Yoruba Pantheon Mythology Guide

Includes 3 JPG files: 1 Copy with Deities Colored by Archetype (i.e. Sun Gods, Fertility Goddesses, etc), 1 Copy with Deities Colored by Dynasty (i.e. Orishas, Iyas, etc), and 1 Copy in Grayscale Optimized for Black & White Printing.

I (Joshua J Kes) am passionate about mythology and anthropology. I have a Bachelor of Science in Geography and Sociology; the studies of places and peoples, respectively. I've been working on a database for comparative mythological studies for a few years now, and thought I'd put together some slick informative charts/posters of family trees for various pantheons.

I also produce YouTube videos on this subject @Sapienite1, with episodes on individual motifs and pantheons. If you like what you see, you may check them out for more details!

https://www.youtube.com/@Sapienite1

In order to make a coherent 'family tree' structure, I've had to make a few inferences and choices about the relationships between more obscure deities, which sometimes have contradictory accounts. I've also decided to synthesize certain deities that, while informed by a philological comparison between differing sources, must ultimately come down to a subjective interpretation of similar motifs. My own pagan practice is more Hellenic and Mediterranean, so that definitely colors my interpretation of these motifs. But I am aware of my potential biases. Nonetheless, I try to meet each pantheon on its own terms. Therefore, I am putting this out there as a hybrid of artistic and academic intent. I hope that this pantheon inspires others to look more deeply into the abundance of deities in Yoruba and other Sub-Saharan African nations! I plan to do a video for my YouTube channel on the Yoruba pantheon in the future, so that I can elaborate on my choices and explore the deeper aspects of each Orisha.

My methodology of comparison for mythological motifs (the first copy) usually involves planetary or astrological associations, but this time, I used a simple coding system including 10 cross-cultural motifs/archetypes/codes, each color-coded and in order from left-to-right:

1. FERTILITY - Earth and Fertility Deities like Gaia, Demeter, or Mother Earth.

2. SKY - Sky Orishas like Olorun/Olodumare and Oya.

3. WATER - Sea or Water Orishas like Oshun and Olokun.

4. CHTHONIC - Underworld or Night Orishas like Iya Nla and Iku.

5. LUNAR - Moon Orishas, which I have not found in Yoruba this time.

6. SOLAR - Sun Orishas like Eke.

7. CIVIL - Civic, Fortune, or Justice Orishas like Ayelala and Okoro.

8. MESSENGER - Messenger Orishas like Agemo and Elegba/Eshu.

9. TRICKSTER - Trickster or Chaotic Orishas like Edi.

10. WAR - War or Protective Orishas like Ogun and Sigidi.

Total List of Orishas Invoked: Iya Nla/Iyamoopo, Olorun/Olodumare, Agemo, Yemoja, Ayelala, Aja, Aje, Ozain/Orunmila/Oranyan/Olouaye, Obatala, Oduduwa, Ogun, Oshosi, Elegba/Eshu, Olokun, Oba, Oshun, Shango, Dada/Bayanni, Ajaka, Iroko, Abonsam/Aboman, Osunmare, Ibeji, Akoda, Ashigbo/Akudaaya, Sigidi, Eke, Oko, Iku, Edi, Alaafia/Ela, Okoro/Oro, Ayangalu.

Add to cart