Polish mythology
Encyclopedia
Polish mythology
comprises beliefs and myths of ancient Poland
, including witchcraft
and elements of Paganism
.
An early Polish settlement featuring an allocated place of pagan worship, which is located near the ancient complex of Poganowo
not far from the Polish coast of the Baltic Sea
, was unearthed and examined archaeologically as first of its kind only recently, by the scientists from the Wojciech Kętrzyński Museum in Kętrzyn
. It is the only find of this type on the entire south-eastern coast of the Baltic so far. Other places of pagan cult and ritual by Slavs and Scandinavians are known from prior analysis of early inhabitation of Eastern Europe, however, these specific areas inhabited by early Polish tribes were not studied until recently. The worshiped statue discovered in Poganowo constituted one of elements of a stone circle
, inside of which the little mound of loose stone was built and a hearth nearby. According to the analyses of fragments of bones, they constitute the remains of horses, deer, and much more rarely cows which were sacrificed as animals devoted to deities.
Over the millennia the Poles had to face up to mythologies of stronger nations which have often painted Poland's tribes – and their influence – in a negative way. For example in the Russian mythology the Poles are often cast in the role of their eternal enemy from the West, foreign invaders in pan-Slavic lands; or, as their own religious opponents plotting for the invasion of great Russia and for trampling down her traditional values. Nevertheless, the Polish pantheon of pagan gods exists in direct relation to many Slavic supernatural beings found among the peoples inhabiting Central
and Eastern Europe
as well as the Balkans
, including Rus people
.
Mythology
The term mythology can refer either to the study of myths, or to a body or collection of myths. As examples, comparative mythology is the study of connections between myths from different cultures, whereas Greek mythology is the body of myths from ancient Greece...
comprises beliefs and myths of ancient Poland
Poland
Poland , officially the Republic of Poland , is a country in Central Europe bordered by Germany to the west; the Czech Republic and Slovakia to the south; Ukraine, Belarus and Lithuania to the east; and the Baltic Sea and Kaliningrad Oblast, a Russian exclave, to the north...
, including witchcraft
Witchcraft
Witchcraft, in historical, anthropological, religious, and mythological contexts, is the alleged use of supernatural or magical powers. A witch is a practitioner of witchcraft...
and elements of Paganism
Paganism
Paganism is a blanket term, typically used to refer to non-Abrahamic, indigenous polytheistic religious traditions....
.
An early Polish settlement featuring an allocated place of pagan worship, which is located near the ancient complex of Poganowo
Poganowo
Poganowo is an Abandoned village in the administrative district of Gmina Kętrzyn, within Kętrzyn County, Warmian-Masurian Voivodeship, in northern Poland...
not far from the Polish coast of the Baltic Sea
Baltic Sea
The Baltic Sea is a brackish mediterranean sea located in Northern Europe, from 53°N to 66°N latitude and from 20°E to 26°E longitude. It is bounded by the Scandinavian Peninsula, the mainland of Europe, and the Danish islands. It drains into the Kattegat by way of the Øresund, the Great Belt and...
, was unearthed and examined archaeologically as first of its kind only recently, by the scientists from the Wojciech Kętrzyński Museum in Kętrzyn
Ketrzyn
Kętrzyn , is a town in northeastern Poland with 28,351 inhabitants . Situated in the Warmian-Masurian Voivodeship , Kętrzyn was previously in Olsztyn Voivodeship . It is the capital of Kętrzyn County...
. It is the only find of this type on the entire south-eastern coast of the Baltic so far. Other places of pagan cult and ritual by Slavs and Scandinavians are known from prior analysis of early inhabitation of Eastern Europe, however, these specific areas inhabited by early Polish tribes were not studied until recently. The worshiped statue discovered in Poganowo constituted one of elements of a stone circle
Stone circle
A stone circle is a monument of standing stones arranged in a circle. Such monuments have been constructed across the world throughout history for many different reasons....
, inside of which the little mound of loose stone was built and a hearth nearby. According to the analyses of fragments of bones, they constitute the remains of horses, deer, and much more rarely cows which were sacrificed as animals devoted to deities.
Central Europe
Central Europe or alternatively Middle Europe is a region of the European continent lying between the variously defined areas of Eastern and Western Europe...
and Eastern Europe
Eastern Europe
Eastern Europe is the eastern part of Europe. The term has widely disparate geopolitical, geographical, cultural and socioeconomic readings, which makes it highly context-dependent and even volatile, and there are "almost as many definitions of Eastern Europe as there are scholars of the region"...
as well as the Balkans
Balkans
The Balkans is a geopolitical and cultural region of southeastern Europe...
, including Rus people
Rus' (people)
The Rus' were a group of Varangians . According to the Primary Chronicle of Rus, compiled in about 1113 AD, the Rus had relocated from the Baltic region , first to Northeastern Europe, creating an early polity which finally came under the leadership of Rurik...
.
Major gods
- Dadźbóg
- Yarilo
- PiorunPerunIn Slavic mythology, Perun is the highest god of the pantheon and the god of thunder and lightning. His other attributes were the fire, mountains, the oak, iris, eagle, firmament , horses and carts, weapons and war...
- The ZoryaThe ZoryaIn Slavic mythology the Zorya are the two guardian goddesses, known as the Auroras. They guard and watch over the doomsday hound, Simargl, who is chained to the star Polaris in the constellation Ursa Minor, the "little bear"...
- MarzannaMarzannaMaržanna, Mara, Maržena, Morana, Moréna, Mora, Marmora or Morena is a Slavic goddess associated with death, winter and nightmares. Some sources equate her with the Latvian goddess Māra, who takes a person's body after their death...
- ŚwiętowitSvetovidSventevith, Sventovid , Svyatovit , Svyatovid , Svyentovit , Svetovid , Suvid Sventevith, Sventovid (Russian and Bulgarian, and alternative name in Serbo-Croatian), Svyatovit (Ukrainian), Svyatovid (alternative name in Ukrainian), Svyentovit (alternative name in Ukrainian), Svetovid (Serbian,...
- Swaróg
- TriglavTriglav (mythology)Triglav also sometimes called troglav is a deity in Slavic mythology.It is generally believed that Triglav, the highest mountain in Slovenia and Troglav, highest peak of Dinara in Bosnia and...
- Weles
- ZariaZaria (goddess)Zaria or Zoria is the goddess of beauty in Slavic mythology. A once-popular goddess also associated with the morning, Zaria was known to her worshippers as "the heavenly bride." She was greeted at dawn as "the brightest maiden, pure, sublime, honorable." She was also known as a water priestess...
Other gods
- Białobóg
- Czarnobóg
- DziewonaDziewonaDevana or Dziewanna is the Slavic equivalent of the Roman goddess Diana, whose name is said to appear very late in Slavic history. However, all her names that derive from Slavic translate to "The Maiden"....
- DzydzilelyaDzydzilelyaDzydzilelya is the Polish Goddess of love and marriage and of sexuality and fertility. She is similar to Venus, Aphrodite, Freyja and other goddesses of this nature.See also Polish mythology...
- Baba Jaga
- KupalaKupalaPolish Noc Świętojańska or Sobótka Russian, Ukrainian Ніч на Купала or Купало/Купайло and Belarusian Купала may mean the traditional fest or the name of a putative god...
- Lada and LadoLada and LadoLada or Lado is the names of a putative Slavic pagan deity of harmony, merriment, youth, love and beauty .The word 'Lado' does indeed appear in many Slavic and Baltic wedding and folk songs, particularly those sung during Ivan Kupala and other summer festivals. Its meaning, if indeed it has any, is...
- MarzyanaMarzyanaMarzyana is the Polish Goddess of the Grain, presiding over harvest and can be comparable to Demeter....
- Matka Gabia
- Mokosz
- Oynyena MariaOynyena Mariain Polish mythology, Oynyena Maria is the "Fiery Mary," a fire goddess who assists and counsels the thunder God Piorun.This divinity also appears with southern slavs, and is usually considered to be the sister of the thunder god/saint....
- PercunatelPercunatelPercunatel is a Polish goddess that is purported to be Piorun's mother.See also: Polish mythology...
- PorvataPorvataIn Polish mythology, Porvata is the god of the woods; he has no idol or image; and is manifest throughout the primeval forest. His sacred day is Tuesday and is connected with midsummer. He is thought to be one of the four seasonal aspects of Swaitowid facing south and ruling over summer.See also...
- Rodzanica
- SiliniezSiliniezSiliniez is a pagan wood-god from Polish mythology for whom moss was sacred; his altar fire was kept burning only with moss....
- Sorrowful GodSorrowful GodThe Sorrowful God in Polish mythology is depicted in pre-history sculpture sitting with his head in his hand, peaceful and contemplative. He is representative of the mature elder year god, unmasked, with the wisdom of a sage....
- StribogStribogStribog in the Slavic pantheon, is the god and spirit of the winds, sky and air; he is said to be the ancestor of the winds of the eight directions. The etymology of the name is disputed, see ....
- SudzSudzSudz is a Polish god of destiny and glory. Those born at the time when he strews gold in his palace are destined to be wealthy. When he scatters earthen clods, those born are destined for poverty....
- SyrenkaMermaidA mermaid is a mythological aquatic creature with a female human head, arms, and torso and the tail of a fish. A male version of a mermaid is known as a "merman" and in general both males and females are known as "merfolk"...
- TawalsTawalsIn pre-Christian Polish mythology, Tawals is a blessing-bringing god of the meadows and fields....
- Zewana
- Złota Baba
- Zwezda Dnieca
- Zwezda Wieczoniaia
- Zwezda Polnoca
- ZywieZywieŻywie, in Western Slavic mythology, was the goddess of health and healing. She is associated as the spirit of the dead worshipped by the Lusatians, and is also the goddess of regeneration and rebirth....
Polish supernatural beings
- BannikBannikBannik is the bathhouse spirit in Slavic mythology. Slavic bathhouses resemble saunas, with an inner steaming room and an outer changing room. A place where women gave birth and practiced divinations, the bathhouse was strongly endowed with vital forces...
- BoginkiBoginkiThe Boginki are spirits in Polish mythology. Traditionally, covens of old women would perform sacrifices and rituals for the nymphs of the riverbanks. Boginki were said to steal babies from their human parents that were replaced with Odmience – the Changed Ones...
- Djabelek
- DogodaDogodaDogoda is a mythological Polish spirit of the west wind, associated with love and gentleness.See also Polish mythology, Slavic creatures of folklore...
- Dola
- Domowije
- KikimoraKikimoraKikimora is a legendary creature, a female house spirit in Slavic mythology, fin: Kikke Mörkö , sometimes said to be married to the Domovoi...
- Lakanica
- Leshy
- Mamuna
- Mamony
- Mora
- NawNAWNAW may refer to:* National Assembly for Wales, a legislative assembly in the UK* National Assembly of Women, a British organisation campaigning for women's rights...
- NeuriNeuriAccording to Herodotus the Neuri were a tribe living beyond the Scythian cultivators, one of the nations along the course of the river Ὕπανις Hypanis , West of the Βορυσθένης Borysthenes , roughly the area of modern Belarus and Eastern Poland.-Herodotus's Account:In Herodotus's account, he states...
- NocnitsaNocnitsaThe Nocnitsa, or "Night Hag", in Polish mythology, is a nightmare spirit that also goes by the name Krisky or Plaksy. The Nocnitsa is also present in Russian, Serbian and Slovakian folklore. She is known to torment children at night, and a stone with a hole in the center is said to be a protection...
- OdmieńceOdmienceIn Polish mythology, the Odmieńce are the changelings left behind by the Boginki....
- Polewiki
- Południca
- PsotnikPsotnikPsotnik is an elf, "mischief maker", in Polish mythology....
- RarógRarógIn Slavic mythology, the Raróg , sometimes also known as Zhar Ptitsa or Żar Ptak, is a hawk, falcon, or fiery dwarf who turns himself into a whirlwind. The word 'Raróg' seems to be a late bastardization of the name Svarog. In Lusatia and the Urals it was customary to throw a knife into a whirlwind...
- Rusałka
- Sky Women
- Smiercia - the spirit of death
- StrzygaStrzyga-Origin::According to Aleksander Brückner, the word is derived from Strix. Compare with Strigoi a female demon with bird's claws who feeds on human blood...
- SudiceSudice (mythology)The Sudice are the "Fates" of Slavic mythology. Spirits of judgement that meted out fortune, destiny, judgement and in some cases, fatality, when a child was born. In Czech and Slovak languages, they are called Sudičky...
- TopielecTopielecTopielec , Vodník or Utopiec is a name applied to Slavic spirits of water. The topielce are spirits of human souls that died drowning, residing in the element of their own demise. They are responsible for sucking people into swamps and lakes as well as killing the animals standing near the still...
- Treasurer/Karzelek
- Wila
- WodjanojWodjanojIn Slavic mythology and Norse mythology, vodyanoy , vodyanoi, Belarusian vadzianik , Ukrainian vodianyk , Polish wodnik, Czech and Slovak vodník, Bulgarian and Macedonian vodnik , or Serbian vodenjak and Norwegian havmannen is a male water spirit...
- Zors
Polish folk magic
- Circles in Polish mythology
- Crossroads in Polish mythology
- Czarownica
- Divination in Polish mythology
- Fire Flowers
- Herbs in Polish mythologyHerbs in Polish mythologyHerbs are used in Polish folk customs. Do not use these herbs in any of the methods shown here without the approval of a qualified physician.-Belladonna:...
- Ladanki
- The Magic Belt of Poland
- Matka Ziemia
- Pisanka
- Spoiling in Polish mythology
- ZagavoryZagavoryThe zagavory or zagowory , in Slavic mythology are the verbal spells that were used the most effectively by folk magicians in their methods of spell work. They also used the whispers that were said to enchant objects. Verbal spells were burned or sent to the winds....
- Zawlanie
- ZnakZnakZnak was an association of lay Catholics in Poland, active between 1956 and 1976. It was the only Catholic organisation that was tolerated by the PZPR Communist party and supported the Catholic hierarchy....
- Znakhari
See also
- Germanic mythologyGermanic mythologyGermanic mythology is a comprehensive term for myths associated with historical Germanic paganism, including Norse mythology, Anglo-Saxon mythology, Continental Germanic mythology, and other versions of the mythologies of the Germanic peoples...
- Norse mythologyNorse mythologyNorse mythology, a subset of Germanic mythology, is the overall term for the myths, legends and beliefs about supernatural beings of Norse pagans. It flourished prior to the Christianization of Scandinavia, during the Early Middle Ages, and passed into Nordic folklore, with some aspects surviving...
- Slavic mythologySlavic mythologySlavic mythology is the mythological aspect of the polytheistic religion that was practised by the Slavs before Christianisation.The religion possesses many common traits with other religions descended from the Proto-Indo-European religion....
- Wendish mythologyWendish mythologyIn 1824 the Danish poet Bernhard Severin Ingemann published his thesis on North-Slavic and Wendish mythology in which he established the following pantheon:First line of gods :...
Further reading
- Chrypinski, Anna, editor. Polish Customs. Friends of Polish Art: Detroit, MI, 1977.
- Contoski, Josepha K., editor. Treasured Polish Songs with English Translations. Polanie Publishing Co.: Minneapolis, MN, 1953.
- Estes, Clarissa Pinkola, Ph.D. Women Who Run With the Wolves. Ballantine Books: New York, 1992.
- Gimbutas, Marijas. The Slavs. Preager Publishers: New York, 1971.
- Knab, Sophie Hodorowicz. Polish Customs, Traditions, & Folklore. Hippocrene Books: New York, 1993.
- Knab, Sophie Hodorowicz. Polish Herbs, Flowers, and Folk Medicine. Hippocrene Books: New York, 1995.
- Krasicki, Ignacy (tr by Gerard Kapolka) Polish Fables : Bilingual. 1997
- Leland, Charles Godfrey. Gypsy Sorcery and Fortune Telling. New York: University Books, 1962
- Zajdler, Zoe. Polish Fairy Tales. Chicago, Ill: Follett Publishing, 1959
- Sekalski, Anstruther J. Old Polish Legends. 1997
- Singing Back The Sun: A Dictionary of Old Polish Customs and Beliefs, Okana, 1999