Universal Monarch

Universal Monarch

Like "Beddru of Japan," "Ieo of China," and "Holy On," the title "Universal Monarch" (often written as "Universal Monarch of the Sibyls") is not a specific mythological god, nor is it a historical figure who lived in antiquity.


 

This name comes directly from the opening chapter of Kersey Graves' highly discredited 1875 book, The World's Sixteen Crucified Saviors. Graves included this title to bulk up his list of supposed pagan deities who allegedly mirrored Jesus Christ.


 

However, historians universally point out that Graves made a fundamental error here: the "Universal Monarch" is not a character from a past mythology, but a prophetic concept of a future king.


 

Here is the factual breakdown of where this title comes from and why none of the questions about his life, death, and resurrection apply.


 

The Origin of the Title

In the ancient Greco-Roman world, the Sibyls were female prophetesses who delivered cryptic predictions at holy sites. Centuries later, Hellenistic Jewish and early Christian writers adopted this format to write the Sibylline Oracles—a collection of pseudepigraphical prophecies written between the 2nd century BCE and the 5th century CE.


 

In these Jewish and Christian texts, the "Sibyl" prophesies that at the end of the world, God will send a Universal Monarch (a Messiah figure) from heaven to destroy the wicked, end all wars, and establish a global kingdom of peace.


 

The Sibyls were often depicted in Renaissance art, such as this famous fresco by Michelangelo in the Sistine Chapel, due to the Christian belief that they prophesied the coming of the Messiah.


 

Theological Questions vs. Historical Reality

Because the "Universal Monarch" was an apocalyptic prediction of a future ruler rather than a story about a god who had already lived and died, there is no biographical data for this figure.


 

  • Dates, Locations, and Age at Death: There are none. This was an eschatological prophecy, not a historical biography or a narrative myth.


     

  • Appearance: Because it was a concept of a future ruler rather than an established pagan god, there was no standard artistic depiction, and therefore no ancient statues or portraits exist.


     

  • Crucified or Resurrected? No. The Sibylline prophecies focus on this monarch's future military and political triumph over the earth, not a crucifixion or resurrection. (When Christian writers edited the texts, they naturally equated this monarch with the Second Coming of Jesus, but the "Universal Monarch" concept itself did not involve a pagan crucifixion).


     

  • Born of a Virgin? No.


     

  • Descend to Hell or Ascend to Heaven? The prophecy generally states this monarch will be sent from heaven/the sun to rule the earth.


     

  • Die for the Salvation of Man? No. The monarch's role was to bring about world peace and divine justice through conquest, not to offer a blood sacrifice for the forgiveness of sins.


     

Ultimately, finding the "Universal Monarch of the Sibyls" on a list of ancient crucified saviors is a classic example of how 19th-century authors misunderstood their sources. Graves took a Jewish/Christian prophecy of the end-times and mistakenly listed it as if it were a distinct pagan god who lived, died, and resurrected.

Ischy

Ischy of Formosa

Like "Beddru of Japan," "Gentaut of Mexico," and "Holy On," "Ischy of Formosa" is not a real historical figure, nor is it an actual mythological deity. There is no god by this name in the indigenous mythology of Taiwan, nor in the Chinese folk religions practiced there.


 

This name originates from 19th-century alternative history books, most notably Kersey Graves’ highly discredited 1875 work, The World's Sixteen Crucified Saviors. Graves, relying on earlier European writers like Godfrey Higgins, compiled a massive list of supposed pagan gods who allegedly mirrored Jesus Christ. However, many of the names on this list were the result of terrible translations, severe misspellings, or complete fabrications.


 

Formosa was the historical Western name for the island of Taiwan. While historians are not entirely certain which specific mispronunciation or hoax led 19th-century writers to invent the name "Ischy," it is widely recognized as a phantom deity. It may be a garbled European corruption of a local word recorded by early Dutch missionaries, or a remnant of the infamous 1704 "Formosa Hoax" (when a French imposter named George Psalmanazar wrote a wildly popular, entirely fake book about Formosan religion and culture to fool London society).


 

Because "Ischy of Formosa" never existed in any real mythology, here is how your theological questions apply to this phantom figure:


 

Timeline, Locations, & Appearance

  • Active Period & Birth: Because "Ischy" is a fabricated name from Western literature, there is no historical timeline, mythology, or calendar date of birth.


     

  • Locations: The name is attributed to "Formosa" (Taiwan).


     

  • Appearance & Pictures: Because the indigenous Taiwanese people (such as the Siraya, Paiwan, or Amis) did not worship a god named Ischy, no ancient statues, carvings, or religious depictions of this figure exist. Therefore, I cannot provide any pictures.


     

Life, Death, & Resurrection

  • When He Died & Age at Death: There is no mythological narrative of his life or death.


     

  • Did He Die for the Salvation of Man? No.


     

  • Crucified? No. Crucifixion was a Roman execution method. It was never a part of the indigenous animistic religions of Taiwan.


     

  • Did He Resurrect or Ascend? No.


     

Actions & Theological Comparisons

  • Born of a Virgin? No.


     

  • Called the Son of God / Part of the Trinity? No. The indigenous peoples of Taiwan practiced polytheism and animism, revering ancestor spirits and forces of nature. They did not have a monotheistic "Son of God" or a Holy Trinity.


     

  • Will He Judge Man in Heaven? No.


     

Worship & Followers

  • Who Worshipped Him? No one worshipped "Ischy."


     

  • How Was He Worshiped? He wasn't. The actual indigenous peoples of Taiwan worshipped their own distinct pantheons of spirits and gods, often led by female shamans or priestesses (such as the Inibs of the Siraya people), relying on rituals to ensure good hunts and harvests.

Gentaut

Gentaut of Mexico

Just like "Beddru of Japan," "Holy On," and "Ieo of China," the name "Gentaut of Mexico" does not belong to any real historical figure or mythological deity. There is no god by this name in Aztec, Maya, Toltec, Olmec, or any other indigenous Mesoamerican religion.


 

This name originates directly from Kersey Graves' 1875 book, The World's Sixteen Crucified Saviors. Scholars of Mesoamerican history and comparative religion recognize "Gentaut" as a severe 19th-century Western corruption of a Nahuatl (Aztec) word, likely stemming from poor translations by early Spanish missionaries.


 

Historians generally believe "Gentaut" is a garbled misspelling of Centéotl (the Aztec god of maize), or a misunderstanding of the Nahuatl word Teotl, which simply translates to "god" or "divine energy." Because "Gentaut" is a phantom deity created by translation errors, he has no actual history, mythology, or dates of his own.


 

However, to address your specific theological questions, here is how those claims hold up against the actual indigenous religions of Mexico, and the real deity this name likely originated from (Centéotl).


 

Timeline, Locations, & Appearance

  • Dates & Locations: The name "Gentaut" is a 19th-century invention. The actual worship of Mesoamerican gods like Centéotl took place primarily in central Mexico (the Aztec Empire) from roughly the 14th to the 16th century CE, ending with the Spanish conquest.


     

  • Appearance: Because Gentaut doesn't exist, there are no pictures of him. The actual maize god, Centéotl, was depicted in indigenous codices as a young man with maize cobs growing from his headdress, painted yellow with a black line down his face.


     

Life, Death, & Resurrection

  • Did the Savior Die & Resurrect? In Aztec mythology, gods did not die and resurrect in a Christian sense to save human souls. Instead, gods sacrificed themselves at the beginning of creation to set the sun in motion and create the world.


     

  • Crucified? No. Crucifixion was a Roman execution method entirely unknown in the Americas before the arrival of the Spanish in 1519. While the Aztecs practiced extensive human sacrifice (typically by extracting the heart of a captive on a stone altar), they did not crucify their gods or people.


     

  • Descend to Hell or Ascend to Heaven? Mesoamerican cosmology did not have a Christian Heaven or Hell. They had a complex, multi-tiered universe with upper realms and a difficult underworld (Mictlan) that most souls had to journey through, regardless of their morality.


     

Actions & Theological Comparisons

  • Did He Die for the Salvation of Man? No. Mesoamerican religion was based on a debt of blood. Humans offered blood and sacrifices to the gods to keep the universe from collapsing and to ensure the sun would rise, not to achieve personal spiritual "salvation" or the forgiveness of sins.


     

  • Born of a Virgin? No. Centéotl was the son of the earth goddess Tlazolteotl and the solar deity Piltzintecuhtli. (While another Aztec god, Huitzilopochtli, had a miraculous conception involving a ball of feathers, this was not a virgin birth in the Christian theological sense).


     

  • Called the Son of God / Part of the Trinity? No. The Aztec pantheon was incredibly vast and polytheistic. They believed in a dualistic supreme creator (Ometeotl), but there was no Holy Trinity.


     

  • Will He Judge Man in Heaven? No. In Aztec belief, your afterlife destination was determined by how you died (e.g., in battle, in childbirth, or by drowning), not by a moral judgment of your earthly actions by a savior god.


     

Worship & Followers

  • Who Worshipped Him? No one worshipped "Gentaut." The indigenous peoples of central Mexico worshipped their actual pantheon of gods through complex calendrical rituals, fasting, and bloodletting.

Odin

Odin/Wodin/Woden/Wotan of Scandinavia

Here are the factual answers regarding Odin (also known as Wōden, Wōdan, or Wotan), the chief god of Germanic and Norse mythology.


 

Of all the figures on 19th-century "crucified savior" lists, Odin is the one whose inclusion is easiest to understand, because he does have a famous myth where he hangs from a tree pierced by a spear. However, as historians constantly point out, this was not a Roman crucifixion, nor was it a sacrifice to wash away human sin. It was a shamanic ordeal he inflicted upon himself to gain magical power.


 

Timeline & Locations

  • Active Period: Germanic paganism was practiced from antiquity, peaking during the Viking Age, and gradually ending with the Christianization of Northern Europe between the 8th and 12th centuries CE.


     

  • Calendar Date of Birth: Norse myths do not record calendar dates for the births of their gods.


     

  • Locations: Worshipped across Scandinavia, Germania, and Anglo-Saxon England.


     

Appearance & Names

In the Old Norse Eddas, Odin is described as a mature, imposing man with a long grey beard and only one eye (having sacrificed the other at Mímir's well for cosmic wisdom). When wandering Midgard (Earth), he disguises himself in a wide-brimmed hat and a blue cloak. He wields a magical spear named Gungnir, rides an eight-legged horse named Sleipnir, and is constantly accompanied by his two ravens, Huginn (Thought) and Muninn (Memory).


 

Odin on Sleipnir (Tjängvide image stone) - World History Encyclopedia
  • Different Names: Odin (Old Norse), Woden (Old English), Wotan (Old High German). He had hundreds of titles, most notably the Allfather. The day of the week "Wednesday" (Wōden's Day) is named after him.


     

Life, Death, & Resurrection

  • Crucified? (The Hanging Myth): No. He was not executed on a cross. In the poem Hávamál, Odin tells the story of how he hung himself upside down from the branches of the world tree, Yggdrasil, for nine days and nine nights. He fasted completely and pierced his own side with his spear. He did this to stare into the watery depths below until the magical secrets of the Runes revealed themselves to him. He then pulled the runes up, freeing himself. This was a self-initiated shamanic ritual for knowledge, not an execution.


     

  • When & How He Died (Who Killed Him): Odin's actual death happens at Ragnarök (the end of the world). During the final apocalyptic battle, Odin fights the colossal, monstrous wolf Fenrir. Fenrir opens his jaws so wide they touch the earth and the sky, and swallows Odin whole, killing him.


     

  • Age at Death: As a god, he was immortal and did not age like a mortal human.


     

  • Did He Resurrect? No. After Fenrir kills him, Odin's son Víðarr immediately avenges him by ripping the wolf's jaws apart. Odin remains dead in the new world that follows Ragnarök.


     

  • Descend to Hell or Ascend to Heaven? Neither. He lives in Asgard (the realm of the gods) and presides over his specific hall, Valhalla.


     

Actions & Theological Comparisons

  • Did He Die for the Salvation of Man? No. Odin was a god of war, wisdom, poetry, and death. He was intensely self-serving in his quest for knowledge and power. He did not shed his blood to forgive human sins.


     

  • What Actions Did He Take? He, along with his brothers, created the world by slaying the primeval giant Ymir and fashioning the earth from his corpse. He later created the first humans (Ask and Embla) from tree logs. Throughout mythology, he wanders the realms seeking prophecies to help him prepare for the inevitable doom of Ragnarök.


     

  • Born of a Virgin? No. He was the son of Borr (an early god) and Bestla (a giantess).


     

  • Called the Son of God? No. He was the supreme patriarch of the Norse pantheon (the Allfather).


     

  • Part of the Trinity? Sometimes he acted in a triad with his brothers Vili and Vé, or with the gods Hœnir and Lóðurr. However, these were simply groups of three distinct gods, not a theological Holy Trinity of one unified being.


     

  • Will He Judge Man in Heaven? No. Odin sends his Valkyries to battlefields to collect half of those who die bravely in combat. He brings them to Valhalla to feast and train as his personal army (Einherjar) so they can fight for him at Ragnarök. He is not a moral judge of all humanity.


     

Worship & Followers

  • How He Was Worshiped: He was worshipped through blót (sacrificial feasts). Historical and archaeological evidence strongly suggests that worship of Odin sometimes involved human sacrifice, specifically by hanging the victims from trees and piercing them with spears to mirror his ordeal on Yggdrasil.


     

  • Who Worshipped Him? While Thor was the god of the common farmer, Odin was the patron god of rulers, jarls, warriors, poets, and outlaws.

Mohammed

Mohammed of Mahornet

To answer your questions accurately, we first need to correct the name. "Mohammed of Mahornet" is a highly garbled, archaic 19th-century Western misspelling of the Prophet Muhammad, the founder of Islam.


 

Finding him on a list of "crucified saviors" (like Kersey Graves' list) represents a fundamental misunderstanding of Islamic theology. Islam strictly rejects the concept of a divine savior who dies for the sins of mankind. Muhammad was a mortal human being and a prophet, not a dying-and-resurrecting god.


 

Here are the factual answers based on Islamic theology and historical record.


 

Timeline & Locations

  • Active Period: He lived in the late 6th and early 7th centuries CE.


     

  • Calendar Date of Birth: Historically, he was born around 570 CE (known in Islamic tradition as the "Year of the Elephant"). In the Islamic lunar calendar, his birth is traditionally celebrated by many Muslims on the 12th of Rabi' al-Awwal (the holiday of Mawlid).


     

  • Locations: He was born in Mecca and later migrated to Medina in the Arabian Peninsula (modern-day Saudi Arabia).


     

Appearance & Names

A Crucial Note on Images: Mainstream Islam strictly prohibits the visual depiction of the Prophet Muhammad (a concept known as aniconism). This is to prevent idolatry. Therefore, Muslims historically honor him through beautiful calligraphy of his name and by venerating the sites where he lived and is buried.


 

  • Different Names: Muhammad (meaning "Praised One"). He is also known by titles such as Ahmad, Al-Amin (The Trustworthy), and most commonly, Rasul Allah (The Messenger of God).


     

Life, Death, & Resurrection

  • When & How He Died (Who Killed Him): He died of an intense fever and illness in Medina on June 8, 632 CE. While Islamic traditions mention that his health may have been permanently weakened by poisoned meat given to him by a hostile woman years earlier at Khaybar, he was not executed or murdered outright at the time of his death.


     

  • Age at Death: He was roughly 62 or 63 years old.


     

  • Did He Resurrect? No. He died a mortal death and was buried in Medina (his tomb is located under the Green Dome in Al-Masjid an-Nabawi). Islamic eschatology teaches that he, along with all of humanity, will be physically resurrected by God on the Day of Judgment.


     

  • Descend to Hell or Ascend to Heaven? He did not bodily ascend to heaven at his death. However, Islamic tradition holds that during his life, he experienced the Isra and Mi'raj (The Night Journey), where he was miraculously transported to Jerusalem and temporarily ascended through the heavens to speak with God and former prophets before returning to Earth.


     

  • Crucified? No. He died of a fever in his wife Aisha's home. Furthermore, Islam teaches that Jesus (Isa) was not crucified either, but was raised to heaven by God.


     

Actions & Theological Comparisons

  • Did He Die for the Salvation of Man? No. Islam vehemently rejects the concept of a "savior" taking on the sins of humanity through a blood sacrifice. In Islam, salvation is achieved through strict monotheism (submitting to the will of Allah) and righteous actions. Every soul is responsible for its own deeds.


     

  • What Actions Did He Take? He received the revelation of the Quran from God via the Angel Gabriel over 23 years. He united the warring tribes of the Arabian Peninsula under the monotheistic banner of Islam, established an Islamic state, led military campaigns, and instituted a new legal and social code.


     

  • Born of a Virgin? No. He was born naturally to human parents, Abdullah and Aminah. (Islam does, however, believe that Jesus was born of the Virgin Mary).


     

  • Called the Son of God? No. This is one of the most serious theological boundaries in Islam. Surah Al-Ikhlas of the Quran explicitly states that God "begets not, nor was He begotten." Muhammad is strictly a messenger.


     

  • Part of the Trinity? No. Islam is fiercely monotheistic (Tawhid) and explicitly rejects the Christian concept of the Trinity.


     

  • Will He Judge Man in Heaven? No. Allah is the sole, absolute judge on the Day of Judgment. Muhammad is believed to have the role of Shafa'ah (an intercessor who will plead with God for mercy on behalf of his followers), but he does not sit on the throne of judgment.


     

Worship & Followers

  • How He Was Worshiped / Who Worshipped Him: He is not worshipped. Worshipping Muhammad (or anyone other than Allah) is considered Shirk (idolatry), the gravest sin in Islam. Muslims revere, love, and respect him as the perfect human example and the final prophet, but all prayers and worship are directed exclusively to God.

Dahzbog

Dahzbog of the Slavs

Here are the factual answers regarding Dažbog (also spelled Dazhdbog or Dazbog), one of the major gods of ancient Slavic mythology.


 

Like many figures on 19th-century "crucified savior" lists, classifying Dažbog as a savior who died for human sins is historically and mythologically inaccurate. Dažbog was the Slavic sun god and a god of wealth and abundance. His name literally translates to the "Giving God."


 

Timeline & Locations

  • Active Period: Slavic paganism was practiced from late antiquity until the Christianization of the Slavic peoples (most notably the Christianization of Kievan Rus' in 988 CE).


     

  • Calendar Date of Birth: Ancient Slavic myths do not record calendar dates for the births of their gods. However, his worship was closely tied to solar events, particularly the summer and winter solstices.


     

  • Locations: He was worshipped across the Slavic world, most prominently in Kievan Rus' (spanning modern-day Ukraine, Belarus, and Russia) and among the South Slavs.


     

Appearance & Names

Because the ancient Slavs primarily built their idols out of wood, almost none have survived the centuries of Christianization and natural decay. Historical chronicles, however, describe massive wooden statues placed on hills.


 

Visual Note: Today, Dažbog is often depicted in modern Slavic native faith (Rodnovery) art as a majestic, bearded man associated with intricate solar symbols, gold, and fire.


 

  • Different Names: Dažbog, Dazhdbog, Dabog, and Dazbog. He was also known by the patronymic Svarožič (meaning "Son of Svarog").


     

Life, Death, & Resurrection

  • When & How He Died (Who Killed Him): Dažbog did not suffer a permanent mythological death, nor was he executed or murdered by an enemy. As a solar deity, his "death" was purely metaphorical—representing the sun setting each night or the sun losing its warmth during the freezing Slavic winter.


     

  • Age at Death: He is an immortal god, so he had no age at death.


     

  • Did He Resurrect? He did not physically die and resurrect in a human body. Any "resurrection" associated with him is the cyclical rebirth of the sun every morning and the return of spring each year.


     

  • Descend to Hell or Ascend to Heaven? Like many ancient sun gods, he was believed to ride his chariot across the sky (heaven) during the day and pass through the underworld (Nav) at night to return to the east by morning.


     

  • Crucified? No. Crucifixion was a Roman execution method and had no place in ancient Slavic mythology.


     

Actions & Theological Comparisons

  • Did He Die for the Salvation of Man? No. Dažbog did not offer a blood sacrifice for the forgiveness of spiritual sins.


     

  • What Actions Did He Take? He was the ultimate provider. He provided the sunlight necessary for crops to grow and granted wealth and power to his followers. The ancient Rus' people felt such a close, protective bond with him that in the famous 12th-century epic The Tale of Igor's Campaign, the Slavic people are proudly referred to as the "grandchildren of Dazhdbog."


     

  • Born of a Virgin? No. He was the son of Svarog, the supreme sky and fire god of the Slavs.


     

  • Called the Son of God? He was literally the son of the sky god Svarog, but the Slavs were polytheistic. He was not titled "The Son of God" in the exclusive, monotheistic sense.


     

  • Part of the Trinity? No. The Slavic pantheon was polytheistic and included many distinct deities (like Perun the thunder god, Veles the god of the underworld, and Mokosh the earth mother), not a Holy Trinity.


     

  • Will He Judge Man in Heaven? No. He was a god of earthly blessings, sunlight, and abundance, not an eschatological judge of human souls at the end of time.


     

Worship & Followers

  • How He Was Worshiped: He was worshipped at open-air hilltop sanctuaries (called kapišča) where wooden idols were erected. Worship involved sacred fires, agricultural offerings, and solar festivals.


     

  • Who Worshipped Him? The ancient Slavic tribes. He was so important that in 980 CE, Prince Vladimir the Great erected a statue of Dažbog outside his palace in Kyiv alongside the supreme thunder god, Perun.

Thor

Thor of the Gauls

To answer your questions accurately, we first need to correct a major historical error in the premise. The title "Thor of the Gauls" is a geographical and historical impossibility.


 

This phrase is another direct pull from Kersey Graves' 1875 book, The World's Sixteen Crucified Saviors. Graves made a fundamental mistake here:


 

  1. Thor is the famous thunder god of the Norse and Germanic peoples (Scandinavia, Germany, Iceland).


     

  2. The Gauls were Celtic peoples (living in modern-day France and Belgium). The Gauls did not worship Thor; their equivalent thunder god was Taranis.


     

Furthermore, Graves claimed Thor was a crucified savior who died for human sins. This is entirely false. Here are the factual answers based on the actual mythology of the Norse god Thor.


 

Timeline & Locations

  • Active Period: Germanic/Norse paganism was practiced from antiquity until the Christianization of Scandinavia (around the 10th to 12th centuries CE).


     

  • Calendar Date of Birth: Norse myths do not record calendar dates for the births of their gods.


     

  • Locations: Worshipped across Scandinavia, Germania, and Viking settlements (such as Iceland and parts of the British Isles)—but not in Gaul.


     

Appearance & Names

Contrary to modern pop-culture depictions, the ancient Norse did not picture Thor as a clean-shaven blonde man. The Eddas (Old Norse texts) describe Thor as having fierce eyes, red hair, and a thick red beard. He was immensely muscular and possessed three magical items: his hammer (Mjölnir), a belt of strength (Megingjörð), and iron gloves (Járngreipr).


 

The Altuna Runestone depicting Thor fishing for Jörmungandr and ...
  • Different Names: Thor (Old Norse), Donar (Old High German), and Thunor (Old English). Today, the day of the week "Thursday" is named after him (Thor's Day).


     

Life, Death, & Resurrection

  • When & How He Died (Who Killed Him): Thor's death occurs at Ragnarök (the apocalyptic end of the world). His sworn enemy is Jörmungandr, the colossal Midgard Serpent that circles the earth. During the final battle, Thor smashes the serpent's head with his hammer, killing it. However, he is so covered in the monster's toxic venom that he is only able to take nine steps before he drops dead.


     

  • Age at Death: As a god who consumed the magical youth-restoring apples of Iðunn, he did not age like mortals.


     

  • Did He Resurrect? No. Thor dies permanently at Ragnarök. Following the destruction of the world, his surviving sons (Magni and Móði) inherit his hammer in the new world.


     

  • Descend to Hell or Ascend to Heaven? Neither. He dies on the battlefield at the end of the world.


     

  • Crucified? No. He dies from monster venom in melee combat.


     

Actions & Theological Comparisons

  • Did He Die for the Salvation of Man? No. Thor was the ultimate protector of humanity (Midgard), and he dies physically defending the world from a monster. However, he did not die as a blood atonement for the spiritual sins of mankind.


     

  • What Actions Did He Take? Thor was the god of thunder, lightning, storms, oak trees, strength, and the protection of mankind. He spent most of his mythological life traveling to Jötunheimr (the realm of the giants) to smash giants and monsters who threatened the gods and humans.


     

  • Born of a Virgin? No. He was the son of Odin (the Allfather) and Jörð (the personification of the Earth).


     

  • Called the Son of God? He was the son of the chief god, Odin, but he was not titled "The Son of God" in a monotheistic sense.


     

  • Part of the Trinity? No. The Norse pantheon is polytheistic.


     

  • Will He Judge Man in Heaven? No. Thor was a warrior and a protector, not an eschatological judge of human souls.


     

Worship & Followers

  • How He Was Worshiped: Thor was worshipped through blót (sacrificial feasts). More intimately, everyday people worshipped him by wearing small silver pendants of his hammer, Mjölnir, around their necks for protection and blessing.


     

  • Who Worshipped Him? While Odin was favored by kings, poets, and outlaws, Thor was universally beloved by the common people—farmers, sailors, and warriors—who relied on him for rain, good crops, and protection.

Hil and Feta

Hil and Feta of Mandaites

Like "Beddru of Japan," "Ieo of China," and the "Universal Monarch," "Hil and Feta of the Mandaites" is not a real historical figure, nor is it a single mythological savior.


 

This specific phrase comes directly from the opening chapter of Kersey Graves’ highly discredited 1875 book, The World's Sixteen Crucified Saviors. To make his list of pagan deities who allegedly mirrored Jesus Christ as long as possible, Graves frequently misspelled names, combined separate gods into one, or relied on terribly translated missionary texts.


 

Scholars of comparative religion point out that "Hil and Feta" is a severe Western corruption of two entirely separate spiritual entities from Mandaeism:


 

  1. Hibil (specifically Hibil Ziwa, an angelic emissary of light).


     

  2. Ptahil (the creator of the material universe, or demiurge).


     

The Mandaites (Mandaeans) are a real, ancient Gnostic ethnoreligious group from the Middle East who revere John the Baptist. However, they do not have a "crucified savior." In fact, Mandaeans fundamentally reject the concept of crucifixion and view the Christian Jesus as a false prophet (Mshiha Kadba).


 

Because "Hil and Feta" is a fabricated combination of two separate beings, here is how your theological questions apply to the actual Mandaean figures of Hibil and Ptahil:


 

Timeline & Locations

  • Active Period: Mandaeism emerged in the first few centuries CE, likely around the Jordan River Valley, before the community migrated to Mesopotamia (modern-day Iraq and Iran).


     

  • Calendar Date of Birth: Neither Hibil nor Ptahil were human beings, so they have no calendar birth dates. They are pre-cosmic, spiritual entities.


     

  • Locations: Worshipped by Mandaean communities in the Middle East and modern diaspora.


     

Appearance & Names

Because "Hil and Feta" is a 19th-century typo, there are no ancient statues, paintings, or depictions of them as a single savior. Mandaean religious art is extremely rare and usually consists of abstract line drawings on sacred scrolls (such as the Diwan of Hibil Ziwa), which depict Hibil as a highly stylized, otherworldly figure rather than a human portrait. Therefore, I cannot provide pictures of this figure.


 

  • Different Names: Graves called them "Hil and Feta." Their actual Mandaic names are Hibil Ziwa (Abel-Radiance) and Ptahil-Uthra.


     

Life, Death, & Resurrection

  • When & How They Died / Age at Death: Neither Hibil nor Ptahil died a physical death. They are immortal celestial beings (uthras).


     

  • Did They Resurrect? No. Because they never died, they never resurrected.


     

  • Descend to Hell or Ascend to Heaven? Hibil Ziwa did famously descend to the World of Darkness (the Mandaean underworld) to battle the King of Darkness (Krun). However, he did not do this by dying; he traveled there as a warrior of light, conquered the dark entities, and then ascended back to the World of Light.


     

  • Crucified? absolutely not. Crucifixion plays no part in their mythology, and as mentioned, Mandaeans strongly reject crucifixion as a path to salvation.


     

Actions & Theological Comparisons

  • Did They Die for the Salvation of Man? No. In Mandaeism, salvation is not achieved through a blood sacrifice or the death of a savior. Salvation is achieved through acquiring divine knowledge (gnosis) and participating in frequent, repetitive river baptisms (masbuta) to purify the soul so it can return to the World of Light.


     

  • What Actions Did They Take?


     

    • Ptahil was commanded to create the physical world and human bodies (Adam and Eve), but he could not give them life.


       

    • Hibil Ziwa (along with other light beings) was sent by the Supreme God to place the divine soul (nishimta) into human bodies and teach them the rites of baptism.


       

  • Born of a Virgin? No. They are spiritual emanations created by the Supreme Light (Hayyi Rabbi), not humans born of a woman.


     

  • Called the Son of God? They are emanations of the Great Life, but they are not monotheistically titled "The Son of God."


     

  • Part of the Trinity? No. Mandaeism is a dualistic religion (a strict divide between the World of Light and the World of Darkness) and does not feature a Christian-style Holy Trinity.


     

  • Will They Judge Man in Heaven? In Mandaean cosmology, souls are weighed and judged at various "watchhouses" (purgatories) by celestial beings as they attempt to ascend to the World of Light, but "Hil and Feta" do not sit on a heavenly throne judging all of mankind at the end of time.


     

Worship & Followers

  • How They Were Worshiped: Mandaeans strictly worship only the supreme God, Hayyi Rabbi (The Great Life). Hibil and Ptahil are revered as powerful celestial beings and emissaries, but they are not worshipped as the Supreme Creator.


     

  • Who Worshipped Them? The Mandaeans, who are the last surviving Gnostic sect from antiquity.

Zoar

Zoar of the Bronzes

Just like "Ieo of China," "Zoar of Bronzes" (originally written as "Zoar of the Bonzes") is not a real historical, religious, or mythological figure.


 

This name does not exist in any ancient texts, archaeological records, or world religions. Because this figure is entirely fabricated, there is no historical data regarding his birth, death, resurrection, or teachings. Consequently, there are no statues, scrolls, or artistic depictions to show you.


 

Here is the factual breakdown of where this name came from and why none of the theological questions apply.


 

The Origin of the Name

The name "Zoar of the Bonzes" comes from a single, highly discredited 19th-century book.


 

In 1875, an American writer named Kersey Graves published The World's Sixteen Crucified Saviors. In it, he listed dozens of supposed pagan gods and ancient prophets who he claimed were crucified, born of virgins, and resurrected before Jesus Christ. Modern historians and scholars of comparative religion have universally rejected Graves' book because he frequently altered ancient myths, misquoted sources, or simply invented deities to make his lists longer.


 

"Zoar of the Bonzes" is widely considered by historians and mythicists alike to be one of Graves' pure fabrications.


 

What the Words Actually Mean

The name itself is a linguistic mash-up of unrelated terms that gives away its artificial nature:


 

  • Bonzes: "Bonze" is not a place or a religion. It is an archaic European term (derived from the Japanese word bonsō) that 16th-century Portuguese and French missionaries used to describe East Asian Buddhist monks.


     

  • Zoar: Zoar is a biblical city in the Middle East (one of the five "cities of the plain" associated with Sodom and Gomorrah in the Book of Genesis).


     

There is no record in Chinese, Japanese, or Indian history of Buddhist monks ("Bonzes") worshipping a savior god named "Zoar."


 

The Theological Claims vs. Reality

Because "Zoar of the Bonzes" only exists as a passing bullet point in a 19th-century conspiracy book, even the lists that promote him do not provide the details you are looking for.


 

  • Dates, Locations, and Age: Completely unrecorded. Some modern internet lists arbitrarily assign him the dates 2000–1500 BCE, but there is no historical text to support this.


     

  • Crucified or Resurrected? No.


     

  • Born of a Virgin? No.


     

  • Descend to Hell or Ascend to Heaven? No.


     

  • Called the Son of God / Part of the Trinity / Heavenly Judge? No.


     

When you encounter names like "Ieo of China," "Zoar of the Bonzes," or "Crite of Chaldea" in lists of pre-Christian saviors, you are looking at the legacy of 19th-century authors who simply made up names to support a specific narrative.

Ieo

Ieo of China

Unlike Dumuzi, Fu-Xi, or Marduk—who were actual figures in ancient mythologies—"Ieo of China" does not exist in Chinese history, mythology, or folklore.


 

The name "Ieo" only appears in modern internet lists and certain alternative-history books (such as The Christ Conspiracy or lists inspired by Kersey Graves) that attempt to catalog "saviors" who allegedly predate Jesus Christ. Because this figure has no roots in actual Chinese culture (Daoism, Confucianism, Buddhism, or ancient folk religion), there are no ancient texts, artifacts, or religious traditions that correspond to your questions.


 

Here is how your questions map to the brief claims made by these modern lists, versus historical reality:


 

The Claims vs. History

  • Timeline: The modern lists claim he was active around 2300 BCE. Actual Chinese history has no record of him.


     

  • Actions: The single sentence usually repeated about him in these mythicist lists is that he was a "great prophet, lawgiver, and savior" who had exactly "70 disciples".


     

  • Appearance: Because "Ieo" is not a real figure in Chinese art or mythology, there are no ancient statues, scrolls, or artistic depictions of him. Consequently, I cannot provide pictures.


     

  • Different Names: None are given. Historians and linguists suspect "Ieo" is a severe Western corruption of Laozi (the founder of Daoism, who lived much later), Emperor Yao (a legendary Chinese sage king associated with the 2300 BCE timeline), or a misinterpretation of the concept of Dao/Tao.


     

  • Worship: There is no historical record of a cult, temple, or group of people who worshipped a deity or prophet named "Ieo" in China.


     

Life, Death & Theological Questions

Because "Ieo" exists only as a passing sentence in Western comparative religion lists rather than a fully fleshed-out mythology, none of the Christian-paralleling concepts you asked about apply to him. Even the modern lists that promote him do not claim the following:


 

  • Death, Age, and Killer: Completely unrecorded.


     

  • Crucified or Resurrected? No.


     

  • Born of a Virgin? No.


     

  • Descend to Hell or Ascend to Heaven? No.


     

  • Called the Son of God / Part of the Trinity / Heavenly Judge? No. These are distinctly Christian theological concepts. They are not applied to "Ieo" in the modern books that name him, nor do they map to ancient Chinese religious structures, which did not feature a Holy Trinity or a singular "Son of God" judging souls in heaven.
 
The lists claiming there were dozens of identical, pre-Christian saviors who were crucified, born of virgins, and resurrected originate from a specific movement of 19th- and late-20th-century alternative literature, rather than from ancient archaeological or historical texts.


 

Modern historians, classicists, and scholars of comparative religion—including secular, atheist, and agnostic scholars—almost universally reject these lists as pseudo-history.


 

Here is a breakdown of where these claims originated and how they are viewed by experts today.


 

The Origins of the "Savior Lists"

The claims trace back to a few specific authors who wrote for popular audiences, rather than peer-reviewed historical or academic publications:


 

  • Godfrey Higgins (1836): An English antiquarian whose book Anacalypsis attempted to trace all world religions back to a single, ancient golden age. He relied on highly flawed 19th-century linguistics to connect disparate myths.


     

  • Kersey Graves (1875): An American writer whose book, The World's Sixteen Crucified Saviors, is the foundational text for most of these claims. Graves argued that figures like Mithras, Krishna, Horus, and various Celtic or Norse gods were all crucified and resurrected virgins. Graves rarely cited primary sources, and when he did, he frequently misquoted them.


     

  • Acharya S / D.M. Murdock (1999): The specific mention of "Ieo of China" as a "great prophet, lawgiver, and savior with 70 disciples" comes directly from Murdock's 1999 book, The Christ Conspiracy: The Greatest Story Ever Sold.


     

  • Zeitgeist: The Movie (2007): A viral documentary that relied heavily on Murdock's writings. It introduced millions of internet users to these lists, claiming that Egyptian, Persian, and Indian deities shared the exact life story of Jesus.


     

How These Lists Were Created

Historians point out that authors like Graves and Murdock relied on a few deeply flawed methodologies to create their lists:


 

  1. "Parallelomania": This is the practice of finding minor, superficial similarities between two cultures and concluding that one must have plagiarized the other, ignoring that different cultures often share common human themes (like agricultural gods dying in winter and returning in spring).


     

  2. Linguistic Manipulation: The authors take distinct Christian vocabulary and force it onto ancient pagan myths. For example, if an ancient king was bathed in a river, the listmakers call it a "baptism." If a god had followers, they are called "apostles." By describing ancient pagan myths using exclusively Christian terminology, the authors create a false illusion of identical stories.


     

  3. Outright Fabrication: In cases like "Ieo of China," or claims that the Egyptian god Horus was crucified (the Egyptians did not use crucifixion), the authors simply invented details or repeated the inventions of previous 19th-century writers without checking the original ancient texts.


     

The View of Modern Historians

In the academic world, these lists are entirely dismissed.


 

Mainstream historical consensus agrees that early Christianity borrowed cultural concepts from the Greco-Roman world (such as the date of December 25th, which was tied to Roman solstices, or Hellenistic philosophical concepts of the Logos). However, the specific claims of identical "crucified, virgin-born saviors" are rejected for lacking evidence.


 

Notably, even serious academic proponents of the "Christ Myth Theory"—scholars who genuinely argue that a historical Jesus did not exist—strongly condemn these lists. For instance, Dr. Richard Carrier, a prominent atheist historian and leading mythicist, has written extensively to debunk Kersey Graves and Zeitgeist, stating that their work is riddled with factual errors, fake deities, and bad history that undermines serious historical debate.


 

Key takeaway: While ancient religions are full of fascinating "dying-and-rising" agricultural gods and divine heroes, the highly specific "savior lists" circulating online are the product of 19th-century conspiracy literature, not ancient history.
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