So in my homebrew I like to have multiple pantheons for different areas including the Golarion one, the Greyhawk one, the Forgotten Realms one, the 4e one, Scarred Lands, Dragonlance, and various real world based ones and other fantasy pantheons. Sort of like how Hyperborea for Conan had different pantheons for different areas, sometimes with overlaps in gods or different portrayals of gods in different areas.
So I like to see connections and analogues between religions to create a situation like some Greeks saying the Egyptians call Demeter Isis and Hermes Thoth or the Romans just lifting most of the Olympians and giving them local names.
So suggestions on connections between the Golarion pantheon and other pantheons or how individual Golarion deities could be connected?
For instance:
Torag: Moradin (3e, 4e, Greyhawk, Forgotten Realms), Hephaestus (Greek), Reorx (Dragonlance), Corean (Scarred Lands), Ptah (Egyptian).
Some analogues for the Forgotten Realms
Abadar - Waukeen
Asmodeus - Bane
Calistria - Lolth, Shevarash
Cayden Cailean - Tymora
Desna - Selune, Shaundakul
Erastil - Chauntea
Gorum - Tempus, Uthgar
Gozreh - Silvanus
Iomedae - Torm, Siamorphe, Red Knight
Irori - Illmater
Lamashtu - Malar
Nethys - Mystra
Norgorber - Mask
Pharasma - Kelemvor
Rovagug - Gruumsh
Sarenrae - Lathander,
Shelyn - Sune, Liira
Torag - Moradin
Urgathoa - Yurtrus, Talona
Zon Kuthon - Loviatar
Some analogues for 4e
Abadar - Erastil
Asmodeus - Asmodeus
Calistria - Lolth, Tiamat
Cayden Cailean - Avandra
Desna - Avandra, Sehanine
Erastil - Pelor, Melora, Erathis
Gorum - Bane, Kord
Gozreh - Melora, Kord
Iomedae - Bahamut
Irori - Ioun
Lamashtu - Gruumsh, Melora
Nethys - Ioun, Correlon
Norgorber - Vecna, Sehanine, Zehir, Lolth
Pharasma - Raven Queen, Ioun
Rovagug - Gruumsh
Sarenrae - Pelor
Shelyn - Correlon
Torag - Moradin
Urgathoa - Vecna
Zon Kuthon - Torog
Some analogues for the Scarred Lands
Abadar - Hedrada
Asmodeus - Chardun
Calistria - Idra, Sethris
Cayden Cailean - Hwyrrd
Desna - Syhana, Erias
Erastil - Tanil
Gorum - Vangal
Gozreh - Denev, Manawe
Iomedae - Corean, Madriel
Irori - Hedrada
Lamashtu - Khadum, Hinruuk
Nethys - Mesos
Norgorber - Belsameth, Drendari
Pharasma - Nemorga
Rovagug - Vangal, Khadum
Sarenrae - Madriel
Shelyn - Idra
Torag - Corean, Goran
Urgathoa - Otossal
Zon Kuthon - Gormoth
Dot.
Some analogues for Dragonlance
Abadar - Shinare
Asmodeus - Hiddukel, Takhisis
Calistria - Sargonnas
Cayden Cailean - Branchala, Reorx
Desna - Solinari
Erastil - Habbakuk
Gorum - Sargonnas
Gozreh - Habbakuk, Chislev
Iomedae - Kiri-Jolith, Paladine
Irori - Majere, Gilean
Lamashtu - Chislev
Nethys - Solinari,Lunitari, Nuitari
Norgorber - Hiddukel, Chemosh
Pharasma - Zivilyn
Rovagug - Sargonnas
Sarenrae - Mishakal, Sirrion, Paladine
Shelyn - Branchala
Torag - Reorx
Urgathoa - Chemosh
Zon Kuthon - Zeboim
I have a version of the Holy Lothian empire from Ptolus as a big part of my setting and Lothian the ascended paladin is known for having a bunch of saints. I decided in addition to the ones listed in Ptolus he would have absorbed some of the compatible gods of pantheons from conquered/absorbed territories so Madriel serves as one of his angels, Corean the Smith and Hedrada the Lawgiver from Scarred Lands are part of the saintly host with Corean's orders of knighthoods now working for the Imperial church.
For the city-state/territory of Taldor in the western empire where the native Golarion pantheon was worshiped the imperial church says Lothian convinced Iomedae to join his cause and she is now venerated throughout the empire as St. Iomedae the Inheritor. Some mountain monasteries stay true to Iomedae as one of the great Gods and reject the saint story as Lothian propaganda and heresy.
Rumors state that Lothian is in negotiations with Sarenrae for her to join the chorus of angels who serve him.
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Some analogues for the Scarred Lands
Abadar - Hedrada
Asmodeus - Chardun
Calistria - Idra, Sethris
Cayden Cailean - Hwyrrd
Desna - Syhana, Erias
Erastil - Tanil
Gorum - Vangal
Gozreh - Denev, Manawe
Iomedae - Corean, Madriel
Irori - Hedrada
Lamashtu - Khadum, Hinruuk
Nethys - Mesos
Norgorber - Belsameth, Drendari
Pharasma - Nemorga
Rovagug - Vangal, Khadum
Sarenrae - Madriel
Shelyn - Idra
Torag - Corean, Goran
Urgathoa - Otossal
Zon Kuthon - Gormoth
Enkili, as a dual-gendered sky/storm god, also maps over pretty well to Gozreh.
Otherwise, yeah, I agree with most of this. Some are almost eerily similar (Madriel the Redeemer, NG goddess of healing, mercy and the sun pretty much *is* Sarenrae, for instance), others have an aspect here or there.
Corean is sort of Torag + Iomedae, for instance.
Enkili, as a dual-gendered sky/storm god, also maps over pretty well to Gozreh.
Otherwise, yeah, I agree with most of this. Some are almost eerily similar (Madriel the Redeemer, NG goddess of healing, mercy and the sun pretty much *is* Sarenrae, for instance), others have an aspect here or there.
Corean is sort of Torag + Iomedae, for instance.
I thought the fact that Scarred Lands has a sky goddess of butterflies was a neat match for Desna as well.
Good catch on Enkili with the dual gender and storms.
Enkili as trickster could go a little ways with Calistria as a deception goddess as well, though I see her aspects of lust and revenge as being more central to her.
Belsameth fits in well among the respected witch patrons of Irrisen for my campaign along with Hecate (Greek), Mestama (Golarion Demon Lord), Grazzt (D&D Demon Lord), Antaia (Book of Fiends Devil), Celigune (Monster Mythology), Gyronna (Golarion), Carniveau (Book of Fiends Fallen Power), and Nocticula (Golarion, D&D, Book of Fiends Demon Lord). Freyja as an Ulfen deity is not favored by Irreseni witches despite her attributes being otherwise attractive to the Jadwigga.
Some analogues for Ancient Greece
Abadar - Hera, Hermes
Asmodeus - Chronos
Calistria - Aphrodite, Nemesis, Hermes
Cayden Cailean - Dionysus, Hermes, Heracles
Desna - Morpheus, Tyche
Erastil - Demeter, Artemis
Gorum - Ares
Gozreh - Poseidon
Iomedae - Athena
Irori - Apollo
Lamashtu - Echidna
Nethys - Hecate
Norgorber - Hades
Pharasma - Hades
Rovagug - Typhon
Sarenrae - Apollo
Shelyn - Aphrodite, Apollo, Muses
Torag - Hephaestus
Urgathoa - Apollo, Eris
Zon Kuthon - Hades
Some analogues for Norse Pantheon
Abadar - foresetti
Asmodeus - Surtr
Calistria - Loki, Freyja, Vidar, Vali
Cayden Cailean - Thor
Desna - Frey
Erastil - Frey, Ullr
Gorum - Odin, Freyja
Gozreh - Aegir, Ran
Iomedae - Tyr, Odin
Irori - Odin
Lamashtu - Angrboda
Nethys - Odin, Freyja
Norgorber - Loki, Gulveig, Odin
Pharasma - Freyja, Odin, Hel
Rovagug - Fenris, Jormungandr
Sarenrae - Baldur
Shelyn - Freyja, Bragi
Torag - Heimdall, Villi, Ve
Urgathoa - Hel
Zon Kuthon - Loki, Hod
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Some analogues for Ancient Greece
Abadar - Hera, Hermes
Hades is actually a better match than Hermes here, both alignment-wise and as the God of Wealth.
Asmodeus - Chronos
That's...off. Asmodeus is both still around and very different, personality-wise.
Calistria - Aphrodite, Nemesis, Hermes
Yeah, that works.
Cayden Cailean - Dionysus, Hermes, Heracles
Solid choices there, too.
Desna - Morpheus, Tyche
Yeah, I guess those'll work. Maybe throw in Artemis as well.
Erastil - Demeter, Artemis
That'll do. Maybe throw in Hestia as well, for the community thing...
Gorum - Ares
The obvious choice.
Gozreh - Poseidon
Solid call, there. Zeus should probably be thrown in here, he's a decent match, and should certainly be on the list somewhere.
Iomedae - Athena
Again, the obvious choice, and likely the best one.
Irori - Apollo
This one is deeply shaky. Athena's still a bad match, but somewhat more appropriate.
Lamashtu - Echidna
That'll probably do.
Nethys - Hecate
Definitely a solid call.
Norgorber - Hades
Hermes, as a murderer and God of Thieves, is an infinitely better choice here. Hades really isn't a criminal deity...quite the opposite, really.
Pharasma - Hades
This one's solid, though.
Rovagug - Typhon
Yeah, that's a good choice.
Sarenrae - Apollo
That'll do, yeah.
Shelyn - Aphrodite, Apollo, Muses
Yeah, those'll work.
Torag - Hephaestus
Very good call, as well as the obvious one.
Urgathoa - Apollo, Eris
Neither of these really fit. At all. I dunno who does...let me think a bit.
Zon Kuthon - Hades
Definitely wrong. Hades is, as mentioned, one of the nicer Greek Gods. I'm pretty sure there is no good equivalent here, and if there were it sure as hell wouldn't be Hades.
Hades is actually a better match than Hermes here, both alignment-wise and as the God of Wealth.Some analogues for Ancient Greece
Abadar - Hera, Hermes
Hades as wealth is a good match, but Hermes is a god of trade and city boundaries and fits aspects there.
Asmodeus - ChronosThat's...off. Asmodeus is both still around and very different, personality-wise.
Chronos is an ancient evil glorious ruler figure so aspects fit. Personality wise Asmodeus is tough to find a good analogue.
Desna - Morpheus, TycheYeah, I guess those'll work. Maybe throw in Artemis as well.
For the moon-stars night time sky connection?
Erastil - Demeter, ArtemisThat'll do. Maybe throw in Hestia as well, for the community thing...
I always thought of her as hearth and home for single households and not for village style community, but she is associated with the proper ordering of the state so she works too.
Gozreh - PoseidonSolid call, there. Zeus should probably be thrown in here, he's a decent match, and should certainly be on the list somewhere.
Yeah, bearded older storm god should be there for Gozreh too.
Irori - ApolloThis one is deeply shaky. Athena's still a bad match, but somewhat more appropriate.
Apollo has athletic physical perfection and the whole enlightened reason plus prophecy thing. He is more logic and wisdom than straight knowledge but I feel it works pretty well for monk like physical and spiritual enlightenment with a little prophecy covering knowledge.
Athena is generally more clever wisdom and battle strategy than straight knowledge too and I'm not familiar with her as physical perfection except arising fully formed and being a great battle goddess.
Norgorber - HadesHermes, as a murderer and God of Thieves, is an infinitely better choice here. Hades really isn't a criminal deity...quite the opposite, really.
Hades I was going with Greed and wealth, but you are right, that fits better with Abadar and Hermes as criminal patron fits better here.
Urgathoa - Apollo, ErisNeither of these really fit. At all. I dunno who does...let me think a bit.
Apollo sends out the arrows of disease. I thought some of Ares henchgods had disease and natural order disruption associations as well and Eris came to mind in that role. The undeath and even gluttony are tough to find good matches straight out though from the well known gods.
Zon Kuthon - HadesDefinitely wrong. Hades is, as mentioned, one of the nicer Greek Gods. I'm pretty sure there is no good equivalent here, and if there were it sure as hell wouldn't be Hades.
I was looking at the envy and darkness aspects of Zon Kuthon. Hades got the worst of the three kingdom straws to Zeus and Poseidon despite being the eldest brother and was not happy about it. He abducted Persephone because he desperately wanted a young nature goddess.
His special weapon is the Helm of Darkness and he is associated with darkness and dark places.
His realm also has all the eternal painful punishment areas for Tantalus, Sisyphus, Ixion, and others.
Tartarus is more directly evil punishment and pain.
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Undeath and gluttony? Hm. Who got dragged into the underworld, and they couldn't drag her back out because she couldn't help but stuff her face while she was down there?
:)
(Seriously, 'though, I'm not sure there's a great port for Urgathoa in *any* pantheon. Goddess of death and gluttony / hedonism? That's a pretty original pairing.)
Undeath and gluttony? Hm. Who got dragged into the underworld, and they couldn't drag her back out because she couldn't help but stuff her face while she was down there?
:)
(Seriously, 'though, I'm not sure there's a great port for Urgathoa in *any* pantheon. Goddess of death and gluttony / hedonism? That's a pretty original pairing.)
Aspects that overlap are usually enough for me. Its a bit flavor in that syncretism of disparate stuff is a real world phenomena that's neat and a little bit RPG tool to access different but similar flavor resources that can be shared and used as desired.
Having some significant differences also gives validity to the idea that these are not the same divinities, it is just some people mentally merging them for their own understanding. I like having both options be reasonable viewpoints in the world.
When you look at Demeter and Isis they are major goddesses of their pantheons who are mothers but have a lot of differences. But they both end up with the same myth of wandering the land on a long term search quest, deciding to stay for a time with a mortal noble family as nanny, and shoving the baby boy into the fire to make him immortal through a multi-day ritual only to be interrupted a few days into the baking by the horrified mother which leads to the deification being ruined and the goddess revealing herself and leaving on her long search again. So you could say Isis is what the Egyptians call Demeter or you could say Demeter is not a magic bird goddess like Isis and it is just some myths that got appropriated.
So for my purposes take Chardun from Scarred Lands who is both The General, and The Slaver Master of Devils. Going to the 4e pantheon parts of him match up to Bane the evil general styled-war god and parts to Asmodeus.
For Urgathoa, Undeath is uncommon outside of fantasy pantheons but Disease and Gluttony come in a little more frequently. I should have put Gaurok down for her in Scarred Lands as well for that aspect. This could lead to using some undeadified Gaurok origin gluttony-themed titanspawn from the three Creature Collections if I want to flesh out an Ugathoa secret hot spot.
Undeath and gluttony? Hm. Who got dragged into the underworld, and they couldn't drag her back out because she couldn't help but stuff her face while she was down there?
:)
(Seriously, 'though, I'm not sure there's a great port for Urgathoa in *any* pantheon. Goddess of death and gluttony / hedonism? That's a pretty original pairing.)
I'd bet there are some ghoul themed undead decadent consumer entities somewhere in D&D and d20 lore. That Ghoul King who worked for Yeenoghu and might now be associated with Orcus? Possibly some vampire ones as well. Orcus as a fat slob undead gormand?