Question

Why do so many cultures have divinities in similar roles?

Answer 1

Humans have always wanted a way to explain the world around them. Before we could understand it with science we used these divine beings. Different cultures had different needs. A town based on farming would put more focus into their weather and land gods while another may pray to the water gods. It all mostly depended on where you lived. Another point is that humanity shares the same hopes, dreams, and fears. These similar emotions help were developed into divinities.

Humans have also always known that they weren't at the top of the food chain and the world wasn't built by them. They built these god and goddesses as a way to explain how the world around them happened. You also have to think that at that time the people were very tuned into nature and believed that nature worked alongside them. It would make sense that they could create fathomable objects to represent these events.

Its the same concept as seeing a list of words and drawing a picture based on these words.