r/slavic_mythology

In 1975, during the clearing of the Dnieper Riverbed just below the mouth of the Desna, an ancient submerged oak was raised from the river, into which nine wild boar jaws were embedded with the tusks facing outward. By the time archaeologists arrived, the boar jaws had been removed as souvenirs. Archaeologists managed to recover eight of the nine jaws. The oak trunk also showed well-preserved rectangular holes where the jaws had been inserted. The oak was nearly completely preserved (except for the upper branches) along with its roots. The trunk showed signs of fire damage. The wild boar jaws, placed at a considerable height in the correct order, as well as the fire marks (possibly from a ritual bonfire), suggest that this oak was a sacred tree used for rituals. Another similar find occurred in 1910, when an oak was raised from the bottom of the Desna River between Ostrov and Chernigov, into which four wild boar tusks had been inserted. This fact is noted in several works concerning Slavic pagan mythology.

From the book by G.Yu. Ivakin, The Sacred Oak of Pagan Slavs // Soviet Ethnography

The names I think I saw were:

• Triglav (Three-headed) - the god Triglav probably symbolizing the three parts of the Tree;
• Veledub (Great Oak);

Hi guys, I'm interested in slavic myths and practices from ex-Yugoslavia, there are not many books available, I actually

only know about the new books from Prof. Radoslav Katacic. I am not sure they were translated into English though.

Can anyone recommend some books to read? I am specifically interested in Slovenia and North-Croatia, but I would also like sources from other slavic countries and regions, so i can compare them.

I can read them in ex-Yugoslav languages, english and german. I have a bit of trouble with Czech and Slovak, Polish and Russian are quite hard to understand for me.

I am also interested in the history and practices of so called "Vedmas and Vedmaks", I am not sure I have ever heard the term in Croatian, a lot of mythical characters have slightly different names in ex-Yugoslavia, for example the famous Baba Yaga is called "Baba Roga" (horned old woman). She was my only contact with slavic myths, because when my grandma would scold me she would tell me that Baba Roga would take me, but when I asked her who Baba Rogs was, she described her as a rather positive character who just wanted to live on her own in the forrest and people who were passing by were bothering her.

Can someone recommend a reading starter pack for me?

Thanks everyone!

For example I know of mavka from Ukrainian mythology, does she appear in the mythology of other Slavic countries as well?

Hi everyone

I’m currently researching Slavic folklore for an art project, and I’d like to know if you’re familiar with any stories, traditions, or myths related to the transition from winter to spring, the cycle of the seasons, the cycle of life, renewal, or the themes of death and rebirth.

Thank you !!