A Guide to Slavic Mythology
Briefly about the infamous Slavic mythology
Last Updated
02/09/23
Chapters
16
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531
Swaróg
Chapter 11
Swaróg - a Slavic god who is associated with the heavens, the sun and fire, as well as blacksmithing. The only one of the gods whose existence is confirmed both in the West Slavic lands and in the East. The etymology of his name may be related to the expression "swarać się" (i.e. quarrel, get angry), although researchers look for the Iranian name of Swarog, where the word "hwar" meaning the sun can be found, while in Sanskrit "swar" means the sun, radiance, sky. Both the origin of the name Swaróg and chronicle comparisons to other deities show him as a solar deity. It is directly related to the sun and thus also to fire. He becomes the guardian of the home hearth, but also of the sacrificial fire (although the rituals accompanied by the sacred fire were not only characteristic of Swarog, but also of other gods, e.g. Perun, Weles). As a divine blacksmith, he forged lightning and supported Perun in the fight against his antagonist - Weles. In some versions, Swaróg was also the creator of the sun (hence his son, Swarożyc/Dadźbog, identified with the star closest to our planet). The Russian researcher R. Jakobson also compares it with the flame-eyed falcon Rarog. He was also the god of war for some time in the Veleti.