Yemaya (Yemoja)
Culture & Region
Yoruba (Nigeria) → Diaspora (Americas)
Time Period
c. Pre-colonial to present
Domains
Oceansmotherhoodfertilityprotectioncreationwomb
Symbols & Animals
Seashellsfishblue/whiteanchorboatseven skirts
Sacred Sites & Cult Centers
- Nigeria (Abeokuta)
- Cuba
- Brazil
- Caribbean
Key Myths & Stories
Great mother of all orishas; birth of 14+ orishas; nurturing protector; ocean queen
Related Deities
Mother goddess archetype; ≈ Tiamat (primordial mother)