The word "attendant godling" refers to a minor deity who serves a higher god or goddess. Synonyms for this term include "divine minion", "subordinate deity", "lesser god", "inferior deity", and "servant deity". These terms all emphasize the subordinate nature of such a deity and their role as a servant rather than a ruler of the divine realm. Other related words might include "angel", "spirit", "demi-god", or "lesser spirit". Throughout history and across cultures, these types of deities have played an important role in religious beliefs and practices. Whether revered or simply acknowledged, the attendant godlings of various belief systems have long captured the imagination of people around the world.