Summary page for Baba, the Slavic goddess of peace and tranquility.
Pantheon:
Deity Of:
Peace, Tranquility
Archetype:
Earth Mother: Symbol of fertility, health, and nurturing.
Protector: Defender of women, especially during childbirth.
Sage: Associated with prophecy and spiritual guidance.
Other Names (a.k.a.):
Russian: Baba (Баба)
Slav: Baba, Zlataya Mat
Vogul: Golden Old Woman, Zlotababa
Other Pantheons:
Paralleled with Frigg and Freyja in Scandinavian mythology.
Guided people with divine prophecy and wisdom.
Protected women, especially during childbirth.
Ensured fertility, health, and domestic well-being.
Offered answers through her temple’s sacred rituals.
Received offerings and devotion from locals and foreigners alike.
Brought tranquility and silence to her followers’ lives.
Parents:
None Known
Siblings:
None Known
Consorts:
None Known
Children:
All children were considered her grandchildren in mythology.
Some believed that Svetovid was her grandchild.
Depicted as a golden statue in the form of a woman.
Often shown holding a child, believed to be her grandson, Svetovid.
Sometimes shown leading another child by the hand.
Surrounded by musical instruments that played during her festivals.
Frequently clothed in furs, sacrificed by her worshippers.
Worshippers offered martens and sables as part of rituals.
Weapons:
No weapons were associated with Baba. She symbolized peace, protection, and nurturing instead of warfare.
Sacred Animals:
Martens and sables were sacred to Baba.
Worshippers sacrificed these animals and dressed her idol in their furs.
Symbolism:
Gold represented Baba, as her statue was made from it.
Musical instruments symbolized prophecy, believed to foretell the future.
The furs of martens and sables symbolized sacred offerings and wealth.
Celestial Associations:
Baba was not associated with any celestial bodies or stars.
Realms:
Her temple, located in the Obdorsk region, was a revered site of prophecy.
Worship Places:
Temple near River Obigo (Obege): Baba’s most famous temple, considered a prophetic site.
Obdorsk Region: The temple stood at the mouth of the river Obigo.
Elevated Places and Rivers: Cultic sites were often located on mounds or near rivers.
Rituals & Divinations:
Offerings: Worshippers sacrificed martens, sables, or personal items like clothing or hair.
Ceremonial Dances: Hunters performed dances near her idols during rituals.
Ritual Fires: Fires were lit near Baba’s idols during festivals.
Musical Prophecy: Instruments, such as gusli, played themselves, and priests interpreted their sounds to foretell the future.
Prophetic Temple: Baba gave answers, and her temple was famous for divinations.
Fertility and Protection: Associated with fertility, childbirth, and domestic well-being.
Matriarchal Era: Her worship likely developed during the matriarchal period.
Divination and Peace: Linked to prophecy, protection, and tranquility rather than cosmic events.
Visit All Slavic Gods & Goddesses
- J.A. Coleman, The Dictionary of Mythology: An A-Z of Themes, Legends, and Heroes (Barnes & Noble, Inc., 2007)
- G. Glinka, V. Zhukovskiy, A. Gilferding, Slavyanskaya Mifologia (Beliy Gorod, 2020) ЗЛАТАЯ МАТЬ, Page 19
- A. Kononenko, L.P. Virovetz, Encyclopedia of Slavic Culture, Writings and Mythology (Russian Version) Энциклопедия славянской культуры, письменности и мифологии (Folio, Kharkiv, 2013) Баба, Pages 202-203