EVERY Major God of the Dead from Mythology Explained

From evil deities that torment their subjects to neutral rulers of the Underworld, meet the 19 major Gods & Goddesses of the dead from mythology around the world. From the mysterious and stoic Anubis of Egyptian mythology, to the fearsome Ah Puch of Aztec Mythology. Definitely not forgetting the iconic Greek god, Hades!
We also cover gods of the dead from lesser known mythos and gods including Mot from Canaanite legends and the terrifying Erlik from Turkic mythology. With a short introduction to the tales and myths using lighthearted animation.
Get a say in our next video topic! Join my channel and take part in polls to decide what comes next! / @darknessandlore
💼 Contact: [e-mail]
#mythology #mythologyexplained #historyfacts #greekmythology #egyptianmythology #aztecs #norsemythology #celticmythology #folklore #folktales

[@moranaemi2945]

As a Slav I'm happy to see Morana on the list 🥲 I think Slavic mythology deserves more recognition. Thank you for this 😄❄

[@filipmartinec7509]

There are more gods of death in Slavic mythology than Morana. She was rather winter alone (beautiful, cold and cruel.Veles was the ruler of the empire of the dead and only behind the empire of the dead was the empire of hell that ruled Kasčej

[@SkinnyEatWorld95]

I love learning more about the old gods😁

[@Jellyfish308]

Your a slave?

[@Nat.alia20]

Seeing the title made me wonder if our Marzanna will be here, and she is 😊

[@vsksan7485]

yee, most of the people that walk pass slavic myth only know Veles as god of hell.

[@Himanshu_Singh793]

11:01 the picture you showed as "yamadutas" (Messengers of Yama) are actually Vishnudutas (Messengers of Vishnu), which is why they look like Lord Vishnu. At 10:59, you showed Vishnudutas encircling a dying man. They're actually saving the man from Yamadutas because the man is Ajamila, a devotee of Vishnu. You can read this interesting story on internet, search "the story of Ajamila". Very informative video and thank you for including a Hindu deva. Love all the way from India ❤

[@the1tigglet]

Mictlantecuhtli was featured in John Constantine's Justice League Dark where he summoned demons and Mictlantecuhtli to feast on the demons for trespassing on Aztec Lands that were never claimed/blessed for any other deity.

[@dsr294]

An interesting tale in hinduism is the story of sati, the brave wife of satyavan. When Yama takes her husbands soul to the underworld, she follows him. Using her wit and dedication, finally ends up moving Yama to restore her husband back to life.

[@himanshukuanr7832]

Actually, It's Savitri Not Sati.. Impressed by the Devotion for her Husband, God Yam told her to ask for a Boon and Savitri prayed to Yam to let her Husband live until he see His Grandchildren getting Married..

[@tulimondal13]

Little correction** it's Savitri not Sati 😊

[@heiAMB]

​@@himanshukuanr7832 She also known as Sati

[@heiAMB]

​@@tulimondal13 She also known as Sati. Did you Forget "Sati Savitri" Term?

[@himanshukuanr7832]

@@heiAMB Sati is also used as Honorary title which Savitri Earned.. That's why Sati Savitri or Savitri the Pious..and Through the ages "Sati Savitri" as whole itself has turned into an Honorary Title for Well Charactered Women/Wives.

[@kevinnorwood8782]

You neglected to mention that Helheim is also the residence of the souls of people who were executed as condemned criminals, and that Hel is exceptionally merciless to those individuals, forcing them to relive every single crime they committed in life.

[@thomasmccullough4218]

Beyond the omission, this video is amazing. Production, clarity of explanation, variety in mythologies. 👍

[@DarknessandLore]

Thank you for the kind words! More to come 😁

[@OswaldM_14]

That's not too bad if they enjoy committing those crimes

[@markfarmer3948]

He also forgot to mention she has a great spikey helmet and two giant longsword and the ability to destroy mjolnir. Shut up and stop being to pretentious, this a great video for those who want a quick and easy introduction to the gods of death.

[@justified_wrath_21]

Nordic nerd

[@user-mk3zm6fe4s]

For Hellenism ,the real answer is not Thanatos as he is just personification ,he isn't killing anyone. The true divinity of death is goddess Atropos one of the Morai ,she cuts the string of life ,this killing the human .

[@hilldweller9898]

I really like this format. Please keep up with this. And talking about some of the more obscure mythos like Finnish and traditional Canaan and Mesopotamian.

[@DarknessandLore]

Thank you for watching and the kind words! More videos on the way soon 😁

[@holeeshi9959]

One notable addition I like to make is the Buddhist Kṣitigarbha Boddhisatva, the Boddhisatva of the underworld, who in many sects of Buddhism is responsible for judging the souls through the reincarnation cycle(and jointly rules hell with Yan Luo Wang/Yama in Chinse/Japanese mythology), and the only reason he(or in rarer cases she) doesn't become a full Buddha is because he vows only to become Buddha when hell is empty. also, the Hindu Yama actually influenced the Chinese Yan(Luo) Wang and Japanese Yama.

[@DarknessandLore]

Great addition, thanks for watching!

[@demongodking6681]

​@@DarknessandLorehey I'm not sure if you know about this god but his name is Baron Samedi who is technically not a god of the dead but are instead are called loa and are technically not deities but are said to may be of divine origin that were probably created by a god for assistance in a particular role in voodoo mythology and baron samedi has the role of death

[@DHRUVKUMAR-pj6ke]

Lol bro Yama are in Vedas which is most ancient scriptures that's means before Buddhism so how you can say Yama inspired form Chinese and Japanese mythology

[@vizionara]

I llike that you showcased gods from lesser known mythologies! I would love to see gods from Caribbean folklore, which I think pull from South American and African folklore as well.

[@stayout9]

I wish you could have gotten to Baron Samedi... He's another very interesting death deity

[@pavanswargam1581]

The picture used in the above video for Yama-dhutas (Yama's messengers) is lord vishnu saving righteous souls from being taken away to be judged.A righteous is released from the cycle of birth and death. Hell and heaven are both temporary. The picture of the man holding a lotus and other divine objects (shown as a Yama-dhuta) is actually lord vishnu not a Yama Dhuta, but the demonic looking beings are Yama-dhutas. There are many depictions of these messengers. In the popular epic Ramayana, the evil king Ravana is dragged to hell by a woman wearing red.

[@bobmasters9871]

This is way too impressive to have no views like at all

[@DarknessandLore]

Thank you for watching, glad you liked it!

[@lucabertani225]

They're racking up, this vids are interesting as hell, even if don't include EVERY specific god they definitely include many even lesser known ones, so I can't complain at all

[@boogsloogus]

An additional fun detail in Osiris' story tho is that Sobek ate pieces of his deceased body as he noticed them floatijg down the nile

[@T0B3573R]

Imagine all of them in purgatory being like, “What is the next hurdle of death that we should embark upon the earth this year?” And they all vote. They all probably share whatever afterlife is with each other. They are all death gods.

[@johanandersson7141]

Being from Scandinavia, I was taught that while “Hel” was the ruler of the Norse underworld, the proper “God of Death” is actually “Odin” himself. Great video though 👍

[@rizkiramadhan9266]

Isn't Odin the top god instead?

[@derbyblade9572]

Odin still afraid of Hela Lokidottir. He can retrieve Baldr under her authority. He beg her in the end. Also, Odin can't be God of Death because he fucking dies in the dead

[@vlinnstone6919]

Yeah coz Odin is a massive narcissist lol

[@vlinnstone6919]

​@@derbyblade9572EXACTLY

[@vlinnstone6919]

​@@rizkiramadhan9266he is... also a massive pompous narcissistic bastard... so it's quite in character for him to want to be known as the true god of death lol

[@YarenYavuzer]

So glad to see Turkic Mythology here, thanks for the appreciation.

[@DarknessandLore]

♥️

[@rubenvasquez8592]

Xolotl was a Toltec deity that was added to the Mexica pantheon. It's something like when the Roman's started worshiping Isis. So even though the "Aztecs" (Mexica) worshiped Xolotl, he wasn't part of their original pantheon.

[@Based_Gigachad_001]

Also Anubis and Xolotl aren't gods. They are mere servants to the actual gods of death in their respective myths

[@KnightSlayer-E]

​@@Based_Gigachad_001 Nope, they are truly deities, it is just with the evolution of the tribes and cities that their pantheons evolve, and some of them were given lesser tasks, but they are true GODS...

[@Based_Gigachad_001]

@@KnightSlayer-E Nah.

[@bravesirrobinn]

The layout and way information is given in these videos is really good. Please make more of these types of videos but with Gods of other aspects of life and death.

[@mudeschuppentier6306]

Didn’t mention Donn for Celtic/Irish myth He’s really interesting, said to be the ancestor to all Irish people, and when you die you go to his house (Tech Duine) before being transported to the otherworld.

[@Johnny21345]

Teach*

[@mudeschuppentier6306]

@@Johnny21345 Irish is an interesting language, I think it might be able to be spelled both ways.

[@Johnny21345]

@@mudeschuppentier6306 nope

[@mudeschuppentier6306]

@@Johnny21345 idk man that’s how it’s spelled on most of the internet and the internet is always right (joking, of course)

[@Johnny21345]

@@mudeschuppentier6306 I’m fluent and I’ve never seen it spelt that way in my life. Maybe in a British anglicised format, but then that wouldn’t be Irish would it?

[@Chillchildren999]

Death Gods/Shinigami are My favorite type of Gods in mythology and three of my favorite anime/manga are focused on them like Bleach, Death note and Soul Eater

[@Joromonni]

Didn't expect Finnish mythos to be mentioned.

[@toastedcrack8105]

One of the cooler god types

[@arien_000]

YAMA is the best death god. Best in the sense that the concept behind him makes the most sense. Also it's important to note that he is always depicted with a noose cuz no one can escape death. Although his father Surya is not the creator. Brahma is the creator.

[@theblackone_]

Yamadharmaraja is actually not the God of death, but the Devata (Deity or Lord) who judges the karmas (actions) of the mortals post their death. His brother Shanaischara plays the role of the judge during the mortal's lifetime. Surya is the Sun. Like literally.

[@NECR0MENCER]

@@theblackone_ Sani Dev?

[@theblackone_]

@@NECR0MENCER Yes. Swami Shanaischara. He's the judge during our mortal lifetime.

[@KossolaxtheForesworn]

Finnish mythology has a whole fleet of minor gods associated with death related things. like Kalma, direct daughter of Tuoni and Tuonetar. her name means "the stench of corpses" and her favorite place to linger is the graveyard. she has multitude of siblings associated with pain and sickness, and other such niceties.

[@Beth.H]

It would be cool to see Hine-nui-te-pō from Māori mythology in a future video 😊

[@W7RSON]

Love the shared moto of scythes and dogs between various unrelated culture's gods.

[@pawlee77]

Maquetaurie Guayaba or Maketaori Guayaba was the Taino god of Coaybay, the land of the dead. Opiyelguabirán, a dog-shaped Taino god, watched over the dead

[@lifewithlee6298]

Beer 🍻 that causes memory loss 😅 yeah that sounds like all beers 🍻

[@krzysztofczarnecki8238]

As for Innana, I have read the version of the story where she descends to the underworld to save her husband Dumuzi or Tammuz. And she did manage to leave, but with the help of other gods, and Dumuzi had to stay. Her visiting Dumuzi in Ereshkigal's kingdom was used as an explanation of winter, because Innana is not only a goddess of love and war, but also of life. So when she stays in the underworld, there is generally less life in the world of the living. And that's why it is fitting that they are sisters, being goddesses of life and death, and hating each other's guts despite being related.

[@bruhman651]

Love this video ❤

[@DarknessandLore]

Thanks for watching!

[@cekken]

Ankou is not evil, but necessary in our folklore. Also his scythe is looking up instead of down, there are many theories as ro why but nobdy can tell where this comes from. Ankou is also the original inspiration for the look of the grim reaper, as he is way older.

[@meli-cruz]

Im also reallyyyyyyyy happy that ypu touched on Aztec gods, they don’t get enough love

[@intergalactic92]

The part I find interesting are the recurring themes on display. Scythes come up a few times, and then there is Morana with the sickle, harvesting is obviously a recurring theme here.

[@phoenixfaytes2747]

I really wish this list added Hermes and Hekate to the list of Greek gods, they both have chthonic aspects and rulings and especially Psychopomp duties that assist Thanatos and Hades all the time. Not to mention I think Expanding on Persephone’s History as a goddess of death would have added some good meet to the story of hades as well

[@jonathandeman9051]

izanagi, goddess of death, foiled by a boulder

[@ysgramornorris2452]

In recent years, it's been found that Anubis' head isn't that of a jackal, as was previously thought, but that of a dog.

[@nyetloki]

I think you mean that the Egyptian jackal is technically a wolf under modern genetic testing. Doesn't matter.

[@georgeolaroiu3807]

did you make video Races of Ghosts in Mythology & Folklore from the next week please?

[@Acertainfrog]

Another interesting God of death is the Charthaginian god Mot, who was the worst enemy of the creator of the universe Baal (also, in west Semitic, Mot means Death). This legend is found all around the Mediterranean from Malta to Sicily and some versions are present in Mesopotamia.

[@iandownes3130]

You forgot Kyle. Kyles are deadly godlike creatures known for enhancing their powers through monster cantations.

[@meli-cruz]

The edits are funny something simple like *poof* and a ruler apears. 😂 Im having fun playing the videos on 2x speed, your channel as a whole is very promising. Keep up the good work ❤

[@DarknessandLore]

Thank you so much! More to come 😁

[@emildrimbea3210]

nice one

[@majorasmask5523]

Herakles wrestling Thanatos on behalf of Alcestis is easily one of his most defining tales. He was apparently a stand up guy.

[@josephwilliammarek9566]

Can you do one of these on all KINGS of the gods?

[@Seshnaga]

Fun fact: Hinduism is actually monotheistic just like christian mythology islamic mytholgy and stuff, but hindus believe the deities are manifestations of that supreme god.

[@pokkenmaster642]

Amazing video! Was hoping you’d go over other death gods in Africa like in Yoruba, Ghanaian or Akan but still amazing nonetheless.

[@undertalefan5867]

Do thunder gods next!

[@Renzx123]

Underrated channel

[@DarknessandLore]

Thank you, appreciate it!

[@brendonhill]

I love this channel

[@brandonthompson1856]

You should edit in the inclusion Owuo of Akan, Eshu of Yoruba, and Kalunga-Ngombe of Kongo.

[@diegoflamenco4908]

Awee really wanted to see Supay, the Inca god of death here too :((( he’s from my ancestors beliefs and pantheon. He was a lord of demons and bringer of chaos hehe kinda like Set

[@ericguzman1191]

You should do a video of all the sun deities

[@MR.APZero]

The favorite son and Left hand of El is MOT. The only Canaanite deity that was never worshiped in fear of him.

[@KakoThePoet]

I know I’m late, but as someone of Nahuatl origin who still follows the gods, Mictlantecuhtli does have parents, just not in the way you’d think. The four directions- Quetzalcoatl, Xipe Totec, Tezcatlipoca, and Huitzilopochtli- are all his fathers. It’s not the most important, but there is a distinction between the parentless (Ometeotl), their children: the four directions, then the children of Tlalticpac, then the children of Coatlicue, so on and so on

[@KakoThePoet]

anyways- I’m trying to world build, so this video was very helpful with understanding different mythologies! Also the editing made me laugh a lot

[@beyzagunduz172]

happy to see erlik :)

[@jonathanalfaro6005]

Are you considering doing a part 2? If so, would you consider exploring the lore of Iku from the Yoruba?

[@DarknessandLore]

A second part is being considered, thank you for the suggestion!

[@jonathanalfaro6005]

@@DarknessandLore No problem. A video on ocean mythologies would be of interest if you do consider making one. Olokun (Yoruba-Bini), Yemoja (Yoruba), Guabonito (Taino), Guabancex (Taino), Kianda (Angolan), are some of my suggestions. Creation wise, Orisanla (The original one-Yoruba) and Odu (Yoruba).

[@DarknessandLore]

Thank you for those! We did include Shango in our thunder gods video which you can find here: kzbin.info/www/bejne/d4WvfXSjobKef9k

[@jonathanalfaro6005]

@@DarknessandLore I'll check this out. Thanks.

[@jovemdinamico2836]

you forgot about anhangá from the Tupi-Guarani mythology.

[@bookwormaddict3933]

I would have liked to see that Hel in Ragnarok

[@Beth.H]

How about the fact that Poseidon was once a death god in pre Mycenaean Greece

[@emilywyatt9340]

I knew he was Mycenaean but had no idea he was associated with death. Thought he ruled the sea.

[@georgeolaroiu3807]

Can you do new video top 10 Races of Werewolf Around of World please?

[@NECR0MENCER]

Please more of these different mythologies videos

[@DarknessandLore]

Another video coming very soon! Thanks for watching 💜

[@dragondph4519]

11:49 are we just not going to talk about the “death swan”?

[@Beth.H]

It explained a LOT about swan behaviour

[@barrybaarsma]

Nice

[@SkinnyEatWorld95]

You forgot that Horis helped find the pieces of Osiris

[@steezuschrist1320]

I think this is a very good video but I have 2 things to mention. First Ousiris was becoming important in the Old Kingdom, in the 5. Dynasty and he was separated in 42 pieces, this is also the origin of the 42 administration districts in ancient Egypt.

[@killerzillavolt2655]

What about Supay from Inca mythology? I'd say the Inca pantheon is pretty important to include seeing how it's the main one of South America

[@catlover7466]

Fun folktale about the Mayan Ah Puch, he was once after an old woman whom he could never reach because the old woman had so much to do everyday that Ah Puch would tire of chasing her and come back the next day. The moral behind it was if you sit around and do nothing Ah Puch will reach you.

[@DoktorKhaos1]

“Osiris’s wife and sister” is a crazy title for someone

[@isabellaspangher1734]

I wish I would’ve seen more deities from Africa and South America. There are many cultures on those continents that have really interesting pantheons

[@DarknessandLore]

More coming in our next video, thanks for watching!

[@christopherwoods5150]

Didn't see Baron Samedi, aka Bawon Sanmdi, and his wife Brigitte, from the voodoo.

[@lilyalexander5574]

i would have loved to see the welsh god of death Arawn :)

[@PaTrick-cf6ev]

The Slavic one is Morena, not Morana.

[@DarknessandLore]

Thanks for watching! Marzanna (in Polish), Morė (in Lithuanian), Marena (in Russian), Mara (in Ukrainian), Morana (in Czech, Slovene and Serbo-Croatian), Morena (in Slovak and Macedonian) or Mora (in Bulgarian) so both are correct.

[@milutinstankovic4638]

What about Veles?

[@UnreadyPlayer]

Damn, the Goddess of Love and War

[@rrrosecarbinela]

Not the only one.

[@HEEHEEBOII]

I’m Chinese, yanluo wang is native Chinese deity and not associated with Buddhism. It is often included in Buddhism due to the original Nepalese branch of Buddhism got “localized” with Taoism (native Chinese belief where Yanluo Wang is from) which created Zen Buddhism. Also side note Finnish death god Tuoni is Chinese pin yin spelling of the English name Tony lmfao I found that really funny.

[@mrfive427]

Yama in Hinduism and yanluo wang seemed similar and I’m curious. But I don’t know much about Chinese version. Is he responsible for rebirth, guiding soul to heaven and giving punishment to the people who were bad in over world ?

[@indianAJ93]

interesting video, though i am surprised Nergal isn't in the video

[@meg2249]

Isn’t he more of a destruction and decay god rather than death/afterlife? Like a negative aspect of chaos in nature rather than death in and of itself? At least that was what I understood from a look into Nergal.

[@MegaMiquelon]

I have a feeling Yan Luo Wang is just the Chinese version of the Indian Yama

[@wethefreeproductions]

I feel like there’s gotta be more than 19 Major Deadeities.

[@rishiraj9642]

Well, there is a minor error in the YAMA and Yamadoota Section, the photo you showed as yamaduta is actually vishnu and the previous picture from which you have taken it, Multiple Vishnus are protecting their devotee from yamadootas

[@Potocalter]

Anatha Mythology: Medeinian (custom) Other Names: Sumu Iuda (Supreme Judge) Anatha is the goddess of death, darkness and judgement, one of "the great three" and the opposite of her husband, Tonatiuh the god of light, sight and the stars, unlike most polytheistic religions, Anatha, like the other divinities have no known form, so she is represented by her symbol. Anatha has the task of Judging the souls at the end of the 4 worlds (Thalassa, Marica, Faunus and Gaia/Earth) and send them to Ina (the void) or Preme (the reward)

[@jamiquedavis5650]

Where are the African death gods 🤔

[@susamogus4653]

egypt?

[@sampatton146]

If you do a follow up please mention the gods of death of the Native American/First Nations people in Canada and the USA

[@thriceXplus7]

You put the Japanese gravestone backwards!

[@lissandrafreljord7913]

Judging from Japan's declining population, it looks like Izanami is winning. 😂 Also, pretty interesting how the Mongekyo Sharingan of Naruto world makes so many references to Shinto gods and goddesses: Izanami, Izanagi, Tsukuyomi, Amateratsu, Susanoo.

[@dastaff1889]

Lol

[@rameshjakhar785]

The Japanese animes are full of references from eastern religions like hinduism, buddhism and shintoism. Like zoros sword Yama, and big Mamas Vajra named Indra. The chakra concept from naruto is also taken from hinduism and the swastikas in many managas, vinsmoke judge is named after the hindu god garuda, and fate characters are named after mahabharata characters, Rakshash from berserk are demons in hinduism, agni in black butler, and the whole concept of reincarnation.

[@gimmeyourrights8292]

Could you make a trickster gods list? Like Anansi and Loki?

[@kacangajaib1563]

Death is not Evil, how can Grim Reapers be malevolent if they only execute the Natural order of the universe? Unless someone is cheating death

[@buzztube1738]

Because ancient peasants were snowflakes

[@d4n737]

I am so glad you didn't go with the surface level knowledge of satan-hades characterisation and put Morana there instead of Chernobog

[@sabernaturezasupremo5181]

No Brasil temos Catxuréu

[@SodomEndGomorra]

As i remember, Hel has horisontal edge, not vertical... Well, maybe i'm wrong... Have to check out Have checked... Well, she got both))

[@toxel7186]

Where is Baron Samedi

[@danielbandeira5472]

You forgot persephone

[@leoochofaigh6714]

Donn = the irish god if death

[@WildMen4444]

Hail to the Gods of the Dead!

[@christianchauhan23]

GOD as in GOD OF DEATH💀 means #PLUTO & ❤🤍💙 all your videos mate👍

[@antigirlclub]

osiris is known as aser/auser to the kemetic orthodoxy and other kemetics 💛

[@Jenvlogs404]

Respect and these paths are related to our roots.

[@swipestripe]

I thought Nut was pronounced like ‘newt’

[@user-sf3dj9is8h]

Even "Yama" the lord of the underworld in Hinduism is a post passed from one to another but their rule is for thousands of years, he is Just and never accepts lies and punishes the dead souls as per their karma.

[@irmooflorien5399]

Erebus isn’t always the father of Thanatos! Sometimes Than only has a mother

[@aminubello1918]

Add 'Oppenheimer'😅

[@Naomi-pq6tv]

Hel is also called Hela

[@LontrinhaOzadaotaria]

Nothing about "la santa muerte" ?