From the publisher's website:

As the leader of an ancient civilization, explore unknown lands in order to develop your empire. Found new cities and construct buildings in order to exploit natural resources, establish trade routes. Set out to conquer barbarian villages or increase your scientific knowledge. Don’t forget to maintain good standing with the Gods! Pay tribute to them by making offerings and by building fabulous temples. Each player begins a game of Deus with a hand of 5 Building cards. On your turn, you must choose from two actions: construct a building or make an offering to a god. Constructing a building consists of playing a Building card, and placing the associated wooden piece in a region of the gameboard. You must place the building card in the column of the same color, and then you can benefit from the power of all the cards placed in this column, starting at the bottom. The powers of buildings allow you to gain victory points, resources, or money, make scientific advancements, or attack your neighbors. It is also possible to construct a temple, which provides victory points at the end of the game. Making an offering to a god consists of discarding cards in order to receive aid from the god associated with one of these cards. Then you draw cards until you have five cards in your hand again. Two things can end the game: All the barbarian villages have been attacked All the temples have been built The player with the most victory points (VP) wins the game.