Unlike myths of Ancient Egypt or Ancient Greece, the mythology of Slavs initially was not connected with written tradition. Legends were handed down, and rare records about Slavic beliefs belong to a feather of Christian missionaries or belong to later eras. Therefore the pantheon of Slavic gods in modern representation is based on various scientific hypotheses and often is a subject of disputes.
Supreme gods
Scientists did not agree in opinion of whom exactly to consider the "central" figure of Slavic myths. According to some, "main" deities of Slavs god of heavenly fire, god smith Svarog was. Others incline that the main roles in a Slavic pantheon were played by god Thunderer and Perun and his eternal rival "skoty god" Velez. According to some myths Velez not only patronized agriculture, but also was god of a next world, he is called god of wisdom whose "grandchildren" are storytellers. There is a version and that the Supreme Slavic deity was triyedino and bore a name Triglava. Structure of "a divine Trinity" also a stumbling block among men of science. There are assumptions and that three above-mentioned gods entered it, and the fact that it were Svarog, Perun and Dazhdbog – god of the sun giving wealth and the power. Sometimes the third call Svetovid – god of fertility and, at the same time, war. You should not forget also that god - the creator in Slavic mythology is also Rod, and the goddess-mother – Rozhanitsa. Sons Rhoda call already mentioned Svaroga, Velez and their younger brother - Kryshen, god who is responsible for the light beginning and for communication between the world of gods and people.
The first written mention of Svaroga as Supreme deity, treats the 15th century. About it write in the Ipatyevsky chronicle.
Other important deities for Slavs were Yarilo and the Moraine (Moeran). Yarilo personified spring and revival, his sister, and at the same time the wife - the Moraine – winter and dying. According to myths, both of these gods – Perun's children who were born in one night, but the boy Velez stole and carried away in a next world. Every spring Yarilo comes back to the kingdom of live and celebrates a wedding with the Moraine, bringing to the nature revival. Marriage between these the brother and the sister, on beliefs of Slavs, brings the world and fertility. However after harvesting, in the fall, the Moraine kills the husband and it comes back in velesovo the kingdom of the dead, she grows old and by the end of winter dies that about the beginning of new year she will revive again. The myth about Yarile and the Moraine – cyclic, explaining a change of seasons. With fight between Perun and Velez Slavs explained origin of a thunder and lightnings. The reason on which god Thunderer pursued Velez who turned back a dragon, also a dispute subject between scientists. Contention happened or because of theft of the cattle (heavenly clouds and the related water), or because of kidnapping of the wife – the Sun (so, allegedly Slavs explained change of day and night).
The wedding between Yarila and Thin is celebrated on Ivan Kupala, in day of a summer solstice.
Other gods of a Slavic pantheon
Due to the lack of the uniform standard concept, it is difficult to divide "spheres of influence" of Slavic gods. So is called the goddess of love in different sources as Lelya sharing a title of the "spring" deity with Yarila, and Lada is a deity "summer", the patroness of marriage. The goddess of love Is also alive, too responsible for fertility. The "female" goddess call Makosh (Makos), it together with daughters of Shares and Pour in too little judges the fate of the person. Chernobog, as well as Velez, operates the world of the dead, I Will wind, its antipode – Belobog reigns over the world live, the Reality.
To imagine a uniform, harmonious picture of a Slavic pantheon, it is necessary to refuse the scientific point of view. Quite so Neopaganists whose beliefs are based on the "Book by Velez" which is allegedly written on the lost wooden plates of the 9th century and appeared in the second half of the 19th century arrive. Scientists consider a velesova the book falsification, and Slavic mythology - a secret behind seven seals, the field for guesses and the assumptions.