Amaz & Amazeanism
She Who Scorches, Empress of Heaven, Brightest One, The Winged Sun, the Solar Creatrix, Lightbringer
Amaz is one member of the Ziratriad, and the chief deity of South Mazea. She is the goddess who appeared to Solana Rayhelia, the first Queen of New Mazea, and told her to found a new Empire in Her name. Amazeans claim Amaz first emerged from the primordial darkness of the universe, and gave it light, order and purpose. She then birthed her two eldest children, Zoza and Nyra, to help her carry out her vision. She is the goddess of the sun, warfare, discipline, law and order, strength.
As a sun goddess, Amaz is both a loving Divine Mother who brings light and warmth to the world with Her rays, and also a vengeful warrior who scorches deserts and sets forests ablaze.
Out of the three goddesses of the Ziratriad, Amaz looks down upon men the most, as her son, Solandros, tried to usurp her and told men how to dominate and rule over women, which was never Amaz's plan. Solandros's plan was thwarted and he was not able to usurp the Solar Throne, but much damage had already been done as the world became extremely patriarchal. Therefore, the Amazeans of South Mazea treat men with the most scorn out of all of the four corners of the Empire.
Amazeanism is also the most conservative out of the three religions. Female worshippers are banned from copulating with men for reasons other than procreation, which must be approved by the Queen. Women may take one female lover, but must be devoted to her and her alone. However, this doesn't mean this is always exercised as not all women of South Mazea are as devout as others. Priestesses are banned from romantic and sexual relationships all together as they must be wholly focused on the Ziratriad, and besmirching this rule will result in exile if its with another female, or execution if it's with a male.
Amazeanism greatly values discipline, physical strength and prowess, and all worshippers are expected to remain as physically fit as possible. Amaz is often worshipped through music, and so priestesses of Amaz are expected to be proficient in the the musical arts. Moreso than the other two religions, Amazeans record writings in holy books a great deal, and so priestesses are expected to be compelling writers. They are also expected to train in wellness so they can provide soothing to other members of the queendom and so they can quiet their minds to focus only on Amaz and the other Goddesses.
Her holy colours are orange, gold and yellow, like the rays of the sun. She is depicted as a woman haloed by or clothed with the sun, and huge white wings. Her holy animals are eagles, horses and lions. Her holy metal is gold.