10 strange creatures from Slavic folklore that not everyone knows about

2024 Author: Richard Flannagan | [email protected]. Last modified: 2023-12-15 23:55

Greek and Roman mythologies are so prevalent in Western culture that most people have never heard of the polytheistic pantheon of other cultures. One of the least known is the Slavic pantheon of gods, spirits and heroes, worshiped for hundreds of years before Christian missionaries began to actively promote Christianity in the region.

Slavic mythology has two main differences from Greek and Roman myths. Firstly, many of the spirits today are part of legends and fairy tales among the Slavic peoples. Secondly, there are very few records of the old Slavic pantheon of gods, so scientists are trying to recreate the information based on secondary documents. However, Slavic mythology is very fascinating.

1. Baba Yaga

Among all world mythologies, Baba Yaga is found only in Slavic legends. Many other Slavic gods and creatures have equivalents in Roman or Greek mythology, but Baba Yaga is unique. At first glance, she seems to be indistinguishable from witches in European folklore. Baba Yaga looks like an old woman and has a very long nose. When travelers meet Babu Yaga, she blesses or curses them depending on her mood.

But Baba Yaga also has a number of features that are unique to this image. She lives in a hut on chicken legs, and she travels in a flying mortar. Like traditional witches, Baba Yaga always carries a broom with her, but she uses it to cover her tracks. No one knows exactly where the Slavs got this image in myths from.

2. Bannik

Bath has always been an important part of Eastern European life, especially in countries such as Russia and Ukraine. Especially often they steamed in a bathhouse in the winter or in case of a cold. Considering how strong the social and cultural influence of the bath was in Slavic society, of course, it was not without the spirit of the bath - the so-called bannik. Bannik was a mischievous spirit who most often looked like an old man with long claws. Whenever people bathed in the bath, they left soap and a heated bath for the spirit to wash too.

The myths claimed that the bannik could predict the future: when he was asked a question, the bannik gently touched the back of the questioner if the future was good. But if the prediction was bad, then the spirit could scratch the person's back. Before the young couple stayed in the bath together for the first time, guests threw stones and pots at the walls outside to scare off the bathhouse.

3. Zduhach

Among the Slavic peoples before Christianity, witchcraft was an important part of their culture. Witches and sorcerers protected people and settlements from villains and spirits. Chief among such defenders of the ancient Slavs were zduhachi - people who used supernatural powers to defend their village and attack other villages. Scientists suggest that the traditions of the spiritualists are most likely a modified form of Eurasian shamanism.

Shamanic traditions were most likely brought to the west by the Trans-Siberian Finno-Ugric and Uralic ethnic groups. The ancient Slavs were superstitious people, and the idea of a supernatural protector fit well with their belief system.

4. Brownie

Brownies are household spirits that were ubiquitous in pre-Christian Slavic myths. Although Christian missionaries mostly managed to get rid of old pagan ideas among their new flock, they continued to believe in brownies for centuries. Brownies were house spirits, masters and patrons of the house, who were generally considered good spirits. Most often they were depicted as small, bearded male creatures, similar to Western European household spirits.

Many legends say that brownies were often noticed working in the yard in the guise of the owner of the house, although at that time he was fast asleep in bed. Less often, the brownie took the form of a cat or a dog. If the people in whose house he lived were rude and slovens, then the brownie began to build various intrigues for them. If they behaved worthy and left the milk and biscuits to the housekeeper, then he helped with the household.

5. Kikimora

The opposite of the brownie was kikimora - an evil spirit in everyday Slavic mythology, which is especially common in Polish and Russian stories. Kikimora was a witch or spirit of the deceased who took up residence in the house and was generally viewed as a source of evil. Usually the kikimora lived behind the stove or in the basement of the house and started making noise when she got hungry. Most of the time, the kikimora terrorized the family, especially if the house was out of order.

According to Slavic traditions, the kikimora entered the house through the keyhole and tried to strangle people while sleeping. To prevent this from happening, they read prayers at night and put a broom next to the door. However, usually kikimora mischievous people who did not keep their house in order. If she liked the house, then she helped take care of the chickens, as well as other household chores.

6. Mokosh

Before the Christian era, Mokosh was a Slavic goddess of fertility, mainly believed in Russia, Ukraine and Poland. She was traditionally considered a servant of Mother Earth - the goddess of nature. Unlike Mother Earth, Mokoshi continued to be worshiped in the 19th century. Belief in Mokosh, most likely, came to the Slavic lands from the Finno-Ugric tribes. Mokosh was usually depicted as a wanderer who was in charge of yarn, childbirth and protection of women.

7. Radegast

Radegast is one of the oldest gods in Slavic mythology. Its name comes from two ancient Slavic words that mean "dear guest". That is why it is believed that Radegast was worshiped as the god of feasts and guests. It is believed that the Radegast wore black armor and was armed with a throwing disc.

Researchers believe that he was an important god for leaders and city councilors, as there was a tradition that the person who heads the city council performed a ritual during which he invited Radegast to visit.

8. Chernobog

Of all the Slavic deities, Chernobog is one of the most famous and one of the most mysterious. Today about him. apart from the name, practically nothing is known. The mention of Chernobog is found in the writings of Father Helmond, a German priest who lived in the 12th century. Judging by the work of Helmond, Chernobog was the personification of evil.

9. Velez

In ancient Slavic mythology, there is a god who is the personification of evil and the antagonist of the supreme god Perun. We are talking about Veles. Scientists have found many sources confirming the influence of Veles on the ancient Slavs. In Slavic myths, Veles was a supernatural force responsible for the earth, water, and the underworld. It has also been associated with magic and cattle. The Slavs believed that Perun and Veles were in constant confrontation, and Perun defended the human world from Veles. Nevertheless, many temples dedicated to Veles were built. He was also the patron saint of musicians and wealth. Since the ancient Slavs usually did not have a clear distinction between good and evil, Veles was not considered completely bad.

10. Perun

Most scientists believe that among the ancient Slavs, the god of thunder Perun was the supreme god. It is most often found in old Slavic texts, and Perun's symbols are very common in Slavic artifacts. Usually the Slavs depicted Perun on a chariot with an ax in his hand (which he threw at the enemies, after which the ax returned to his hand).

Also Perun used fire arrows or magical golden apples, which destroyed everything. When Christian missionaries first arrived in Kievan Rus, they tried to wean the Slavs from pagan cults. In the east, missionaries began to claim that Perun is the prophet Elijah, and Western missionaries replaced the image of Perun with the Archangel Michael.