(African mythology)
The Yoruban iron god and war god. According to legend, he was originally a hunter who descended by a spider's thread upon the marshy waste that existed prior to the formation of the earth. By nature Ogun is hard, fierce, and terrible, but he is not an evil deity. Rather does he demand rectitude and adequate respect for his gift of mental implements—the source of wealth and victory. In the past he was given human sacrifices. Blacksmiths sacrifice dogs every fortnight and at his annual festival the people dance and eat dogs, for three days.




