All civilizations throughout history have sought to answer the great mysteries of life on earth through worship of gods, deities, or creators. Encyclopedia of Gods offers a comprehensive survey of 2,500 gods, goddesses, and deities from religions, cultures, folklores, and mythologies across the globe. Author Michael Jordan fills the book with captivating descriptions of major and minor deities. Entries are listed alphabetically, starting with A-a, the Mesopotamian sun goddess, and ending with Zurvan, the Persian god of fate; in between is everything known about Osiris, Ra, Isis, Horus, Manu, and thousands more. Each entry covers specific pantheons, dates of worship, the role the god played, and defining characteristics, symbols, and attributes. The listings range from short capsule descriptions of lesser-known deities to full narrative coverage of major gods and goddesses, including notable appearances in legends, literature, and art. Covering a tremendous breadth of human history from 60,000 years ago to the present and fully indexed and cross-referenced by civilization and subject, this invaluable reference manual is a must-have resource for any student, researcher, or teacher of theological, historical, or anthropological studies, and a fascinating read for anyone interested in learning about deities worshipped throughout history. Whether used to look up details about specific gods or civilizations or just read from cover to cover, Encyclopedia of Gods is an extremely thorough and endlessly absorbing source of information.