of writing and the alphabet. Later demoted to consort of Thoth.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://discoveringegypt.com/ancient-egyptian-gods-and-goddesses|title=Ancient Gods of Egypt|website=discoverinegypt.com}}</ref>

==Armenian mythology== * Anahit, goddess of wisdom<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://allinnet.info/news/the-goddess-of-love-and-fertility-anahit-ancient-armenia-preface/|title=the-goddess-of-love-and-fertility-anahit|date=21 August 2017 }}</ref> * Tir, the god of written language, schooling, rhetoric, wisdom, and the arts<ref>{{cite book |last=Herouni |first=Paris |date=2004 |title=Armenians and Old Armenia |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=w36gAAAAMAAJ |location=Yerevan |pages=8, 133 |isbn=9789994101016 }}</ref>

==Aztec mythology== * Quetzalcoatl, god of the winds, art, culture, and wisdom, as well as the patron god of learning and knowledge.<ref>Smith 2003 p. 213</ref>

==Maya mythology== * Itzamna, creator god, associated with knowledge, wisdom, writing and culture, patron god of learning and books.<ref>{{cite web | url=https://www.spanishacademyantiguena.com/blog/2021/06/19/itzamn%C3%A1-mayan-god/ | title=Itzamná Mayan God - Spanish Academy Antiguena }}</ref>

==Caribbean mythology== * Papa Legba, loa of speech, communication, understanding, and guardian of crossroads<ref>{{cite journal | doi = 10.1525/aa.1937.39.4.02a00080 | volume=39 | issue=4 | title=African Gods and Catholic Saints in New World Negro Belief | journal=American Anthropologist | pages=635–643| year=1937 | last1=Herskovits | first1=Melville J. | doi-access=free }}</ref>

==Celtic mythology== * Ogma, a figure from Irish and Scottish mythology, said to have invented the Ogham alphabet<ref name="ogham">{{cite web |last1=Jones |first1=Mary |title=The Ogham Tract |url=http://maryjones.us/ctexts/ogham.html |website=Celtic Literature Collective |access-date=21 October 2019}}</ref> * Ceridwen, a figure from Welsh mythology, said to be the keeper of the cauldron of knowledge, mother of transformation and the white lady of inspiration and death.

==Chinese mythology== * Wenchang Wang, the god of literature and scholarship * Kui Xing, god of examinations * Zhuyu Xingjun, god of examination successes {{Citation needed|reason=this god dosnt seem to occur in any record except lists of knowlage gods (that are in the same order of this list) that are likly just copies of this list. Therfor its distincly posible that this god may be fake. if its not it would be useful to know where it is recorded|date=November 2024}} * Guan Yu, god of military exams (General) * Lu Dongbin, god of daoist inner alchemy knowledge (scholar and poet) * Laozi, god of wisdom (philosopher) * Bao Zheng, Star of literature (politician) * Manjushri, the bodhisattva of wisdom<ref>{{cite web|url=http://web.sgjh.tn.edu.tw/cyberfair/treeking/story/story_2_3.htm|script-title=zh:民間信仰的神明概念|trans-title=Hierarchic organisation of the spiritual world|website=web.sgjh.tn.edu.tw}}</ref><ref>{{cite book|last=Hackin|first=J.|title=Asiatic Mythology: A Detailed Description and Explanation of the Mythologies of All the Great Nations of Asia|publisher=Asian Educational Services|year=1932}}</ref>

==Christian mythology== *The Holy Spirit is the person of the Triune Godhead who is tasked with guiding humans towards knowledge of righteous action. The Spirit's duties includes pointing non-believers towards knowledge of the Christian faith, and the faithful towards knowledge of right and just action and lifestyle.<ref name=Erickson265>{{cite book|author=Millard J. Erickson|year=1992|title=Introducing Christian Doctrine|publisher=Baker Book House|pages=265–270}}</ref>

==Etruscan mythology== * Menrva, goddess of wisdom, war, weaving, and medicine<ref>de Grummond, ''Etruscan Myth, Sacred History and Legend''</ref>

==Greek mythology== * Apollo, god of oracles, knowledge, civilization, music, healing, education, and youth * Athena, Olympian goddess of wisdom, civilization, weaving, and war strategy * Coeus, Titan of the inquisitive mind, his name meaning "query" or "questioning". He is the grandfather of Apollo. * Hermes, a god of cunning * Metis, the Titan associated most closely with wisdom and the mother of Athena, whose name in Ancient Greek described a combination of wisdom and cunning.<ref name="Helios">{{cite encyclopedia|title=Volume: Hellas, Article: Greek Mythology|encyclopedia=Encyclopaedia The Helios|year=1952}}</ref><ref name="HomerIliad366-369">Homer, ''Iliad'', 8. An epic poem about the Battle of Troy. [https://archive.today/20120526194909/http://www.perseus.tufts.edu/cgi-bin//ptext?doc=Perseus:text:1999.01.0134&layout=&loc=8.366 366–369]</ref> * Mnemosyne, Titan of memory, and one of the deities worshipped by the Cult of Asclepius in hopes that she would help supplicants remember visions<ref name="Ahearne-Kroll">{{cite journal|last1=Ahearne-Kroll|first1=Stephen P.|title=Mnemosyne at the Asklepieia|journal=Classical Philology|date=April 2014|volume=109|issue=2|pages=99–118|doi=10.1086/675272|s2cid=162319084}}</ref> * Phoebe, a goddess of intellect<ref>{{Cite book |last=Albert |first=Liv |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=ShnuDwAAQBAJ&dq=phoebe+goddess+of+intellect&pg=PA94 |title=Greek Mythology: The Gods, Goddesses, and Heroes Handbook: From Aphrodite to Zeus, a Profile of Who's Who in Greek Mythology |date=2021-03-30 |publisher=Simon and Schuster |isbn=978-1-5072-1550-0 |language=en}}</ref>

==Hindu mythology== thumb|A Saraswati statue in a park. * Saraswati, goddess of knowledge, creativity, and speech * Ganesha, god of wisdom, luck, and new beginnings * Kartikeya, god of war, victory, and knowledge * Brihaspati, guru of the devas * Shukra, guru of the asuras * Dakshinamurti, an aspect of Shiva as the guru of sages *Vidya Lakshmi, an aspect of Lakshmi as the bestower of knowledge * Hayagriva, an aspect of Vishnu as the god of knowledge * Gayatri, a form of Saraswati and the goddess of hymns * Savitri, a form of Saraswati and goddess of wisdom<ref name=macdonell>{{cite book|author=Arthur Anthony Macdonell|title=Vedic Mythology|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=b7Meabtj8mcC|year=1978|publisher=Motilal Banarsidass (Reprint)|isbn=978-81-208-1113-3}}</ref><ref name=bonnefoy>{{cite book|author=Yves Bonnefoy|title=Asian Mythologies|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=r4I-FsZCzJEC |year=1993|publisher=University of Chicago Press|isbn=978-0-226-06456-7}}</ref>

==Hittite mythology== * A'as, god of wisdom * Kamrusepa<ref>J. G. Macqueen, '"Hattian Mythology and Hittite Monarchy'", ''Anatolian Studies'' (1959).</ref><ref>R.Lebrun, "Le zoomorphisme dans la religion hittite," ''L'Animal, l'homme, le dieu dans le Proche-Orient ancien'', (Leuven) 1985:95-103, noted in Beckman 1989.</ref>

==Japanese mythology== * Benzaiten, a Japanese form of Saraswati, goddess of everything that flows: water, words, speech, eloquence, music and by extension, knowledge. * Fukurokuju, god of wisdom and longevity * Kuebiko, scarecrow god of wisdom and agriculture * Omoikane, Shinto god of wisdom and intelligence * Tenjin, god of scholarship<ref name="kojiki">{{cite book|last=Chamberlain|first=Basil Hall|title=The Kojiki: Japanese Records of Ancient Matters|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=zVw392cJrJoC|access-date=9 February 2011|year=2008|publisher=Forgotten Books|isbn=978-1-60506-938-8}}</ref><ref>Kelsey, W. Michael (1983). "Untitled", ''Asian Folklore Studies'' Vol 42</ref>

==Middle Eastern mythology== * Al-Kutbay, Nabataean god of knowledge and writing * Enki, Sumerian god of intelligence, crafts, mischief, water, and creation * Nabu, Babylonian god of wisdom and writing * Ninimma, a minor Mesopotamian goddess regarded as the scribe and scholar of Enlil * Nisaba, Sumerian goddess of writing, learning, and the harvest<ref name="Bertman">{{cite book|last1=Bertman|first1=Stephen|title=Handbook to Life in Ancient Mesopotamia|date=2005|publisher=Oxford University Press|location=Oxford|isbn=9780195183641|page=122|edition=Paperback|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=1C4NKp4zgIQC&pg=PA122|access-date=2016-08-08|language=en}}</ref>

==Muisca mythology== * Bochica, messenger god of knowledge<ref>Hermann & Bullock, 1954</ref>

==Neoplatonism== * Nous, the cosmic embodiment of knowledge and intellect.

==Lakota mythology== *Hnašká, Lakota frog spirit of pezuota (sacred medicine) *Hunúŋpa, Lakota bear spirit of wóksape (Lakota concept of sacred knowledge), lesser spirit of knowledge *Iktómi, Lakota spider spirit of wóksape and trickery, greater knowledge spirit *Kssa, Oglala spirit of knowledge, sometimes considered Iktómi before being stripped of his title *Matȟó, Lakota mischievous healer spirit, taught the Lakota to fish *Ptesáŋwiŋ/White buffalo calf woman, Lakota prophetess, often conflated with Wohpe *Wiyóhiyaŋpa, Lakota wind spirit of the east, oversees new beginnings and knowledge *Whapiya/Wóhpe, Lakota spirit of knowledge, wishes, dreams, visions, prophecy and the wife of Okaga the south wind *Zuzéča, Lakota snake spirit of hidden knowledge and lies

==Norse mythology== thumb|Wodan and Frea by Emil Doepler. * Mimir, god of wisdom * Gefjon, goddess associated with plowing, foreknowledge, and virginity. *Odin, god of wisdom who nevertheless relentlessly keeps searching for more knowledge; associated with the runes * Frigg, she is said to know the future, but never tells. The three following goddesses may be hypostases of her. * Sága, goddess of wisdom * Snotra, goddess associated with wisdom * Vör, goddess associated with wisdom<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.gatewaytotheclassics.com/browse/display.php?author=colum&book=odin&story=_contents|title=The Children of Odin|website=gatewaytotheclassics.com}}</ref>

*Numerous minor characters in Norse mythology are said to be very wise, though there's often no instance of them demonstrating this supposed wisdom: **Dwarfs, particularly Alviss, whose name means "all-wise". Thor keeps him from marrying his daughter by challenging him to a wisdom contest that lasts all night. He's turned to stone by the rising sun. **Elfs possibly **Heimdallr **Kvasir **Tyr **Utgard-Loki, while not outright stated to be wise, he's notable for being the only giant to be cleverer than the gods and getting to escape with his life **Vafthrudnir, a wise jotunn Odin seeks out to challenge to a wisdom contest<ref name=ORCHARD170>Orchard (1997:170).</ref> **the Vanir in general<ref name="Chaillu, P. B 1889">Du Chaillu, P. B. (1889).</ref>

==Iranian mythology== * Anahita, goddess of wisdom * Ahura Mazda, Zoroastrian god of light, benevolence, creation, truth, and perfect wisdom * Chista, goddess of wisdom and knowledge, she leads the mortals to the right way in life and the afterlife; she is also the goddess of religion in Zoroastrian mythology.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://dl.lilibook.ir/2017/01/Persian-Mythology-Hinnells.pdf|title=The Library of the world's myths and legends|website=dl.lilibook.ir}}</ref> thumb|Anahita Vessel, 300-500 AD, Sasanian, Iran, silver and gilt – Cleveland Museum of Art – DSC08130

==Polynesian mythology== * Anulap, god of magic and knowledge * Eijebong<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.academia.edu/39723801|title=Handbook of Polynesian Mythology|website=academia.edu}}</ref>

==Roman mythology== * Egeria, a 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, strategy, and crafts, the Roman equivalent of Athena * Providentia, goddess of forethought * Neptune, the god of the sea and freshwater, is said to have all the knowledge of water.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://wetheredccn12.files.wordpress.com/2014/01/roman-gods-and-goddesses-power-point.pdf|title=Roman Gods and Goddesses|website=wetheredccn12.com}}</ref>

==Slavic mythology== * Gamayun - symbol of knowledge and wisdom{{cite needed|date=September 2021}} * Veles - Veles has been the most revered god in the Vedic pantheon of Slavic culture since ancient times. He is the patron saint of the interworld — both Light and Darkness are subject to him, he is also called Prophetic, Wise, because in the three worlds he manifests his power, he is the one who knows light and darkness, sets the energy of the world in motion, rotates the Universe, he is a permanent guardian on the border of the worlds, a spiritual mentor, he knows all the secrets of the universe.

==Sumerian mythology==

* Geshtu-E, Minor god of intelligence who was sacrificed to bring forth humanity.

==Turkic mythology== * Mergen, deity of abundance and wisdom. Mergen symbolizes intelligence and thought.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://blog.milliyet.com.tr/bizim-tanri-ve-tanricalarimiz--turk-mitolojisi-/Blog/?BlogNo=333366|title=The Gods of Turks|website=milliyet.com}}</ref> ==Vietnamese mythology== * Nữ thần nghề mộc, the goddess who taught mankind how to create everyday utensils. * Văn Xương, god of exams, he holds the honor and career of those who follow the academic path.

==Yoruba mythology== * Ọrunmila, Irunmọlẹ of wisdom, knowledge, fate and divination.<ref>{{cite book |last1=Bascom |first1=William |title=Ifa Divination: Communication Between Gods and Men in West Africa |date=1991 |publisher=Indiana University Press |isbn=9780253206381 |page=ix |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=CS0h4Ye9puUC&q=Qrunmila |access-date=1 April 2019 |language=en |quote=Qrunmila is another name for Ifa, the deity}}</ref> * Ọbatala, deity of wisdom, purity, creativity and peace.<ref>{{cite book|last=Probst |first=Peter | title=Osogbo and the Art of Heritage |publisher=Indiana University Press |publication-place=Bloomington |date=2011 | isbn=978-0-253-22295-4 |page=17}}</ref> * Ọsanyin, deity of knowledge, magic, enlightenment, nature and herbalism.<ref>{{cite book |last1=Bay |first1=Edna G. |title=Asen, Ancestors, and Vodun: Tracing Change in African Art |date=2008 |publisher=University of Illinois Press |isbn=978-0-252-03255-4 |pages=32–33 |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=jmfNSdJgap4C&dq=osanyin&pg=PA30 |access-date=18 September 2023 |language=en}}</ref> * Aaja, deity of whirlwinds and forest creatures, believed to hold the secrets of botany and herbs.<ref>{{cite book |last1=Ibiè |first1=Cromwell Osamaro |title=Ifism: The Odus of Oyeku-Meji |date=1986 |publisher=C.O. Ibie |isbn=978-1-890157-30-2 |pages=46 |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=iZMZAAAAIAAJ&q=ajija+eziza |access-date=21 February 2024 |language=en}}</ref>

==References== {{Reflist}} {{List of mythological figures by region}}

Knowledge deities Category:Knowledge deities Category:Wisdom deities