deitys

Deity commonly refers to a supernatural being considered divine or sacred, with powers attributed to influence natural phenomena, moral order, or human affairs. The standard plural is deities; deitys is a nonstandard spelling occasionally encountered, but not generally used in scholarly contexts. The term encompasses a wide range of beings across cultures, from personal gods to abstract powers personified as gods.

Definitions and classifications vary by tradition. In polytheistic systems, a pantheon consists of multiple deities, each with distinct identities, attributes, and domains. In monotheistic traditions, worship centers on a single supreme deity, though other beings—such as angels or demons—may appear in related cosmologies. Some intellectual frameworks also describe henotheism or monolatry, where one deity is favored or worshipped as supreme within a broader belief in others.

Typical functions and domains attributed to deities include creation or maintenance of the cosmos, control over natural forces (such as the sun, weather, or fertility), guardianship over cities or groups, and the imparting of moral or cultural codes. Deities may serve as patrons of arts and knowledge, models of virtue or vice, and judges of human actions within mythic narratives. Myths often explain lineage, powers, and relationships among deities, shaping religious calendars, rituals, and moral ideals.

Ritualized worship—temples, altars, offerings, prayers, and festivals—expresses reverence, seeks favor, or enacts mythic scenes. Iconography and myth function to teach communities about the deity’s character and role. In scholarship, deities are analyzed for their social and historical functions, their representation in art and literature, and their impact on law, politics, and identity across cultures.