A knowledge deity is a deity in mythology associated with knowledge, wisdom, or intelligence.
Akan mythology Abena Motianim, goddess of wisdom, knowledge and divination. Anansi, an Akan folktale character associated with stories, wisdom, knowledge, and trickery, most commonly depicted as a spider.
Ancient Egyptian mythology Neith, goddess sometimes associated with wisdom Thoth, originally a moon deity, later became the god of knowledge and wisdom and the scribe of the gods Sia, the deification of wisdom Isis, goddess of wisdom, magic and kingship. She was said to be "more clever than a million gods". Seshat, goddess of wisdom, knowledge, and writing. Scribe of the gods. Credited with the invention of writing and the alphabet. Later demoted to consort of Thoth.
Armenian mythology Anahit, goddess of wisdom Tir, the god of written language, schooling, rhetoric, wisdom, and the arts
Aztec mythology Quetzalcoatl, god of the winds, art, culture, and wisdom, as well as the patron god of learning and knowledge.Smith 2003 p. 213
Demonology Agares, he is associated with learning, education, teaching and languages Paimon, he is associated with the arts and sciences Furcas, he is associated with philosophy, astronomy, rhetoric and logic. Marbas, he is associated with mechanical arts and secret and/or hidden things.
Maya mythology Itzamna, creator god, associated with knowledge, wisdom, writing and culture, patron god of learning and books.
Caribbean mythology Papa Legba, loa of speech, communication, understanding, and guardian of crossroads
Celtic mythology Ogma, a figure from Irish and Scottish mythology, said to have invented the Ogham alphabet Ceridwen, a figure from Welsh mythology, said to be the keeper of the cauldron of knowledge, mother of transformation and the white lady of inspiration and death.
Chinese mythology Wenchang Wang, the god of literature and scholarship Kui Xing, god of examinations Zhuyu Xingjun, god of examination successes Guan Yu, god of military exams (General) Lu Dongbin, god of daoist inner alchemy knowledge (scholar and poet) Laozi, god of wisdom (philosopher) Bao Zheng, Star of literature (politician) Manjushri, the bodhisattva of wisdom
Etruscan mythology Menrva, goddess of wisdom, war, weaving, and medicinede Grummond, Etruscan Myth, Sacred History and Legend
Greek mythology Apollo, god of oracles, knowledge, civilization, music, healing, education, and youth Athena, Olympian goddess of wisdom, civilization, weaving, and war strategy Coeus, Titan of the inquisitive mind, his name meaning "query" or "questioning". He is the grandfather of Apollo. Hermes, a god of cunning Metis, the Titan associated most closely with wisdom and the mother of Athena, whose name in Ancient Greek described a combination of wisdom and cunning.Homer, Iliad, 8. An epic poem about the Battle of Troy. Mnemosyne, Titan of memory, and one of the deities worshipped by the Cult of Asclepius in hopes that she would help supplicants remember visions Phoebe, a goddess of intellect
Hindu mythology
Saraswati, goddess of knowledge, creativity, and speech Ganesha, god of wisdom, luck, and new beginnings Kartikeya, god of war, victory, and knowledge Brihaspati, guru of the devas Shukra, guru of the asuras Dakshinamurti, an aspect of Shiva as the guru of sages Vidya Lakshmi, an aspect of Lakshmi as the bestower of knowledge Hayagriva, an aspect of Vishnu as the god of knowledge Gayatri, a form of Saraswati and the goddess of hymns Savitri, a form of Saraswati and goddess of wisdom
Hittite mythology A'as, god of wisdom KamrusepaJ. G. Macqueen, '"Hattian Mythology and Hittite Monarchy'", Anatolian Studies (1959).R.Lebrun, "Le zoomorphisme dans la religion hittite," L'Animal, l'homme, le dieu dans le Proche-Orient ancien, (Leuven) 1985:95-103, noted in Beckman 1989.
Japanese mythology Benzaiten, a Japanese form of Saraswati, goddess of everything that flows: water, words, speech, eloquence, music and by extension, knowledge. Fukurokuju, god of wisdom and longevity Kuebiko, scarecrow god of wisdom and agriculture Omoikane, Shinto god of wisdom and intelligence Tenjin, god of scholarshipKelsey, W. Michael (1983). "Untitled", Asian Folklore Studies Vol 42
Middle Eastern mythology Al-Kutbay, Nabataean god of knowledge and writing Enki, Sumerian god of intelligence, crafts, mischief, water, and creation Nabu, Babylonian god of wisdom and writing Ninimma, a minor Mesopotamian goddess regarded as the scribe and scholar of Enlil Nisaba, Sumerian goddess of writing, learning, and the harvest
Muisca mythology Bochica, messenger god of knowledgeHermann & Bullock, 1954
Neoplatonism Nous, the cosmic embodiment of knowledge and intellect.
Lakota mythology
Hnašká, Lakota frog spirit of pezuota (sacred medicine) Hunúŋpa, Lakota bear spirit of wóksape (Lakota concept of sacred knowledge), lesser spirit of knowledge Iktómi, Lakota spider spirit of wóksape and trickery, greater knowledge spirit Kssa, Oglala spirit of knowledge, sometimes considered Iktómi before being stripped of his title Matȟó, Lakota mischievous healer spirit, taught the Lakota to fish Ptesáŋwiŋ/White buffalo calf woman, Lakota prophetess, often conflated with Wohpe Wiyóhiyaŋpa, Lakota wind spirit of the east, oversees new beginnings and knowledge Whapiya/Wóhpe, Lakota spirit of knowledge, wishes, dreams, visions, prophecy and the wife of Okaga the south wind Zuzéča, Lakota snake spirit of hidden knowledge and lies
Norse mythology
Mimir, god of wisdom Gefjon, goddess associated with plowing, foreknowledge, and virginity. Odin, god of wisdom who nevertheless relentlessly keeps searching for more knowledge; associated with the runes Frigg, she is said to know the future, but never tells. The three following goddesses may be hypostases of her. Sága, goddess of wisdom Snotra, goddess associated with wisdom Vör, goddess associated with wisdom
Numerous minor characters in Norse mythology are said to be very wise, though there's often no instance of them demonstrating this supposed wisdom: Dwarfs, particularly Alviss, whose name means "all-wise". Thor keeps him from marrying his daughter by challenging him to a wisdom contest that lasts all night. He's turned to stone by the rising sun. Elfs possibly Heimdallr Kvasir Tyr Utgard-Loki, while not outright stated to be wise, he's notable for being the only giant to be cleverer than the gods and getting to escape with his life Vafthrudnir, a wise jotunn Odin seeks out to challenge to a wisdom contestOrchard (1997:170). the Vanir in generalDu Chaillu, P. B. (1889).
Iranian mythology Anahita, goddess of wisdom Ahura Mazda, Zoroastrian god of light, benevolence, creation, truth, and perfect wisdom Chista, goddess of wisdom and knowledge, she leads the mortals to the right way in life and the afterlife; she is also the goddess of religion in Zoroastrian mythology.
Polynesian mythology Anulap, god of magic and knowledge Eijebong
Roman mythology Egeria, a water nymph who gives wisdom and prophecy in return for libations of water or milk at her sacred grove Fabulinus, the god who teaches children to speak Minerva, goddess of wisdom, strategy, and crafts, the Roman equivalent of Athena Providentia, goddess of forethought Neptune, the god of the sea and freshwater, is said to have all the knowledge of water.
Slavic mythology Gamayun - symbol of knowledge and wisdom Veles - Veles has been the most revered god in the Vedic pantheon of Slavic culture since ancient times. He is the patron saint of the interworld — both Light and Darkness are subject to him, he is also called Prophetic, Wise, because in the three worlds he manifests his power, he is the one who knows light and darkness, sets the energy of the world in motion, rotates the Universe, he is a permanent guardian on the border of the worlds, a spiritual mentor, he knows all the secrets of the universe.
Sumerian mythology
Geshtu-E, Minor god of intelligence who was sacrificed to bring forth humanity.
Turkic mythology Mergen, deity of abundance and wisdom. Mergen symbolizes intelligence and thought.
Vietnamese mythology Nữ thần nghề mộc, the goddess who taught mankind how to create everyday utensils. Văn Xương, god of exams, he holds the honor and career of those who follow the academic path.
Yoruba mythology Ọrunmila, Irunmọlẹ of wisdom, knowledge, fate and divination. Ọbatala, deity of wisdom, purity, creativity and peace. Ọsanyin, deity of knowledge, magic, enlightenment, nature and herbalism. Aaja, deity of whirlwinds and forest creatures, believed to hold the secrets of botany and herbs.
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