Derived from a scale composed to represent Olodumare, the supreme God in the Yoruba tradition, Ogún, the God of iron, is a powerful and fierce warrior who defends his people against injustice. Ogún has the intelligence and creativity to invent tools, weapons, and technology. He is the father of civilization in many ways, for it is by his strength that the path from orun (heaven) to ayé (earth) was cleared so that humanity and the orishas could come to earth. It was his tools and labor that cleared away the wilderness to build cities, homes, and roads. He is the cutting edge of the knife and as such is often misunderstood. The knife can be used to kill someone, or to save someone in surgery – such is Ogún’s nature.
