gætter

Götter is the German word for gods or deities. It is used to describe divine beings in a wide range of religious traditions, myths, and literature. The singular Gott denotes a single supreme deity in monotheistic traditions, whereas Götter refers to a plurality of divine beings and to mythological figures in polytheistic systems or in literary contexts.

Götter are typically conceived as supernatural agents with power over natural forces, human affairs, or cosmic order. In many ancient cultures, a pantheon comprises multiple gods with distinct domains—such as the sky, the sea, fertility, war, wisdom, or the afterlife—and myths recount their births, struggles, and interactions with humans. Some traditions portray gods in highly anthropomorphic terms with personal rivalries; others present them as non-human, symbolic, or morally ambivalent forces.

Religious life surrounding Götter often includes ritual offerings, temples or shrines, priesthoods, festivals, oracular consultation, and the veneration of divine images. Myths about the gods serve explanations of origin, cultural values, and social norms, while art and literature translate these beliefs into portrayal and storytelling. The specific characters, stories, and worship practices vary greatly across cultures and historical periods.

Today the term Götter also appears in scholarly discussions of religion and myth, and in modern revival movements such as neopaganism, which may revere ancient deities within new religious frameworks. In German-language sources, Götter can thus refer to classical mythological figures as well as to the concept of divine beings more broadly.