FATHER GODS

[Other] The term for supreme gods who, in certain pantheons, have a prominent place and who from themselves, or with one or more partners, engendered children). The father god resides in heaven and is usually the personification of that heaven. Thus he is at the same time the sky-god, ruler of the sun and rain, thunder and lightning, and as such a fertility god (who brings warmth and water). Finally, the father gods are also the creators of mankind, which he punishes or rewards. Prototypes of father gods are Uranus and Zeus, Yu-huang, and Ahura Mazda. These gods are usually represented as a bull, ram, phallus, or ithyphallic god; all symbols of their life-giving force.