Santeria is an Afro-Latin religious system the mixes both African (Yoruba people) and Catholic imagery. Santeria recognizes severa; deities (orishas), that may be invoked for good or evil. Occasionally it may be encountered in forensic medicine for certain communities.
Parameters:
(1) name of the deity
(2) name of the corresponding Catholic saint
(3) role of the deity
Name of the Deity
Catholic Saint(s)
Role of the Deity
Eleggua
Holy Guardian Angel; Christ Child; St Anthony of Padua
controls roads, gates, doors; allows communication between santero and orisha
Obtalla
Our Lady of Las Mercedes; Christ resurrected; Holy Eucharist
father of all the santos; source of energy, wisdom and purity; patron of hysterics and melancholiacs
Chango
Saint Barbara
controls thunder and lightning; controls fire
Oshun
Our Lady of Charity
controls gold and money; sensual love; arranges marriages; protects genitals
Yemaya
Our Lady of Regia
primordial mother of all santos; protects motherhood; controls fertility; owns the seas
Babalu-Aye
Saint Lazarus
patron of the sick, especially skin diseases
Oggun
Saint Peter
warrior; metals and weapons
where:
• The Yoruba is a people living in southwestern Nigeria and Benin.
• Santero is the priest.
• Santos is a saint.
Deities often called in malevolent sorcery: Chango, Oggun
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