polytheisme

Polytheism, sometimes rendered as polytheisme in some languages, is the belief in multiple deities within a religious framework. In polytheistic systems, gods typically have distinct personalities, domains, and functions, such as those governing the sky, fertility, war, or the underworld. Worship commonly takes the form of rituals, offerings, festivals, and temple cults, with communities often organized around a pantheon or a leading deity within a broader polytheistic tradition.

Historically, polytheism has appeared in many cultures. Ancient Egypt, Mesopotamia, Greece, and Rome developed extensive pantheons and mythologies. Hinduism is frequently described as polytheistic, though it also contains monotheistic and non-theistic strands; Shinto, Norse religion, and many Indigenous and Afro-descendant belief systems maintain polytheistic worldviews. Some traditions practice henotheism or polytheistic monism, and others engage in syncretism that blends deities from different traditions.

Scholars study polytheism to understand how beliefs about many gods shape social structures, political authority, and ritual life. It is contrasted with monotheism, which posits a single god, and atheism, which rejects belief in gods. In many cases, polytheistic practices relate to priesthoods and temples, but personal devotion and domestic rites are also central.

In modern times, reconstructionist and neopagan movements revive or reinterpret polytheistic traditions, adapting them to contemporary contexts and ethical frameworks. Etymology: from Greek poly- “many” and theos “god.”