Slavic mythology is an extremely interesting and informative event.Despite the fact that in many of its manifestations it has similarities with the same or ancient Norse mythology, Slavic belief system is a completely unique set of knowledge, stories and legends on all major issues of world order.
Myths of the ancient Slavs came to us already in a highly processed form.Since unlike those of the ancient Greeks, writing these peoples appeared already on the decline of the pagan stories.
At the same time interest is the fact that, despite the ethnic and religious diversity, the Slavs managed to have survived the general features and concepts specific to their ancestors.The most striking example of this is the tradition of burning effigies symbolizing the end of winter.
Huge interest is the early Slavic mythology, the gods which formed a kind of pantheon in which there are three main levels:
1. Higher level of "settled" those deities from whom depended all life on earth - Svarog, personifiedHeaven, Earth, and their children - Perun, Fire and Dazhdbog;
2. On average the myths of the ancient Slavs placed the gods are "responsible" for the development of a tribe, as well as for all business activities: Rod, Chur and others;
3. The lowest level is the essence, "control" or that the scope of the environment - goblins, goblins, vampires, mermaids.
myths of ancient Slavs paid most attention to the problem of the origin and development of the world, as well as the worship of their long-dead ancestors and legendary.
As with most other nations, the Slavs was the god of thunder - Perun, who have a number of tribes and represented the sky.
Other tribes believed the God of heaven Svarog, who nominally held the highest position in the hierarchy.
One of the most revered gods was the brother of Svarog - Velez, whose main task was to protect livestock and to facilitate the accumulation of wealth in gender and race.
Since the myths of the ancient Slavs the most part developed, likely even before they formed Slavic tribes, they did not require the introduction of any special cults and rituals, has not been our ancient ancestors developed priestly class.
In Russia the first idols were only under the influence of the Vikings, and were devoted mainly to the main gods - Perun, Dazhdbog and Horse.With the adoption of Christianity, all these statues were thrown from the hills and destroyed.
key feature of Slavic mythology was a close relationship with the real world creatures of the lower level, which lived everywhere, then helping people, then preventing them.Constant communication with Bereginya, leshimi, homes make daily life more complicated and mysterious, and all unusual phenomena immediately found many interpretations.As the gods of secondary and higher levels, the people here had only to listen carefully to their desires, meekly doing their will.The fear of the forces of nature and ancestors anger was so great that they have devoted a variety of festivals, some of which survived to the present day.
