Vanth

Culture: Etruscan   Domain: Death, the underworld, guidance of the dead

Vanth is a winged Etruscan underworld figure who appears frequently in tomb paintings, generally guiding or witnessing the passage of the dead rather than judging or punishing them; she carries a torch or key and is one of the more visually distinctive and frequently depicted Etruscan afterlife figures.

Associations

Death as a guided passage, attentive witnessing, the underworld's threshold.

Ways people honor her (modern)

• Approach death and dying with attentive, guiding presence for those experiencing it
• Research surviving Etruscan tomb paintings that depict her role
• Keep a key or torch image on a remembrance altar
• Reflect on the value of being witnessed and accompanied through hard transitions

Approach any deity with respect and do your own research. Practices vary widely between traditions, and modern devotional practice often goes beyond what survives in ancient sources.