Health deity
A health deity is a god or goddess in mythology associated with health, healing and wellbeing. They may also be related to childbirth or Mother Goddesses. They are a common feature of polytheistic religions.
List of health deities
African mythology
- Agwu, Igbo god of health and divination
- !Xu, sky god of the Bushmen of southern Africa who is invoked in illness
Aztec mythology
Celtic mythology
- Airmed, Irish goddess associated with healing and resurrection
- Alaunus, Gaulish god of the sun, healing and prophecy associated with Greek god Helios-Apollo
- Atepomarus, Gaulish healing god associated with the Greek god Apollo
- Borvo, Celto-Lusitanian healing god associated with bubbling spring water
- Brigid, Irish goddess associated with healing
- Dian Cecht, Irish god of healing
- Glanis, Gaulish god associated with a healing spring at the town of Glanum
- Grannus, Gaulish god associated with spas, healing thermal and mineral springs, and the sun
- Hooded Spirits, hooded deities associated with health and fertility
- Ianuaria, goddess associated with healing
- Iovantucarus, Gaulish healer-god and protector of youth associated with Lenus Mars
- Lenus, Gaulish healing god associated with the Greek god Ares
- Maponos, god of youth, associated with the Greek god Apollo
- Mullo, Gaulish deity associated with the Greek god Ares and said to heal afflictions of the eye
- Nodens, Gallo-Roman and Roman British god associated with healing, the sea, hunting and dogs
- Sirona, Gallo-Roman and Celto-Germanic goddess associated with healing
Chinese mythology
- Elder Zhang Guo, one of the Eight Immortals, whose wine was considered to have healing properties
- Immortal Woman He, one of the Eight Immortals, whose lotus flower improves one's health, mental and physical
- Iron-Crutch Li, one of the Eight Immortals, who alleviates the suffering of the poor, sick and needy with special medicine from his gourd
- Wong Tai Sin, god with the power of healing
Egyptian mythology
- Heka, deification of magic, through which Egyptians believed they could gain protection, healing and support
- Serket, goddess of healing stings and bites
- Ta-Bitjet, a scorpion goddess whose blood is a panacea for all poisons
Etruscan mythology
- Fufluns, god of plant life, happiness and health and growth in all things
- Menrva, goddess of war, art, wisdom and health
Greek mythology
- Aceso, goddess of the healing of wounds and the curing of illness
- Aegle, goddess of radiant good health
- Artemis, goddess of the hunt, wild animals, the wilderness, childbirth, fertility, plague and good health
- Apollo, god of music, poetry, prophecy, archery, healing, medicine and plague
- Asclepius, god of medicine and healing
- Chiron, a centaur known for his knowledge and skill in healing
- Eileithyia, goddess of childbirth
- Hygieia, goddess of health, cleanliness and sanitation
- Iaso, goddess of cures, remedies and modes of healing
- Paeon, physician of the gods
- Panacea, goddess of healing
- Telesphorus, demi-god of convalescence, who "brought to fulfillment" recuperation from illness or injury
Hindu mythology
Hittite mythology
- Kamrusepa, goddess of healing, medicine, and magic
- Shaushka, goddess of fertility, war, and healing
Inuit mythology
- Eeyeekalduk, god of medicine and good health
- Pinga, goddess of the hunt, fertility and medicine
Japanese mythology
- Ebisu, god of fishermen, good luck, and workingmen, and the guardian of the health of small children
Maya mythology
- Ixchel, jaguar goddess of midwifery and medicine
Mesopotamian mythology
Native American mythology
- Kumugwe, Nuxalk underwater god with the power to see into the future, heal the sick and injured, and bestow powers on those whom he favors
Norse mythology
- Eir, goddess associated with medical skill
Persian mythology
Phoenician mythology
Roman mythology
- Angitia, snake goddess associated with healing
- Bona Dea, goddess of fertility, healing, virginity, and women
- Cardea, goddess of health, thresholds and door hinges and handles
- Carna, goddess who presided over the heart and other organs
- Endovelicus, god of public health and safety
- Febris, goddess who embodied and protected people from fever and malaria
- Pilumnus, nature deity who ensured children grew properly and stayed healthy
- Vejovis, god of healing
- Verminus, god who protected cattle from disease
Sami mythology
- Beiwe, goddess of the sun, spring, fertility and sanity, who restored the mental health of those driven mad by the darkness of the winter
Slavic mythology
- Żywie, goddess of health and healing
Thracian mythology
- Derzelas, god of abundance and the underworld, health and human spirit's vitality
Yoruba and Afro-American mythology
- Aja, spirit of the forest, the animals within it and herbal healers
- Babalu Aye, spirit of illness and disease
- Erinle, spirit of abundance, the healer, and patron of gay people
- Loco, patron of healers and plants
- Mami Wata, a pantheon of water spirits associated with healing and fertility
- Sopona, god of smallpox