For the ancient Slavs, gods and goddesses were of great importance. They worshiped and asked for help. Up to now, a large number of totems and various products with the image of patrons of different spheres of life have come down.
Famous Slavic goddesses
The Slavs, trying to explain many phenomena of nature and life, invented patrons for them, who were endowed with certain strengths and skills. Consider the most significant figures of Slavic mythology:
- Slavic goddess Mara was considered the patroness of fertility and death. She was also called the goddess of witchcraft and justice. There are several versions of its appearance. According to the most common variant, Mara, along with Lada and Zhivaya, were first-generation goddesses who emerged from the sparks of the Svarog hammer. This Slavic goddess was also called Morena. They portrayed her as a fair-skinned girl with dark hair and black eyes. Mara lived in a beautiful castle made of ice. In her submission were the spirits of water and cold.
- Lelia is a Slavic goddess of spring , sincerity and love. She was considered the sister of Lada. Lelyu was the embodiment of maiden's innocence and beauty. They portrayed her as a beautiful girl with fair hair in a clearing with different animals and flowers. Embroidered Lelia Slavs in the form of one of two moose, which stood on either side of Makosha. This goddess has a rune with the same name, which was deciphered, as liberation from negative forces.
- Vesta is a Slavic goddess of the sky . She was also considered the guardian of ancient wisdom. In some legends, Vesta is called the patroness of the renewing world. On the day of the Spring Equinox, national festivities were held in her honor.
Vesta was also the guardian of the home. She was initiated by a large number of temples, where they taught young girls. After the end of the training period, they believed that they were ready for adulthood. What is interesting is the goddess Vesta meets in the mythology of different countries. - Zhiva is a Slavic goddess of life and patroness of the world of Yavi . She was the wife of Dazhbog. They considered her the first female deity of the ancient Slavs. Represented her as a tall middle-aged woman with a busty bust. She could have ears, a sickle or fruit in her hands. Ancient Slavs I live represented with trees, flowers and other vegetation, and with forest animals. That is why its symbolic color is green, and stone - emerald . There is information that in ancient times in Ratibor there was a large temple with the idol of Zhiva.