Summary page for Trigla, the three headed Slavic goddess of earth, heavens, and the underworld.
Pantheon:
Deity Of:
Earth, Air, Water, Heavens, Underworld, Time (Past, Present, Future)
Archetype:
Earth Mother: Symbolized land and water’s feminine essence.
Creator/Preserver/Destroyer: She embodied the creative force in universe and as a destroyer ensured that death was a part of natural cycle.
Moon Goddess: Linked to lunar cycles and time.
Protector: Guarded roads and travelers.
Other Names (a.k.a.):
Russian: Triglava (Триглава)
Slav: Trigla (Тригла)
Other Pantheons:
Paralleled Hindu Trimurti’s functions of creation, preservation, and destruction.
Ancient Slavs revered Trigla as the goddess of the earth.
She embodied the heavens, earth, and underworld layers.
She also symbolized creation, preservation, and destruction.
Trigla governed cosmic time and the flow of past, present, and future.
Lusatian Slavs honored her as the protector of roads and travelers.
She controlled lunar cycles, often holding a crescent moon symbol.
Priests used her black horse in divination rituals.
Followers worshiped her outdoors in natural settings, like fields and hills.
Parents:
None Known
Siblings:
None Known
Consorts:
None Known
Children:
None Known
Artists depicted Trigla as a woman with three heads, symbolizing earth, water, and air.
Her three heads represented mountains, valleys, and forests.
She also embodied the past, present, and future in her triple form.
She held a crescent moon, symbolizing her control over time and its cycles.
The black horse represented the unknown and mysterious aspects of time.
Priests used a black horse, her key symbol, in divination rituals.
Followers worshiped her outdoors, in fields and on hilltops, connecting her to nature.
People compared her to Diana Trivia, as both protected roads and travelers.
Weapons:
None Known
Sacred Animals:
Black horse: Trigla’s sacred animal, used in rituals of divination.
The black horse symbolized the unknown and dark aspects of time.
Symbolism:
Three heads: Represented earth, water, air, or past, present, and future.
Crescent moon: Symbolized time and its cyclical nature.
Black horse: Linked to darkness, mystery, and prophecy.
Natural elements: Earth, water, and air symbolized her connection to nature.
Time: Trigla governed the flow of time, symbolizing past, present, and future.
Celestial Associations:
Trigla was closely associated with the crescent moon.
The moon symbolized her control over time and its cyclical nature.
The lunar cycle reflected her influence on past, present, and future.
Realms:
Trigla embodied and governed the three realms: heaven, earth, and the underworld.
She primarily ruled the earthly realm, symbolizing land, water, air, and natural elements.
Worship Places:
Fields of Kiev: Open-air shrines in Kiev’s fields, featuring Trigla’s three-headed idols.
Brandenburg on Harburg Mountain: A shrine near Brandenburg, indicating worship among the Western Slavs.
Open fields and hilltops: Shrines were placed in natural settings, reflecting her bond with nature.
Eastern Slavs: Worshipped Trigla in outdoor areas, particularly fields, not in towns.
Rituals & Divinations:
Divination with a black horse: Priests used a black horse for prophetic rituals.
Prophetic consultation: They interpreted the horse’s behavior as divine guidance during uncertain times.
Open-air rituals: Rituals honoring Trigla were held outdoors, in fields and hilltops, emphasizing her link to the earth.
Creation: Trigla oversaw the creation, preservation, and destruction of the world.
Time: She embodied the past, present, and future, representing the flow of time.
Cosmic Order: She governed heaven, earth, and the underworld, maintaining universal balance.
Underworld: She was linked to the underworld but lacked detailed descent stories.
Visit All Slavic Gods & Goddesses
- G. Glinka, V. Zhukovskiy, A. Gilferding, Slavyanskaya Mifologia (Beliy Gorod, 2020) ТРИГЛАВА, Page 43
- A. Kononenko, L.P. Virovetz, Encyclopedia of Slavic Culture, Writings and Mythology (Russian Version) Энциклопедия славянской культуры, письменности и мифологии (Folio, Kharkiv, 2013) Тригла, Page 280
- Editors of Drevnerusskiy Slovar, Триглава (Drevenrusskiy Slovar (Russian) Древнерусский словарик, 2010-2024)