Dictionary Of God And Godedesses

O6ObaratorGod of agriculture. Roman. Specifically responsiblefor overseeing the top-dressing of crops.ObatalaFertility god. Yoruba [Nigeria, West Africa]. Thefirst deity engendered by the creator god OLODU-MARE. His consort is Yemowo. Among otherresponsibilities, he makes barren women fertileand shapes the fetus in the womb. He is consideredto be the sculptor of mankind. He is depicted wearingwhite robes and symbolizes cleanliness. Offeringsinclude coconuts and maize fruits. A jar ofclean water is carried by a priestess to his sanctuaryeach morning and the water is drunk by womento make them fertile. Also Orishanla (archaic);Orisha-Popo; Orisha-Ogiyan; Orisha-Ijaye.OccatorGod of agriculture. Roman. Specifically responsiblefor overseeing growth and harvesting ofcrops.OcelotlCreator god. Aztec (classical Mesoamerican)[Mexico]. The sun deity representing the first ofthe five world ages, each of which lasted for 2,028heavenly years, each heavenly year being fiftytwoterrestrial years. Assigned to the earth andpresided over by TEZCATLIPOCA. According totradition, the age was populated by a race ofgiants and it ended in a catalclysmic destructioncaused by huge and ferocious jaguars whichdevoured them. Illustrated by the Stone of the FourSuns [Yale Peabody Museum]. Also Ocelotonatiuh;Yoaltonatiuh; Tlalchitonatiuh.OcelusGod of healing. Romano-Celtic (British). Hebecomes largely syncretized with the Roman godMARS, thus there is an inscription to Mars Ocelusat Carlisle.OdinSee OTHIN.OduduwaCreator goddess. Yoruba [Nigeria, West Africa].The consort, or alternatively the daughter, ofthe supreme god OLODUMARE. She is perceivedas the substance, or matrix, of the earth whichOlodumare impregnated to generate life. She isalso a goddess of war and her sons include the230