Myths of the ancient Slavs

The mythology of the Slavs is an extremely interesting and cognitive phenomenon. Despite the fact that in a number of its manifestations it has similar features with the same ancient or Scandinavian mythology, the Slavic belief system is a completely unique set of knowledge, legends and traditions concerning all major issues of the world order.

Myths of the ancient Slavs have already reached us in a highly reworked form. Since, unlike the same ancient Greeks, the writing of these peoples appeared already at the end of their pagan history.

At the same time, the fact that despite the ethnic and religious diversity, the Slavs managed to preserve the common features and representations characteristic of their distant ancestors up to now. The most striking example of this is the tradition of burning stuffed, symbolizing the end of winter.

Of great interest is the early Slavic mythology, the gods in which formed a kind of pantheon, in which there are three main levels:

1. The highest level was "populated" by those deities on whom all living things on the Earth depended - Svarog, personifying Heaven, Earth and their children - Perun, Fire and Dazhdbog;

2. On an average level, the myths of the ancient Slavs placed those gods who "answered" for the development of a tribe, as well as for all economic activities: Rod, Chur and others;

3. The lowest level was made up of creatures that "controlled" certain spheres of the environment-leshies, goblins, ghouls, mermaids.

Myths of the ancient Slavs focused on the problem of the origin and development of the world, as well as the veneration of their long-dead and legendary ancestors.

Like most other nations, the Slavs had a god-thunderbolt - Perun, who also represented Heaven among a number of tribes.

Other tribes, the god of Heaven, considered Svarog, who nominally occupied the highest position in the hierarchy.

One of the most revered gods was Svarog's brother Veles, whose main task was to protect cattle and promote the accumulation of wealth in the clan and tribe.

Since the myths of the ancient Slavs in their main mass were formed, most likely, even before the Slavic tribes were formed, they did not require the introduction of any special cults and rituals, our ancient ancestors and developed priestly class did not.

In Russia, the first idols appeared only under the influence of the Varangians and were devoted mainly to the main deities - Perun, Dazhdbog and Horsa. With the adoption of Christianity, all these idols were dropped from the hills and destroyed.

The main feature of Slavic mythology was the close relationship of the real world with the lower-level beings who lived everywhere, then helping people, then hindering them. Constant communication with the shores, the woods, the house people made everyday life more complicated and mysterious, and all unusual phenomena immediately found a lot of interpretations. As for the gods of the middle and upper level, here people only had to listen attentively to their desires, resignedly fulfilling their will. The fear of the forces of nature and the anger of their ancestors was so great that they were dedicated to a variety of holidays, some of which have survived to this day.