List of art deities
The following list of art deities is arranged by continent with names of mythological figures and deities associated with the arts. Art deities are a form of religious iconography incorporated into artistic compositions by many religions as a dedication to their respective gods and goddesses. The various artworks are used throughout history as a means to gain a deeper connection to a particular deity or as a sign of respect and devotion to the divine being.
Africa and the Middle East
African
- Panthoibi, goddess of handicrafts
- Oshun, a goddess of beauty and is therefore associated with beautiful works of art
Afroasiatic Middle East
Canaanite
- Kotar or Kothar-wa-Khasis
Egyptian
- Bastet
- Bes
- Hathor
- Isis
- Khnum
- Meret
- Ptah
- Seker
Igbo mythology
- Ala
Mesopotamian
- Ishtar
- Nuska
Western Eurasia
Ancient Angkleipak
- Panthoibi
Celtic
- Abhean
- Brigid
- Gwydion
- Lugh
Norse-Germanic
- Bragi
- Odin
Etruscan
- Menrva
Greek / Hellenic
- Aphrodite, goddess of beauty which may mean beautiful works of art, goddess of fertility and love
- Aglaia, goddess of splendor
- Apollo, god of medicine, music, poetry, song and dance
- Athena, goddess of wisdom, smart war and weaving
- Dionysus, god of wine and theatre
- Hephaestus, god of forge, sculpture and metalwork
- Poseidon, god of the sea
- Zeus, god of the sky and lightning
- Hera, goddess of marriage, family, women, and childbirth, queen of the gods, wife of Zeus
- Hades, god of the Underworld,
- Demeter, goddess of agriculture
- Artemis, goddess of the moon, archery and virginity
- Eros, god of love
- Muses
- * Calliope, goddess of epic poetry
- * Clio, goddess of history
- * Erato, goddess of erotic poetry
- * Euterpe, goddess of lyric poetry
- * Melpomene, goddess of tragedy
- * Polyhymnia, goddess of hymns
- * Terpsichore, goddess of dance
- * Thalia, goddess of comedy
- * Urania, goddess of astronomy
Roman
- Apollo
- Minerva
- Venus
- Vulcan
Western Asia
Anatolian - Urarte
Meitei
- Khamlangba, associated with smiths
- Khamnung Kikoi Louonbi, associated with enchantment
- Lainaotabi, associated with charm, magic, pottery, sorcery, spell, weaving and witchcraft
- Nongpok Ningthou, associated with dance, music and festival
- Nongthang Leima, associated with enchantment and seduction
- Panthoibi, associated with dance, festival, handicrafts, pottery, spinning and weaving
- Phouoibi, associated with trickery to men
- Pisatao, associated with smiths
- Thangching, associated with divine plays
Far East Asia
Chinese
- Cao Guojiu, patron god of the theater
- Han Xiangzi
- Nüwa
- Zhang Guolao, who carries a fish-drum
Japanese
- Ame-no-Uzume-no-Mikoto
- Benzaiten
Vietnamese
- Phạm Thị Trân, the founder of Chèo
- Từ Đạo Hạnh, the founder of the art of water puppetry
- Tổ nghề Sân khấu, the three are said to be the founders of theatrical forms of Vietnam
Austronesia
Filipino
- Bait Pandi: the Bagobo goddess of weavers who taught women weaving
- Fu Dalu: the T'boli goddess of the abaca; speak and guide weavers on how to create patterns and designs, which are remembered in dreams
- Mamiyo: the Ifugao stretcher of skeins, one of the twenty-three deities presiding over the art of weaving
- Monlolot: the Ifugao winder of thread on the spindle, one of the twenty-three deities presiding over the art of weaving
- Rirryaw Añitu: place spirit Añitus who played music and sang inside a cave in Sabtang, while lighting up fire; believed to have change residences after they were disturbed by a man
- Tumungkuyan: leaders of the Salakap from Batak beliefs who paint tree trunks that support the sky using the blood of the epidemic-dead
Polynesian
Hawaiian
North America
- Kokopelli
Mexico
Aztec
- Huehuecóyotl
- Xochipilli
Haitian Vodou
- Erzulie
- Maîtresse Délai
- Ixchel, goddess of womanly crafts