Dazhbog

**Dazhbog** (Ukrainian: Дажбог; Russian: Дажьбог) is the Slavic god of the sun and miners.

## History

Dazhbog was one of six gods whom Prince Vladimir, ruler of then-polytheist Kyivan Rus', set up to consecrate his kingdom when he was coronated. The other gods were Perun (king of Heaven, god of thunder) and Mokosh (queen of the Earth), Stribog (god of the winds), Khors (another solar or lunar deity) and Simargl (a cosmic beast).

Khors may represent the Sun itself, while Dazhbog represents the Sun as the giver of life, hence his name "Dazhbog" meaning "the giver god".

In Serbia, he is depicted as a crippled god, and is also associated with the precious metals under the earth.

His father is Svarog, god of the forge and the sun. Perun, Stribog, Radegost, and Svarozhich are his brothers, and even the monster Simargl.

His wife is the goddess Zhivana, who controls vitality. She was worshipped by the Polabian Slavs who lived in what is now eastern Germany.

In some mediaeval Russian legends (such as the Tale of Igor's Campaign), Kyivan Rus princes were described as the grandchildren of Dazhbog.

## Worship

Slavic pagans venerated Dazhbog in several festivals. The most notable festival was on the Days of the Wolves, lasting for one week from November 5 to November 11 on the Day of Dazhbog, or Rasturnyak (the Dispersion). On that day, it was believed that Dazhbog sends the wolves on a great hunt.

In ancient times, people sacrificed meat to Dazhbog and the ancestors, who were represented by wolves. They also fed meat to wolves to honour the ancestors. Whoever who does not offer meat to the god and his wolves will have wolves attacking his livestock on winter.

On the final day, which is dedicated to Dazhbog himself, the head of the household bakes a sacred bread at night, offering the bread to wolves and the sun god. He then shares the sacred bread to his family in a supper.

Wool is not allowed to be worn on the Days of the Wolves, as that would mark the wearer as a target of the wolves.

Dazhbog is a popular deity among modern Ukrainian pagans.

## Relationships

Svarog is Dazhbog's father.

Perun and Svarozhits (the god of forge fires) might be his brothers.

His wife is the goddess Zhiva, the goddess of vitality and life.

## In the Rabydosverse

### God-King of the Far East

Dazhbog and Stribog are the two national gods of the nation of Rukania. As the god of the vast farmlands, he is represented by the gold or yellow colour and sunflower in the national flag. He is also the patron god of the Royal Family.

Sunflowers are a popular offering to Dazhbog. People gather and weave garlands of ten flowers to be burned for the sun god, while those who make garlands of a hundred flowers might have their wishes come true.

His animal, the wolf, is sacred to Rukanians. Rukanians also believe that he is accompanied by golden hounds.

The megastructure along the western coast of Darros was known as the "Wall of Dazhbog", as Dazhbog was the national god of Rukania, where the wall was first built. It spread north to the ends of Sevraeja, and south beyond Bulanabek and the frozen tip.

### Rukanian New Year, November 11

His sacred day on November is the traditional New Year's Day in Rukania, on November 11. Every new king of Rukania is crowned only on that day, to consecrate him to serve the Sun God, and on the month before the crown prince must create his own trident-emblem.

Wool is not allowed on the sacred month of November, so all Rukanians must wear synthetic clothing, cotton, silk, or sarasa cloth. Sarasa, the bark of a wetlands plant from Sevraeja in the north, is the most popular and affordable choice because it is easily and quickly produced in large amounts. So on November, people burn wool clothes as sacrifices to Dazhbog, and wear yellow sarasa and silk robes with wolf patterns in honour of him and the ancestors.

Ornate sacrifices of flowers, mutton, wool, grape wine, and venison, surrounded by garlands made from hundreds of flowers from all over the land, were offered every November and March to mark the New Years, offering the coming years to Heaven's blessings. In the royal palace and every major temple, devout Rukanians offer lavish offerings of wool, flowers, meat, and wine to be burned in open squares to celebrate the New Year, and only when the sacrifices are lit, then the fireworks are lifted to the sky.

Watermelons, a popular vegetable grown at the southern parts of the kingdom, are cut open in sacrifices to Dazhbog. Cutting watermelons open is a national tradition that marks the beginning of a celebration. In the New Year, the watermelons are cut open as soon as midnight arrives, and the torches burn the offerings. Then only will the fireworks be launched, and the festivities begin to usher a new year.

New Year's greeting cards often depict cartoonish yellow wolves wearing historical clothing, usually to celebrate heroes and ancestors. November 9 is dedicated to all heroes as Heroes' Day; and November 10, New Year's Eve, is known as Ancestors' Day.

### Tirrian syncretism, God of Engineers

Because Tirrians used to send their sons to learn architecture and engineering in Rukania, they associate Dazhbog (the national god of Rukania) with Matkarda, the Tirrian god of engineering.

In honour of their friendship, some Tirrians carve wolves' heads on their machines and carriages.

## Trivia

* Wolves are sacred to Dazhbog, as they are considered as the god's messengers.
* The golden hounds of Dazhbog in Rukanian myth were inspired by hellhounds and Gehenna's Golden Hounds in Warhammer Fantasy.
* His sacred colour is white, representing associations with the Earth, the underworld, and their riches.