The Elder Kiy

### Titles

Unknown, King of the Polyanians?, King of Kiev? (According to history), King/Patriarch of the Slavs? (According to the forgeries)

### Regin

500s or 600s AD (according to history), 1000s or 900s BC (according to the forgeries)

### Preceeded by

Orey the Elder (according to the forgeries)

### Succeeded by

Unknown, a dynasty of Kievan kings will rule until the times of Askold and Dir (according to history), Libidyen (according to the forgeries).

**Kiy**, as well as his brothers **Shchek** and **Khoriv**, and his sister **Lybid**, are described as the founders of Kiev, and play an important role in the Slavic forgeries. Though they are considered legendary, there are Byzantine records claiming that Kiy did indeed exist, and that he spent much time in the courts of either Justinian (527-565 AD) or Heraclius (610-641 AD) placing the time of Kiy in the 500s or 600s AD. The Slavic forgeries, however, say that there was an Elder Kiy and a Younger Kiy, and that it was the Elder Kiy who built the “Altirian Kiev-grad” (in the Alborz mountains) with his brother Shchek and Khoriv in the 800s BC. The Elder Kiy, therefore, is identified with the Persian folkloric figure “**Kaveh**”, and the Younger Kiy, therefore (according to the forgeries), is the one mentioned in Byzantine records, who built the modern Kiev we know today.

## In History

The first source mentioning Kiy, Shchek, and Khoriv was the Primary Chronicle of the Kievan Rus. It does not say when they built Kiev, but does mention that Kiy spent some time in Byzantine courts and that he got his education there, so it is reasonable to place the reign after the collapse of the Western Roman Empire.

#### From the Primary Chronicle

##### Original text (according to the Rasdiwiłł codex)

Поляном же живущимъ особѣ и володѣющим роды своими, яже и до сеа братья бяху поляне, и живяху кождо с родомъ своим на своих мѣстех и володѣя родом. И быша 3 братья, единому имя **Кии**, дрогому **Щекъ**, а третьему **Хоривъ**, и сестра их **Лыбедь**. И седяще **Кыи** на горѣ, гдѣ нынѣ Зборичевъ, а **Щек** седяше на горе, идѣже нынѣ Щековица, а **Хорив** на 3 горѣ, от негоже прозвася Хоривица. И сотвориша городокъ въ имя брата их старшаго и нарекоша Киевъ. И бяше около града лѣсъ и боръ великъ, и бяху ловяще звѣрь, бяхут бо мудри и смыслены, и нарецахуться поляне, от них же суть поляне Кыевъ и до сего дни.

##### English translation

In those times Polyans lived separately and were governed by own family clans; and so those brethren (of whom we will talk further) were also Polyans and all they lived by family clans in own places and each was governed independently. And there were three brothers: one was named **Kiy**, another – **Shchek** and third – **Khoriv**, and their sister – **Lybid**. The see of **Kiy** was the hill where today is Borychiv Descent, and see of **Shchek** was the hill which today is called Shchekovytsia, and **Khoriv** on the hill which was named after him Khoryvytsia. And they built a city in honor of their older brother and called it **Kiy**. Around the city there was a great forest and thicket and there were hunting for beasts and were those men wise and reasonable and they were called Polyans, from them the Polyans are to this day in Kiev.

## According to the forgeries

##### Identification with Kaveh the Blacksmith

Kaveh (also called Kavah or Kaweh) is a Persian king in Zoroastrian mythology. He is identified with the Elder Kiy by many believers in the Slavic forgeries, most famously by Alexander Asov. The main evidence is that it is said that the ancient Polish people worshipped a blacksmith-god named Kiy, and Kaveh is called “the Blacksmith”. The story of Kaveh also fits in pretty well with the account of Kiy in the forgeries.

##### From the Book of Yarillo

###### Original text

Вспомятованіє о знжденіє Кияръ-Градоу воленьемъ Велияровымъ такоже отъ сыны Арья Стара - **Кіемъ**, **Щецемъ,** да **Хорівомъ**.

Се бо яшемъ сію повѣсть о началѣ вѣликаего княженія Роускалоуніє, имя же ея есте Роуса Аланьска, идеже живяхомъ от старопрежьиня лѣты Вѣліяровым до ныняшиіє Боусовіє часи.

Сей же Вѣліяръ бѣ праоць нашъ, и тако рьче до ны, дабы идяхомъ до горехъ Бѣлехъ, ямо же Соуньце синдяшетъ, почиваяше въ ночи звѣздьной, бо гори сии дароуютъ мошть и дохновеніє, а земя сія плодородина, и течетъ овъдѣ млецемъ и мѣды.

И сьде о Вѣліцей Латырь-горѣ имяхомъ оудоль съ травы злачны, иде же цвѣтяшетъ вертъ Ирійськъ, и течяшоутъ воды живіє. И овъдѣ потаеное сьтворяется, и никъто же не оумьрашетъ.

И идеша сюдоу **сынове Ария-оця**, и зряхомъ, яко сей край благъ и соулезенъ вѣльми. И зряхомъ чоуды, яко Соуньце възыдяшетъ въ златыя своя чертози. Объратевьшеся же, речеша о семъ. И толѣ многія племяны и роди изволяша слежотворити по оны.

И, прендя сѣмо съ роди своя, Велияръ оконивъше ны поглавы и кънязи, дабы оныя соудяху на рядоу по оуиненіу вѣче. А старъшимъ надъ роусі поволялъ оустоети Арья Стара, от онаго же течяху роди Бѣлоярове и Святоярове, владяшеху отнѣли шірокымя стѣпьми и высокымя горама о земѣ Аланстей. И та доржава Роуська прострашетъся от Рая-рецѣ до Семивежья о горехъ Бѣлехъ. Такожде рече и, дабы дѣти от кънязя Арія овладяху поли от Доноу до Доуная Бѣлаго.

И егда вся сынове от Аріє, кънязи **Кій**, **Щек**, и **Хоривъ**, взыдеша вверхь Бѣлъ-Латырь гори, оузреша іє, яко мѣсто се исполнено благъ, и имяхоуся сьде реци, гобзовяша от рыбъ, а по бреземъ прострешася поля и леси, иде же имяхоуся многы звѣри и птіци от всяка рода.

И грядяше оная сьде градъ Гоулема Кіяръ, оный же нареченъ тако въ попямятованіє старьша братра, имя кояго іє **Кый**. А поздѣе братія **Щек** и **Хоривь** потечаху всякъ до земе своя. И от тыех братаріє тріє племяны славянскія исходяшоутъ.

И се бо земя ся начятъ имѣноватіся Роусю Арьянъстей, а от добраго нрава ея насельникъ - Роусю Аланьстей, бо арьевь дѣльма мілосердія и добледоушія нхъва тако же прозъвяху - аляны.

###### English translation

The remembrance of the construction of Kiyar-Grad (Kiev) under the influence of Veliyar, son of the Elder Orey, by **Kiy**, **Shchek**, and **Khoriv**.

And now, let us begin this tale from the founding of the great duchy of the Ruskolan, whose name is the Alanski Rus, and about where we live and of the ancient days of Veliyar the Wise until now: the times of Bus.

This Veliyar is our ancestor, and he spoke to us, to convince us to move to the white mountains, where the Sun sets, and where the sky is patched with stars in the night, for these mountains give strength and calm, and the land was fruitful, and it flows with milk and honey.

And here, at the great Altir-mountains, is a field with sweet(?) grass, where the garden of Iriy flowers and the living water flows. And here many secret things happen, and nobody ever dies.

And here came the **sons of father Orey**, and they saw that this land was rich and beautiful. And they saw miracles as the Sun set into its golden dwellings. They ran back, and told everyone about it. And the many tribes and families wished to see this land.

And, upon arriving there with their households, Veliyar strengthened the power of our chiefs and princes, and they now ruled over us with the will of a counsel. But the one in charge of the Rus was the Elder Orey, from whom descend the [clans of the] Beloyars and the Svyatoyars, who from then on ruled over the wide plains and the tall mountains of the old Alani. And this nation stretches from the Ra-River to the Semivedjiya by the white mountains. And he (Veliyar) wished that the children of prince Orey owned the lands from the Don to the white Danube.

And then all the sons of Orey, the princes **Kiy**, **Shchek**, and **Khoriv**, climbed the white Altir mountain, and they saw, that the land was full of all sorts of blessings, and there were rivers here overflowing with fish, and on the shores there were plains and forests, where there were many animals and birds of all sorts.

And they built the city of Great Kiyar (Kiev), [which was] called that in memory of the eldest brother, whose name was **Kiy**. and later the brothers **Shchek** and **Khoriv** each left to their own lands. From these three brothers descend three tribes of the Slavs.

And thus was the land called Rus Alanski: because of the kind manners of its inhabitants, “Rus Alanski (the kind Rus)”, for the Aryans, because of their soft hearts and friendliness, were called Alanians (kind people).

##### From the Book of Veles

###### Original text

(Plank 38 a)

І пакі бѣ вьліко студовеніе. Родіщі бо се праша о влідіщі. А мнозі рѣкша: «не ідемо до роду, іяко нѣсть оуспокоенія огніщаномъ, а будеме лѣпше самі в лѣсі, небоже горѣхъ търловаті». Се тоимі словесоі родіщі бѣша одътьрчена. А веліцѣ ся а діутоваті воліша се бгъ Сваръгъ. Наказуіущі, веліко смятѣніе горѣмъ удба.

А і словенсти в ноцѣ пробоудіша веліцѣм громом а земле дрѣжаніемъ. А се слоішіті комоніе горѣ вопіяшеті, страсѣмъ обуяті ся а слекпшнше са а ідоша вон селіе а овноі нехаша. А во утріе відеша домові розтърчена - еденъ горѣ, ін же долу, а ін во дірѣ вьлікоі земьскоі, а ні слѣду нехаті, іно боість. Боіша тои славіщі веліцѣ скуднои а жівотоі кърміті ніцѣм не імоша.

І рѣкша Ірѣі отці: «веді ноі врнъ!» і реклъ Ірѣі: «се аз есмь на воі со соіні моя». Рекоша ему: «Тая подлегнеме». А ідоша со **Ки**, **Щек** і **Хорав**, трі соіні Ірѣова, іну земь глядаті. А с тоиго поча род славѣнъ аж до днесь.

Якожде відѣті не да бгъ Даждь будоущяя смртноім, такъ да възхвалімо премоудросте іу! А старая взпомноімо, а та, о [щто] вѣмоі, речемо.

Предѣ бя родъ слвенъ у горіѣхъ веліцѣ воісоцхѣъ, тамо земле раті а дба овна і овча, храніті [і] поасіті в тревіѣхъ. Едінѣ ста, іже ліудіе пробудіть ся, а комоніе под облацоі страху вопіяшеті слоіша, а тоі, страхомъ объятли, убрежеті ся бо яшеті не можаху ся. Бя по сія мор я глд велік. А ізшед ізъ края інска, пред очі ідуща камо зрящеті, шедша мімо земе фарсисті, а ідша далецѣ, яко не дбана овцѣмъ земеѣ тая.

Ідша горѣма і відѣша кменіе, а тоія просъ не сѣяте, такожде мімо ідша. А зряті ступі квѣтна а зленая, тамо сташа лѣта два, а по німъ мімо ідша, понѣякъже хісніцоі поокаша. Мімо ідѣ каялѣ, іде ду нѣпрѣ, яко тои вскѣі прѣ граніщіті іма, а ворозі злоія преткновѣніе, бя на тои нѣпрѣ іматі.

Іма усѣдіті ся родъ слвень, а тои бя огніщані, якоже іма киждои діроу земну а огніще Сварогу слвіті а Дажьбгу, Ки же суть во сврзѣ прчстѣі; Перуну а Стрібгу, яковои громоі а бліскоі пвелѣваяі. І Стрібгъ вѣтріе яріті на земь ся іме. І тіоімъ, Ладо бгъ іже праві, Ладоі родовсти в благсті всящести. І Купалбг, яковои до моітніщі правіті імѣ а всящеская омовенія. А Яръбгъ, іже праві яроі квѣтна а русалі, і водніщі, а лѣсіщі, а домовіщі. А і Сварог тоимі праві. Всякъ ръдъ іма щуроі а пращуроі, якови суть пред вѣцоі умреті яша. Тоимъ бгъмъ почітаня імеме даті, а одъ ні радощ іміеме.

В поставі первѣе родъ слвенъ млбіще во грду інді Киву, еже рещенъ есть Кив. А вколѣ ему сѣліті іме ся.

А в лѣсѣхъ дубъвоіхъ лѣсіщі во вѣтвіехъ колісаті ся зачаша, а брадіе [іе] хмелемъ утчна і власоі въ травіехъ, тоі суть лістоі зелена. А мокошаноі, якоже въ подѣхъ спои, того до брадоі затоічена.

(Plank 31 b)

Іда домі сва, анда мі сушті. Да сватіта ся імено го - Індра. Ак бо то нес нас бга меше бгі а веді знашті. Так оспіем бяхом і оште го. А імамы стаді скотя, іж бренехом от злогобзя вісі, а та стады убржен бяшет.

А так семе го арецко, прідша од земе арсти до края інська. А тлуцемехом до прі дяті да раі трвня скот злі злащенія. Тамо вселіе вліко нас обояша.

А тамо рѣще отец глс аріув трі сына дѣляті на трі родя [і іда] іда до полудне а то западаню слонцевѣ. А т бясте Ки, Щк, а Хрів. А так пдѣлав кт ідша інь трі ръдя. Та сіда вськ до гмть сву, а Ки бо рще става грдо, а томо іме дано ес кіев. Тамо зіму жівахом а тецем овсьне сіц до плдне, а там скт псемо до првалѣта.

Аж че бъ къі відаі тоя не ізесащ хвалу бозѣм, тріклят буде. Слава в Паруні, бгу нашіему, іжь бо ны хранящъ, а такъ бъжъ здрівію датель, благі зъмны подающь. Тому бъ палім огнь вѣщень в граді новѣ на влхові, а на горѣ у лѣсов, а ть дубровѣ, божъ брезы, небъ дубія, понівадіжь бгі наше соуть в тому, яко даже есь даяті просяцім, а то ть, бъжъ, хваліхом.

(Plank 36 a)

Предрещено есь од старь щасе, якожде імяхомь сосполете со іня, творяще держевь велкоу од роде те. Імяхомь рускень нашю о голуніе, а трі сетне градіе і селя огніц дубнех дымь. Есь тамо і Пероуньіе нашь і земіе.

Се бр птыця я матр сва спіевашеть о дне тоіе. І ждехомь она на щасе сые, якове врщате се імять колы Свражье до ны. І щасе тоіе за све ідошуть до ны.

Рщехомь матр све, якожде бендехом брантете земь нашю лепіе венды, якве ідьша до западь суре і тамо преде врзе раящуть і хыбеню віру імуть, одержете се на ніе.

Боровынь бо реще яко есь сылень, а людь та віру імящеть о словесы тоі. А і не смьы глупене ізумлені а віере те не імохомь до те. Узрете ещьіе.

Венде, врентете се до земь нашіех о ступы древліе а глендете ещье пощаре іні, яко ве дне о ходу одо пентыріещеце і сесеріеще, кільбова о десунь отщецена од ны.

І та сьве птыця рещешеть, яко огень смарь понестще до ны і гьлоу порущешеть, да тоіе гореньбенье: «а бозе, Коупаліте а Дажде даждіте». Се бо те земе бедье розврзены і комоні поглцена, яко ізвяшуть сынове тоіе комоне про тще бозем, і то бозі о ступе ове і дасуніе даящуть, о се нь дбе іех.

Се імяхомь соуще те, а не за щас антевь. І тоі антыріе, одерзещь мещем многа, лежедь погебещь домь твеі, якождь домове в цуждіе не строящуть [і] іні.

Се бо Оре отець іде пренд ны, а Кіе венде за рущь, і Щеко веде племы све, а Хоревь - Хорвы све. А і земь бо грабенць на тоа, якве семы внущатіе бгве.

###### English translation

…and once again there was a great shame, for the patriarchs kept fighting about lands. And many said “We will not join our people, for there is not any relief from Ognishan (Orey’s old name). It would be better for us to be by ourselves in the forest or to roll off the mountains.” And with these words the patriarchs were rejected. And their hearts were thoroughly deigned to be indignant by the god Svarog, and he punished us and set up a great stirring in the mountains.

And the Slavs woke in the middle of the night due to the great lightning and rumbling. And the sounds of horses sounded from the mountains, and so we were scared and seized with fear, and so we ran from our dwelling places and left behind our sheep. And when morning came we saw that our homes were destroyed, one lied up there, another down there, and yet another, in a hole in the ground, and so not even a trace was left, as if it never was. The Slavs were then left without shelter and had nothing to eat.

And they said to father Orey: “Lead us out of here!” And Orey said to them: “I [will lead you], and my sons also”. And [they] said to him: “[we will] be obedient [to] them (the sons of Orey)”. and so they went with **Kiy**, **Shchek**, and **Khoriv**, the three sons of Orey, to go seek out land. From there is the beginning of the race of the Slavs, and it exists so to this day.

For as Dadjbog does not let us see the deaths of the future, so do we praise [his] wisdom! And we will remember the bygone [times], that which we saw, we will speak of it.

In those days the tribe of the Slavs lived in exceedingly tall mountains, [and] there [they] tilled the earth and took care of their rams and their sheep, they feed them and pastured them in the grass. But once it happened, that the people woke and heard all the horses under the clouds were making panicked noises, and they themselves. They tried to pull themselves together, but were not able to. After that there was great carnage and hunger. [And so we] left from the Iyrsky countries (between modern-day China and Siberia) and we wandered wherever we laid our eyes upon. They crossed the Farsisky countries (Persia) and continued past it, for that land was useless for our sheep.

[They] walked past mountains and saw [big] rocks in which nothing shines, and we passed by these too. But as we laid eyes upon the flowery and green steppes, we stayed there for two summers (years) but then we passed on from them, for there were [too many?] predators. We passed the [river] Kalaya and stopped at the [river D]niper, for it serves as a barrier in all wars (or "to all warriors"), and our evil enemies received many defeats on that same [D]niper.

The race of the Slavs needed a place to stay, and [their ruler was] called Ognishan, for he [made] a hole in the ground and great fire [was in it] (Ogon is the word for fire, compare to Vedic “Agni” and Latin “Ignis”) in praise of Svarog and Dadjbog, and all those who dwell in Svarga: Perun and Stribog, who control the great thunder[-clouds]. And Stribog controls the winds and sends them to our lands. And this [one too]: the god Lado who is right (Prav, one of the three planes of existence), who protects the tribes and who is benevolent. And [also] the god Kupala, who rules over the moitnišči(?) and [over the] various ablutions. And the god Yaro (Yarillo), who rules over the flowery spring and the mermaids (rusalki) and the water spirits (vodiniya) and the forest spirits (leshies) and the house spirits (domoviye). And Svarog rules over them too. Every tribe has Shuriys and Prashuriys (alluding to ancestor worship probably) who died centuries ago. And to these gods we should give praise, for they give us happiness.

And the first city the tribe of the Slavs, who then lived in a different city (i.e. one they did not build) built was Kiev, which was named after **Kiy**. And around this city people began to settle.

And in the oak forests the forest spirits (leshies) began to murmur in the branches, their beards are studded with [old] plants and their hair is covered in grass, they are [like the(?)] green leaves. [As for] the moisture spirits (mokoshanies), who sleep on the earth, their beards flow (the word “flow” here means “to flow like a river”, meaning their beards are described as “river-like”).

(Plank 31 b)

Go to your home, where you live, and praise his name - Intra, for this god gives us swords and the wise Vedas. Thus we sing about his glory. We also own flocks of livestock, who we protect from all those who wish to do evil to them, and so these flocks are protected.

And so, the Aryan people came from the Aryan lands to the Inski lands. And we began to fight, so we could get our livestock to the rich, grassy land. And there, a great pride seized us.

And there the father (Orey), the voice of the Aryans, said to his three sons to split up and go to the setting sun, these were **Kiy, Shchek, and Khoriv**. And so, they went to these other lands, and they were three tribes. And each settled in their own states, and **Kiy** wishes to build a city, and a name was given to it: “Kiev”. There we lived for the winter, then we walked until fall to the west, and there we graze our livestock, until the beginning of summer.

If anyone, who knows about all that (the history), [still] does not give praise to the gods, there will be disaster. Glory to him: Parun, our god, who keeps us safe, gives us godly health, and makes the land fertile. To him we burn the eternal fire in the new city (Novgorod) on the Volkhov [river], and on the mountains near the forests, and in the oak groves, in the godly birch groves or oaks, for our gods are there, for Dajhe (Dadjbog) gives to the needy, and that is why you, oh god, we worship you.

(Plank 36 a)

It is said about the ancient times, that we should join up with others, to create a great confederation from these many tribes. There was Rusken’ in Golun, and it had three hundred cities, and the sacrificial flames covered it all in smoke. There resides Peroun, [and where resides Perun] is our land.

Now the mother of all sings of those days, and we wait for that time, which will turn the wheels of Svarenjh (Svarog? Svarojhits?) towards us. Those days are coming.

We tell the mother of all that we will defend our land better than the Wends do, who went towards the west and there live and farm amongst the enemies and corrupt our faith, being tricked(?) by [the enemies]?

Borivin had said, that strong are the people who keep our faith and those words [are strong too]. We are not idiots who are lacking a brain, but we lack this faith. Observe further:

The Wends, upon returning to our lands, to the white steppes, saw our sacrificial fires, like in the days of the exodus from the five rivers and the seven rivers, which were taken from us by the demons.

That bird sings of all, because the fire has fallen on us and Golun will be destroyed, giving it burning: "the gods, bathe, and rain, fall!". This is why those lands will be destroyed, and their horses will be eaten, for they chose the children of horses to be their sacrifice to the gods. But the gods in those steppes give us demons, for we did not care about them.

Now, this trouble we had not in the days of the Antes. Now the Antirins, grabbing hold of many swords, perform burials in your own homes, for nobody builds cities in other’s lands.

Now Orey the father walks before us, and **Kie** leads the [ancestors of the] Rus, and **Shcheko** leads his tribes, and **Khoriv** leads his own. The march to those other lands, for we are the grandchildren of the gods.