Summary page for Svarog, the Slavic god of fire and blacksmiths.
Pantheon:
Deity Of:
Sky, Fire, Blacksmiths
Archetype:
Creator: Svarog established laws for the world. He created the sun and the stars.
Sky God: He ruled the heavens and the forge. He oversaw the celestial realm known as Svarga.
Sage: He taught humans the arts of blacksmithing and crafting.
Protector: Svarog established laws to protect the order of the world.
Fire Deity: He was the god of fire and blacksmithing.
Other Names (a.k.a.):
Russian: Svarog (Сварог), Swarog (Сварог)
Slav: Jarog, Rarach, Rarog, Svarog, Svarogu, Swarog, Yarog
Ukrainian: Svarog (Сварог)
Other Pantheons:
Hindu = Tvashtr the creator of all living and non-living forms in Vedic religion.
Greek = Hephaestus the god of fire and blacksmithing.
God of Fire: Svarog was the god of fire.
Creator of the Universe: Svarog created the universe and established laws.
God of Blacksmithing: Svarog taught humans blacksmithing and crafting.
God of the Sky: Svarog ruled the heavens and the forge.
Patron of Blacksmiths: Svarog was the protector of blacksmiths and craftsmen.
Establishing Laws: He gave the first laws to humans, including marriage laws.
Celestial Deity: Svarog was often linked with celestial and creative deities.
Father of Gods: Svarog was the father of many gods, known as Svarozhichs
Parents:
Rod : god of Primordial Chaos, Creation, Light, Agriculture, Heaven, Fertility
Siblings:
Relations are derived from multiple sources where Rod was listed as the father.
Belobog: god of Goodness, Light, Fertility, Justice, Good Fortune, Beekeeping
Chernobog : god of Evil, Darkness
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:
Some accounts document Lada being his consort, however, this has little consensus and is widely disputed.
Lada: goddess of Marriage, Love, Fertility
Children:
Dazhbog: god of Sun, Light, Fertility, Abundance
Kresnik: god of Agriculture, Cattle
Lada: goddess of Marriage, Love, Fertility
Mokosh: goddess of Fate, Weaving, Fertility, Harvests, Earth
Perun: god of thunder, lightning, rain, warriors
Semargl: god of Vegetation, Agriculture, Fire, Moon, Hearth
Stribog: god of Wind, Air, Storms
Svarozhich god of Fire, Sun
Svetovid: god of War, Agriculture, Sun and Heavenly Fire, Wisdom
Ziva: goddess of Life, Fertility
Wise and Serene Elder: Svarog was depicted as calm and dignified, often shown as an old man.
Blacksmith with a Hammer: Artists often depicted Svarog as a blacksmith holding a hammer and an anvil, symbolizing his role in crafting and creation. He wore the attire of a smith, working in his heavenly forge.
Warrior: In times of war, Svarog was depicted as a warrior. He held a sword or a hammer in his hands, ready for battle.
Craftsman: He was known as the “beautiful-handed” god, a master artisan.
Symbols: His symbols included the hammer and the anvil, often depicted in art and crafts. The spinning wheel (Kolovrat) or Slavic swastika with eight prongs were also linked to him.
Weapons:
Svarog wielded a hammer, symbolizing his role as a blacksmith.
During war, Svarog was depicted with a sword in his hands.
Sacred Animals:
The horse was sacred to Svarog.
Symbolism:
The swastika, representing the sun and cosmic order, was associated with him.
The spinning wheel (Kolovrat) or Slavic swastika with eight prongs symbolized his power.
Various forms of swastikas appeared on embroideries, eggs (pysanky), and pottery.
Svarog’s symbols also included the hammer and the anvil.
Celestial Associations:
Svarog was connected to the constellation Orion, known as the Plough.
This constellation represented Svarog’s celestial realm and divine gifts.
Realms:
Svarog ruled the heavens and the forge.
He oversaw the celestial realm known as Svarga or Prav.
Svarga was a heavenly realm where ancestors lived after death.
Worship Places:
Sacred Groves: Svarog was worshipped in sacred groves.
Near Forges: Any forge or kiln was considered a shrine to Svarog.
Radogost, Poland: The largest shrine to Svarog was located in Radogost, Poland.
Slovakia and Czech Republic: Worshippers in these regions called him Rarog.
Elbrus Mountain: A temple with an altar stood on the slopes of Mount Elbrus.
St. Sophia’s Cathedral, Kyiv: Svarog’s symbols appeared in the frescoes here.
Rituals & Divinations:
Forging Metal Objects: Rituals included forging metal objects and lighting sacred fires.
Offerings of Crafted Items: People made offerings of crafted items to honor Svarog.
Sacrifices: Worshippers sacrificed horses and pigs, letting their blood fall into the fire.
Maintaining Sacred Fire: Rituals involved keeping a sacred fire burning, heating metal, and using a hammer and anvil.
Fire and Blacksmithing Rituals: Fire and blacksmithing rituals were used for divination in Svarog’s honor.
Crafting Tools: The process of crafting tools was a form of seeking guidance and blessings from Svarog.
Festivals:
Winter Solstice: Svarog’s festival was celebrated during the winter solstice, marking the return of the sun.
Plough Constellation: During the festival, the constellation Orion, known as the Plough, was prominent in the sky.
Plough Rituals: Rituals included bringing parts of the plough into homes and singing carols.
Family Gatherings: The festival was a time for family gatherings, where the patriarch led the ceremonies.
Creation: Svarog created the universe and the celestial realm.
Order: He established laws and maintained cosmic order.
Craftsmanship: Svarog was the god of blacksmithing and taught humans this skill.
Law: He gave the first laws to humans, including marriage laws.
Mythology Mentions
Creation of the Universe: Svarog created the universe and established laws.
Creation of the Sun and Stars: Svarog created the sun and stars.
Teaching Humanity: Svarog taught humans blacksmithing and crafting.
Heavenly Blacksmith: Svarog worked in his celestial forge, creating important tools and weapons.
Patron of Marriage: Svarog forged the first plow and wedding rings, symbolizing his role in marriage and agriculture.
Battles with Dark Forces: Svarog fought and defeated the Black Serpent, securing cosmic order.
Creating Celestial Realm: Svarog created the realm of Svarga, where ancestors lived after death.
Passing of Knowledge: Svarog passed his wisdom and attributes to the newborn gods, known as Svarozhichs.
Role in Agriculture: Svarog showed people how to plow and sow, ensuring good harvests.
Visit All Slavic Gods & Goddesses
- Valentin Moyseenko, Svarga The Stolen Symbol (Ukrainian) Сварга – вкрадений символ (Spadok (Ukrainian), 01 September, 2014)
- J.A. Coleman, The Dictionary of Mythology: An A-Z of Themes, Legends, and Heroes (Barnes & Noble, Inc., 2007)
- Mayevska Svitlana Vasilivna, Pantheon of Slavic Gods (Ukrainian) Презентація ПАНТЕОН СЛОВ’ЯНСЬКИХ БОГІВ – ТО НАШЕ НЕБО. (Na Urok (Ukrainian) «НА УРОК», April 01)
- A. Kononenko, L.P. Virovetz, Encyclopedia of Slavic Culture, Writings and Mythology (Russian Version) Энциклопедия славянской культуры, письменности и мифологии (Folio, Kharkiv, 2013) Pages 268-269
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- 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 107
- Galina Lozko, Слов’янський пантеон у світлі етнорелігійного ренесансу (“Об`єднання рідновірів України“, 1995-2024)
- Alexandra Barkova, What gods were worshiped before christinization? (Russian) В КАКИХ БОГОВ ВЕРИЛИ ДО КРЕЩЕНИЯ РУСИ? («Культура.РФ», 2013)
- Igor Ozhiganov, Slavic Gods and Goddesses (Russian) Славянские Боги и Богини (Naslediye Sluchkogo Kraya (Russian) “Наследие слуцкого края”, October 31, 2019)
- Editors of Spadok.Org.UA, Pantheon of Slavic Gods (Ukraine) Пантеон язичницьких богів слов’ян (Spadok (Ukrainian), August 17, 2020)
- Editors of Spadok.Org.UA, Sun Gods of Slavs (Ukrainian) Боги Сонця у слов’ян: Дажбог, Ярило, Хорс та інші (Spadok (Ukrainian), February 27, 2019)
- Editors of Drevnerusskiy Slovar, Сварог (Drevenrusskiy Slovar (Russian) “Древнерусский словарик”, 2010-2024)