Stribog – Slavic God Of Winds Associated With Destruction, Harvest, Evil And Good

A. Sutherland  - AncientPages.com - In Slavic mythology, Stribog was the god of wind, storms, and air and an ancient deity of the heavens. He was a connector of heaven and Earth.

People largely depended on his actions because he could bring the frost and, somehow, also wealth while giving away the right part of the deal to the right person.

Therefore, he was often associated with the distribution of riches.

The winds were seen as Stribog's grandchildren, but he had control over them, and according to the beliefs of the Eastern Slavs, he was requested for successful winds.

As a powerful weather god associated with the atmosphere, Stribog could control lightning, whirlwinds, hurricanes, winds, and storms over oceans and seas on Earth. Stribog could also change weather and disperse clouds, stop a long season of rain, and send Yarilo-Sun with a longer period of sunny weather to warm the fields and gardens with his rays.

Each kind of weather, in general, was under his power.

Stribog In Folklore

Throughout history, our ancestors praised and honored him as the destroyer of people's evil deeds and intentions. He also had power over stars, and like the other atmospheric deities, he was a heroic fighter and powerful destroyer.

He launched devastating winds and terrifying, powerful gales and usually did not enjoy recognition among people.

In folklore, he could carry off girls and destroy homes and fields. Air vortices were considered dangerous; therefore, a thunderbolt was usually called for help by terrified people who did not understand ominous atmospheric phenomena.

Throwing stones, sticks, or knives was also practiced, and many suitable spells were used. The Slavs also knew the concept of the wind as a soul, but mainly the souls of people who died of unnatural death.

Stribog by Dušan Božić. Source

God Stribog, usually described as a thin older man with long, tangled gray hair and a very white-bearded beard, had many counterparts in various mythologies worldwide. He was often compared to the Hindu god Vayu (wind), a primary Hindu deity, the lord of the winds, who performed almost the same functions as the Slavic god Stribog.

Another counterpart was Ehecatl, the god of wind, very important in Aztec mythology and in Mesopotamian beliefs; Enlil was the Sumerian god of air, wind, and breath, while Njord (Niord) was a Vanir god of the seas, fishermen, ships and prosperity in ancient Norse beliefs, who was both feared and respected by fishermen and seafarers, as he ruled over the waves and winds. 

Ilmarinen was originally the Finnish pagan god of the air. He is often regarded as the god of air and weather, and his functions are closely related to those of Stribog of the Slavs.

However, Slavic beliefs in the power of wind varied greatly. Some believed that the wind was good and even holy. It was given human form or personality; it was charmed, often invited to supper, and honored as a deity associated with death, war, harvest, evil, and good.

Stribog was treated independently as an atmospheric deity in Slavic folklore and mythology. However, it is worth mentioning that he often served as a helper for the principal gods of the pantheon.

It does not mean, however, that Stribog (or his counterparts, who were also masters of winds, being a personification of the powers of nature) is not mighty. Severe damages inflicted on man and his work attest to powerful winds present on Earth since the beginning of time.

Written by – A. Sutherland  - AncientPages.com Senior Staff Writer

Updated on April 6, 2024

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