Hello, I am in need of some help. I chose "Minotaur" as a language for my Goliath Cleric, and rather than going back on that decision, I am going to double down on it. Please, I need help to create a religion featuring a deity who is a Minotaur. Any ideas you can provide for a Celestial Lawful Good Humanoid Bull God, would be very much appreciated, as I am not the best when it comes to homebrewing. Thank you.
I think homebrew is the way to go, in which case, you can do most anything. Zeus once took the form of a bull (and is nicely Greek themed) could be they worship someone like him, but in a different form. Maybe even know him under a different name. El, chief god of the Babylonian pantheon, had the bull as his symbol.
Bulls being as common as they are, Im sure there’s dozens of others out there from all over the world, if you’re looking for real world mythology inspiration.
King Midas imprisoned the Minotaur, in the labyrinth built by icarus and deadelus, probably not gods, but maybe those three have a place in Minotaur philosophy/religion. I could see a holy symbol that looks like a maze, maybe.
Pasiphae was the Minotaur’s mother, so she could be a contender.
Theseus slew the Minotaur in Greek myth. could be they regard him as a god — or a devil.
Thank you for all these awesome ideas! I think I might go with Pasiphae, the Minotaur's mother. Also, any tips you can personally provide when homebrewing a religion when you don't want to accidentally make an OP God?
Gods are OP by definition. 😀 In 5e, most gods have one or two domains they cover and that’s about all there is to them. Really, you should just work with your DM about it. In most campaigns, gods don’t play a major role.
Here is a funky lateral thought for you. Consider the show Westworld and the character Man in Black (Ed Harris). He is basically the Minotaur stuck in the labyrinth and seeking the way to the end, the hidden way obfuscated by the world/labyrinth he has built around him. He runs the world killing, maiming, and interacting in every way possible to find a path out of his own madness. The problem with a labyrinth is most think of them as a maze with a way out, but labyrinths are built to always lead to their centers which are not necessarily an exit.
Worship of the Great Labyrinth would mean always seeking the center of ultimate knowledge, power, rulership, cooking, fishing, etc. Basically worshiping a god of the trials which lead to some sort of perfection. More of a LN diety which would be inline with the Goliath cannon and keeping up with the symbology of a bull. You could carry a bull's horn with a labyrinth pattern carved on its surface. Maybe it is used during rituals where some action has been deemed as perfect and you sound the horn as completion of a trial of the labyrinth.
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IMHO, Earthdawn is still the best fantasy realm, Shadowrun is the best Sci-Fi realm, and Dark Sun is the best D&D realm.
It was King Minos that had the labyrinth built to hold the Minotaur, whose name was actually Asterion, or Starry One, as he was associated with the Bull of Heaven.
This is really old, but if you're looking for homebrew ideas you could go for a Buddhist type religion where life is seen as a "labyrinth" of things that could ensnare one's soul. Ariadne was the sister of the original minotaur and widely referred to as a goddess of the labyrinth and madness (in regard to her marriage to Dionysus). The deity could be named Asterion like the original minotaur and regarded as a tragic figure who guides his people to a better path, leading them to the freedom and enlightenment he was never able to attain.
Alternatively, you could take the zealous and violent tendencies of regular minotaurs and create a god opposite of that. One who advocates for hard work and dedication instead of glory and battle prowess (referencing oxen and buffalo as work animals). They're still an underdark race, so full on farming might not be possible, but they could definitely be miners, or shepherds to one of many dangerous species they share space with. Notable bulls in real life mythology have names like Hastur, Apis, Io, Ishkur (The Bull of Heaven), and Nandi, just to name a few. Going for a fluffier anthropomorphic look might also help sell them as lawful good, since the heavenly deities tend to look more appealing. They'd be strong and well-built, but their fur would have a healthy shine and might even be braided. If they're a peaceful god, perhaps they shave down or cap their horns. It'd mean losing a natural melee attack for minotaurs of that faith, though, which could go for an interesting bit of character work.
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Hello, I am in need of some help. I chose "Minotaur" as a language for my Goliath Cleric, and rather than going back on that decision, I am going to double down on it. Please, I need help to create a religion featuring a deity who is a Minotaur. Any ideas you can provide for a Celestial Lawful Good Humanoid Bull God, would be very much appreciated, as I am not the best when it comes to homebrewing. Thank you.
I think homebrew is the way to go, in which case, you can do most anything.
Zeus once took the form of a bull (and is nicely Greek themed) could be they worship someone like him, but in a different form. Maybe even know him under a different name.
El, chief god of the Babylonian pantheon, had the bull as his symbol.
Bulls being as common as they are, Im sure there’s dozens of others out there from all over the world, if you’re looking for real world mythology inspiration.
King Midas imprisoned the Minotaur, in the labyrinth built by icarus and deadelus, probably not gods, but maybe those three have a place in Minotaur philosophy/religion. I could see a holy symbol that looks like a maze, maybe.
Pasiphae was the Minotaur’s mother, so she could be a contender.
Theseus slew the Minotaur in Greek myth. could be they regard him as a god — or a devil.
Thank you for all these awesome ideas! I think I might go with Pasiphae, the Minotaur's mother. Also, any tips you can personally provide when homebrewing a religion when you don't want to accidentally make an OP God?
Gods are OP by definition. 😀
In 5e, most gods have one or two domains they cover and that’s about all there is to them. Really, you should just work with your DM about it. In most campaigns, gods don’t play a major role.
Here is a funky lateral thought for you. Consider the show Westworld and the character Man in Black (Ed Harris). He is basically the Minotaur stuck in the labyrinth and seeking the way to the end, the hidden way obfuscated by the world/labyrinth he has built around him. He runs the world killing, maiming, and interacting in every way possible to find a path out of his own madness. The problem with a labyrinth is most think of them as a maze with a way out, but labyrinths are built to always lead to their centers which are not necessarily an exit.
Worship of the Great Labyrinth would mean always seeking the center of ultimate knowledge, power, rulership, cooking, fishing, etc. Basically worshiping a god of the trials which lead to some sort of perfection. More of a LN diety which would be inline with the Goliath cannon and keeping up with the symbology of a bull. You could carry a bull's horn with a labyrinth pattern carved on its surface. Maybe it is used during rituals where some action has been deemed as perfect and you sound the horn as completion of a trial of the labyrinth.
IMHO, Earthdawn is still the best fantasy realm, Shadowrun is the best Sci-Fi realm, and Dark Sun is the best D&D realm.
It was King Minos that had the labyrinth built to hold the Minotaur, whose name was actually Asterion, or Starry One, as he was associated with the Bull of Heaven.
A sea witch and water warlock of West Palm Beach
This is really old, but if you're looking for homebrew ideas you could go for a Buddhist type religion where life is seen as a "labyrinth" of things that could ensnare one's soul. Ariadne was the sister of the original minotaur and widely referred to as a goddess of the labyrinth and madness (in regard to her marriage to Dionysus). The deity could be named Asterion like the original minotaur and regarded as a tragic figure who guides his people to a better path, leading them to the freedom and enlightenment he was never able to attain.
Alternatively, you could take the zealous and violent tendencies of regular minotaurs and create a god opposite of that. One who advocates for hard work and dedication instead of glory and battle prowess (referencing oxen and buffalo as work animals). They're still an underdark race, so full on farming might not be possible, but they could definitely be miners, or shepherds to one of many dangerous species they share space with. Notable bulls in real life mythology have names like Hastur, Apis, Io, Ishkur (The Bull of Heaven), and Nandi, just to name a few. Going for a fluffier anthropomorphic look might also help sell them as lawful good, since the heavenly deities tend to look more appealing. They'd be strong and well-built, but their fur would have a healthy shine and might even be braided. If they're a peaceful god, perhaps they shave down or cap their horns. It'd mean losing a natural melee attack for minotaurs of that faith, though, which could go for an interesting bit of character work.