Major Gods of the Slavic Pantheon

Perun, Veles, Jarilo, Morana Were Eastern European Pagan Deities

Apr 22, 2007 Kerry Kubilius

Few texts offer information about the Slavic Pantheon of gods. Perun and Veles were the most significant deities; Morana and Jarilo are celebrated through festivals today

In general, not much is known about the Slavic Pantheon. Because tales of the Slavic gods were passed through generations orally, and their followers’ traditions often varied by tribe and region, pinning down the Slavic Pantheon proves especially difficult – more difficult than describing the pantheons of cultures with written traditions and historic texts. However, some archeological evidence, as well as surviving manuscripts, offers clues about the importance of deities to the ancient Slavs and what those gods represented to the Slavic peoples.

Perun

Perun was a significant god of the Slavic Pantheon – the most significant god, in fact. He is mentioned in the Primary Chronicles, and is said to have been the main god of Kievan Rus. In fact, when Prince Vladimir chose Christianity for his people, it is said that the statue of the god Perun was thrown into the Dnieper River a gesture to symbolize the adoption of Christianity and the end of paganism.

Perun was the god of thunder and battle. On par with Zeus of the Greek pantheon, Perun also shared some of Zeus’ traits; symbols shared by both Perun and Zeus include the oak tree, an eagle, and lightening and thunder.

Veles/Volos

Veles was Perun’s opposition according to the Slavic Pantheon. The god of water, the underworld, dragons, and cattle, Veles is often depicted with serpent-like qualities. In fact, one Slavic myth recounts a battle between Perun and a dragon or serpent; the serpent in this tale is associated with Veles. For agricultural Slavic peasants, Veles was also and important god for the protection of their livestock.

Jarilo and Morana

Jarilo and Morana, children of Perun, are both associated with the end of winter and the beginning of spring. Many Eastern European nations still celebrate in pagan style by saying goodbye to winter and welcoming spring with straw effigies and other rituals that have their origins in pre-Christian Eastern Europe.

Jarilo, a horse-like god, was the Slavic god of springtime and harvest. Morana was the goddess of death, winter, and nature.

Other Slavic Gods

Other gods are a part of the Slavic Pantheon, but even less is known about them. Stribog, the god of winds, Dazbog, associated with the sun and wolves, Svarog, the god of the Sun and fire, and the Zorya, goddesses of night and day are known to have existed in various forms. Some Slavic gods existed in sort of mélanges of several gods, taking on the characteristics of deities that were previously interpreted as being individual gods and goddesses.

The copyright of the article Major Gods of the Slavic Pantheon in E European History is owned by Kerry Kubilius. Permission to republish Major Gods of the Slavic Pantheon in print or online must be granted by the author in writing.