Summary page for Triglav, the Slavic god of war, heaven, earth, and underworld.
Pantheon:
Deity Of:
War, Disease, Heaven, Earth, Underworld
Archetype:
Protector of his people.
Warrior god and defender in battles.
Underworld Ruler, overseeing death and the afterlife.
Sky God, connected to celestial forces.
Harvest Deity, ensuring bountiful crops.
Group:
Associated with Svarog, Perun, and Veles.
Linked to the cult of Svantevit in Slavic traditions.
Other Names (a.k.a.):
Baltic: Triglava
Eastern Slavs: Troyan
Russian: Triglav (Триглав), Troyan (Троян)
Slav: Trojanu, Tribog, Trigelawus, Triglav
Ukrainian: Triglav (Триглав), Trojan (Троян), Troyan (Троян)
Other Pantheons:
Compared to the Hindu Trimurti (Brahma, Vishnu, Shiva)
Ruled over the heavens, earth, and the underworld with his three heads.
Protected his people in both warfare and agriculture.
Ensured bountiful harvests and prosperity for his followers.
Played a key role in divination through rituals involving a sacred black horse.
Revered as a warrior god, often depicted riding into battle.
Worshipped in prominent temples, particularly in Szczecin.
Symbolized the balance between life, death, and the natural world.
Parents:
None Known
Siblings:
None Known
Consorts:
None Known
Children:
None Known
Depicted with three heads, symbolizing control over heaven, earth, and the underworld.
His oldest depictions date back to the Vedic period, showing him with three faces and horns.
Often shown with a golden veil covering his eyes and lips.
Statues of Triglav were made of gold and placed in temples. Multiglav (multi-headed) statues were common in southern and eastern Slavic regions. His statue in Szczecin stood on the highest of three hills.
An ancient three-headed statue of Triglav was found near Skradin on the Adriatic coast.
Associated with a sacred black horse used in divination rituals.
Weapons:
Temples housed war trophies like daggers, knives, and military relics.
Sacred Animals:
Associated with a sacred black horse used in divination rituals.
The black horse symbolized Triglav’s role in warfare and prophecy.
No mortal was allowed to ride the horse, kept under temple care.
Symbolism:
Three heads symbolized control over heaven, earth, and the underworld.
Golden veil covered his eyes, representing divine mystery and authority.
Number three emphasized his triadic nature and balanced power.
Number nine appeared in divination rituals, tied to military outcomes.
Black horse signified his connection to fate and divine judgment.
Celestial Associations:
Ruled over the heavens, symbolizing control over the cosmic order.
Realms:
Ruled over three realms: heaven, earth, and the underworld.
Governed the balance between the celestial (Prav), terrestrial (Yav), and subterranean (Nav) realms.
His three heads symbolized dominion over these distinct spheres.
Worship Places:
Szczecin (Stettin): Main temple on the highest hill, featuring a golden statue.
Wollin: Important temple dedicated to Triglav, later hidden by priests.
Brandenburg: Worshiped by the Slavs, statue destroyed after Christianization.
Skradin (near Sibenik): A three-headed statue found, now in the Museum of Slavic Antiquities.
Rituals & Divinations:
Sacred Black Horse Divination: Priests led a black horse over nine lances before battles. If the horse stepped without touching them, it signaled Triglav’s favor.
Golden Veil: Triglav’s statue had a golden veil covering his eyes and lips, symbolizing divine mystery and avoidance of human sins.
Prophecy and Warfare: Divination rituals using the sacred horse guided military campaigns, showing Triglav’s connection to fate and victory.
Associated with war and military divination through his sacred black horse.
Represented protection and balance between life and death across three realms.
Linked to cosmic themes as ruler of heaven, earth, and the underworld.
Viewed as a protector of harvests and his people’s well-being.
Mentioned in historical events, like Bishop Otto’s destruction of Triglav’s idols during Christianization.
Idol hiding from destruction at Stettin and Wollin symbolized resistance to Christian conversion.
Visit All Slavic Gods & Goddesses
- J.A. Coleman, The Dictionary of Mythology: An A-Z of Themes, Legends, and Heroes (Barnes & Noble, Inc., 2007)
- A. Kononenko, L.P. Virovetz, Encyclopedia of Slavic Culture, Writings and Mythology (Russian Version) Энциклопедия славянской культуры, письменности и мифологии (Folio, Kharkiv, 2013) Pages 280-282
- Yaromir Slushni, All Slavic Myths and Legends (Russian) Все славянские мифы и легенды (ACT, Moscow, 2021) Page 5
- Jan Hanuš Máchal, George Foot Moore, Louis Herbert Gray, Slavic Mythology: Folklore & Legends of the Slavs (e-artnow, Originally published 1922, Date Published 2020) Pages 87-88
- Galina Lozko, Слов’янський пантеон у світлі етнорелігійного ренесансу
(Обєднання рідновірів України, 1995-2024) - Editors of Spadok.Org.UA, Pantheon of Slavic Gods (Ukraine) Пантеон язичницьких богів слов’ян (Spadok (Ukrainian), August 17, 2020)
- Editors of Drevnerusskiy Slovar, Триглав (Drevenrusskiy Slovar (Russian) Древнерусский словарик, 2010-2024)
- Editors of Drevnerusskiy Slovar, Троян (Drevenrusskiy Slovar (Russian) Древнерусский словарик, 2010-2024)