Slavic Pantheon
Gods & Goddesses
Perun
Thunder‑Wielding Guardian of the Sky
Perun is the chief deity of the pre‑Christian Slavic pantheon, revered as the god of thunder, lightning, storms, war, and the sky. Often depicted wielding a mighty axe or hammer that strikes the heavens, he embodies both the raw power of nature and the heroic virtues of warriors, serving as a protector against chaos and evil forces. In mythic narratives, Perun battles the serpentine dragon Veles, whose attempts to steal his cattle and harvest symbolize the perpetual struggle between order and disorder, day and night, and the seasonal cycles that shape agrarian life. Temples and sacred groves dedicated to him were common across Eastern Europe, and his name survives in numerous place names, folk sayings, and linguistic remnants that echo his enduring influence on Slavic cultural heritage.
Veles
Shapeshifting Lord of Earth and Water
Veles is the Slavic god of the earth, waters, forests, cattle, commerce, and the underworld, embodying the fertile and shadowy aspects of nature that sustain daily life. Often portrayed as a shapeshifting figure—sometimes a serpent, wolf, or bear—he presides over the hidden wealth beneath the soil and the flowing rivers that irrigate fields, acting as a patron of shepherds, merchants, and artisans. In mythic cycles, Veles repeatedly challenges the thunder god Perun, stealing livestock, crops, or magical objects, which triggers a cosmic chase that culminates in thunderous battles symbolizing the tension between order and chaos, sky and earth, and the seasonal renewal of the world. His worship was rooted in rustic shrines and natural sanctuaries, where offerings of grain, honey, and livestock sought his favor for prosperity and protection against misfortune.
Makosh
Nurturing Mother of Fertility and Craft
Makosh (sometimes rendered as  Mokosh) is the ancient Slavic goddess of fertility, women’s work, and the earth, overseeing activities such as spinning, weaving, and childbirth while also guarding the harvest and the protective power of the soil. Often depicted as a matronly figure holding a spindle or a sheaf of grain, she embodies the nurturing and creative forces that sustain family and community life, linking the cycles of nature with the domestic sphere. In folklore, Mokosh is invoked to ensure safe deliveries, abundant crops, and the smooth operation of household crafts, and her veneration was centered around sacred groves, riverbanks, and hearth altars where women offered bread, milk, or woven goods in gratitude. Her presence underscores the integral role of feminine divine energy in the balance of Slavic cosmology, complementing the more martial deities of sky and thunder.
Svarog
Divine Blacksmith Forging Celestial Fire
Svarog is the primordial Slavic deity of fire, the forge, and celestial craftsmanship, regarded as the divine blacksmith who shapes the world’s order through the transformative power of heat and metal. Often identified as the creator of the sun and the source of all radiant light, he embodies the principle of constructive fire that both sustains life and enables human industry, linking the heavens’ brilliance with the earthly art of metallurgy. In mythic traditions, Svarog is portrayed as the father of Dazhbog, the sun‑god, and of the thunder god Perun, establishing a lineage that connects creation, illumination, and the enforcement of cosmic law. Worship of Svarog centered on hearths, furnaces, and sacred fires where offerings of iron, bronze, and aromatic herbs were made to secure his favor for successful smithing, protection against destructive flames, and the continued harmony of the cosmos.
Lada
Radiant Spring Goddess of Love
Lada is the Slavic goddess associated with beauty, love, springtime, and the blossoming of nature, often celebrated as the personification of the season’s renewal and the harmonious rhythms of courtship. In folklore she appears as a radiant maiden who presides over festivals marking the arrival of warmer weather, guiding rituals that honor fertility, marriage, and the gentle awakening of fields and forests. Offerings of flowers, honey, and freshly baked bread were traditionally left at her shrines—often situated near rivers or in open meadows—to invoke her blessings for harmonious relationships, bountiful harvests, and the overall vitality of the community. Though later Christianization merged many of her attributes into broader folk customs, Lada’s legacy endures in regional songs, dances, and the enduring symbolism of spring’s first blossoms.
Yarilo
Joyful Harbinger of Spring’s Rebirth
Yarilo is the youthful Slavic deity of spring, fertility, and the rejuvenating power of the sun, embodying the seasonal rebirth that awakens the land after winter’s dormancy. Often depicted as a handsome, exuberant figure crowned with blossoms or carrying a sheaf of wheat, he rides a white horse across the countryside, scattering seeds and heralding the return of growth, warmth, and abundance. Rituals honoring Yarilo involve dancing, singing, and the symbolic “kissing” of the earth—sometimes through the ceremonial striking of a wooden effigy—to invoke his blessing for bountiful harvests, healthy livestock, and vibrant new life. These celebrations, held at the vernal equinox or early May festivals, reflect the deep connection between agricultural cycles and communal hope in traditional Slavic culture.