| 1 | [[quoteright:350:[[VideoGame/AgeOfMythology https://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/Age_of_Mythology_9872.jpg]]]] |
| 2 | [[caption-width-right:350:Left to right: [[Myth/NorseMythology Odin, Thor,]] [[Myth/GreekMythology Zeus,]] [[Myth/EgyptianMythology Isis and Ra.]] Not pictured: [[AncientGrome Kronos,]] [[{{Atlantis}} Oranos]] [[OurTitansAreDifferent or Gaia]] and [[Myth/ChineseMythology Shennong, Fu Xi and Nü Wa]]]] |
| 3 | |
| 4 | ->'''Wonderita:''' So isn't it weird for two people of conflicting theological origins to hang out all night?\ |
| 5 | '''Wonderella:''' Nope! |
| 6 | -->-- ''Webcomic/TheNonAdventuresOfWonderella'' on [[http://nonadventures.com/2rp006/12/25/jesus-christ-super-hero-part-2/ teaming up with]] UsefulNotes/{{Jesus}} |
| 7 | |
| 8 | So, it turns out that AllMythsAreTrue; you can have breakfast with the God of Thunder, [[PalsWithJesus chat it up]] with the AnthropomorphicPersonification [[TheSandman of Dreams]], [[DontFearTheReaper or even have a heart to heart with]] TheGrimReaper. All the while remaining totally un-conflicted about remaining faithful to the [[{{God}} Big Guy Upstairs]] or whichever major religion the characters follow; even CrystalDragonJesus can hang with the PowersThatBe and get a high five. |
| 9 | |
| 10 | A Crossover Cosmology is different from AllMythsAreTrue in that many of the cosmologies involved are themselves mutually exclusive either in world view, history, philosophy, or all of the above. The issue becomes especially thorny when polytheistic religions with large pantheons are mixed with monotheistic religions and reincarnation-based belief systems. It's rarely inadvertent, either. Black Adam getting his power from the Egyptian gods whereas his successor Captain Marvel gets them from the Greek gods (and one Biblical figure) wasn't a slip-up; neither was making both Hercules and Thor superheroes. Writers have no problem doing this to "pagan" gods, and outside the mainstream they don't have much trouble doing it to [[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Abrahamic_religions the Abrahamic God]] either. |
| 11 | |
| 12 | This can be justified from the characters' viewpoint by having them point out that there's no reason they should believe that, say, Thor is a god in the same sense Yahweh is, when there are people who are flying around and summoning lightning, or are even [[{{Immortality}} immortal]], who are plain old {{Mutants}}, [[MetaOrigin metahumans]], or [[HumanAliens aliens]]. There are even stories where a pagan god or gods convert to one of the Abrahamic religions and worship Yahweh themselves, which to human characters would be even further proof that they're not the same sort of god. |
| 13 | |
| 14 | When taken to the extreme end of the SlidingScaleOfIdealismVersusCynicism it may result in a Cosmology where local deities are weak and irrelevant and {{Eldritch Abomination}}s and [[SealedEvilInACan other ancient nasties]] can and do casually traipse over any local deities' shrines and followers. Even in more optimistic portrayals, one has to wonder at the fairness of a universe that allows beings like {{Comicbook/Galactus}}, {{ComicBook/Darkseid}}, [[Anime/TengenToppaGurrenLagann Anti-Spirals]], and [[Film/TheMummyTrilogy Imhotep]] to exist. |
| 15 | |
| 16 | Some belief systems work like this; the term "henotheism" exists to describe the belief that all gods exist, but one's particular god is superior. Of course, most people who ascribe to this don't have said gods [[PhysicalGod playing croquet in their backyard]]. In fact, quite a few non-Abrahamic religions worked this way, as did early Judaism. The Romans believed in Jupiter, and the Egyptians believed in Ra, but the Romans didn't think believing in Ra was wrong, just not for them; they were fine with any kind of worship as long as you skipped HumanSacrifice and paid proper respect to the gods they did recognize. They experienced [[UsefulNotes/JewishRevolts some amount of confusion in this regard when trying to take over Judea]]. |
| 17 | |
| 18 | Another option is "syncretism", where you conflate two religious concepts. The Romans did this as well by occasionally claiming other peoples' gods were their gods under different names or by combining earlier strictly Roman gods with foreign gods, hence for example, the "Gallo-Roman" god Apollo Sucellus (combining the Roman sun god with a Gaulish god of agriculture), or Tacitus writing that the Germanic tribes worshipped Hercules (Donar) and Mercury (Woten); this is why certain Roman and Greek gods are all but interchangeable today. |
| 19 | |
| 20 | Variations on the Romans' logic are quite popular in attempts to resolve the massive ContinuitySnarl created by multiple similar pantheons coexisting, especially since the myths have often [[MemeticMutation evolved from common ancestors]]. The Magic Word in this case is "aspect" -- deities who closely share an [[ArchetypalCharacter archetype]] (say, Ares and Mars) are really ''aspects'' or interpretations of the same god. This even crops up ''within'' a lot of religions, with [[Myth/AztecMythology Ehecatl being an aspect of Quetzalcoatl]], and [[Myth/HinduMythology Kali being (sometimes) an aspect of Parvati]]. Monotheistic religions either worship the single ur-God of which ''all'' gods are aspects, or they only worship one of them. |
| 21 | |
| 22 | See also AllMythsAreTrue, AMythologyIsTrue, TheMultiverse, ClapYourHandsIfYouBelieve, FantasyKitchenSink, FantasyPantheon, GodsNeedPrayerBadly, MagicalUnderpinningsOfReality, and MythicalMotifs. |
| 23 | |
| 24 | ---- |
| 25 | !!Examples: |
| 26 | |
| 27 | [[foldercontrol]] |
| 28 | |
| 29 | [[folder:Advertising]] |
| 30 | * The Australian Lamb Board made [[https://www.theguardian.com/lifeandstyle/2017/sep/04/lamb-advertising-campaigns-success-lies-in-the-laps-of-the-gods a controversial advert]] involving a friendly backyard dinner of lamb -- attended by Moses, Jesus, Aphrodite, Thor, Buddha, Ganesh, Creator/LRonHubbard, a Grey, a Jedi, and [[FlatEarthAtheist a woman with no religion]]. Mohammed had to pick up a child from daycare, so he couldn't make it. |
| 31 | [[/folder]] |
| 32 | |
| 33 | [[folder:Anime & Manga]] |
| 34 | * ''Manga/AyakashiTriangle'': Despite always being referred to by a Japanese word, [[OurSpiritsAreDifferent ayakashi]] exist all over the world. Since many are {{tulpa}} [[ClapYourHandsIfYouBelieve shaped by human belief]], they correspond to their native mythology. One supporting character is Snegurocha, the snow maiden of Russian folklore, who lived in a picture book that got exported to Japan and ended up a permanent resident there. |
| 35 | -->'''Garaku''': In this global era, it's not surprising to see foreign ayakashi around. |
| 36 | * ''Literature/{{Campione}}'': Gods from many different mythologies show up to fight [[TheHero Godou]]; Greek, Roman, Persian, Egyptian. However, many gods could be one and the same entity. Athena, for instance, is also Medusa and Perseus is also [[spoiler:Mithra]]. |
| 37 | * ''Manga/FrankenFran'' has at least two provably existant religions. One? Jesus was real and performed miracles, and the Wandering Jew is a real person. The other? [[spoiler:The Flying Spaghetti Monster is created during the series.]] |
| 38 | * Discussed in ''Literature/{{Gate}}'' where the gods of a fantasy world with only one pantheon are fascinated that Earth has multiple gods for the same purpose. Hardy the underworld goddess falls in love with the idea of the Greek goddess, Aphrodite and makes Itami promise to bring her to Earth so they can meet. Itami near craps himself because he has no idea if Earth's gods even exist. |
| 39 | * In ''Anime/TheGodOfHighSchool'' all [[AllMythsAreTrue mythological figures]] and deities are real and a select few martial artists have the ability to use their powers to supplement their own abilities through a [[SupernaturalMartialArts technique known as Charyeok]]. At least one of the obvious contradictions this presents is addressed by Nox, an Abrahamic ApocalypseCult which views all other Charyeok users as heathens. |
| 40 | * ''Literature/HighSchoolDXD'' has a lot of mythologies existing in this story, ''Literature/ArsGoetia'' being the most prominent example. Myth/NorseMythology, Myth/HinduMythology, Myth/GreekMythology, it's all here though apparently there's also one more mythology that ''even the other gods of said mythology don't know about.'' The name of said mythology? [[spoiler: There is a breast god in this series.]] |
| 41 | * ''VisualNovel/KamigamiNoAsobi'' is about [[Myth/GreekMythology Apollon, Hades,]] [[Myth/JapaneseMythology Susano'o, Tsukuyomi,]] [[Myth/NorseMythology Loki, and Baldr]]... In a magical high school. With [[Myth/EgyptianMythology Thoth]] as the teacher, and a human OrdinaryHighSchoolStudent named Yui who has to [[HaremGenre teach them about the human heart]]. |
| 42 | * Some {{Valkyries}} show up in ''Manga/MariaTheVirginWitch'' to take some knights to Valhalla but the ArchangelMichael chases them because the knights are supposed to go to Christian Heaven. |
| 43 | * ''Manga/MissKobayashisDragonMaid'': Let's see... we have Kanna Kamui (named after an Ainu god) as one of the main characters, [[Myth/AztecMythology Quetzalcoatl]] and [[Myth/NorseMythology Fafnir]] are both secondary characters, and Tohru is mentioned to have a beef with Jesus' dad during the ChristmasEpisode. References to dragons from other mythologies are also made in the passing, like Herensuge from Basque mythology. |
| 44 | * ''Manga/RecordOfRagnarok'' features gods from multiple different mythologies acting as a single pantheon, with [[Myth/ClassicalMythology Zeus]] as the TopGod. The series also features gods from Myth/{{Norse|Mythology}}, Myth/{{Egyptian|Mythology}}, Myth/{{Hindu|Mythology}}, and Myth/JapaneseMythology, while also featuring legendary figures from Literature/TheBible and UsefulNotes/{{Buddhism}}. |
| 45 | * Being X from ''Literature/TheSagaOfTanyaTheEvil'' is replaced with a council of gods from different religions in the manga. |
| 46 | * ''Manga/SaintSeiya''. Blatantly obvious in the anime, with the addition of movies and a {{Filler}} arc. To the point where Greek gods, Norse gods, Buddha, and friggin' ''Satan'' fought Seiya and Co. And the universe was created by Big Bang. |
| 47 | * ''Manga/SaintYoungMen'', which stars Jesus and Buddha as roommates in Japan while they take a break from their divine duties. One of the chapters has them participating in a Shinto festival, where Buddha worries that they'll be laughing stocks in Heaven if the god of the Shinto Shrine they're carrying finds out that they're there. |
| 48 | * In ''Manga/ShamanKing'', the characters do battle with spirits from a wide variety of religions and beliefs. This includes, but is not limited to: [[OurFairiesAreDifferent Fairies]], [[OurAngelsAreDifferent Archangels]], Buddhist Spirits, Japanese Nature Kami, Oni, [[Myth/AztecMythology Aztec Gods]], [[PyramidPower Egyptian Pyramids]], Zombies, Skeletons, Mesopotamian Gods, Demons, Animals... Oh, and normal human ghosts as well. |
| 49 | [[/folder]] |
| 50 | |
| 51 | [[folder:Comic Books]] |
| 52 | * Creator/DCComics (both in Franchise/TheDCU and Creator/VertigoComics, which sometimes overlapped and sometimes didn't up till ''ComicBook/{{Flashpoint}}'', which folded Vertigo characters who'd started off in the DCU back into the main universe) also has a complicated cosmology, both in itself (with deities from many cultures as well as its own inventions) and DependingOnTheWriter: |
| 53 | ** ''ComicBook/TheSandman1989'' had Egyptian, Norse, Greek, Shinto, and the Abrahamic gods, claiming that they all [[ClapYourHandsIfYouBelieve come from the human subconscious]] and feed on human belief. The paradoxes created by this are ironed out by the fact that ''everything'' is true; the universe was created by [[DepartmentOfRedundancyDepartment Allah and Yahweh]] ''and'' every ''other'' creator god. To further muddle the waters, the Endless, AnthropomorphicPersonification of fundamental concepts of reality, have more power than entire pantheons -- though they can become weaker in a god's place of power. At the same time, the ''Sandman'' milieu is also presented as a henotheistic one in which Lucifer (and, especially, Lucifer's Creator) are depicted as far more powerful than even the Endless. |
| 54 | ** A ''ComicBook/SwampThing'' storyline made it clear that in the DCU, the Creator's omnipotence is itself a contingent result of the universe's belief focusing on human beings. The Elementals had a chance to shift that belief to other forms of life, effectively [[GodIsDead killing God]] and replacing him with whatever-the-Swamp-Thing-was-becoming. |
| 55 | ** The DCU's version of the Abrahamic God grows out of the lore surrounding the character of ComicBook/TheSpectre, who is a being of almost limitless power. And if the Spectre is that powerful, what about his creator? |
| 56 | ** Vertigo's ''ComicBook/{{Hellblazer}}'' is set in the same pantheistic universe, where John Constantine might visit Hell one week and summon the Aztec god of death in the next. (Contrast with the movie adaptation ''Film/Constantine2005'', which [[AMythologyIsTrue uses Catholic theology exclusively]].) |
| 57 | ** Creator/JackKirby's ComicBook/NewGods are also part of the equation in the DCU. |
| 58 | ** One ''ComicBook/WonderWoman1987'' story suggests that the Greek gods discovered a small tribe in Italy that worshipped them (due to stories told by Darkseid for [[BatmanGambit reasons of his own]]), and created duplicates of themselves to watch over them. As the Romans grew more powerful and developed a culture distinct from the Greeks, the duplicate gods changed to suit them, until they were entirely separate entities. |
| 59 | ** A ''ComicBook/{{Superman}}'' story, set shortly after Zeus had teamed up with the Hindu pantheon in ''ComicBook/WonderWoman1942'', had Zeus inspired to set up the Interfaith Deity Council of Active Polytheistics, comprising himself, Odin, Thoth and Ale (a West African fertility goddess). They were opposed by a group of [[GodOfEvil Gods of Evil]] comprising Baal, the Morrigan (Celtic war goddess), Izanami (Japanese death goddess), Mixcoatl, and Ahriman (the Zoroastian ultimate evil). |
| 60 | ** Other stories portray Zeus as a member of the Quintessance -- a group consisting of himself, ComicBook/ThePhantomStranger (whose [[MultipleChoicePast generally accepted origin story]] is Judeo-Christian), Highfather of the ComicBook/NewGods, Ganthet of the [[ComicBook/GreenLantern Guardians of the Universe]] and [[ComicBook/{{Shazam}} Captain Marvel/Shazam]] (who receives his own powers from a mish-mash of gods ''including Zeus''). |
| 61 | ** ''ComicBook/{{Shazam}}'' anti-hero/villain Black Adam draws his powers from the Egyptian pantheon. Captain Marvel himself gets his powers from a Hebrew king, two Greek heroes, one titan, a Greek god, and a Roman god. |
| 62 | ** The map of the multiverse in ''ComicBook/TheMultiversity'' has the Endless, the New Gods, the polytheistic pantheons and the Abrahamic Heaven and Hell all co-existing in the Sphere of the Gods. |
| 63 | ** ''Legend of the Amazons'', set in the backstory of the ''ComicBook/WonderWoman'' mileau, has the Greek and Norse pantheons as both existing but not interacting. Until it turns out that the Norns are the Moirae, just known by a different name. (This may or may not tie into ''The Sandman'''s implication that ''all'' examples of TheHecateSisters are actually the three witches from ''The Witching Hour'') |
| 64 | * The ''ComicBook/{{Flare}}'' comic pages online in early June 2008 (pages 260ff.) take place on Mount Olympus. |
| 65 | -->'''Terri:''' Our adventure with the Champions may ''seem'' like a dream, but you know perfectly well that it actually happened. (ClueFromEd: See ''League of Champions'' #1-3.) |
| 66 | -->'''Donnah:''' Aphrodite is real, and so are Pan and Zeus, and all the other surviving Olympians. |
| 67 | ** Flare herself is the daughter of a Norse Valkyrie and has been identified with the Greek goddess Eos. |
| 68 | ** In January 2013, Tigress' [[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bastet Bast]] persona [an Egyptian goddess] forcibly switched bodies with Flare's Eos persona. |
| 69 | * The Franchise/MarvelUniverse has many examples of cosmologies coexisting. As with other decades-old comics universes, the precise details can vary DependingOnTheWriter: |
| 70 | ** The most prominent Marvel god characters are the Norse god [[ComicBook/TheMightyThor Thor]] and Greek god Hercules, both of whom have served on the Avengers. Many other pantheons exist as well, alongside "new" godlike beings such as ComicBook/TheEternals, the Celestials, the Elders of the Universe, Eternity, and others. A storyline in ''ComicBook/TheIncredibleHercules'' featured Herc leading the "God Squad," a task force of Greek, Inuit, Egyptian, Japanese, and Aztec gods that teams up to defend the Earth from encroachment by alien Skrull deities. |
| 71 | *** One in-universe explanation is that the Norse, Greek, Egyptian, Olympian, Japanese, Inuit, Aztec etc. gods are all magical, superhuman beings from other worlds and dimensions who were worshipped by different ethnic groups throughout history, and all of the myths surrounding them are, where contradictory, generally misinterpretations or half-truths. They each have distinct origins, but are not above intermingling: Gaea, the Elder Goddess of the Earth, played a role in most or all of these pantheons; aside from being based on the Greek overdeity of the same name, she is the same being as Izanami in the Japanese pantheon, and is the mother of both Thor and Atum-Ra of the Norse and Egyptian pantheons; although, in the Marvel series, both she and Atum-Ra predate all these other groups by billions of years. |
| 72 | *** Another canon explanation (which is simultaneously the ''oldest'' (originally presented in a Thor annual in the 80s) and most ''modern'' (this is what they seem to use at least since JMS's Thor again)) is that strictly defined gods are dreamed up by people, kept alive by memory (forgotten gods are eaten by the Demogorge aspect of Atum), and run on the stories told about them (do not wax or wane with belief) which become retroactively true. There are exceptions, for example Gaea is an [[EldritchAbomination Elder God]] who fit into ''all'' EarthMother myths so the stories just gravitated towards her and didn't become X+1 separate Earth goddesses. If someone thinks this leads to a cosmology ''running'' on circular reasoning and other logical fallacies, that someone is absolutely correct. In mythical Marvel humanity creating the gods being just as true as any TopGod's claim that they created humanity [[MindScrew makes perfect sense]]. |
| 73 | ** A henotheistic aspect of Marvel cosmology is the ultimate Omniscient God-with-a-capital-G, called "One Above All." The ComicBook/FantasticFour met him in one story, in which he turns out to be... Creator/JackKirby!!! (Or perhaps Kirby was simply AFormYouAreComfortableWith.) Other stories have implied that the "One Above All" is a manifestation of Creator/MarvelComics itself. |
| 74 | *** The One Above All is a justifiable use of AuthorAvatar, showing up as whoever is writing the story. It has been Creator/JackKirby, Creator/StanLee, and others over the years. Literally whoever is writing the story for the comic. |
| 75 | ** ComicBook/{{Galactus}} is said to change his appearance based on whoever sees him. To humans, he resembles a giant human. To other aliens, he resembles a member of their race. |
| 76 | ** One Comicbook/GhostRider story established that there is a Spirit of Vengeance for each religion and nationality. One of the other Spirits says that the afterlife you go to depends on your belief. |
| 77 | *** This was established long before that story; each pantheon in Marvel has a Death God, most of whom fill out an EverybodyHatesHades-version of the god they are based on and are evil (or at least, AntiVillain) gods who own a portion of the dimension formerly known as Hell, which shattered into numerous other dimensions billions of years ago to become the Splinter Realms- the other owners of such dimensions are DemonLordsAndArchdevils, and all owners gain strength and can expand their realm by the number of souls they possess. The specific rights they have to a given soul are laid out by a contract each Death God and Skyfather (the more benevolent heads of each pantheon) has with the AnthropomorphicPersonification of Death herself, and generally means that if you follow a specific religion, that determines which heaven or hell you go to (Skyfathers generally get the "good" souls according to the morals of their faith; for instance, a good follower of the Norse religion goes to Odin in Valhalla, a bad or neutral one to Hela in Hel). Atheists and irreligious people, however, are judged purely on moral worth- bad guys get stuck with the demons, while good ones go to Heaven (everyone in between is...ambiguous). There are more specific rules for each- for instance, a Christian might still find himself sent to Hela just because he happened to be in Asgard when he died, and there are ghosts and reincarnation and magic and other stuff going on. There are also dimensions ruled by malevolent demonic entities like Dormammu who rule both life ''and'' afterlife and make both as hellish as possible, so keep them off of your "places to visit" list. |
| 78 | ** In the ''Comicbook/BlackPanther'' mythos the people of Wakanda venerate both their ancestors and a pantheon of mish-mashed deities from all over Africa; the Black Panther themselves draw their power from Bast, an Egyptian goddess, while Man-Ape is associated with Ghekre, a West African god, for instance. Bast's sister, Sekhmet also has a minor cult in Wakanda. Recently, it was revealed that Bast was part of the Wakanda Pantheon, made up of Egyptian deities:Thot and Ptah and other places in Africa: Kokou (Benin) and Mujaji (South Africa), in addition, there was another cult to a Gorilla deity in the tribe that would be known as Jabari, Ngi (Cameroons). In the [[Film/BlackPanther2018 movie]] this is up-graded with the Jabari worshiping Hanuman, from ''Hindu'' mythology. In the comics, Bast and Sekhmet are rival. These gods are various identified as either Ennead (an Egyptian term) or Orisha (from Myth/YorubaMythology). |
| 79 | * In the ''ComicBook/{{Necrophim}}'' prologue chapter, [[{{Satan}} Lucifer]] sends Uriel to kill Jotunheim, king of the frost giants of Myth/NorseMythology, [[UriahGambit hoping he will die]] in the attempt. |
| 80 | * In ''ComicBook/TheSavageDragon'', all the various pantheons live together on a planet called Godworld (at least, until it's [[MikeNelsonDestroyerOfWorlds blown up]]), having been forbidden to visit the mortal realm since 1180 BC. They're ruled by the [=AllGod=], a multi-headed composite of [[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Odin Odin,]] [[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Zeus Zeus,]] [[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Anu Anu,]] [[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Daghdha Daghdha,]] [[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Coatlicue Coatlicue,]] [[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mexitl Mexitl,]] [[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Abassi Abassi,]] [[http://www.godchecker.com/pantheon/african-mythology.php?deity=NZAME Nzame,]] Lo, [[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Biame Biame,]] [[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Karora Karora]] and other unnamed elder gods. It's mentioned that Godworld has grown overpopulated due to the various pantheons interbreeding with one another and producing immortal offspring; nonetheless, a later story features some gods returning to Earth to abduct the remaining superpowered [[HalfHumanHybrid Earthlings of godly ancestry]]. |
| 81 | * When Creator/AlanMoore was writing ''ComicBook/{{Supreme}}, ComicBook/YoungbloodImageComics'' and ''ComicBook/{{Glory}}'' for Creator/RobLiefeld's Extreme Studios, he invented a system of magic that was based on the Kaballistic Tree of Life and could incorporate all religious systems, from Judeo-Christian to Greek, Norse and Egyptian, to whatever EldritchAbomination the writers wanted to create for the story. Although he was never able to use this system in Liefeld's titles, he later incorporated this system in his own title ''ComicBook/{{Promethea}}''. |
| 82 | * ''The Red Seas'' currently involves a group of {{pirate}}s who were made immortal by Odin attempting to resurrect the Greek gods to prevent Satan from unleashing [[EldritchAbomination Lovecraftian horrors]] upon the world. |
| 83 | * The backstory of ''Harry Kipling (Deceased)'' involved every single one of humanity's gods suddenly returning. [[CrapsackWorld And they're not nice]]. |
| 84 | * In ''Comicbook/{{Aquila}}'', Ammit, Jesus, Isis, Jehovah, and Jupiter, as well as the wolf who suckled Remus and Romulus, all exist, and all have power. Also Jewish priests know how to make {{golem}}s. |
| 85 | * The premise behind ''ComicBook/TheWickedAndTheDivine'': twelve gods from a diverse group of pantheons are incarnated as young adults every 90 years, where they live like rockstars and are adored by humanity before dying within two years. Among the gods seen are: [[Myth/JapaneseMythology Susano-o (in the prologue), Amaterasu (in the modern day)]], [[UsefulNotes/{{Satanism}} Lucifer (or Luci for short), Baphomet]], [[Myth/EgyptianMythology Sakhmet]], [[Myth/ClassicalMythology Minerva, Ananke]], [[Myth/NorseMythology Woden]], [[Myth/CelticMythology The Morrigan (split into Badb, Macha, and Anand)]], [[Myth/MesopotamianMythology Inanna]], Tara (who may be from either Myth/HinduMythology or UsefulNotes/{{Buddhism}}), and [[Literature/ArsGoetia Baal Hadad]]. |
| 86 | * ''ComicBook/GodIsDead'': Not long after the appearance of Zeus, gods of multiple pantheons begin appearing, (most prominently the [[Myth/ClassicalMythology Greek]], Myth/{{Norse|Mythology}}, Myth/{{Aztec|Mythology}}, Myth/{{Egyptian|Mythology}}, and Myth/{{Hindu|Mythology}} deities) and hold a conference where they agree to not fight and allow each other to take control of their traditional territories. |
| 87 | * ''ComicBook/PathfinderWorldscape'': Since the titular setting is an extra-dimensional gateway for countless worlds, several different faiths make their way into the Worldscape. The most prominent faiths are [[PathOfInspiration the Cult of Issus]] from [[Literature/JohnCarterOfMars Barsoom]], the [[TheTheocracy state religion]] which is actually a [[ScamReligion farce]], since their "goddess" is merely an very, ''very'' old Black Martian, the [[ComicBook/RedSonja Hyrkanian God Erlik]] venerated by barbarians, and the [[{{God}} One True God]], who is actually the Abrahamic God worshipped by "Crusaders and Saracens" (Christians and Muslims). Over the course of the series, they feature Sarenrae from ''TabletopGame/{{Pathfinder}}'', the Roman Gods (Romulus and Remus are said to be sons of Mars) and [[HumanoidAbomination Fantomah]] (who [[AGodAmI describes herself as an goddess]] and [[PhysicalGod might as well be one]]). |
| 88 | * ''ComicBook/{{Hellboy}}'' mostly goes up against {{Eldritch Abomination}}s of the Lovecraftian stripe (who sometimes have vaguely Babylonian names, but are eventually revealed to be part of wider pseudo-Judeo-christian mythology). However, the universe around him contains Celtic paganism (Myth/KingArthur and TheFairFolk), a Greek goddess (Hecate), African folk heroes, Norse gods, and ancient prehuman advanced cultures straight out of Theosophy. In one ''BPRD'' story, the pagan goddess Cloacina is portrayed as the patron saint of Venice, opposed by the forces of hell. |
| 89 | [[/folder]] |
| 90 | |
| 91 | [[folder:Comic Strips]] |
| 92 | * In ''ComicStrip/FrankAndErnest'', an angel once told the GrandpaGod: |
| 93 | -->''Without form and void -- how Zen!'' |
| 94 | [[/folder]] |
| 95 | |
| 96 | [[folder:Fan Works]] |
| 97 | * ''Fanfic/GuysBeingDudes'': XM from VideoGame/{{Ingress}} is real in this version of the VideoGame/PokemonGo universe (doubling as a [[CompanyCrossReferences Niantic cross-reference]]) and is what powers up Shadow Pokemon and raid bosses. It's also referred to as "animum", a term used for AppliedPhlebotinum in the author's other works, which take place in a different universe entirely. |
| 98 | * ''Fanfic/InfinityTrainSeekerOfCrocus'': The Infinity Train has denizens that would eventually become gods to many mythos. These denizens, called Numinae, come from numerous mythos like Greek (Zeus, Aphrodite) to Egyptian (Anubis, Wepwawet) to Celtic (Lugh), Shinto (Inari), and even Aztec (Quetzalcoatl). |
| 99 | * ''Fanfic/LeagueOfExtraordinaryGentlemenTempestRewrite'': Between the pantheons of the Literature/CthulhuMythos and Literature/TheSpaceTrilogy, and the multiverses of [[Creator/MichaelMoorcock The Eternal Champion]] and TheWorldAsMyth. |
| 100 | * ''Fanfic/TheMarvelousWorldOfDC'' features this as a plot point. ComicBook/TheMightyThor is sent by his father to be brought up on Themyscira, the island of the Amazons, who pay tribute to the Greek pantheon. Because of this, they have no idea that the only man on the island happens to be the equivalent of Zeus in a different land. One Amazon called Mala is considerably more aware of the other pantheons, since she knows about the Egyptian gods, and the Buddha, and the Hindu pantheon, but not even she knows about the Asgardians. Luckily, since Thor is also the nephew of Zeus, the two gods team up to defend Themyscira from ComicBook/TheMask. |
| 101 | [[/folder]] |
| 102 | |
| 103 | [[folder:Films -- Animated]] |
| 104 | * ''WesternAnimation/TheBookOfLife'' has Xubalba, the Mayan god of the underworld being married to La Muerte who originates in folk Catholicism and Mexican Neopaganism. |
| 105 | ** WordOfGod says that his brother is the Aztec god, Lord Mictlan and that her sister is the Aztec goddess, Lady Micte. Specifically the versions of them that appear in ''WesternAnimation/MayaAndTheThree'', which also has Mayan gods. |
| 106 | [[/folder]] |
| 107 | |
| 108 | [[folder:Films -- Live-Action]] |
| 109 | * While ''Film/HighwayToHell'' is mostly based on the Christian idea of hell, Cerberus, the River Styx, and Charon from Greek Mythology all show up, and the roadside diner is named "Pluto's". |
| 110 | * ''Franchise/IndianaJones'': The [[Film/RaidersOfTheLostArk first]] and [[Film/IndianaJonesAndTheLastCrusade third]] movies deal with Abrahamic religions, while the [[Film/IndianaJonesAndTheTempleOfDoom second]] has ([[HijackedByJesus mangled]]) Hinduism. [[spoiler: [[Film/IndianaJonesAndTheKingdomOfTheCrystalSkull The fourth]] deals with Pre-Mayan civilization gods, [[AncientAstronauts who are actually inter-dimensional traveling extraterrestrials]].]] |
| 111 | * ''Film/TheMummyTrilogy'': |
| 112 | ** In ''Film/TheMummy1999'', Imhotep has god-like powers and is able to recreate the ten plagues, even though in the Biblical account of the Exodus story the Egyptian gods could only replicate the first two. The group of warriors who fight him, and whose ancestors gave him his power, are Muslims. |
| 113 | ** In ''Film/TheMummyReturns'', the Scorpion King earned his powers and army from Anubis. And there's reincarnation, which isn't a part of ''any'' of those cosmologies. Ardeth, leader of the warriors from the first film, also states that [[spoiler:Rick has been chosen by {{God}} to be the one who defeats the Scorpion King]]. |
| 114 | ** In ''Film/TheMummyTombOfTheDragonEmperor'', there is no mention of what religion and/or philosophy the Chinese characters embrace, but [[spoiler: the Dragon Emperor is a master of the Five Elements (used in a way, he seemed to come out straight from an episode of ''[[WesternAnimation/AvatarTheLastAirbender Avatar]]''); we get some glimpses of Shangri-La, which is a Buddhist paradise (look at the statues); and Zi Yuan uses a book of magic which was already ancient at the time she cursed the Emperor and his army, written in ''Sanskrit'']]. Something for everyone, really. |
| 115 | * There are traits of this in ''Franchise/PiratesOfTheCaribbean'', with influences from Aztec mythology (the coins from the [[Film/PiratesOfTheCaribbeanTheCurseOfTheBlackPearl first movie]]), Myth/GreekMythology (Calypso), medieval folklore (the Kraken), nautical myths (Davy Jones, the Flying Dutchman and again, the Kraken) and Voudou (Tia Dalma). Non-Christian deities are referred to generally as "heathen gods", but this is mainly because nearly all the main characters are Christians (or, at least, grew up in Christian countries). |
| 116 | * {{Invoked|Trope}} in ''Film/OhGod'' by {{God}} himself: |
| 117 | -->'''Jerry:''' ''[reading from a list of questions]'' "Is Jesus Christ the son of God?"\ |
| 118 | '''God:''' Jesus was my son. Buddha was my son. Mohammed, Moses, you, the man who said there was no room at the inn, was my son. |
| 119 | * ''Film/PercyJacksonAndTheOlympians'': In ''Percy Jackson: Sea of Monsters'', Dionysus -- the Greek god of wine -- remarks that the Christians had a god who could turn water into wine. |
| 120 | * ''Film/{{Vikingdom}}'' features Norse paganism and Christianity, with the former being slowly replaced by the latter as mortals abandon the old ways. While the Norse Gods and their legends are shown to be quite real and mortals interact with them on regular basis in contrast to the Christian God (who is completely absent), one of the three {{MacGuffin}}s is an Christian relic, the Necklace of Mary Magdalene, which is necessary for the movie's BigBad [[AdaptationalVillainy Thor]] to complete his plan. |
| 121 | * ''Franchise/MarvelCinematicUniverse'': |
| 122 | ** The Norse gods from the ''Film/{{Thor}}'' movies, though the setting [[ClarkesThirdLaw treats them as powerful aliens]] rather than true gods. That being said, Valhalla is a true afterlife for the deceased, as [[spoiler:Heimdall and Jane Foster are both welcomed after their deaths]]. |
| 123 | ** The Wakandans from ''Film/BlackPanther2018'' have the Egyptian goddesses Bast and Sekhmet guide them to the afterlife but believe the Hindu god Hanuman granted the Javari tribe never-ending wood. |
| 124 | ** ''Film/{{Eternals}}'' says that legends of Greek gods were inspired by the titular immortal aliens though Zeus and Hercules appear in ''Film/ThorLoveAndThunder'' and a sculpture of WarGod Ares' head can be seen on the battle arena in ''Film/ThorRagnarok''. |
| 125 | ** ''Series/MoonKnight2022'' features Egyptian gods but no other pantheons are mentioned. Bast is notably absent after already being established as a Wakandan god. |
| 126 | ** ''Film/ThorLoveAndThunder'' introduces Omnipotence City. A city in space ruled by the Greek Zeus and inhabited by gods from various human and alien religions. |
| 127 | *** Some of the Egyptian gods from ''Series/MoonKnight2022'' cameo and an offscreen "[[UsefulNotes/{{Jesus}} God of Carpenters]]" is pointed out. |
| 128 | *** It's implied that Asgardians are so low in the pecking order that they aren't welcome as Thor can't get in without stealing a disguise. |
| 129 | *** Thor doesn't see Zeus as a rival due to Thor being the GodOfThunder and Zeus being the God of Lightning. Thor actually is a fan of Zeus until he realizes he doesn't give a damn about Gorr wiping out other gods. |
| 130 | * ''Franchise/DCExtendedUniverse'': |
| 131 | ** ''Film/WonderWoman2017'' has the [[WarGod God of War]] Ares as a villain and the Amazons generally imply the rest of [[Myth/ClassicalMythology Greek Mythology]] to be true. |
| 132 | ** ''Film/JusticeLeague2017'' introduces Steppenwolf, one of the ComicBook/NewGods. A {{flashback}} shows the Greek gods fighting him when he tries to invade Earth ages ago. The Greek gods fight Darkseid, the EvilOverlord of the New Gods, during said invasion in ''Film/ZackSnydersJusticeLeague''. |
| 133 | ** ''Film/Shazam2019'': Like in [[ComicBook/{{Shazam}} the comics]], Billy gets most of his powers from the Greco-Roman figures[[note]]Hercules, Atlas, Zeus, Achilles and Mercury[[/note]] but gets his wisdom from the Biblical Solomon. These gods aren't otherwise relevant to the plot but Atlas' daughters Hespera and Kalypso are due to be villains in the sequel, ''Film/ShazamFuryOfTheGods''. |
| 134 | * ''Film/ConanTheBarbarian1982'' worships the fictional god Crom like he does in the books. But here he mentions that if he can't answer the Riddle of Steel when he dies, then Crom will cast him out of Valhalla. The latter is from Myth/NorseMythology. |
| 135 | [[/folder]] |
| 136 | |
| 137 | [[folder:Literature]] |
| 138 | * Seen in ''Literature/AmericanGods'' by Creator/NeilGaiman. But he shied away from most references to Judeo-Christian theology, except for the Queen of Sheba. And maybe Shadow once meets [[spoiler:Jesus]]. One of the gods also mentions that Afghanistan's Jesus is having a rough time, and can't even get people to pick him up when he's hitchhiking. Notable by their absence are the deities of Myth/ClassicalMythology. |
| 139 | * ''Literature/TheBalancedSword'' is set on Zarathan, a world that used to be connected to Earth in a way that allowed people and ideas to cross between them; among many other gods unknown on Earth, its pantheon includes gods from Greek and Norse mythology. |
| 140 | * In Melissa de la Cruz's Blue Bloods Universe, vampires are fallen angels expelled from heaven by the Christian God. In the same universe, witches are in fact ancient nordic deities that come from the nine worlds of the known universe and sometimes they attribute themselves the creation of Midgard (earth). |
| 141 | * In Manda Scott's ''Boudicca'' series both the Celtic gods and Mithra play significant roles. It's implied that the Roman gods no longer take an active part in things because their worship has devolved into empty ritual. |
| 142 | * Stephen Marley's ''Literature/ChiaBlackDragon'' trilogy ''Sorceress'', ''Spirit Mirror'', and ''Mortal Mask'', take place in 2nd century China, but there also appear Indian Buddhists, ancient Egyptians (in the back story) and a few Christians. It is suggested that the mythologies and afterlives of all four religions (Chinese, Buddhist, Egyptian and Christian) all exist. In addition to the Stephen Marley's own original myths and creatures, of course. |
| 143 | * Christianity is true in ''Literature/TheChroniclesOfNarnia'' with Aslan being a new incarnation of Jesus but there's a mention in ''Literature/TheLionTheWitchAndTheWardrobe'' of the Roman god Bacchus and Silenus (a companion of his Greek counterpart) coming to dance with nymphs and fauns. |
| 144 | * Creator/RobertEHoward's ''Franchise/ConanTheBarbarian'' has a number of gods that would, in Howard's [[TheVerse world]] become the basis of more modern deities. Crom, Lir, Babd, Macha and Nemain are all Celtic, the Hyborian Mitra becomes [[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mithra Mithra]], who's also something of a CrystalDragonJesus, the Shemite Ishtar becomes the Babylonian [[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ishtar Ishtar]], the Turanian/Hyrkanian Erlik becomes the Mongolian [[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Erlik Erlik]] and the Stygian Set seems to be the basis for both the Egyptian [[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Set_(mythology) Set]] and [[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Apep Apep]]. |
| 145 | * In Creator/ChristopherMoore's ''Literature/CoyoteBlue'' Anubis is Coyote's older brother. In other books set in the same universe we meet Jesus, a human who has become the god of a cargo cult, the Celtic goddesses Babd, Macha and Nemain as well as angels, demons and djinn. |
| 146 | * Creator/GoreVidal's ''Literature/Creation1981'' is an attempt to do this realistically. It's an epic story of a single man, Cyrus Spitama, Zoroaster's grandson and a student of Pythagoras whose long life allows him to visit near-contemporaries like Vardhaman Mahavir, Gautam Buddha, Confucius and Socrates, all of them living as near-contemporaries and coming up with ideas on [[TitleDrop creation]] at near about the same time. |
| 147 | * ''Literature/TheCrewOfTheCopperColoredCupids'' is about TheMultiverse, so obviously different deities exist as reality in some universes while being fictional or unheard-of in others. However, the Prime Universe itself has a kitchen-sink cosmology all on its own: Greek Gods have been confirmed to exist, but so have Christian-style Demons right out of the ''Ars Goetia'', and that's probably not the half of it. |
| 148 | * ''Literature/TheDarkIsRising'' combines Myth/CelticMythology and Myth/ArthurianLegend with touches of [[Myth/ClassicalMythology Greek]] and Myth/EgyptianMythology. |
| 149 | * This is inverted in the ''Literature/{{Discworld}}'' universe, where there are multiple gods and anthropomorphic personifications (the kind that exist only because [[ClapYourHandsIfYouBelieve people believe they should exist]]), and the Omnians are portrayed as odd in their insistence on a monotheistic belief system. It is often stated that several gods appear in more than one Pantheon -- for example, many religions have different Thunder Gods, but they are actually all the same god, wearing different hats (he used to be separate gods, but apparently they merged as people started believing them to be the same god with a different name). |
| 150 | ** The book ''Literature/SmallGods'' explores in detail the process by which gods are created and rise to be powerful. [[GodsNeedPrayerBadly Or fall because people no longer believe in them.]] |
| 151 | ** It's also parodied in ''Literature/{{Pyramids}}'', where the Djelibeybian religion never gets rid of a god in case it comes in useful, and Dios is high priest of ''all'' of them. At one point in the book, the various sun gods are seen fighting over the sun. |
| 152 | --->''And Dios knew that Net was the Supreme God, and that Fon was the Supreme God, and so were Hast, Set, Bin, Sot, Io, Dhek, and Ptooie; that Herpentine Triskeles alone rules the world of the dead, and so did Syncope, and Silur the Catfish-Headed God, and Orexis-Nupt.'' |
| 153 | ** While the Omnians are monotheistic and think there is no other god than Om, Om himself finds this ridiculous, because he knows many other gods. |
| 154 | * A. Lee Martinez's ''Divine Misfortune'' has at least walk ons by every Non-Abrahamic deity you could imagine including several entirely fictional ones. |
| 155 | * This is a justified trope in Steven Brust's ''Literature/{{Dragaera}}'' series, which takes place on a world inhabited by both humans and [[OurElvesAreDifferent Tolkienesque elves]] called Dragaerans. The gods of this universe are merely {{Sufficiently Advanced|Alien}} Dragaerans, who while worshipped by humans are treated casually/disdainfully by members of that race. In fact, one of the main Dragaeran characters is the daughter of the major goddess of the pantheon worshipped by humans. |
| 156 | * ''Literature/TheDresdenFiles'' ''loves'' this trope. The Judaeo-Christian God exists--in fact, Harry's ally Michael even has a sword powered by a nail from the Cross. The gods of all other pantheons are mostly inactive but still exist and the [[FairFolk fae]] play a major role in the series. The existence of chi and karma has been acknowledged. Outsiders--Lovecraftian horrors from outside reality--exist. |
| 157 | ** The [[Myth/NorseMythology Norse pantheon]] has adapted to the times, becoming a [[spoiler:mercenary company led by Odin, with the Einherjar as the soldiers]]. [[spoiler:Odin also seems to be taking an active role in Harry's own world, appearing as part of the Grey Council.]] |
| 158 | *** Odin is [[spoiler: also Kringle a.k.a SantaClaus, who, before the reveal, was thought to be Wyldfae, further blurring the distinction between the Fae and gods and demons (the kind that comes from the Nevernever, not Hell]]. |
| 159 | *** In ''Proven Guilty,'' Harry specifically mentions that gods from Greco-Roman, Norse, Amerind, African, Australian Aboriginal, Polynesian, southeast Asian, and Hindu mythology all exist, and have been dormant for centuries. [[spoiler: Followers of Dionysus show up in one of the short stories trying to ignite a massive drunken rampage of sports fans. Hades is tasked with guarding various weapons including the head of the spear that stabbed Christ. It is also alluded to that he has a deep connection with the six fairy queens]] |
| 160 | *** There's also the Red Court's Lords of the Outer Night, which may or may not be Mayan gods. If they aren't, then they're impersonating them. Either way, the Mayan gods exist in the setting. [[spoiler: Unless it was the Lords from the beginning, if that's the case, then they don't exist anymore.]] |
| 161 | * In the ''Literature/ElementalMasters'' series, all religions have some truth to them. Both the Christian afterlife and the Druidic Summer Country are shown to exist, for example, though the Christian version isn't as all-encompassing as it claims to be. Also, the divine magic of the Hindu pantheon plays a significant part in ''Literature/TheSerpentsShadow''. |
| 162 | * In S. M. Stirlings ''Literature/{{Emberverse}}'', while not exactly working together the Christian, Celtic and Norse pantheons are all backing the [[CaptainErsatz Arthurtype hero]] in various ways against the ReligionOfEvil for {{Eldritch Abomination}}s. |
| 163 | * ''Literature/{{Everworld}}'': Every god of every mythology on Earth decides to collaborate in making a parallel universe where they could all have a sphere of influence. It really gets messy when gods from other universes, like those of the Hetwan and the Coo Hatch, start barging in. And even then it wasn't without friction: Zeus mentions "that usurper Jupiter and his brood", while the gods' followers (brought over to provide them with a steady supply of worship, food and virgins) will happily make war on each other (the first book features an Aztec-Viking war). |
| 164 | * ''Literature/GhostRoads'': The Greek afterlife is real (though it's unclear if any of the non-underworld gods are), and it's implied the Egyptian one is too, plus there are appearances by ''bean sidhe'' and dullahans from Myth/CelticMythology. And then there's the entirely original mythology of the routewitches and the roads of America. |
| 165 | * In the ''Literature/IronDruidChronicles'' many different pantheons exist alongside each other. The protagonist is a druid who worships the Earth and pays lip service to the ancient Irish gods. The Greek god Bacchus is very powerful in Las Vegas while Native American deities still have some power in the surounding areas. The Polish witches get their powers from a moon goddess and a Viking vampire is trying to find a way to kill the Norse god Thor. Jesus and other figures from Christianity appear as a separate pantheon with Mary frequently appearing among humans to help out the poor and homeless. |
| 166 | ** Some pantheons have additional versions that appear when the beliefs of two groups of followers diverge too much. There are dozens of versions of the Native American god Coyote. The North American version of Thor is separate from the original Norse Thor and based primarily on the comic book character. |
| 167 | * L. A. Banks' ''Neteru'' series has Egyptian deities like Isis, Osiris and Horus as angels in a mostly Christian Heaven. Also the various pagan deities were Nephilim, some good, some bad, most chaotic, which is why they were sealed away in a pocket dimension called the Land of Nod aka Atlantis. |
| 168 | * ''Literature/QueenOfZazzau'' is set in 16th century Nigeria and its protagonists are West African pagans, who equate the Muslims' Allah with their own TopGod Ubangiji. Even Dafaru, the Hausa WarGod, says Allah and Ubangiji (his father) are one and the same. This is TruthInTelevision, having happened with many pagan religions that converted to Islam or Christianity. |
| 169 | * In Creator/GlenCook's ''[[Literature/GarrettPI Petty Pewter Gods]]'', not only do multiple pantheons of deities exist in the same world, but they compete for ''worldly'' prestige in order to maintain their claim on temple real estate in [=TunFaire's=] Dream Quarter. As the gods' traits and looks are dictated by their followers' beliefs, this means that the senior deities of two rival pantheons look virtually identical, because their idols were commissioned from the same craftsman, who used the same mold to cast figurines of both. |
| 170 | * In L. Jagi Lamplighter's ''Literature/ProsperosDaughter'' trilogy, there are Greek gods and Gnostic theology, and angels, and Creator/WilliamShakespeare's ''Theatre/TheTempest'' to cite only the ''major'' appearances. |
| 171 | * Creator/RickRiordan has built an entire UrbanFantasy setting stitching together various mythologies; mostly Greco-Roman, Egyptian, and Norse. |
| 172 | ** ''Literature/TheCampHalfBloodSeries'' mainly involves [[Myth/ClassicalMythology the Greek and Roman gods]]. During ''Literature/{{Percy Jackson|AndTheOlympians}}'' only the Greeks were mentioned (except Janus), but ''Literature/TheHeroesOfOlympus'' elaborates that the Roman gods are actually split personalities of the Greek gods. Both of these "forms" are able to have demigod children. Greek and Roman demigods have their own camps (Camp Half-Blood and Camp Jupiter) that originally hated each other but became allies. |
| 173 | ** Literature/TheKaneChronicles takes place in the same universe and focuses on Myth/EgyptianMythology, with the heroes being magicians. |
| 174 | *** There's a series of crossover short stories called ''Literature/DemigodsAndMagicians'', in which Percy and Annabeth team up with Carter and Sadie for a time. In the series it is shown that those who combine Greek and Egypian magic are very powerful, and they end up meeting Serapis (a Greco-Egypian hybrid deity). |
| 175 | ** ''Literature/MagnusChaseAndTheGodsOfAsgard'' features Myth/NorseMythology, and takes place in the same universe, with Magnus being Annabeth's cousin. It seems the Chase family is a magnet for pantheons. |
| 176 | ** In ''Literature/TheTrialsOfApollo'', minor references are made that confirm the existence and further coexistence of the Aztec pantheon, Chinese legends, Thai deities, Celtic gods, Zoroastrianism, Babylonian deities, Hindu myths, Samnite entities, and and possible Yoruba religion on top of all the others. |
| 177 | ** As for the Abrahamic {{God}}: |
| 178 | *** When Percy Jackson asks Dionysus whether he exists in ''[[Literature/PercyJacksonAndTheOlympians The Lightning Thief]]'', he responds that the question is "metaphysical" and that they don't know that any more than mortals do. |
| 179 | *** Meanwhile in ''[[Literature/TheKaneChronicles The Red Pyramid]]'', Zia mentions to Carter that [[Literature/BookOfExodus Moses]] was the only foreign magician to defeat the Egyptians in a duel. |
| 180 | *** Samirah from ''Literature/{{Magnus Chase|AndTheGodsOfAsgard}}'' is a Muslim, but also a valkyrie who has met numerous Norse gods. [[FlatEarthAtheist She says that she considers the Norse gods more like spirits than gods]] (and apparently, [[AGodIAmNot Heimdall agrees]]!) and practices Islam. Similarly, there a line that says Thor is angry that Jesus did not show up for a duel, although it's never mentioned if Thor met Jesus or was merely cursing his name and demanding his appearance. |
| 181 | * ''Literature/{{Technomancer}}'' by MK Gibson: Despite its Judeo-Christian premise, this appears to be the case. [[spoiler: Other gods are descendants of exiled but not damned angels.]] |
| 182 | * ''Literature/TillWeHaveFaces'' retells a story from Myth/ClassicalMythology involving the gods Aphrodite and Eros from the perspective of a girl who worships them as members of a foreign, fictional pantheon. The story also offers some hints that some of the gods are also the {{God}} of Christianity, his angels, or the demons of Hell. |
| 183 | * In Creator/RuthFrancesLong's ''Literature/TheTreacheryOfBeautifulThings'', TheFairFolk, with Oberon as king and Titania[=/=]Mab as queen, exist in the same world as Wayland -- who calls Oberon Odin and Puck Loki. It also brushes on Myth/KingArthur and Literature/SleepingBeauty. |
| 184 | * ''Literature/WearingTheCape'': |
| 185 | ** People claiming to be gods, spirits, or empowered by such entities crop up all over the place, despite their powers and cosmologies conflicting wildly. The official line is that these people are all just [[TraumaticSuperpowerAwakening Breakthroughs]], and magic is no different from any other superpower except that supernaturals tend to be delusional. [[MaybeMagicMaybeMundane Or they might be wrong, and magic is real after all]]. Most authorities go with the "delusion" explanation because it makes it easier for them to sleep at night. |
| 186 | ** This also comes up with Astra (a deeply Catholic superhero who is eventually given a weapon by someone claiming to be the ArchangelMichael) and her love interest Kitsune (who claims to be a literal magical [[AsianFoxSpirit Kitsune]]). Astra soon realizes that [[RiddleForTheAges she's never going to find a real answer]], but the fact that a good Catholic girl is dating a foreign trickster god gets brought up more than once. |
| 187 | --->'''Astra's Mom:''' Is he Catholic?\ |
| 188 | '''Astra:''' He's a Shinto ''kami'', so probably not?\ |
| 189 | '''Astra's Mom:''' No church, then. But he ''will'' be coming to Sunday dinner. |
| 190 | * ''The Weirdness'' mostly centers on Judeo-Christian mythology but there is a cameo by Krishna who mentions an "inter-pantheon" treaty implying that yet more pantheons exist as well. |
| 191 | * Alan Garner's ''Literature/TheWeirdstoneOfBrisingamen'' does this for a mixed bag of Celtic, Nordic, Irish, Welsh and English myths including The Morrigan, Myth/KingArthur, Myth/{{Merlin}}, Ragnarok and the Norse svart-alfar and lios-alfar. |
| 192 | * An odd example in ''Literature/AWolfInTheSoul''. Dr. Rumu may actually be psychic, and her Indian-mysticism-based advice to help Greg defeat the werewolf turns out to be very accurate, though ultimately insufficient. A very minor example, but its presence in a religious Jewish novel is surprising. |
| 193 | * Creator/JohnCWright: |
| 194 | ** {{Lampshade|Hanging}}d in ''Orphans of Chaos'' (which features nearly the entire Greek and/or Roman Pantheon) when a character is asked something along the lines of "How can you be a Christian when you know the Greek gods exist?" Interestingly enough, the answer made sense. It's also mentioned in ''Titans of Chaos'' that other pantheons do exist but that most of their members were destroyed in the war with Chaos. |
| 195 | ** ''Literature/WarOfTheDreaming'' blends, among others, Celtic, Greek, Christian, Norse and Cthulian myths. |
| 196 | * ''Literature/OmniscientReadersViewpoint'': A major part of the setting is that all mythological characters exist as beings known as Constellations, with more well-known Constellations being stronger. Cliques exist (called Nebulas) of constellations from the same mythologies, though unaffiliated constellations can join any nebula if an invitation is extended. |
| 197 | [[/folder]] |
| 198 | |
| 199 | [[folder:Live-Action TV]] |
| 200 | * ''Series/{{Diablero}}'': There are angels and demons and Aztec gods running around fairly seamlessly. [[spoiler: Keta is an incarnation of Coatlicue, and Mayaken is somehow both an angel and an avatar of Huitzilopochtli]]. |
| 201 | * ''Series/LegendsOfTomorrow'' has borrowed creatures and artifacts from many different folklores and mythologies. Reaches a high level of crossover in Season 5, when a goddess from Myth/GreekMythology is shown working in the Christian version of {{Hell}} (most of the Olympian gods having died off since GodsNeedPrayerBadly). |
| 202 | * Lampshaded in ''Series/{{Rome}}'', when the very religious Vorenus asks Pulo to show some respect toward the Egyptian gods because "They were powerful long before Rome was born" |
| 203 | * In the Franchise/StargateVerse, there's a different group of {{Sufficiently Advanced Alien}}s behind a great many belief systems. The villainous Goa'uld seem to have the biggest piece of the pie (they're the Egyptian, Greek, ''and'' Babylonian gods, and one of them even impersonates Satan.) On the flip side you have the [[TheGreys Asgard]], who through the use of Holograms represent the benevolent Norse gods. |
| 204 | * ''Series/{{Supernatural}}'': |
| 205 | ** A recurring character previously referred to as The Trickster (one of many) turns out to be the [[spoiler:ArchangelGabriel, who left Heaven after the banishment of the Fallen]] and has been living incognito among the pagans ever since. In one episode, he's also referred to as "Loki" by other pagan gods, including the Norse Odin and Baldur (implying [[spoiler:the Fallen were banished]] before the pagan gods existed, allowing him to join them). Though it turns out many years later that he was just taking on the identity of the real Loki, who wanted to retire from his duties. |
| 206 | ** A Season 14 episode reveals that ever since [[HaveYouSeenMyGod God left Heaven]], the angels have employed Anubis to [[JudgementOfTheDead judge souls of the deceased]] and determine whether they go to Heaven or Hell. |
| 207 | * ''Series/XenaWarriorPrincess'' and ''Series/HerculesTheLegendaryJourneys'' eventually expanded from Greek mythology into demonstrating the literal existence of any and every religion's deities, including the monotheistic God and Hindu gods. |
| 208 | [[/folder]] |
| 209 | |
| 210 | [[folder:Music]] |
| 211 | * ''Music/QueenOfTheWave'', by Music/PepeDeluxe, mixes the Greek story of {{Atlantis}} with the pre-flood history from The Bible. It's stated that eating from [[WorldTree the Tree of Knowledge]] in Eden caused mankind to attain the heights of wisdom leading directly to the society of Atlantis. At the end, when Atlantis is destroyed for its transgressions, Nepth and his family escape in an ark with two of every animal (except unicorns, which they simply forgot). |
| 212 | * Implied in ''WebVideo/DestripandoLaHistoria''; Loki appears in the song of Demeter, Demeter and Sun Wukong appears in the video of Thor. |
| 213 | [[/folder]] |
| 214 | |
| 215 | [[folder:Myths & Religion]] |
| 216 | * In general Myth/AboriginalAustralianMyths suffer from most people just lumping and misidentifying the various indigenous Australian cultures, obfuscating their actual diversity. However, some crossovers do exist, especially in cultures geographically close: for example Daramulum shows up both in Yuin religion and Gamilaraay religion despiste having vastly different roles in both. |
| 217 | * Creator/{{Herodotus}}, some myths, and Creator/{{Euripides}}' play ''Helen'' claim that Helen of Troy was spirited away to Egypt for her safety/out of spite toward Aphrodite and Paris by Athena and Hera, where Amun-Zeus extracted her ''ka'' (Egyptian)/''eidolon'' (Greek) (identical spirit double), which was taken to Troy with Paris unbeknownst to him (so, yes, the entirety of UsefulNotes/TheTrojanWar was fought over a very pretty {{doppelganger}}). The Classical Greeks took care to draw parallels between their chief deity Zeus and the Egyptian god Amun. Being the 5th and 4th centuries BCE, that make this OlderThanFeudalism. Also, Io was paralleled with the Egyptian Isis. In some versions of her myth, Zeus restores her to her human form when she reaches Egypt and she is thereafter worshipped by the Egyptians as the goddess Isis. |
| 218 | * Many demons in modern Christian mythology are thought to have originally been the gods of the Hebrews' neighbor cultures, or at the very least were given their names ''by'' Christians. Theologians have debated whether those pagan gods were supposed to be actual entities who were demons all along or whether Christians simply applied the names of those gods ''to'' demons. If the latter is the case, then it likely stemmed from efforts by Christians to further discourage people from assuming that paganism held any real weight. |
| 219 | * Also, the appearance of TheDevil and by proxy his demons were appropriated from the Greek god Pan. This is more out of a necessity for a concrete appearance for Satan than anything -- Literature/TheBible is rather scarce on physical descriptions of the Prince of Darkness aside from Revelation, whose descriptions were more symbolic than literal anyway ([[OurMonstersAreWeird and at least one description of Satan is WAY too weird to be practically illustrated at that]]). |
| 220 | * The word "El" meant "god" in the languages of both the Hebrews and the Canaanites. One of the names used for God in the Old Testament, Elohim, is a grammatical variation of it. From a historical perspective the God of Israel and El of the Canaanites can even be considered local variations of the same god. When the Hebrews were polytheistic their three greatest gods were El(ohim), Yahweh and Baal, but once they turned to monotheism El and Yahweh were seen as two interpretations of the same one god while Baal was demonized for his association with Canaan. To make things more complex; this Hebrew Polytheism may itself be an example as the Judean Yahweh can be considered from a different mythological background then the Canaanite-Israeli El and Baal. |
| 221 | * The Early Christian Church actively encouraged its missionary Bishops to take pagan holidays and gods and reinterpret them as "actually Christian holidays" or "actually Christian saints". This is how we ended up with holidays like Halloween (originally Samhain) and a December Christmas (cobbled together from such traditions as Yule, Saturnalia and the Mithraic Tauroctany) and saints like Saint Bridgette (originally a Celtic goddess of childbirth). |
| 222 | * In the ancient world (aside from the Hebrews -- see above), honoring another nation's deities was considered a friendly gesture. Cyrus of Persia, for example, paid homage to Marduk, a Babylonian god, while allowing the Jews to rebuild a temple to their own god. |
| 223 | * The Hare Krishna movement believes the Judeo-Christian {{God}} and the Hindu god Krishna to be the same entity. |
| 224 | * In both China and Japan the people have no problem accepting both the native pantheons and Buddhism. In ''Literature/JourneyToTheWest'', for example, after failing to stop Sun Wukong by commanding his god courtiers, the Jade Emperor (the KingOfTheGods in Chinese mythology) appeals to Gautama Buddha himself to help him imprison the monkey. Meanwhile, in Japan, a popular saying is that people are "born Shinto, marry Christian, die Buddhist"[[note]]Even the most irreligious Japanese families still hire Shinto priests to bless their newborns, while followers of organized religions, such as Christianity, in Japan are quite rare. Meanwhile, since the 1990s, there's been a surge of Christian white weddings among Japanese, not because they are attracted towards the religion, but because they are much cheaper than arranging for Shinto weddings. Finally, since Shinto is allergic towards impurity and death, funerals are seen as the realm of Buddhist priests[[/note]]. |
| 225 | * This trope was the default worldview for many ancient societies, who thought of their gods as bound to certain locations or groups. Venturing into foreign territory brought one under the dominion of that nation's gods, and one's own might not have any power depending on one's whereabouts. Wars were also seen as proxies for the battles between two patron deities. The Bible is chock full of this. The plagues of Egypt are meant to represent YHWH pwning the Egyptian gods. Same thing with the Israelites and the Philistines/YHWH and Dagon. Likewise, the "bronze sea" (a giant basin) in the Jerusalem Temple was meant to signify YHWH's defeat of Yam, the Caananite god of seas and primal chaos. Deuteronomy 32 speaks of 70 nations each being assigned a patron god from the Caananite pantheon, with YHWH being assigned to Israel. |
| 226 | * In the West, SantaClaus is often portrayed as being the same person as St. Nicholas and similar figures. In Russia, however, they have depicted their version, [[https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ded_Moroz Ded Moroz]], meeting with his counterparts as a sort of playful version of ''detente.'' One popular idea is that [[TheOlderImmortal Moroz is Santa's grandfather]]. |
| 227 | * A lot of polytheistic religions tended to respond to the spread of Christianity with a non-commital shrug and an "Okay". If they already had a bunch of gods, another one wasn't that big a deal. In Scandinavia, some people carried amulets depicting upside-down crosses, as they resembled the more traditional Thor's Hammer amulets, and were thought to bestow the protection of Thor and Jesus at the same time. In Rome, Jesus was considered part of the Olympian pantheon until paganism was outlawed. |
| 228 | * When UsefulNotes/{{Islam}} first reached Java, UsefulNotes/{{Indonesia}}, the local preachers appropriated Indian epics imported from abroad when the region became Hindu (e.g. ''Literature/{{Mahabharata}}'', ''Literature/{{Ramayana}}'') to teach Islamic values to the mostly illiterate population at the time. As a result, Indian myths, with ostensibly feature polytheistic gods (Vishnu, Krishna, et al.) are part of the folk tradition in Java, even though the population is overwhelmingly Muslim. Another cultural impact is that Javanese parents often name their children after Hindu gods, heroes, and other figures, as well as Sanskrit terms, clashing with people from outside the island (''especially'' Malays) who tend to stick to "good Muslim names". |
| 229 | * One theory for Zeus' legendary [[ReallyGetsAround horniness]] is that the dalliances of multiple gods were ascribed to him (e.g. one group's myth of a tryst between the local thunder god and fertility goddess later became attributed to Zeus and his sister Demeter). |
| 230 | * [[https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Omnism Omnism]] and similar belief systems such as Henotheism, Syncretism, or Universalism hold that this is TruthInTelevision; that ''all'' religions and beliefs systems are correct in some way, shape, or form or carry reflections of the truth. Thus the Abrahamic God happily coexists with and works alongside or even created polytheistic gods like the Olympians or the various gods are the same beings under different names or similar such things. In fact, as noted by the examples in this very folder, the whole idea of this ''not'' being how the universe worked is NewerThanTheyThink; many, arguably even most, religions are - and have always been - totally open to and accepting of the idea of a Crossover Cosmology, though the exact specifics of how it all goes together varies greatly. |
| 231 | * In Celtic Mythology, there are multiple references to the Classical world that imply the Celts knew about the Greek and Roman gods, and in some ways implemented them into their own mythology. The ''fir bog'', for example, were said to have been enslaved by Greece before liberating themselves. Also there's some versions of The Children of Tuireann, where minor gods Brian, Iuchar and Iucharba go on a quest to fulfill a blood payment, includes obtaining a bushel of magical gold apples. In some versions they're specifically the apples of the Hesperides, the same as the ones from the [[Myth/ClassicalMythology Heracles myth]], meaning there's Irish gods going Film/OceansEleven on the Olympian gods. |
| 232 | ** One story about Fionn Mac Cumhaill involves him facing off with a Greek dragon that had heard Fionn was a legendary dragon slayer and wanted to test his might. |
| 233 | ** There's also the story of the Tuatha De Danann's battle with Carman a sorceress and/or goddess from Greece (usually Athens specifically) who goes to war with the Irish gods but is ultimately defeated. |
| 234 | ** After the spread of Christianity in Ireland and Scotland, unlike a lot of other pagan religions (whose gods were turned into demons), the Tuath De Danann were added to the Biblical canon as angels, or some kind of non-human beings. |
| 235 | [[/folder]] |
| 236 | |
| 237 | [[folder:Podcast]] |
| 238 | * This is a major aspect of ''Podcast/ResidentsOfProserpinaPark''. Since the creatures from multiple mythologies call Proserpina Park their home, this is a given. To give just one example, the finale of season two has Terry, a child of the Greek god Hades, leading the heroes on a quest to find a vetala, a ghoul-like creature from Hindu Mythology, and the heroes also have their faithful lion dogs, creatures from Chinese Mythology, at their beck and call. |
| 239 | [[/folder]] |
| 240 | |
| 241 | [[folder:Radio]] |
| 242 | * Parodied in ''Radio/JohnFinnemoresSouvenirProgramme'', in which Helios and Ra get into an argument at an "inter-faith conference" over which of them ''actually'' makes the Sun rise, then Sol gets involved, and they all get annoyed at Jehovah, "You do that as well, right? Just like you do ''everything else''!" |
| 243 | [[/folder]] |
| 244 | |
| 245 | [[folder:Tabletop Games]] |
| 246 | * White Wolf's ''World of Darkness'' games: |
| 247 | ** The different games that were brought together as the ''TabletopGame/OldWorldOfDarkness'' each had their own creation myth for their own type of supernatural creature, and when brought together are difficult to reconcile. ''TabletopGame/VampireTheMasquerade'' and ''TabletopGame/DemonTheFallen'' had Biblical origins with divine intervention, while ''TabletopGame/WerewolfTheApocalypse'' had a neopagan one. On top of that, many of these game's {{Metaplot}}s were building towards a world-ending catastrophe, but each one was of a different nature. |
| 248 | ** Both the rebooted ''TabletopGame/ChroniclesOfDarkness'' and the new editions of these gamelines avoid these problems by leaning on the UnreliableNarrator: various origin stories are given, but they are vague and with no proof, giving room to explain away any contradictions. |
| 249 | ** The {{Sourcebook}} ''Astral Realms'' for ''TabletopGame/MageTheAwakening'' offers a way to reconcile the existence of different pantheons: every god ever believed in exists, but only in the Temenos (the collective human unconscious) and [[GodsNeedPrayerBadly only have as much power as human regard affords them]]. Thus, a god like Anubis is much weaker than when he had a kingdom of believers, but still holds power as a cultural symbol. They may have great insight, but only into human matters, lacking any understanding of greater cosmic issues. It's pointed out that ''they'' still believe they are gods, and will not look kindly on any attempt to inform them of their true nature. |
| 250 | * The ''TabletopGame/ChroniclesOfDarkness'' fangame ''TabletopGame/GeniusTheTransgression'' opens up the setting to [[ScienceRelatedMemeticDisorder geniuses]] who can well fake being deities, have several, mutually contradictory natures, and have a world-spanning conspiracy that overlaps and conflicts with one from ''TabletopGame/MageTheAwakening''. It simply says that the two groups ignore each other, and that it is "curious". |
| 251 | * In ''TabletopGame/{{Scion}}'', you play the offspring of a God, and have a whole bunch of different pantheons to choose from (six in the 1e core, ten in the 2e core, and more in the supplements). Admittedly, they did it in a unified, focused way that makes some sense within the system and world. |
| 252 | * ''TabletopGame/DungeonsAndDragons'': |
| 253 | ** Several ''D&D'' supplements, such as ''Complete Priest's Handbook'' or the various editions of ''Deities & Demigods'', discuss methods of integrating different historical pantheons into a campaign world. Options range from ruling that different pantheons' deities are inherently blind to one another's existence, to saying that all deities are part of the same mega-pantheon, with regional pantheons simply omitting gods who are less popular locally. |
| 254 | ** And then there's TabletopGame/{{Spelljammer}}, TabletopGame/{{Planescape}}, and TabletopGame/{{Ravenloft}}, which are basically Crossover Cosmologies for nearly every one of the various ''TabletopGame/DungeonsAndDragons'' settings. Spelljammer especially, with characters visiting [[TabletopGame/ForgottenRealms Realmspace]], TabletopGame/{{Grey|hawk}}space, [[TabletopGame/{{Dragonlance}} Krynnspace]] and many other Crystal Spheres in between. |
| 255 | ** While most canonic (TabletopGame/{{Planescape}}) meta-mythology involves hundreds upon hundreds of deities of many pantheons interlinked in alliances or eternal cold wars, it also has things like the sacred pool of beauty being in shared ownership of several beauty/love goddesses (including Aphrodite) who as embodiments of different ideals pass their free time practicing friendly rivalry. Because why not? The smaller mortals like "high and mighty" [=PCs=] will feel, the better! |
| 256 | ** Earlier editions commented that some TabletopGame/ForgottenRealms deities were immigrants from Earth, explaining why for example the Faerûnian pantheon has a Mielikki ({{Expy}} of a RealLife Finnish goddess of Nature of the same name). |
| 257 | * Most of ''TabletopGame/{{Pathfinder}}'''s gods are original, but the full pantheon includes a few holdovers from its ''TabletopGame/DungeonsAndDragons'' roots, as well as gods from Egyptian and Mayan mythologies, plus a number of archfiends with names pulled from the ''Literature/ArsGoetia'', and even Great Old Ones and Outer Gods from the ''Franchise/CthulhuMythos''. |
| 258 | * In ''TabletopGame/{{Rifts}}'' Earth, the mythological Pantheons each ruled directly over the civilizations that worshipped them, and clashes between the civilizations often included clashes between the Gods themselves. Most of them left the Earth a long time ago, but are starting to turn their eyes back towards their old territories, and the world at large... Except for the Egyptian gods, who are busy being the most powerful pantheon of a MedievalEuropeanFantasy world. |
| 259 | * In ''TabletopGame/Warhammer40000'', there's some theories put forth InUniverse that the "old beliefs" of gods, angels, demons, etc. were either outright fabrications or simply ancient proto-psykers getting glimpses into the Warp. Then of course there's the theory that the Immortal Emperor "popped up" now and again throughout history as particularly influential people.. Jesus, Myth/KingArthur and the like, but always either a great warrior or great philosopher (or both!) |
| 260 | [[/folder]] |
| 261 | |
| 262 | [[folder:Theatre]] |
| 263 | * ''Theatre/JasperInDeadland'' is host to many characters from various mythologies, including the heart-devouring Ammut from Egyptian mythology, Hel and Loki from Norse mythology, Dante, Virgil, and Beatrice from ''The Divine Comedy'', and Cerberus, Pluto, Charon, Eurydice, and Persephone from Greco-Roman mythology. |
| 264 | [[/folder]] |
| 265 | |
| 266 | [[folder:Video Games]] |
| 267 | * ''VideoGame/AgeOfMythology'' combines Greek, Egyptian, and Norse myths into a single setting. In general, characters only worship their own gods while showing some deference to ones they don't worship. |
| 268 | ** The expansion ''The Titans'' added the Atlantean civilization, which worships the pre-Olympian Greek Titans Kronos, Oranos and Gaia. |
| 269 | ** The expansion ''Tales of the Dragon'' added the Chinese myths. |
| 270 | * ''Franchise/AssassinsCreed'': Etruscan, Greco-Roman, Egyptian, Norse, and other deities co-exist with one another as members of a long-extinct species known as the Isu, the creators of humanity. In fact, every mythological and religious pantheon in human history can trace back its roots to the First Civilization. |
| 271 | * ''VideoGame/{{Dislyte}}'': Gods from Greek, Egyptian, Norse, Chinese, Mesopotamian, Japanese, Korean, and Aztec mythologies appear in the game through the Espers that are hosting their power. The Ritual Miracle bosses are based off monsters from three of these mythologies (Apep and Fafnir), or in Kronos' case, a [[Myth/ClassicalMythology Titan]]. There are also NPC enemies based on other mythical monsters such as succubuses, harpies, and elves. |
| 272 | * The nations of ''VideoGame/{{Dominions}}'' draw from a number of real-world mythologies and historical nations, with some modern fantasy (e.g. Franchise/ConanTheBarbarian, Creator/HPLovecraft) mixed in. The game designer is a social sciences and religion teacher, [[ShownTheirWork and it shows]]. |
| 273 | * An underlying theme throughout ''Franchise/TheElderScrolls'' series is that different, contradictory mythologies are all simultaneously true. There were some seven different endings for ''[[VideoGame/TheElderScrollsIIDaggerfall Daggerfall]]'' depending upon the final decision of the player; the succeeding games describe all the possible endings having occurred, despite the contradictions involved. |
| 274 | ** Most religion in TES games seems to involve arguments about whose gods are actually gods, and which ones exist at all. Daedra are mostly seen as evil and equivalent to demons, but they're mostly shown as embodying a specific aspect rather than being either good or evil. There are also the Aedra, who are generally seen as good but don't seem to be objectively different from the Daedra in any way. Then there are the Nine Divines, except that non-humans tend to believe there are only eight of them and as of Skyrim, worship of Talos (a human and the first emperor who was previously believed to have become the ninth) has been banned entirely. The Orcish deity may or may not be a Daedra lord depending on who you ask. Traditional Dunmer worship their ancestors, but Imperial culture classes this as necromancy and tends to shun or ban it outright. More recently the Dunmer had mortals become {{Physical God}}s, who were no more than tolerated as a religion by other cultures. As of Morrowind and its expansions, at least three out of the four are dead anyway. |
| 275 | ** TES games also include quite a few bits of different real world mythologies. Bloodmoon and Skyrim have various aspects of Norse mythology, Redguards vary between Arabian and more eastern, Bretons are usually portrayed with a Celtic look, and Imperials are a cross between the Roman and British empires. In addition, many of the monsters are based on various bits of folklore - most prominently vampires and werewolves. |
| 276 | * ''Franchise/FateSeries'': While most of the Heroic Spirits are historical (or at least [[LegendFadesToMyth theoretically historical]]), many of them are empowered by gods from a variety of pantheons, with no mention of any difficulties. In ''VideoGame/FateGrandOrder'', actual gods start appearing, from the Mesopotamian Ishtar and Ereshkigal to the South American Jaguar Spirit. It should be noted that the gods are far more powerful than Heroic Spirits, and have to limit themselves by borrowing the body of a human in order to participate in a Holy Grail War. |
| 277 | * The ''VideoGame/GodOfWar'' games were initially based solely on Greek Myth/ClassicalMythology, but included Efreet, which are of Arabic myths, Manticores and Rocs, which are of Persian myths. Apart from these occasional monsters however, there was no real indication that any other mythologies existed during the Greek era - according to WordOfGod the original plan for the series was that after the destruction of the Greek pantheon, Kratos would join forces with his Norse equivalent to destroy the Norse pantheon, and then the two teaming up with their Egyptian equivalent to destroy the Egyptian pantheon. From there, the series would end with the three former gods going to a star in the north and witnessing the birth of Jesus. This plan was initially scrapped, but elements were brought back for the 2018 ''VideoGame/GodOfWarPS4'', in which Kratos moves north and has dealings with the Norse gods and monsters, finally confirming that other pantheons exist in this universe. In addition, [[spoiler:it's discovered that even more gods exist such as Egyptian, Celtic, Japanese and Mesoamerican pantheons]]. |
| 278 | * While ''VideoGame/{{Hades}}'' is first and foremost about [[Myth/ClassicalMythology Greek mythology]], the Infernal Arms' hidden aspects reference mythical figures from other cultures, namely Myth/KingArthur, Guan Yu, Literature/{{Beowulf}}, Rama, [[Myth/MesopotamianMythology Gilgamesh]], and Lucifer. They're acknowledged as deities that don't quite exist yet but are within the Fates' design. |
| 279 | * ''VideoGame/NamuAmidaButsuUtena'': The game is almost entirely about Buddhism, but heading the villains is a group of demonic figures from various traditions: Māra (Buddhist), Pazuzu (Mesopotamian), Satan (Christian) and Iblis (Islam). |
| 280 | * Since even the most basic of random monsters in the ''Franchise/ShinMegamiTensei'' universe are taken from some mythology or other, it ultimately ends up with a cast numbering in the THOUSANDS, taken from everywhere and anywhere. Inclusions range from most of the Norse, Egyptian, Roman and Chinese pantheons, to Zoroastrian gods, patron spirits of obscure, African tribes, minor demons and angels from Catholic apocrypha, and even a variety of anthropomorphic personifications. [[EverythingTryingToKillYou And most of them don't like you much, either]]. You can help them grow to like you, if you can convince them to [[{{Mon}} aid you]]. There are a couple of demons around (not counting Yamaoka from ''VideoGame/{{Persona|1}}'') who don't come from any mythology: [[CreepyChild Ali]][[OriginalGeneration ce]], Ghost Q, David, Matador, Daisoujou and Hell Biker amongst them. And even then, most of them have legit backgrounds that justify their appearance; for instance, there's an urban legend in which a girl named Alice dies and looks for children whose souls she can take to be her playmates. This is exactly what she does in ''VideoGame/ShinMegamiTenseiI''. It doesn't help that she's an AliceAllusion. |
| 281 | * ''VideoGame/{{Smite}}'' is a MOBA which originally featured gods and creatures from [[Myth/ClassicalMythology Greco]]-[[AncientGrome Roman]], [[Myth/EgyptianMythology Egyptian]], [[Myth/NorseMythology Norse]], [[Myth/ChineseMythology Chinese]], [[Myth/HinduMythology Hindu]] and [[Myth/MayanMythology Mayan]] pantheons. However, over time it added [[Myth/JapaneseMythology Japanese]], [[Myth/CelticMythology Celtic]], [[Myth/SlavicMythology Slavic]], [[Myth/PacificMythology Hawaiian]], [[UsefulNotes/{{Voudoun}} Voodoo]], [[Myth/ArthurianLegend Arthurian]] and [[Myth/YorubaMythology Yoruba]] pantheons. The amount of different pantheons became 15 when in 2020 the Great Old Ones of the [[Franchise/CthulhuMythos Cthulhu Mythos]] were included and it currently stands at 16 when the [[Myth/MesopotamianMythology Babylonian]] got added in 2021 which [[spoiler: made the universe being reset]]. |
| 282 | * ''VideoGame/{{Spelunky}}'' puts Meso-American, Egyptian, Sumerian, and Chinese myths all under the roof of one single dungeon, with guest appearances by Lovecraftian and Arthurian artifacts. |
| 283 | * ''VideoGame/TitanQuest'': Mythologies from Greece, Egypt, Middle-East, China, and, in the expansion, Celtic and Nordic lands all coexist together. |
| 284 | * ''VideoGame/TokyoAfterschoolSummoners'' has many different mythologies interacting in modern day Tokyo, including Shinto, Greek, Norse, and even Christianity and the Franchise/CthulhuMythos. Most of these inhabitants, referred to as transients, are the heroes, villains, and gods that originated from those myths and have adapted by gaining new jobs that help their powers, joining guilds, or even attend schools. |
| 285 | * ''Franchise/TouhouProject'': |
| 286 | ** The series is based mostly on Japanese mythology (such as Literature/TheTaleOfTheBambooCutter) and {{Youkai}}, but elements from other myths have crept in over time as well, including European (the Scarlet sisters, both vampires), Irish (Sekibanki, a dullahan), Greek (Clownpiece, a lampad), and Chinese (Chang'e, who has yet to be seen but lives on the moon). |
| 287 | ** In ''Ten Desires'', Seiga Kaku boasts that Toyosatomimi no Miko's impending revival will be "far grander than that [[UsefulNotes/{{Jesus}} infidel prophet]] who resurrected three days after his execution", acknowledging that the Abrahamic religions do exist outside of Gensokyo. |
| 288 | ** Junko's story is based on the Chinese myth of there being ten suns, so Hou Yi shot down nine of them to prevent the world from burning. Unfortunately, one landed on her son, killing him. She killed Hou Yi but missed Chang'e, and is trying to get through the Moon's defenses in order to get to her (the fact that the Lunarians have placed Chang'e under arrest for drinking the immortality elixir is either unknown or inconsequential to her). Interestingly, one version of the myth has the suns be carried by three-legged crows, with the hell raven Utsuho having gained its powers over nuclear fusion after eating one. |
| 289 | ** Hecatia Lapislazuli is similarly pissed at Chang'e due to Apollo being injured. |
| 290 | * The ''VideoGame/WarriorsOrochi'' series gets quite into this, especially as it continues. |
| 291 | ** The [[AntagonistTitle first game’s antagonist is Orochi]], from Japanese mythology, with his [[TheDragon dragon]] being Da Ji, a Chinese historical figure who is often depicted as a demon in Chinese folk legend. |
| 292 | ** The second game adds Fu Xi and Nuwa, deities in Chinese mythology, Gyuki, monsters from Japanese mythology, and even Sun Wukong from Literature/JourneyToTheWest, with his master, Sanzang joining for the [=PSP=] port. |
| 293 | ** The third game and it’s {{Updated Rerelease}}s continue adding more Chinese and Japanese mythological figures, and also add a bit of Greek mythology into the mix with the appearance of [[VideoGame/WarriorsLegendsOfTroy Achilles]]. |
| 294 | ** The fourth game, while not featuring Achilles, continues the Greek mythology trend, with Zeus, Athena, Perseus and Ares joining the battlefield. Norse mythology is also brought in with the appearance of Odin[[spoiler:, and it also turns out that Perseus is actually Loki in disguise]]. |
| 295 | * ''VideoGame/WorldOfWarcraft'''s pantheon contains [[{{Expy}} expies]] of the Franchise/CthulhuMythos, Greco-Roman, Norse, Voodoo and {{Mayincatec}} gods, as well as Native American beliefs, the [[ElementalRockPaperScissors elemental]] lords and the dragon aspects. In addition, the original Warcraft game referred to the Judeo-Christian God, but that was {{retcon}}ned later into the more vague "Light". The [[CrystalDragonJesus Naaru]] were later introduced as the physical manifestations of the Light. |
| 296 | [[/folder]] |
| 297 | |
| 298 | [[folder:Visual Novels]] |
| 299 | * ''VisualNovel/MinotaurHotel'': Greek Mythology (and Cretan Mythology), Japanese Mythology, South American Mythology, Monogolion Mythology, African mythology, Christian belief, it's all real. Divine characters from various myths appear in this game. Discussed in Robert's route where he discusses how people go into different afterlives depending on their beliefs, and that the land of Hades being basically closed off to anyone in the modern world due to how it's part of a dying religion. |
| 300 | [[/folder]] |
| 301 | |
| 302 | [[folder:Web Animation]] |
| 303 | * ''WebAnimation/HellsBelles'': All religions are true, and people experience the afterlife of their own belief system. The series is set in (a version of) the Christian hell, but figures from other myths are regularly mentioned and occasionally appear. Including [[Franchise/CthulhuMythos Cthulhu]] and [[Franchise/StarWars the Jedi]] (on account of the latter being an official religion in Australia). |
| 304 | [[/folder]] |
| 305 | |
| 306 | [[folder:Web Comics]] |
| 307 | * ''Webcomic/HighSchoolOfTheGods'' operates on the premise that the deities of Greek, Egyptian and Norse mythology are students at the same high school (with [[UsefulNotes/{{Voudoun}} Baron Samedi]] as guidance counselor), in the guise of human beings, and to a degree, each of the pantheons represents a different high school clique (the Egyptians being the goth and theater kids, the Norse being the preppy jocks, and the Greeks being the fun-loving party animals). |
| 308 | * ''Webcomic/GunnerkriggCourt'' mixes Myth/NativeAmericanMythology (Muut, Coyote, Glass-Eyed Men), French folklore (Renard and Ysengrin), Myth/NorseMythology (Brynhildr appears briefly and she mentions "the old man" Odin), Myth/ChineseMythology (Chang'e), Myth/GreekMythology (''that'' Minotaur), a wide variety of {{psychopomp}}s and ghosts, fairies and golems. |
| 309 | * To a lesser (namely because of the updating schedule) extent, ''Webcomic/DresdenCodak''. The Codakverse possesses, amongst other things, Egyptian gods and Toltec gods and a regular FantasyKitchenSink of other absurdities. |
| 310 | * ''Webcomic/DarwinCarmichaelIsGoingToHell'' exists in a world where Christian God, various pagan gods, and the reincarnation-based Dalai Lama all coexist, using a Indic karma system that appears to send people to Christian Hell and splitting jurisdiction throughout the world. At one point, the angels [[http://dcisgoingtohell.com/183-a-man-a-mission-part-xxxvi/ use their jurisdiction]] to rescue Darwin from the Dalai Lama's [[WarriorMonk bodyguards]]. |
| 311 | * There are characters in the ''Webcomic/DeviantUniverse'' linked to real life and fictional cosmologies that all live under the same roof. |
| 312 | * ''Webcomic/TheGamer'': As his status in the Abyss grows, Han Jihan gets invovled with the guilds of Ninth Gate, many members of which are actual gods of their regional pantheons. Hell is also ruled by the demons of ''Literature/ArsGoetia''. |
| 313 | * In ''Webcomic/TheGodOfHighSchool'' all mythological figures and deities are real and a select few martial artists have the ability to use their powers to supplement their own abilities through a [[SupernaturalMartialArts technique known as Charyeok]]. At least one of the obvious contradictions this presents is addressed by Nox, an Abrahamic ApocalypseCult which views all other Charyeok users as heathens. |
| 314 | * ''Webcomic/{{Housepets}}'': Kitsune (Myth/JapaneseMythology) [=DMs=] for a dragon and a gryphon, the latter of whom is exes with Cerberus (Myth/ClassicalMythology)... all of whom hail from Heaven (UsefulNotes/{{Christianity}}), where God and the Seraphim are mentioned offhandedly. |
| 315 | * A plot point in ''Webcomic/TheOrderOfTheStick'', where the arguments between the different Pantheons, namely the Northern gods (based on the gods of Myth/NorseMythology), the Southern gods (based on the animals of the Chinese Zodiac), the Western gods (based on the Babylonian pantheon), and the Eastern gods (based on the gods of Myth/GreekMythology), who accidentally caused the [[EldritchAbomination Snarl]], which wiped out the Eastern ones. |
| 316 | * ''Webcomic/KoanOfTheDay'' mixes Buddhism, Ancient Greek philosophy, Christian morality, and language games to create a zenthesis. |
| 317 | * [[LampshadeHanging Lampshaded]] in [[http://nonadventures.com/2006/12/25/jesus-christ-super-hero-part-2/ this]] strip of ''Webcomic/TheNonAdventuresOfWonderella''. |
| 318 | * ''Webcomic/TheGodsOfArrKelaan'' has several pantheons existing together, though to be fair, many of those pantheons were actually the same gods. |
| 319 | * This is subverted in ''Webcomic/WapsiSquare''. Rather early on, we are introduced to characters who seem to be deities and mythical figures from various cosmologies, but they are all actually remnants of an ancient civilization older than the cosmology in question. One character in particular played the role of multiple deities herself. |
| 320 | * ''Webcomic/{{Sinfest}}'' has God, Jesus and Satan coexisting with Buddha and The Chinese Dragon ([[InterfaithSmoothie an embodiment of all the East Asian religions]]). Also one character claims to be a shaman and exhibits at least some supernatural powers when in a drugged state. |
| 321 | * Technically ''Webcomic/{{Roommates}}'' is a MegaCrossover between, with a little bit of exaggeration, ''all fiction in existence ever'' which tends to run on ClapYourHandsIfYouBelieve and also has a pretty loose definition of ''fiction''. So there are angels, demons and {{God}} (ala Literature/GoodOmens and {{Film/Dogma}}), TheFairFolk (from Scandinavian folklore, a Goethe poem, and a Jim Henson movie amongst others), {{Anthropomorphic Personification}}s (thanks to the works of Creator/TerryPratchett and Creator/NeilGaiman, ''Film/MoulinRouge'' etc. there are at least 3 deaths running around), Norse gods (courtesy to Marvel and the [[Myth/NorseMythology original myths]]) etc.): |
| 322 | -->'''[[WordOfGod Ashe]]''': [[http://comments.deviantart.com/1/333735325/2794697784 In the 'verse, apparently, myths don't die as much as retire to the countryside and start messing with more modern literature setups]]... |
| 323 | * The Brazilian webcomic ''[[http://www.umsabadoqualquer.com/ Once Upon a Saturday]]''[[note]]The link is to the main page with the strips in Portuguese, but there are English versions available from there[[/note]] centers around the Abrahamic God with humorous takes on Christianity, Biblical passages, a possible view of humans through God's eyes and so on, but other gods also make frequent appearances, most often as God's drinking buddies (notably, Zeus is a sort of frenemy to God, sometimes shown as being resentful that the latter took his place as humanity's most revered deity, but they get along rather well). Also, one of the most notable short stories depicts Thor, Hercules and Jesus playing RPG, after a fashion: they take on real creatures (by definition), but Jesus, being the SquishyWizard of the party (he's a pacifist after all) only hangs back to heal the other two when they need. |
| 324 | ** Also the Great White Potato. |
| 325 | * ''Webcomic/StandStillStaySilent'': The Norse and Finnish pantheons co-exist. The Finns are protected by their gods, while the Norse ones watch over the Icelanders, Norwegians, Swedes and Danes, even though the two latter don't actually believe in them. [[spoiler:There are also hints of the Christian god being around as well, but not being able to do much.]] |
| 326 | [[/folder]] |
| 327 | |
| 328 | [[folder:Web Original]] |
| 329 | * In the ''Literature/WhateleyUniverse'', an awful lot of cosmologies seem to be there. Great Old Ones have been banished from this realm, by the ancient Sidhe (who were shredded in that war). One mutant has been given religious powers by a sacred ring of the Catholic Church, and when she heals people she spends several seconds in Hell, being [[ColdBloodedTorture tortured]] by Satan (or someone who says he's Satan). There are demons and devils, which are actually different kinds of entities. The Tao is actively working in mysterious ways, partly through one of the protagonists and her mentor figures. Certain students at Whateley Academy are playing hosts to some of the obligatory Greek gods (WordOfGod has confirmed this, although the original author of their backstory hasn't been heard from in some years), there's a catgirl-paladin of Bast (in her capacity as a Lovecraft-inspired Elder Goddess, though the link to Egypt is bound to still be there) and ''the'' Circe is one of the Mystic Arts instructors at the school. |
| 330 | * [[http://www.fictionpress.com/s/2581873/1/Koukon_Bridge Koukon Bridge]] features many Gods and Goddesses from various pantheons, including Greek, Japanese, Norse, Native American, and Egyptian. |
| 331 | * ''Literature/BeyondTheImpossible''. In addition to the Greek gods, Egyptian and Sumerian pantheons are confirmed to be real, but according to Vesta the Norse Gods don’t exist. Ulysses mentions a theory about the Drylon creating gods as slaves, which would make it a case of OneMythToExplainThemAll. |
| 332 | * In [[http://www.theonion.com/article/pope-francis-hosts-feathered-serpent-god-part-deit-53917 this article]] by ''Website/TheOnion'', Kukulkan, the Mayan feathered serpent god is participating in a Deity Exchange Program in UsefulNotes/VaticanCity, while the Abrahamic God spends a month with the Taoist thunder god Lei Gong in [[TheShangriLa the cloud kingdom over Tibet]]. |
| 333 | [[/folder]] |
| 334 | |
| 335 | [[folder:Western Animation]] |
| 336 | * ''WesternAnimation/HerculesTheAnimatedSeries'' had an episode crossing over Greek mythology with Norse: Zeus and Hera have dinner dates with Odin fairly often, Hercules stands in for Thor (''right before'' Ragnarok is put into motion, unfortunately for ''everyone'') and the three Fates also serve as Urd, Skuld and Verdandi. Another episode depicts the foundation of Rome, which included the Romans selecting a pantheon of gods for worship: the first gods that show up are Egyptian, and when the Romans decide to worship the Greek pantheon, they also decide to call them by their own names. |
| 337 | * In ''WesternAnimation/{{Gargoyles}}'', most mythical monsters and gods turn out to be real and either based on Gargoyles, or on members of [[TheFairFolk the Third Race]], which is shown to have [[Myth/EgyptianMythology Anubis]], [[Myth/NorseMythology Odin]], [[TricksterGod Anansi]], [[Myth/NativeAmericanMythology Coyote and Raven]] as members. Myth/GreekMythology is a special case, as its gods and creatures are tied into the race which now calls itself the New Olympians (whom WordOfGod describes as [[TrueBreedingHybrid the descendants of]] [[HalfHumanHybrid Half-Human Hybrids]] with the Third Race). |
| 338 | * ''WesternAnimation/FamilyGuy'' shows Peter thanking Jesus for something; he is then seen to state that it wasn't him, only for ''Vishnu'' to come up and quietly state that he is used to it. Jesus and Vishnu also appeared in Seth [=MacFarlane=]'s Comedy Cavalcade, in which Jesus boasted that Vishnu didn't have a birthday as celebrated as his (Christmas). |
| 339 | * ''WesternAnimation/MayaAndTheThree'' features a pantheon of gods that is a mixture of Mayan and Aztec deities. |
| 340 | ** WordOfGod says some of them are related to Gods from his ''WesternAnimation/TheBookOfLife'' movie. The Aztec god, Lord Mictlan is a brother of Mayan god, Xubalba and that Aztec goddess, Lady Micte is a sister of La Muerte from folk Catholicism and Mexican Neopaganism. |
| 341 | * ''WesternAnimation/TheSimpsons'' has done similar gags; God and Jesus Christ are real beings, but Vishnu sits at the center of the Earth, Buddha also dwells in heaven, Col. Sanders sits at the Lord's right hand tossing popcorn chicken into His mouth, and ''WesternAnimation/SpongeBobSquarePants'' is an apparently manic deity. |
| 342 | * ''WesternAnimation/SamuraiJack'' has featured several members of the Egyptian, Norse, and Hindu pantheons, although it's hinted that they might be {{Sufficiently Advanced Alien}}s. Odin, Ra, and Rama destroyed the shapeless mass of evil that spawned Aku, and they were the ones who charged Jack's sword with its power. Other pantheons get nods as well; Kronos from Greek Mythology features heavily in the episode "Jack and the Swamp Wizard", Jack's sword was empowered by the gods but was forged by what look like Buddhist bhodisatvas (saints), and a mystical Buddhist monk helps Jack recover his sword in Season 5. Also the BigBad [[spoiler: is the outgrowth of a remnant of a monster that looked an awful lot like Azathoth]]. |
| 343 | * ''WesternAnimation/SouthPark'': |
| 344 | ** UsefulNotes/{{Jesus}} refers to his Chinese younger brother, an obscure [[ShoutOut/WesternAnimation Shout Out]] to the instigator of the Taiping Rebellion, who claimed this relationship for himself. |
| 345 | ** There's also the Super Best Friends, a SuperTeam whose ranks include Jesus, Buddha, Krishna, Joseph Smith, and Muhammad. [[MyFriendsAndZoidberg And Sea-Man!]] |
| 346 | * ''WesternAnimation/{{Superjail}}'': The episode "Ghosts" features the afterlife with all the spirits of the deceased inmates, shows that Superjail was once a site for [[{{Mayincatec}} Mayan]] human sacrifices, has a witch doctor inmate who performs a ritual on the Warden, and in the end all the dead inmates and sacrificed people are being reincarnated by Hindu deities into flowers, insects and blades of grass. Phew! |
| 347 | * ''WesternAnimation/TheSuperheroSquadShow'': [[Myth/GreekMythology Zeus]] and [[Myth/NorseMythology Odin]] are rivals. |
| 348 | [[/folder]] |
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