What are the lower gods who inhabited forests, rivers and mountains

Slavic mythology refers to ancient paganism and polytheism. It is characterized by pantheism - the philosophy of considering nature and the cosmos in indissoluble unity. According to the Slavs, the whole surrounding world is animate. Each brook and flower, tree and mountain has its own guardian spirit. And the Slavs prayed to them to enlist protection, patronage and support.

The Slavic Pantheon

Ancient deities were divided into higher and lower. The higher ruled by the destinies of people and the world, and the lower ones had their own small patrimonies in this or that part of nature and personified its elements. The appearance of these essences in mythology is explained by the way of life of the Slavs, their daily activities, work and life. Who are they, the lower gods who inhabited forests, rivers and mountains? We list the main: fieldmen, water and leche, kvetuni, mermaids and kikimors, the notorious Baba Yaga and others. Each creature had its own holes, quite capricious. And that the benefits from the invisible inhabitants of our world were more than evil, people had to study them, build relationships, behave in a special way. That is, to accept the "rules of the game" that the lower gods, who inhabited forests, rivers and mountains offered to them, so that they can safely farm the land and hunt, breed bees and cattle, fish and other trades, and simply - to live - not to grieve , Raise children, strengthen their own kind.

An old man is small, but strong by force ...

The lowest deities inhabiting forests, rivers and mountains, fields and meadows, according to our ancestors' imaginations, had a different outward appearance. For example, the custodians of crops and crops - fieldworkers - seemed good-natured old men of short stature, mischievous and mischievous. They were good assistants to farmers, but often they liked to make fun of people.

It was possible to notice the field man during the mowing season - he ran away from the sickle to that part of the field where there is still not cleaned up the cattle. Or, suddenly, the grandfather came up to the peasant, and asked - no matter how much - to rub his nose. If a person had the intelligence to make a request, he received a good reward. So, already the ancient Slavs understood and emphasized: the earth generously shares its good with everyone, but only if people are not afraid of hard work, they will not be afraid to get their hands dirty. Thus, the lower gods, inhabiting forests, rivers and mountains, perform not only a protective, but educational function.

Yes, it was believed that the fieldman has a son - a meadow. He watches the mowing and punishes the negligent peasants, who missed the time of the best gathering of grass. Lugovik can turn all the mowing in dead wood or so weeds twist among themselves that it is already impossible to remove them. So, through myths, the people brought up diligence and a careful attitude to the gifts of nature.

Under the sky of Hellas and Rome

Paganism as a type of thinking and a means of knowledge of the world in general is characteristic of ancient cultures and civilizations. This is easy to prove by comparing, for example, Slavic mythology and lower deities - satires and nymphs - from the mythology of Ancient Greek and Roman. The first lived in forests and mountains, wore beards and horns, had tails and bifurcated hoofs. They represented the inexhaustible fertility of nature and earth, played flutes, loved wine and often harvested fruit and grapes for people, or poured it all out of their cornucopia. Lower gods (satyrs and nymphs, naiads) are also the spirits of forest and water, trees and ponds. Legends associated with them, have a pronounced erotic coloring and sexual overtones. It is connected not only with the way of life and customs of that time, but also with the veneration of the very cult of birth, fertilization, the birth of all living things. By the way, Lel, who was a close Slavic mythical creature, was Lel, a wonderful beauty, playing a magic flute in the spring in fields, meadows, groves, when everything blooms, smells and is filled with a thirst for love and birth-creation.

Visiting the leshe

An important and strict god of forest lands is Svyatobor. He watches the orders in his possessions, makes sure that hunters and cutters do not harm nature, they are respectful and careful with her. The ancient peoples knew for sure that if you catch fish during spawning or shoot at a female animal with a calf, the troubles can not be avoided. Svjatobor and subordinate lower deities of the Slavs will deal with the offenders of nature, so much so that others will not be. Among his assistants were leshie, hikers, snitchers, witnesses, kikimors, shishigi, mumps and others. So, the goblin assumed the appearance of that clumsy stump, overgrown with moss, or an old man with a gray beard wrapped in animal hide. He could imitate forest sounds, luring the hunters into the impenetrable wilderness, confusing them, and could lead them to the edge, where they could reach the human habitation. Knowing this, people, going to the forest, tried to please his masters. Without need they did not cut down trees, did not break branches, did not kill livestock more than it was required for food. Even unnecessary noise was not raised, so as not to disturb mysterious entities.

Going by the water

The main deity of the river is water. It also lives in lakes, swamps, streams. He was often represented as a fat old man with a scaly torso and a fish tail. To put any structures on the shore of the reservoir, you should ask for a water permit. He kept the purity of springs, their healing power. The girlfriends of the creature were mermaids, guardians of fields, waters and forests. According to some myths, they were the souls of drowned women, on the other - by the spirits of natural elements and fertility.