Fun Fact Monday - The Cult of the Wolf

The cult of the wolf has long been an important part of Slavic history and mythology. It is strongly related to two major divinities: Dazhbog and Hors.

Dazhbog is one of the mightiest Slavic gods. He is the god of the Sun, rain, and the underworld, as well as the patron of miners, and the ancestor of all Slavs. He appears both in human and animal form, either as limping old man who often comes down to Earth to help and protect the humans, or a limping white wolf. The given features of the wolf are in no way random; in fact, they carry strong symbolism.

The fact that the wolf is limping does not imply its frailty; it indicates the strong connection between the wolf and the Moon. With the exception of the full moon phase, the Moon is always seen as incomplete, and this incompleteness is reflected in the wolf’s limping. As the phases change, so does the strength of the wolf. The wolf’s power is at its peak when the Moon begins to decline.

The color white symbolizes the fact that Dazhbog belongs to the underworld. In European folklore, the creatures and divinities residing in the underworld are almost always represented as wearing white clothes.

The myth of Dazhbog also includes the story of the son of Morana and Dazhbog, Van. It is believed that he is the original ancestor of Serbs. According to this myth, Morana wanted to take revenge against Dazhbog, so she blinded their son, and was severely punished in return. Boiling with rage, she cursed Van and made him transform into a wolf. Seven years later, his sister managed to lift the curse and help him regain his human form. This is one of the main reasons why Serbs used to believe they were descendants of the wolf.

As far as Hors is concerned, he is the god of the Moon and the morning sun, and is thus closely related to wolves. Being the god of the Moon, he is also the god of the night, which is the time of the day when wolves’ activity and strength are at their peak.

Belief in werewolves, inspired by this relationship between the Moon and wolves, was common among the Slavs long before Hollywood turned it into entertainment.    

After the conversion of Slavs to Christianity, the cult of the wolves survived, as wolves found their patron in Saint Sava, one of the greatest Serbian saints. Today, the significance of wolves is reflected in the common Slavic name Vuk (wolf) and numerous last names derived from this word. 

(images retrieved from www.pinters.com , video retrived from www.youtube.com Van-Vuk)