Ogun

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Ogun
Ogun, or Ogun Onire, is the god of war and iron of the Yoruba people of West Africa. In Yoruba lore, Ogun and the other gods climbed down to earth on a spiderweb. When creation was completed, the gods realized that people needed to clear more land in the forest where they lived. Unfortunately, the only tools available were made of soft metal, a material not suitable for cutting down trees. However, Ogun had been given the secret of iron by Orunmila, son of the supreme god Olorun, and he used an iron ax to clear the forest. Ogun later shared the secret of iron with the other gods and with humans. He also showed them how to shape the iron into weapons.
Though a fierce god, Ogun is not evil and will help those who pray to him. Yoruba blacksmiths have traditionally sacrificed dogs to Ogun, and each year they hold a three-day festival in his honor.

In Haitian Vodou and Yoruba mythology, Ogun (or Ogoun, Ogum, Ogou) is a loa and orisha, who presides over fire, iron, hunting, politics and war. He is the palater of smiths and is usually displayed with his attributes: gun, machete or sabre, and rum. He is one of the husbands is a husband of Osun and Oya in Yoruba mythology.
Ogun is the traditional warrior and seen as a powerful deity of metal work, similar to Ares and Hephaestus in Greek mythology and Visvakarma in Hindu mythology, he is represented with Saint George in Brazil. As such Ogun is mighty, powerful, triumphal, yet also exhibits the rage and destructiveness of the warrior whose strength and violence can turn against the community he serves. Perhaps linked to this theme is the new face he has taken on in Haiti which is not quite related to his African roots, that of a powerful political leader.
He gives strength through prophecy and magic. It is Ogun who is said to have planted the idea, led and given power to the slaves for the Haitian Revolution of 1804. He is called now to help people obtain a government more responsive to their needs. Contents
Aspects of Ogun comes to mount people in various aspects of his character, and the people are quite familiar with each of them. Some of these aspects are:
Ogun the wounded warrior. He assumes a Christ-figure pose which the people know well from their Christian associations.
Ogun Feraille. He gives strength to the servitors by slapping them on the thighs or back.
Ogun Badagris. He may lift a person up and carry him or her around to indicate his special attention and patronage. To all the aspects of Ogun there is the dominant theme of power and militancy. His possessions can sometimes be violent.
Those mounted by him are known to wash their hands in flaming rum without suffering from it later.

Sorry for the seriously late update have been having exams, exams and more exams.

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