War Gods

The mythology of the upper class was a much more developed mythology. In fact, it was so different that one could almost call it a mythology on it's own.

The Baltic Slavs worshipped Svantovit. He was said to be the 'god of gods'. He took over the position of Svarog (Sky) to the more developed Slavs, he was considered to be the father of both sun and fire. Svantovit was a mighty warrior. A statue of him was discovered in Galicia in 1857. It was a miniature imitation of the original in Arcona, which is said to have been huge. A wine filled bull's horn was held in his right hand. A white horse was kept in the temple. There was a large sword, saddle and head harness for his horse beside him. Three hundred armed men worked at the temple with the priests. Before a battle, the war banner that was hung in the temple was shown to his worshippers.

Another war god found in a different area was Pyerun. His name varied from area to area. He was Pyerun in Russia, Piorun in Poland and Perkaunas in Luthania. Piorun is Polish for 'thunder'. His wooden idol was kept in Kiev until late in the tenth century. When associated with Pyerun, Zorya got the image of being an armed virgin, protecting the warriors while they are in battle.

Some other gods of war included Rugievit, who had seven swords hanging on the belt around his waist and an eighth in his hand. Yarovit, with his golden shield. Radigast, who had a double-edged battle axe and the head of a bull on his chest. He also had a swan with stretched out wings of his head.

Certain areas had instead of a Leshy (Spirit of the forest), a more war-like spirit. She was the god of the hunt. A young maiden with a pack of hunting dogs. The Serbians called her Diiwica, the Czechs Devana and the Poles called her Dziewona.