List of Slavic deities: Difference between revisions
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{{Redirect|Slavic god/deity|the Slavic conception of supreme God|Rod (Slavic religion)|the theology of modern Slavic Native Faith|Slavic Native Faith's theology and cosmology}} |
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{{Use dmy dates|date=May 2022}} |
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{{Slavic Native Faith}} |
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The [[Slavic paganism|pagan Slavs]] were [[polytheistic]], which means that they worshipped many [[god]]s and [[goddess]]es. The gods of the Slavs are known primarily from a small number of [[chronicle]]s and [[Letopis (genre)|letopises]], or not very accurate Christian [[sermon]]s against [[paganism]]. Additionally, more numerous sources in which Slavic [[theonym]]s are preserved include names, proper names, place names, folk holidays, and language, including sayings. |
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[[File:Svarog's shrine in Bitsa Park, Moscow (2).jpg|thumb|A shrine of Svarog in [[Bitsa Park]], [[Moscow]].]] |
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'''Deities of Slavic religion''', arranged in cosmological and functional groups, are inherited through mythology and folklore. Both in the earliest [[Slavic paganism|Slavic religion]] and in modern [[Slavic Native Faith's theology and cosmology]], gods are arranged as a hierarchy of powers begotten by the [[Absolute (philosophy)|supreme]] [[God]] of the universe, ''[[Rod (Slavic religion)|Rod]]'', known as ''[[Dyeus|Deivos]]'' in the earliest Slavic religion.{{sfn|Gasparini|2013}} According to [[Helmold]]'s ''[[Chronica Slavorum]]'' (compiled 1168–1169), "obeying the duties assigned to them, [the deities] have sprung from his [the supreme God's] blood and enjoy distinction in proportion to their nearness to the god of the gods".{{sfn|Rudy|1985|p=5}} The general Slavic term for "god" or "deity" is бог ''bog'', whose original meaning is both "wealth" and its "giver".{{sfnm|1a1=Mathieu-Colas|1y=2017|2a1=Rudy|2y=1985|2p=5}} The term is related to [[Sanskrit]] ''[[bhaga]]'' and [[Avestan language|Avestan]] ''baga''.{{sfn|Rudy|1985|pp=5, 14–15}} Many Slavic gods have [[Indo-Iranians|Indo-Iranian]] origin, and some are worshipped to this day in folk religion, especially in countrysides, despite longtime [[Christianisation of the Slavs|Christianisation of Slavic lands]],{{sfnm|1a1=Leeming|1y=2005|1pp=359–360|2a1=Rudy|2y=1985|2p=9}} apart from the relatively recent phenomenon of organised [[Slavic Native Faith]] (Rodnovery). |
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Information about Slavic paganism, including the gods, is scarce because Christian missionaries were not very interested in the spiritual life of the [[Slavs]].{{Sfn|Szyjewski|2003|p=9}} Also, no accounts written down directly by the pagan Slavs exist. During the Christianization missions, the deities, on the one hand, were [[demonized]] to deter from worshipping them, on the other hand, their characteristics and functions were assumed by the [[saint]]s, which was supposed to make the new religion less alien. |
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Slavic folk belief holds that the world organises itself according to an oppositional and yet complementary cosmic duality through which the supreme God expresses itself, represented by ''[[Belobog]]'' ("White God") and ''[[Chernobog]]'' ("Black God"), collectively representing heavenly-masculine and earthly-feminine deities, or waxing light and waning light gods, respectively.{{sfnm|1a1=Gasparini|1y=2013|2a1=Hanuš|2y=1842|2pp=151–183|3a1=Heck|3y=1852|3pp=289–290}} The two are also incarnated by ''[[Svarog]]''–''[[Perun]]'' and ''[[Veles (god)|Veles]]'', whom have been compared to the Indo-Iranian ''[[Mitra]]'' and ''[[Varuna]]'', respectively.{{sfn|Ivakhiv|2005|p=214}} All bright male gods, especially those whose name has the attributive suffix ''-vit'', "lord", are epithets, denoting aspects or phases in the year of the masculine radiating force, personified by Perun (the "Thunder" and "Oak").{{sfn|Rudy|1985|pp=17–18}} Veles, as the etymology of his name highlights, is instead the god of poetic inspiration and sight.{{sfn|Rudy|1985|pp=24–25}} The underpinning ''[[Mokosh]]'' ("Moist"), the great goddess of the earth related to the Indo-Iranian ''[[Anahita]]'', has always been the focus of a strong popular devotion, and is still worshipped by many Slavs, chiefly Russians.{{sfn|Rudy|1985|p=9}} |
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== Common Slavic deities == |
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==God of Heaven / absolute Rod== |
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Because of the small number of sources, there is no consensus among scholars of Slavic mythology on the extent of the worship of even the most important deities. Listed in this paragraph are those whose Panslavic range is most often recognized. In addition to these, the East Slavic [[Mokosh]] (a presumed toponym in the [[Czech Republic]]), and the East Slavic [[Stribog]] (toponyms in [[Poland]]) are sometimes indicated. |
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=== Supreme deities === |
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{| class="wikitable" style="width:100%" |
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Based on the reconstructed myths around the figures of [[Perun]] and [[Veles (god)|Veles]], some scholars believe that both of these gods are chief deities.{{Sfn|Gieysztor|2006|p=315}} They are primarily found in the [[Slavic creation myth]]. According to some scholars, a pair of these gods prove "Slavic [[Dualism in cosmology|dualism]]", but there is no consensus on this either, and those who assume that such dualism in mythology may have existed, point out that Slavic dualism was probably not as extreme as in Christianity or [[Zoroastrianism]]. |
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{| class="wikitable" |
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!scope="col", width="120px" | Name |
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!scope="col" | Image |
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! style="width:21%;"| Name variations |
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!Greek Myth |
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! Description |
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! scope="col" | Details |
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! style="width:10%;"| Image and symbol{{efn-lg|name=symbols|In the tables, black symbols are those with historical attestation and transmitted through folk religion; otherwise, red symbols are some variants in use in modern [[Slavic Native Faith|Rodnovery]], especially in Russia. Some of the latter are found, for instance, in: {{cite book|last=Kushnir|first=Dimitry|year=2014|title=Slavic Light Symbols|series=The Slavic Way|volume=5|isbn=9781505805963}}}} |
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!scope="row" | '''[[Perun]]''' |
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| –[[Rod (Slavic religion)|Rod]]<br>–Deivos{{efn-lg|''Deivos'', cognate with the [[Proto-Indo-European language|Proto-Indo-European]] *''[[Dyeus]]'', is the most ancient name of the Slavic supreme God of Heaven (cf. [[Sanskrit]] ''[[Deva (Hinduism)|Deva]]'', [[Latin]] ''[[Deus]]'', [[Old High German]] ''[[Ziu]]'' and [[Lithuanian language|Lithuanian]] ''[[Dievas]]'').{{sfnm|1a1=Gasparini|1y=2013|2a1=Rudy|2y=1985|2p=4}} This name was abandoned when Slavic religion, in line with [[Proto-Indo-Iranian religion]], shifted the meaning of the Indo-European descriptor of heavenly deities ([[Avestan language|Avestan]] ''[[daeva]]'', [[Old Church Slavonic]] ''div'', both going back to Proto-Indo-European *''deiwos'', "celestial") to the designation of evil entities, and in parallel began to describe gods by the term for both "wealth" and its "givers" (Avestan ''[[bhaga|baga]]'', Old Church Slavonic ''bog''). At first it was replaced with the term for "clouds", cf. [[Old Church Slavonic]] ''Nebo''.{{sfn|Rudy|1985|pp=4–5, 14–15}}}} |
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| –Rid <sup>(Ukrainian)</sup><br>–Rodu <sup>(Old East Slavic)</sup>{{sfn|Rudy|1985|p=31}}<br>–Hrodo, Chrodo, Crodo, Krodo{{sfn|Hanuš|1842|p=116; "...Krodo, dem Slawen-Gotte, dem grossen Gotte...", trans.: "...Krodo, the God of the Slavs, the great God..."}}<br>–Crodone <sup>(Latinisation)</sup>{{sfn|Hanuš|1842|p=116}}<br>–Sud <sup>(South Slavic)</sup>{{sfn|Mathieu-Colas|2017}}<br>–Prabog, Praboh <sup>(Slovak)</sup>{{sfn|Mathieu-Colas|2017}} |
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|[[Zeus]] |
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| [[Absolute (philosophy)|Absolute]], primordial God of the universe and of all other gods. Supreme creator of all things and kins and their power of generation. Scholars have defined Rod as the "general power of birth and reproduction".{{sfn|Ivanits|1989|pp=14–17}} The root *''rod'' means "birth", "origin", "kinship", "tribe" and "destiny". ''Sud'', literally "Judge", is a South Slavic name for the supreme God, especially when conceived as the interweaving of destiny. ''Prabog'' is another name for the same concept, this time from the Slovak tradition, and literally means "Pre-God", "First-God", "Primordial God".{{sfn|Mathieu-Colas|2017}} |
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| Perun is the god of [[lightning]] and thunder,{{Sfn|Gieysztor|2006|p=85}} as well as of war,{{Sfn|Gieysztor|2006|p=97}} and the patron of the [[druzhina]].{{Sfn|Gieysztor|2006|p=65}} He is the etymological and functional continuator of the Proto-Indo-European thunder god ''[[Perkwunos|*Perkʷunos]]'', and shares many characteristics with other [[thunder gods]] worshipped by [[Indo-Europeans]].{{Sfn|Szyjewski|2003|pp=44-45}} He is mentioned most notably in ''[[Primary Chronicle]]'', where a grey-haired and golden-moustached statue of Perun is described in temple on [[Old Kyiv Hill]], and ''Third Novogorod Chronicle'', where his statue is described in [[Peryn]],{{Sfn|Gieysztor|2006|pp=92-93}} and in many texts warning against paganism. His name survived in spells and in proper names.{{Sfn|Gieysztor|2006|pp=89-91}} Armed usually with an axe, hammer, or spear,{{Sfn|Szyjewski|2003|p=45}} he fights chaos demons. His figure is preserved in folklore primarily in the form of [[Elijah|saint Elijah]] and [[saint George]].{{Sfn|Gieysztor|2006|pp=89-91}} |
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Rod, in its symbolisation of the generative process, has been compared to the Celtic ''[[Toutatis]]'' (cf. *''teutā'', "stock", "tribe"), and to the Latin ''[[Quirinus]]'', the god of community and procreation (cf. *''coviria'', ''cūria''). According to [[Émile Benveniste]]'s definition of the Italic god of generation, it is the "god of the growth of the nation".{{sfn|Rudy|1985|pp=14–15}} As supreme God, Rod has also been compared to the Latin ''[[Saturn (mythology)|Saturn]]''. The iconography of Rod shows him governing the four elements: He stands on a fish, symbol of water; with one hand he heightens a wheel, symbol of the sun and of the cycles of the universe; with the other hand he holds a bucket of flowers, symbol of the blooming earth; and around his waist he has a fluttering linen belt, symbol of air.{{sfn|Hanuš|1842|pp=115–116}}<ref>{{cite book|editor-last=Pietzsch|editor-first=Edward|year=1935|title=Museum für sächsische vaterlandskunde|volume=1–5|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=cwAiAQAAMAAJ|page=66}}</ref> |
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!scope="row" | '''[[Veles (god)|Veles]]''' |
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|style="background:white;"| {{image array|perrow=2|width=50|height=50|image1=Kolovrat (Коловрат) Swastika (Свастика) - Rodnovery.svg|image2=RozetaSolarSymbol.svg}}[[File:Rod symbol red.svg|50px|center]]<div style="text-align:center;"><small>Wheels and whirls</small>{{efn-lg|[[Boris Rybakov]] identifies all wheel, whirl and spiral symbols as representing Rod in its many forms, including the "six-petaled rose" and the "thunder mark" (''gromovoi znak''),{{sfn|Ivanits|1989|p=17}} the latter most often associated to Perun. The contemporary design of the symbol called ''kolovrat'', the eight-spoked wheel used as the collective symbol of Rodnovery, was already present in [[woodcut]]s produced in the 1920s by the Polish artist Stanisław Jakubowski under the name ''słoneczko'' ("little sun").<ref>{{cite book|author=Stanisław Jakubowski|title=Prasłowiańskie motywy architektoniczne|year=1923|publisher=Orbis|location=Dębniki, Kraków}} [http://www.slowianie.republika.pl/drzeworyty.htm Illustrations of Jakubowski's artworks].</ref>}}</div><br>[[File:Hrodo (Montfaucon 1722).jpg|150px|center]] |
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|[[Hades]] |
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| Veles is a god of multiple functions, such complexity making comparison with other deities difficult. A [[chthonic]] deity, he rules over the [[Nav (Slavic folklore)|underworld]], to which, as [[psychopomp]] he conducts the souls of the dead, leading them out into the meadows of the beyond. As the god of wealth, he is associated with the care of cattle (cattle rather than money being, in ancient times, the primary form of wealth). Furthermore, like the Germanic [[Odin]] he is the patron deity of poets and other artists and also of those who practice magic (poetry having been intimately connected with magic in the past).{{Sfn|Szyjewski|2003|pp=48-52}} The etymology of his name likely connects it with Slavic words associated with death. Mentioned primarily in ''[[Primary Chronicle]]''; his name also often appears in proper names. His animal incarnations are bull or [[ox]], [[dragon]] or [[Slavic dragon|zmey]].{{Sfn|Szyjewski|2003|pp=56-57}} His figure is preserved in folklore primarily in the form of [[saint Nicholas]] and the [[Devil in Christianity|devil]].{{Sfn|Szyjewski|2003|p=50}} |
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=== Other deities === |
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==Highest cosmological concepts== |
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{| class="wikitable" |
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<small>Basic information from Mathieu-Colas 2017.{{sfn|Mathieu-Colas|2017}} Further information is appropriately referenced.</small> |
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===Supreme polarity=== |
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{| class="wikitable" style="width:100%" |
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! style="width:10%;"| Concept |
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! style="width:21%;"| Name variations |
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! Description |
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! style="width:6%;"| Main attestations |
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! style="width:10%;"| Image and symbol{{efn-lg|name=symbols}} |
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| [[Belobog]]—[[Chernobog]] |
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| ①<br>–Bielobog, Byelobog{{sfn|Mathieu-Colas|2017}}<br>–Belibog{{sfn|Mathieu-Colas|2017}}<br>–Bielbog, Bjjelbog{{sfn|Mathieu-Colas|2017}}<br>–Gilbog{{sfn|Creuzer|Mone|1822|p=197}}<br>②<br>–Chernabog, Chernebog, Chernibog{{sfn|Mathieu-Colas|2017}}<br>–Czernabog, Czernibog, Czernobog{{sfn|Mathieu-Colas|2017}}<br>–Crnobog{{sfn|Mathieu-Colas|2017}}<br>–Zcerneboch{{sfn|Mathieu-Colas|2017}}<br>–Zernebog <sup>(Germanised Wendish)</sup>{{sfn|Ingemann|1824}}<br>–Tiarnaglofi, Tjarnaglofi{{sfn|Gasparini|2013}}<br>–Zlebog{{sfn|Creuzer|Mone|1822|p=197}}<br>–Pya{{sfn|Heck|1852|p=291}} |
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| Literally, respectively, "White God" (cf. ''bieli'', "white") and "Black God" (cf. ''cherni'', "black"). They represent the oppositional and complementary duality which inheres reality, expressed for instance as light and darkness, day and night, male and female. Belobog incarnates as Svarog ("Heaven") and the multitude of his manifestations (cf. "threefold–fourfold divinity" hereinbelow), while Chernobog incarnates as Veles (also called Tjarnaglofi, i.e. "Black Head") and female deities.{{sfn|Leeming|2005|p=360}} All deities are manifestations of either Belobog or Chernobog, and in both categories they may be either ''Razi'', rede-givers, or ''Zirnitra'', dragon wizards.{{sfnm|1a1=Creuzer|1a2=Mone|1y=1822|1pp=195–197|2a1=Heck|2y=1852|2pp=289–290}} Black gods were usally represented with the features of ferce animals.{{sfn|Heck|1852|p=291}} |
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[[File:Slavic divine hierarchy, Creuzer-Mone 1822.jpg|thumb|400px|center|Hierarchy of the divine, with the two categories proceeding from the supreme God, as illustrated by [[Georg Friedrich Creuzer|Georg F. Creuzer]] and [[Franz Mone|Franz J. Mone]].{{sfn|Creuzer|Mone|1822|p=197}}]] |
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| <small>Baltic [[Slavs]]</small> |
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|style="background:white;"| [[File:Belobog symbol red.svg|50px|center]]<br>[[File:Bialybog and Czarnybog by Marek Hapon.jpg|150px|center]]<br>[[File:Chernobog symbol red.svg|50px|center]] |
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| Rod—Rozanica |
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| –Rodzanica{{sfn|Mathieu-Colas|2017}}<br>–Ro<sup>d</sup>zhanitsa, Rojanitsa{{sfn|Mathieu-Colas|2017}}<br>–Rozh<sup>d</sup>enica{{sfn|Mathieu-Colas|2017}}<br>–Ro<sup>d</sup>jenica <sup>(Serbo-Croatian, Slovenian)</sup>{{sfnm|1a1=Rudy|1y=1985|1p=8|2a1=Máchal|2y=1918|2p=249}}<br>–Razivia, Raziwia{{sfn|Hanuš|1842|p=135}}<br>–Rodiva, Rodiwa{{sfn|Hanuš|1842|p=135}}<br>–Deva, Dewa, Dzewa{{sfn|Hanuš|1842|p=135}}<br>–Baba{{sfn|Marjanić|2003|pp=193, 197–199}}<br>–Krasopani{{sfn|Hanuš|1842|p=135}}<br>–Udelnica <sup>(north Russian)</sup>{{sfn|Máchal|1918|p=250}} |
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| Literally "God and the Goddess", it is a conceptualisation of the supreme polarity as male–female, formed by the masculine form plus the feminine form of the root *''rod''; it implies the union of the supreme God with matter to shape reality. The feminine form is frequently spelled plural, interpreting Rozanica as the collective representation of the three goddesses of fate. Rozanica is an ancient [[mother goddess]], and her name literally means the "Generatrix" or "Genitrix".{{sfnm|1a1=Mathieu-Colas|1y=2017|2a1=Rudy|2y=1985|2p=8}} In kinships, while Rod represents the forefathers from the male side, Rozanica represents the ancestresses from the female side. Through the history of the Slavs, the latter gradually became more prominent than the former, because of the importance of the mother to the newborn child.{{sfn|Máchal|1918|p=249}} |
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She is also called ''Deva'', meaning the "Young Lady" or simply "Goddess", regarded as the singular goddess of whom all lesser goddesses are manifestations;{{sfn|Hanuš|1842|pp=135, 280}} ''Baba'', meaning the "Old Lady", "Crone", "Hag";{{sfn|Marjanić|2003|pp=193, 197–199}} and ''Krasopani'', meaning the "Beautiful Lady". She has been compared to the Greek ''[[Aphrodite]]'' and the Indic ''[[Lakshmi]]'',{{sfn|Hanuš|1842|p=135}} but especially to the Roman ''[[Juno (mythology)|Juno]]'', female consort of the supreme God, whom collectively represented the ''Junones'', the Norse ''[[Dís|Disir]]'', the spirits of female lineages who determined fate.{{sfn|Máchal|1918|p=249}} The north Russian name ''Udelnica'' means "Bestower" (of fate).{{sfn|Máchal|1918|p=250}} The ancient Slavs offered bread, cheese and honey to Rod–Rozanica.{{sfn|Máchal|1918|p=249}} |
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| <small>[[East Slavs]], [[Rus' (name)|Russes]]</small> |
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|style="background:white;"| [[File:Rodiva symbol red.svg|40px|center]]<br>[[File:Zorze Rodzanice.jpg|150px|center]] |
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!scope="col", width="120px" | Name |
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| Sud—Sudenica |
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!scope="col" | Image |
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| –Sudenitsa{{sfn|Mathieu-Colas|2017}}<br>–Sudica{{sfn|Máchal|1918|p=250}}<br>–Su<sup>d</sup>jenica <sup>(Serbo-Croatian)</sup>{{sfn|Máchal|1918|p=250}}<br>–Sojenica, Sujenica <sup>(Slovenian)</sup>{{sfn|Máchal|1918|p=250}}<br>–Su<sup>d</sup>z<sup>h</sup>enica <sup>(Bulgarian)</sup>{{sfn|Máchal|1918|p=250}}<br>–Sudicka <sup>(Bohemian)</sup>{{sfn|Máchal|1918|p=250}}<br>–Naruchnica <sup>(Bulgarian)</sup>{{sfn|Máchal|1918|p=250}}<br>–Orisnica, Urisnica, Uresica <sup>(Bulgarian)</sup>{{sfn|Máchal|1918|p=250}} |
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!Greek Myth. | Greek Myth |
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| ''Sud'' literally means "Judge"; God interpreted as the interweaving of fate. ''Sudenica'', literally meaning "She who Judges", is his female counterpart manifesting as the three goddesses (''Sudenicy'') who determine the fate of men at their birth. They are often presented as Sud's three daughters.{{sfn|Mathieu-Colas|2017}} The Bulgarian name ''Orisnica'' and its variants come from the Greek word ὁρῐ́ζων, ''horízōn'', meaning "determining". Sudenicy are sometimes represented as good-natured old women, and other times as beautiful young women with sparkling eyes, clad in white garments, with their heads covered in white cloths, adorned with gold and silver jewels and precious stones, and holding burning candles in their hands. In other traditions they are planly attired, with only a wreath of flowers around their heads.{{sfn|Máchal|1918|p=250}} |
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! scope="col" | Details |
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| <small>[[South Slavs]]</small> |
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|style="background:white;"| - |
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!scope="row" | '''[[Dazhbog]]''' |
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| Vid–Vida |
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| ①<br>–Wid<br>–Vit, Wit<br>–Sutvid{{sfn|Marjanić|2003|p=181}}<br>②<br>–Wida<br>–Vita, Wita |
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|[[Apollo]] |
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| The supreme polarity as male–female is documented among South Slavs also as Vid–Vida.{{sfn|Marjanić|2003|p=181}} The root *''vid'' or *''vit'' refers to "sight", "vision".{{sfn|Marjanić|2003|p=193}} Vid, as highlighted by the name variant ''Sutvid'', may be identified as Svetovid.{{sfn|Marjanić|2003|p=181}} Like Rodiva, also her manifestation Vida has been compared to the Latin ''Juno''.{{sfn|Marjanić|2003|p=186}} Vida is identified as the celestial and rainy aspect of the great goddess, contrasted with the terrestrial and dry Zhiva (cf. herebelow).{{sfn|Marjanić|2003|pp=181, 189–190}} She is entitled "Empress of Heaven", associated with the theme of the [[tree of life|tree of light]].{{sfn|Marjanić|2003|p=194}} |
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| Dazhbog is a sun god. His name, meaning "god of giving", may suggest that he was also a god of abundance.{{Sfn|Szyjewski|2003|pp=107-108}} He appears in the ''[[Primary Chronicle]]'', where he is described as the son of [[Svarog]], in ''[[The Tale of Igor's Campaign]]'',{{Sfn|Szyjewski|2003|pp=105-107}} as well as in folk songs and proper names. By some researchers he is identified with [[Svarozhits]],{{Sfn|Szyjewski|2003|p=309}} or is considered to be his brother.{{Sfn|Téra|2009|pp=68, 320–321}} |
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| <small>[[South Slavs]], [[Serbs]]/[[Croats]]</small> |
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|style="background:white;"| - |
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! scope="row" | '''[[Svarozhits]]''' |
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| Zhibog—[[Živa (goddess)|Zhiva]] |
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| [[File:Texture Fire.jpg|center|100px]] |
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| ①<br>–Zibog<br>–Siebog{{sfn|Mathieu-Colas|2017}}<br>–Sibog, Shibog<br>–Jibog, Gibog<br>②<br>–Ziva{{sfn|Mathieu-Colas|2017}}<br>–Ziwa, Zhiwa{{sfn|Mathieu-Colas|2017}}<br>–Sieva, Sieba <sup>(Germanised Wendish)</sup>{{sfn|Ingemann|1824}}<br>–Siva, Shiva{{sfn|Mathieu-Colas|2017}}<br>–Siwa, Shiwa{{sfn|Mathieu-Colas|2017}}<br>–Jiva, Giva{{sfn|Mathieu-Colas|2017}}<br>–Zivena, Zhivena{{sfn|Mathieu-Colas|2017}}<br>–Ziwena{{sfn|Hanuš|1842|p=279}}<br>–Zywie <sup>(Polish)</sup>{{sfn|Máchal|1918|p=355, note 44}}<br>–Sisja{{sfn|Marjanić|2003|p=182}} |
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| [[Hephaestus]] |
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| Conceptualisation of the supreme polarity as life. ''Zhibog'' literally means "Life God", "Life Giver", while ''Zhiva'' means "She who Lives". They are conceived as either siblings or spouses, and gods of love, fertility and marriage. Zhibog is represented with a cat head.{{sfn|Heck|1852|p=291}} Zhiva has been compared to the ancient Roman ''[[Bona Dea]]'', ''[[Ceres (mythology)|Ceres]]'' and ''[[Ops]]''.{{sfn|Marjanić|2003|p=193}} She is the opposite facet of Morana, the goddess of death (cf. "great goddesses" hereinbelow).{{sfn|Mathieu-Colas|2017}} She has been studied as the terrestrial and dry aspect of the great goddess, contrasted with the celestial and rainy Vida.{{sfn|Marjanić|2003|pp=181, 189–190}} |
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| Svarozhits is a fire god mentioned in minor [[East Slavs|East Slavic]] texts.{{Sfn|Gieysztor|2006|p=171}} He is also mentioned by [[Bruno of Querfurt|Bruno]] in a letter to [[Henry II, Holy Roman Emperor|King Henry II]] and later in ''[[Thietmar's Chronicle]]'' as the chief deity of [[Rethra]], the main political center of the [[Veleti]].{{Sfn|Gieysztor|2006|pp=167-170}} His name is generally translated as "son of [[Svarog]]", less commonly as "little, young Svarog". Generally identified with [[Radegast (god)|Radegast]], less commonly with [[Dazhbog]]. |
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| <small>[[East Slavs]], [[Rus' (name)|Russes]]</small> |
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|style="background:white;"| [[File:Zhiva symbol red.svg|60px|center]]<br>[[File:Siwa (Kaisarov).png|150px|center]] |
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=== Personifications === |
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===Threefold–fourfold divinity and fire-god=== |
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! scope="col" width="120px" , | Name |
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! scope="col" | Image |
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! style="width:21%;"| Name variations |
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!Greek Myth |
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! style="width:4%;"| Polarity |
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! scope="col" | Details |
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! Description |
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! style="width:6%;"| Main attestations |
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! style="width:10%;"| Image and symbol{{efn-lg|name=symbols}} |
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| [[ |
! scope="row" | '''[[Dola (mythology)|Dola]]''' |
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| –Triglov, Triglaf{{sfn|Mathieu-Colas|2017}}<br>–Triglau{{sfn|Mathieu-Colas|2017}}<br>–Tryglav, Tryglaw<br>–Tribog{{sfn|Máchal|1918|pp=287 ff}}<br>–Trojan{{sfn|Trkanjec|2013|p=17}} |
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|[[Tyche]] |
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| style="text-align:center;"| <big>M</big> |
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| Dola is the personification of fate and destiny.{{Sfn|Szyjewski|2003|p=194}} Dola was assigned to a person at birth and stays with him for the rest of his life. It may be inherited from ancestors. It is generally invisible, but may have manifested in human or animal form.{{Sfn|Gieysztor|2006|pp=206-207}} The opposite of Dola, understood as good fortune, was Nedola, the personification of bad fortune. Etymologically related to the Slavic words ''divide'', ''part''.{{Sfn|Szyjewski|2003|p=194}} |
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| ''Triglav'' literally means "Three-Headed". The concept represents three gods who personify the three worlds ([[Prav-Yav-Nav]]), or Heaven, earth and the underworld,{{sfn|Leeming|2005|p=360}} and sovereignty over the three elements of air, water and soil.{{sfn|Mathieu-Colas|2017}} The three heads are Svarog, Perun and Svetovid or Veles. Triglav is often represented riding a black horse.{{sfn|Dynda|2014|p=59}} As the union of the three dimensions of reality represented as a mountain or tree, Triglav was defined as ''summus deus'' ("summing god") by [[Ebbo]]. Triglav has also been defined as a conceptualisation of the ''[[axis mundi]]''.{{sfn|Dynda|2014|p=64}} [[Adam of Bremen]] described the Triglav of [[Wolin (town)|Wolin]] as ''Neptunus triplicis naturae'' (i.e. "[[Neptune (mythology)|Neptune]] of the three natures/generations") attesting the colours that were associated to the three worlds: white for Heaven, green for earth and black for the underworld.{{sfn|Dynda|2014|p=63}} Triglav also represents the union of the three dimensions of time: past, present and future as a whole.{{sfn|Dynda|2014|p=74}} |
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| <small>Baltic [[Slavs]]</small> |
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|style="background:white;"| [[File:Triglav symbol red.svg|40px|center]]<br>[[File:Tryglaw.jpg|150px|center]] |
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! scope="row" | '''[[Mat Zemlya]]''' |
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| [[Svarog]] |
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| [[File:Lob Земля-именинница.jpg|center|100px]] |
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| –Swarog<br>–Jarog, Rarog{{sfn|Rudy|1985|pp=27–29}}<br>–Tvarog{{sfn|Rudy|1985|pp=7–8}}<br>–Svarogu <sup>(Old East Slavic)</sup>{{sfn|Leeming|2005|p=359}}<br>–Shafarjk{{sfn|Hanuš|1842|p=160}}<br>–Schwayxtix, Swayxtix <sup>(Germanised Wendish)</sup>{{sfnm|1a1=Ingemann|1y=1824|2a1=Hanuš|2y=1842|2pp=160–161}}<br>–Swetich{{sfn|Hanuš|1842|p=160}}<br>–Swieticz{{sfn|Hanuš|1842|p=160}}<br>–Zwaigzdze{{sfn|Hanuš|1842|p=160}} |
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|[[Gaia]] |
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| style="text-align:center;"| <big>M</big> |
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| Mat Zemlya is a personification of the Earth appearing mainly in [[East Slavs|East Slavic]] texts but remaining in most [[Slavic languages]].{{Sfn|Szyjewski|2003|p=129}} Perhaps epithet of [[Mokosh]]. |
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| ''Svarog'' literally means "Heaven" (cf. Indic ''[[Svarga]]''), father of Xors Dazhbog and Svarozhich or identical with them.{{sfn|Mathieu-Colas|2017}} He is compared to the Greco-Roman ''[[Saturn (mythology)|Saturn]]''–''[[Chronos]]'', the time god.{{sfn|Leeming|2005|p=360}} Scholars also consider him cognate with the Iranian ''[[Verethragna]]'' or ''Varhran'', the Indic ''[[Indra]] Vṛtrahan'', the Armenian ''[[Vahagn]]''.{{sfn|Rudy|1985|pp=27–29}} He is associated with military, smithery, and with fire (Ognebog), both that of the household and that of the sun (Xors Dazhbog).{{sfn|Rudy|1985|pp=7–8}} The Indo-European root of the name is *''swer'' ("to speak"), related to *''wer'' ("to close", "defend", "protect"). ''Jarog'' and ''Rarog'' are alterations of the name, the second applied to a bird god of later folk religion. Indeed, Svarog and his Indo-Iranian cognates are considered able to manifest as wind, birds or other animals, and have the role of the dragon-slayer in mythology.{{sfn|Rudy|1985|pp=27–29}} He is the power which makes bright and virile. In some traditions Svetovid, Gerovit, Porevit and Rugievit are considered his four manifestations.{{sfn|Rudy|1985|pp=7–8}} |
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| <small>[[East Slavs]], [[Rus' (name)|Russes]]</small> |
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|style="background:white;"| [[File:Rece.svg|40px|center]]<br>[[File:Swarog (2013).jpg|150px|center]]<br>[[File:Svarog symbol red.svg|55px|center]]<br>[[File:RAROG.jpg|150px|center]]<br>[[File:Rarog symbol red.svg|55px|center]] |
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! '''[[Rod (mythology)|Rod]]''' |
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| [[Perun]] |
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| [[File:Sylenkoite representation of Rod.png|center|100px]] |
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| –Parun{{sfn|Mathieu-Colas|2017}}<br>–Peron <sup>(Slovak)</sup>{{sfn|Mathieu-Colas|2017}}<br>–Porun{{sfn|Rudy|1985|p=17}}<br>–Piorun <sup>(Polish)</sup>{{sfn|Mathieu-Colas|2017}}<br>–Peraun <sup>(Czech)</sup>{{sfn|Mathieu-Colas|2017}}<br>–Parom <sup>(Slovak, Moravian)</sup>{{sfn|Rudy|1985|p=17}}<br>–Perusan <sup>(Bulgarian)</sup>{{sfn|Rudy|1985|p=17}}<br>–Prone, Prohn, Pyron, Perone <sup>(Pomeranian)</sup>{{sfn|Rudy|1985|p=17}}<br>–Peryn, Perin <sup>(Novgorodian)</sup>{{sfn|Rudy|1985|p=19}}<br>–Prono{{sfn|Hanuš|1842|p=99}}<br>–Percunust <sup>(Germanised Wendish)</sup>{{sfn|Ingemann|1824}} |
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| style="text-align:center;"| <big>M</big> |
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| Rod is a figure, spirit, or deity often mentioned in minor [[East Slavs|East]] and [[South Slavs|South Slavic]] texts, generally along with [[Deities and fairies of fate in Slavic mythology|Rozhanitsy]]. Etymologically related to the Slavic words for "family", "kin", "giving birth", etc. Bloodless sacrifices were offered to him.{{Sfn|Szyjewski|2003|pp=191-193}} There is no consensus in scholarship about Rod's status in mythology. |
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| ''Perun'' literally means "Thunder" but also "Oak", and he is the son of Svarog, worshipped as the god of war. He is related to the Germanic ''[[Thor]]'' and other Indo-European thunder gods.{{sfn|Mathieu-Colas|2017}} In Christianised folk religion he is equated with [[Elijah|Saint Elias]].{{sfn|Rudy|1985|p=6}} He is the opposite polarity of Veles, the male god of the earth. In some traditions, he has a mother, [[Percunatele]] (a goddess inherited from Baltic traditions), and a sister Ognyena ("She of the Fire").{{sfn|Marjanić|2003|p=190}} |
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Perun is the personification of the active, masculine force of nature, and all the bright gods are regarded as his aspects, or different phases during the year. His name, which comes from the Indo-European root *''per'' or *''perk<sup>w</sup>'' ("to strike", "splinter"), signifies both the splintering thunder and the splintered tree (especially the [[oak]]; the [[Latin]] name of this tree, ''quercus'', comes from the same root), regarded as symbols of the irradiation of the force.{{sfn|Rudy|1985|pp=17–21}} This root also gave rise to the [[Vedas|Vedic]] ''[[Parjanya]]'', the Baltic ''[[Perkunas]]'', the Albanian ''Perëndi'' (now denoting "God" and "sky"), the Norse ''[[Fjörgyn and Fjörgynn|Fjörgynn]]'' and the Greek ''Keraunós'' ("thunderbolt", rhymic form of *''Peraunós'', used as an epithet of [[Zeus]]).{{sfn|Rudy|1985|pp=5–6}} Perun has also been compared to the Indic ''[[Brahma]]'', and together with Potrembog (''[[Vishnu]]'') and Peklabog (''[[Shiva]]''), as a component of the Triglav interpreted as the equivalent of the Indic ''[[Trimurti]]''.{{sfn|Hanuš|1842|pp=219 ff}} Traditional iconography shows Perun with a head surrounded by ten beams of light, with two faces—that of a man on the front side, and that of a lion on the back side–, and holding a plough in front of him.{{sfn|Heck|1852|p=290}} |
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|style="background:white;"| [[File:Perun symbol red.svg|45px|center]]{{image array|perrow=2|width=50|height=50|image1=Thunder mark (2).svg|image2=Thunder mark (3).svg}}<br>[[File:Perun Piorun.jpg|150px|center]]<br>{{image array|perrow=2|width=40|height=40|image1=Perun symbol red (1).svg|image2=Perun symbol red (2).svg}} |
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! scope="row" | '''[[Deities and fairies of fate in Slavic mythology|Rozhanitsy]]''' |
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| [[Svetovid]] |
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| [[File:Zorze Rodzanice.jpg|center|100px]] |
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| –Svetovit, Swetowit{{sfnm|1a1=Mathieu-Colas|1y=2017|2a1=Hanuš|2y=1842|2p=171}}<br>–Swatowit{{sfn|Mathieu-Colas|2017}}<br>–Sventovit{{sfn|Leeming|2005|p=359}}<br>–Svantovit, Swantowit{{sfnm|1a1=Leeming|1y=2005|1p=359|2a1=Hanuš|2y=1842|2p=171}}<br>–Svantevit{{sfn|Leeming|2005|p=359}}<br>–Sviatovit, Swiatowit{{sfnm|1a1=Mathieu-Colas|1y=2017|2a1=Hanuš|2y=1842|2p=171}}<br>–Swiantowid{{sfn|Leeming|2005|p=359}}<br>–Swetobog, Swentobog, Swatobog{{sfn|Hanuš|1842|pp=171, 180}}<br>–Wit, With, Wet{{sfn|Hanuš|1842|p=171}} |
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|[[Moirai]] |
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| style="text-align:center;"| <big>M–F</big> |
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| Rozhanitsy ("Givers of life"), Sudenitsy ("Givers of fate"), and Narechnitsy ("Givers of destiny") are female spirits or deities of fate. They appear in the plural or as a single entity. In [[East Slavs|East]] and [[South Slavs|South Slavic]] sources they are often mentioned together with [[Rod (Slavic religion)|Rod]].{{Sfn|Szyjewski|2003|pp=191-193}} Their main function is to determine the child's fate for life,{{Sfn|Strzelczyk|1998|p=174}} then they leave an invisible mark on his forehead. Man's fate was symbolized by the ''thread of life'', on the length of which, measured by the Rozhanitsy, depended the length of man's life. Bloodless sacrifices were offered to them.{{Sfn|Szyjewski|2003|pp=191-193}} |
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| Four-headed god of war, light and power. A major temple dedicated to him was located at [[Cape Arkona]]. ''Svetovid'' and its variants literally mean "Lord of Power" or "Lord of Holiness" (the root *''svet'' defining the "miraculous and beneficial power", or holy power),{{sfnm|1a1=Mathieu-Colas|1y=2017|2a1=Rudy|2y=1985|2p=18}} but it has also been translated as "Worldseer". He may have been a West Slavic version of Svarog. In some traditions, the white northward head is Svarog himself, the red westward head is Perun, the black southward head is Lada, and the green eastward head is Mokosh, thus two are male and two female. In other traditions, the eastward head is Rugievit, the southward head is Porevit, the westward head is Gerovit, and the northward head is Svarog himself. They represent the four directions of space, the four seasons of time, and the [[cardinal direction#Northern Eurasia|four Russias of sacred geography]].{{sfn|Leeming|2005|pp=359–360}} Svetovid has been described as the complete representation of the ''axis mundi'', symbolising the union of the four directions of space and the three dimensions of reality (Heaven, earth and the netherworld).{{sfn|Dynda|2014|p=62}} He is also represented riding a white horse.{{sfn|Dynda|2014|p=59}} |
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| <small>Baltic [[Slavs]]</small> |
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|style="background:white;"| [[File:Svetovit symbol red.svg|60px|center]]<br>[[File:Świętowit of Rugia.jpg|150px|center]] |
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! scope="row" | '''[[Zorya]]''' |
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| –Ognebog<br>–Svarozhich |
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| ①<br>–Ogne, Ogni<br>–Ognevik<br>②<br>–Svarogitch, Svarojitch{{sfn|Mathieu-Colas|2017}}<br>–Svarazhich{{sfn|Máchal|1918|p=286}}<br>–Svarozhyn <sup>(Kashubian)</sup>{{sfn|Rudy|1985|p=7}}<br>–Tvarozhich{{sfn|Rudy|1985|p=7}} |
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|[[Eos]] |
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| style="text-align:center;"| <big>M</big> |
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| Zorya is the personification of the dawn. She is the Slavic continuation of the Proto-Indo-European goddess of dawn ''[[H₂éwsōs|*H₂éwsōs]]''{{Sfn|Váňa|1990|p=61}} and has many of her characteristics: she lives overseas on the island of [[Buyan|Bujan]],{{Sfn|Zarubin|1971|pp=70-76}} opens the door for the Sun to go on its daily journey across the sky,{{Sfn|Zarubin|1971|pp=70-76}} also has a golden boat. Zora can be a single figure, two figures, or three. She appears in Christianized prayers and orders. |
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| ''Ognebog'' literally means "Fire God", and is the Slavic equivalent of the Indic ''[[Agni]]'',<ref>{{cite conference|last=Khmara|first=Anatoly Vladimirovich|title=Образование: гуманитарные дисциплины, творчество и созидание|trans-title=Education: Humanities, Creativity and Creation|conference=Образование через всю жизнь: непрерывное образование в интересах устойчивого развития (''Education Throughout Life: Continuing Education for Sustainable Development'')|year=2008|url=https://cyberleninka.ru/article/n/obrazovanie-gumanitarnye-distsipliny-tvorchestvo-i-sozidanie|page=68}}</ref> personification of the both the celestial and terrestrial fire, and of the sacrificial flame, considered as the energy proceeding from Svarog and connecting back to him.{{sfn|Rudy|1985|p=29}} He is often equated with Simargl. ''Svarozhich'', literally meaning "Son of Heaven" (Svarog), is always identified as the god of fire, and was the tutelary deity of the Baltic Slavs.{{sfn|Mathieu-Colas|2017}} It may be an epithet of the various heavenly gods, among whom Perun, Svetovid or Xors Dazhbog, or be Svarog himself.{{sfn|Rudy|1985|p=7}} |
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|style="background:white;"| [[File:Ognebog symbol red.svg|45px|center]]{{image array|perrow=2|width=45|height=45|image1=Svarozhich symbol red (1).svg|image2=Svarozhich symbol red (2).svg}}<br>[[File:Et baal.jpg|150px|center]] |
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===Sun-god and moon-god=== |
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Both the sun god and the moon god, Dazhbog and Jutrobog, are often qualified as "Xors"{{efn-lg|Also spelled Hors,{{sfn|Borissoff|2014|p=9, note 1}} Chors, Chers, Churs, Chros,{{sfn|Máchal|1918|pp=296 ff}} and ''Kh-'' variants, and Xursu (in [[Old East Slavic]]).{{sfn|Leeming|2005|p=360}}}} ([[File:Xors symbol red.svg|20px]]), a title which finds many equivalents in Indo-Iranian (cf. Persian ''xursid'', ''xorshid'') and means "radiant", referring to the radiance of solar and lunar light.{{sfnm|1a1=Rudy|1y=1985|1p=8|2a1=Szyjewski|2y=2003|2pp=108–109}}<ref>{{cite book|last=Grzegorzewic|first=Ziemisław|year=2016|title=O Bogach i ludziach. Praktyka i teoria Rodzimowierstwa Słowiańskiego|trans-title=About the Gods and people. Practice and theory of Slavic Heathenism|language=pl|location=Olsztyn|publisher=Stowarzyszenie "Kołomir"|page=78|isbn=9788394018085}}</ref> Its etymology probably goes back to the Indo-European root *''ghers'', and Indo-Aryan *''hrs'', *''ar'', *''r'', comprising the semantic field of "to move rightly", "upwardly", and "to praise".{{sfn|Borissoff|2014|p=23, 29}} Male solar deities are generally assumed to be descended from the [[Zoroastrian]] [[Hvare-khshaeta]] on the basis of etymology,{{sfn|Leeming|2005|p=360}}}} though this has been criticised;<ref> |
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Constantine Borissoff, Non-Iranian origin of the Eastern-Slavonic god Xŭrsŭ/Xors, November 2014</ref> conversely, the sun is usually depicted as female in Slavic folklore<ref>Dexter, Miriam Robbins (1984), "Proto-Indo-European Sun Maidens and Gods of the Moon", Mankind Quarterly, 25 (1 & 2): 137–144</ref> and the Baltic goddess [[Saulė]] suggests that the sun might have originally been a goddess in Slavic religion. |
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! scope="row" | '''Zvezda''' |
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! style="width:10%;"| Concept |
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! style="width:21%;"| Name variations |
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! style="width:4%;"| Polarity |
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| Zvezda, Utrenica, or Danica is the personification of the Morning Star or planet [[Venus]] as seen in the sky before sunrise. |
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! Description |
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! style="width:6%;"| Main attestations |
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! style="width:10%;"| Image and symbol{{efn-lg|name=symbols}} |
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| Xors [[Dazhbog]] |
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| –Dazhdbog{{sfn|Mathieu-Colas|2017}}<br>–Dadzbog <sup>(Polish)</sup>{{sfn|Rudy|1985|p=29}}<br>–Dajbog, Dojbog <sup>(Serbo-Croatian)</sup>{{sfn|Rudy|1985|p=30}}<br>–Dambog{{sfn|Mathieu-Colas|2017}}<br>–Dabog, Daba <sup>(Serbo-Croatian)</sup>{{sfn|Rudy|1985|p=29}}<br>–Dazibogu <sup>(Old East Slavic)</sup>{{sfn|Leeming|2005|p=360}} |
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| style="text-align:center;"| <big>M</big> |
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| Dazhbog is the [[sun]] god, son of Svarog, winner of darkness, warranter of justice and wellbeing. Mathieu-Colas interprets ''Dazhbog'' as meaning "Wealth Giver" (cf. ''dati'', "giving").{{sfn|Mathieu-Colas|2017}} He changes from a young man to an old man as he travels through the sky; he has two daughters accompanying him, the two Zvezda ("Morning Star" and "Evening Star"), and has a brother, the bald moon god (Jutrobog).{{sfn|Leeming|2005|p=360}} |
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| <small>[[East Slavs]], [[Rus' (name)|Russes]]</small> |
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|style="background:white;"| [[File:Dazbog symbol red.svg|45px|center]]{{image array|perrow=2|width=50|height=50|image1=Dazbog (summertime) symbol red.svg|image2=Dazbog (wintertime) symbol red.svg|caption1=summer|caption2=winter}}<br>[[File:Дажбог.1998г.смеш.тех., бум.40,5х28.jpg|150px|center]] |
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| Xors Jutrobog |
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| ①<br>–Jutrebog{{sfn|Hanuš|1842|pp=177–180}}<br>–Juthrbog{{sfn|Mathieu-Colas|2017}}<br>–Yutrobog<br>–Jutrenka, Gitrenka{{sfn|Hanuš|1842|p=177}}<br>–Jutrovit, Jutrowit{{sfn|Hanuš|1842|p=180}}<br>②<br>–Mesyats{{sfn|Gasparini|2013}}<br>–Myesyats{{sfn|Mathieu-Colas|2017}}<br>–Messiatz{{sfn|Mathieu-Colas|2017}} |
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| style="text-align:center;"| <big>M</big> |
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| Jutrobog is the [[moon]] god,{{sfn|Mathieu-Colas|2017}} but also the moon light at daybreak, whence the meaning of his name, "Morning God" or "Morning Giver". The city of [[Jüterbog]], in [[Brandenburg]], is named after him.<ref>{{cite book|last=Buttmann|first=Alexander|title=Die deutschen Ortsnamen: mit besonderer Berücksichtigung der ursprünglich wendischen in der Mittelmark und Niederlausitz|publisher=F. Dümmler|year=1856|page=[https://books.google.com/books?id=OzpGAAAAcAAJ&pg=PA168 168]}}</ref> The theonym may refer to Yarilo as the good of the moon. The name ''Mesyats'' literally means "Moon". The moon god was particularly important to the Slavs, regarded as the dispenser of abundance and health, worshipped through round dances, and in some traditions considered the progenitor of mankind. The belief in the moon god was still very much alive in the nineteenth century, and peasants in the Ukrainian Carpathians openly affirm that the moon is their god.{{sfn|Gasparini|2013}} |
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| <small>[[West Slavs]], [[Wends]]</small> |
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|style="background:white;"| [[File:Super-Moon-2 11-14-2016.jpg|150px]] |
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== West Slavic deities == |
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==Goddesses== |
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<small>Basic information from Mathieu-Colas 2017.{{sfn|Mathieu-Colas|2017}} Further information is appropriately referenced.</small> |
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===Great goddesses=== |
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{| class="wikitable" style="width:100%" |
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! style="width:10%;"| Concept |
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! style="width:21%;"| Name variations |
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! Description |
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! style="width:6%;"| Main attestations |
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! style="width:10%;"| Image and symbol{{efn-lg|name=symbols}} |
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|- |
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| –Devana<br>–Ciza<br>–Zizilia |
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| ①<br>–Dewana, Diewana{{sfn|Mathieu-Colas|2017}}<br>–Diewen{{sfn|Hanuš|1842|p=280}}<br>–Debena{{sfn|Mathieu-Colas|2017}}<br>–Diiwica, Dilwica <sup>(Serbo-Croatian, Polish)</sup>{{sfn|Mathieu-Colas|2017}}<br>–Dziewan<sup>n</sup>a, Dziewon<sup>n</sup>a <sup>(Polish)</sup>{{sfn|Mathieu-Colas|2017}}<br>–Dziewica{{sfn|Hanuš|1842|p=280}}<br>–Dziewitza, Dziwitza{{sfn|Hanuš|1842|p=280}}<br>–Dziewina{{sfn|Hanuš|1842|p=280}}<br>–Dewin, Dewina{{sfn|Hanuš|1842|p=280}}<br>–Devoina{{sfn|Hanuš|1842|p=280}}<br>–Zewena{{sfn|Hanuš|1842|p=280}}<br>–Ziewonia{{sfn|Hanuš|1842|p=280}}<br>②<br>–Cisa{{sfn|Hanuš|1842|p=279}}<br>–Cica, Cyca{{sfn|Hanuš|1842|p=279}}<br>–Sisa, Ziza{{sfn|Hanuš|1842|p=279}}<br>–Zeiz <sup>(German)</sup>{{sfn|Wagener|1842|p=626}}<br>③<br>–Didilia, Didilla <sup>(South Slavic)</sup>{{sfn|Mathieu-Colas|2017}}<br>–Dzidziela, Dziedzilia, Zizilia <sup>(Polish)</sup>{{sfnm|1a1=Rudy|1y=1985|1p=22|2a1=Hanuš|2y=1842|2p=279}}<br>–Zyzlila{{sfn|Hanuš|1842|p=280}}<br>–Dzydzilelya, Dzidzilelya <sup>(Polish)</sup>{{sfn|Mathieu-Colas|2017}} |
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| Goddess of hunting and of the forests. Her name is etymologically related to the Roman ''[[Diana (mythology)|Diana]]'', and she is also functionally correlated with the Greek ''[[Artemis]]''.{{sfnm|1a1=Mathieu-Colas|1y=2017|2a1=Leeming|2y=2005|2p=360}} Another name of Devana is ''Ciza'', whose etymology is traced to the Slavic root *''cic'' or *''cec'', meaning the mother's breast.{{sfn|Hanuš|1842|p=279}} Under the name variations ''Dzydzilelya'', ''Zizilia'' or ''Didilia'', she is known as the goddess of love and wedding, fertility and infancy among West Slavs; this name is explained as meaning "she who pampers babies" (cf. ''dziecilela''), and with these functions she is compared to the Roman ''[[Venus (mythology)|Venus]]'' or ''[[Lucina (mythology)|Lucina]]''.{{sfn|Mathieu-Colas|2017}} Devana has been regarded as a manifestation of the great goddess Rodiva–Deva, especially in her terrestrial fertile aspect, and as such compared to the Germanic ''[[Nerthus]]''.{{sfn|Hanuš|1842|pp=279–281}} |
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| <small>[[West Slavs]], [[Czechs]]/[[Slovaks]]</small> |
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|style="background:white;"| [[File:Dziewanna.jpg|150px|center]] |
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|- |
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| –Perperuna<br>–[[Dodola]] |
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| ①<br>–Preperuna, Peperuna{{sfn|Rudy|1985|p=22}}<br>–Preperuda, Peperuda, Pepereda{{sfn|Rudy|1985|p=22}}<br>–Preperuga, Peperuga{{sfn|Rudy|1985|p=22}}<br>–Peperunga, Pemperuga{{sfn|Rudy|1985|p=22}}<br>–Peperouna <sup>(Greek)</sup>{{sfn|Rudy|1985|p=22}}<br>–Perperona <sup>(Albanian)</sup>{{sfn|Rudy|1985|p=22}}<br>–Pirpiruna <sup>(Aromanian)</sup>{{sfn|Rudy|1985|p=22}}<br>–Perperusha, Preperushe{{sfn|Rudy|1985|p=24}}<br>–Prepelice{{sfn|Rudy|1985|p=24}}<br>–Prporusha <sup>(Dalmatian)</sup>{{sfn|Rudy|1985|p=23}}<br>②<br>–Doda{{sfn|Mathieu-Colas|2017}}<br>–Dudola, Dudula <sup>(Serbo-Croatian)</sup>{{sfn|Rudy|1985|p=22}}<br>–Didjulja, Didjul, Djudjul <sup>(Bulgarian)</sup>{{sfn|Rudy|1985|p=22}} |
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| Goddess of rain, wife of Perun, in this function also identified as Dodol, the god of the air.{{sfn|Mathieu-Colas|2017}} According to [[Vyacheslav Ivanov (philologist)|Vyacheslav Ivanov]] and [[Vladimir Toporov]], Dodola is a southern equivalent of the West Slavic Zizilia,<ref>{{cite encyclopedia|last1=Ivanov|first1=Vyacheslav|last2=Toporov|first2=Vladimir|title=Славянская мифология|trans-title=Slavic mythology|encyclopedia=Российская энциклопедия ''(''Russian Encyclopedia'')''|year=1994}}</ref> as evidenced by some Bulgarian variations of her name (cf. ''Didjulja'').{{sfn|Rudy|1985|p=22}} The name ''Perperuna'' is the feminine form of ''Perun'' with a reduplicated root *''per'', while ''Dodola'' means "rumbling", "thundering a bit".{{sfn|Rudy|1985|pp=23–24}} The root of the name relates her to the Norse goddess ''[[Fjörgyn and Fjörgynn|Fjörgyn]]''. Her rituals, still practised among South Slavs in modernity, show similarities with the Vedic hymns to ''[[Parjanya]]''.{{sfn|Rudy|1985|pp=21–22}} |
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| <small>[[South Slavs]], [[Serbians]]<br><br>[[West Slavs]], [[Poles]]</small> |
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|style="background:white;"| [[File:Dodola symbol red.svg|60px|center]]<br>[[File:Taniec Perperuny.jpg|150px|center]] |
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|- |
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| [[Kupala]] |
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| –Kupalnica, Kupalnitsa{{sfn|Mathieu-Colas|2017}}<br>–Kupalo <sup>(masculine){{sfn|Mathieu-Colas|2017}}</sup><br>–Solntse{{sfnm|1a1=Mathieu-Colas|1y=2017|2a1=Gasparini|2y=2013}} |
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| Goddess representing the mighty sun of summer solstice, but also goddess of joy and water. She is celebrated on [[Kupala Night]] with rituals of purification through water and fire. She is seldom represented as male, and the name ''Kupala'' or ''Kupalo'' is etymologically related to the verb ''kupati'', "to wet". ''Solntse'' (simply "Sun", but often translated ''[[Phoebus]]'') is another name of the goddess of the fully bright sun. The cult of Kupala was Christianised as that of [[John the Baptist]].{{sfn|Mathieu-Colas|2017}} |
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''Kupalnica'' or ''Kupalnitsa'' is a goddess of night. She is sayed to be the wife of Simargl, from whom she gave birth to Kupala and Kostroma.{{sfn|Buynova Tatyana Yuryevna|2008|p=256}}<ref>[http://godsbay.ru/slavs/kostroma.html Russian Encyclopedia of mythology]</ref> According to the myth, once, Kostroma and Kupalo ran into a field to listen to songs of birds [[Sirin]] and [[Alkonost]]. Both birds, especially Sirin, were dangerous. The one who listened to the singing of Sirin, forever went into the [[Nav (Slavic folklore)|Nav]], the world of the dead. Kostroma listened to the singing of Alkonost, while Kupalo listened to the song of Sirin. And then, by the order of [[Chernobog]], Sirin and gusy-lebedi (The Magic Swan Geese) stole Kupalo and carried him into the [[Nav (Slavic folklore)|Nav]]. Many years later, one day, Kostroma walked the shore of the river and made a wreath. She boasted that the wind would not blown wreath off her head. According to the belief, it meant that she would not marry. This boast was not approved by the gods. The wind become stronger, and wreath was blown by the wind from Kostroma's head and fell into the water, where it was picked up by the Kupalo, who was near by in the boat. According to the Slavic customs, the one who picked up the wreath must necessarily marry the girl who made it. Kupalo and Kostroma fell in love and shortly were married without any knowledge that they were brother and sister. After the wedding, the gods told them the truth. That is why Kupalo and Kostroma committed suicide. Kupalo has jumped into the fire and died, while Kostroma ran to the forest, threw herself into the forest lake and drowned. But she did not die, she became a [[Mavka|mavka]]. Since then, she walks the shores of that lake. If she should see a young man, she immediately seduces him and pulls into the water abbys. When Mavka realises that the young man is not her lover, it is already too late and the young man has already drowned. |
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{| class="wikitable" |
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And then, the gods repented, realizing that their revenge was too cruel. But to give Kupalo and Kostroma again the human body was impossible, and they turned them into the yellow-blue flower, in which the fiery yellow color was the color of Kupalo, and the blue one, like the waters of a forest lake, was the color of Kostroma. The Slavs gave the name Kupalo-da-Mavka (Kupalo-and-Mavka) to the flower. Later, in the time of Christianization in Rus, the flower was renamed to the [[:ru:Иван-да-марья|Ivan-da-Marya]] (Ivan-and-Marya).{{sfn|Buynova Tatyana Yuryevna|2008|p=256}}<ref>[http://godsbay.ru/slavs/kostroma.html Russian Encyclopedia of mythology]</ref> |
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| - |
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|style="background:white;"| [[File:Kupala symbol red.svg|45px|center]]<br>[[File:Sun-in-the-sky-2.jpg|150px|center]] |
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!scope="col", width="120px" | Name |
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| [[Lada (goddess)|Lada]] |
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!scope="col" | Image |
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| –Lado, Ladon <sup>(masculine)</sup>{{sfn|Mathieu-Colas|2017}} |
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!scope="col" | Worshipped by |
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| Polyfunctional [[mother goddess|great goddess]] of the earth, harmony and joy, symbolising youth, spring, beauty, fertility and love. Mother of twins (named either Dido and Dada or Lel and Polel) and mother or wife of Lado (Mathieu-Colas says that among Slavs there is evidence that Lado is the same as Lada conceived as male; he is represented as a phallic god).{{sfn|Mathieu-Colas|2017}} She is the female counterpart of Svarog.{{sfn|Leeming|2005|p=360}} According to scholars, among whom [[Boris Rybakov]], Lada is cognate with the Greek ''[[Leda (mythology)|Leda]]'', the Greco-Roman ''[[Leto]]''–''Latona'', and is possibly the same as Rod's supreme counterpart Rodzanica.{{sfn|Ivanits|1989|p=17}} Lel and Polel are related to Leda's twin sons [[Castor and Pollux|''Castor'' and ''Pollux'']].{{sfn|Ivanits|1989|p=14}} |
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!Greek Myth |
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| <small>[[Slavs]]–[[Balts]]</small> |
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! scope="col" | Details |
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|style="background:white;"| [[File:Lada symbol red.svg|45px|center]]<br>[[File:Серия Древо жизни. Держательница кольца (Лада).1998г.29,6х20,2.jpg|150px|center]] |
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!scope="row" | '''[[Svetovid|Svetovit]]''' |
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| [[Marzanna]] |
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| [[File:Świętowit of Rugia.jpg|center|100px]] |
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| –Mara<br>–Morana, Morena{{sfn|Mathieu-Colas|2017}}<br>–Marowit, Merovit{{sfn|Hanuš|1842|p=180}}<br>–Maslenitsa<br>–Marzyana <sup>(Polish)</sup><br>–Baba Yaga |
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| [[Rani (Slavic tribe)|Rani]] |
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| Rural goddess who grows sprouts, but at the same time goddess of winter and death. Her opposite is Zivena (i.e. Zhiva).{{sfn|Mathieu-Colas|2017}} ''Marovit'' is another name of Marzanna or her male counterpart, symbolising the dying sun; the root *''mar'' means "weakness", "ruin" and "death".{{sfn|Hanuš|1842|p=180}} [[Baba Yaga]] is also the goddess of death, both young and old, associated both with birds and snakes. According to Leeming, who takes [[Marija Gimbutas]] as source, she is clearly cognate with the Indic ''[[Kali]]'' as the deathly aspect of the great goddess of [[Old Europe (archaeology)|Old Europe]].{{sfn|Leeming|2005|p=360}} |
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| |
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| <small>[[West Slavs]], [[Poles]]</small> |
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| Svetovit is the chief god of the Slavic Rani. His cult is described by [[Helmold of Bosau]] and [[Saxo Grammaticus]].{{Sfn|Szyjewski|2003|p=114}} Theonym comes from the word ''svęt'' "holy, sacred" with the suffix ''vit'' "lord".{{Sfn|Szyjewski|2003|p=116}} His main temple was located on [[Cape Arkona|Arkona]]. Inside the temple was his statue, described by Saxo as a four-headed statue holding an ornate horn in his right hand; there was also a large sword and other artifacts.{{Sfn|Szyjewski|2003|pp=114-115}} The horn and white horse, dedicated to him, was used for divination.{{Sfn|Szyjewski|2003|p=116}} The [[Theocracy|theocratic]] rule of his priests limited the rule of [[knyaz]].{{Sfn|Gieysztor|2006|p=116}} |
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|style="background:white;"| [[File:Mara symbol red.svg|40px|center]]<br>[[File:Marzanna Matka Polski.jpg|150px|center]] |
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!scope="row" | '''[[Triglav (mythology)|Triglav]]''' |
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| –[[Mokosh]]<br>–Mat Syra Zemlya |
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| [[File:Tryglaw.jpg|center|100px]] |
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| ①<br>–Makosh{{sfn|Mathieu-Colas|2017}}<br>–Mokosi{{sfn|Mathieu-Colas|2017}}<br>–Mokosha, Mokysha, Mokusha{{sfn|Mathieu-Colas|2017}}<br>②<br>–Mata Syra Zjemlja{{sfn|Leeming|2005|p=360}}<br>–Mati Syra Zemlya<br>–Mat Zemlya<br>–Zeme<br>–Matka{{sfn|Leeming|2005|p=360}} |
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| [[Polabian Slavs|Polabians]]<br/>[[Pomeranians (tribe)|Pomeranians]] |
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| Mother goddess personifying the wet earth, associated with female works (notably weaving) and harvest.{{sfn|Mathieu-Colas|2017}} She is also the goddess of corn, the "Corn Mother". Her name literally means "Wetness", "Moist", and she is also known by the title ''Mat Syra Zemlya'' ("Damp Mother Earth") or ''Matka''.{{sfn|Leeming|2005|p=360}} In association with Perun she becomes dry and fiery, Ognyena, personifying the woman in her higher and faithful aspect; whereas in association with Veles she becomes dry and frozen, an aspect of Zhiva personifying the woman in her lower and unfaithful aspect.{{sfn|Marjanić|2003|pp=190–191}} With Christianisation she was transformed into the [[Black Madonna]], very popular in Poland, and in [[Saint Paraskevi]]{{dn|date=May 2018}}.{{sfnm|1a1=Leeming|1y=2005|1p=360|2a1=Marjanić|2y=2003|2p=191, note 20}} Her Indo-Iranian equivalent is ''[[Anahita|Aredvi Sura Anahita]]''.{{sfn|Rudy|1985|p=9}} |
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| <small>[[East Slavs]], [[Rus' (name)|Russes]]</small> |
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| Triglav is a god mentioned in the ''Life of St. Otto'' and in the chronicle describing the capture of Slavic [[Brandenburg|Brenna]]. He had a golden statue whose eyes and mouth were covered. A black horse, which was used by preachers to foretell the future, and a holy oak were dedicated to him. The three heads may symbolize the tripartite division between heaven, earth, and the underworld.{{Sfn|Gieysztor|2006|pp=147-153}} |
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|style="background:white;"| [[File:Mokosh symbol red.svg|50px|center]]<br>[[File:Dual Faith Dwuwierze.jpg|150px|center]] |
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|} |
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===Other goddesses=== |
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{| class="wikitable" style="width:100%" |
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! scope="row" | '''[[Radegast (god)|Radegast]]''' |
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! style="width:10%;"| Concept |
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|[[File:Radegast (Kaisarov) cropped.png|center|100px]] |
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! style="width:21%;"| Name variations |
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| [[Polabian Slavs|Polabians]]<br/>[[Redarians]]<br/>[[Moravians]] |
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! Description |
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! style="width:6%;"| Main attestations |
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| Radegast is a god mentioned by [[Adam of Bremen]], and the information is repeated by [[Helmold]]. He was to occupy the first place among the gods worshipped at [[Rethra]]. Earlier sources state that the main god of Rethra was [[Svarozhits]], thus Radegast is considered to be a epithet of Svarozhits or a local variant of his cult. A white horse was dedicated to him, and he himself was depicted wearing armor and a helmet. It is generally believed that his name is composed of the words ''rad'' "glad" and ''gost'' "guest".{{Sfn|Gieysztor|2006|p=169}} A modern statue of him is standing on the mountain [[Radhošť]], which is also named after him. |
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! style="width:10%;"| Image and symbol{{efn-lg|name=symbols}} |
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!'''[[Yarovit]]''' |
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| Chislobog |
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| |
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| –Zislobog, Ziselbog <sup>(Germanised Wendish)</sup>{{sfnm|1a1=Ingemann|1y=1824|2a1=Heck|2y=1852|2p=291}}<br>–Kricco <sup>(Wendish)</sup>{{sfn|Kanngiesser|1824|p=202}} |
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|[[Circipanians]]<br>[[Hevelli|Hobolians]] |
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| Literally "Number Giver". She is the goddess of time calculation, of the [[lunar month]] and of the moon's influences. Represented as a youthful female with a crescent moon on her forehead. ''Kricco'' is her Wendish name and she was also worshipped as the protectress of the crops.{{sfnm|1a1=Mathieu-Colas|1y=2017|2a1=Kanngiesser|2y=1824|2p=202}} |
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|Yarovit is a Polabian god mentioned in the ''Life of St. Otto'', where a festival dedicated to him is described, for which the city was decorated. From the description and etymology, it is clear that he is a war god, and his temple contained a gold adorned shield. According to many researchers, Yarovit is identical to the [[East Slavs|East Slavic]] [[Yarilo|Yarylo]].{{Sfn|Szyjewski|2003|pp=117-119}}{{Sfn|Gieysztor|2006|pp=133-135}} |
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|style="background:white;"| [[File:Crescent moon - Hilal.jpg|150px|center]] |
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! scope="row" | '''[[Živa (mythology)|Zhiva]]''' |
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| Karna |
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| [[Polabian Slavs|Polabians]] |
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| Goddess of the funerals, personifying tears. She is compared to the Indic ''[[Karna]]''.{{sfn|Mathieu-Colas|2017}} |
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| Zhiva is a goddess mentioned by [[Helmold]]. According to him, next to [[Radegast (god)|Radagast]] and [[Prone (mythology)|Prone]], she is the most important deity of the Slavs. Probably identical with the [[Polish people|Polish]] deity ''[[Żywie]]'' mentioned by [[Jan Długosz]].{{Sfn|Szyjewski|2003|p=127}} A theonym related to the word ''živeti'' "to live". |
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|style="background:white;"| [[File:Allismicro crystalized sad tear drop 2.jpeg|150px|center]] |
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! scope="row" | '''Prone'''<br /><small>or</small><br />'''Prove''' |
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| [[Kostroma (deity)|Kostroma]] |
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| |
| |
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| [[Polabian Slavs|Polabians]] |
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| Goddess of spring and fertility.{{sfn|Mathieu-Colas|2017}} She is the female counterpart of Kostromo, and she is connected with grain. Her celebration falls on 29 June, the Christian [[Feast of Saints Peter and Paul]], during which a village maiden representing the deity would be ritually bathed in a stream and then worshipped for an evening of feasting and dancing. The divine twins Kostroma and Kostromo are one aspect of a fourfold fertility deity, whose other aspects are Lada–Lado, Yarila–Yarilo, and Kupala–Kupalo.{{sfn|Dixon-Kennedy|1998|p=156}} Kostroma is sayed to be the sister of Kupalo and daughter of Simargl and Kupalnitsa. According to the myth, after discovering that her newlywed husband, Kupalo, is her brother, Kostroma jumped into the lake and drowned. But she did not die, she became a [[Mavka|mavka]], a female water spirit.{{sfn|Buynova Tatyana Yuryevna|2008|p=256}}<ref>[http://godsbay.ru/slavs/kostroma.html Russian Encyclopedia of mythology]</ref> |
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| <small>[[East Slavs]], [[Rus' (name)|Russes]]</small> |
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| ''Proue'' is a distorted name of a god mentioned by [[Helmold]]. This theonym is interpreted in several different ways: some scholars translate the name as ''Prove'' (from Slavic word ''pravo'' "law"), while others translate the name as ''Prone'', a local variant of [[Perun]]'s name. Helmold makes it clear that ''Proue'',{{Sfn|Gieysztor|2006|p=91}} unlike other deities, did not have a statue, but an oak grove near Starogard, where courts were held every monday, was dedicated to him.{{Sfn|Gieysztor|2006|p=222}} |
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|style="background:white;"| [[File:Funeral of Kostroma.jpg|150px|center]] |
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! scope="row" | '''[[Rugiaevit]]''' |
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| Lelia |
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| [[File:Rujewit - jesien - wyczerpanie.jpg|center|100px]] |
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| - |
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| [[Rani (Slavic tribe)|Rani]] |
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| Goddess of spring and mercy, daughter of Lada.{{sfn|Mathieu-Colas|2017}} According to [[Boris Rybakov]], Lelia is the closest equivalent of the Greek ''[[Artemis]]'', being associated with the [[Ursa Major]] constellation.{{sfn|Ivanits|1989|p=17}} |
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| Rugievit is a god mentioned by [[Saxo Grammaticus]] and in the ''[[Knýtlinga saga]]''. He was worshipped in [[Garz (Rügen)|Gardec]] on [[Rügen]], where his temple was located, as well as [[Porevit]] and [[Porenut]]. His statue was made of oak wood, had a head with seven faces, seven swords at his belt and an eighth in his hand. According to Saxo, he was a war deity, also associated with the sexual sphere.{{Sfn|Gieysztor|2006|p=131}} The interpretation of his name remains a matter of debate. |
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|style="background:white;"| [[File:Big Dipper over Sandvik - natural.jpg|150px|center]] |
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! scope="row" | '''[[Porevit]]''' |
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| Matergabia |
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| |
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| –Matergabiae{{sfn|Mathieu-Colas|2017}} |
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| [[Rani (Slavic tribe)|Rani]] |
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| ''Matergabia'' literally means "Fire Mother". She is the goddess of the hearth, comparable to the Roman ''[[Vesta (mythology)|Vesta]]''. Her Baltic cognate is ''[[Gabija]]''.{{sfn|Mathieu-Colas|2017}} |
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| <small>[[Slavs]]–[[Balts]]</small> |
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| Porevit is a god mentioned by [[Saxo Grammaticus]] and in the ''[[Knýtlinga saga]]''. He was worshipped in [[Garz (Rügen)|Gardec]] on [[Rügen]], where his temple was located, as well as [[Rugiaevit|Rugieavit]] and Porenut. Statue of him had five heads, and importantly did not have any weapons. The meaning of the name is unclear, perhaps meaning "Lord of strength".{{Sfn|Gieysztor|2006|p=132}} |
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|style="background:white;"| [[File:Open fire in hearth grate at The Black Horse Inn, Nuthurst, West Sussex.jpg|150px|center]] |
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! scope="row" |'''[[Porenut]]''' |
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| Ognyena |
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| |
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| –Ognjena (Marija){{sfn|Marjanić|2003|p=190}}<br>–Onennaya (Mariya) <sup>(Russian)</sup>{{sfn|Zhuravylov|2005|p=239}}<br>–Marija Ognjenica{{sfn|Zhuravylov|2005|p=240}}<br>–Marija Glavnjenica{{sfn|Zhuravylov|2005|p=240}}<br>–Ognevikha |
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| [[Rani (Slavic tribe)|Rani]] |
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| ''Ognyena'' literally means "She of the Fire", "Fiery", and is the goddess of the celestial fire, sister of Perun. She is another personification of the great goddess of the earth (Mokosh) when she is dried up, and thus elevated, by celestial fieriness.{{sfn|Marjanić|2003|p=190}} She is frequently named ''Ognyena Maria'' ("Fiery Mary") in the South Slavic tradition, since, in Christianised folk religion, Ognyena has been syncretised with the figures of both [[Margaret the Virgin]] and the [[Mary, mother of Jesus|Virgin Mary]], regarded as the sisters of Saint Elias. She is celebrated on 30 July (Julian 17 July).{{sfn|Zhuravylov|2005|p=239}} |
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| <small>[[South Slavs]]</small> |
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| Porenut is a god mentioned by [[Saxo Grammaticus]] and in the ''[[Knýtlinga saga]]''. He was worshipped in [[Garz (Rügen)|Gardec]] on [[Rügen]], where his temple was located, as well as [[Rugiaevit]] and Porevit. His idol had four faces and a fifth on his chest, which he held up with his hands. The etymology is debated.{{Sfn|Gieysztor|2006|p=132}} |
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|style="background:white;"| [[File:Ognyena symbol red.svg|40px|center]]<br>[[File:Икона Богородицы «Огневидная колесница Слова» .jpg|150px|center]] |
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! scope="row" | '''[[Chernoglav]]''' |
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| Ozwiena |
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| |
| |
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| [[Rani (Slavic tribe)|Rani]] |
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| Goddess of the [[echo]],{{sfn|Mathieu-Colas|2017}} and generally of voice and oral communication. |
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| |
| |
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| Chernoglav is a god mentioned in the ''[[Knýtlinga saga]]''. He is described there as a god of victory with a silver mustache.{{Sfn|Gieysztor|2006|p=153}} |
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|style="background:white;"| - |
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|- |
|- |
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!scope="row" | '''[[Podaga]]''' |
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| Baba Slata |
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| |
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| –Zlata Baba{{sfn|Mathieu-Colas|2017}}<br>–Slotaia Baba<br>–Zolotaya Baba, Zolotaja Baba{{sfn|Mathieu-Colas|2017}}<br>–Zolstoia Baba{{sfn|Mathieu-Colas|2017}}<br>–Baba Zlatna{{sfn|Marjanić|2003|p=193, note 27}}<br>–Baba Korizma{{sfn|Marjanić|2003|p=193}}<br>–Baba Gvozdenzuba{{sfn|Marjanić|2003|p=194}} |
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| [[Wagri]] |
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| Her name literally means "Golden Old Lady". She is worshipped among Finno-Ugric populations along the [[Ob River]], but also among Slavs.{{sfn|Mathieu-Colas|2017}} She has two other aspects, Baba Korizma ("Lent Old Lady") and Baba Gvozdenzuba ("Iron-Toothed Old Lady"). She has been compared to the Greek ''[[Hecate]]''.{{sfn|Marjanić|2003|p=193}} |
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| |
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| <small>[[Finno-Ugric peoples|Finno-Ugrics]]<br><br>[[Slavs]]</small> |
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| Podaga is a god who, according to [[Helmold]], had his image in [[Plön]]. Meaning of the theonym is explained as "power, might". It was suggested that the name ''Podaga'' is identical with [[Jan Długosz|Długosz's]] ''[[Pogoda]]''.{{Sfn|Szyjewski|2003|p=127}} |
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|style="background:white;"| [[File:Slotaia baba (Kaisarov).png|150px|center]] |
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|- |
|- |
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! scope="row" | '''[[Devana]]''' |
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| Uroda |
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| |
| |
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| [[Polish people|Poles]]<br />[[Sorbs|Lusatians]] |
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| Goddess of ploughed land, of [[agriculture]].{{sfn|Mathieu-Colas|2017}} |
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| |
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| <small>[[West Slavs]], [[Slovaks]]</small> |
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| Devana is the goddess of wildlife, forests, the moon and hunting. Mentioned by [[Jan Długosz]] as a Polish equivalent of [[Diana (mythology)|Diana]]. Devana, as Dživica, was also present in Lusatian folklore. She appears in [[Silesians|Silesian]] customs together with Morana, which may indicate a double nature of these goddesses. Etymology of the name of the goddess is a subject of discussion. In Christian folklore, she may have been replaced by Our Lady of Thunder Candle. |
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|style="background:white;"| [[File:Plough-land near village Krutaya (brown and green).jpg|150px|centre]] |
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|- |
|- |
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! scope="row" | '''[[Morana (goddess)|Morana]]''' |
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| Ursula |
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| [[File:Marzanna Matka Polski.jpg|center|100px]] |
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| –Ursala{{sfn|Mathieu-Colas|2017}}<br>–Orsel{{sfn|Mathieu-Colas|2017}}<br>–Horsel{{sfn|Mathieu-Colas|2017}}<br>–Urschel <sup>(German)</sup>{{sfn|Mathieu-Colas|2017}} |
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| [[Polish people|Poles]]<br />[[Czechs]]<br />[[Slovaks]]<br />[[Moravians]] |
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| Goddess of the moon associated with the [[Ursa Minor]] constellation. She is compared to the German goddess ''Urschel'' and the Greek ''Artemis''.{{sfn|Mathieu-Colas|2017}} |
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| |
| |
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| Morana is the goddess of vegetation, but also of death and winter. She was mentioned by [[Jan Długosz]] as a Polish equivalent of [[Ceres (mythology)|Ceres]]. Burning or drowning Morana's image in the river is supposed to chase away winter and bring back spring, and this tradition is still alive in modern Poland, Slovakia, Moravia and parts of Bohemia. She appears in [[Silesians|Silesian]] customs together with Devana, which may indicate the dual nature of these goddesses. |
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|style="background:white;"| [[File:North Star - invitation background.png|150px|center]] |
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|- |
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| Veliona |
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| –Velonia{{sfn|Mathieu-Colas|2017}}<br>–Vielona, Vielonia{{sfn|Mathieu-Colas|2017}}<br>–Veliuona{{sfn|Mathieu-Colas|2017}}<br>–Velu Mate{{sfn|Mathieu-Colas|2017}}<br>–Velnias <sup>(Lithuanian)</sup>{{sfn|Mathieu-Colas|2017}}<br>–Velns <sup>(Latvian)</sup>{{sfn|Mathieu-Colas|2017}} |
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| Goddess of death, warden of the souls of the ancestors. Though the name is feminine, the polarity of the god/dess is not sure. Among the Balts, Velnias or Velns is male, but there is also a Velu Mate ("Mother of the Souls").{{sfn|Mathieu-Colas|2017}} Her name shares the same root of ''Veles'', *''wel''.{{sfn|Rudy|1985|p=25}} |
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| <small>[[Slavs]]–[[Balts]]</small> |
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|style="background:white;"| [[File:Crane ombre lumiere (2209679799) (4).jpg|150px|center]] |
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|- |
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| [[Vesna]] |
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| - |
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| Goddess of spring.{{sfn|Mathieu-Colas|2017}} |
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| - |
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|style="background:white;"| [[File:Весна-Красна.jpg|150px|center]] |
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|} |
|} |
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== |
== East and South Slavic deities == |
||
<small>Basic information from Mathieu-Colas 2017.{{sfn|Mathieu-Colas|2017}} Further information is appropriately referenced.</small> |
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{| class="wikitable" |
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===Other important male gods=== |
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{| class="wikitable" style="width:100%" |
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|- |
|- |
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! |
!scope="col", width="120px" | Name |
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!scope="col" | Image |
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! style="width:21%;"| Name variations |
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!Worshipped by |
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! Description |
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!Greek Myth |
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! style="width:6%;"| Main attestations |
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! scope="col" | Details |
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! style="width:10%;"| Image and symbol{{efn-lg|name=symbols}} |
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|- |
|- |
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!scope="row" | '''[[Stribog]]''' |
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| Chur |
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| |
| |
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| [[East Slavs]] |
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| God of boundaries and of the delimitation of properties.{{sfn|Mathieu-Colas|2017}} He is comparable to the Roman ''[[Terminus (god)|Terminus]]''. |
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|[[Aeolus]] |
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| - |
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| Stribog is the god of the wind. Mentioned in the ''[[Primary Chronicle]]'' and ''[[The Tale of Igor's Campaign]]''. He may also have been worshipped in Poland. His name is interpreted as the " spreading god".{{Sfn|Gieysztor|2006|pp=184-186}} |
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|style="background:white;"| [[File:Chur symbol red.svg|60px|center]]<br>[[File:Border Poland (Leknica) Germany (Bad Muskau).jpg|150px|center]] |
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|- |
|- |
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!scope="row" | '''[[Khors]]''' |
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| Dogoda |
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| |
| |
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| [[East Slavs]], [[West Slavs]] |
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| God of the [[west wind]].{{sfn|Mathieu-Colas|2017}} |
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| |
| |
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| Khors is a deity with unclear functions mentioned in the ''[[Primary Chronicle]]'' and ''[[The Tale of Igor's Campaign]]'', as well as other minor sources.{{Sfn|Gieysztor|2006|pp=180-181}} For many years he was interpreted as a sun god, supported by the theory that the name is a loan from one of the [[Iranian languages]] and means "Sun".{{Sfn|Gieysztor|2006|pp=180-181}} In recent years, this etymology has come under strong criticism, and a native etymological link to fertility is suggested instead.{{sfn|Borissoff|2014|pp=11–12}} His idol was allegedly located in [[Pskov]]. |
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|style="background:white;"| - |
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|- |
|- |
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!scope="row" | '''[[Mokosh]]''' |
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| Erisvorsh |
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| [[File:Makosh-XIX Lob.png|alt=|center|100px]] |
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| –Erishvorsh, Erivorsh{{sfn|Mathieu-Colas|2017}}<br>–Varpulis, Warpulis{{sfn|Mathieu-Colas|2017}} |
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| [[East Slavs]]<br/>[[Poles (people)|Poles]] [[Czechs]] |
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| God of the storm, wind and thunder. He is an aspect, name, or associate of [[Perun]].{{sfn|Mathieu-Colas|2017}} |
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| |
| |
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| Mokosh is a goddess mentioned in the ''[[Primary Chronicle]]'' and other minor texts. She is generally interpreted as [[Mother goddess]]. She appears in folklore as a creature with a large head and hands who shears sheep and spins [[flax]], also associated in some way with masturbation. Etymologically related to the word ''mokrъ'' "wet".{{Sfn|Gieysztor|2006|pp=201-2004}} In Christianity she is continued by [[Paraskevi of Iconium|St. Paraskeva]] and [[Anastasia of Sirmium|St. Anastasia]].{{Sfn|Szyjewski|2003|p=128}} |
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|style="background:white;"| [[File:Lightning in Volgograd 002.jpg|150px|center]] |
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|- |
|- |
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!scope="row" | '''[[Simargl]]''' |
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| Flins |
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| [[File:Simargl-2.jpg|alt=|center|100px]] |
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| –Flyns<br>–Flyntz{{sfn|Heck|1852|p=291}} |
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| [[East Slavs]] |
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| God of death{{sfn|Mathieu-Colas|2017}} who may be a Wendish name of Veles, although the iconography is rather different. He is sometimes represented as a skeleton with a lion upon his shoulder, holding a burning torch in his hand, and placing a foot on a large pebble. In other cases he is represented as an old man, with the same attributes of the skeleton, except for a flint instead of a pebble.{{sfn|Heck|1852|p=291}} His cult was widespread in [[Lower Silesia]], [[Lusatia]] and [[Saxony]].<ref>{{cite book|last=Boryna|first=Maciej|authorlink=Maciej Boryna|year=2004|title=Boski Flins na Dolnym Śla̜sku, Łużycach i w Saksonii|trans-title=Divine Flins in Lower Silesia, Lusatia and Saxony|publisher=Zielona Góra Eurodruk|location=Szprotawa}}</ref> |
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| |
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| <small>[[West Slavs]], [[Wends]]</small> |
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| Simargl is a deity mentioned in the ''[[Primary Chronicle]]'', and mentioned in the ''Sermon by One Who Loves Christ'' in two entities: Sim and Rgl. Although the sources do not indicate any functions of this god it is believed that he is associated with the care of plants, as indicated by the god's name, which was borrowed by the Slavs from the Iranian [[Simurgh]], a winged, dog-headed guardian of plants.{{Sfn|Gieysztor|2006|pp=186-190}} |
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|style="background:white;"| [[File:Flyns.JPG|150px|center]] |
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|- |
|- |
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!scope="row" | '''[[Svarog]]''' |
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| Ipabog |
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| |
| |
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| [[South Slavs]]{{Sfn|Vilkul|2015|pp=146, 159, 164-165}} |
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| Ipabog is the god of hunting.{{sfn|Mathieu-Colas|2017}} The name may mean "Movement Giver", as its root may be related to the Wendish ''hybawy'' and ''hyban'', which mean the idea and action of movement, linked with the Gothic ''yppa'', "to uppen", "heighten". The god was conceived as in constant motion, and he was represented as clothed, with deer horns on his head.{{sfn|Kanngiesser|1824|p=205}} |
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|[[Hephaestus]]. |
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| - |
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| Svarog is a god mentioned in the ''[[Primary Chronicle]]'' in a passage that is a Slavic translation of the ''Chronicle'' of [[John Malalas]]. This source depicts Svarog as the counterpart of the Greek [[Hephaestus]], and the father of [[Dazhbog]]. The function and etymology of the god are unclear: according to some scholars he is related to the Slavic word ''svar'' meaning "quarrel", while according to others he is related to the [[Languages of India|Indian]] ''svar'' meaning "radiance", "sky", "sun". Based on etymology, interpreted as the smith god, or as the god of the sky.{{Sfn|Gieysztor|2006|pp=171-172}}{{Sfn|Szyjewski|2003|pp=102, 105–107}} |
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|style="background:white;"| [[File:Rothirsch, Cervus elaphus 02.JPG|150px|center]] |
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|- |
|- |
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![[Yarilo]] |
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| [[Koliada (deity)|Koliada]] |
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| |
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| –Kolyada, Koljada{{sfn|Mathieu-Colas|2017}}<br>–Koleda{{sfn|Mathieu-Colas|2017}}<br>–Ovsen{{sfn|Mathieu-Colas|2017}}<br>–Tausen |
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|[[East Slavs]] |
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| God representing the young, winter sun returning after solstice.{{sfn|Mathieu-Colas|2017}} The name is related to ''kolo'' ("wheel", "cycle"), and indirectly to Greek ''kalanda'', later Latinised as ''[[calends|calendae]]''.{{sfn|Hubbs|1993|p=64}} |
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[[South Slavs]] |
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|[[Demeter]] |
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|style="background:white;"| {{image array|perrow=2|width=45|height=45|image1=Koliada symbol red.svg|image2=Tausen symbol red.svg|caption1=Koliada|caption2=Tausen}}<br>[[File:BrockenSnowedTreesInSun.jpg|150px|center]] |
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|East Slavic ritual and ritual figure attested since the 18th century Interpreted as a deity of vegetation. |
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|- |
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| [[Kresnik (deity)|Kresnik]] |
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| –Krsnik{{sfn|Mathieu-Colas|2017}}<br>–Skrstnik{{sfn|Borissoff|2014|p=25}}<br>–Vesnik{{sfn|Borissoff|2014|p=25}}<br>–Kurent{{sfn|Borissoff|2014|p=25}} |
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| God of fire and of the sun.{{sfn|Mathieu-Colas|2017}} He is a young, solar warrior hero and a benevolent god of fertility, but also a god of rebirth who "waits ... in a mountain cavern for the hour of his awakening and return to true life".{{sfn|Borissoff|2014|p=25}} |
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| <small>[[South Slavs]], [[Slovenes]]</small> |
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|style="background:white;"| [[File:20150307 m9.2 flare.jpeg|150px|center]] |
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|- |
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| Morskoy |
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| –Morskoi{{sfn|Mathieu-Colas|2017}}<br>–Morskoy Czar{{sfn|Mathieu-Colas|2017}}<br>–Czar Morskoy{{sfn|Mathieu-Colas|2017}} |
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| He is the god of the sea. His name literally means "Emperor (cf. Latin ''[[Caesar (title)|Caesar]]'') of the Sea", and he is compared to the Greco-Roman ''[[Poseidon]]''–''[[Neptune (mythology)|Neptune]]''.{{sfn|Mathieu-Colas|2017}} |
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| <small>[[East Slavs]], [[Rus' (name)|Russes]]</small> |
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|style="background:white;"| [[File:Bistrushkin diplom morskoi tsar.jpg|150px|center]] |
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|- |
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| Nemiza |
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| –Nemisa, Nemisia{{sfn|Hanuš|1842|p=275}}<br>–Nimizia{{sfn|Hanuš|1842|p=275}} |
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| God who cuts the thread of life, sometimes represented as a male with four beams around his head, one wing, and on his chest a dove with outstretched wings, and sometimes represented as a naked female with an eagle by her side gazing up to her. Nemiza was regarded both as a calamity for bringing death, and as a beneficial figure for introducing the soul to a new life.{{sfn|Heck|1852|p=291}} |
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| <small>[[West Slavs]], [[Wends]]</small> |
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|style="background:white;"| [[File:Nemiza symbol red.svg|60px|center]] |
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|- |
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| –Ny<br>–Peklabog |
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| ①<br>–Nija, Nyja{{sfn|Mathieu-Colas|2017}}<br>②<br>–Pekla{{sfn|Hanuš|1842|pp=218–219}}<br>–Pekelnybog <sup>(Prussian)</sup>{{sfn|Hanuš|1842|pp=218–219}}<br>–Pekollo, Pekollos, Pikollos{{sfn|Hanuš|1842|pp=218–219}}<br>–Peklos, Poklos{{sfn|Hanuš|1842|pp=218–219}}<br>–Peklo, Pieklo <sup>(Bohemian)</sup>{{sfn|Hanuš|1842|pp=218–219}}<br>–Pekelle{{sfn|Hanuš|1842|pp=218–219}}<br>–Pikiello{{sfn|Hanuš|1842|pp=218–219}}<br>–Patello, Patelo, Patala{{sfn|Hanuš|1842|pp=218–219}}<br>–Peklenc<br>–Pekelnik<br>–Pekelnipan<br>–Lokton |
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| Ny is the god of the underworld who acts as [[psychopomp]], that is to say the guide of the souls into the underworld.{{sfn|Mathieu-Colas|2017}} He is associated with subterranean fire and water, snakes and [[earthquake]]s. ''Peklabog'' or ''Pekelnybog'' is another name of the god of the underworld, and he has been compared to the Indic ''[[Shiva]]''.{{sfn|Hanuš|1842|pp=218–219}} |
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| <small>[[West Slavs]], [[Poles]]</small> |
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|style="background:white;"| [[File:Peklabog symbol red.svg|50px|center]]<br>[[File:Nyja.jpg|150px|center]] |
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|- |
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| Porevit |
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| –Porewit, Porevith{{sfn|Mathieu-Colas|2017}}<br>–Porovit, Puruvit{{sfn|Mathieu-Colas|2017}}<br>–Porenut{{sfn|Mathieu-Colas|2017}}<br>–Proven, Prove <sup>(Germanisation)</sup>{{sfnm|1a1=Mathieu-Colas|1y=2017|2a1=Hanuš|2y=1842|2pp=98–99}}<br>–Turupit, Tarapita{{sfn|Leeming|2005|p=359}} |
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| Porevit is depicted with five faces, one of which is on his chest,{{sfn|Mathieu-Colas|2017}} but also with a shield and a lance.{{sfn|Heck|1852|p=290}} A cult centre of Porevit was at Garz, in [[Rügen]].{{sfn|Mathieu-Colas|2017}} The name means "Lord of Power", with the root *''per'' defining the masculine power of generation. He is an aspect or other name of Perun, as also highlighted by some sources which link the name to the Finnic ''[[Tharapita]]''.{{sfnm|1a1=Leeming|1y=2005|1p=359|2a1=Rudy|2y=1985|2p=18}} Germanised as ''Proven'' or ''Prove'' he is attested as the tutelary deity of [[Oldenburg]],{{sfn|Mathieu-Colas|2017}} and this name is considered a corruption of ''Prone''.{{sfn|Rudy|1985|p=17}} When regarded as an aspect of Svetovid, he represents south and summer.{{sfn|Leeming|2005|p=359}} |
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| <small>Baltic [[Slavs]]</small> |
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|style="background:white;"| [[File:Porevit symbol red.svg|50px|center]]<br>[[File:Porewit (Montfaucon 1722).jpg|150px|center]] |
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|- |
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| Posvist |
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| –Poswist, Poshvist{{sfn|Mathieu-Colas|2017}}<br>–Pogvist, Pohvist{{sfn|Mathieu-Colas|2017}}<br>–Pozvizd |
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| God of the wind, otherwise called "Russian Star". His name literally means "Whistler" or "Blower".{{sfn|Mathieu-Colas|2017}} |
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| <small>[[East Slavs]], [[Rus' (name)|Russes]]</small> |
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|style="background:white;"| [[File:Celiński Świst and Poświst 01.jpg|150px|center]] |
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|- |
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| Pripegala |
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| –Prepeluga{{sfn|Rudy|1985|p=24}} |
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| Mathieu-Colas identifies this deity as cognate with the Greco-Roman ''[[Priapus]]''.{{sfn|Mathieu-Colas|2017}} According to other scholarly studies it is a name corruption, made by the Archbishop of [[Magdeburg]], of ''Prepeluga'', another name of Perperuna Dodola.{{sfn|Rudy|1985|p=24}} |
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| <small>Baltic [[Slavs]]</small> |
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|style="background:white;"| - |
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|- |
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| –[[Radegast (god)|Radegast]]<br>–Potrembog |
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| ①<br>–Radigast, Redigast{{sfn|Mathieu-Colas|2017}}<br>–Radigost{{sfn|Mathieu-Colas|2017}}<br>–Radegaste{{sfn|Mathieu-Colas|2017}}<br>–Radhost{{sfn|Mathieu-Colas|2017}}<br>②<br>–Potrebbog{{sfn|Hanuš|1842|pp=216–218}}<br>–Potrimbo, Potrembo{{sfn|Hanuš|1842|pp=216–218}}<br>–Potrimpo, Potrimpos{{sfn|Hanuš|1842|pp=216–218}} |
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| God of honour, strength and hospitality. He was the tutelary deity of the [[Lutici|Redarians]].{{sfn|Mathieu-Colas|2017}} He has been studied as the Slavic equivalent of the Indic ''[[Vishnu]]''. The deity is associated with the snake, and the root of ''Potrembog'', another name of Radegast, may be the same of ''potrebny'', "needing".{{sfn|Hanuš|1842|pp=216–218}} Traditional iconography shows him with a double face, that of a man on one side and that of a lion on the other side, with a swan on his head and a bull head on his chest; otherwise, he is represented as a naked man, with a bird with outstretched wings on his head, a shield with a bull head before his chest, and a halberd in his right hand.{{sfn|Heck|1852|p=290}} |
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| <small>Baltic [[Slavs]]</small> |
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|style="background:white;"| [[File:Radegast symbol red.svg|60px|center]]<br>[[File:Perun (Pustevny - Czech Republic) 18.jpg|150px|center]] |
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|- |
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| –Rugievit<br>–Karevit |
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| ①<br>–Rugiewit{{sfn|Mathieu-Colas|2017}}<br>–Rujevit{{sfn|Mathieu-Colas|2017}}<br>–Rugiwit{{sfn|Mathieu-Colas|2017}}<br>–Ruevit{{sfn|Mathieu-Colas|2017}}<br>–Riuvit{{sfn|Mathieu-Colas|2017}}<br>–Rinvit{{sfn|Mathieu-Colas|2017}}<br>②<br>–Karewit{{sfn|Mathieu-Colas|2017}} |
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| Warrior god and tutelary deity of Rügen. Mathieu-Colas explins his name as "Lord of Rugia";{{sfn|Mathieu-Colas|2017}} other scholars explain it, instead, as "Roaring/Howling Lord" (cf. [[Old East Slavic]] ''rjuti'', "to roar", "howl").{{sfn|Rudy|1985|p=18}} Like Porevit, he had a cult centre in Garz. Another name or aspect of Rugievit is ''Karevit'' (probably "Lord of [[Charenza]]").{{sfn|Mathieu-Colas|2017}} Rugievit himself is perhaps an aspect of Svetovid, representing east and autumn. He is represented with seven heads.{{sfn|Leeming|2005|p=359}} |
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| <small>Baltic [[Slavs]]</small> |
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|style="background:white;"| [[File:Ruevit symbol red.svg|60px|center]]<br>[[File:Rujewit - jesien - wyczerpanie.jpg|150px|center]] |
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|- |
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| –[[Simargl]]<br>–Pereplut |
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| –Semargl{{sfn|Mathieu-Colas|2017}}<br>–Simarg{{sfn|Mathieu-Colas|2017}}<br>–Simarigl{{sfn|Mathieu-Colas|2017}}<br>–Simariglu <sup>(Old East Slavic)</sup>{{sfn|Leeming|2005|p=360}}<br>–Sinnargual{{sfn|Mathieu-Colas|2017}}<br>–Simnarguel{{sfn|Mathieu-Colas|2017}} |
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| Chimerical or draconian figure compared to the Persian ''[[Simurgh]]''.{{sfn|Rudy|1985|p=9}} He is frequently associated with Pereplut,{{sfn|Mathieu-Colas|2017}} an East Slavic name variation of Perperuna Dodola,{{sfn|Rudy|1985|pp=23–24}} which would make him the same as Perun. He may be a god of fortune and drinking, abundance and vegetation, or more commonly a tutelary deity of sailors.{{sfn|Mathieu-Colas|2017}} |
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| <small>[[East Slavs]], [[Rus' (name)|Russes]]</small> |
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|style="background:white;"| [[File:Simargl symbol red.svg|40px|center]]<br>[[File:Simargl-2.jpg|150px|center]] |
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|- |
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| Stribog |
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| –Strybog{{sfn|Mathieu-Colas|2017}}<br>–Strzybog <sup>(Polish)</sup><br>–Stribogu <sup>(Old East Slavic)</sup>{{sfn|Leeming|2005|p=360}} |
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| ''Stribog'' literally means "Wealth Spreader", and he is the god of winds and storms. He is often coupled with Dazhbog, the "Wealth Giver". ''Stri'' is the imperative mood of the Slavic root *''sterti'', from the Indo-European root *''ster'', which means "to stretch", "spread", "widen", "scatter" (cf. Latin ''sternō'').{{sfnm|1a1=Mathieu-Colas|1y=2017|2a1=Rudy|2y=1985|2p=30}} |
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| <small>[[East Slavs]], [[Rus' (name)|Russes]]</small> |
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|style="background:white;"| [[File:Stribog symbol red.svg|40px|center]]<br>[[File:Aivazovsky - Strong Wind.jpg|150px|center]] |
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|- |
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| –[[Veles (god)|Veles]] |
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| –Veless, Weles<sup>s</sup>{{sfn|Mathieu-Colas|2017}}<br>–Volos<sup>s</sup>, Wolos<sup>s</sup>{{sfn|Mathieu-Colas|2017}}<br>–Woles{{sfn|Hanuš|1842|pp=368–369}}<br>–Wlacie{{sfn|Hanuš|1842|pp=368–369}}<br>–Wel{{sfn|Hanuš|1842|pp=368–369}}<br>–Walgino <sup>(Polish)</sup>{{sfn|Mathieu-Colas|2017}}<br>–Skotibog, Skotybog{{sfn|Rudy|1985|pp=34–35}}<br>–Zembog{{sfn|Mathieu-Colas|2017}} |
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| Veles is the [[chthonic]] god of cattle—whence his other name, ''Skotibog'', which literally means "Cattle Giver"{{sfn|Rudy|1985|pp=34–35}}—, but also master of the forest and of wild animals, and god of commerce.{{sfn|Ivanits|1989|pp=13, 17}} He is also the god of poetic inspiration and sight, as highlighted by his name which comes from the Indo-European root *''wel'', which implies sight and magical ability.{{sfn|Rudy|1985|p=25}} The ''[[Book of Veles]]'' is dedicated to him. ''Walgino'' is the name of the cattle god in Polish tradition,{{sfn|Mathieu-Colas|2017}} though ''Weles'' is more common nowadays. Also known as the "Horned God", Veles is a male god of the earth, incarnating the "Black God" of dual theology. As such he is the opposite of the heavenly manifestations of the "White God" (Svarog and his sons, but especially Perun).{{sfn|Leeming|2005|p=360}} An alternative name of Veles that was used by Baltic Slavs is ''Tjarnaglofi'' ("Black Head", identifying him as Chernobog).{{sfnm|1a1=Mathieu-Colas|1y=2017|2a1=Leeming|2y=2005|2p=360}} The name ''Zembog'' literally means "Earth Giver"{{sfn|Mathieu-Colas|2017}} and may refer to Veles. He is compared to the Indic ''[[Varuna]]'', the Celtic ''[[Esus]]'' and the Norse ''[[Ullr]]'' amongst others.{{sfn|Rudy|1985|pp=42–45}} |
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| <small>[[East Slavs]], [[Rus' (name)|Russes]]</small> |
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|style="background:white;"| [[File:Veles symbol red.svg|50px|center]]<br>[[File:Veles Volos.jpg|150px|center]] |
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|- |
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| –[[Yarilo]]<br>–Gerovit |
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| ①<br>–Yarylo<br>–Jarilo, Jarylo, Jaryla{{sfn|Mathieu-Colas|2017}}<br>②<br>–Gerowit{{sfn|Mathieu-Colas|2017}}<br>–Gierovit{{sfn|Hanuš|1842|p=172}}<br>–Yarovit<br>–Jarovit, Jarowit{{sfnm|1a1=Mathieu-Colas|1y=2017|2a1=Hanuš|2y=1842|2p=180}}<br>–Jerowit, Dzarowit{{sfn|Leeming|2005|p=360}}<br>–Harovit, Harowit{{sfn|Hanuš|1842|p=176}}<br>–Herovit{{sfn|Rudy|1985|p=18}}<br>–Harevit{{sfn|Hanuš|1842|p=172}} |
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| God of spring, sexuality and fertility,{{sfn|Mathieu-Colas|2017}} and also of peace.{{sfn|Hanuš|1842|p=177}} His original name was ''Gerovit'' or ''Jarovit'', which literally mean "Strong/Wroth Lord" (from the root *''ger'' or *''jar'', "strong" or "wrathful"){{sfn|Mathieu-Colas|2017}} or "Bright Lord" (cf. Russian ''jaryj'', "bright"), while ''Yarilo'' is a modern Russian popular variation.{{sfn|Rudy|1985|pp=7, 18}} He is also regarded as a warrior god and was the tutelary deity of [[Wolgast]].{{sfn|Mathieu-Colas|2017}} As an aspect of Svetovid he represents west and spring, and has been compared to the Greek god of Eastern origin ''[[Adonis]]''–''[[Dionysus]]'' both representing youth, death and resurrection.{{sfn|Leeming|2005|p=360}} Kostrubonko is another East Slavic god, or another name of Yarilo, with the same functions of spring and fertility, death and resurrection.{{sfn|Mathieu-Colas|2017}} Under the name ''Myesyats'' ("Moon"), Yarilo is identified as the moon god. |
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| - |
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|style="background:white;"| [[File:Yarovit symbol red.svg|70px|center]]<br>[[File:Powitanie Jaryly.jpg|150px|center]] |
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|} |
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== Deities listed anonymously == |
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===Other twosomes and threesomes=== |
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{| class="wikitable" style="width:100%" |
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|- |
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! style="width:10%;"| Concept |
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! style="width:21%;"| Name variations |
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! style="width:4%;"| Polarity |
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! Description |
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! style="width:6%;"| Main attestations |
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! style="width:10%;"| Image |
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|- |
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| Dido–Dida |
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| –Lado–Lada{{sfn|Mathieu-Colas|2017}} |
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| style="text-align:center;"| <big>M–F</big> |
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| [[Divine twins]], just siblings or even spouses, sons either of Lado and Lada, or just of Lada, or rather identical with Lado and Lada themselves. Dido is attested in some traditions as the husband of goddess Lada.{{sfnm|1a1=Mathieu-Colas|1y=2017|2a1=Leeming|2y=2005|2p=360}} |
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| <small>[[Slavs]]–[[Balts]]</small> |
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|style="background:white;"| - |
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|- |
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| Dolya–Nedolya |
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| –Dola–Nedola{{sfn|Mathieu-Colas|2017}} |
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| style="text-align:center;"| <big>F</big> |
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| Goddess of fate, personification of the fate bestowed upon a man at birth. She is described as a planly dressed woman able to turn herself into varius shapes.{{sfn|Máchal|1918|p=251}} When she is positive she is named ''Dolya'', when negative she turns into ''Nedolya''.{{sfn|Mathieu-Colas|2017}} The good Dolya protects her favourite day and night, serving him faithfully from birth to death; she takes care of his health and wealth, protects his offspring and makes his properties blossom. The evil Nedolya, also called ''[[Likho]]'' in later folklore, neglects the man to whom she is assigned, and thinks only for herself. It is considered impossible to get rid of Dolya, either in her good or evil aspect.{{sfn|Máchal|1918|pp=251–252}} |
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| <small>[[East Slavs]], [[Rus' (name)|Russes]]</small> |
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|style="background:white;"| [[File:Licho.jpg|150px|center]] |
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|- |
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| Srecha–Nesrecha |
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| –Sretcha–Nesretcha{{sfn|Mathieu-Colas|2017}} |
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| style="text-align:center;"| <big>F</big> |
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| She is a South Slavic concept similar to the East Slavic Dolya–Nedolya.{{sfn|Mathieu-Colas|2017}} The relation between Srecha and Dolya has been described as the same between the Latin concepts of ''fors'' and ''fortuna'', or ''sors'' and ''fatum''. Unlike Dolya, a man may get rid of Srecha. She is represented as a beautiful woman spinning a golden thread, bestowing welfare upon the man to whom she is assigned. As misfortune, Nedolya, she is depicted as an old woman with bloodshot eyes.{{sfn|Máchal|1918|p=252}} |
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| <small>[[South Slavs]]</small> |
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|style="background:white;"| - |
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|- |
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| [[Zorya]] |
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| –Zoria{{sfn|Mathieu-Colas|2017}}<br>–Zaria, Zarya{{sfn|Mathieu-Colas|2017}}<br>–Zora{{sfn|Mathieu-Colas|2017}}<br>–Zroya{{sfn|Mathieu-Colas|2017}}<br>–Zimtserla{{sfn|Mathieu-Colas|2017}} |
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| style="text-align:center;"| <big>F</big> |
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| Zorya is the goddess of beauty,{{sfn|Husain|2003|p=170}} virgin associated with war and with Perun.{{sfn|Mathieu-Colas|2017}} Her name literally means "Light" or "[[Aurora]]", and she manifests as three goddesses, described as daughters of Dazhbog and sisters of Zvezda, with whom they are often conflated:{{sfn|Mathieu-Colas|2017}} |
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* Zorya Utrennyaya ("Morning Light"), often conflated with Zvezda Dennitsa; |
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* Zorya Vechernyaya ("Evening Light"), |
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* Zorya Polunoshnaya ("Midnight Light"). |
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| - |
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|style="background:white;"| [[File:Virmalised 18.03.15 (4).jpg|150px|center]] |
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|- |
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| Zvezda |
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| –Zwezda <sup>(Polish)</sup>{{sfn|Mathieu-Colas|2017}} |
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| style="text-align:center;"| <big>F</big> |
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| ''Zvezda'' literally means "Star", and refers to the planet [[Venus]]. It is the name of two sister goddesses, often conflated with Zoria, who represent the two phases of the planet Venus:{{sfn|Mathieu-Colas|2017}} |
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* Zvezda Dennitsa ([[Phosphorus (morning star)|"Morning Star"]]), who is ''Danica'' in Serbo-Croatian and ''Dnieca'' in Polish; |
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* Zvezda Vechernyaya ([[Hesperus|"Evening Star"]]). |
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| - |
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|style="background:white;"| [[File:Vénus par Hubble.jpg|150px|center]] |
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|} |
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There are two sources that mention a nameless Slavic ''chief god''. [[Procopius of Caesarea]] in the ''Gothic Wars'' describes the religion of the [[South Slavs]]: |
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==Tutelary deities of specific places, things and crafts== |
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{{Blockquote |
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In Slavic religion, everything has a spirit or soul ([[File:Soul symbol red.svg|20px]]), including houses, lakes, mountains, forests, animals and men. These spirits are generally called by various terms, including for instance ''zduh'' or ''zduhacz'' ("spirit") by the Serbs, or ''sjen'' or ''sjenovik'' ("shadow") by the Montenegrins. These spirits are considered able to leave the body during the sleep, wandering about the world, the skies and the underworld.{{sfn|Máchal|1918|pp=227–228}} |
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|text = Indeed, they believe that a single god, creator of the lightning bolt, is the sole lord of all things and they offer him sacrifices of cows and all manner of victims. The idea of destiny is unknown to them nor do they believe that it has any influence over men, but when death is at their heels because they have fallen sick or are preparing for war, they promise that, if spared, they will immediately offer a sacrifice in honour of the god in exchange for their life and, once they have been spared, they sacrifice whatever they have to hand and believe they have bought their salvation with this sacrifice.{{Sfn|Álvarez-Pedrosa|2021|pp=22-25}} |
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{{hidden begin |
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|title = Greek original text |
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|toggle = left |
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}} |
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θεὸν μὲν γὰρ ἕνα τὸν τῆς ἀστραπῆς δημιουργὸν ἁπάντων κύριον μόνον αὐτὸν νομίζουσιν εἶναι, καὶ θύουσιν αὐτῷ βόας τε καὶ ἱερεῖα πάντα· εἱμαρμένην δὲ οὔτε ἴσασιν οὔτε ἄλλως ὁμολογοῦσιν ἔν γε ἀνθρώποις ῥοπήν τινα ἔχειν, ἀλλ’ ἐπειδὰν αὐτοῖς ἐν ποσὶν ἤδη ὁ θάνατος εἴη, ἢ νόσῳ ἁλοῦσιν ἢ ἐς πόλεμον καθισταμένοις, ἐπαγγέλλονται μὲν, ἢν διαφύγωσι, θυσίαν τῷ θεῷ ἀντὶ τῆς ψυχῆς αὐτίκα ποιήσειν, διαφυγόντες δὲ θύουσιν ὅπερ ὑπέσχοντο, καὶ οἴονται τὴν σωτηρίαν ταύτης δὴ τῆς θυσίας αὐτοῖς ἐωνῆσθαι.{{Sfn|Álvarez-Pedrosa|2021|pp=22-25}}{{hidden end}} |
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|title = |
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}} |
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Similar information, however, concerning the [[West Slavs|West Slavic]] [[Polabian Slavs|Polabians]], appears in [[Helmold]]'s ''[[Chronica Slavorum|Chronicle]]'': |
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{{Blockquote |
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|text = Within the multifarious aspect of the manifestations of their divinities, to which their fields, forests, sadness, and happiness are entrusted, they do not deny that there is one god in heaven who reigns above the others, that this is the only one responsible for celestial matters, and that the others obey him; each assuming a role, they come from his line and are more powerful the closer they are to said god.{{Sfn|Álvarez-Pedrosa|2021|pp=161-163}} |
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{{hidden begin |
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|title = Latin original text |
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|toggle = left |
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}} |
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Inter multiformia uero deorum numina, quibus arua, siluas, tristicias atque uoluptates attribuunt, non-diffitentur unum deum in celis ceteris imperitantem, illum prepotentem celestia tantum curare, hos uero distributis officiis obsequentes de sanguine eius processisse et unumquemque eo prestantiorem, quo proximiorem illi deo deorum.{{Sfn|Álvarez-Pedrosa|2021|pp=161-163}}{{hidden end}} |
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|title = |
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}} |
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It is unclear how reliably these accounts describe Slavic theology. Some scholars believe that these texts are Christian interpretations of the faith of the pagan Slavs; Helmold, writing about the ''god of gods'', clearly borrowed the term (''deus deorum'') from the [[Book of psalms]] (50:1). In the case of Procopius' text, for example, [[Aleksander Brückner]] argued that the text was a calque, an image with a Hellenized tinge imposed on Slavic paganism. Scholars who accept at least partial authenticity of these messages believe that they may convey information about [[henotheism]], the Slavic ''[[deus otiosus]]'' – a passive god who does not interfere directly in world affairs and whose commands are carried out by other gods. It is also possible that they may refer to the replacement of the passive sky god by a more active thunder god, just as the Greek [[Uranus (mythology)|Uranus]] was replaced by [[Zeus]]. Although Procopius and Helmold do not mention the names of these gods, whose names they probably did not know because of [[taboo]]s, it is generally believed that [[Perun]], or [[Svarog]], was involved here.{{Sfn|Gieysztor|2006|pp=109-111}}{{Sfn|Szyjewski|2003|pp=99-100}} |
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[[Cosmas of Prague]] describes [[Czechs|Czech]] paganism in his ''[[Chronica Boemorum]]'' through the ''[[Interpretatio Romana]]'': "Therefore, sacrifice to your gods an [[Donkey|ass]] so that they become your succour. Those who wish you to make this offering are [[Jupiter (mythology)|Jupiter]], most important of the gods, [[Mars (mythology)|Mars]] himself, his sister [[Bellona (goddess)|Bellona]] and the son-in law of [[Ceres (mythology)|Ceres]] (i.e. [[Pluto (mythology)|Pluto]]).{{Sfn|Brückner|1985|p=37}} |
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===Deities of waters, woods and fields=== |
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<small>Basic information from Mathieu-Colas 2017.{{sfn|Mathieu-Colas|2017}} Further information is appropriately referenced.</small> |
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{| class="wikitable" style="width:100%" |
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|- |
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! style="width:10%;"| Concept |
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! style="width:21%;"| Name variations |
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! style="width:4%;"| Polarity |
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! Description |
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! style="width:6%;"| Main attestations |
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! style="width:10%;"| Image |
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|- |
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| Bereginia |
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| –Beregynia, Berehynia <sup>(Ukrainian)</sup>{{sfn|Mathieu-Colas|2017}}<br>–Przeginia <sup>(Polish)</sup>{{sfn|Rudy|1985|p=6}} |
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| style="text-align:center;"| <big>F</big> |
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| [[Tutelary deity]], or deities, of waters and riverbanks (cf. Old East Slavic ''beregu'', "bank, shore").{{sfn|Mathieu-Colas|2017}} In modern Ukrainian Native Faith she has been heightened to the status of a national goddess "hearth mother, protectress of the earth".<ref>The hypothesis that Berehynia is a major goddess is argued by Halyna Lozko, leader of the Federation of Ukrainian Rodnovers. Cf. {{cite article|last=Lozko|first=Halyna|authorlink=Galina Lozko|title=Берегиня: Богиня чи Русалка?|trans-title=Bereginia: Goddess or rusalka?|date=17 October 2002|website=golosiyiv.kiev.ua|url=http://www.golosiyiv.kiev.ua/observer.php?id%3D215|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110720175022/http://www.golosiyiv.kiev.ua/observer.php?id=215|archive-date=20 July 2011}}</ref> Some scholars identify Bereginia as the same as Rusalka.{{sfn|Ivanits|1989|p=78}} In [[Old Church Slavonic]], the name was ''prĕgyni'' or ''peregyni'', and they were rather—as attested by chronicles and highlighted by the root *''per''—spirits of trees and rivers related to Perun. The interpretation as female water spirits, ''bregynja'' or ''beregynja'', is an innovation of modern Russian folklore.{{sfn|Rudy|1985|pp=20–21}} She is cognate with the German goddess ''[[Fergunna]]'' and the Gothic ''Fairguni''.{{sfn|Rudy|1985|p=21}} |
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| <small>[[East Slavs]], [[Rus' (name)|Russes]]</small> |
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|style="background:white;"| [[File:Statue of Berehynia.jpg|150px|center]] |
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|- |
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| Vodianoy |
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| –Vodianoi, Vodianoj{{sfn|Mathieu-Colas|2017}}<br>–Vodnik <sup>(Bohemian)</sup>{{sfn|Máchal|1918|p=270}}<br>–Vodeni Mozh <sup>(Slovenian)</sup>{{sfn|Máchal|1918|p=270}}<br>–Bagiennik<br>–Bolotnik |
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| style="text-align:center;"| <big>M</big> |
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| Vodianoy is a tutelary deity, or are tutelary deities, of waters (cf. ''voda'', "water").{{sfn|Mathieu-Colas|2017}} He is represented as an old man with a high cap of reeds on his head and a belt of rushes around his waist. To ingratiate themselves with him, Slavic fishermen sacrificed butter in water while millers sacrificed sows.{{sfn|Máchal|1918|pp=270–271}} |
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| - |
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|style="background:white;"| [[File:Bělohrad Pardoubek socha 2014 10.jpg|150px|center]] |
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|- |
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| –[[Boginka]]<br> |
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| –Bogunka <sup>(Polish)</sup>{{sfn|Mathieu-Colas|2017}}<br>–Rus<sup>s</sup>alka{{sfn|Mathieu-Colas|2017}}<br>–Navia, Nawia<br>–Navje, Mavje <sup>(Slovenian)</sup>{{sfn|Máchal|1918|p=253}}<br>–Navi, Navjaci <sup>(Bulgarian)</sup>{{sfn|Máchal|1918|p=253}}<br>–Nejka, Majka, Mavka <sup>(Ukrainian)</sup>{{sfn|Máchal|1918|p=253}}<br>–Nemodlika <sup>(Bohemian, Moravian)</sup>{{sfn|Mathieu-Colas|2017}}<br>–Latawci <sup>(Polish)</sup>{{sfn|Máchal|1918|p=254}}<br>–Vila, Wila{{sfn|Máchal|1918|p=256}}<br>–Samovila, Samodiva <sup>(Bulgarian)</sup>{{sfn|Máchal|1918|p=256}} |
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| style="text-align:center;"| <big>F</big> |
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| ''Boginka'' literally means "Little Goddess". Always described as plural, ''boginky'' ("little goddesses"), they are tutelary deities of waters.{{sfn|Mathieu-Colas|2017}} They are distinguished into various categories, under different names, and they may be either white (beneficent) or black (maleficent).{{sfn|Máchal|1918|p=259}} |
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In the ''Chronicle'', [[Thietmar of Merseburg|Thietmar]] describes the Christianization of [[Pomerania]]. In 1000, during the [[congress of Gniezno]], [[Reinbern]] was appointed bishop of [[Kołobrzeg]]. Thietmar further wrote that Reinbern "destroyed the temples of the idols, he burnt them, and, after anointing four stone idols of their demons with holy chrism, he threw them into the lake and then blessed the water to cleanse it".{{Sfn|Wejman|2004|p=140}} Perhaps the passage in this message is about the sea god.{{Sfn|Szyjewski|2003|p=121}} |
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The root *''nav'' which is present in some name variants, for instance ''Navia'' and ''Mavka'', means "dead", as these little goddesses are conceived as the spirits of dead children or young women. They are represented as half-naked beautiful girls with long hair, but in the South Slavic tradition also as birds who soar in the depths of the skies. They live in waters, woods and steppes, and they giggle, sing, play music and clap their hands. They are so beautiful that they bewitch young men and might bring them to death by drawing them into deep water. They have been compared to the Greek ''[[Nymph]]s''.{{sfn|Máchal|1918|pp=253–255}} |
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== Deities of uncertain status == |
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Vila are another type of little goddesses, already identified as Nymphs by the Greek historian [[Procopius]]; their name comes from the same root as ''Veles''. They are described as beautiful, eternally young, dressed in white, with eyes flashing like thunders, and provided with wings. They live in the clouds, in mountain woods or in the waters. They are well-disposed towards men, and they are able to turn themselves into horses, wolves, snakes, falcons and swans. The cult of the Vila was still practised among South Slavs in the early twentieth century, with offerings of fruits and flowers in caves, cakes near wells, and ribbons hanged to the branches of trees.{{sfn|Máchal|1918|pp=256–259}} |
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| - |
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|style="background:white;"| [[File:Water-nymph.jpg|150px|center]] |
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|- |
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| –[[Leshy]]<br>–Borewit |
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| ①<br>–Leshuk <sup>(Belarussian)</sup>{{sfn|Mathieu-Colas|2017}}<br>–Leszy, Lesny <sup>(Polish)</sup><br>–Lesovik{{sfn|Máchal|1918|p=261}}<br>②<br>–Barowit{{sfn|Hanuš|1842|pp=172–173}}<br>–Boruta{{sfn|Hanuš|1842|pp=172–173}} |
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| style="text-align:center;"| <big>M</big> |
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| Leshy is the tutelary deity of forests, with a wife (Leshachikha) and children (leshonky). Another name of the god is ''Borewit'' or ''Boruta'', coming from the Slavic root *''bor'' which denotes dark woods. Due to the similarity of the name with ''Porewit'', a relation between the two has been hypothesised.{{sfn|Hanuš|1842|pp=172–173}} He is represented as an old man with long hair and beard, with flashing green eyes.{{sfn|Máchal|1918|p=261}} To secure his protection, people who lived near woods sacrificed cows and salted bread to him.{{sfn|Máchal|1918|p=262}} He may manifest in the form of animals, such as bears, wolves and hares.{{sfn|Máchal|1918|p=261}} Other names include ''Berstuk'' and ''Zuttibur'' (also rendered ''Swiatibor''{{sfn|Wagener|1842|p=626}}) among the Wends, ''Modeina'' and ''Silinietz'' among the Poles, and ''Sicksa''.{{sfn|Mathieu-Colas|2017}} Cf. the Greek ''[[Pan (god)|Pan]]''. |
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| - |
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|style="background:white;"| [[File:Boruta god S.jpg|150px|center]] |
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|- |
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| –Polevoy<br>–Poludnica |
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| ①<br>–Polevoi, Polevoj{{sfn|Mathieu-Colas|2017}}<br>–Polevik{{sfn|Mathieu-Colas|2017}}<br>–Belun <sup>(Belarusian)</sup>{{sfn|Máchal|1918|p=269}}<br>–Datan{{sfn|Mathieu-Colas|2017}}<br>–Lawkapatim{{sfn|Mathieu-Colas|2017}}<br>–Laukosargan <sup>(Prussian)</sup>{{sfn|Mathieu-Colas|2017}}<br>–Tawals{{sfn|Mathieu-Colas|2017}}<br>②<br>–Poludnitsa, Poludnitza{{sfn|Mathieu-Colas|2017}}<br>–Polednica{{sfn|Máchal|1918|p=267}}<br>–Poludniowka, Przypoludnika <sup>(Polish)</sup>{{sfn|Máchal|1918|p=267}} |
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| style="text-align:center;"| <big>M–F</big> |
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| Tutelary deity of fields (cf. ''pole'', "field"). Among Poles, the god of the fields is also known by the names ''Datan'', ''Lawkapatim'', or ''Tawals''. Poludnica is his female form; her name is etymologically related to ''poluden'' or ''polden'', not only related to fields but also, literally, "midday". She is represented either as an airy, white woman or as an old woman with horse hoofs and a sharp sickle in her hand.{{sfn|Máchal|1918|p=267}} The name ''Lawkapatim'' reflects the Prussian ''Laukosargas''.{{sfn|Mathieu-Colas|2017}} |
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| - |
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|style="background:white;"| [[File:Starichok-polevichok by Konenkov (1910, Tretyakov gallery) 02 by shakko.JPG|150px|center]] |
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|- |
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| Babay |
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| –Babaj, Babayka, Babajka |
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| style="text-align:center;"| <big>M</big> |
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|Babay is a night spirit. He appears at night. Babay looks like a hunchbacked, dumb, armless or lame old man who walks with a knapsack or sack, into which he puts unruly children.{{sfn|Shaparova N.S.|2001}} This creature lives in a swamp, in bushes in a garden or in a forest. At night, he walks near the houses, peering through the windows. If he sees a child, that doesnt sleep, he make strange noises, scaring the child.{{sfn|Shaparova N.S.|2001}} |
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|} |
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* '''[[Chernobog and Belobog]]''' – alleged deities of bad fortune and good fortune.{{Sfn|Gorbachov|2017|p=}} |
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===Deities of settings and crafts=== |
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* '''Diva''' – theonym mentioned by ''Sermon by Saint Gregory''.{{Sfn|Kolankiewicz|1999|p=461}}{{Sfn|Brückner|1985|p=88}} |
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{| class="wikitable" style="width:100%" |
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* '''Diy''' – theonym mentioned in ''Sermon and Revelation by the Holy Apostles''. Possibly related to sky or rain.{{Sfn|Gieysztor|2006|pp=153-154}} |
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|- |
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* '''[[Hennil]]''' or '''Bendil''' – an agricultural deity mentioned by [[Thietmar of Merseburg|Thietmar]].{{Sfn|Álvarez-Pedrosa|2012–2014|p=}} |
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! style="width:10%;"| Concept |
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* '''[[Yarilo]]''' – East Slavic ritual and ritual figure attested since the 18th century Interpreted as a deity of vegetation.{{Sfn|Szyjewski|2003|p=118}} |
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! style="width:21%;"| Name variations |
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* '''[[Karna and Zhelya]]''' – assumed personifications of weeping for the dead among the [[East Slavs]], appear in ''[[The Tale of Igor's Campaign]]''.{{Sfn|Kempiński|1993|p=219}} |
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! style="width:4%;"| Polarity |
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* '''Korab''', a deity found in old Croatian mythology, associated with the sea, navigation and fishing, that was reportedly the eponym of the island of [[Rab (island)|Rab]], [[Mount Korab]], and a kind of a boat.{{sfn|Peroš|Ivon|Bacalja|2007|p=69}} |
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! Description |
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* '''[[Kresnik (deity)|Kresnik]]''' – character in [[Slovenia]]n folklore. Together with his brother, Trot, he flew in a golden chariot. He fought the [[Slavic dragon|Zhmij]] or [[Dragon]] in sky or on earth, who stole his cattle or abducted his wife. Identified with [[Perun]].{{Sfn|Kropej|2012|pp=35-44}} |
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! style="width:6%;"| Main attestations |
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* '''Kruh''' – a [[Polabian Slavs|Polabian]] god. Perhaps related to [[Khors]].{{sfn|Borissoff|2014|pp=11–12}} |
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! style="width:10%;"| Image and symbol{{efn-lg|name=symbols}} |
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* '''[[Lel and Polel]]''' – alleged Polish [[divine twins]] first mentioned by [[Maciej Miechowita]] as counterparts of [[Castor and Pollux]].{{Sfn|Gieysztor|2006|p=199}} |
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|- |
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* '''''*Ljutobog''''' – hypothetical name of a [[Polabian Slavs|Polabian]] deity.{{Sfn|Gieysztor|2006|p=160}} [[Reinhold Trautmann]], on the basis of the Polabian village of Lutebuk, probably located on the island of [[Usedom]], first attested in 1238, and which burned down in the 17th century, proposed the existence of a "harsh god" (''luty'' "harsh") as opposed to the "[[Belobog|white god]]".{{Sfn|Witkowski|1970|p=377}} |
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| –[[Domovoy]]<br>–Domania |
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* '''[[Niya (mythology)|Nyja]]''' – Alleged Polish deity of death, compared to [[Pluto (mythology)|Pluto]].{{Sfn|Gieysztor|2006|p=197}} |
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| ①<br>–Domovoi, Domovoj{{sfn|Mathieu-Colas|2017}}<br>–Domovik <sup>(Ukrainian)</sup>{{sfn|Máchal|1918|p=244}}<br>–Did, Didko, Diduch <sup>(Ukrainian)</sup>{{sfn|Máchal|1918|p=244}}<br>–Ded, Dedushka{{sfn|Máchal|1918|p=240}}<br>–Dedek <sup>(Czech)</sup>{{sfn|Máchal|1918|p=244}}<br>–Djadek <sup>(Silesian)</sup>{{sfn|Máchal|1918|p=244}}<br>–Shetek, Shotek <sup>(Bohemian)</sup>{{sfn|Máchal|1918|p=244}}<br>–Skritek{{sfn|Máchal|1918|p=244}}<br>–Shkrat, Shkratec <sup>(Slovenian)</sup>{{sfn|Máchal|1918|p=245}}<br>–Shkrata, Shkriatek <sup>(Slovak)</sup>{{sfn|Máchal|1918|p=245}}<br>–Skrzatek, Skrzat, Skrzot <sup>(Polish)</sup>{{sfn|Máchal|1918|p=245}}<br>–Chozyain, Chozyainushko <sup>(Russian)</sup>{{sfn|Máchal|1918|p=246}}<br>–Stopan <sup>(Bulgarian)</sup>{{sfn|Máchal|1918|p=246}}<br>–Domovnichek, Hospodarichek <sup>(Bohemian)</sup>{{sfn|Máchal|1918|p=246}}<br>②<br>–Domovikha{{sfn|Mathieu-Colas|2017}}<br>–Kikimora{{sfn|Mathieu-Colas|2017}}<br>–Marukha{{sfn|Mathieu-Colas|2017}}<br>–Volossatka{{sfn|Mathieu-Colas|2017}} |
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* '''[[Ognyena Maria]]''' – figure in [[East Slavs|East]] and [[South Slavs|South Slavic]] folklore. Sister of [[St. Elijah]] ([[Perun]]), associated with lightning and an arrow, her feast day was 17 July.{{Sfn|Gieysztor|2006|p=99}} |
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| style="text-align:center;"| <big>M–F</big> |
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* '''[[Pereplut]]''' – theonym mentioned in ''Sermon by the Holy Father Saint John Chrysostom''.{{Sfn|Gieysztor|2006|pp=188-189}} |
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| Domovoy is the household god, warden of the hearth. The Indo-European root *''dom'' is shared by many words in the semantic field of "abode", "domain" (cf. Latin ''domus'', "house").{{sfn|Mathieu-Colas|2017}} Domania is sometimes present as his female counterpart,{{sfn|Mathieu-Colas|2017}} but he is most often a single god.{{sfn|Máchal|1918|p=241}} According to the Russian folklorist E. G. Kagarov, Domovoy is a conceptualisation of the supreme Rod itself as the singular kin and its possessions.{{sfn|Ivanits|1989|p=14}} Domovoy are deified fountainhead ancestors, and all other household deities with specific functions are their extensions.{{sfn|Ivanits|1989|p=61}} Domovoy may manifest in the form of animals, such as cats, dogs or bears, but also as the master of the house or a departed ancestor of the given kin.{{sfn|Máchal|1918|pp=240–241}} In some traditions they are symbolised as snakes.{{sfn|Máchal|1918|p=246}} They have been compared to the Roman ''[[Di Penates]]'', the ''[[genius (mythology)|genii]]'' of the family, and they were worshipped by the Slavs as statuettes which were placed in niches near the house's door, and later above the ovens.{{sfn|Máchal|1918|p=244}} |
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* '''[[Perperuna and Dodola]]''' – pagan folk festival celebrated in the [[Balkans]] that was used to bring rain. Some scholars suggest that the name of the festival originally may have been the name of a goddess, the wife of [[Perun]].{{Sfn|Gieysztor|2006|p=89}} |
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* '''[[Pizamar]]''' – deity mentioned in the ''[[Knýtlinga saga]]''. The exact reading of the name is unclear, which has led some scholars to suggest that the author understood the ordinary name as a theonym.{{Sfn|Gieysztor|2006|p=133}} |
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* '''[[Pogoda]]''' – alleged Polish weather goddess mentioned by Jan Długosz.{{Sfn|Gieysztor|2006|p=195}} |
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* '''Trot''' – character in Slovenian folklore. Together with his brother, [[Kresnik (deity)|Kresnik]], he flew in a golden chariot. In one story, he decapitated [[Slavic dragon|Zhmij]] with a golden axe.{{Sfn|Kropej|2012|pp=35-44}} |
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* '''{{ill|Zelu (mythology)|lt=Zelu|cs|Zelu}}''' – deity mentioned as worshipped by pagan [[Czechs]] mentioned by [[abbot]] Jan Neplach.{{Sfn|Pitro|Vokáč|2002|p=15}} |
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* '''[[Żywie]]''' – goddess mentioned by Jan Długosz.{{Sfn|Szyjewski|2003|p=127}} |
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== Pseudo-deities == |
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Other household gods are ① Dvorovoy (tutelary deity of courtyards{{sfn|Mathieu-Colas|2017}}), ② Bannik ("Bath Spirit", tutelary deity of the sauna who corresponds to the [[Komi people|Komi]] ''Pyvsiansa''{{sfn|Mathieu-Colas|2017}}) and ③ Ovinnik ("Threshing Barn Spirit"),{{sfn|Ivanits|1989|p=58}} ④ Prigirstitis (known for his fine hearing), and the goddess ⑤ Krimba among Bohemians. Another household deity is the lizard-shaped Giwoitis.{{sfn|Mathieu-Colas|2017}} |
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| - |
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|style="background:white;"| [[File:Domovoy (Rod as a specific kin) symbol red.svg|45px|center]]<br>[[File:Silesian Domovoy statuette (1).jpg|150px|center]] |
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|- |
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| Dugnay |
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| –Dugnai{{sfn|Mathieu-Colas|2017}} |
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| style="text-align:center;"| <big>F</big> |
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| Tutelary deity of bread and bakery.{{sfn|Mathieu-Colas|2017}} |
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| <small>[[Slavs]]–[[Balts]]</small> |
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|style="background:white;"| [[File:Russian bread and salt.jpg|150px|center]] |
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|- |
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| Julius |
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| - |
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| style="text-align:center;"| <big>M</big> |
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| Tutelary deity of [[Wolin (town)|Wolin]].{{sfn|Mathieu-Colas|2017}} He is the deified [[Julius Caesar]], who was worshipped as the supposed founding ancestor of the city. The name of the city in medieval Latin texts is ''Iulin'', allegedly a derivative of ''Julius''. In Wolin there was a wooden pillar with an old lance hewn into it; the lance allegedly belonged to Julius Caesar. According to Dynda, this Julius' pillar was another representation of the ''[[axis mundi]]'', of the Triglav.{{sfn|Dynda|2014|p=61}} |
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| <small>Baltic [[Slavs]]</small> |
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|style="background:white;"| [[File:Portrait of Julius Caesar (color).jpg|150px|center]] |
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|- |
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| Krugis |
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| –Krukis{{sfn|Mathieu-Colas|2017}}<br>–Kriukis{{sfn|Mathieu-Colas|2017}} |
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| style="text-align:center;"| <big>M</big> |
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| Tutelary deity of blacksmithery (and pets).{{sfn|Mathieu-Colas|2017}} |
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| <small>[[Slavs]]–[[Balts]]</small> |
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|style="background:white;"| [[File:Плахов Кузница 1845.jpg|150px|center]] |
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|- |
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| Pizamar |
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| - |
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| style="text-align:center;"| <big>M</big> |
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| Tutelary deity of Asund, in Rügen.{{sfn|Mathieu-Colas|2017}} |
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| <small>Baltic [[Slavs]]</small> |
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|style="background:white;"| - |
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|- |
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| Podaga |
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| - |
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| style="text-align:center;"| <big>M</big> |
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| Tutelary deity of hunting and fishing. Attested as the tutelary deity of [[Plön]].{{sfn|Mathieu-Colas|2017}} According to some scholars, the name ''Podaga'' might have orginated as a distortion by [[metathesis (linguistics)|metathesis]] of the name ''Dazhbog'', ''Dabog'', in [[Helmold]]'s chronicles.{{sfn|Rudy|1985|p=30}} |
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| <small>Baltic [[Slavs]]</small> |
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|style="background:white;"| - |
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|} |
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{{Main|List of Slavic pseudo-deities}} |
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===Deities of animals and plants=== |
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{| class="wikitable" style="width:100%" |
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|- |
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! style="width:10%;"| Concept |
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! style="width:21%;"| Name variations |
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! style="width:4%;"| Polarity |
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! Description |
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! style="width:6%;"| Main attestations |
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! style="width:10%;"| Image |
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|- |
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| Kirnis |
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| - |
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| style="text-align:center;"| <big>M</big> |
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| Tutelary deity of cherries.{{sfn|Mathieu-Colas|2017}} |
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| <small>[[Slavs]]–[[Balts]]</small> |
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|style="background:white;"| [[File:Cherries (3098512076).jpg|150px|center]] |
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|- |
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| –Kremara<br>–Darinka |
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| - |
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| style="text-align:center;"| <big>M–F</big> |
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| Kremara is the tutelary god of pigs.{{sfn|Mathieu-Colas|2017}} Under the name ''Priparchis'', he is identified as a tutelary deity specifically of young, [[suckling pig]]s.{{sfn|Mathieu-Colas|2017}} Darinka is instead an aspect of the great goddess associated with pigs, seen as a symbol of the earth's abundance. She is attested in folk traditions of [[Vojvodina]] and has been compared to the Roman ''Bona Dea'' and ''Ceres'', themselves connected with holy swines.{{sfn|Marjanić|2003|p=192}} |
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| <small>[[West Slavs]], [[Poles]]<br><br>[[South Slavs]], [[Serbs]]</small> |
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|style="background:white;"| [[File:Chvatěruby, černé selátko.jpg|150px|center]] |
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|- |
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| Kurwaichin |
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| - |
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| style="text-align:center;"| <big>M</big> |
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| Tutelary deity of lambs.{{sfn|Mathieu-Colas|2017}} |
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| <small>[[West Slavs]], [[Poles]]</small> |
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|style="background:white;"| [[File:Sheep, Stodmarsh 6.jpg|150px|center]] |
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|- |
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| Pesseias |
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| - |
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| style="text-align:center;"| <big>M</big> |
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| Tutelary deity of pets.{{sfn|Mathieu-Colas|2017}} |
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| - |
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|style="background:white;"| [[File:Lucky Shih Tzu (Perro león).JPG|150px|center]] |
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|- |
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| Ratainitsa |
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| –Ratainicza{{sfn|Mathieu-Colas|2017}}<br>–Ratainycia <sup>(Lithuanian)</sup>{{sfn|Mathieu-Colas|2017}} |
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| style="text-align:center;"| <big>M</big> |
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| Tutelary deity of horses.{{sfn|Mathieu-Colas|2017}} |
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| <small>[[West Slavs]], [[Poles]]</small> |
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|style="background:white;"| [[File:Ancient horse head.jpg|150px|center]] |
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|- |
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| Zosim |
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| - |
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| style="text-align:center;"| <big>M</big> |
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| Tutelary deity of bees.{{sfn|Mathieu-Colas|2017}} |
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| - |
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|style="background:white;"| [[File:P1060502 - Flickr - gailhampshire.jpg|150px|center]] |
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|} |
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==Germanic deities and others== |
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The [[Wends]], including those who dwelt in modern-day northern and eastern Germany and were later [[Germanisation|Germanised]], or other never-Germanised [[West Slavs]], also worshipped deities adopted from [[Germanic paganism|Germanic religion]], as documented by [[Bernhard Severin Ingemann]]. However, Germanic gods never rose to prominence over Slavic ones in Wendish religion.{{sfn|Ingemann|1824}} |
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{| class="wikitable" style="width:100%" |
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|- |
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! style="width:10%;"| Concept |
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! style="width:21%;"| Name variations |
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! style="width:4%;"| Polarity |
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! Description |
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! style="width:6%;"| Origin |
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! style="width:10%;"| Image and symbol{{efn-lg|name=symbols}} |
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|- |
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| [[Odin|Woda]]{{sfnm|1a1=Ingemann|1y=1824|2a1=Hanuš|2y=1842|2p=381}} |
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| –Vohda{{sfn|Hanuš|1842|p=381}} |
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| style="text-align:center;"| <big>M</big> |
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| Woda (the Germanic Wotan-Odin) was worshipped as a god of war and leadership, in relation to the Slavic verb *''voditi'', "to lead". He was also associated with [[runes|rune]] wisdom and with Vid (Svetovid), as the supreme God, the "moving force behind all things";{{sfn|Marjanić|2003|p=194}} runes were called ''vitha'' by the West Slavs, which is a genetive of *''vid'' or *''vit'' meaning "image" or "side", "facet" (referring to the multifaceted essence of the supreme God).{{sfn|Hanuš|1842|p=381}} |
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| <small>[[Germanic peoples|Germanic]]</small> |
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|style="background:white;"| [[File:Georg von Rosen - Oden som vandringsman, 1886 (Odin, the Wanderer).jpg|150px|center]] |
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|- |
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| [[Baldr|Balduri]]{{sfn|Ingemann|1824}} |
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| - |
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| style="text-align:center;"| <big>M</big> |
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| - |
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| <small>[[Germanic peoples|Germanic]]</small> |
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|style="background:white;"| [[File:Balder.jpg|150px|center]] |
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|- |
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| –[[Hel (being)|Hela]]{{sfn|Ingemann|1824}}<br>–Mita{{sfn|Hanuš|1842|p=182}} |
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| –Myda{{sfn|Heck|1852|p=291}} |
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| style="text-align:center;"| <big>F</big> |
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| Hela, the death goddess, is represented with a lion head with an outstretched tongue. As Myda, an aspect or another name of hers, she is represented as a crouching dog.{{sfn|Heck|1852|p=291}} |
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| <small>[[Germanic peoples|Germanic]]</small> |
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|style="background:white;"| [[File:Hel by Karl Ehrenberg page 233.jpg|150px|center]] |
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|- |
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| Morok |
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| - |
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| style="text-align:center;"| <big>M</big> |
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| Morok, literally "Darkness" in Russian, is a concept that has been deified in modern Slavic Native Faith (Rodnovery). He is the god of lie and a deceit, ignorance and errors. At the same time, he is a keeper of ways to the truth, hiding such ways to those who pursue truth for vanity and selfishness. He has a twin brother, Moroz ("Frost"), and they switch into one another at will. |
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| <small>21st-century [[Slavic Native Faith|Rodnovery]]</small> |
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|style="background:white;"| [[File:Morok symbol red.svg|50px|center]] |
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|} |
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==Gallery== |
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<gallery mode=packed heights="400px"> |
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File:Acta Eruditorum - III mitologia, 1715 – BEIC 13386284.jpg|Illustrations of Slavic deities, in "Historia [[Lusatia|Lusatica]]", ''[[Acta Eruditorum]]'', Calendis Aprilis 1715. |
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File:Saxonia Museum für saechsische Vaterlandskunde I 44.jpg|Illustrations of Slavo-Saxon deities, in [[:File:Saxonia Museum für saechsische Vaterlandskunde I.djvu|''Saxonia Museum für saechsische Vaterlandskunde'']], 1834. |
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</gallery> |
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==See also== |
==See also== |
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* [[Outline of Slavic history and culture]] |
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* [[Hindu deities]] |
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* [[List of Slavic studies journals]] |
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* [[Rigvedic deities]] |
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* [[Slavic paganism]] |
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* [[Slavic Native Faith]] |
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== |
== References == |
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{{notelist-lg}} |
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==References== |
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===Citations=== |
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{{reflist}} |
{{reflist}} |
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== |
== Bibliography == |
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{{refbegin}} |
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{{Refbegin|30em|indent=yes}} |
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* {{Cite journal|last=Wejman|first=Grzegorz|title=Biskupstwa katolickie na Pomorzu Zachodnim od X wieku do 1945 r.|journal=Wrocławski Przegląd Teologiczny|volume=12|number=1|pages=139–156|year=2004}} |
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: {{cite book |last1=Creuzer |first1=Georg Friedrich |authorlink1=Georg Friedrich Creuzer |last2=Mone |first2=Franz Joseph |authorlink2=Franz Mone |title=Geschichte des Heidentums im nördlichen Europa |series=Symbolik und Mythologie der alten Völker |volume=1 |date=1822 |publisher=Georg Olms Verlag |language=de |isbn=9783487402741 |ref=harv}} |
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* {{Cite book|last=Kempiński|first=Andrzej|title=Słownik mitologii ludów indoeuropejskich|place=Poznań|isbn=9788385066910|publisher=SAWW|date=1993}} |
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* {{Cite journal|last=Kropej|first=Monika|title=Supernatural Beings from Slovenian Myth and Folktales|journal=[[Studia mythologica Slavica – Supplementa]]|number=|year=2012|place=Lublana|issn=1581-9744|language=en}} |
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: {{cite article |last=Borissoff |first=Constantine L. |year=2014 |title=Non-Iranian origin of the Eastern-Slavonic god Xŭrsŭ/Xors |url=http://sms.zrc-sazu.si/pdf/17/01_sms17_Borissoff.pdf |journal=Studia mythologica Slavica |volume=17 |publisher=Institute of Slovenian Ethnology |pages=9–36 |issn=1408-6271 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180212202021/http://sms.zrc-sazu.si/pdf/17/01_sms17_Borissoff.pdf |archive-date=12 February 2018 |ref=harv}} |
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* {{Cite book|last1=Pitro|first1=Martin|title=Bohové dávných Slovanů|date=2002|isbn=80-85866-91-9|publisher=ISV|place=Praga|language=cs|first2=Petr|last2=Vokáč}} |
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* {{Cite journal|last=Álvarez-Pedrosa|first=Juan Antonio|title=¿Existió un dios eslavo Hennil?|journal=Faventia|volume=34-36|pages=135–138|date=2012–2014|issn=2014-850X|language=es}} |
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: {{cite book|last= Buynova Tatyana Yuryevna|first=|title=A book based on Eastern Slavic Mythology|date=2008|publisher=Akvilegia|location=|isbn=978-5-901942-61-1|url=http://www.e-reading.mobi/bookreader.php/1020825/Buynova_-_Deti_Svaroga._Mify_vostochnyh_slavyan.html|language=ru|ref=harv}} |
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* {{Cite book|last=Szyjewski|first=Andrzej|title=Religia Słowian|date=2003|isbn=83-7318-205-5|publisher=Wydawnictwo WAM|place=Kraków|pages=}} |
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* {{Cite book|last=Gieysztor|first=Aleksander|title=Mitologia Słowian|date=2006|isbn=978-83-235-0234-0|publisher=Wydawnictwa Uniwersytetu Warszawskiego|place=Warszawa|pages=|author-link=Aleksander Gieysztor}} |
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: {{cite book |last=Dixon-Kennedy |first=Mike |title=Encyclopedia of Russian and Slavic Myth and Legend |date=1998 |publisher=ABC-CLIO |location=Santa Barbara, California |isbn=9781576070635 |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=eD5AkdM83iIC |ref=harv}} |
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* {{Cite book|last=Strzelczyk|first=Jerzy|title=Mity, podania i wierzenia dawnych Słowian|date=1998|isbn=83-7120-688-7|publisher=Dom Wydawniczy Rebis|place=Poznań|pages=|author-link=Jerzy Strzelczyk}} |
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* {{Cite book|last=Brückner|first=Aleksander|title=Mitologia słowiańska|date=1985|isbn=8301062452|publisher=Państwowe Wydawnictwo Naukowe|place=Warszawa|pages=|author-link=Aleksander Brückner}} |
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: {{cite article |last=Dynda |first=Jiří |year=2014 |title=The Three-Headed One at the Crossroad: A Comparative Study of the Slavic God Triglav |url=http://sms.zrc-sazu.si/pdf/17/03_sms17_Dynda.pdf |journal=Studia mythologica Slavica |volume=17 |publisher=Institute of Slovenian Ethnology |pages=57–82 |issn=1408-6271 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170707213317/http://sms.zrc-sazu.si/pdf/17/03_sms17_Dynda.pdf |archive-date=7 July 2017 |ref=harv}} |
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* {{Cite book|last=Téra|first=Michal|title=Perun: Bůh hromovládce|date=2009|isbn=978-80-86818-82-5|publisher=Pavel Mervart|place=Červený Kostelec|language=cs}} |
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* {{Cite book|last=Váňa|first=Zdeněk|title=Svět slovanských bohů a démonů|date=1990|isbn=80-7038-187-6|publisher=Panorama|place=Praga|language=cs}} |
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: {{cite encyclopedia |last=Gasparini |first=Evel |year=2013 |title=Slavic religion |url=https://www.britannica.com/topic/Slavic-religion |encyclopedia=[[Encyclopædia Britannica]] |ref=harv}} |
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* {{Cite journal|last=Borissoff|first=Constantine Leo|title=Non-Iranian origin of the Eastern-Slavonic god Xŭrsŭ/Xors|journal=[[Studia Mythologica Slavica]]|volume=17|pages=9–36|year=2014|issn=1581-128X|doi=10.3986/sms.v17i0.1491|doi-access=free}} |
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* {{Cite journal|last=Gorbachov|first=Yaroslav|title=What Do We Know about *Čьrnobogъ and *Bělъ Bogъ?|url=https://brill.com/view/journals/ruhi/44/2-3/article-p209_209.xml|journal=Russian History|volume=44|issue=2–3|pages=209–242|year=2017|issn=1876-3316|doi=10.1163/18763316-04402011|language=en}} |
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: {{cite book |last=Hanuš |first=Ignác Jan |title=Die Wissenschaft des Slawischen Mythus im weitesten, den altpreussisch-lithauischen Mythus mitumfassenden Sinne. Nach Quellen bearbeitet, sammt der Literatur der slawisch-preussisch-lithauischen Archäologie und Mythologie |language=de |date=1842 |publisher=J. Millikowski |url=https://babel.hathitrust.org/cgi/pt?id=umn.31951002357992g;view=1up;seq=7 |ref=harv}} |
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* {{Cite book|last=Kolankiewicz|first=Leszek|title=Dziady. Teatr święta zmarłych|date=1999|isbn=8387316393|publisher=Słowo/Obraz Terytoria|place=Gdańsk}} |
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* {{Cite journal|last=Witkowski|first=Teodolius|title=Mythologisch motivierte altpolabische Ortsnamen|journal=Zeitschrift für Slawistik|volume=15|pages=368–385|year=1970|language=de|issue=1|publisher=Akademie Verlag|location=Berlin|doi=10.1524/slaw.1970.15.1.368}} |
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: {{cite encyclopedia |last=Heck |first=Johann Georg |title=The Slavono-Vendic Mythology |url=https://archive.org/details/iconographicency04heck |encyclopedia=Iconographic Encyclopaedia of Science, Literature, and Art |volume=4 |year=1852 |publisher=R. Garrigue |location=New York |pages=289–293 |ref=harv}} |
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* {{Cite book|last=Álvarez-Pedrosa|first=Juan Antonio|title=Sources of Slavic Pre-Christian Religion|year=2021|isbn=978-90-04-44138-5|publisher=Koninklijke Brill|place=Leiden|language=en}} |
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* {{cite journal | last1 = Peroš | first1 = Zrinka | last2 = Ivon | first2 = Katarina | last3 = Bacalja | first3 = Robert | year = 2007 | language = hr | title = More u pričama Ivane Brlić-Mažuranić | trans-title = Sea in tales of Ivana Brlić-Mažuranić | journal = Magistra Iadertina | volume = 2 | number = 2 | doi = 10.15291/magistra.880 | publisher = [[University of Zadar]] Department for the training of teachers and educators of preschool children | issn = 1849-0018| doi-access = free }} |
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: {{cite book |last=Hubbs |first=Joanna |title=Mother Russia: The Feminine Myth in Russian Culture |date=1993 |publisher=Indiana University Press |location=Bloomington |isbn=9780253115782 |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=fVQz3I4FCWUC |ref=harv}} |
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* {{Cite book|last=Vilkul|first=Tetyana Leonidivna|title=Літопис і хронограф. Студії з домонгольського київського літописання|date=2015|isbn=978-966-02-7554-6|publisher=[[Institute of History of Ukraine]]|place=Kyiv|language=uk|url=https://chtyvo.org.ua/authors/Vilkul_Tetiana/Litopys_i_khronohraf_Studii_z_domonholskoho_kyivskoho_litopysannia.pdf}} |
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*{{Cite journal |script-title=ru:Сходные изображения солнца и зорь у индоарийцев и славян |
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: {{cite book |last=Husain |first=Shahrukh |title=The Goddess: Power, Sexuality, and the Feminine Divine |publisher=University of Michigan Press |year=2003 |isbn=9780472089345 |ref=harv}} |
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| trans-title = Similar images of the sun and dawns among the Indo-Aryans and Slavs |
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| last = Zarubin | first = L. A. |
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: {{cite book |last=Ingemann |first=B. S. |authorlink=Bernhard Severin Ingemann |year=1824 |title=Grundtræk til En Nord-Slavisk og Vendisk Gudelære |trans-title=Fundamentals of a North Slavic and Wendish mythology |language=da |location=Copenhagen |ref=harv}} |
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| journal = Советское славяноведение [Soviet Slavic Studies] |
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| publisher = Наука | place = Moscow |
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: {{cite book |last=Ivanits |first=Linda J. |year=1989 |title=Russian Folk Belief |publisher=[[M. E. Sharpe]] |isbn=9780765630889 |ref=harv}} |
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| year = 1971 | volume = 6 | pages = 70–76 |
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| language = ru |
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: {{cite contribution |last=Ivakhiv |first=Adrian |year=2005 |contribution=The Revival of Ukrainian Native Faith |title=Modern Paganism in World Cultures: Comparative Perspectives |editor=Michael F. Strmiska (ed.) |pages=209–239 |publisher=ABC-Clio |location=Santa Barbara |isbn=9781851096084 |ref=harv}} |
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| url = http://kirsoft.com.ru/freedom/KSNews_673.htm |
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| archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20120411041700/http://kirsoft.com.ru/freedom/KSNews_673.htm |
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: {{cite book |last=Kanngiesser |first=Peter Friedrich |title=Bekehrungsgeschichte der Pommern zum Christenthum: Die heidnische Zeit |series=Geschichte von Pommern bis auf das Jahr 1129 |volume=1 |date=1824 |publisher=Universität Greifswald |language=de |url=https://opacplus.bsb-muenchen.de/Vta2/bsb11006093/bsb:BV001435956 |ref=harv}} |
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| archive-date = 2012-04-11 |
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}} |
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: {{cite book |last=Leeming |first=David |year=2005 |title=The Oxford Companion to World Mythology |location=Sydney |publisher=Oxford University Press |isbn=9780190288884 |ref=harv}} |
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{{refend}} |
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: {{cite book |last=Máchal |first=Jan |chapter=Slavic Mythology |title=[[The Mythology of all Races]] |volume=III, ''Celtic and Slavic Mythology'' |editor=[[Louis Herbert Gray|L. H. Gray]] |year=1918 |location=Boston |chapter-url=https://archive.org/details/mythologyofall03gray |pages=217–389 |ref=harv}} |
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: {{cite article |last=Marjanić |first=Suzana |year=2003 |title=The Dyadic Goddess and Duotheism in Nodilo's ''The Ancient Faith of the Serbs and the Croats'' |url=http://sms.zrc-sazu.si/pdf/06/SMS_06_Marjanic.pdf |journal=Studia mythologica Slavica |volume=6 |publisher=Institute of Slovenian Ethnology |pages=181–204 |issn=1408-6271 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160918220430/http://sms.zrc-sazu.si/pdf/06/SMS_06_Marjanic.pdf |archive-date=18 September 2016 |ref=harv}} |
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: {{cite contribution |last=Mathieu-Colas |first=Michel |year= 2017 |contribution=Dieux slaves et baltes |title=Dictionnaire des noms des divinités |publisher= Archive ouverte des Sciences de l'Homme et de la Société, Centre national de la recherche scientifique |location=France |contribution-url=http://www.mathieu-colas.fr/michel/Classes/Dieux_slaves_et_baltes.pdf |accessdate=24 May 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170804140911/http://www.mathieu-colas.fr/michel/Classes/Dieux_slaves_et_baltes.pdf |archive-date=4 August 2017 |ref=harv}} |
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: {{cite book |last=Rudy |first=Stephen |date=1985 |title=Contributions to Comparative Mythology: Studies in Linguistics and Philology, 1972–1982 |publisher=Walter de Gruyter |isbn=9783110855463 |ref=harv}} |
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: {{cite book |last=Szyjewski |first=Aleksander |date=2003 |title=Religia Słowian |trans-title=The Religion of the Slavs |language=pl |location=Kraków |publisher=Wydawnictwo WAM |isbn=9788373182059 |ref=harv}} |
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: {{cite article |last=Trkanjec |first=Luka |year=2013 |title=Chthonic aspects of the Pomeranian deity Triglav and other tricephalic characters in Slavic mythology |url=http://sms.zrc-sazu.si/pdf/16/01-sms16-trkanjec.pdf |journal=Studia mythologica Slavica |volume=16 |publisher=Institute of Slovenian Ethnology |pages=9–25 |issn=1408-6271 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151227153435/http://sms.zrc-sazu.si/pdf/16/01-sms16-trkanjec.pdf |archive-date=27 December 2015 |ref=harv}} |
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: {{cite book |last=Wagener |first=Samuel Christoph |title=Handbuch der vorzüglichsten, in Deutschland entdeckten Alterthümer aus heidnischer Zeit; beschrieben und versinnlicht durch 1390 lithographirte Abblidungen |url=https://archive.org/details/bub_gb_93lbAAAAQAAJ |language=de |publisher=Voigt |year=1842 |ref=harv}} |
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==Further reading== |
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: {{cite book |last=Zhuravylov |first=Anatoly Fedorovich |title=Язык и миф. Лингвистический комментарий к труду А. Н. Афанасьева «Поэтические воззрения славян на природу» |trans-title=Language and myth. Linguistic commentary on the work of A. N. Afanasyev "Poetic views of the Slavs on nature" |url=http://inslav.ru/images/stories/pdf/2005_Zhuravlev_Jazyk_i_mif.pdf |year=2005 |series=Традиционная духовная культура славян (Traditional spiritual culture of the Slavs) |publisher=Indrik, [[Institute for Slavic Studies of the Russian Academy of Sciences]] |language=ru |ref=harv}} |
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* {{Cite book|last=Charney|first=Noah|title=The Slavic Myths|date=2023|isbn=9780500025017|author-link=Noah Charney|publisher=Thames & Hudson|place=London|language=en|others=co-author Svetlana Slapsak}} |
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{{Refend}} |
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* {{Cite book|last=Graves|first=Robert|title=New Larousse Encyclopedia of Mythology: With an Introduction by Robert Graves|date=1987|isbn=0-517-00404-6|author-link=Robert Graves|publisher=CRESCENT BOOKS|place=Nowy Jork|language=en|others=Gregory Alexinsky}} |
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*{{Cite book|last=Lajoye|first=Patrice|title=Mythologie et religion des Slaves païens|publisher=Les Belles Lettres|year=2022|isbn=978-2251453-12-5}} |
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* Rosik, Stanisław. ''The Slavic Religion in the Light of 11th- and 12th-Century German Chronicles (Thietmar of Merseburg, Adam of Bremen, Helmold of Bosau)''. Leiden, The Netherlands: Brill, 2020. doi: https://doi.org/10.1163/9789004331488 |
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{{Slavic |
{{Slavic mythology}} |
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{{Authority control}} |
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[[Category:Slavic deities]] |
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[[Category:Lists of deities|Slavic]] |
[[Category:Lists of deities|Slavic]] |
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[[Category:Slavic |
[[Category:Slavic deities| ]] |
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[[Category:Slavic |
[[Category:Slavic mythology|deities]] |
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[[Category:Slavic neopaganism|deities]] |
Latest revision as of 01:46, 23 December 2024
The pagan Slavs were polytheistic, which means that they worshipped many gods and goddesses. The gods of the Slavs are known primarily from a small number of chronicles and letopises, or not very accurate Christian sermons against paganism. Additionally, more numerous sources in which Slavic theonyms are preserved include names, proper names, place names, folk holidays, and language, including sayings.
Information about Slavic paganism, including the gods, is scarce because Christian missionaries were not very interested in the spiritual life of the Slavs.[1] Also, no accounts written down directly by the pagan Slavs exist. During the Christianization missions, the deities, on the one hand, were demonized to deter from worshipping them, on the other hand, their characteristics and functions were assumed by the saints, which was supposed to make the new religion less alien.
Common Slavic deities
[edit]Because of the small number of sources, there is no consensus among scholars of Slavic mythology on the extent of the worship of even the most important deities. Listed in this paragraph are those whose Panslavic range is most often recognized. In addition to these, the East Slavic Mokosh (a presumed toponym in the Czech Republic), and the East Slavic Stribog (toponyms in Poland) are sometimes indicated.
Supreme deities
[edit]Based on the reconstructed myths around the figures of Perun and Veles, some scholars believe that both of these gods are chief deities.[2] They are primarily found in the Slavic creation myth. According to some scholars, a pair of these gods prove "Slavic dualism", but there is no consensus on this either, and those who assume that such dualism in mythology may have existed, point out that Slavic dualism was probably not as extreme as in Christianity or Zoroastrianism.
Name | Image | Greek Myth | Details |
---|---|---|---|
Perun | Zeus | Perun is the god of lightning and thunder,[3] as well as of war,[4] and the patron of the druzhina.[5] He is the etymological and functional continuator of the Proto-Indo-European thunder god *Perkʷunos, and shares many characteristics with other thunder gods worshipped by Indo-Europeans.[6] He is mentioned most notably in Primary Chronicle, where a grey-haired and golden-moustached statue of Perun is described in temple on Old Kyiv Hill, and Third Novogorod Chronicle, where his statue is described in Peryn,[7] and in many texts warning against paganism. His name survived in spells and in proper names.[8] Armed usually with an axe, hammer, or spear,[9] he fights chaos demons. His figure is preserved in folklore primarily in the form of saint Elijah and saint George.[8] | |
Veles | Hades | Veles is a god of multiple functions, such complexity making comparison with other deities difficult. A chthonic deity, he rules over the underworld, to which, as psychopomp he conducts the souls of the dead, leading them out into the meadows of the beyond. As the god of wealth, he is associated with the care of cattle (cattle rather than money being, in ancient times, the primary form of wealth). Furthermore, like the Germanic Odin he is the patron deity of poets and other artists and also of those who practice magic (poetry having been intimately connected with magic in the past).[10] The etymology of his name likely connects it with Slavic words associated with death. Mentioned primarily in Primary Chronicle; his name also often appears in proper names. His animal incarnations are bull or ox, dragon or zmey.[11] His figure is preserved in folklore primarily in the form of saint Nicholas and the devil.[12] |
Other deities
[edit]Name | Image | Greek Myth | Details |
---|---|---|---|
Dazhbog | Apollo | Dazhbog is a sun god. His name, meaning "god of giving", may suggest that he was also a god of abundance.[13] He appears in the Primary Chronicle, where he is described as the son of Svarog, in The Tale of Igor's Campaign,[14] as well as in folk songs and proper names. By some researchers he is identified with Svarozhits,[15] or is considered to be his brother.[16] | |
Svarozhits | Hephaestus | Svarozhits is a fire god mentioned in minor East Slavic texts.[17] He is also mentioned by Bruno in a letter to King Henry II and later in Thietmar's Chronicle as the chief deity of Rethra, the main political center of the Veleti.[18] His name is generally translated as "son of Svarog", less commonly as "little, young Svarog". Generally identified with Radegast, less commonly with Dazhbog. |
Personifications
[edit]Name | Image | Greek Myth | Details |
---|---|---|---|
Dola | Tyche | Dola is the personification of fate and destiny.[19] Dola was assigned to a person at birth and stays with him for the rest of his life. It may be inherited from ancestors. It is generally invisible, but may have manifested in human or animal form.[20] The opposite of Dola, understood as good fortune, was Nedola, the personification of bad fortune. Etymologically related to the Slavic words divide, part.[19] | |
Mat Zemlya | Gaia | Mat Zemlya is a personification of the Earth appearing mainly in East Slavic texts but remaining in most Slavic languages.[21] Perhaps epithet of Mokosh. | |
Rod | Rod is a figure, spirit, or deity often mentioned in minor East and South Slavic texts, generally along with Rozhanitsy. Etymologically related to the Slavic words for "family", "kin", "giving birth", etc. Bloodless sacrifices were offered to him.[22] There is no consensus in scholarship about Rod's status in mythology. | ||
Rozhanitsy | Moirai | Rozhanitsy ("Givers of life"), Sudenitsy ("Givers of fate"), and Narechnitsy ("Givers of destiny") are female spirits or deities of fate. They appear in the plural or as a single entity. In East and South Slavic sources they are often mentioned together with Rod.[22] Their main function is to determine the child's fate for life,[23] then they leave an invisible mark on his forehead. Man's fate was symbolized by the thread of life, on the length of which, measured by the Rozhanitsy, depended the length of man's life. Bloodless sacrifices were offered to them.[22] | |
Zorya | Eos | Zorya is the personification of the dawn. She is the Slavic continuation of the Proto-Indo-European goddess of dawn *H₂éwsōs[24] and has many of her characteristics: she lives overseas on the island of Bujan,[25] opens the door for the Sun to go on its daily journey across the sky,[25] also has a golden boat. Zora can be a single figure, two figures, or three. She appears in Christianized prayers and orders. | |
Zvezda | Zvezda, Utrenica, or Danica is the personification of the Morning Star or planet Venus as seen in the sky before sunrise. |
West Slavic deities
[edit]Name | Image | Worshipped by | Greek Myth | Details |
---|---|---|---|---|
Svetovit | Rani | Svetovit is the chief god of the Slavic Rani. His cult is described by Helmold of Bosau and Saxo Grammaticus.[26] Theonym comes from the word svęt "holy, sacred" with the suffix vit "lord".[27] His main temple was located on Arkona. Inside the temple was his statue, described by Saxo as a four-headed statue holding an ornate horn in his right hand; there was also a large sword and other artifacts.[28] The horn and white horse, dedicated to him, was used for divination.[27] The theocratic rule of his priests limited the rule of knyaz.[29] | ||
Triglav | Polabians Pomeranians |
Triglav is a god mentioned in the Life of St. Otto and in the chronicle describing the capture of Slavic Brenna. He had a golden statue whose eyes and mouth were covered. A black horse, which was used by preachers to foretell the future, and a holy oak were dedicated to him. The three heads may symbolize the tripartite division between heaven, earth, and the underworld.[30] | ||
Radegast | Polabians Redarians Moravians |
Radegast is a god mentioned by Adam of Bremen, and the information is repeated by Helmold. He was to occupy the first place among the gods worshipped at Rethra. Earlier sources state that the main god of Rethra was Svarozhits, thus Radegast is considered to be a epithet of Svarozhits or a local variant of his cult. A white horse was dedicated to him, and he himself was depicted wearing armor and a helmet. It is generally believed that his name is composed of the words rad "glad" and gost "guest".[31] A modern statue of him is standing on the mountain Radhošť, which is also named after him. | ||
Yarovit | Circipanians Hobolians |
Yarovit is a Polabian god mentioned in the Life of St. Otto, where a festival dedicated to him is described, for which the city was decorated. From the description and etymology, it is clear that he is a war god, and his temple contained a gold adorned shield. According to many researchers, Yarovit is identical to the East Slavic Yarylo.[32][33] | ||
Zhiva | Polabians | Zhiva is a goddess mentioned by Helmold. According to him, next to Radagast and Prone, she is the most important deity of the Slavs. Probably identical with the Polish deity Żywie mentioned by Jan Długosz.[34] A theonym related to the word živeti "to live". | ||
Prone or Prove |
Polabians | Proue is a distorted name of a god mentioned by Helmold. This theonym is interpreted in several different ways: some scholars translate the name as Prove (from Slavic word pravo "law"), while others translate the name as Prone, a local variant of Perun's name. Helmold makes it clear that Proue,[35] unlike other deities, did not have a statue, but an oak grove near Starogard, where courts were held every monday, was dedicated to him.[36] | ||
Rugiaevit | Rani | Rugievit is a god mentioned by Saxo Grammaticus and in the Knýtlinga saga. He was worshipped in Gardec on Rügen, where his temple was located, as well as Porevit and Porenut. His statue was made of oak wood, had a head with seven faces, seven swords at his belt and an eighth in his hand. According to Saxo, he was a war deity, also associated with the sexual sphere.[37] The interpretation of his name remains a matter of debate. | ||
Porevit | Rani | Porevit is a god mentioned by Saxo Grammaticus and in the Knýtlinga saga. He was worshipped in Gardec on Rügen, where his temple was located, as well as Rugieavit and Porenut. Statue of him had five heads, and importantly did not have any weapons. The meaning of the name is unclear, perhaps meaning "Lord of strength".[38] | ||
Porenut | Rani | Porenut is a god mentioned by Saxo Grammaticus and in the Knýtlinga saga. He was worshipped in Gardec on Rügen, where his temple was located, as well as Rugiaevit and Porevit. His idol had four faces and a fifth on his chest, which he held up with his hands. The etymology is debated.[38] | ||
Chernoglav | Rani | Chernoglav is a god mentioned in the Knýtlinga saga. He is described there as a god of victory with a silver mustache.[39] | ||
Podaga | Wagri | Podaga is a god who, according to Helmold, had his image in Plön. Meaning of the theonym is explained as "power, might". It was suggested that the name Podaga is identical with Długosz's Pogoda.[34] | ||
Devana | Poles Lusatians |
Devana is the goddess of wildlife, forests, the moon and hunting. Mentioned by Jan Długosz as a Polish equivalent of Diana. Devana, as Dživica, was also present in Lusatian folklore. She appears in Silesian customs together with Morana, which may indicate a double nature of these goddesses. Etymology of the name of the goddess is a subject of discussion. In Christian folklore, she may have been replaced by Our Lady of Thunder Candle. | ||
Morana | Poles Czechs Slovaks Moravians |
Morana is the goddess of vegetation, but also of death and winter. She was mentioned by Jan Długosz as a Polish equivalent of Ceres. Burning or drowning Morana's image in the river is supposed to chase away winter and bring back spring, and this tradition is still alive in modern Poland, Slovakia, Moravia and parts of Bohemia. She appears in Silesian customs together with Devana, which may indicate the dual nature of these goddesses. |
East and South Slavic deities
[edit]Name | Image | Worshipped by | Greek Myth | Details |
---|---|---|---|---|
Stribog | East Slavs | Aeolus | Stribog is the god of the wind. Mentioned in the Primary Chronicle and The Tale of Igor's Campaign. He may also have been worshipped in Poland. His name is interpreted as the " spreading god".[40] | |
Khors | East Slavs, West Slavs | Khors is a deity with unclear functions mentioned in the Primary Chronicle and The Tale of Igor's Campaign, as well as other minor sources.[41] For many years he was interpreted as a sun god, supported by the theory that the name is a loan from one of the Iranian languages and means "Sun".[41] In recent years, this etymology has come under strong criticism, and a native etymological link to fertility is suggested instead.[42] His idol was allegedly located in Pskov. | ||
Mokosh | East Slavs Poles Czechs |
Mokosh is a goddess mentioned in the Primary Chronicle and other minor texts. She is generally interpreted as Mother goddess. She appears in folklore as a creature with a large head and hands who shears sheep and spins flax, also associated in some way with masturbation. Etymologically related to the word mokrъ "wet".[43] In Christianity she is continued by St. Paraskeva and St. Anastasia.[44] | ||
Simargl | East Slavs | Simargl is a deity mentioned in the Primary Chronicle, and mentioned in the Sermon by One Who Loves Christ in two entities: Sim and Rgl. Although the sources do not indicate any functions of this god it is believed that he is associated with the care of plants, as indicated by the god's name, which was borrowed by the Slavs from the Iranian Simurgh, a winged, dog-headed guardian of plants.[45] | ||
Svarog | South Slavs[46] | Hephaestus. | Svarog is a god mentioned in the Primary Chronicle in a passage that is a Slavic translation of the Chronicle of John Malalas. This source depicts Svarog as the counterpart of the Greek Hephaestus, and the father of Dazhbog. The function and etymology of the god are unclear: according to some scholars he is related to the Slavic word svar meaning "quarrel", while according to others he is related to the Indian svar meaning "radiance", "sky", "sun". Based on etymology, interpreted as the smith god, or as the god of the sky.[47][48] | |
Yarilo | East Slavs | Demeter | East Slavic ritual and ritual figure attested since the 18th century Interpreted as a deity of vegetation. |
Deities listed anonymously
[edit]There are two sources that mention a nameless Slavic chief god. Procopius of Caesarea in the Gothic Wars describes the religion of the South Slavs:
Indeed, they believe that a single god, creator of the lightning bolt, is the sole lord of all things and they offer him sacrifices of cows and all manner of victims. The idea of destiny is unknown to them nor do they believe that it has any influence over men, but when death is at their heels because they have fallen sick or are preparing for war, they promise that, if spared, they will immediately offer a sacrifice in honour of the god in exchange for their life and, once they have been spared, they sacrifice whatever they have to hand and believe they have bought their salvation with this sacrifice.[49]
Greek original textθεὸν μὲν γὰρ ἕνα τὸν τῆς ἀστραπῆς δημιουργὸν ἁπάντων κύριον μόνον αὐτὸν νομίζουσιν εἶναι, καὶ θύουσιν αὐτῷ βόας τε καὶ ἱερεῖα πάντα· εἱμαρμένην δὲ οὔτε ἴσασιν οὔτε ἄλλως ὁμολογοῦσιν ἔν γε ἀνθρώποις ῥοπήν τινα ἔχειν, ἀλλ’ ἐπειδὰν αὐτοῖς ἐν ποσὶν ἤδη ὁ θάνατος εἴη, ἢ νόσῳ ἁλοῦσιν ἢ ἐς πόλεμον καθισταμένοις, ἐπαγγέλλονται μὲν, ἢν διαφύγωσι, θυσίαν τῷ θεῷ ἀντὶ τῆς ψυχῆς αὐτίκα ποιήσειν, διαφυγόντες δὲ θύουσιν ὅπερ ὑπέσχοντο, καὶ οἴονται τὴν σωτηρίαν ταύτης δὴ τῆς θυσίας αὐτοῖς ἐωνῆσθαι.[49]
Similar information, however, concerning the West Slavic Polabians, appears in Helmold's Chronicle:
Within the multifarious aspect of the manifestations of their divinities, to which their fields, forests, sadness, and happiness are entrusted, they do not deny that there is one god in heaven who reigns above the others, that this is the only one responsible for celestial matters, and that the others obey him; each assuming a role, they come from his line and are more powerful the closer they are to said god.[50]
Latin original textInter multiformia uero deorum numina, quibus arua, siluas, tristicias atque uoluptates attribuunt, non-diffitentur unum deum in celis ceteris imperitantem, illum prepotentem celestia tantum curare, hos uero distributis officiis obsequentes de sanguine eius processisse et unumquemque eo prestantiorem, quo proximiorem illi deo deorum.[50]
It is unclear how reliably these accounts describe Slavic theology. Some scholars believe that these texts are Christian interpretations of the faith of the pagan Slavs; Helmold, writing about the god of gods, clearly borrowed the term (deus deorum) from the Book of psalms (50:1). In the case of Procopius' text, for example, Aleksander Brückner argued that the text was a calque, an image with a Hellenized tinge imposed on Slavic paganism. Scholars who accept at least partial authenticity of these messages believe that they may convey information about henotheism, the Slavic deus otiosus – a passive god who does not interfere directly in world affairs and whose commands are carried out by other gods. It is also possible that they may refer to the replacement of the passive sky god by a more active thunder god, just as the Greek Uranus was replaced by Zeus. Although Procopius and Helmold do not mention the names of these gods, whose names they probably did not know because of taboos, it is generally believed that Perun, or Svarog, was involved here.[51][52]
Cosmas of Prague describes Czech paganism in his Chronica Boemorum through the Interpretatio Romana: "Therefore, sacrifice to your gods an ass so that they become your succour. Those who wish you to make this offering are Jupiter, most important of the gods, Mars himself, his sister Bellona and the son-in law of Ceres (i.e. Pluto).[53]
In the Chronicle, Thietmar describes the Christianization of Pomerania. In 1000, during the congress of Gniezno, Reinbern was appointed bishop of Kołobrzeg. Thietmar further wrote that Reinbern "destroyed the temples of the idols, he burnt them, and, after anointing four stone idols of their demons with holy chrism, he threw them into the lake and then blessed the water to cleanse it".[54] Perhaps the passage in this message is about the sea god.[55]
Deities of uncertain status
[edit]- Chernobog and Belobog – alleged deities of bad fortune and good fortune.[56]
- Diva – theonym mentioned by Sermon by Saint Gregory.[57][58]
- Diy – theonym mentioned in Sermon and Revelation by the Holy Apostles. Possibly related to sky or rain.[59]
- Hennil or Bendil – an agricultural deity mentioned by Thietmar.[60]
- Yarilo – East Slavic ritual and ritual figure attested since the 18th century Interpreted as a deity of vegetation.[61]
- Karna and Zhelya – assumed personifications of weeping for the dead among the East Slavs, appear in The Tale of Igor's Campaign.[62]
- Korab, a deity found in old Croatian mythology, associated with the sea, navigation and fishing, that was reportedly the eponym of the island of Rab, Mount Korab, and a kind of a boat.[63]
- Kresnik – character in Slovenian folklore. Together with his brother, Trot, he flew in a golden chariot. He fought the Zhmij or Dragon in sky or on earth, who stole his cattle or abducted his wife. Identified with Perun.[64]
- Kruh – a Polabian god. Perhaps related to Khors.[42]
- Lel and Polel – alleged Polish divine twins first mentioned by Maciej Miechowita as counterparts of Castor and Pollux.[65]
- *Ljutobog – hypothetical name of a Polabian deity.[66] Reinhold Trautmann, on the basis of the Polabian village of Lutebuk, probably located on the island of Usedom, first attested in 1238, and which burned down in the 17th century, proposed the existence of a "harsh god" (luty "harsh") as opposed to the "white god".[67]
- Nyja – Alleged Polish deity of death, compared to Pluto.[68]
- Ognyena Maria – figure in East and South Slavic folklore. Sister of St. Elijah (Perun), associated with lightning and an arrow, her feast day was 17 July.[69]
- Pereplut – theonym mentioned in Sermon by the Holy Father Saint John Chrysostom.[70]
- Perperuna and Dodola – pagan folk festival celebrated in the Balkans that was used to bring rain. Some scholars suggest that the name of the festival originally may have been the name of a goddess, the wife of Perun.[71]
- Pizamar – deity mentioned in the Knýtlinga saga. The exact reading of the name is unclear, which has led some scholars to suggest that the author understood the ordinary name as a theonym.[72]
- Pogoda – alleged Polish weather goddess mentioned by Jan Długosz.[73]
- Trot – character in Slovenian folklore. Together with his brother, Kresnik, he flew in a golden chariot. In one story, he decapitated Zhmij with a golden axe.[64]
- Zelu – deity mentioned as worshipped by pagan Czechs mentioned by abbot Jan Neplach.[74]
- Żywie – goddess mentioned by Jan Długosz.[34]
Pseudo-deities
[edit]See also
[edit]References
[edit]- ^ Szyjewski 2003, p. 9.
- ^ Gieysztor 2006, p. 315.
- ^ Gieysztor 2006, p. 85.
- ^ Gieysztor 2006, p. 97.
- ^ Gieysztor 2006, p. 65.
- ^ Szyjewski 2003, pp. 44–45.
- ^ Gieysztor 2006, pp. 92–93.
- ^ a b Gieysztor 2006, pp. 89–91.
- ^ Szyjewski 2003, p. 45.
- ^ Szyjewski 2003, pp. 48–52.
- ^ Szyjewski 2003, pp. 56–57.
- ^ Szyjewski 2003, p. 50.
- ^ Szyjewski 2003, pp. 107–108.
- ^ Szyjewski 2003, pp. 105–107.
- ^ Szyjewski 2003, p. 309.
- ^ Téra 2009, pp. 68, 320–321.
- ^ Gieysztor 2006, p. 171.
- ^ Gieysztor 2006, pp. 167–170.
- ^ a b Szyjewski 2003, p. 194.
- ^ Gieysztor 2006, pp. 206–207.
- ^ Szyjewski 2003, p. 129.
- ^ a b c Szyjewski 2003, pp. 191–193.
- ^ Strzelczyk 1998, p. 174.
- ^ Váňa 1990, p. 61.
- ^ a b Zarubin 1971, pp. 70–76.
- ^ Szyjewski 2003, p. 114.
- ^ a b Szyjewski 2003, p. 116.
- ^ Szyjewski 2003, pp. 114–115.
- ^ Gieysztor 2006, p. 116.
- ^ Gieysztor 2006, pp. 147–153.
- ^ Gieysztor 2006, p. 169.
- ^ Szyjewski 2003, pp. 117–119.
- ^ Gieysztor 2006, pp. 133–135.
- ^ a b c Szyjewski 2003, p. 127.
- ^ Gieysztor 2006, p. 91.
- ^ Gieysztor 2006, p. 222.
- ^ Gieysztor 2006, p. 131.
- ^ a b Gieysztor 2006, p. 132.
- ^ Gieysztor 2006, p. 153.
- ^ Gieysztor 2006, pp. 184–186.
- ^ a b Gieysztor 2006, pp. 180–181.
- ^ a b Borissoff 2014, pp. 11–12.
- ^ Gieysztor 2006, pp. 201–2004.
- ^ Szyjewski 2003, p. 128.
- ^ Gieysztor 2006, pp. 186–190.
- ^ Vilkul 2015, pp. 146, 159, 164–165.
- ^ Gieysztor 2006, pp. 171–172.
- ^ Szyjewski 2003, pp. 102, 105–107.
- ^ a b Álvarez-Pedrosa 2021, pp. 22–25.
- ^ a b Álvarez-Pedrosa 2021, pp. 161–163.
- ^ Gieysztor 2006, pp. 109–111.
- ^ Szyjewski 2003, pp. 99–100.
- ^ Brückner 1985, p. 37.
- ^ Wejman 2004, p. 140.
- ^ Szyjewski 2003, p. 121.
- ^ Gorbachov 2017.
- ^ Kolankiewicz 1999, p. 461.
- ^ Brückner 1985, p. 88.
- ^ Gieysztor 2006, pp. 153–154.
- ^ Álvarez-Pedrosa 2012–2014.
- ^ Szyjewski 2003, p. 118.
- ^ Kempiński 1993, p. 219.
- ^ Peroš, Ivon & Bacalja 2007, p. 69.
- ^ a b Kropej 2012, pp. 35–44.
- ^ Gieysztor 2006, p. 199.
- ^ Gieysztor 2006, p. 160.
- ^ Witkowski 1970, p. 377.
- ^ Gieysztor 2006, p. 197.
- ^ Gieysztor 2006, p. 99.
- ^ Gieysztor 2006, pp. 188–189.
- ^ Gieysztor 2006, p. 89.
- ^ Gieysztor 2006, p. 133.
- ^ Gieysztor 2006, p. 195.
- ^ Pitro & Vokáč 2002, p. 15.
Bibliography
[edit]- Wejman, Grzegorz (2004). "Biskupstwa katolickie na Pomorzu Zachodnim od X wieku do 1945 r.". Wrocławski Przegląd Teologiczny. 12 (1): 139–156.
- Kempiński, Andrzej (1993). Słownik mitologii ludów indoeuropejskich. Poznań: SAWW. ISBN 9788385066910.
- Kropej, Monika (2012). "Supernatural Beings from Slovenian Myth and Folktales". Studia mythologica Slavica – Supplementa. Lublana. ISSN 1581-9744.
- Pitro, Martin; Vokáč, Petr (2002). Bohové dávných Slovanů (in Czech). Praga: ISV. ISBN 80-85866-91-9.
- Álvarez-Pedrosa, Juan Antonio (2012–2014). "¿Existió un dios eslavo Hennil?". Faventia (in Spanish). 34–36: 135–138. ISSN 2014-850X.
- Szyjewski, Andrzej (2003). Religia Słowian. Kraków: Wydawnictwo WAM. ISBN 83-7318-205-5.
- Gieysztor, Aleksander (2006). Mitologia Słowian. Warszawa: Wydawnictwa Uniwersytetu Warszawskiego. ISBN 978-83-235-0234-0.
- Strzelczyk, Jerzy (1998). Mity, podania i wierzenia dawnych Słowian. Poznań: Dom Wydawniczy Rebis. ISBN 83-7120-688-7.
- Brückner, Aleksander (1985). Mitologia słowiańska. Warszawa: Państwowe Wydawnictwo Naukowe. ISBN 8301062452.
- Téra, Michal (2009). Perun: Bůh hromovládce (in Czech). Červený Kostelec: Pavel Mervart. ISBN 978-80-86818-82-5.
- Váňa, Zdeněk (1990). Svět slovanských bohů a démonů (in Czech). Praga: Panorama. ISBN 80-7038-187-6.
- Borissoff, Constantine Leo (2014). "Non-Iranian origin of the Eastern-Slavonic god Xŭrsŭ/Xors". Studia Mythologica Slavica. 17: 9–36. doi:10.3986/sms.v17i0.1491. ISSN 1581-128X.
- Gorbachov, Yaroslav (2017). "What Do We Know about *Čьrnobogъ and *Bělъ Bogъ?". Russian History. 44 (2–3): 209–242. doi:10.1163/18763316-04402011. ISSN 1876-3316.
- Kolankiewicz, Leszek (1999). Dziady. Teatr święta zmarłych. Gdańsk: Słowo/Obraz Terytoria. ISBN 8387316393.
- Witkowski, Teodolius (1970). "Mythologisch motivierte altpolabische Ortsnamen". Zeitschrift für Slawistik (in German). 15 (1). Berlin: Akademie Verlag: 368–385. doi:10.1524/slaw.1970.15.1.368.
- Álvarez-Pedrosa, Juan Antonio (2021). Sources of Slavic Pre-Christian Religion. Leiden: Koninklijke Brill. ISBN 978-90-04-44138-5.
- Peroš, Zrinka; Ivon, Katarina; Bacalja, Robert (2007). "More u pričama Ivane Brlić-Mažuranić" [Sea in tales of Ivana Brlić-Mažuranić]. Magistra Iadertina (in Croatian). 2 (2). University of Zadar Department for the training of teachers and educators of preschool children. doi:10.15291/magistra.880. ISSN 1849-0018.
- Vilkul, Tetyana Leonidivna (2015). Літопис і хронограф. Студії з домонгольського київського літописання (PDF) (in Ukrainian). Kyiv: Institute of History of Ukraine. ISBN 978-966-02-7554-6.
- Zarubin, L. A. (1971). Сходные изображения солнца и зорь у индоарийцев и славян [Similar images of the sun and dawns among the Indo-Aryans and Slavs]. Советское славяноведение [Soviet Slavic Studies] (in Russian). 6. Moscow: Наука: 70–76. Archived from the original on 11 April 2012.
Further reading
[edit]- Charney, Noah (2023). The Slavic Myths. co-author Svetlana Slapsak. London: Thames & Hudson. ISBN 9780500025017.
- Graves, Robert (1987). New Larousse Encyclopedia of Mythology: With an Introduction by Robert Graves. Gregory Alexinsky. Nowy Jork: CRESCENT BOOKS. ISBN 0-517-00404-6.
- Lajoye, Patrice (2022). Mythologie et religion des Slaves païens. Les Belles Lettres. ISBN 978-2251453-12-5.
- Rosik, Stanisław. The Slavic Religion in the Light of 11th- and 12th-Century German Chronicles (Thietmar of Merseburg, Adam of Bremen, Helmold of Bosau). Leiden, The Netherlands: Brill, 2020. doi: https://doi.org/10.1163/9789004331488