Which gods will you meet on American Gods?
Easter / Old Gods
Easter, formerly Eostre or Ostara, played by Kristen Chenoweth, is another god who appears to enjoy a bigger role on the TV show than in the novel. She comes from the pre-Christian Germanic tradition, which celebrated Easter as a full month-long spring festival. It’s believed that she retains more power than other gods because Easter is still celebrated in her name, but that power is thin since Jesus usurped the holiday. In the novel, Shadow and Mr. Wednesday find her in San Francisco.
The Jinn / Old Gods
The jinn is an unnamed demon (jinn means demon) or ifrit (ifrit also means demon) from Arabian and Islamic mythology. Arabian mythology includes angels, humans, who are made from mud, and the jinn, who are made from fire. In the novel, the Jinn, played on the show by Mousa Kraish, appears as a taxi driver with fire behind his sunglasses. Contrary to popular belief, the jinn – from which we get the word “genie” – cannot grant wishes. The jinn only appears in a “Coming to America” interlude in the novel, but there’s no telling what his involvement in the show may be.
Vulcan / Old Gods
The Roman god of metalworking and the forge does not appear in the novel, but Gaiman himself developed the character specifically for show. According to pre-show promotion, Vulcan, played by Corbin Bernsen, draws his power from an American love of guns and firepower. It remains unclear who brought a Roman god to America.