Manhood, and the masculine divine

Well, I'm a fan of gods like Dionysus, Hermes, Loki, Odin, Coyote, Anansi, and such.... but I'm a "sex, death, and madness" person and I'm not sure I'd call them ideal representations of what is male. Herne is a good representation of a positive masculine energy. Baldur and Tyr are good gods too. Shiva is awesome but he encompasses both the best and worst of masculinity, which is part of his appeal.

Thor. If one is going for strictly masculine, Thor incorporates most of the traditional male characteristics; strength, courage, loyalty, and also a sense of fun and daring, as well as a clearly masculine sexuality (the cross-dressing incident was a one-time thing, and for a good cause).

Gods are some pretty heavy stuff to compare oneself to, and The Bacchae pretty much shows what to expect if you think you can mess with or mainline that kind of energy. In my arrogant moments I like to fancy myself rather like Odin or Hades, but I screw up like Coyote on a bender. I toyed a bit with that "Gods in Everyman" stuff back in the early 1990's, but think that most guys would be better off looking to more mortal archetypes like Merlin, Arthur, Odysseus or (for the sissies) Jesus and Krishna.

I like Odin and Hades because they are grounded, wise, dark and deliberate: simultaneously in touch with divinity, mortality and temperance.

Well, maybe apollo. he plays the guitar. he has a lot of other attirbutes, too, kind of a catch-all god; he can do medicine, and fight, and is involved with geometry and learning.

In most every mythological/religious line you will find a representative of the Masculine force of the universe.

Hinduism has Krishna, Shiva, Vishnu, and an entire host of Gods.

Judaism promotes Jehovah.

Islam, the God Allah.

Christianity embraces masculinity in a triune form of power, wisdom and love combined (God, Holy Spirit and Jesus).

Modern Luciferianism focuses more on the rebellious, individualistic self-inspired 'masterism' of the Fallen Angel as an inspiration for self-empowerment.

See the point? Most of them represent -something- masculine that is appreciable anywhere.

~ Kole

The gods are anthropomorphic interpretations of ideas and energies and intentions. I think that there are positive elements to be found in each of these manifestations. From the ultimately powerful, paternalistic to the gentle brother, the tender lover to the wildness of nature. I don't know that I could pick just one that typifies my "ideal male image". The men I have loved the most have contained all of those elements...power, control, confidence, tenderness, humour, sensuality, wisdom.

The god faces that appeal most to me are the horned god, Cernunos, of the wild and the dance and fertility and joy and earthiness. When I dance, he whirls with me and when I fuck, he wears my love's body. And, perhaps surprisingly, the Jesus that I grew up knowing, wise and curious and tender and strong and loving...imperfect but beloved. This was no sissy Ted Nugent looking Jesus...he was the carpenter, he worked with his hands, he drank and he screwed, he spoke his truth, died for what he believed in. Despite his own fear, he did what he believed needed to be done.

Zeus/Jupiter

The ultimate father figure. Passionate, loving, and occasionally vengeful, but always swayed by Athena (wisdom), and Venus (love). The Greek/Roman myths are torrid and scandalous, but he is always firmly in control.