Ziva (pronounced ZHEE-va) is the Slavic Goddess of longevity. She was said to have a temple on Mount Zywiec, and people would go to the temple to pray for good health and long life. Some traditions have it that she turned herself into a cuckoo bird. Ziva’s name, which means “life,” is also seen as Zywie, Zhywie, Zhywa, Zywa, Zhiva, Zivena, Siva, Siwa, Sivve, Shiwa, Sieba, Syeba, Siba, and Dsiva.

I’ve decided not to stick with my rotation through the different pantheons, because some days I look at who is next on my list and just don’t want to try to research a particular pantheon. That leads me to procrastinate about posting, which leads to my long gaps between posts. In an effort to reenergize myself, I’ve decided to stop trying to have any sort of order, although I am toying with alphabetical, perhaps in reverse order. Hence today’s Goddess.

Zvoruna is the Lithuanian Goddess of the hunt. She is a protector of wild animals and the forest, similar to the Roman Diana or the Greek Artemis. Her name, which derives from the word zveris “wild animal,” is also seen as Zverune.

Tayet is the Egyptian Goddess of weaving. In a role similar to that of the Goddess Neith, Tayet wove the linen bandages in which mummies were wrapped. She also wove the walls of the tent of purification in which the embalmers worked. Tayet’s linen was also used to dress statues of other deities. Tayet was depicted in human form, holding bandages, and one text says that her skin is the color of turquoise. Her name is also seen as Tait or Tayt.

Kipu-tyttö is the Finnish Goddess of illness. She is the daughter of Tuonetar and Tuoni, Goddess and God of the underworld, and sister of Loviatar, Goddess of plagues. Kipu-tyttö sits on a rock at the spot where three rivers meet in the underworld, and all of mankind’s diseases live below. She slowly turns the rock, releasing them one at a time. She is depicted as a young woman with a pockmarked face, and she sings as she sits on her rock, luring the ill with her song. Kipu-tyttö’s name means “pain girl.”