In Norse mythology, Odin assumes the role as the Allfather or King of the Gods, but Norse mythology has multiple tribes of Gods such as the Æsir and Vanir, and Odin starts off as only the leader of the former.

In the Ancient Greek system of Olympian Gods, Cronus displaces Uranus, and Zeus in turn displaces Cronus.

In Hinduism, the King of the Gods is Indra, The God of Thunder and lightning and the ruler of heaven.

In the Hurrian/ Hittite pantheon, Teshub or Tarḫunz or Arinna displaces Kumarbi.

In the Canaanite pantheon, Baal ( Hadad) displaces El.

In the Ancient Egyptian religion, Amun-Ra was the official deity of the Pharaoh and the people of Egypt.

In the Mesopotamian Anunnaki, Enlil displaces Anu and is in turn replaced by Marduk.

King of the gods in different cultures Įxamples of kings of the gods in different cultures include: There is also a tendency for kings of the gods to assume more and more importance, syncretistically assuming the attributes and functions of lesser divinities, who come to be seen as aspects of the single supreme deity. Frequently the king of the gods has at least one wife who is the queen of the gods.Īccording to feminist theories of the replacement of original matriarchies by patriarchies, male sky gods tend to supplant female earth goddesses and achieve omnipotence. Historically, subsequent social events, such as invasions or shifts in power structures, can cause the previous king of the gods to be displaced by a new divinity, who assumes the displaced god's attributes and functions. Other gods come to serve in a Divine Council or pantheon such subsidiary courtier-deities are usually linked by family ties from the union of a single husband or wife, or else from an androgynous divinity who is responsible for the creation. This tendency can parallel the growth of hierarchical systems of political power in which a monarch eventually comes to assume ultimate authority for human affairs. Indra, the Hindu king of Gods, Deva (Hinduism)Īs polytheistic systems evolve, there is a tendency for one deity to achieve preeminence as king of the gods.

Gods, Kings & Slaves by R. Venketesh