In Slavic culture, the pantheon was divided into functional and solar gods, and the mighty Svarog (sometimes called Rod) ruled over all of them. The category of functional deities included Perun, Veles, Stribog and Semargl, each of whom was the patron of a certain category of the population or the ruler of a certain force. The solar gods, as a rule, were associated with the seasons, and there were four of them - Dazhbog, Khors, Yarilo and the ruler himself - Svarog.
Solar gods of ancient Rus'
Each of the solar ancient gods of Rus' had power during a certain time of the year. Between the winter and spring solstice (that is, from December 22 to March 21), the god Khors predominated. Next came the time of the reign of the god Yarilo - until summer solstice, 22nd of June. Next came the time of Dazhdbog, and it lasted until September 23 - the autumn solstice. It was customary to read during the remaining period of the year, until December 22.
Functional pagan gods of ancient Rus'
One of the most famous functional gods of the Slavs to this day remains Perun - the lord of lightning and the patron of warriors, protector. No less famous is Veles, whose name is often used to name modern companies - he was the patron of trade, wisdom, magic and books, and was also the ruler of the world of the dead. Despite the fact that Veles ruled the dead, Semargl was the god of death. The last, fourth functional god is Stribog, the patron of the wind.
Great gods of ancient Rus'
Let's take a closer look at the individual, most famous gods of ancient Rus' and the Slavs in general.
Starting description Slavic pantheon, it is impossible not to mention Svarog - one of the main gods, the patron of fire and heat. He is a heavenly deity who personifies the mother of all living things. In ancient times he was considered a deity with a feminine principle, later - with a masculine one.
It is interesting that in Slavic culture, heavenly deities are associated specifically with fire. It is believed that it was Svarog who discovered the art of controlling flames to people - he taught how to process metal, creating forged products and much more. On the other hand, Svarog provided people with laws and knowledge, after which he considered his mission completed and gave up the reins of power to his sons, Dazhdbog and Khors.
The god Khors was also especially revered, who, according to legend, is born on December 22 in the form of a boy-sun, which completes the course of the old sun, and opened New Year. This is a masculine deity who symbolized the desire of youth for knowledge and growth, overcoming difficulties and finding new solutions. We greeted Khors with carols, Kolovrat, and a masquerade with the faces of totem animals. It was customary to burn a wheel on the mountain to help the sun shine brighter, and all this was accompanied by cheerful folk festivities.
Another famous god is Yarilo, symbolizing the awakening of nature, conception, and new life. People saw him as a brave groom who could bestow a good harvest and strong children.
Dazhdbog, one of the most beloved deities of the people, personifies the power of the sun, its warmth, as well as the highest laws of the creation of the world. Turning to him, people expected the fulfillment of dreams, deliverance from illnesses and other earthly blessings. It was believed that this deity gives people both sun and rain.
One of the warlike but respected gods was Perun - he commanded lightning and thunder, and it was by his command that the clouds could disappear from the skies. He was considered one of the world-creating deities, because it was his power that fed plants and awakened life. In addition, Perun was revered in turbulent times, since he was the patron saint of warriors, the prince and the squad.
The gods and goddesses of ancient Rus' have not been studied as fully as the Greek or Roman ones, but by turning to the roots of Slavic culture, you can discover many interesting facts.
IN Ancient Rus', in those days when Christianity had not yet been adopted, the Slavs idolized otherworldly incorporeal creatures. The pagan gods of ancient Rus', according to the ideas of the ancients, are endowed with supernatural abilities to influence all things. They are responsible for all the fundamental principles of human existence, control both the fate of the people themselves and everything that surrounds them.
Each deity performs a specific, utilitarian function. The history of ancient times stores many dozens of names, of which we now know only a part. This part has survived to this day thanks to pagan rituals and rituals passed down from generation to generation, which over time became the basis of the customs of the Slavic family.
At the hierarchical top stands the supreme god, under him are the gods of the environment of existence of all living things, then are the gods of human destinies and the everyday life of people, at the bottom of the pyramid are the elements and forces of darkness.
Table of pagan gods of ancient Rus':
| No. | Deity name | Purpose |
| 1 | GENUS | Supreme god of heaven and earth |
| 2 | HORSE | Sun God |
| 3 | YARILO | God of the spring sun. Son of Veles |
| 4 | DAZHDBOG | God of fertility and sunshine |
| 5 | SVAROG | Master of the Universe. God of the sky |
| 6 | PERUN | God of lightning and thunder |
| 7 | STRIBOG | God of the wind |
| 8 | VELES | God of fertility (cattle) |
| 9 | LADA | The female embodiment of Rod |
| 10 | CHERNOBOG | Lord of the forces of darkness |
| 11 | MOKOSH | Goddess of the earth, harvest and female destiny |
| 12 | PARASKEVA-FRIDAY | Mistress of revelry |
| 13 | MORAINE | Goddess of evil, disease and death |
Ancient Slavic god Rod
This is the supreme god who rules over all things in the Universe, including all other gods. He heads the pinnacle of the pagan pantheon of gods. He is the creator and ancestor. He is omnipotent and influences the entire cycle of life. It exists everywhere and has no beginning or end. This description fully corresponds to the concept of God of all modern religions.
The genus governs life and death, abundance and poverty. No one has ever seen him, yet he sees everyone. The root of his name is sewn into human speech - into the words with which people interpret (voice) in material world their dominant spiritual and material values. Birth, relatives, homeland, spring, harvest - Rod is present in all this.
Hierarchy of pagan gods of Rus'
Under the leadership of the Family, all Slavic deities and other spiritual entities are distributed according to levels corresponding to their impact on the everyday affairs of people.
The top level is occupied by deities who manage global and national affairs: wars and ethnic conflicts, weather disasters, fertility and famine, fertility and mortality.
At the middle level there are deities responsible for local affairs. These are the patrons of agriculture, crafts, fishing and hunting, and family concerns. People liken their face to their own.
The stylobate of the base of the pantheon is assigned to spiritual entities whose physical appearance is unlike that of a human. These are kikimoras, ghouls, goblins, brownies, ghouls, mermaids and many others like them.
The Slavic hierarchical pyramid ends here, unlike the ancient Egyptian one, where there also existed afterworld with its own governing deities and laws, or, for example, where the basis is a numerous pantheon of gods.
Slavic gods by importance and power
God of the Slavs Horse and his incarnations
Khors is the son of Rod and the brother of Veles. This is the sun god in Ancient Rus'. Horse's face is like a sunny day - yellow, radiant, dazzlingly bright. He has 4 incarnations:
- Kolyada
- Yarilo
- Dazhdbog
- Svarog.
Each hypostasis operates in a specific season of the year, and people expect help from each divine incarnation, which is associated with the corresponding rituals and ceremonies.
We still follow the traditions of the ancient Slavs: we tell fortunes on Christmastide, fry pancakes on Maslenitsa, burn bonfires on Ivan Kupala and weave wreaths.
1. God of the Slavs Kolyada
Kolyada begins the annual cycle and reigns from the winter solstice to the spring equinox (December 22 – March 21). In December, people greet the young Sun and praise Kolyada with ritual songs; festivities last until January 7. It's Christmastide.
By this time, the owners are slaughtering livestock, opening pickles, and taking supplies to fairs. Throughout Christmas time, people organize gatherings, rich feasts, tell fortunes, have fun, get married and have weddings. In general, doing nothing becomes completely legal. Kolyada treats with its mercy all benefactors who show mercy and generosity to the poor.
2. God of the Slavs Yarilo
He is Yarovit, Ruevit, Yar - the solar god of young age with the face of a barefoot young man on a white horse. Wherever he looks, shoots will sprout; wherever he passes, the grass will sprout. On his head is a crown of ears of corn, in his left hand he holds a bow and arrows, in his right hand are the reins. Its time is from the spring equinox to the summer solstice (March 22 – June 21). People's supplies at home are depleted and there is a lot of work to do. When the sun turned back, the tension in the labors subsided, the time of Dazhdbog had come.
3. God of the Slavs Dazhdbog
He is also Kupala or Kupaila - the solar god with the face of a mature man. Its time is from the summer solstice to the autumn equinox (June 22 - September 23). The reunion celebration is postponed on July 6-7 due to work commitments. On this mysterious night, people burn Yarila (or rather, a scarecrow) on a large bonfire and jump over it, girls throw wreaths of woven flowers down the river. Everyone is looking for the blooming fern of desires. There is also a lot of work during this season: mowing, harvesting fruit, repairing the house, preparing the sleigh.
4. God of the Slavs Svarog
The tired Sun sinks lower and lower towards the horizon. In its slanting rays, the tall, strong old man Svarog (aka Svetovid), whitened with gray hair, takes up the baton of power. He looks north, clutching a heavy sword in his hand, with which he slays the forces of darkness. He is the husband of the Earth, the father of Dazhdbog and all other gods of natural phenomena. His time from September 23 to December 21 is a period of satiety, peace and prosperity. People are not sad about anything, they organize fairs and have weddings.
Perun god of thunder and lightning
This is the god of war. In his right hand, Perun holds a rainbow sword, in his left - lightning arrows. The clouds are his hair and beard, the thunder is his speech, the wind is his breath, the raindrops are the fertilizing seed. He is the son of Svarog (Svarozhich), and is also endowed with a formidable disposition. He patronizes brave warriors and gives them luck and strength to everyone who puts in the effort to do hard work.
Stribog god of the wind
He is a god above gods elemental forces nature (Whistling, Weather and others). Stribog is the lord of the wind, hurricanes and blizzards. He can be touchingly kind and furiously evil. When he angrily blows the horn, the elements arise; when he is kind, the leaves simply rustle, streams gurgle, the wind howls in the crevices of the trees. From these sounds of nature came music and songs, and with them musical instruments. They pray to Stribog for the storm to subside, and hunters ask him for help in pursuing the sensitive and timid animal.
Veles pagan god of wealth
This is the god of agriculture and cattle breeding. Veles is also called the god of wealth (aka Hair, Month). He commands the clouds. When he was young, he tended the heavenly sheep himself. In anger, Veles sends torrential rains to the earth. After reaping, people still leave him one collected sheaf. In his name they swear word of honor and fidelity.
Lada goddess of love and beauty
Goddess Lada is the patroness of the hearth. Her clothes are snow-white clouds, and the morning dew is tears. In the predawn haze, she escorts the shadows of the departed to the other world. Lada is the earthly incarnation of Rod, the high priestess, the mother goddess, surrounded by a retinue of young servants. She is beautiful and smart, brave and dexterous, flexible with a vine, ringing flattering speech flows from her lips. Lada gives people advice on how to live, what they can do and what they can’t do. She condemns the guilty and exonerates those falsely accused. A long time ago, her temple stood on Ladoga, now her abode is the blue sky.
God of the Slavs Chernobog
Many ancient legends have been told about the evil spirits of the swamp, but not all of them have reached us. After all, they are protected by the powerful Chernobog - the ruler of the dark forces of evil and whim, serious illnesses and bitter misfortunes. This is the god of darkness. His abode is terrible forest thickets, ponds covered with duckweed, deep pools and marshy swamps.
He holds a spear in his hand with malice and rules the night. Subordinate to him devilry numerous: goblin, confusing forest paths, mermaids, drawing people into whirlpools, cunning banniki, malicious and insidious ghouls, capricious brownies.
God of the Slavs Mokosh
Mokosh (Makesha) is the goddess of trade, like the ancient Roman Mercury. In Old Slavonic, mokosh means “full wallet.” She uses it wisely harvested. Another of its purposes is to control fate. She is interested in spinning and weaving; With spun threads she weaves the destinies of people. Young housewives were afraid to leave an unfinished tow overnight, believing that Mokosha would ruin the yarn, and with it, fate. Northern Slavs consider Mokosha an unkind goddess.
God of the Slavs Paraskeva-Pyatnitsa
Paraskeva-Friday is Mokoshi’s concubine, who made Paraskeva a deity ruling over riotous youth, gambling, drinking bouts with vulgar songs and obscene dances, as well as dishonest trade. Therefore, Friday was a market day in Ancient Rus' for a long time. On this day, women were not allowed to work, because for disobedience Paraskeva could wrap the naughty girl in a cold toad. It poisoned the water in wells and underground springs. Today this goddess has no power and is practically forgotten.
God of the Slavs Morena
The goddess, ruler of evil, incurable diseases and death, is Maruja or Morena. She sends severe winters, stormy nights, epidemics and wars to the Earth. Her image is a scary woman with a dark, wrinkled face with deep-sunk small eyes, a sunken nose, a bony body and the same hands with long curved nails. Ailments serve her. She herself never leaves. They drive her away, but she appears again and again.
Paganism is a traditional worldview, based on the vast life experience of the ancient Slavs. With its help, people mastered the world and got to know yourself. The pantheon of Slavic gods is huge and many of them were forgotten over time.
Pagan gods of the ancient Slavs
The exact number of Slavic deities cannot be determined. This is due to the fact that one god had several names that were equally common. We can identify the main pantheon of pagan gods, who occupied an important part of people's lives. Each representative had powers that allowed him to control the impulses of natural phenomena, but only in his element. The Slavs used various totems and idols, which were a kind of transmitting link that allowed them to communicate with Higher powers.
The main pagan god of the Slavs
A deity identified with Zeus and Jupiter, and occupying a leading position in the pantheon Eastern Slavs- Perun. He was also the patron of thunder, lightning and military valor. This is the youngest son of Lada and Svarog. Perun was considered the patron saint of the prince and the princely squad and was associated with the indestructible power of Light. The day when the Slavs held a huge celebration was considered June 20th.
Outwardly, he was presented as a tall, stately warrior who had blond hair and blue eyes. He wore golden armor and a loose red cloak. He appeared on a powerful horse, holding in his hands a hundred-foot club, which was given to him by Svarog. A symbol of this pagan god an ax is considered, which is called the Ax of Perun, and also the rune of Strength. The idol is a powerful oak pillar on which a conventional face and a divine symbol were carved.
Pagan god of love
Lel, who is the son of Lada, was responsible for the warm love feelings of the ancient Slavs. It symbolizes beauty and love. They imagined him as a baby with wings and golden hair, which is similar to the appearance of the Cupid familiar to many. The Slavic god Lel symbolizes passion, hot and ardent love, so he was often represented armed with sparks, which he threw from his hands, kindling fiery love feelings in people.
The bird that symbolized Lelya was the stork, as a result of which another name appeared - “Leleka.” The celebration of this god took place on the night of Ivan Kupala. In some legends, the pagan god of love was represented as a shepherdess with brown hair. Lelya's patronage brings people good luck in love, helping them find a soul mate in order to become happier.
Pagan sun god
The ancient Slavs considered the sun to be the main force that gives life on earth, so there were three main patrons of it: Yarilo, Dazhdbog and Khors. The first pagan gods are responsible for spring and summer sun, and the last one is for the winter. They imagined him as a middle-aged man with rosy cheeks. Although he was often portrayed as smiling, he was sad because he could not protect people from the winter frosts.
The god of the Slavs, Horse, had powers that allowed him to control nature, so he could calm blizzards and snowstorms. It is capable of raising and lowering the temperature. This deity was also considered the patron of winter crops, so he was held in special esteem by people whose activities are connected with the earth. This deity has a dark incarnation - Black Horse, who was created by Navi and was responsible for severe frosts and snowstorms. The god of the winter sun was worshiped on September 22.
Pagan god of fertility
The deity of spring fertility among the ancient Slavs is Yarilo, who is the patron of the sun. He has to younger brother Khorsu and Dazhdbog. Yarilo was considered the god of passion, childbirth and the flowering of human strength and nature. He stands out among others for his sincerity, purity and brightness of character. was presented as a young and handsome guy with handsome blue eyes. In many paintings, the deity was depicted waist-deep without clothes and with blond hair.
Like many other pagan gods, Yarilo had his own attributes, so in his right hand he has a stuffed human head, and in the other - ears of rye. The head of this deity was decorated with a wreath of spring flowers. wildflowers. The symbol of Yaril is a five-pointed star with equal sides and the Ud rune. The ancient Slavs celebrated the day of this god on March 21, when the first month of the pagan year began.
Pagan god of fire
Svarog had several sons, and one of them was Svarozhich, who was considered a more down-to-earth deity, that is, the material embodiment of his father. The ancient Slavs worshiped him as the personification of earthly fire. The god Svarozhich was also considered an idol that helps to secure success in war. Some sources contain information according to which this deity was also called Radogost. Research has shown that Svarozhich is not an important member of the pagan pantheon.
Pagan god of the sky
The main one among the revered deities is Svarog, who has many deeds, for which the Slavs loved and respected him. He was the patron of the sky and also the creator of the earth. Some scientists believe that the first statement is incorrect, since Svarog’s main strength is fire and a blacksmith’s hammer. The most important act is the creation of other gods. The Slavs perceived Svarog as the personification of a wise warrior-father who protects his family.
God worked with his hands, and not with the help of magic or thought, so he was often considered the personification of work. The symbol of this deity is Svarogov Square with eight rays. The Slavic god Svarog was portrayed as an old man with a gray head, but at the same time he was a strong and invincible hero who defended his family. In his hands he holds a huge hammer. According to one legend, this deity had four faces that looked in all directions of the horizon, which only emphasized his importance.
Pagan god of death
In paganism, one deity had several abilities at once, which may not even be related to each other. Semargl is the god of death, primordial fire and fertility. According to one legend, he is the eldest son of Svarog, who appeared after the blow of the heavenly hammer. It was believed that the god of the Slavs, Semargl, helped his brothers many times in the fight against dark forces. He was the messenger of the gods and had the ability to concentrate the powers of other inhabitants of the pantheon.
It is believed that Semargl has the ability to change his appearance, so he appeared before people in the form of a warrior, who was surrounded by tongues of Irian flame, but more often he chose the appearance for himself big dog with wings that left a trail of fire behind them. Some researchers believe that Semargl embodies seven supreme gods at once, therefore the idols dedicated to him have seven conventional “faces”. The day of this deity was considered April 14th.
Pagan god of wind
Among the ancient Slavs, each element had its own patron, and the wind, which was controlled by Stribog, was no exception. It was believed that he had power over everything connected with the air, for example, birds, arrows, and so on. Stribog was revered not only by farmers who expected rain clouds from him, but also by sailors who counted on a successful voyage. People thought he had a tough temper. The Slavic god Stribog was depicted as a grandfather with a large beard, but he was not decrepit. He held a golden bow in his hands, and his clothes were as azure as the sky. Its symbol is the Stribog rune.
Pagan god of wealth
The deity who was responsible for fertility and wealth is Veles. He was considered a sage, a patron of the arts, and a werewolf god. He was the only representative of the Slavic pantheon who knew both light and dark forces equally. The Slavic god Veles possessed secret knowledge, which gave him the ability to control the elements and change the laws of the universe. He helped people for a long time, teaching them various crafts.
Veles was also considered the patron of good luck and travel. They imagined him as a strong man with a long beard, and he was dressed in a traveling cloak. In his hands he had a magical staff that looked like a tree branch. As a werewolf, Veles could turn into a bear, so the imprint of this animal was for a long time considered the seal of the deity. The symbol of this deity is a star with six ends and the Wind rune.
Pagan goddess of love
Main goddess family relations, fertility and love Lada. She was considered the mother of all months of the year. Lada is the wife of Svarog. They imagined her as a young and beautiful woman with blond hair. Her head was decorated with a wreath of roses. The Slavic goddess Lada has the power that can give the most important thing - life. People approached her with various requests. This goddess was designated by a circle, inside of which there is a triangle. I celebrate Lada Day on September 22.
Pagan goddess of fertility
Makosh is considered the patroness of the family hearth and good harvest. She was most popular among women, who considered her the main goddess of family happiness and motherhood. As a protector of housewives, she was the patroness of traditional women's activities. The ancient Slavs believed that Makosh held in her hands the threads of life of all people on earth, so she could make any changes in the world at any moment. People turned to her to improve their own lives.
The Slavic goddess Makosh was depicted as a beautiful aged woman and sometimes had horns on her head. She often held a cornucopia in her hands or was spinning. Makosh was considered the patroness of springs, so gifts were brought to her at water sources. Her idols were placed near every well. Many pagan gods had their messengers, and Mokosh had them too: spiders, bees and ants, hence the belief that one should not kill insects, as this would lead to failure.
Before the adoption of Christianity, the Slavs, like many other peoples, believed in the existence of several gods, each of which influenced certain areas of the life of the ancient Slavs or a natural phenomenon. The names of the Slavic gods, called pagan Christians, are given below.
Avsen (or, in another way, Ovsen) is the god of the change of seasons, influencing the beginning of autumn and spring.
Belbog is the embodiment of light, a god who brings goodness, good luck and happiness
Bereginya is a great goddess, one of the most ancient. The progenitor of all things.
Veles (in other words, Volos) is the son of Svarog, the embodiment of the master’s wisdom,
god of cattle breeding, second in importance after Perun.
Gromislav is a giant god who helped Svarog in creating the Earth.
Dazhbog is another son of Svarog, the Slavs considered him the god of the Sun and his personification
Dennitsa is the eldest son of Svarog.
Diverkiz is the god of hares.
Did is the god of marital love, the third son of the goddess Lada.
Didilia is the patroness of women during pregnancy, the goddess of female fertility.
Dogoda is the god who gives calm winds and clear weather.
Dodola is the goddess of youth and summer.
Zevana (in other words, Zevonia) is the goddess of wild animals and hunting.
Zimertsla (in other words, Zarnitsa or Mertsana) is the goddess of the morning dawn.
Zlebog (in other words, Krovnik, Zlodiy or Khudich) is a god who “provides” villains with torment after their death.
Golden Woman - famous goddess home well-being, peace and quiet.
Karachun (in other words, Korochun) is the lord of frost, an underground god.
Kvasura is the god of winemaking.
Kolyada is a god who embodies the repeating annual cycle.
Kors (in other words, Korsha) is the god of feasts, the lord of food and drink.
Kryshen is a god who possesses knowledge.
Kupalo - the god of flowers, summer and fruit trees. Third in importance after Veles and Perun.
Lad (in other words, Ladnik or Palm) is the god of harmony, friendship and reconciliation.
Lada is the wife of Svarog, the goddess of love, marriage and beauty.
Ice (in other words, Koldnik) is the god of winter.
Lel (in another way, Lelyo or Lelya) is the son of the goddess of love Lada, also the god of love.
Magura (in other words, Perunitsa) is the daughter of Perun, patron of warriors.
Maya is the mother of Kolyada and Kryshenya, a goddess.
Marzana is a goddess who rules over the death of animals.
Mokosh (in other words, Makosh) is the goddess of fertility.
Morena (in other words, Mara, Mora, Madder or Mura) is the goddess of human death.
The sea king is the complete ruler of any water space.
Niyan (in other words, Niy) is the god of punishment, judge of the dead.
Ozem is the god who rules the underworld.
Argument is the god of discord and quarrels.
Perun is the god who commands lightning and thunder, the son of Svarog.
Podaga is the god who commands good weather.
Pozvizd (in other words, Posvist, Pokhvist or Whirlwind) is the god of bad weather and storms.
Polaznik is a god who gives happiness in the New Year.
Polelya is the second son of the goddess of beauty Lada, the god of marriage.
Polkan is a semi-deity, a centaur.
Porenuta is the god who patronizes sailors.
Rule (in other words, Rights or Prono) is the god of justice, personifying universal law.
Pripekalo - the god of dissolute life and fornication.
Prok is the patron saint of merchant seafarers, traders and simply enterprising people.
Friday is the goddess who patronizes departed souls.
Radegast is the Slavic god of war.
Rod is the first god of the Slavs, the creator of the world, visible and invisible.
Rodomysl is the god of wisdom, as well as eloquence.
Women in labor are the daughters of the first god Rod, people see them in the form of the constellations Ursa Minor and Ursa Major.
Ruevit is the god who protects warriors.
Svarog is the ancestor of all Slavic gods, the supreme ruler of the Universe.
Svarozhich - god of fire, son of Svarog.
Svarozhichi are the remaining children of Svarog.
Svyatovid is another name of the Slavic god Svarog.
Svyatobor (in another way, simply Bor) is the patron saint of hunters and hunting, the god of forests.
Seva is the goddess of fruit orchards.
Silnobog is a god who patronizes strength and dexterity.
Simargl (or Semargl) is a god personifying the earthly embodiment of fire.
Stribog is the supreme king of the winds, the son of Svarog.
Sumerala is a goddess who rules the underworld.
Triglav is a three-headed deity who has power over heaven, earth and the underworld.
Triglav (in other words, trigla) is the goddess of the earth.
Tur is the patron of agriculture, a god in the form of a bull.
Oud is the god who patronizes love affairs.
Uslad (in other words, Oslad) is the god of pleasures and fun.
Usud is the god who decides human destinies.
Khvorst is a god who rules over infirmities and illnesses.
Khors is the god of light.
Chernbog is a god who personifies misfortunes and troubles.
Chur is the god who patronizes the underground domains and protects their borders.
Yarilo (in another way, Yar-Khmel) is the god of fun and love.
Yarovit - god spring thunderstorms, whirlwinds and clouds.
Based on materials from the publication “The World in Facts”
From this article you will learn:
How paganism arose and developed in Ancient Rus'
What gods existed in the paganism of Ancient Rus'
What holidays and rituals were held in Ancient Rus'
What amulets, amulets and talismans were worn by the pagans of Ancient Rus'
Paganism of Ancient Rus' is a system of ideas about man and the world that existed in the ancient Russian state. It was this faith that was the official and predominant religion among the Eastern Slavs until the Baptism of Rus' in 988. Despite the efforts made by the ruling elite, until the middle of the 13th century, it was paganism that most of the tribes inhabiting ancient Rus' continued to profess. Even after Christianity completely replaced it, the traditions and beliefs of the pagans had and continue to have a significant impact on the culture, traditions and way of life of the Russian people.
History of the emergence and development of paganism in Ancient Rus'
The name “paganism” itself cannot be considered accurate, since this concept includes too large a cultural layer. These days, terms such as “polytheism,” “totemism,” or “ethnic religion” are more commonly used.
The term “paganism of the ancient Slavs” is used when the need arises to designate the religious and cultural views of all tribes that lived on the territory of ancient Rus' until these tribes adopted Christianity. According to one opinion, the basis of the term “paganism”, applied to the culture of the ancient Slavs, is not the religion itself (polytheism), but a single language used by numerous, unrelated Slavic tribes.
The chronicler Nestor called the entire set of these tribes pagans, that is, tribes united by one language. To denote the characteristics of the religious and cultural traditions of the ancient Slavic tribes, the term “paganism” began to be used somewhat later.
The beginning of the formation of Slavic paganism in Ancient Rus' dates back to the 1st-2nd millennia BC, that is, to those times when the Slavic tribes began to separate from the tribes of the Indo-European group, settle in new territories and interact with cultural traditions neighbors. It was the Indo-European culture that introduced into the culture of the ancient Slavs such images as the god of thunderstorms, the fighting squad, the god of cattle and one of the most important prototypes of mother earth.
The Celts were of great importance for the Slavs, not only introducing a number of specific images into the pagan religion, but also giving the very name “god” by which these images were designated. Slavic paganism has a lot in common with German-Scandinavian mythology, this includes the presence of motifs of the world tree, dragons and other deities that changed in accordance with the living conditions of the Slavs.
After the active division of the Slavic tribes and their settlement in various territories, the paganism of Ancient Rus' itself began to change, and each tribe began to have elements unique to it. In the 6th-7th centuries there were quite noticeable differences between the religions of the Eastern and Western Slavs.
In addition, very often the beliefs inherent in the highest ruling layers society and its lower strata. Ancient Slavic chronicles also testify to this. The beliefs of residents of large cities and small villages could be different.
As the centralized ancient Russian state Relations between Rus' and Byzantium and other states were increasingly developed, at the same time paganism began to be questioned, persecution began, the so-called teachings against pagans. After the Baptism of Rus' took place in 988 and Christianity became the official religion, paganism was practically supplanted. And yet, even today you can find territories and communities inhabited by people professing ancient Slavic paganism.
Pantheon of gods in the paganism of Ancient Rus'
Ancient Slavic god Rod
In the paganism of Ancient Rus' supreme god the Rod was considered to be the ruler of everything existing in the Universe, including all the other gods. He headed the pinnacle of the pagan pantheon of gods, was the creator and ancestor. It was the almighty god Rod who influenced the entire cycle of life. It had no end or beginning, it existed everywhere. This is exactly how all existing religions describe God.
The clan was subject to life and death, abundance and poverty. Despite the fact that he is invisible to everyone, no one can hide from his gaze. The root of the name of the main god permeates the speech of people, it can be heard in many words, it is present in birth, relatives, homeland, spring, harvest.
After Rod, the remaining deities and spiritual essences of the paganism of Ancient Rus' were distributed into different stages, which corresponded to the degree of their impact on people's lives.
At the top level were the gods who controlled global and national affairs - wars, ethnic conflicts, weather disasters, fertility and famine, fertility and mortality.
The middle level was assigned to deities responsible for local affairs. They patronized agriculture, crafts, fishing and hunting, family concerns. Their image was similar to the appearance of a person.
In the paganism of Ancient Rus', there were spiritual entities with a physical appearance different from the human, they were located on the stylobate of the base of the pantheon. It belonged to kikimoras, ghouls, goblin, brownies, ghouls, mermaids and many others like them.
Actually, the Slavic hierarchical pyramid ends with spiritual entities; this distinguishes it from the ancient Egyptian one, in which there was also an afterlife, inhabited by its own deities and subject to special laws.
God of the Slavs Horse and his incarnations
Horse in the paganism of Ancient Rus' was the son of the god Rod and the brother of Veles. In Rus' he was called the sun god. His face was like a sunny day - yellow, radiant, dazzlingly bright.
Horse has had four incarnations:
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Dazhdbog;
Each of them operated in its own season of the year, people turned to them for help using certain rites and rituals.
God of the Slavs Kolyada
In the paganism of Ancient Rus', the annual cycle began with Kolyada, his reign began on the winter solstice and lasted until the spring equinox (from December 22 to March 21). In December, the Slavs, with the help of ritual songs, welcomed the young Sun and praised Kolyada; the celebrations continued until January 7 and were called Christmastide.
At this time, it was customary to slaughter livestock, open pickles, and take supplies to the fair. The entire period of Christmastide was famous for its gatherings, abundant feasts, fortune telling, fun, matchmaking and weddings. “Doing nothing” was a legitimate pastime at this time. At this time, it was also supposed to show mercy and generosity to the poor, for this Kolyada was especially favorable to benefactors.
God of the Slavs Yarilo
Otherwise, in the paganism of Ancient Rus' he was called Yarovit, Ruevit, Yar. The ancient Slavs described him as a young solar god, a barefoot young man, riding a white horse. Where he turned his gaze, crops sprang up, and where he passed, grass began to sprout. His head was crowned with a wreath woven from ears of corn; with his left hand he held a bow and arrows, and with his right hand he held the reins. He began to rule on the day of the spring equinox and ended on the day of the summer solstice (from March 22 to June 21). By this time, people's household supplies were running out, but they still had to work a lot. When the sun turned back, the tension in work subsided, then the time of Dazhdbog came.
God of the Slavs Dazhdbog
In the paganism of Ancient Rus', he was called Kupala or Kupaila in another way; he was the god of the Sun with the face of a mature man. Dazhdbog reigned from the summer solstice until the autumn equinox (from June 22 to September 23). Due to the hot working holiday, celebrations in honor of this god were postponed to July 6-7. That night, the Slavs burned an effigy of Yarila on a huge bonfire, the girls jumped over the fire and floated wreaths woven from flowers across the water. Both boys and girls were busy searching blooming fern, fulfilling wishes. There were also a lot of worries at this time: it was necessary to mow the grass, stockpile supplies for the winter, repair houses, prepare the sleigh for the winter season.
God of the Slavs Svarog
Svarog, otherwise known as Svetovid, took over the baton of power from Dazhdbog. The sun sank lower and lower towards the horizon, the Slavs represented Svarog in the image of a tall, gray-haired, strong old man. His gaze was turned to the north, in his hands he clutched a heavy sword designed to disperse the forces of darkness. Svetovid was the husband of the Earth, the father of Dazhdbog and the rest of the gods of nature. He reigned from September 23 to December 21, this time was considered a time of satiety, peace and prosperity. During this period, people did not have any special worries or sorrows; they organized fairs and held weddings.
Perun - god of thunder and lightning
In the paganism of Ancient Rus', the god of war Perun occupied a special place. right hand he clutched a rainbow sword and held lightning arrows with his left. The Slavs said that the clouds were his hair and beard, thunder was his speech, the wind was his breath, raindrops were the fertilizing seed. He was the son of Svarog (Svarozhich) with a difficult disposition. He was considered the patron saint of brave warriors and everyone who put effort into hard work, gifting them with strength and good luck.
Stribog - god of the wind
In the paganism of Ancient Rus', Stribog was revered as a god who commanded other deities of the elemental forces of nature (Whistling, Weather and others). He was considered the master of winds, hurricanes and blizzards. He could be very kind and very evil. If he was angry and blew his horn, then the elements were in earnest, but when Stribog was in a good-natured mood, the foliage simply rustled, streams gurgled, the breeze swayed the branches of the trees. The sounds of nature formed the basis of songs and music, musical instruments. Prayers were offered to him for the end of the storm, and he helped hunters pursue sensitive and timid animals.
Veles - pagan god of wealth
Veles was revered as the god of agriculture and cattle breeding. He was also considered the god of wealth (he was called Hair, the Month). The clouds obeyed him. In his youth, Veles himself tended the heavenly sheep. When angry, he could send torrential rains to the earth. And nowadays, after finishing the harvest, people leave one collected sheaf for Veles. His name is used to swear honesty and loyalty.
Lada – goddess of love and beauty
In the paganism of Ancient Rus', she was revered as the patroness of the hearth. Snow-white clouds were her clothes, morning dews were her tears. In the pre-dawn hours, she helped the shadows of the departed pass into the other world. Lada was considered the earthly incarnation of Rod, the high priestess, the mother goddess, surrounded by a retinue of young servants.
The Slavs described Lada as smart, beautiful, brave and dexterous, flexible in figure, speaking loud, flattering speeches. People turned to Lada for advice, she talked about how to live, what to do and what not. She condemned the guilty, justifying those who were accused in vain. In ancient times, the goddess had a temple built on Ladoga, but now she lives in the blue sky.
God of the Slavs Chernobog
In the paganism of Ancient Rus', many legends were composed about swamp evil spirits, only some of them have survived to this day. The patron of evil spirits was the powerful god Chernobog; he commanded the dark forces of evil and whims, serious illnesses and bitter misfortunes. He was considered the god of darkness, who lived in terrible forest thickets, ponds covered with duckweed, deep pools and swampy swamps.
Chernobog, the ruler of the night, angrily clutched the spear in his hand. He commanded numerous evil spirits - goblins who tangled forest paths, mermaids who pulled people into deep pools, cunning banniks, echidnas and insidious ghouls, capricious brownies.
God of the Slavs Mokosh
Mokosha (Makesha) in the paganism of Ancient Rus' was called the goddess of trade; she was similar to the ancient Roman Mercury. In the language of the Old Church Slavs, mokosh meant “full wallet.” The goddess put the harvest to good use.
Another purpose of Mokoshi was considered to be control of fate. She was interested in spinning and weaving; With the help of spun threads, she weaved human destinies. Young housewives were afraid to leave unfinished yarn overnight; it was believed that Mokosha could ruin the tow, and with it the girl’s fate. The Northern Slavs considered Mokosha to be an evil goddess.
God of the Slavs Paraskeva-Pyatnitsa
In the paganism of Ancient Rus', Paraskeva-Friday was the concubine of Mokosha, who made her a goddess, who was subject to riotous youth, gambling, drinking bouts with vulgar songs and obscene dances, as well as dishonest trade. For this reason, Friday in Ancient Rus' was a market day for a long time. Women were not supposed to work at this time, because those who disobeyed Paraskeva could be turned by the goddess into a cold toad. The ancient Slavs believed that Paraskeva could poison water in wells and underground springs. Nowadays, it has almost been forgotten.
God of the Slavs Morena
In the paganism of the ancient Slavs, the goddess Maruha, or otherwise Morena, was considered the ruler of evil, incurable diseases and death. It was she who was the cause of severe winters in Rus', stormy nights, epidemics and wars. She was represented as a scary woman who had a dark, wrinkled face, deep-sunk small eyes, a sunken nose, a bony body and the same hands with long curved nails. She had ailments among her servants. Marukha herself did not leave; she could be driven away, but she still returned.
The lower deities of the ancient Slavs
- Animal deities.
In those days when the ancient Slavs were mainly engaged in hunting rather than farming, they believed that wild animals were their ancestors. The pagans believed that these were powerful deities that needed to be worshiped.
Each tribe had its own totem, in other words, a sacred animal for worship. Some tribes believed that their ancestor was the Wolf. This animal was revered as a deity. His name was considered sacred and it was forbidden to pronounce it out loud.
The Bear, the most powerful animal, was considered the master of the pagan forest. The Slavs believed that it was he who was able to protect against any evil, in addition, he patronized fertility - for the Slavs, spring came when the bears awakened from hibernation. Almost until the 20th century, bear paws were kept in peasant houses; they were considered talismans that protected their owners from illness, witchcraft and various misfortunes. In the paganism of Ancient Rus', they believed that bears were endowed with enormous wisdom; they knew almost everything: the name of the beast was used when pronouncing oaths, and a hunter who dared to break an oath was doomed to die in the forest.
In the paganism of Ancient Rus', herbivores were also revered. The most respected was Olenikha (Losikha), the Slavs considered her the goddess of fertility, sky and sunlight. The goddess was represented with antlers (unlike ordinary female deer), which symbolized Sun rays. For this reason, the Slavs believed that deer antlers were amulets that could protect against various evil spirits; they were hung above the entrance to a home or inside a hut.
It was believed that the heavenly goddesses - Deer - could send newborn fawns to earth, which fell from the clouds like rain.
Of the domestic animals, the Horse enjoyed the greatest respect in the paganism of Ancient Rus'. This was explained by the fact that for a long time the tribes inhabiting modern Europe and Asia led a nomadic rather than sedentary lifestyle. Therefore, the golden horse rushing across the sky was for them the personification of the sun. And later a myth appeared about the sun god, who crossed the sky in his chariot.
- Household deities.
In the paganism of Ancient Rus', there were not only spirits that inhabited forests and reservoirs. The beliefs of the Slavs extended to household deities; these were well-wishers and well-wishers, who were led by brownies who lived under the stove or in a bast shoe, which was especially hung over the stove for them.
Brownies were considered patrons of the economy. They helped diligent owners to increase their benefits, but as punishment for laziness they could send disaster. The Slavs believed that livestock used special attention brownies. So, they combed the horses’ tails and manes (but if the brownie was angry, he, on the contrary, could tangle the animal’s hair into tangles), they could increase the milk yield of cows (or, conversely, take away milk from them), life and health depended on them newborn livestock. Therefore, the Slavs tried to appease the brownies in every possible way, offering them various treats and performing special rituals.
In addition to the belief in brownies, in the paganism of Ancient Rus' they believed that relatives who had passed on to another world helped the living. These beliefs were closely intertwined with each other, so the image of a brownie was inextricably linked with the stove and hearth. The Slavs believed that the souls of newborns come into our world through the chimney, and through it the souls of the deceased leave.
People imagined the brownie as a bearded man with a hat on his head. His figures were carved from wood, they were called “churas”, and, in addition to household deities, they personified deceased ancestors.
The Slavs who lived in the north of Ancient Rus' believed that they were helped with housework not only by brownies, but also by courtyards, cattlemen and kutny gods (the habitat of these good-timers was a barn, they took care of livestock, and people left them bread as an offering and cottage cheese), as well as barn gardens that guarded supplies of grain and hay.
In the paganism of Ancient Rus', the bathhouse was considered an unclean place, and the deities who lived in it - banniks - were attributed to evil spirits. They cajoled them by leaving them brooms, soap and water, and they also brought sacrifices to the banniks - a black chicken.
Even after Christianity became the official religion in Rus', the belief in “small” gods persisted. First of all, they were not worshiped as obviously as the gods of heaven, earth and nature. Minor deities did not have sanctuaries, and people performed rituals designed to appease them within the family circle. In addition, the Slavs believed that the “small” gods constantly lived next to them, they communicated with them constantly, and therefore, despite all the efforts of the church, they revered household deities in order to ensure well-being and security for their family and their home.
- Deities-monsters.
In the paganism of Ancient Rus', the Slavs considered the ruler of the underground and underwater worlds – the Serpent – to be one of the most formidable monster deities. He was represented as a powerful and hostile monster, which can be found in the myths and traditions of almost all nations. The ideas of the ancient Slavs about him have survived to this day in fairy tales.
The pagans of the north revered the Serpent - the lord of underground waters, his name was Lizard. Lizard sanctuaries were located among swamps, on the banks of lakes and rivers. Its coastal sanctuaries were ideally characterized round form, she symbolized perfection, contrasting order with the formidable all-destroying power of this deity.
For sacrifices to the Lizard they used not only black chickens, which were thrown into the swamps, but also young girls. These beliefs are reflected in fairy tales and legends.
For all the Slavic tribes who worshiped the Lizard, he was the absorber of the sun.
Over time, the nomadic lifestyle of the ancient Slavs gave way to a sedentary one, people moved from hunting to agriculture. This transition also affected many of the myths and religious customs of the Slavs. Ancient rituals softened, losing their cruelty, human sacrifices were replaced by rituals of animal sacrifices, and then even stuffed animals. In the paganism of Ancient Rus', the gods of the agricultural times were much kinder to people.
Sanctuaries and priests in the paganism of Ancient Rus'
The Slavs had a complex system pagan beliefs and just as much complex system cults The “small” deities did not have priests or sanctuaries; people prayed to them one at a time or gathered in families, communities, and tribes. To honor the “high” gods, more than one tribe gathered; people created special temple complexes and chose priests who were able to communicate with the deities.
For a long time, the Slavs chose mountains for their prayers; in the paganism of Ancient Rus', “bald” mountains, on the tops of which no trees grew, were especially revered. At the top of the hills they set up “temples”, that is, places where they installed a cap - an idol.
A rampart was built around the temple, shaped like a horseshoe, on top of which sacred fires were burned - steals. In addition to the inner rampart, there was another one that marked the outer boundary of the sanctuary. The space formed between them was called the treasury; it was here that the pagans of ancient Rus' consumed sacrificial food.
Ritual feasts involved people and gods eating together. Feasts were held as if under open air, and in structures specially erected at the temple, they were called mansions (temples). Initially, only ritual feasts were held in temples.
Very few pagan idols of Ancient Rus' have survived to this day. Their small number is primarily due to the fact that most of them were made of wood. The Slavs used wood rather than stone for their idols, because they believed that it had special magical powers. In the paganism of Ancient Rus', wooden sculptures combined both the sacred power of the tree and the power of the deity himself.
Pagan priests were called magi. They were called upon to perform rituals in sanctuaries, create idols and sacred objects, and with the help of magical spells they asked the gods to send abundant harvests.
For a long time, the ancient Slavs believed that there were cloud-busting wolves that soared into the sky and dispersed clouds or called rain in dry times. The priests influenced the weather with the help of a special bowl (chara), which was filled with water. Spells were read over it, and the water was then used to sprinkle crops. The Slavs believed that such actions helped increase the harvest.
The Magi knew how to make amulets, that is, special jewelry for men and women, on which spell symbols were written.
Holidays and rituals in the paganism of the ancient Slavs in Rus'
Since ancient times, people have been interested in the opportunity to influence various natural phenomena. Cold, snowy winters or dry summers threatened many with difficult survival. At all costs, the Slavs had to hold out until the onset of heat and achieve a harvest. That is why the basis of paganism in Ancient Rus' was the seasons. Their influence on the everyday life of people was enormous.
Pagan holidays, rites and rituals were aimed at arousing the favor of the powerful forces of nature, so that they would allow a weak person to get what he wanted. Cheerful songs and dances were mandatory attributes of welcoming spring and nature awakening from winter hibernation.
Winter, summer, autumn - every season deserved a celebration. The beginning of each season was the point in the calendar year that influenced agricultural work, construction, and the performance of rituals aimed at strengthening friendship, love, and family well-being. These days were used to plan work for the coming season.
The months of the year were named in such a way that the name reflected their main feature (January - prosinets, February - lute, April - pollen). Each month has its own holidays.
The beginning of the January holidays in the paganism of Ancient Rus' was given by Turitsa - on behalf of Tur (son of Veles). This day (January 6) marked the end of the winter holidays, and at the same time the ceremony of initiation into men was carried out. Then came the time of the Woman's Porridge holiday (January 8) - at this time all women and midwives were praised.
On the day of the abductions, which fell on January 12, rituals were performed to help protect and protect girls and women. To glorify the reborn Sun and healing water there was a holiday - Prosinets. There was also a day in January when it was supposed to appease the brownies - people entertained them and sang songs.
There were five February holidays in the paganism of ancient Rus'. Thunderclaps could be heard in Gromnitsa. On February 11, Veles Day was celebrated - from that moment the cold weather began to disappear, and spring and warmth were approaching. Meeting was celebrated on February 15 - the Slavs believed that on this day the snowy winter gives way to spring. On this day, the Erzovka doll was burned and the spirits of the Sun and Fire were released. February 16 was Repair Day, when it was necessary to repair all the equipment that had become unusable during the year. And on February 18 - Remembrance Day - they commemorated the soldiers who died in battle.
The first month of spring in the paganism of Ancient Rus' was marked by six holidays, among which were the holiday of the Invocation of Spring and Maslenitsa (March 20-21). During Maslenitsa, it was necessary to burn the Marena doll, which personified winter. The Slavs believed that this ritual entailed the passing of winter.
There were many holidays in the summer. In June they celebrated Rusalya Week, Kupalo, Snake Day, and Bathing Day. In July, only one day was festive - July 12, when the Day of the Sheaf of Veles was celebrated. On Perun's Day, which fell in August in the paganism of Ancient Rus', warriors had to perform a special ritual with their weapons, after which they would bring victory in battles. August 15 was Spozhinki Day, at which time the last sheaves were cut. On August 21, the day of Stribog came - the Slavs asked the lord of the winds to preserve the harvest and not demolish the roofs of houses.
The paganism of Ancient Rus' also had its own holidays in the autumn months. On September 8, the day of the Childbirth or Mother in Birth, the family was revered. On the day of the Fiery Volkh they began to collect the autumn harvest. September 21 - the day of Svarog - was a holiday of artisans. On November 25, Madder Day, the ground was covered with snow.
The December holidays were Karachun, Kolyada, Shchedrets. During Kolyada and Shchedrets, various performances were staged on the streets and preparations for the new year began.
Among the pagan rituals of ancient Rus' the following are known:
A wedding ceremony that included the ritual of dressing, and on the wedding day itself, the abduction of the bride and her ransom. The bride's mother had to bake kurnik and take it to the groom's hut. And the groom was supposed to bring a rooster to the bride's parents. While the newlyweds were being married around the old oak tree, the wedding bed was being prepared in the groom's hut. As required by the paganism of Ancient Rus', a large and generous feast usually ended with games.
The Naming ceremony was performed if a person needed to be given a Slavic name.
Children under the age of seven were subjected to the rite of tonsure. It was believed that at the end of the ritual, the babies passed from the care of their mother to the care of their father.
With the help of rituals dedicated to the beginning of the construction of a house, they fought against evil spirits that interfered with the owners or interfered with the construction through natural phenomena.
The ritual of Trizna consisted of glorifying the soldiers who fell on the battlefield; during the ritual they resorted to songs, competitions, and games.
As the ancient Slavs' awareness of the world changed, so did their funeral rites.
The turning point occurred back in pre-Slavic times, when the burial of twisted corpses was replaced by the burning of the dead and the burial of their ashes.
Giving the bodies of the dead a crooked posture was supposed to imitate the posture of babies in the mother's womb; Ropes were used to give the corpses this position. The relatives of the deceased believed that they were preparing him for his next birth on earth, in which he would be reincarnated as some living creature.
In the paganism of Ancient Rus', the idea of reincarnation was based on the idea of something existing separately from man. vitality, which gave a single physical appearance to the living and the dead.
The dead were buried in a crooked form until the Bronze Age gave way to the Iron Age. Now the dead were given an extended position. However, the most significant change in the funeral rite is cremation - the complete burning of corpses.
During excavations, archaeologists encountered both forms of ancient tradition of the dead.
In the paganism of Ancient Rus', cremation takes first place new idea, according to which the souls of ancestors are in heaven and contribute to heavenly phenomena (such as rain, snow) for the benefit of those who remain on earth. After burning the body of the deceased, when his soul went to the souls of his ancestors, the Slavs buried his ashes in the ground, believing that in this way they provided the benefits characteristic of a regular burial.
Elements included in burial rites include burial mounds, burial structures representing a person's home, and burial of ashes in a simple pot, such as those used for food.
During excavations in the pagan burial mounds of the ancient Slavs, pots and bowls with food were often found. Pots for cooking from the first fruits were revered as sacred objects. This type of dishes in the paganism of Ancient Rus' symbolized blessings and satiety. Most likely, the beginning of this symbolism dates back to the times when agriculture and the use of clay utensils originated.
Speaking about the connection between sacred pots for first fruits and urns for ashes, one cannot help but recall the anthropomorphic stove-vessels. These are small vessels of a simple shape, to which were attached cylindrical or truncated-conical pallet stoves with round smoke holes and an arched recess at the bottom, which made it possible to fire with wood chips or coal.
The pots that the ancient Slavs used to boil the first fruits during a special celebration in honor of the gods of the sky were the very link that connected the god of the sky, the god of fruitful clouds and cremated ancestors, whose souls were not reborn on earth again in the guise of living beings, but remained in heaven.
The ritual of cremation arose almost at the same time as the separation of the Proto-Slavs from the Indo-European tribes in the 15th century. BC, and existed in ancient Rus' 270 years before the reign of Vladimir Monomakh.
Burial in the paganism of Ancient Rus' took place as follows. A funeral pyre was built, on which the deceased was laid, then a regular circle was outlined, a narrow, deep ditch was dug around its perimeter and a fence was built from twigs and straw. The fire and smoke from the burning fence did not allow the ritual participants to see how the deceased burned inside the circle. It is believed that the funeral pile of firewood and the regular circumference of the ritual fence that separated the world of the dead and the living were called “steal”.
The pagan traditions of the Eastern Slavs suggested that animals, not only domestic ones, but also wild ones, should be burned at the same time as the deceased.
The custom of erecting houses over the graves of Christians survived until the beginning of the last century.
Charms, amulets and talismans in the paganism of Ancient Rus'
According to the ancient Slavs, amulets or amulets with an image of a revered deity allowed them to cope with problems and achieve what they wanted. And today these items have their value, it is only important to use them correctly.
In Ancient Rus', everyone had amulets and amulets: both old people and babies. Natural phenomena frightened me, illness and family troubles upset me. People wanted to have an influence on what happened around them. This is how gods and beliefs in them appeared.
The gods had their own spheres of influence, and their images and symbols were sacred. Deities were depicted on small objects that could not be parted with. Carrying his amulet with him, a person believed that strong and wise celestial beings were helping him in this world.
The meanings of talismans in the paganism of Ancient Rus' became known thanks to archaeological excavations. The sources of information about the life and customs of the ancient Slavs were bronze or metal household items.
And, although almost everyone has heard of pagan amulets and amulets or pagan talismans, not everyone knows that these concepts are not identical.
Amulets– items intended to be worn by a specific person, which contained positive or negative energy. They were painted with symbols of deities or natural phenomena depicted on them. In order for them to be useful, they had to be charged with higher powers. In the culture of the ancient Slavs, amulets that were made by a mother, sister or beloved woman were especially important.
Charms were objects or spells that were used to protect against evil forces. They could not only be carried with you, but also placed in homes, then they were able to protect the family from evil attacks. The amulets were not charged; this was their main difference from amulets. They were originally capable of protecting their wearer. Spells or appeals to the gods could also protect a person.
Talismans considered items that brought good luck. They were charged, but still they owed their action to faith. These things were made specially; they could be children's toys or something given by a loved one.
The main purpose of amulets, amulets and talismans in the paganism of Ancient Rus' was the protection of the gods. The symbols printed on them were great importance in the culture of the Slavs.
Depending on the purposes for which they were created, the pagan amulets of Ancient Rus' helped in solving the following problems:
protected from an unkind gaze;
provided protection for deceased ancestors;
protected the home from hostile forces and uninvited guests;
helped in protection against illnesses;
attracted good luck and wealth.
Pagan amulets and amulets depicted swastikas, celestial bodies, and images of gods. Some amulets that protected against the evil eye or patronized the family could be worn by both men and women. However, in the paganism of Ancient Rus' there were also symbols that were applied only to male or only to female amulets.
Symbols for women's amulets and talismans
Rozhanitsy - represented an interweaving of patterns rectangular shape. These symbols were applied to the amulet of a woman dreaming of a child. After she became pregnant, she had to wear it until she gave birth. Then this object was hung near the child's cradle, thus the power of the entire family protected the baby.
Lunnitsa - the image of an inverted month symbolized female prudence, humility and patience in the paganism of Ancient Rus'.
Yarila - with the help of signs and symbols they depicted the pagan god Yarila. The ancient Slavs believed that amulets symbolizing the sun god could preserve love and prevent feelings from cooling down. Although this item was intended for couples in love, it was usually worn by girls.
Makosh - symbols denoted the goddess Makosh, designed to strengthen the strength of the clan. With the help of these amulets and amulets, peace and harmony were maintained in homes.
Overcoming grass is a sacred herb that protects from dark forces and enemies. Signs symbolizing it were applied to protective amulets.
Molvinets - protected the family from harm, depicted in the form of a rhombus. A talisman with such an image was presented to pregnant women for successful resolution from the burden and birth of a healthy baby.
A wedding dress - in the paganism of Ancient Rus', consisted of four intertwined rings. The amulet with this symbol was given to brides and young wives - guardians of the hearth. He protected families from adversity and helped preserve love.
Lada the Mother of God - pagan talismans with her were worn by young girls who dreamed of love and a happy marriage.
Symbols for men's amulets and talismans
The Veles seal was a pattern with rounded weaves that was applied to the amulets of gambling men. This item protected its owner from troubles and failures.
The Hammer of Perun - in the paganism of Ancient Rus', was the ancestral sign of men, protecting the clan along the male line, preventing its interruption, and conveying the wisdom of the ancestors.
The Vseslavets sign protected the house from fire. Nowadays, the amulet helps protect against disagreements.
Doukhobor sign - such items gave men spiritual power, strength and helped to improve themselves.
Symbols of the Kolyadnik - in Ancient Rus' they provided assistance in battles, in our time they help to defeat rivals or competitors.
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You won't have to spend long searching for pagan amulets or talismans. In our online store “Witch’s Happiness” you will find what is right for you, a person who goes his own way, is not afraid of change, and is responsible for his actions not only before people, but also before the entire Universe.
In addition, our store offers various esoteric products. You can purchase everything you need to carry out magical rituals: fortune telling with Tarot cards, runic practices, shamanism, Wicca, Druidcraft, northern tradition, ceremonial magic, and much more.
You have the opportunity to purchase any product that interests you by ordering it on the website, which operates around the clock. Any of your orders will be completed as soon as possible. Residents and guests of the capital can visit not only our website, but also the store located at the address: st. Maroseyka, 4. We also have stores in St. Petersburg, Rostov-on-Don, Krasnodar, Taganrog, Samara, Orenburg, Volgograd and Shymkent (Kazakhstan).
Take a look into the corner of true magic!