Paganism is an echo of ancient times. It was ubiquitous. The Slavs were no exception. Slavic idols personified the gods. They were considered protectors and guardians of the home. And people became equal to the gods at special meals.
Types of idols
Slavs made figures of deities from wood. They were sure that the tree would receive the power of a god. And thanks to this, reliable protection of the house from evil spirits will turn out.
Slavic idols could be big and small. As mentioned, most often they were made of wood. But other materials were also used. Granite, metal, copper were popular. Noble Slavs made gold and silver idols.
Appearance
How the idols of the Slavic gods looked, we see in the photo. Some of them were made with several heads or many faces. Most of them looked normal, resembling a figure with a human face.
The clothes of the gods were carved from wood. Another part consisted of fabric materials and precious stones. Weapons were a must. Idol figureswere upright, were in a standing position.
Where were you
Slavic idols (on the photo below - one of them) had their own territories. Unlike the Greek gods, who had temples, everything was simpler among the Slavs. The idols were on high hills. There were sanctuaries called temples. Drop is an idol in translation.
The temple had a kind of fence. The sanctuary was surrounded by an earthen rampart. Sacred bonfires blazed at its top. The first shaft was hiding behind the second. The latter was the boundary of the sanctuary. The area between them was called a trebish. Here worshipers of the gods ate. They used sacrificial food, becoming like the gods. The Slavs believed in ritual feasts that helped them become equal to the gods.
The most beautiful idol
Speaking of ancient Slavic idols, it is worth mentioning Perun. He was the most revered god. And shortly before the baptism of Russia, in 980, his idol was in the capital. Luxurious full-length figure carved from wood. Perun's head was silver. And the mustache did not spare gold. This idol was the most luxurious among the others.
What happened to them?
Slavic idols are an indispensable attribute of priests. Some of them are kept in museums to this day. The rest were destroyed.
When the baptism of Russia took place, they began to get rid of idols. Paganism is recognized as a diabolical religion. And her trappings have no place next to Christians.
The same Perun, which is described above, was solemnly overthrown from his temple. Nothing remains of its former beauty. The god was tied to the horse's tail and beaten with sticks. The horse pulled Perun from the top of the hill. Beaten, having lost the remnants of his beauty, one of the most beautiful Slavic idols was thrown into the Dnieper.
Novgorod Perun was thrown with a rope around his neck. He was dragged between the Slavic army, and then cut into pieces and burned.
Found idols
Svyatovit is one of the lucky Slavic idols. It was found in relative safety. The deity was discovered on the Zbruch River, for which it received the name "Zbruch idol". This event took place in the middle of the XIX century. It was 1848 when this idol was discovered near the town of Gusyatin. On the site of the city there was previously a Slavic settlement. And judging by the huge sanctuary and its findings, human sacrifices were made before the idol.
The find was a tall pillar. Its length was about three meters. The pillar itself was tetrahedral. On each side there were numerous images. Three horizontal tiers personified the universe. Heaven, earth and the underworld are depicted on the idol. Four divine figures were carved on each side of the pillar. One of them is the goddess of fertility. In her right hand she held a cornucopia. To the right of the goddess is Perun. At least judging by his looks. An equestrian warrior with a saber on his belt. To the left of the goddess of fertility is another deity. A woman with a ring in her hand. A male figure was carved on the back of the pillar. This is how the Slavs represented the sky and the main gods of the pantheon.
Mediumtier dedicated to people. Round dance of men and women holding hands tightly. This is the personification of the earth and its inhabitants.
The lower tier depicts three male figures. All of them are mustachioed and strong. Underground gods on whose shoulders the earth rests. They keep her from tilting or falling.
Here is an idol of the Slavic gods (made of wood) was found more than a hundred years ago.
Interesting facts about the religion of the Slavs and idols
Slavs were not pagans. So called those who renounced their religion and speakers of a foreign language. Our ancestors were considered carriers of their own beliefs. They were Vedic. The word "to know" means "to know, to understand".
The most revered god of the Slavs is Perun. He was represented as an old man, very strong and strong. Perun rode across the sky in his chariot. He was the lord of the sky, the thunderer. Perun's main weapons are arrows, lightning and axes.
The old god loved sacrifices. He was content with killed bulls and roosters, as a rule. But in special cases demanded more. To beg for victory over the enemies, human sacrifices were made to Perun. Very young girls and young people. They were pure, which was exactly the kind of sacrifice the blood god needed.
Perun's wife was Mokosh. The only female goddess among the Slavs. Less bloodthirsty than her husband, she was content with honey and life as sacrifices.
Mokosh demanded respect from women. Friday was dedicated to her, when any business was forbidden. On Friday the women refrained from their troubles. charter violatorpunishment was waiting. An angry goddess could make her spin at night. Or just beat with a spindle.
Conclusion
Slavs were kind to their deities. The idols that have survived to this day prove this.
It is believed that Slavic paganism did not bring evil. It was kind, like Greek or Indian. But it is enough to read about bloody sacrifices to challenge this hypothesis.
Today too few Slavic idols have survived. The rest were destroyed. Whether this is good or bad is not for us to judge. Our task was to acquaint the reader with the idols of the ancient Slavs.
