Encyclopedia of Gods: Over 2,500 Deities of the World

by Michael Jordan

Since the beginning of time, the same mysteries have puzzled people on every continent; the same fears have beset them. They have attempted to explain the mysteries and allay the fears in the same way - through the worship of gods. Deities have been identified with the human psyche for at least 60,000 years. Encyclopedia of Gods offers concise information on more than 2,500 of these deities, from the most ancient gods of polytheistic societies - Hittite, Sumerian, Mesopotamian - to the most contemporary gods of the major monotheistic religions - Allah, God, Yahweh. Among the cultures included are African peoples, Albanian, Pre-Islamic Arabian, Aztec, Babylonian, Buddhist, Canaanite, Celtic, Egyptian, Native American, Etruscan, Germanic, Greek, Roman, Hindu, Persian, Polynesian, and Shinto. The Encyclopedia includes not only the most significant gods of each culture but minor deities as well. Here you will find information not only on Zeus, Thor and Astarte but also on Tozi, the Aztec goddess of healing, Annamurti, the Hindu patron deity of the kitchen, and Nyakaya, the Shilluk crocodile goddess. Each entry provides details on what culture worshiped the god, the role of the god, and the characteristics and symbols used in identification. In the case of the more important personalities, references in art and literature and known dates of worship are also provided. Indexes by civilization and role of the god enable the researcher to compare gods across cultures or to find information on specific topics of interest. Encyclopedia of Gods will be indispensable to students and researchers in religions, anthropology, history and archaeology. It will also provide endless information for thereader interested in mythology and legend.

Genres: Reference, Mythology, Religion, Nonfiction, History, Magic, Folklore

352 pages, Hardcover

First published January 1, 1992

About the author

Michael Jordan was born in Lancashire, England, in 1941. He studied Natural Sciences at London University, and went on to become a successful BBC television presenter of wildlife programs in the 1980s. His love of writing began at about that time, when his focus of interest switched to ancient religions and cults, for which today he is best known as a non-fiction author. He has a current list of 26 published works.

In 2001 he wrote a highly controversial book, published by Weidenfeld and Nicolson, Mary, the Unauthorised Biography, about the origins of the Marian cult, which was subsequently sold worldwide in various languages.

Michael's first venture into fiction writing, The Seventy Ninth Heresy, evolved from his years of research into the field of ancient religions and their origins.

Currently he lives in Devon.

Reviews

[Manybooks · Rating 4 out of 5]

The 1992 mythology reference tome Encyclopaedia of Gods: Over 2500 Deities of the World is an enlightening, systematic and also for world mythology buffs like me fun examination of more than 2,500 deities (of gods and goddesses) recognised and worshipped by different cultures, peoples and religions worldwide (both historically and also currently), and yes, I really do personally very much appreciate that Encyclopaedia of Gods: Over 2500 Deities of the World also includes Judaism and Christianity, that author and compiler Michael Jordan fortunately and happily sees God/Jehovah/El/Yhwh as similar to Greek, Celtic, Norse etc. gods and goddesses, although I personally also think that with regard to Christianity, Jordan should be listing both the Holy Spirit and Jesus Christ separately as well as including the Virgin Mary in Encyclopaedia of Gods: Over 2500 Deities of the World. Furthermore, and just to point out, this Michael Jordan is of course not the Michael Jordan of NBA fame, and indeed, during my PhD dissertation defence in 1998, because I had made use of the entries in Encyclopaedia of Gods: Over 2500 Deities of the World regarding the Canaanite/Phoenician weather god Baal, I was actually asked by one of my examiners rather tongue in cheek whether it was the basketball great Michael Jordan who had penned Encyclopaedia of Gods: Over 2500 Deities of the World.

And in an A to Z format, Encyclopaedia of Gods: Over 2500 Deities of the World comprehensively documents the gods and goddesses chosen and presented by Michael Jordan based on their cultures and geographical locations, providing a very nice and generally sufficiently extensive overview for each featured deity, with every entry having Jordan give name, pronunciation, alternative spellings, the culture and/or religion from where the god or goddess in question originates, followed by a detailed but not overly intensive analysis and description of the deity's background, status among other gods, roles, characteristics, associations as well as various depictions in art, iconography and literature, with decent enough internal source acknowledgements for an encyclopaedia , but I still would want to also have a separate and extensive bibliography for Encyclopaedia of Gods: Over 2500 Deities of the World shown at the back and not just the rather shortened and sometimes almost abbreviated notes Michael Jordan gives within the text proper (for each of the entries). However, the depth of textual detail shown in Encyclopaedia of Gods: Over 2500 Deities of the World certainly attests to the tremendous amount of research that has obviously been done by Jordan, and that unlike many similar such mythological reference books, sources are at least shown even if a bit shortened, adding an academic touch to Encyclopaedia of Gods: Over 2500 Deities of the World but also ALWAYS remaining delightfully and wonderfully accessible for general readers.

Five stars in general for Encyclopaedia of Gods: Over 2500 Deities of the World (however with the in my opinion necessary caveat that the 2500+ deities are not shown regarding culture/mythology/subject but according to the spellings of their names and that Michael Jordan also features general and not in-depth descriptions, which is of course to be expected in a book like Encyclopaedia of Gods: Over 2500 Deities of the World but that readers wanting all encompassing analyses will likely be disappointed). But as much as I find what Jordan has penned and created in Encyclopaedia of Gods: Over 2500 Deities of the World absolutely delightful and right up my proverbial alley so to speak, I am still lowering my rating from five to four stars, as while I am of course really glad that sources are being acknowledged and shown by Jordan, I do strongly believe that Encyclopaedia of Gods: Over 2500 Deities of the World definitely loses some of its supplemental research value by not having a separate bibliography, by having the sources only appear text internally and a bit overly simplistically.

[Terence · Rating 3 out of 5]

While none of the entries are terribly extensive, this is an interesting little reference book showing just how many ways humans have attempted to come to terms with their universe.

[Mark · Rating 3 out of 5]

I suppose it is hard to catalog all the gods, and author Michael Jordan (not that Michael Jordan) does a decent job gathering up over a couple thousand gods, which I am sure was no easy task.

However, the book isn't really that thorough in its scope nor in its descriptions of the gods. Some quick checks showed missing gods right away. Ask any fan of Mayan mythology about the Popol Vuh and the hero twins, and they will tell you about Hunapu and Xbalanque and their adventures in the underworld. There is a listing for Hunapu and oddly, Jordan mentions Ix Balan Ku (his spelling of the Mayan twin of Hunapu) in Hunapu's listing, but yet, fails to list Xbalanque even under his own spelling of that god. Why mention one of the hero twins and not the other?

Another god listed is Hotei who is listed as the Japanese god of fortune, but no mention whatsoever is made that he was considered to be a Buddha and is thought of by more Westerners as Buddha (aka the laughing Buddha)than the actual Buddha (Siddartha Guatama).

The gods are listed in alphabetical order, and the index in the back also lists by subject, like gods of agriculture, gods of fertility, etc. and lists the gods by civilization, such as Incan gods, Egyptian gods, Greek gods, Norse gods etc. However, Norse gods are actually listed under Icelandic, so it takes a bit to find them.

No pictures are included in the book, so it may be difficult to picture many of the gods or recognize them from other sources.

However, I still find the book useful as a quick reference guide to gods I've never heard of. It can be used for a quick way to find names for various video games (If you've played any online game, you know how hard it is to find a unique name) or to learn some basics about a number of gods. Since spellings vary, sometimes it is hard to find a particular god as most in the book are only listed under one spelling with alternate spellings or names under that listing.

If you are really interested in the gods this is okay as a quick reference guide, but for a more thorough look, you may want to buy a book focused on the particular culture that you are interested in. Myself, for example, I have books on the Egyptian gods, Greek Gods, Norse gods, Incan gods and Mayan gods that go much more in depth than this book, but on the other hand, you would have to get a number of books to get the quick overview provided here.

[Sagan · Rating 4 out of 5]

I got this from the library to see if it was worth buying. It is. You'd need to find some dedicated books for full details, but entries are long enough to get the idea and short enough for further explanation of mythology and folklore to a child when you encounter gods and goddesses as characters in read-aloud time. Or Marvel movies.

[Terra Bosart · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is an excellent resource for the obscure references I encounter during research projects. When I read a document that expects me to be familiar with deities I have never heard of, the Encyclopedia of Gods has come through for me more often than not.

[Tara Dobbs · Rating 2 out of 5]

Missing a lot more Gods and spirits from other cultures. Needs a revised updated reprint.

[Yolanda · Rating 3 out of 5]

This was an impulse buy, ebay cheapy. It was maybe a few bucks and for the money it was a good reference. The information is a bit dated, but overall good reference for basic info.

[Bailing Lue · Rating 5 out of 5]

A very good general resource for gods across ancient and modern day cultures. Even if some are just a name with a brief description, it gives you a direction to go on.

[chrstphre campbell · Rating 2 out of 5]

Very Minimalist

No pictures or Illustrations .
16 more words required .
10 nine eight seven, six & five,
3 2 1 .

[Steig · Rating 4 out of 5]

as reference, used often, especially when Lara names her doggesses.

[J. · Rating 5 out of 5]

Invaluable reference

[Aryanne · Rating 3 out of 5]

Many interesting little facts. More a reference book than anything else.

[Nicollette · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book is helpful, especially for people who are trying to understand more than one religion. I use this book as a compass on finding out all I can about the gods and goddesses.

[Serena · Rating 4 out of 5]

My Rating System:
* couldn't finish, ** wouldn't recommend, *** would recommend, **** would read again, ***** have read again.

[Aaron Meyer · Rating 3 out of 5]

A useful dictionary of gods from throughout the world. Not a complete listing but good enough for a reference.

[Patricia Della-Piana · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a go-to book of information not findable anyplace else. He did his homework, and now I can do mine.

[Darlene · Rating 4 out of 5]

I have skipped through this book as a reference book. A lot of good stuff. Will be using it through the year so I'm declaring it read.