A
god, as a male
deity, contrasts with female deities, or "
goddesses". While the term "goddess" specifically refers to a female deity, the plural "gods" can be applied to all gods collectively, regardless of gender.
In most
polytheistic religions, both in history and in the present, male deities had the more prominent role. The
Greek and
Roman pantheons were ruled by
Zeus and
Jupiter.
When
Ancient Egyptian religion developed closer to
monotheism, it was
Amun, a male god, who rose to the most prominent place.
War gods were, like the rulers of the pantheon, typically male, too;
Ares/
Mars and
Toutatis are obvious examples.