Horus, rergarded as the protector of the monarchy, typically represented as a falcon-headed man. He assumed various aspects; in the myth of Isis and Osiris he was the posthumous son of the latter, whose murder he avenged.
Isis, a goddess of fertility, wife of Osiris and mother of Horus. Her worship spread to western Asia, Greece, and Rome, where she was identified with various local goddesses.
Osiris, god originally connected with fertility, husband of Isis and father of Horus. He is known chiefly through the story of his death at the hands of his brother Seth and his subsequent restoration to a new life as ruler of the afterlife.
Astarte, Phoenician goddess of fertility and sexual love who corresponds to the Babylonian and Assyrian goddess Ishtar and who became identified with the Egyptian Isis, the Greek Aphrodite, and others.
Tanit (or, Baal Hammon), lunar goddess, worshipped as the patron goddess at Carthage.
Zeus, supreme god, the son of Cronus (whom he dethroned) and Rhea, and brother and husband of Hera. Zeus was the protector and ruler of humankind, the dispenser of good and evil, and the god of weather and atmospheric phenomena (such as rain and thunder).
Jupiter (or Jove, Diespiter), chief god of the Roman state religion, originally a sky god associated with thunder and lightning. His wife was Juno.
Apollo, son of Zeus and Leto and brother of Artemis. He is associated with music, poetic inspiration, archery, prophecy, medicine, pastoral life, and in later poetry with the sun; the sanctuary at Delphi was dedicated to him.
Phoebus, an epithet of Apollo, used in contexts in which the god was identified with the sun.
Demeter, goddess of cereal grains, daughter of Cronus and Rhea and mother of Persephone. She is associated with Cybele; her symbol is typically an ear of wheat. The Eleusinian mysteries were held in honour of her.
Ceres, goddess of grain and agriculture in Roman mythology.
Dionysus (or, Bacchus), a Greek god, son of Zeus and Semele. He was originally a god of the fertility of nature, associated with wild and ecstatic religious rites; in later traditions he is a god of wine who loosens inhibitions and inspires creativity in music and poetry.
