Need sources/info on Slavic pre-Christian symbols.

Fenika

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I'm trying to find more info on Slavic (specifically Polish) pagan symbols. Specifically those for basic elements like earth, sky, fire, etc, but at this point any will do.

I'm already aware of the Thunder mark and the Sun cross, but the first is too specific (for the god Perun) and the latter covers sun and fire typically (also associated with a god, fwiw). And of course, two elements don't make a set... (Apparently there is a circle with a dot in it for the sun itself??)

Anywho, the internet if of no help (surprise) and the books I've gotten on Polish mythology/religion previously had very short, disappointing passages.

I have the use of the US library system for free until the summer.

Please help :)
 

Rowan

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I think I have a reference book that covers this.... I'll dig around and see what I can find!
 

Fenika

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Cheers Rowan :)
 

TheIT

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Might want to tackle this from the symbol perspective as well as the mythology perspective. Instead of looking up "Polish symbols", maybe look up "symbols of fire" or equivalent and see if you get a hit?

I have a couple of reference books on symbols which might have something, but I think they're indexed by symbol shape rather than usage.

ETA: Would alchemical symbols do? I've seen lists of those which include all the "elements".
 

Fenika

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That might work if I poked around enough. I saw the 4 triangle symbols and liked those (I also like the symbols in the Fifth Element, lol).

Alchemical symbols might be good. I'll have to look into those.
 

StephanieFox

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I stuck the word 'Pagan' in my search and got a lot of stuff.

Try these:
http://www.vinland.org/heathen/pagancee/

http://culture.polishsite.us/articles/art297fr.htm

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Marzanna

http://forums.abrahadabra.com/showthread.php?2626-A-Polish-Pagan-Tradition-Approaches

And these: Slavic Pagan Resources
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Znayenko, Myroslava T. The Gods of the Ancient Slavs: Tatishchev and the beginnings of Slavic Mythology.
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"Slavic Mythology" in Funk & Wagnall's Standard Dictionary of Folklore, Mythology and Legend.
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Lang, David M. "The Slavs" in Mythology, an Illustrated Encyclopedia.
http://members.aol.com/HPSofSNERT/slavres.html


AND:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Polish_mythology





Gromoviti znaci or thunder marks such as these were often engraved upon roof beams of houses to protect them from lightning bolts. Identical symbols were discovered on Proto-Slavic pottery of 4th century Chernyakhov culture. They are thought to be symbols of the supreme Slavic god of thunder, Perun.[1]





By the way, if you are a little flexible, there's a lot out there on ancient Lithuanian religions, maybe more than Polish.
 
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Fenika

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Cheers, Stephanie! I will have to check all those out :)
 

jennontheisland

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I have a bunch of stuff that I collected... focusses more on Russia and the Ukraine, but the names of the gods are the same. PM me an email and I'll send you all my docs?
 

StephanieFox

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There are active Slavic Pagan groups in the USA and in E Europe. Google witchvox and see if you can find a contact. They may be able to help you. A lot of these folks do extensive research.