Ryujin
Dragon god of the sea who dwells in an underwater palace made of red and white coral. Ruler of all sea creatures and controller of the tides through his magical tide jewels.
Divine domains
Gods of Sea
14 deities from 11 traditions whose entries in this atlas list sea among their domains, grouped by tradition.
Japanese
Susanoo
God of storms, sea, and chaos. Brother of Amaterasu. Initially wild but later heroic. Famous for slaying the eight-headed dragon Yamata no Orochi.
Polynesian
Tangaroa
The great god of the sea and all that dwells within it. In some traditions, particularly Tahitian and Samoan, Tangaroa/Tagaloa is the supreme creator god who brought forth the world from primordial darkness.
Namaka
The Hawaiian goddess of the sea and elder sister of Pele. Namaka's eternal conflict with her volcanic sister shaped the Hawaiian islands, as sea and fire battle for dominance.
Yoruba
Canaanite
Yam (Yammu)
The Sea as a god, 'Prince Sea, Judge River', El's favourite, who demands that Baal be handed over as his captive and is struck down by Baal's clubs.
Celtic
Manannán mac Lir
Lord of the sea and guardian of Tír na nÓg, the Land of Youth. He rides the waves in his chariot and cloaks the Otherworld in mist.
Chinese
Mazu
The goddess of the sea and protector of sailors, fishermen, and all who travel by water. Originally a human girl from Fujian Province with miraculous powers, she was deified after her death.
Finnish
Vellamo
The mistress of the waters and wife of Ahti in Finnish runo-song, whose water-maidens appear in the Kalevala and who was asked for good fishing and calm seas.
Greek
Poseidon
God of the sea, earthquakes, and horses. Brother of Zeus and Hades, ruler of the oceans and all waters.
Inca and Andean
Mama Qucha
The Sea Mother, named by colonial writers alongside Pachamama as the mother of waters, especially important to coastal fishing peoples and connected in highland thought to the lakes and springs that fed the fields.
Norse
Njord
Vanir god of the sea, seafaring wealth, trade, and calm waters. Father of Freyja and Freyr.
Roman
Neptune
God of the sea, earthquakes, and horses. Brother of Jupiter and Pluto, ruler of all waters. Also associated with freshwater springs and patronage of horse racing.
Parallels across traditions
Editorial comparisons recorded on these entries; a shared role does not establish a shared origin.
Poseidon (Greek) and Neptune (Roman)
Neptune is the direct Roman equivalent, ruling the seas with the same trident and temperament
Compare Poseidon and NeptunePoseidon (Greek) and Njord (Norse)
Both are sea gods, though Njord is a Vanir deity associated more with wealth from the sea and calm waters
Compare Poseidon and NjordNjord (Norse) and Tangaroa (Polynesian)
Tangaroa already lists Njord; both are sea gods tied to seafaring, fish, and the ocean's bounty
Compare Njord and TangaroaNjord (Norse) and Mazu (Chinese)
Mazu already lists Njord; both are sea deities invoked by sailors and traders for safe passage and prosperity
Compare Njord and MazuManannán mac Lir (Celtic) and Njord (Norse)
Both are sea gods associated with wealth, prosperous trade, and safe seafaring
Compare Manannán mac Lir and NjordManannán mac Lir (Celtic) and Poseidon (Greek)
Both are major gods of the sea who also govern weather and the otherworldly power of the ocean
Compare Manannán mac Lir and PoseidonMazu (Chinese) and Poseidon (Greek)
Both are deities who control the seas and protect (or endanger) sailors, though Mazu is more benevolent
Compare Mazu and PoseidonTangaroa (Polynesian) and Poseidon (Greek)
Both are gods of the sea and its creatures
Compare Tangaroa and PoseidonNamaka (Polynesian) and Poseidon (Greek)
Both are powerful sea deities who can threaten other gods
Compare Namaka and PoseidonRyujin (Japanese) and Poseidon (Greek)
Both are rulers of the sea with underwater palaces and control over storms and marine life
Compare Ryujin and PoseidonOlokun (Yoruba) and Poseidon (Greek)
Both are major gods of the sea, its mysterious depths, and the wealth/power associated with it
Compare Olokun and Poseidon
Quick answers
- Who is the Japanese god of sea?
- In the Mythos Atlas catalog, the Japanese deities whose domains include sea are Ryujin and Susanoo.
- Who is the Polynesian god of sea?
- In the Mythos Atlas catalog, the Polynesian deities whose domains include sea are Tangaroa and Namaka.
- Who is the Yoruba god of sea?
- In the Mythos Atlas catalog, the Yoruba deities whose domains include sea are Olokun and Yemoja.
- Who is the Canaanite god of sea?
- In the Mythos Atlas catalog, the Canaanite deity whose domains include sea is Yam (Yammu).
- Who is the Celtic god of sea?
- In the Mythos Atlas catalog, the Celtic deity whose domains include sea is Manannán mac Lir.
- Who is the Chinese god of sea?
- In the Mythos Atlas catalog, the Chinese deity whose domains include sea is Mazu.
Related domains
Built from each deity's catalog entry (matching “ocean”, “sea”, “the sea”). See every domain side by side on Divine Domains, or browse every cross-pantheon parallel.