Animal Gods
Aside from the Bear Cult, there are other animal spirits such as the Haldi who watched over nature. Some Sámi people had a thunder god called Tiermes, sometimes called Horagalles. Radien or Vearalden was a sky-ruling god. The symbol of the world tree or pillar similar in Finnish mythology that reached up to the North star was marked by a stytto.
The forest-god of the Sámi, Laib olmai ruled over all forest animals, which were regarded as his herds, and luck in hunting, or the reverse, depended on his good will. His favour was so important that, according to one author, they made prayers and offerings to him every morning and evening.
Read more about this topic: Sami Religion
Famous quotes containing the words animal and/or gods:
“I am afraid that the animals regard man as a creature like themselves which has lost its sound animal wits in a most dangerous way—that they regard him as the deranged animal, as the laughing animal, as the weeping animal, as the unhappy animal.”
—Friedrich Nietzsche (1844–1900)
“Every thought is public,
Every nook is wide;
Thy gossips spread each whisper,
And the gods from side to side.”
—Ralph Waldo Emerson (1803–1882)