Polish mythology

Polish mythology comprises beliefs and myths of ancient Poland, including witchcraft and elements of Paganism.

An early Polish settlement featuring an allocated place of pagan worship, which is located near the ancient complex of Poganowo not far from the Polish coast of the Baltic Sea, was unearthed and examined archaeologically as first of its kind only recently, by the scientists from the Wojciech Kętrzyński Museum in Kętrzyn. It is the only find of this type on the entire south-eastern coast of the Baltic so far. Other places of pagan cult and ritual by Slavs and Scandinavians are known from prior analysis of early inhabitation of Eastern Europe, however, these specific areas inhabited by early Polish tribes were not studied until recently. The worshiped statue discovered in Poganowo constituted one of elements of a stone circle, inside of which the little mound of loose stone was built and a hearth nearby. According to the analyses of fragments of bones, they constitute the remains of horses, deer, and much more rarely cows which were sacrificed as animals devoted to deities.

The Polish pantheon of pagan gods existed in direct relation to many Slavic supernatural beings found among the peoples inhabiting Central and Eastern Europe as well as the Balkans, including Rus people.

The Polish pantheon

Major gods

• Dadźbóg
• Jaryło
• Piorun
• Zorza

• Marzanna
• Świętowit
• Swaróg

• Triglav
• Weles
• Zaria

Other gods

• Białobóg
• Czarnobóg
• Dziewona
• Dzydzilelya
• Baba Jaga
• Kupała
• Lada and Lado
• Marzanna
• Matka Gabia
• Mokosz

• Oynyena Maria
• Percunatel
• Porvata
• Rodzanica
• Siliniez
• Sorrowful God
• Strzybóg
• Sudz
• Syrenka
• Tawals

• Zewana
• Złota Baba
• Zwezda Dnieca
• Zwezda Wieczoniaia
• Zwezda Polnoca
• Zywie

Polish supernatural beings

• Bannik
• Bieluch
• Boginki
• Djabelek
• Dogoda
• Dola
• Domowije
• Kikimora
• Lakanica
• Leshy
• Mamuna
• Mamony

• Mora
• Naw
• Neuri
• Nocnitsa
• Odmieńce
• Polewiki
• Południca
• Psotnik
• Raróg
• Rusałka

• Sky Women
• Smiercia - the spirit of death
• Strzyga
• Sudice
• Topielec
• Treasurer/Karzelek
• Wila
• Wodjanoj
• Zors

The Polish heroes

• Krakus
• Princess Wanda
• Piast the Wheelwright
• Wizymir
• Sobiesław (Prince of Dalen)
• Popielids
• Ciechan
• Princess Kunegunda
• Rytygier(king)
• Wars and Sawa
• Waleska
• Waligóra and Wyrwidąb

Polish folk magic

Main article: Polish folk beliefs

• Circles in Polish mythology
• Crossroads in Polish mythology
• Czarownica
• Divination in Polish mythology
• Fire Flowers
• Herbs in Polish mythology

• Ladanki
• The Magic Belt of Poland
• Matka Ziemia
• Pisanka
• Spoiling in Polish mythology

• Zagavory
• Zawlanie
• Znak
• Znakhari

See also

• Germanic mythology
• Norse mythology
• Slavic mythology
• Wendish mythology

External links

• Polish Gods and Goddesses Gallery

Further reading

• Chrypinski, Anna, editor. Polish Customs. Friends of Polish Art: Detroit, MI, 1977.
• Contoski, Josepha K., editor. Treasured Polish Songs with English Translations. Polanie Publishing Co.: Minneapolis, MN, 1953.
• Estes, Clarissa Pinkola, Ph.D. Women Who Run With the Wolves. Ballantine Books: New York, 1992.
• Gimbutas, Marijas. The Slavs. Preager Publishers: New York, 1971.
• Knab, Sophie Hodorowicz. Polish Customs, Traditions, & Folklore. Hippocrene Books: New York, 1993.
• Knab, Sophie Hodorowicz. Polish Herbs, Flowers, and Folk Medicine. Hippocrene Books: New York, 1995.
• Krasicki, Ignacy (tr by Gerard Kapolka) Polish Fables : Bilingual. 1997
• Leland, Charles Godfrey. Gypsy Sorcery and Fortune Telling. New York: University Books, 1962
• Zajdler, Zoe. Polish Fairy Tales. Chicago, Ill: Follett Publishing, 1959
• Sekalski, Anstruther J. Old Polish Legends. 1997
• Singing Back The Sun: A Dictionary of Old Polish Customs and Beliefs, Okana, 1999