Slavic Paganism

The pre-Christian gods of the Slavs, led by the thunderer Perun.

c. 500 BCE – 1000 CE · Eastern & Central Europe · Indo-European Pagan

Slavic paganism was the polytheistic religion of the early Slavs, centered on the opposition of Perun, the thunder-wielding sky god, and Veles, lord of the underworld, cattle, and magic, amid a rich cast of household and nature spirits. Worship took place at open-air sanctuaries and seasonal festivals tied to the farming year. It was gradually displaced by Christianity from the 9th century but persists in folklore and modern revival.

Key figures

• Perun (thunder god)
• Veles (lord of earth and cattle)
• Mokosh (mother goddess)

Texts

• Oral tradition

Beliefs

• A storm god ruling the bright sky
• A rival lord of the underworld and herds
• Spirits dwelling in home, field, and forest

Rituals

• Seasonal festivals and bonfires
• Offerings to household and nature spirits
• Idols in open-air sanctuaries

Grew from

• Proto-Indo-European Religion

Connections in the atlas

• Rusalka
• The Primary Chronicle (Tale of Bygone Years)
• Perun
• Cyril and Methodius to the Slavs
• The spinners of fate
• The Slavs
• Leshy
• Norse sea and river roads
• The earth-diver
• The Norse
• Mara (the nightmare)
• The swan maiden