Perun & Veles; Gods of Ancient Slavs

By Cory Lutz

Last updated 05 May 2023

All across Slavic regions, for as old as time, lighting strikes were believed to be Perun attacking Veles. If lighting hit a tree it was said that Veles was hiding behind it. Slavic paganism is a mysterious religion with little remanence of its existence after the spread of Christianity across all of what is now Europe.

What we do know is that it is very similar to what we see in other European pagan religions like Norse Mythology. Perun can be seen as a version of Thor. Slavic paganism is argued to be traced back to the neolithic era. In Europe this is estimated around 7000 BC. There is so much controversy in this origination story as many ancient pagan cultures did not transcribe or leave evidence of practices. The only documentation that has survived are those recounted by christians much later.

There was one testimony of Perun existing around 500 BC. Perun god of thunder was described in the historical text, De Bello Gothico, written by the Roman Procopius. Germanic scholars have been known for propagandizing Slavs by mischaracterizing them as inferior beings. They would argue that the Slavs were not capable of creating a religion and therefore the creation of Perun was that of Rus settlers giving the indigenous peoples a Pantheon they could follow. The Rus migrated in 862 AD and the rumor began that it was of Vladimir I, who created the Slavic Pantheon. Vladimir would rule from 980 to 1015 AD and would also spread Christianity leading to the destruction of pagan statues around 988 AD. These dates do not back the claim.

Perun is known to many as the god of war, sky, thunder, lightning, storms, rain, law, fertility and oak trees. Certain Slavic regions claim Perun as the highest god of the Pantheon. Thursday is actually a tribute to "Thor's Day" known in Old English as Þūnresdæg. In Polabian (Slavic) this was known as peründan named for Perun the god of thunder or lightning. Slavs were known for carrying thunderstones for protection and engraving thunder on their structures.

Perun is seen as an older or middle aged man who is well equipped for battle. His hair is usually depicted as silver or white with a red beard. He can be seen carrying a war ax, a hammer, or his bow in which he shoots lightning tipped arrows. He is also known to ride through the sky in a chariot pulled by a goat. He is known as a warlord of men and has been attributed to conflicts or even treaties in the region in the common era.

Veles is the god of the underworld. He is often noted as the god of cattle, the hunter and protector of all domesticated animals. Older tales describe Veles as the god of wolves or the god of all animals. This is attributed to his ability to shape shift into the form of animals, most commonly a wolf or a bear. Veles is credited for the separation of the mortal realm and the underworld. This is said to be due to a treaty he made with a shepherd for his sacrifice. Veles is commonly described as a bald man with horns on his head.

War rampaged between Perun and Veles. The birth of Perun was said to be immediately followed by his obduction. He was taken as an infant and imprisoned in the underworld in his sleep. Perun remained asleep until he had grown into a man. He awoke to begin a battle of monsters and face trials to escape the underworld and claim the rule of all gods. The constant chaos of life or the circle of life can be attributed to Perun and Veles. There are several different versions of the tale that started the endless battle between the two.

Veles was ambitious and sought to climb to the top of the world tree in the shape of a serpent. His actions led the world into a drought. Perun fought and killed Veles with his ax releasing the rain from the sky and healing the earth. Veles was said to be revived from the dead and thus the storm cycle was thought to mirror the cycle of battle or life and death. The two gods would be fated to battle over and over for eternity. Every storm was to be caused by their battle and every rain from the death of Veles.

Other tales start the endless battle from Veles stealing Perun's wife or his cattle. This enraged Perun and he chased Veles around the earth. Each lightning strike witness by mortals was from this pursuit. Another version explains why we have seasons. It was said that Veles would kidnap the son of Perun and take him into the underworld. His son is the god of spring, fertility, and vegetation. Thus, he is eventually returned in time to give us spring and will be recaptured or returned to the underworld in the winter continuing the endless battle.