According to The English Dictionary, god is defined as, "a supernatural being, who is worshiped as the controller of some part of the universe, some aspect of life, or is the personification of some force." Included in this definition are all deities, goddesses and supernatural beings.
Since the beginning of recorded history, which is defined by the invention of writing by the Sumerians around 6000 years ago, historians have cataloged over 3700 supernatural beings, of which 2870 can be considered deities. Those numbers are probably a very conservative estimate because we have no accurate information before 4000 B.C. This means any dieties worshipped by man before this period are unaccounted for.
In truth, the possibilities are nearly infinite. For example, in Hindu the entire living universe is merely a unique manifestation of Ishvara. This leads to the fact that there are 330 million "gods or goddesses."
Some examples of the different dieties documented are:
Monotheism:
Judaism: Yahweh
Christianity: God
Islam: Allah
Polytheism:
Greek: Zeus, Hermes, Hades, Hera, Aphrodite, etc...
Roman: Iuppiter, Mors, Terra, etc...
Norse: Odin, Thor, Loki, Njordr, etc...
Hindu: Krishna, Vishnu, Kali, Ishvara, etc...
Chinese Folk (Simple): Shangdi, Mazu, Shou Xing, Tu Di Gong, etc...
Shinto (Japanese): Izanagi-no-Mikoto, Izanami-no-Mikoto, etc...
Celtic: Cernunnos, Damona, Epona, etc...
Egyptian: Ra, Isis, Anubis, Osiris, etc...
Summerian: An, Ki, Enlil, Enki, etc...
Babylonian: Sin, Marduk, Ishtar, Nabu, etc...
Persian: Simurgh, Rostam, Gaokerena, etc...
Aboriginal: Bunyip, Kurreah, Mutjinga, etc...
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The number of gods and goddesses varies depending on the religion or mythological tradition. For example, in Hinduism there are thousands of gods and goddesses, while in Greek mythology there are around 12 major gods and goddesses. It's important to note that some belief systems may have a central deity, while others have a more polytheistic structure.
Gods are typically seen as male deities in various religions and mythologies, while goddesses are female deities. They are often associated with different aspects of nature, functions, or domains. In many belief systems, gods and goddesses are seen as equal in power and importance.
The Greeks hoped to earn the favor of their gods and goddesses by performing rituals, sacrifices, and offerings. These acts were believed to please the deities and ensure their protection and blessings.
In Greek mythology, gods and goddesses were immortal beings, so they did not age or die naturally. They preserved their lives because they were considered divine and not subject to the same mortality as humans.
Hinduism is a religion that believes in three main gods known as the Trimurti (Brahma, Vishnu, Shiva), but also worships many other gods and goddesses that represent various aspects of life and the universe. This rich pantheon reflects the diverse traditions and beliefs within Hinduism.
In Greek mythology, gods and goddesses were important figures representing various aspects of the world. They were believed to have supernatural powers and influence over mortal affairs. While they were not real entities in a physical sense, they played a significant role in Greek culture and religion.