Osiris is a god of the Ancient Egyptian religion, usually identified as the god of the afterlife, the underworld and the dead. He is classically depicted as a green-skinned man with a pharaoh’s beard. He is the brother and husband of Isis. After being murdered, he was resurrected in the underworld. Horus is considered his posthumously begotten son.
Ra is the ancient Egyptian sun god. By the Fifth Dynasty he had become a major deity in Ancient Egyptian religion, identified primarily with the midday sun. All forms of life were believed to have been created by Ra, who called each of them into existence by speaking their secret names. He is considered the first being and the originator of other Egyptian deities.
In Haitian Vodou, he is the intermediary between the loa and humanity. He is the master linguist, the trickster, warrior and the personal messenger of destiny. He stands at a spiritual crossroads and gives (or denies) permission to speak with the spirits of Guinee. Papa Legba’s colors are red and black (as worshipped in New Orleans voodoo rituals).
A sacred figure venerated in Mexico, probably a mix of Mesoamerican and Catholic beliefs. The name literally translates to “Holy Death” or “Saint Death.” A reverence toward death can be seen in the widespread Mexican celebration of the Day of the Dead. Catholic elements of that celebration include the use of skeletons to remind people of their mortality.
Note: Today is also All Souls’ Day.
The elephant-headed Hindu deity is widely revered as the Remover of Obstacles and patron of the arts and sciences. He is associated with intellect, wisdom and writing. Like Vishnu, he has an extra set of arms.
According to the Book of Genesis, Adam was the first man created by Yahweh. Adam and Eve were used by early Renaissance artists to represent nudes. Later, modesty was preserved using fig leaves. Here’s an amazing painting: “Adam and Eve” (1964) by Enrico Baj.
Founder of the Latter Day Saint movement and publisher of the English translation of the golden plates known as the Book of Mormon.
A central figure of Hinduism. He is the eighth incarnation of Vishnu and the protector of sacred utterances and cows. In some monotheistic traditions, he is considered the Supreme Being.
The author of the Torah, according to Hebrew biblical manuscripts. A prophet who led the Israelites out of Egypt and across the Red Sea and acquired stone tablets at Mount Sinai. In South Park, he was drawn to look like the Master Control Program from the film Tron.
A mystic philosopher of ancient China and author of the Tao Te Ching. Considered the founder of Taoism. Also an important member of South Park‘s Super Best Friends group.
P.S. “If you want to awaken all of humanity, then awaken all of yourself. If you want to eliminate the suffering in the world, then eliminate all that is dark and negative in yourself. Truly, the greatest gift you have to give is that of your own self-transformation.” – Wang Fou, Huahujing (but often attributed to Laozi)
I’ve been working on creating 8-bit versions of all major religious figures (including every character depicted in South Park‘s Super Best Friends group) and want to be inclusive without potentially upsetting radical Islamist organizations. Thus, here is a censored (think of it as extremely backlit) visual depiction of a certain prophet from Mecca.
The 14th Dalai Lama has represented Tibetan Buddhism since 1950.
P.S. “What surprises me most about humanity is man. He sacrifices his health in order to make money. Then he sacrifices money to recuperate his health. And then he is so anxious about the future that he does not enjoy the present; the result being that he does not live in the present or the future. He lives as if he is never going to die, and then dies never having really lived.” – Dalai Lama
A Jewish woman of Nazareth in Galilee who got knocked up by God as a teenager. Nine months later she popped out an appropriated sun god named Jesus.
Siddhārtha Gautama was the spiritual teacher who founded Buddhism. He is also considered the ninth incarnation of Vishnu in Hinduism.
Not the real Buddha, but a laughing deity of Chinese folklore. I bought a sitting Budai figurine in Manhattan just after 9/11 and have kept it in my car ever since. For good luck. I am also quite taken by this recent photo of a Hotei Buddha statue resting seemingly undisturbed in the tsunami-destroyed town of Sendai, Japan.
Time to switch things up. Now begins a series of characters that aren’t based on college sports mascots. First is the central figure and namesake of Christianity who was born from the Virgin Mary.
Eve – No. 86
The biblical first woman who began life in the Garden of Eden. The story of Adam and Eve forms the basis for the Christian doctrine of original sin. In classic male chauvinist form, it is written that Eve tempted Adam to eat of the fatal fruit. Quick, someone cover her up!
Hey, isn’t the second coming of Christ supposed to occur today? If you’re reading this, I guess you didn’t make the list.