Slavic mythology refers to ancient paganism and polytheism.For it is characteristic of pantheism - a philosophy considering the nature and the cosmos in an indissoluble unity.According to the Slavs, all the world is animate.Every brook and flower, tree and mountain has a spirit guardian.Slavs prayed to them to seek protection, patronage and support.
Slavic pantheon
ancient deities were divided into higher and lower.The supreme law of the destinies of people and the world, and the lowest had their small fiefdoms in certain parts of nature and its elements personified.The emergence of these entities in mythology explains the way of life of the Slavs and their daily activities, work and life.Who are inferior deities inhabiting the forests, rivers and mountains?Here are the main ones: field workers, water and goblins, kvetuni, mermaids and frights, notorious Baba Yaga and others.Each creature had a temper, quite whimsical.And to benefit from the invisible inhabitants of the world was greater than the evil people had to study them, to build relationships, to behave in a particular way.E. To accept the "rules of the game", which offered them inferior deities inhabiting the forests, rivers and mountains, to safely cultivate the land and hunting, breeding of bees and livestock, to fish and other fisheries, and simply - to live - not to grieve, to raise children, to strengthen their family.
oldie growth is small, but great strength ...
Lower deities inhabiting the forests, rivers and mountains, fields and meadows, had, according to the ideas of our ancestors, various guises.For example, custodians crops and crops - field workers - presents good-natured old men short, mischievous and impish.They were good farmers assistants, but often liked to tease people.
Spotting Polevikov could while mowing - he ran away from the sickle in the part of the field where there is not yet harvested corn.Or suddenly the peasant came nowhere grafted grandfather and asked - no less - to wipe his nose.If a person was smart enough to fulfill the request, he received a good reward.Thus, even the ancient Slavs understood and emphasized: the earth generously share their good with everyone, but only if the people are not afraid of hard work, not afraid to get dirty hands.Thus, the lower deities inhabiting the forests, rivers and mountains have not only oberezhnuyu, but also an educational function.
Yes, it was believed that there Polevikov son - hair grass.It monitors the cutting treatments and punishes careless peasants who missed the best time of the collection of grass.Hair grass can turn all the dead wood in meadows or so grass intertwine with each other, it is no longer possible to remove them.So, through the myths, the people cultivate diligence and respect for the gifts of nature.
Under the sky of Greece and Rome
Paganism as the type of thinking and means of knowledge of the world is typical for ancient cultures and civilizations.This is easily proved by comparing, for example, Slavic mythology and lower deity - satyrs and nymphs - from the mythology of ancient Greek and Roman.The first lived in the forests and mountains, wearing a beard and horns, tails and have cloven hooves.They personified the inexhaustible fertility of nature and the earth, playing the flute, loved wine, and are often harvested fruits and grapes for people or poured all of his horns of plenty.Lower deities (satyrs and nymphs, mollusks) are also the spirits of the forest and water, trees and ponds.The legends associated with them, are pronounced erotic color and sexual innuendo.This is due not only to the life and customs of the time, but also with the worship of the cult of birth, fertilization, the birth of all living things.By the way, you know they Slavic mythical creature was Lel - wonderful beauty boy playing the flute magic spring in fields, meadows, woods, when everything is blooming, fragrant and full of lust, love and the birth of creativity.
Visiting devil
important and rigorous forest god - Sviatobor.He oversees the orders in their possession, keep hunters and porubschiki not harm nature, were with her respectful and careful.The ancients knew exactly that if fishing during the spawning season, or shoot for the female animal with a baby, trouble is inevitable.Sviatobor and obey him inferior deity of the Slavs straightened with offenders nature, so much so, that will discourage others.Among his helpers were Sprites, turosiki, snitches, Svyda, frights, shishiga, Mavka and others.So, the devil takes the form of the clumsy stump, overgrown with moss, old man with a gray beard, wrapped in animal skins.He could imitate the sounds of the forest to lure hunters in impassable wilderness, confusing them, and could lead to the edge, where close to the human habitation.Knowing this, people going into the woods, trying to please his masters.Without need not cut down trees, break branches, do not kill living creatures more than needed for subsistence.Even fanfare is not raised, so as not to disturb the mysterious entities.
are going on the water
main deity of the river - the water is.He lives in lakes, marshes, streams.It is often represented by an old man with a thick scaly torso and a fish's tail.To put any structure on the bank of the pond water should have to ask permission.He maintained the purity of the springs and their healing power.Girlfriend beings were mermaids, carers field, water and forest.According to some myths, they were the souls of the drowned, while others - the spirits of natural elements and fertility.
