polytheism

Polytheism is a belief system in which multiple deities, usually regarded as distinct beings with personal agency, are worshiped. In many traditions these gods form a pantheon with varying roles and powers, and some frameworks allow for a supreme or transcendent deity alongside lesser gods. The term contrasts with monotheism, which centers on a single deity, and with atheism, which denies belief in gods. It is sometimes used in scholarly contexts to describe beliefs that also include reverence for more than one god, while others distinguish polytheism from henotheism or monolatry, where adherents honor one god without denying others.

Characteristics commonly associated with polytheistic systems include a structured pantheon, with gods linked to natural forces, cosmic order, or human activities. Myths, rituals, and cults provide explanations for the world, human origins, morality, and social norms. Deities are often the focus of temples, priesthoods, offerings, festivals, divination, and priestly intercession, with ritual calendars guiding agricultural and social life.

Examples of polytheistic traditions span ancient and contemporary cultures. Ancient Greece and Rome featured anthropomorphic gods with specialized domains. Egypt and Mesopotamia developed complex pantheons tied to creation myths and kingship. Norse and various Mesoamerican traditions, as well as Shinto and many forms of Hindu practice, have been described as polytheistic in different eras, though Hinduism in particular includes diverse theology, ranging from polytheistic devotion to a single ultimate reality in some streams to more pluralistic concepts in others.

In modern times, polytheism persists among indigenous religions and in neopagan and reconstructionist movements. Scholars emphasize its diversity, continuity, and the ways it models social and cosmological order within pluralistic societies.