Summary page for Chernobog, the Slavic god of evil and darkness.
Pantheon:
Deity Of:
Evil, Darkness
Archetype:
Destroyer: Unleashed darkness, cold, hunger, epidemics, and wars on the world.
Other Names (a.k.a.):
Russian: Chernobog (Чернобог )
Slav: Black God, Cernobog , Chernobog, Chiernobog, Czarnobog, Czernibog , Keremet, Zcernoboch, Zernebock
Ukrainian: Chornobog (Чорнобог)
Source of All Evil
All earthly evil and calamities came from Chernobog.
People prayed and sacrificed to him to avert disasters.
He caused misfortunes, including darkness, cold, hunger, epidemics, and wars.
He was the embodiment of death, darkness, and terror.
Eternal Opponent of Belobog
Chernobog constantly opposed Belobog, the god of good.
Their struggle represented the balance of good and evil in the world.
Ruler of Nav (Underworld)
He ruled Nav, the underworld, and was the lord of all dark forces.
His power extended over time and reality, able to manipulate both.
Parents:
Rod : god of Creation, Light, Agriculture, Heaven, Fertility
Siblings:
Belobog: god of Goodness, Light, Fertility, Justice, Good Fortune, Beekeeping
By Association – Other gods created by Rod were:
Svarog: god of Sky, Fire, Blacksmiths
Chislobog: god of Moon, Calendars, Astrology, Astronomy, Numbers, Time
Khors : god of Sun, Health, Hunting
Veles : god of Underworld, Cattle, Magic, Abundance, Knowledge, Travelers, Traders, Fertility, Agriculture
Zemlya : goddess of Earth
Diy: god of Sky, Death, Agriculture, Cosmic Order
Consorts:
Morana: goddess of Nightmares, Disease, Death
Krivda: goddess of Deceit, Falsehood
Children:
Karna: goddess of Mourning, Sorrow
Zhelya: goddess of Mourning, Sorrow, Death
In some accounts he is a parent of:
Viy – god of Lightining
Unclean Spirits and Creatures
Baba-Yaga
Chudo-yudo and Sea Wonder
Koshchay Bessmertny
Fearsome Appearance
Chernobog wore armor and had a face full of rage.
He held a spear, ready to cause harm and evil.
He had a jagged crown, a lead scepter, and a fiery whip in his hand.
Chernobog had black hair, deep blue eyes shining with evil.
His skin was as black as night, and he wore leather clothes that emphasized his cruelty and power.
Symbol of Darkness and Destruction
His idol was made of iron, and was seated on a black granite throne.
This idol had a terrifying face, full of rage, and is armored.
He embodied darkness, cold, ice, snow, frost, hunger, epidemics, plague, and wars.
He unleashed horrors and calamities on humanity.
He was the Great Black Serpent and ruler of the underworld.
Weapons:
Spear: Chernobog held a spear, ready to cause harm.
Lead Scepter: He wielded a lead scepter as a symbol of his authority.
Fiery Whip: He carried a fiery whip, representing his power to inflict pain.
Hammer: He used a hammer to strike the Alatyr-stone, creating unclean spirits.
Sword: He also used a sword to easily defeat his enemies.
Sacred Animals:
Horses: Sacrifices to this god often included horses.
Black Dog: A black dog symbolized Chernobog, gnawing at the harness of the solar god’s horses.
Symbolism:
Darkness and Evil: Chernobog represented all earthly evil and calamities.
Black Serpent (Dragon): He shapeshifted into his symbolic representation as a black serpent or dragon.
Symbols of Authority: He wore a jagged crown and held a lead scepter and fiery whip.
Celestial Associations:
Ursa Major (Great Bear): The black dog symbolizing Chernobog was associated with the constellation Ursa Major.
Realms:
Nav (Underworld): Chernobog was the ruler of Nav, the underworld.
Black Castle: He resided in a black castle, guarded by a three-headed dog.
Worship Places:
A specific temple dedicated to Chernobog was found in Chernihiv.
Temples made of black stone housed iron idols of Chernobog.
Chernobog’s throne carved from black granite was symbolized by the black stone altars.
Altars soaked with blood were used for sacrifices.
Rituals & Divinations:
People prayed and performed incantations to appease Chernobog.
Animal and human sacrifices included horses and prisoners. These were offered to avert evil.
They were killed directly on the blood-soaked altars.
At banquets, a cup was passed around with incantations in Chernobog’s name.
Festivals:
Day of Chernobog: Celebrated on the last day of February (Lyutich) in Ancient Rus.
Creation of Unclean Spirits
“At the creation of the world, Chernobog, imitating Svarog and challenging his supremacy, also struck the Alatyr-stone with his hammer. From this strike, black sparks flew, from which all the unclean spirits were born.”
Endless War with Belobog
“Chernobog always strives to conquer the entire world, but he never succeeds. Only for a time can either Belobog or Chernobog gain the upper hand.”
Black Serpent Form
“Chernobog took the form of a Black Serpent, defeated Simargl, but was later defeated by Svarog.”
Visit All Slavic Gods & Goddesses
- A. Kononenko, L.P. Virovetz, Encyclopedia of Slavic Culture, Writings and Mythology (Russian Version) Энциклопедия славянской культуры, письменности и мифологии (Folio, Kharkiv, 2013) 289-290
- Editors of Drevnerusskiy Slovar, Chernobog Bog Navi (Drevenrusskiy Slovar (Russian) “Древнерусский словарик”, 2010-2024)
- Editors of Drevnerusskiy Slovar, Чернобог (Drevenrusskiy Slovar (Russian) “Древнерусский словарик”, 2010-2024)
- G. Glinka, V. Zhukovskiy, A. Gilferding, Slavyanskaya Mifologia (Beliy Gorod, 2020) ЧЕРНОБОГ, Page 52
- Igor Ozhiganov, Slavic Gods and Goddesses (Russian) Славянские Боги и Богини (Naslediye Sluchkogo Kraya (Russian) “”Наследие слуцкого края””, October 31, 2019)
- J.A. Coleman, The Dictionary of Mythology: An A-Z of Themes, Legends, and Heroes (Barnes & Noble, Inc., 2007)
- Jan Hanuš Máchal, George Foot Moore, Louis Herbert Gray, Slavic Mythology: Folklore & Legends of the Slavs (e-artnow, Originally published 1922, Date Published 2020) 94-95
- Mayevska Svitlana Vasilivna, Pantheon of Slavic Gods (Ukrainian) Презентація ПАНТЕОН СЛОВ’ЯНСЬКИХ БОГІВ – ТО НАШЕ НЕБО. (Na Urok (Ukrainian) «НА УРОК», April 01)
- Yaromir Slushni, All Slavic Myths and Legends (Russian) Все славянские мифы и легенды (ACT, Moscow, 2021) 6