Why do so many cultures have divinities in similar roles? One of the most commonly observed patterns in world religions is the presence of divinities with similar roles. Many cultures have gods or goddesses who serve as protectors of the home, for example, while others have deities who preside over agriculture or war. In some cases, these similarities can be explained by cultural diffusion – that is, the spread of ideas and beliefs from one culture to another. In other cases, they may be the result of natural human tendencies to see the order in the universe and to personify various aspects of the natural world.
Divinities in several cultures were for home protection. One of the most commonly found roles for deities across cultures is that of protector of the home. In ancient Greece, for example, Hestia was the goddess of the hearth and was responsible for ensuring that domestic fires remained burning. The Roman goddess Vesta had a similar role, as did the Hindu god Agni. This role likely stems from the importance of fire in early human societies. According to Luhrmann et al. (2021), the fire was essential for warmth, cooking, and light, and so it would have been natural for people to want to venerate a deity who could ensure its continued presence.
There is also agriculture as the reason why several cultures had divinities in similar roles. Another common role for divinities is that of protector or patron of agriculture. In ancient Greece, Demeter was the goddess of grain and harvests, while in Rome, Ceres fulfilled a similar function. The Hindu god Vishnu is also associated with agriculture, as is the Egyptian god Osiris. This connection likely stems from the fact that agriculture is essential for human survival. People would have naturally looked to deities to ensure that crops grew and that the harvest was plentiful.
War is another area in which divinities often play a role. In ancient Greece, Ares was the god of war, while in Rome, Mars fulfilled a similar function. The Hindu god Indra is also associated with war, as is the Norse god Odin. It is not surprising that deities would be associated with war, as it is a significant part of human history. Many cultures have seen war as a necessary evil, and so they would have looked to their gods to help them in times of conflict.
Death is another common theme in world religions, and many divinities preside over this realm. In ancient Greece, Hades was the god of the underworld, while in Rome, Pluto fulfilled a similar role (Luhrmann et al., 2021). The Hindu god Yama is also associated with death, as is the Egyptian god Anubis. It is not surprising that there would be deities associated with death, as it is a natural and inevitable part of life. People have always looked to the gods for guidance in times of death and mourning.
Love represents another area in which divinities often play a role. In ancient Greece, Aphrodite was the goddess of love, while in Rome, Venus fulfilled a similar function. The Hindu god Krishna is also associated with love, as is the Norse god Frey. It is not surprising that deities would be associated with love, as it is a significant part of human experience. Love can be a source of great joy, but also great pain, and so people often turn to the gods for guidance in this area of their lives.
Many cultures also have divinities who preside over fate or destiny. In ancient Greece, this role was fulfilled by the Three Fates, who determined the course of a person’s life. In Rome, the Parcae played a similar role. The Hindu god Vishnu is also associated with fate, as is the Norse god Odin. It is not surprising that there would be deities associated with fate, as it is a significant part of human life. People have always wanted to know what their future holds, and so they have turned to the gods for guidance in this area.
Finally, many cultures have divinities who preside over nature. In ancient Greece, this role was fulfilled by the god Pan. In Rome, the god Faunus played a similar role. The Hindu god Shiva is also associated with nature, as is the Norse god Thor. It is not surprising that deities would be associated with nature, as it is a significant part of human life. People have always looked to the gods for guidance in times of natural disasters, such as floods and droughts.
Reference
Luhrmann, T. M., Weisman, K., Aulino, F., Brahinsky, J. D., Dulin, J. C., Dzokoto, V. A., Legare, C. H., Lifshitz, M., Ng, E., Ross-Zehnder, N., & Smith, R. E. (2021). Sensing the presence of gods and spirits across cultures and faiths. Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America, 118(5), e2016649118. https://doi.org/10.1073/pnas.2016649118