Slavic mythology Slavic mythology and Slavic religion evolved over more than 3,000 years. It's conjectured that some parts of it are from neolithic or possibly even mesolithic times. The religion possesses numerous common traits with other Indo-European religions. Primary Sources Very few written records are known to survive from the centuries before Christianization. The controversial Book of Veles is believed by some to be a sacred text of this religion. Saxo Grammaticus is another source with disputed authenticity. Chronicon Slavorum by Helmold is generally accepted as a genuine source, covering culture and events in the late 1st millennium AD. One unreasonably underestimated and quite enigmatic source is Veda Slovena - a compilation of archaic Bulgarian ritual songs, that preserved important fragments of Slavic pagan lore. World According to the Book of Veles, Slavic religion recognizes three realms: Yav, Prav, and Nav, Yav being the material world, Nav the immaterial, and Prav being the laws that govern them. The emphasis on the three realms is particularly characteristic for the Slavic neopaganists that draw on the Book of Veles. Main symbol of ancient Slavic cosmogonic ideas was the World Tree. Slavs imagined that all three realms are vertically situated on an gigantic oak tree, that holds the whole Universe. In its crown was Slavic Heaven/paradise, so called Svarga, residence of Svarog, or Iriy. At the oak's trunk was the world of living creatures, the reality - Yav. In the oak's roots was Hell, residence of Chernobog, Morena, and Zmey. Gods Supreme god The original supreme god of Slavs was probably Rod. Information about Rod worship is scarce. In some branches of Slavic religion, the supreme god is Svarog (senior member of Triglav). But exactly because of his nature he was not the most worshiped: that was Perun, while tribes that were occupied mostly with cattle could pay most attention to Veles and so on. Pantheon A statue of Svetovid There is no single well-established pantheon. One attempt at establishing such an "official" pantheon was made by Vladimir I, Prince of Kiev in 980-988 religious reform, immediately preceding the Christianization of Ruthenia. Vladimir erected six or seven idols near his court - Perun as a supreme god, Veles, Hors, Dajbog, Stribog, Simargl, and Mokosh as tribal gods. It should be noted that many of the gods may be known by different names even in the same language. Calling gods by proper name was considered bad luck, thus gods were called by adjectives, describing their qualities. Over time, those adjectives took life of their own. Belobog Chernobog Dajbog Dodola, Dzydzilya, Dudula Dogoda, the god of the refreshing West Wind, son of Perun. Hors Jarilo or Yaro Koleda Koschey Kupala Lada and Lado Mokosh, Mokosz Morena, Marzana Perun, Piorun Porvata Radigost Rod Rodzanica Simargl Stribog Sudz Svarog Svarogich Svetovid, Swiatowid Triglav Veles Zaria Zmey or Yascher Mythical creatures Nyia Slavic fairies (rusalka, vila, etc) Utva zlatokrila (Gold-winged female duck) Golden-horned deer Drekavac Likho Bird Gamayun Cat Bayun Fire Bird, Zhar Ptitsa Mythical persons Vasnetsov. Heroes ("Bogatyri"). Dobrynia Nikitich, Ilya Muromets, Alyosha Popovich Some of these heroes have had real-life prototypes, but most stories (bylinas) about them became pure fiction, involving magic etc. Baba Yaga Bogumir Bus Beloyar Oleksa Dovbus Prince Ivan (Ivan Tsarevich) Marko Kraljevic Ilya Muromets Nightingale the Robber (Solovey-Razboynik) Dobrynya Nikitich Churilo Plenkovich Alyosha Popovich Sadko Mikula Selyaninovich Spirits bannik boginki djabelek dola domovoy dvorovoi kikimora lakanica leszi mamuna mamony mora naw neuri nocnica odmience ovinnik polevik poludnica psotnik rarog ratainitsa rusalki sky_women smierna spore strzyga sudice tloka topielec karzelek vila vodyanoy Slavic and Polish folk magic Circles Crossroads Czarwonica Divination Fire Flowers Divination Knots Ladanki Lechebnik The Magic Belt of Poland Matka Ziema Pisanka Spoiling Szeptem Thresholds Zagavory Zawlanie Znak Znakhari Related articles Online sources A Slavic Pantheon Pantheon des dieux slaves Polish Folk Magic The Polish Pagan Pantheon Slavic and Eurasian Pantheons Slavic Myth and Religion Slavic Paganism and Witchcraft Okana's Web Gods and Goddesses of the Slavs Gods and Goddesses of Love and Sexuality Slavic Mythology in Pictures Yahoo! Category Search for Slavic Pagan Polish Paganism East Slavic Paganism Slavic and Bulgarian paganism Pan-Slavic Traditions and Beliefs Real Magick Archives – Slavic Slavic Mysteries Slavic Antiquities Introduction to Slavic Rituals Neopaganism in Central Europe Polish Supernatural Spirits Book resources Chrypinski, Anna, editor. Polish Customs. Friends of Polish Art: Detroit, MI, 1977. Contoski, Josepha K., editor. Treasured Polish Songs with English Translations. Polanie Publishing Co.: Minneapolis, MN, 1953. Estes, Clarissa Pinkola, Ph.D. Women Who Run With the Wolves. Ballantine Books: New York, 1992. Gimbutas, Marijas. The Slavs. Preager Publishers: New York, 1971. Knab, Sophie Hodorowicz. Polish Customs, Traditions, & Folklore. Hippocrene Books: New York, 1993. Knab, Sophie Hodorowicz. Polish Herbs, Flowers, and Folk Medicine. Hippocrene Books: New York, 1995. Krasicki, Ignacy (tr by Gerard Kapolka) Polish Fables : Bilingual. 1997 Leland, Charles Godfrey. Gypsy Sorcery and Fortune Telling. New York: University Books, 1962 Zajdler, Zoe. Polish Fairy Tales. Chicago, Ill: Follett Publishing, 1959 Sekalski, Anstruther J. Old Polish Legends. 1997 Singing Back The Sun: A Dictionary of Old Polish Customs and Beliefs, Okana, 1999 Szyjewski, Andrzej: Slavic Religion, WAM, Kraków, 2003 Most Popular Articles: Music    Musical Instruments    Guitar    Classical Music    History    Music Definition    Country Music    Rock Music    Pop Music    Hip Hop    Rap    DJ    Video Games    Casino Games    Poker    Blackjack    Casinos    Real Estate    Loan    Auction    eBay    Marketing    Search Engine Optimization    File Sharing    MP3    Music Industry    Kazaa    Internet    Supermodel    Fashion    Fashion Designers    Erotica    Modeling    Clothing    Boots    Shoes    Diamond Engagement Rings    Diamond    Rugs    Gospel Music    Affiliate    E-Commerce    Radio This article is licensed under the GNU Free Documentation License at http://www.gnu.org/copyleft/fdl.html You may copy and modify it as long as the entire work (including additions) remains under this license. You must provide a link to http://www.gnu.org/copyleft/fdl.html To view or edit this article at Wikipedia go to http://www.wikipedia.org/wiki/Slavic_mythology