Many cultures have their own god of war, but this function is often tied to other roles. This shows us how each culture perceives war. Here’s an overview of the main war gods from different cultures around the world. The list is, of course, not exhaustive.
War gods in Africa
Ogun (West Africa, mainly among the Yoruba). Ogun is the god of war, iron, and hunting. He is also linked to technology and industry. He is the patron of blacksmiths and symbolizes both violence and justice.
Gu (Benin, among the Fon). He is often associated with Ogun but also represents strength, metallurgy, and destruction.
Sekhmet (Ancient Egypt) is a goddess of war, destruction, and healing in Egyptian mythology. She appears in the form of a lioness, symbolizing her ferocity in battle. According to myths, Ra, the sun god, sent her to punish humanity, and she nearly wiped out humanity in her rage. However, she is also a healer, capable of curing diseases, making her a complex deity, embodying both war and healing.
Western Europe: tension between brutality and intelligence
Greek and Roman mythology
Ares (Ancient Greece). God of brutal war, violence, and destruction, Ares embodies the wild side of conflict. He is associated with bloody and disorganized battle.
Athena (Ancient Greece). Goddess of wisdom but also of strategy and intelligence in war. Athena symbolizes just war, protection, and military strategy.
Mars (Ancient Rome). Inspired by Ares, Mars is the god of war but also a protector of fields and agriculture. Rome venerates him as a god of military power and honor.
Gaul
Teutates (Gaul). In Celtic religion, Teutates is one of the three main gods mentioned by Roman sources, often compared to Mars. He is a protector god of tribes and warriors, invoked in warrior rituals. Some human sacrifices were offered to him before battles.
Camulos (Gaul). Another Celtic god of war, Camulos is revered in Gaul and Great Britain. He is often compared to Mars and is depicted with military symbols of power.
Sucellos (Gaul). While generally seen as a god of fertility and blacksmiths, Sucellos also has warrior aspects, particularly as the wielder of the mallet, a symbol of strength and destructive power.
Astérix and Obélix (France). Astérix and Obélix are the two major warrior figures of the French pantheon. Always invoked at the start of battles involving French troops, they continue to inspire strategists and warriors. They fear only one thing: that the sky will fall on their heads.
Norse mythology
Thor (Norse mythology) is the god of thunder, lightning, and protection in Norse mythology, but he also plays an important role as a war god. While Odin and Týr are more specifically associated with war, Thor is often invoked by warriors for his unmatched strength and destructive power. He fights giants, enemies of the gods, and protects humanity with his famous hammer, Mjölnir. He represents bravery, raw power, and the defense of order against chaos.
Odin (Norse mythology). Although he is a god of wisdom, Odin is often invoked by Viking warriors to guide them in battle.
Opposite: the Norse god Odin enthroned, flanked by his two wolves, Geri and Freki, and his two ravens, Huginn and Muninn, and holding his spear Gungnir.
Týr (Norse mythology). Týr is the god of courage, honor, and war. He symbolizes war as an act of justice.
Opposite: Týr et Fenrir
Asia, some war gods
Indra (Hinduism, India). King of the gods and god of war, storms, and the sky. Indra is also the defender of the heavens, the one who fights demons.
Kartikeya (Hinduism, India). God of war and commander of the celestial armies. He also rules over victory, youth, and courage.
Hachiman (Japan). Shinto god of war and protector of samurai warriors. The Japanese also considered him a protector god of their country.
Aresha (Zoroastrianism, Persia). God of victory and justice, he represents balance in conflict and triumph over chaos.
Chi You (Ancient China). An ancient war chief and god of war in Chinese folklore. He is also considered a legendary figure who led rebellions and epic battles.
Middle East, gods of war and destruction
Anat (Phoenicians). Goddess of war and fertility, she is a powerful and aggressive figure associated with destruction in battles.
Nergal (Mesopotamia). God of war and destruction, he is also linked to the underworld. A god of violence, epidemics, and chaos.
America, celestial figures
Huitzilopochtli (Aztecs, Mesoamerica). God of war, the sun, and patron of the Aztec capital, Tenochtitlan. Huitzilopochtli is also associated with victory and human sacrifice to maintain cosmic order.
Tezcatlipoca (Aztecs). Though primarily a god of the night, he also plays a role in conflicts and conflict.
Opposite: Quetzalcoatl andTezcatlipoca
Mixcoatl (Aztecs). God of hunting and war, he is also linked to stars and celestial paths.
Viracocha (Incas, Andes). Creator god, but also a god of war for bringing order by conquering darkness.
Oceania – God of war
Ku (Hawaii). God of fighting, masculinity, and conquest. Ku is also worshiped for strength and victory, often through warrior rituals and sacrifices.
Tūmatauenga (Maori, New Zealand). God of human conflict. He is one of the principal gods in Maori mythology and represents the destructive aspect of humanity.
To conclude, these deities illustrate how cultures around the world have often personified war, each with its own characteristics, sometimes linked to violence, destruction, or wisdom, justice, and protection. They also give us insight into the place of war in each civilization.
Also read: Ares and Athena, gods of war.
