Sea Deities

Working with a sea god or goddess provides a way to connect with the energy of the sea. Like the people of ancient times who created pantheons to put a human face and reason on the explanation of mysteries, working with a deity can aid us in connecting with this vast and powerful energy.

While Greek and Norse sea deities are plentiful, sea gods and goddesses can be found all over the world. The following information is intended to provide an introduction and overview of the rich and varied range of deities from many cultures. As previously mentioned, you may want to pursue further study of those who resonate with you. Following is a partial listing from my book Sea Magic:

Aegir / Aeger – Norway. The son of sea giant, Fornjot, Aegir was a sea god in his own right and the brewer for the gods. He was portrayed with a long foamy beard and black helmet. The wild North Sea was sometimes called “Aegir’s Brewing Kettle”. Vikings made sacrifice to Aegir before voyages. Associations: Monday, the Moon.

Ahes – Brittany, France. A goddess who symbolized the sea’s abundance. Associations: abundance, courage, fertility.

Ahti / Ahto – Finland. A deity helpful to fisherman whose kingdom was in the deep abyss. Known as the “Lord of the Waves”, he was the owner of a talisman made of magical metals.

Aphrodite – Greece. A goddess of beauty and love who was “sea-foam-born”. She was also called Aphrodite Marina (of the sea). Her designation of “All-shining One: was a reference to her connection with the moon. Associations: dolphins, pearls, scallop shells.

Barinthus – Wales. A sea deity who was also a god of the dead. This was also the name of the boatman who ferried King Arthur’s body to Avalon.

Batara Guru – Southeast Asia. The name by which the Hindu god of creation and destruction (Shiva) was known in this region.

Chalchiuhtlicue – Mexico (Aztec). A sea goddess venerated by sea-faring fishermen. Associations: turquoise and jadeite.

Domnu – Ireland. Fomorian goddess of the deep sea and symbol of wisdom.

Dsovean – Armenia. A sea god of storms. Dsovinar was his female counterpart.

Endil – Scandinavia. The sea was sometimes referred to as Endil’s meadow. Sailors were called the “sons of Endil”.

Glaucus – Greece. A son of Poseidon who was venerated by fishermen.

Ishara – Mesopotamia. A sea goddess along the Phoenician coast in the form of a scorpion. She accompanied Inanna/Ishtar when depicted as a goddess of death.

Komokoa – Pacific Northwest. A Native American sea deity who protected seals and took in the souls of those who drowned.

Manannan mac Lir – Ireland. A sea god and healer who ruled Tír-na-nOg, the Otherworld, believed to be located off the west coast of Ireland.

Nanshe – Babylon and Sumer. Goddess of the sea and fish, her worship was centered in the city of Nina, Southern Babylon. Associations: dreams, justice, premonitions.

Neptune – Italy (Roman). Counterpart to the Greek Poseidon. He was believed to protect the earth as well as cause earth quakes. Associations: dolphins, sea horses, whales.

Oannes/Oanes/Oen – Babylon, Phoenicia and Syria. A god of fertility who lived on land during the day but went into the sea at night.

Poseidon – Greece. One of the Olympian gods and king of sea. His parents were Cronos and Rhea. The trident was his symbol of power. Associations: bulls, horses.

Ran – Norway. A sea goddess who was sister and wife of Aegir. She had a magic net that she used to kidnap sailors from ships to take then to her coral cave. She represented the “stormy spirit of the sea”.

Shony / Shoney – Scotland (the Hebrides). A sea god who was celebrated at Hallow-tide. He was known as the leader of the Blue Men.

Tamti – Assyria (Chaldean). A primordial mother goddess and a version of Tiamat who was personified by the sea.

Yemanja – Nigeria (Yoruba). A sea goddess and patron of fishermen whose traditions were carried to the new world where she was also worshipped in Cuba and Brazil.

Excerpted from
Sea Magic
© Llewellyn