Slavic mythology refers to ancient paganism and polytheism. Pantheism is characteristic of it - a philosophy of considering nature and the cosmos in inextricable unity. According to the Slavs, the whole world is animated. Each brook and flower, tree and mountain has its own guardian spirit. And the Slavs prayed to them to obtain protection, patronage and support.
Slavic pantheon
Ancient deities were divided into higher and lower. The higher ones ruled the destinies of people and the world, and the lower ones had their small estates in various corners of nature and personified its elements. The appearance of these entities in mythology is explained by the way of life of the Slavs, their daily activities, work and life. Who are they, the lower deities who inhabited forests, rivers and mountains? We will list the main ones: fieldworms, water and goblin, quetoons, mermaids and kikimors, the notorious Baba Yaga and others. Each creature had its own hole, quite whimsical. And so that the benefits of the invisible inhabitants of our world were greater 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 deities offered them, inhabiting forests, rivers and mountains, so that they could cultivate the land and hunt without fear, raise bees and cattle, engage in fishing and other crafts, and simply - to live - not to push , raise children, strengthen their kind.
The old man is small in stature, but great in strength ...
The lower deities inhabiting forests, rivers and mountains, fields and meadows, according to the ideas of our ancestors, had a different appearance. For example, the keepers of crops and crops - field workers - seemed like good-natured old men of short stature, mischievous and mischievous. They were good helpers to farmers, but often loved to make fun of people.
It was possible to notice the field worker during the mowing - he was running away from the sickle in that part of the field where the still-unharmed life stands. Or, suddenly, a grandfather came from a farmer from where he came from and asked, no matter how much, to wipe his nose. If a person was smart enough to fulfill a request, he received a good reward. So, already the ancient Slavs understood and emphasized: the land will generously share its good with everyone, but only if people are not afraid of hard work, are not afraid to get their hands dirty. Thus, the lower deities inhabiting forests, rivers and mountains perform not only a protective, but also an educational function.
Yes, it was believed that the fieldman has a son - a meadow. He monitors the mowing and punishes negligent peasants who missed the time of the best harvesting of grass. The meadow can turn all mowing into dead wood or twist the grass so that it is no longer possible to remove them. So, through myths, the people brought up industriousness and respect for the gifts of nature.
Under the sky of Hellas and Rome
Paganism as a type of thinking and a means of knowing the world is generally characteristic of ancient
cultures and civilizations. This is easy to prove by comparing, for example, Slavic mythology and lower deities - satyrs and nymphs - from the mythology of ancient Greek and Roman. The former lived in forests and mountains, wore beards and horns, had tails and cloven hooves. They personified the inexhaustible fertility of nature and land, played flutes, loved wine and often harvested fruits and grapes for people or poured all this out of their
cornucopia. The lower deities
(satyrs and nymphs, naiads) are also the spirits of forests and water, trees and ponds. Legends associated with them are pronounced erotic coloring and sexual overtones. This is connected not only with the life and customs of that time, but also with the veneration of the cult of birth, fertilization, the birth of all life. By the way, Lel, a Slavic
mythical creature close to them, was a young man of wonderful beauty playing a magical flute in spring in fields, meadows, groves, when everything blossoms, is fragrant and filled with a thirst for love and birth-creativity.
Visiting goblin
An important and strict god of forest lands is Svyatobor. He observes the order in his possessions, makes sure that hunters and choppers do not harm nature, be respectful and careful with it. The ancient peoples knew for sure that if you catch fish during spawning or shoot at a female animal with a cub, trouble can not be avoided. Svyatobor and the inferior deities of the Slavs subordinate to him will deal with offenders of nature, so much so that it will not be disgraceful to others either. Among his assistants were gobbies, turosiks, informers, Svids, Kikimors, Shishigi, Mavki and others. So, the goblin took the form of either a clumsy stump overgrown with moss, or an old man with a gray beard, wrapped in animal skin. He could imitate forest sounds, luring hunters into impenetrable wilderness, confusing them, and he could also lead him to the edges of the forest, where you could easily reach human habitation. Knowing this, people going to the forest tried to please its owners. Unnecessarily they didn’t cut trees, didn’t break branches, did not kill animals more than was required for food. They didn’t even make any extra noise so as not to disturb the mysterious entities.
Going by the water
The main deity of the river is the water one. 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 buildings on the shore of the reservoir, you should ask the water permit. He kept the springs clean, their healing power. The creature's girlfriends were mermaids who patronize fields, water, and forests. According to some myths, they were the souls of drowned women, according to others - the spirits of natural elements and fertility.