Summary page for Pozvizd, the Slavic god of northern wind and storms.
Pantheon:
Deity Of:
North Wind, Storm
Archetype:
Storm God: Controlled tempests, winds, and atmospheric changes.
Destroyer: His storms could devastate crops, forests, and cities.
Other Names (a.k.a.):
Russian: Pozvizd (Позвизд)
Slav: Erisvorsh, Pohvist, Pokhvist, Posvist, Posvistach
Other Pantheons:
Compared to Aeolus, the Roman god of winds.
Fierce god of storms, winds, and bad weather.
Controlled tempests, rain, hail, snow, and cold northern winds.
Caused destructive weather, including violent storms and hailstorms.
Invoked in prayers to prevent bad weather and bring fair conditions.
Revered for his ability to control both harmful and beneficial weather.
Feared for his power to destroy cities, forests, and crops with storms.
Father to many sons, who also caused storms and destruction.
Central figure in mythology as the god of all atmospheric changes.
Parents:
Stribog: god of Wind, Air, Storms
Siblings:
Dogoda: god of Gentle Warm Breeze, West Wind
Consorts:
None Known
Children:
Multiple Winds: Pozvizd had many sons, all as destructive as him.
Pozvizd was portrayed with wild hair and a disheveled beard.
His face had an angry, wrinkled expression, often covered in frost and ice.
Shaking his hair and beard released torrential rain and destructive hail.
Wore a large, billowing cloak made of deer skin with wings spread wide.
His head was wrapped in white bear fur, and he wore eider duck skin on his feet.
His statue stood on the northern side of the temple of Svetovid, symbolizing cold winds.
Sacred Animals:
Wore a head covering made of white bear fur, symbolizing strength and cold northern winds.
Wore eider duck skin on his feet, symbolizing his connection to both air and water elements.
Symbolism:
Cloak with wings symbolized his control over winds and storms.
Fur sack represented his ability to unleash destructive weather like rain and hail.
His disheveled hair and beard symbolized chaotic storms, producing rain and fog.
Weapons:
Carried a batog (whip), used to control and direct the winds.
His true weapons were natural elements: storms, rain, hail, and wind.
Held a fur sack containing destructive weather like rain, hail, and snow.
Celestial Associations:
Controlled star-like snowflakes, metaphorically connecting him to celestial elements.
Influenced clouds and sky, indirectly linking him to the celestial realm.
Realms:
Lived on high mountains, symbolizing his dominion over storms and the skies.
Associated with northern regions, especially Scandinavia, known for harsh, stormy weather.
Worship Places:
Temple of Svetovid: Pozvizd’s statue stood on the northern side, symbolizing cold, stormy winds.
High Mountains and Northern Regions: Worshiped in northern, mountainous areas like Scandinavia, associated with harsh weather.
Rituals & Divinations:
Prayers for Good Weather: People prayed to Pozvizd to prevent storms and ensure “red days” (good weather).
Petitions to Avert Destructive Storms: Worshipers asked for protection from violent weather and harm caused by storms.
Featured in the Vladimiriada, boasting about unleashing storms, rain, and hail.
In the Vladimiriada, he described his power to destroy cities and royal courts.
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) ПОЗВИЗД, Page 49-51
- A. Kononenko, L.P. Virovetz, Encyclopedia of Slavic Culture, Writings and Mythology (Russian Version) Энциклопедия славянской культуры, письменности и мифологии (Folio, Kharkiv, 2013) “Посвист” Page 258
- Editors of Drevnerusskiy Slovar, Позвизд (Drevenrusskiy Slovar (Russian) Древнерусский словарик, 2010-2024)