Dictionary of Gods and Goddesses [Paperback]

Michael Jordan (Author)

Editorial Reviews

From School Library Journal

Grade 9 Up - More accurately titled than the original (Encyclopedia of Gods, 1993), this revision expands Pacific Asia coverage and adds Helen and Baphomet, cross-references, and a brief bibliography. Entries number more than 2500; most are extremely brief. Mars is not mentioned under Ares, nor are Diana, Juno, or Vulcan in their counterparts' entries (Venus is given as a synonym for Aphrodite, but Hera has "no synonyms"); the Roman deities are treated as if independent, contradicting a comment in the introduction. Some readers might object to the inclusion of Allah and Yhwh, and/or to Jesus's exclusion, especially since non-Christian "saints" like the minor Pao Kung, a mortal living ca. 1000 C.E., are included (as is the Buddha, arguably not a "demigod." The art and literary references cited (sometimes the deity's visual attributes are given) are useful. Although this title is reliable and far more extensive than Neil Philip's Mythology of the World (Houghton, 2004), that book's inviting pages will lure many more users than this unillustrated volume with terse descriptions. - Patricia D. Lothrop, St. George's School, Newport, RI
Copyright © Reed Business Information, a division of Reed Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved. --This text refers to the Hardcover edition.

From Booklist

Although Greek and Roman gods and goddesses have been well covered in reference books, few resources try to encompass a complete worldview. Basing his compilation on standard religious reference books, including specialized titles for lesser-known sects, the author of this volume lists more than 2,500 deities from Sumerian, Egyptian, Australian Aboriginal, Akkadian-Babylonian, Hindu, Hittite-Hurrian, Greek, Hebrew, Mayan, Celtic, and Buddhist religions, among others. He focuses on names that readers would be likely to encounter in iconographic and mythological texts. The second edition corrects the underrepresentation of Pacific Islander cultures of the first edition (Encyclopedia of the Gods, 1993) and expands the bibliography to include new religious reference titles. Cross-references have been increased, and a comprehensive index facilitates research access.

The main body of the work consists of alphabetically arranged entries listed under the most common form of the deity. Principal gods and goddesses (e.g., Istar, Thor, Zeus) are indicated by entry headings in all-capital letters and are given a lengthier treatment (a half to a full page) noting origin, known period of worship, synonyms, center of cult, art references, literary sources, description, and importance. Other entries are generally one to two paragraphs in length. The six-page bibliography is divided geographically and by major religion. Besides listing all the deities alphabetically, the index categorizes deities by culture and function (e.g., fire, messengers).

Coverage is impressive; few other reference works include the Western Semitic local goddess of healing Thatmanitu, the Phrygian river god Sangarios, the Lithuanian corn goddess Gabjauai, the Polynesian creator god Quat, or the Aztec minor fertility goddess Matlalcueye. This volume is a solid consolidation of information and is recommended for high-school, public, and academic libraries. Lesley Farmer
Copyright © American Library Association. All rights reserved --This text refers to the Hardcover edition.

Product Details

• Paperback: 402 pages
• Publisher: Facts on File (September 2005)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0816064903
• ISBN-13: 978-0816064908
• Product Dimensions: 9 x 7.3 x 1 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.8 pounds
• Average Customer Review: 4.2 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (6 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,095,037 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

17 of 22 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars Basic, General Introduction to Gods and Goddesses, January 26, 2006

By 

Janet Boyer "Author, Blogger, Radio Host" (Pennsylvania) - See all my reviews
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This review is from: Dictionary of Gods and Goddesses (Paperback)

"The same mysteries have puzzled people on every continent, the same fears have beset them and they have all attempted to explain the mysteries and allay the fears in the same way-through the worship of gods." - From the book

The Dictionary of Gods and Goddesses is a 402-page paperback dedicated to gods and goddesses, featuring over 2,500 entries and spanning ancient and contemporary cultures. The author provides a chart of the chronology of the principle religions and cultures covered in the book, which include:

* Sumerian
* Egyptian
* Australian Aboriginal
* Akkadian-Babylonian
* Hindu
* Hittite-Hurrian
* Greek
* Hebrew
* Mayan
* Celtic
* Buddhist
* Roman
* African Yoruba
* Polynesian
* Nordic-Icelandic
* Christian
* Inca
* Aztec
* Maori
* Islamic

The author gives only brief treatments of minor gods and goddesses, but affords the major deities with a bit more coverage in the book, including original cultural source, the role of the deity, genealogy, symbols, attributes, art references, literary sources, and so on.

The Dictionary of Gods and Goddesses does not include demigods, demons, or mythological heroes. According to the author, a demigod is "a personality who was once mortal but has been elevated to the celestial ranks". However, significant ancestral personalities who have been clearly deified and treated entirely as gods and goddesses (e.g. the Sumerian god Dumuzi or the Norse god Balder) are included, even though they're technically demigods.

Yet, while the demigod Guatama Buddha has been included, Jesus Christ has not. This makes no sense, especially since most Christians consider Jesus to be 100% god in human form; after his ascension, he is worshipped as "one with the father" (Jehovah/YHWH) and supplicants pray to him as such even today. Why the author chooses to include some demigods, especially tribal ones, and not Jesus (one of the most influential modern deities) is a mystery.

The Dictionary of Gods and Goddesses is a comprehensive source for gods and goddesses; in fact, the author claims that it represents the most comprehensive worldwide listing of deities available in a single volume. However, he admits that it makes no claim to be exhaustive. This is quite true. For example, if you look up Abundantia, the entry reads:

"Minor fertility goddess. Roman. The personification of abundance. She continued in French mythology after the Roman occupation, as a lady who enters houses in the night, bringing prosperity."

The author doesn't even mention that the French called her "Lady Hobunde". This would be valuable information should an individual want more information on HOW Abundantia continued in French mythology. Or, if you look up Athena, you'll find that she offered the olive to humankind, but there is no mention of the context, which is Athena's contention with Poseidon. By humans accepting her gift over Poseidon's, Athena gained control of Athens. In addition, there is no mention of her being a virgin/maiden goddess, nor that Zeus entrusted her with a shield bearing the Medusa and his principle weapon, the thunderbolt. Therefore, if you want in-depth information on the mythos of particular deities, you'll have to acquire an encyclopedia or book dedicated to a specific culture, or one that focuses squarely on mythology.

The Dictionary of Gods and Goddesses is a fine introduction to deities spanning world cultures. It would be especially good for students or general readers wanting quick references to gods and goddesses. Nevertheless, if you want to delve deeply into various deities, especially the mythos, you'll have to look elsewhere.

4.0 out of 5 stars Same as the Encyclopedia of Gods and Goddesses, December 22, 2011

By 

KidFlash2008 (Chicago) - See all my reviews

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: Dictionary of Gods and Goddesses (Paperback)

This book is the same as the hardcover Encyclopedia of Gods and Goddesses. The entries are the same word for word, so getting this book would depend of whether a person wants a hardcover or paperback version of the book. I should of paid closer attention when ordering these books. It is good to have more than one reference book of this subject, and I keep the hardcover for my personal use and put this one in the main room for everyone.

Just like my previous review, this book gives nice articles on each God and Goddess. There is an extensive amount, and plenty of information for those researching this subject. Some of the smaller deities get very short one or two sentence articles, which is my main complaint with this otherwise good collection.

5.0 out of 5 stars Great book, and very imformative., October 27, 2011

By 

Ivy Wynd - See all my reviews

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This review is from: Dictionary of Gods and Goddesses (Paperback)

Overall great book! Lists a lot of gods and goddess' and gives detailed info on each one. Only a short paragraph tho, so if you're looking for info on a specific god or goddess, you may want to look at some other books as well as this one. If you are interested in learning more about the gods and goddess', this is the book to get!