February 15, 2021
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Atete Classification: Goddess Associated: Fertility Culture/ Region: Ethiopia/ North Africa, the Zar religion, Oromo People Was venerated in ancients’ times as a the subject of fertility rituals. Atete governs the fate of people on earth. She is “power of life, abundance, fortune, wealth,” and Fridays are sacred to her. Women carry strings of specially colored beads (cäle) as a rosary consecrated to this goddess. Groups of women wear necklaces of Atete, hold a feast, and then go to gather herbs. She was assimilated into the Christian cult of the virgin Mary.