OBATALA : The deity from African Mythology
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Originally Posted by godchecker
OBATALA: One of the ORISHAS, he's a Creator God who didn't get a chance to create.
He was issued with the task of building the Earth by Sky God OLORUN, who gave him blueprints, a handful of mud, a chain, a five-toed chicken, and detailed instructions.
Unfortunately, on his way to perform this important task, OBATALA accidentally gatecrashed a Godparty and spent the rest of the evening roaring drunk on palm wine. Seeing the chance for fame and glory, his younger brother ODUDUWA pinched the holy building materials and attempted to jerry-build the Earth himself.
Advised by a friendly chameleon, he lowered the chain over the edge of heaven, climbed down, and tossed the lump of mud into the primeval sea. The chicken hopped onto the mud and began scratching it in all directions.
Pretty soon there was a decent size landscape and thus was the Earth born. OLORUN was so pleased with ODUDUWA that he promoted him to God of the Earth, while the disgraced and boozy OBATALA was put to work making mankind as punishment.
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Obtala
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Originally Posted by wiki
According to mythical stories Obatala created "defective" (handicapped) individuals while drunk on palm wine, making him the patron deity of such people. People born with congenital defects are called 'eni orisa': literally, "people of Obatala". He is also referred to as the orisha of the north. He is always dressed in white, hence the meaning of his name, Obatala (King or ruler of the white cloth). His worshippers strive to practice moral correctness as unblemished as his robe.
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According to mythical stories Obatala is the eldest of all orisha and was granted authority to create the earth. Before he could return to heaven and report to Olodumare however, his rival Oduduwa (also called Oduwa, Oodua, Odudua or Eleduwa), often described as his younger brother, usurped his position by taking the satchel and returning to heaven. A great feud ensued between the two that is re-enacted every year in Ile Ife, Nigeria. Ultimately, Oduduwa and his sons were able to rule without Obatala's consent.
In Yoruba theology, Obatala must never be worshipped with palm wine, palm oil or salt. His worshippers may eat palm oil and salt, but never taste palm wine.
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This guy would be cool if he let his worshipers slack off and have some palm wine on occasion! How selfish is that. It says he expects his worshipers to be as morally unblemished as his white robe... lets hope he can keep his robe clean at all the godparties he crashes, otherwise a spilled drink might result in moral upheaval and anarchy among his followers
There were gods in the Roman pantheon who were very involved in agriculture, each playing a special role in development:
Seia- responsible for sprouting the seed
Segesta-responsible for shoots emerging from soil
Proserpina-responsible for stalk formation
Nodotus-responsible for forming sections of stem
Volutina-responsible for forming protective sheath around seeds
Patelana- later removes protective sheath from around seeds
Lacturnus and Matuta -ripening of grain at two stages
Flora- responsible for plant blossoming
Lets talk about interesting gods! Unique gods, and what makes them that way. Cool gods you wouldn't mind sitting down and having a drink with(or crashing a palm wine god party with).
Here is a cool resource:
Godchecker.com - Your Guide To The Gods. Mythology with a twist!
Very extensive, funny, and fun to just browse around when bored.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_deities
*note-wasn't sure if this should go in anthropology or theology... gods---errr, i mean mods-- relocate if you see fit 
