The term comes from the Greek πολύ poly ("many") and θεός theos ("god") and was coined by the Jewish writer 展开

A major division in modern polytheistic practices is between so-called soft polytheism and hard polytheism.
"Soft" polytheism is the belief that different gods may either be psychological archetypes, … 展开

The deities of polytheism are often portrayed as complex personages of greater or lesser status, with individual skills, needs, desires and histories, in many ways similar to humans (anthropomorphic) in their … 展开

Types of deities often found in polytheism may include:
• Creator deity
• Culture hero
• Death deity (chthonic)… 展开

In the Classical era, 4th century CE Neoplatonist Sallustius categorized mythology into five types:
1. Theological: myths that contemplate the essence of the gods, such as Cronus swallowing his c… 展开

Well-known historical polytheistic pantheons include the Sumerian gods, the Egyptian gods, the pantheon attested in Classical Antiquity (in ancient Greek and Roman religion), the Norse Æsir and Vanir, the … 展开