Post by Bonobo on Sept 25, 2011 7:59:51 GMT 1
In 966 Polish prince, Mieszko I, was officially baptised and adopted christianity for himself, his court and all his lands. Poland joined other European nations.
However, the resistance to new faith was immense and Polish leaders had to put down a few rebellions. There was a period when Poland was on the verge of returning to former idolatry.
The Pagan reaction in Poland was a series of events in the Kingdom of Poland of the 1030s that culminated in a popular uprising. It was caused by dissatifaction with the economic situation and with the process of Christianization.
Pagan customs survived and we can still see the traces of them today.
The main Slavic god was ¦wiatowit - Powerful Lord:
Toppling old idol.
upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/3/3f/Bishop_Absalon_topples_the_god_Svantevit_at_Arkona.PNG/800px-Bishop_Absalon_topples_the_god_Svantevit_at_Arkona.PNG
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, Croatian, Slovenian, Macedonian and Bosnian, and alternative name in Bulgarian), Suvid (alternative name in Serbian, Croatian and Bosnian), Svantevit (Wendish, alternative name in Ukrainian and possibly proto-Slavic), Svantevid (alternative name in Serbian , Croatian and Bosnian), Svantovit (Czech), Svantovít (Czech), Svantovid (alternative name in Serbo-Croat and Bosniak), Swantovít, Sventovit, Zvantevith (Latin and alternative name in Serbo-Croatian), ¦wiêtowit (Polish), ¦wiatowid, Sutvid, Svevid, Vid and, incorrectly, ¦wiatowit, is the Slavic deity of war, fertility and abundance, sometimes referred to as Beli (or Byali) Vid, Beli = white, bright, shining.
He always carries his sword (sometimes bow) in one hand, and in the other a drinking horn. Svetovid had a white horse which was kept in his temple and taken care of by priests. It was believed Svantevit rode this horse in battle. The horse was used for divination. Victory in battle, merchant travels and a successful harvest all depended on Svantevit.
Many of modern researchers see Svetovid as a Rugian counterpart of the all-Slavic Perun common in Slavic mythology.
Appearance
Svetovid is associated with war and divination and depicted as a four-headed god with two heads looking forward and two back. A statue portraying the god shows him with four heads, each one looking in a separate direction, a symbolical representation of the four directions of the compass, and also perhaps the four seasons of the year. Each face had a specific colour. The northern face of this totem was white (hence Byelorus and the White Sea), the western, red (hence Chervona Rus'), the southern, black (hence the Black Sea) and the eastern, green (hence Zelenyj klyn)
However, the resistance to new faith was immense and Polish leaders had to put down a few rebellions. There was a period when Poland was on the verge of returning to former idolatry.
The Pagan reaction in Poland was a series of events in the Kingdom of Poland of the 1030s that culminated in a popular uprising. It was caused by dissatifaction with the economic situation and with the process of Christianization.
Pagan customs survived and we can still see the traces of them today.
The main Slavic god was ¦wiatowit - Powerful Lord:
Toppling old idol.
upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/3/3f/Bishop_Absalon_topples_the_god_Svantevit_at_Arkona.PNG/800px-Bishop_Absalon_topples_the_god_Svantevit_at_Arkona.PNG
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, Croatian, Slovenian, Macedonian and Bosnian, and alternative name in Bulgarian), Suvid (alternative name in Serbian, Croatian and Bosnian), Svantevit (Wendish, alternative name in Ukrainian and possibly proto-Slavic), Svantevid (alternative name in Serbian , Croatian and Bosnian), Svantovit (Czech), Svantovít (Czech), Svantovid (alternative name in Serbo-Croat and Bosniak), Swantovít, Sventovit, Zvantevith (Latin and alternative name in Serbo-Croatian), ¦wiêtowit (Polish), ¦wiatowid, Sutvid, Svevid, Vid and, incorrectly, ¦wiatowit, is the Slavic deity of war, fertility and abundance, sometimes referred to as Beli (or Byali) Vid, Beli = white, bright, shining.
He always carries his sword (sometimes bow) in one hand, and in the other a drinking horn. Svetovid had a white horse which was kept in his temple and taken care of by priests. It was believed Svantevit rode this horse in battle. The horse was used for divination. Victory in battle, merchant travels and a successful harvest all depended on Svantevit.
Many of modern researchers see Svetovid as a Rugian counterpart of the all-Slavic Perun common in Slavic mythology.
Appearance
Svetovid is associated with war and divination and depicted as a four-headed god with two heads looking forward and two back. A statue portraying the god shows him with four heads, each one looking in a separate direction, a symbolical representation of the four directions of the compass, and also perhaps the four seasons of the year. Each face had a specific colour. The northern face of this totem was white (hence Byelorus and the White Sea), the western, red (hence Chervona Rus'), the southern, black (hence the Black Sea) and the eastern, green (hence Zelenyj klyn)