Hello, and welcome this article on Slavic Mythology. My name is Jason Hamilton, and I’m here to introduce you to the fascinating world of Slavic mythology.
This ancient belief system is filled with mythical creatures, gods and goddesses, and epic tales of good and evil. It has shaped the cultural identity of the Slavic people for centuries, and continues to influence their art, literature, and everyday beliefs.
In this guide, we’ll explore the major deities, stories, and traditions of Slavic mythology, and gain a deeper understanding of this rich and complex cultural legacy.
So without further ado, let’s dive into the world of Slavic mythology together.
What is Slavic Mythology?
Slavic mythology is the collection of myths, beliefs, and ritual practices of the Slavic people before their conversion to Christianity.
The Slavic people are a group of related Indo-European peoples who spoke Slavic languages and lived in Eastern, Central, and Southeastern Europe. Their mythology likely revolved around the worship of various gods and goddesses, as well as nature spirits and ancestor worship.
The Relationship with Christianity
The Slavs were converted to Christianity at various stages between the 8th and 13th centuries.
The South Slavs, who lived in the Balkan Peninsula, were the first to be converted, with the creation of writing systems for Slavic languages in 855 and the adoption of Christianity in Bulgaria in 863.
The East Slavs followed, with the official adoption of Christianity by Kievan Rus in 988. The West Slavs, however, were converted more gradually and their process of Christianization was more complicated.
Despite the widespread adoption of Christianity among the Slavs, many elements of Slavic mythology were retained and incorporated into Slavic Christianity.
For example, the architecture of the Russian Church and the practice of icon painting both have roots in Slavic mythology.
Additionally, the worship of Slavic gods and goddesses persisted in unofficial folk religion until modern times.
In some cases, this led to a syncretism of Christianity and Slavic mythology, with people practicing both at the same time.
Modern Revivalism
Today, some Slavic people are reviving their indigenous religious traditions through the movement of Slavic Native Faith (Rodnovery).
This movement seeks to reclaim and reconstruct Slavic mythology and spirituality, drawing on historical, archaeological, and folkloric sources.
Despite facing persecution in some countries, the movement has gained a significant following among Slavs and others interested in reviving pre-Christian spiritual traditions.
The Origin of Slavic Mythology
The origins of Slavic mythology can be traced back to the early Slavic people, who are believed to have shared a uniform religion and linguistic unity.
This uniformity suggests that the essence of early Slavdom was ethnoreligious before it became ethnonational, with belonging to the Slavs determined by adherence to certain beliefs and practices rather than by having a certain racial ancestry or being born in a certain place.
Proto-Indo-European Origins
It has been suggested that Slavic religion is an outgrowth of the common Proto-Indo-European religion, sharing strong similarities with the beliefs of neighboring cultures such as the Balts, Thracians, and Phrygians.
The similarities between Slavic and Proto-Indo-Iranian religion are particularly notable, with shared developments including the substitution of the term for the supreme God of Heaven with the term for “sky” and the shift of the Indo-European descriptor of heavenly deities to the designation of evil entities.
The continuity and gradual evolution of Slavic religion is believed to have begun with the worship of life-giving forces, ancestors, and the supreme God, Rod.
Over time, this developed into the “high mythology” of the official religion of early Kievan Rus’.
Despite outside influences and changes over time, many of the ancient religious themes of the Slavs have remained strong and resilient.
Prominent Slavic Myths
Of the numerous tales that exist among Slavic mythology, some of the major ones are:
- The Myth of Perun and Veles: This myth tells the story of the great struggle between the two rival gods Perun and Veles. Perun was the god of thunder and lightning, and he was known for his strength and courage. Veles was the god of the underworld, and he was known for his cunning and his ability to deceive. The two gods fought many battles, and in the end, Perun emerged victorious.
- Jarilo and Morana: Katicic and Belaj reconstructed the myth of Jarilo and Morana, who were the Slavic fertility and vegetation god and goddess of nature and death, respectively. Jarilo was associated with the moon and Morana was the daughter of the sun, and they were the children of Perun, the supreme god. Their sacred union brought fertility and abundance to the earth and ensured a bountiful harvest. However, Jarilo was unfaithful to Morana, who killed him in revenge, leading to the withering and freezing of nature in the winter. This myth repeated itself each year and had numerous parallels to similar myths in Baltic and Hittite mythology.
- Magic Lily of the Valley: The Slavic gods Perun and Veles engaged in a battle after Veles tricked the goddess Dodola into giving birth to a son, Yarilo, and attempted to raise him as his own. Perun, the chief god of war, defeated Veles in a three-day battle and banished him to the underworld. This myth is believed to have played a role in the formation of the conflict between good and evil in Slavic mythology.
- Chernobog vs the Universe: In Slavic mythology, the god Svarog created new gods to fight against the evil god Chernobog, who had corrupted the world of men. After a long and intense battle, Svarog and his children gods defeated Chernobog and captured him in a magical chest. As a condition for sparing humanity, Svarog decreed that the world could never again be completely ruled by darkness, leading to the cycle of night and day. This myth explains the origins of good and evil in the world and the creation of the day-night cycle.
Slavic Mythology Characters
Next, here are some of the most significant characters to feature in Slavic mythology:
- Perun: The god of thunder and the chief god of the Slavs. He was associated with the oak tree, and he was often depicted as a mighty warrior.
- Svarog: The god of the sky and of fire. He was also associated with metalworking and blacksmithing.
- Veles: The god of the underworld and of the earth. He was often associated with animals, particularly the snake and the bear.
- Mokosh: The goddess of fertility and of the earth. She was associated with spinning and weaving, and she was often depicted as a protector of women and children.
- Dazhbog: Dazhbog is a Slavic sun god, son of Svarog, who is associated with giving and abundance. He is mentioned in the Primary Chronicle and The Tale of Igor’s Campaign, and is sometimes identified with the god Svarozhits or considered his brother.
- Ivan: A human hero in Slavic mythology, Ivan was a powerful warrior and a clever strategist. He was often depicted as a defender of the Slavic people against their enemies.
- Rod: Rod is a figure, spirit, or deity mentioned in minor Slavic texts, often in association with Rozhanitsy. There is no consensus in scholarship about Rod’s role in Slavic mythology.
Slavic Mythology Sources
There are many texts that mention Slavic mythology in some way, but here are a few of the most important ones that shaped the myths going forward:
- Procopius of Caesarea: The Byzantine historian Procopius of Caesarea described the ancient Slavs as worshiping a supreme god of lightning and performing various sacrifices, including to rivers and nymphs. They believed in the power of sacrifice to save them from death and used it for divination.
- Primary Chronicle: The Tale of Bygone Years (also known as the Rus’ Primary Chronicle or Nestor’s Chronicle) is an Old East Slavic chronicle of Kievan Rus’ from around 850 to 1110. It is considered a fundamental source in the interpretation of the history of the East Slavs, but its value as a reliable historical source has been questioned due to several chronological issues and logical incongruities.
- Modern Scholarship: The study of Slavic mythology relies on secondary sources, such as archaeological and written records, as well as comparison with other Indo-European cultural traditions. It was not until the early 20th century that scholars began to systematically compare and reconstruct Slavic mythology, with the work of Vechaslav Ivanov and Vladimir Toporov being particularly influential in this area.
Slavic Mythology Artifacts and Weapons
Slavic mythology is also rich in artifacts and weapons. Here are just a few of them:
- Koschei’s Needle: In Slavic folklore, Koschei cannot be killed by conventional means, as his soul is hidden inside a needle, which is in an egg, inside of a duck, inside of a hare, in an iron chest buried under a green oak tree on the island of Buyan.
- The Axe of Perun: Perun was the Slavic god of thunder and lightning, and his axe was said to have the power to summon lightning and unleash devastating storms.
- Alatyr: Alatyr is a powerful magical stone from Slavic mythology that is said to have healing properties.
- Firebird’s Plumage: The Firebird’s plumage is a magical substance from Slavic mythology that is said to have the ability to grant great power and strength to those who possess it. It is said to be made of the feathers of the Firebird, and is often associated with the sun and fire.
Slavic Mythology Creatures
Slavic mythology features a variety of creatures that are both fascinating and terrifying. Some of the most notable ones are:
- Baba Yaga: This creature is a witch that lives in the forest and flies around in a mortar, using a pestle as a rudder. She has iron teeth and a nose that can touch the ceiling. She often eats human flesh and helps or hinders people based on her mood.
- Rusalka: These are the ghosts of young women who drowned. They have long green hair and pale skin and live in the water. They can be seductive, but they also have the power to drag people underwater and drown them.
- Kikimora: Kikimora is a female house spirit in Slavic mythology who can either be a “good” or “bad” spirit depending on the behavior of the homeowner. She is known to make noises similar to mice in order to obtain food, and is often associated with sleep paralysis.
- Vodyanoy: This creature is a water spirit that lives in rivers and lakes. It has green hair and a frog-like face. It is known to drown people and cause floods.
- Koschei the Deathless: This is an evil sorcerer who has the ability to cheat death. His soul is hidden inside a needle, which is inside an egg, which is inside a duck, which is inside a hare, which is inside an iron chest. The only way to kill him is to find and destroy the needle.
Slavic Mythology in Popular Culture
Here are a few examples of Slavic mythology in modern pop culture:
- Warcraft: This video game franchise, which began in 1994, is set in the fictional world of Azeroth and features various elements of Slavic mythology, including the Slavic god Svarog.
- The Witcher: This popular video game and book series, which was later adapted into a TV series, is based on Slavic folklore and features various creatures and characters from Slavic mythology.
- Hellboy: In the Hellboy comic book series, Baba Yaga is a fictional supervillain based on the Russian folklore character of the same name. She is known for living in a chicken leg house and counting dead men’s fingers. She appears in the 2019 film Hellboy, portrayed by Emma Tate and Troy James.
Cosmology of Slavic Mythology
There are a number of common cosmological elements of note in Slavic Mythology, including:
- The World Tree
- The Underworld
- The Sun and Moon
The World Tree
In Slavic mythology, the World Tree was a symbol of great importance and significance.
It was either an oak tree or a pine tree, and it was believed to contain the three levels of the universe.
The crown of the tree represented the sky and the realm of the gods and celestial bodies, while the trunk of the tree represented the realm of mortals.
The roots of the tree, on the other hand, represented the underworld, the realm of the dead.
The Underworld
Unlike many other mythologies, the underworld in Slavic mythology was often depicted as a pleasant place, a green and wet world of grassy plains and eternal spring.
It was known as Virey or Iriy in folklore.
The vertical arrangement of the three realms on the World Tree also mirrored the horizontal organization of the world.
The realm of the gods and mortals was situated in the center of the earth, encircled by a sea. Across this sea lay the realm of the dead, where birds would fly to every winter and return from in the spring.
In many folklore accounts, the concept of crossing the sea was equated with death, while returning from across the sea was equated with returning to life.
This reflects an ancient belief that the afterlife could be reached by crossing a body of water. The world was also divided horizontally into four cardinal points, representing the four wind directions (north, east, south, west).
These two divisions of the world were important in Slavic mythology and can be seen in the statues of Slavic gods, particularly those of the three-headed Triglav and the four-headed Svantevit.
The Sun and Moon
In Slavic mythology, the Sun was considered to be a female deity, while the Moon was considered to be male.
This is the opposite of the usual gender associations in Indo-European mythology, where the Sun is typically associated with male deities and the Moon with female deities.
This gender association is, however, identical to the one found in Baltic mythology, which is closely related to Slavic mythology.
