Nature gods played an important role in ancient myths as they gave people something to pray to when they wished for calm weather or safe passage through a wooded region. In this article, you will encounter some ancient gods associated with nature from Slavic, Norse, Sumerian, and Etruscan cultures.
Perun , Slavic
One of the highest-ranking gods in Slavic mythology is Perun, who is known as the deity associated with thunder and lightning. Symbols representing the god include fire, mountains, the oak, eagles, and horses. Weapons and war is also linked to the deity, especially the hammer and axe. In the beginning, he was linked to weapons fashioned out of stone, but later, he came to have a connection to metal weaponry.
Perun is described as being a rough man with a beard made out of copper. His method of transportation is a chariot pulled by a goat buck. In his hand, he carries a powerful axe (or at times, a sturdy hammer). He is known for throwing the axe at evil people and spirits, where the weapon always returns to his hand.
Freyr , Norse
One of the most significant gods of the Norse was Freyr, who was associated with farming and the weather. In literature, Freyr is known as one of the Vanir , a group of gods with ties to fertility and wisdom. This collection of deities is also known to possess the ability to see into the future. He is the son of the seas Njoror and is brother to Freyja, the goddess of love, beauty, and fertility.
Other ancient gods of nature include the following deities:
Damu , Sumerian
In Sumerian myths, Damu is a god associated with vegetation and rebirth. He is the offspring of Enki (the god of water and creation) and Nininsinna. Damu was responsible for keeping the sap flowing and assisting the regulation of the death/rebirth cycle that nature experiences.
Fufluns , Etruscan
As the god of plant life, happiness and health, Fuflans watched over the growth of all things. The god was especially worshipped in Populonia. The Romans adopted him as their own god, but was quickly replaced by other Italic gods associated with fertility. Fuflans was the son of Semla, who is derived from the Greek goddess Semele , mother to Dionysus.
Ha , Egyptian
To the west of Egypt, Ha was known as the god of the deserts in this region. Ha was also connected to the underworld and often appeared as a man wearing the symbol of desert hills upon his head. When he was Lord of the Desert, he fought against enemies , most likely invading tribes from Libya. Some believe that he is responsible for creating the concept of the oasis.