Summary page for Stribog, the Slavic god of air, wind, and storms.
Pantheon:
Deity Of:
Wind, Air, Storms
Archetype:
Storm God: Stribog commanded storms. He brought both life-giving rain and destructive hurricanes.
Destroyer: Stribog brought destruction. He could destroy life and cause death through natural disasters.
Justice Deity: Stribog was linked to justice. He punished wrongdoers through the chaos of nature.
Group:
Svarozhichi: as a son of Svarog, he was part of the Svarozhichi group.
Other Names (a.k.a.):
Russian: Stribog (Стрибог)
Slav: Stribog, Stribogu
Ukrainian: Stribog (Стрибог), Strybog (Стрибог)
Other Pantheons:
Hindu = Vishnu, Shiva
Stribog is associated with Vishnu and Shiva. He embodies both creation and destruction, similar to these gods.
God of Wind and Air: Stribog was the Slavic god of wind and air. He controlled the movement of all winds.
Control Over Winds: Stribog commanded different winds, considered his children or grandchildren. These winds spread across the world, influencing the weather.
Destructive and Beneficial Forces: Stribog could bring both life and death. He sent nourishing rain and destructive storms. He was both a creator and a destroyer.
Control Over Weather and Natural Phenomena: Farmers and sailors prayed to Stribog for favorable weather. He could bring rain for crops or guide ships safely across the sea.
Symbolic and Cultural Significance: People worshiped Stribog at sacred sites near rivers and seas. His influence was deeply ingrained in Slavic mythology and culture.
Parents:
Svarog: god of Sky, Fire, Blacksmiths
Siblings:
Dazhbog: god of Sun, Light, Fertility, Abundance
Kresnik: god of Agriculture, Cattle
Lada: goddess of Marriage, Love, Fertility, Beauty, Spring, Harmony
Mokosh: goddess of Fate, Weaving, Fertility, Harvests, Earth
Perun: god of Thunder, Lightning, Rain, Warriors
Semargl: god of Vegetation, Agriculture, Fire, Moon, Hearth
Svarozhich: god of Fire, Sun
Svetovid: god of War, Agriculture, Sun and Heavenly Fire, Wisdom
Ziva: goddess of Life, Fertility
Consorts:
Meluzina: goddess of Fresh Water
Children:
Dogoda : god of Gentle Warm Breeze, West Wind
Podara: god of Hot Desert Winds
Poludnik: god of Warm Daytime Breeze
Polunochik: ghost of Cool Nighttime Breeze
Pozvizd: god of North Wind, Storm
Siverko: god of North Wind
Physical Appearance: Stribog appeared as a tall, thin old man. He had wings, gray hair, and a long beard. His eyes were black, with thick black eyebrows. He wore a long, dark gray robe and carried a whip.
Attributes and Symbols: Stribog carried a bow and arrows, symbolizing his control over the wind. His arrows were like the wind itself, swift and powerful. A bird named Stratim served Stribog. And he could take on its form.
He was also depicted as a gusli player, with a bow and arrows on his back.
Sacred Animals:
Stratim: A mythical bird associated with Stribog. Stratim embodied the forces of the winds. Stribog was able take on its form.
Symbolism:
Wind and Arrows: Stribog’s arrows symbolized the wind. His control over the air was represented by the bow and arrows he carries.
Wind and Strings: The wind was also linked to musical strings. With the wind playing the strings like a musical instrument. Thus, symbolizing harmony with nature.
Celestial Associations:
None Mentioned: There were no specific mentions of planets, stars, or constellations directly related to Stribog.
Weapons:
Bow and Arrows: Stribog wielded a bow and arrows, symbolizing his control over the wind. His arrows were swift and powerful, like the wind itself.
Whip: Stribog also carried a whip, reinforcing his role as a master of the elements.
Realms:
Sacred Rock: Stribog was associated with a sacred black rock in the middle of the sea-ocean. A place from which he sent winds to the world.
Yav (Earthly World): Stribog sent his winds to Yav, helping the sun fertilize the earth.
Mediator of Realms: Stribog acted as a mediator between the lower and upper worlds. Thus, connecting different realms.
Worship Places:
Kiev: In 980 AD, Prince Vladimir placed an idol of Stribog in Kiev for worship. The deity was honored alongside other gods on a sacred hill.
Open-Air Sanctuaries (Kapishcha): Stribog’s worship sites were often located near rivers or seas. These sanctuaries were open-air, marked by wooden idols facing north. A large stone served as an altar.
Rituals & Divinations:
Animal Sacrifices: Devotees sacrificed animals such as rams, bulls, and goats at Stribog’s sanctuaries. The animals were killed so their blood would flow onto the altar stone. The bodies were then burned in a fire before the idol.
Weather Prayers: Slavic people performed specific rituals to pray for favorable weather. Sailors prayed to Stribog for safe passage at sea, while farmers asked for rain to nourish their crops.
Weather Divinations: People invoked Stribog, often without directly naming him, to cast spells or perform incantations to bring rain or prevent droughts. These practices were meant to influence the weather in times of need.
Festivals:
Seasonal Celebrations: People celebrated Stribog’s influence during different seasons. In April, they welcomed him with warm breezes, while in summer, he brought life-saving rain. They also felt his presence in the changing winds of autumn and the cold breezes of winter. These weather changes marked the recognition of his power, though specific festivals were not mentioned.
Creation Myth: Stribog was born from a fiery whirlwind created by Svarog. He arose as the god of winds to fan the sacred flame.
Role in Nature and Seasons: Stribog’s influence changed with the seasons. He brought warm winds in spring and cool breezes in autumn. In summer, he sent rain to save crops, and in winter, he drove the windmills.
Destruction and Protection: Stribog appeared in tales as a force of destruction, much like Shiva in Hindu mythology. He was both a protector and a punisher, using his powers to maintain balance.
Cultural References in Literature: In the “Tale of Igor’s Campaign,” they called the winds “Stribog’s grandsons.” Slavic literature referenced him as a powerful deity who controlled the elements and interacted with the natural world.
Visit All Slavic Gods & Goddesses
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- A. N. Nikolayeva, Slavic Myths (Russian) Славянские мифы Мифы мира. Самые сказочные истории человечества (Bombora Izdatelstvo, 2023) Page 47
- Alexandra Barkova, What gods were worshiped before christinization? (Russian) В КАКИХ БОГОВ ВЕРИЛИ ДО КРЕЩЕНИЯ РУСИ? (Культура.РФ, 2013)
- Editors of Drevnerusskiy Slovar, Стрибог (Drevenrusskiy Slovar (Russian) Древнерусский словарик, 2010-2024)
- Editors of Spadok.Org.UA, Pantheon of Slavic Gods (Ukraine) Пантеон язичницьких богів слов’ян (Spadok (Ukrainian), August 17, 2020)
- G. Glinka, V. Zhukovskiy, A. Gilferding, Slavyanskaya Mifologia (Beliy Gorod, 2020) СТРИБОГ, Page 56
- Galina Lozko, Слов’янський пантеон у світлі етнорелігійного ренесансу (Об`єднання рідновірів України, 1995-2024)
- 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) Page 111-112
- 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) Page 5