Last post, we talked about Stribog/Strzybóg, the Slavic god of the wind, and this Slavic Saturday, we’re going back to the earth. International Women’s Day was this past week, so we’ll be revisiting Slavic mythology’s most independent goddess: Dziewanna, goddess of the wilds and hunt (also known as Devana).
(June 2021 Updated) Note: If you enjoy Slavic mythology, check out A Dagger in the Winds, the first book in my Slavic fantasy series called The Frostmarked Chronicles. You can also join my monthly newsletter for updates and free novellas (such as the prequel, The Rider in the Night) set in the world of the series.
The Rebellious Goddess
Dziewanna’s story is a unique and interesting one. Like the winter goddess Marzanna/Morana, spring and war god Jaryło/Jarilo/Gerovit, and (perhaps) the spring goddess(es) Żywia/Vesna, Dziewanna is the daughter of both Perun, the god of thunder, and Mokosz/Mokosh, the Great Mother and protector of women. From birth, she was an independent spirit, riding horses (her symbol is a mare as well), becoming a skilled huntress, and taming wolves and foxes, who never left her side. All of this made it difficult for Perun to control her, and that’s where her story began.
Dziewanna’s love of her freedom turned into an obsession. Her unrestrained femininity, though, was unacceptable to the powerful male gods. Perun believed his daughter to be childish and arrogant. Her constant hunts and wearing her hair down (unmarried women were supposed to braid their hair) as a refusal to be married to any man angered him. Then she rebelled.
Regardless of who each tribe saw as the chief deity, Perun or Svarog/Swaróg, Dziewanna believed she should rule the three realms of the gods, the living, and the dead: Prawia (Prav), Jawia (Yav), and Nawia (Nav). When the gods got wind of the plan, Perun decided he’d had enough. He found her in the woods and roared so loud that her wolf allies were forced to flee, leaving the two of them to fight alone. Riding her mare and wielding either arrows or a spear, she charged her Father, but he was too strong.
Like most gods, Dziewanna was a shape-shifter. Being the witty goddess she was, she turned into a lioness in hopes of defeating her father. But Perun matched her. Again, she transformed, this time into a bird. But Perun became an eagle and caught her in his talons. In a last effort, she shifted to a fish and slipped from his grasp. Perun watched her fall and called upon Mokosz to catch her in a fishing net. His wife answered, and Dziewanna’s rebellion was over.
As punishment for her actions, Perun forced his daughter to marry his rival, Weles/Veles, god of the underworld, cattle, sorcery, and the lowlands. Dziewanna never wished to marry and resisted, but in the end, Weles turned himself into a basil flower and soothed her soul. The stories say that while they are not in love, the two remain a powerful pair.
Goddess of the Wilds
There were many protectors of nature in Slavic mythology, ranging heavily by region and tribe. Though it’s unknown exactly which tribes worshiped exactly which deities, Dziewanna’s role is typically considered over the most untamed parts of nature – especially among west Slavs. Her husband, Weles, held roles over much of nature among many tribes, as did Żywia and Vesna among others. While Żywia and Vesna, though, were typically more associated with the known elements of nature, Dziewanna represented the plants and (particularly) animals beyond.
These exact roles become muddled even more when you consider Dziewanna as a spring opposite (or one of the opposites) to the winter goddess, Marzanna. This tale, though regional as well, is similar throughout many Slavic tribes. In it, the deity of spring kills Marzanna around the spring equinox (often part of a festival called The Drowning of Marzanna) and brings the life of spring. Come autumn, though, Marzanna returns and kills the spring deity. The dead gods go to the underworld of Nawia until their return.
Dziewanna has also become a popular goddess among feminists in modern day when discussing Slavic mythology. She is a symbol of freedom against traditional women’s roles, with her hair free and her status as the wild goddess defying her father’s will. In this way, she’s a bit of an opposite to Mokosz as well. While her mother takes the traditional role as Perun’s wife and mother of many gods, Dziewanna very much does not.
Appearance
In general, Dziewanna is represented as a young maiden, still with her brown (or golden) hair down and a wolf or fox at her side. She may wear pelts of either of those animals or a bear, which is a symbol Weles. She sometimes has antlers or a crown made of them, symbolizing her role over nature’s animals.
As goddess of the hunt, she is typically pictured with a bow with arrows. This appearance can make her more combative than most other goddesses, but she is usually considered a friend to humans, especially women.
In The Frostmarked Chronicles
Since The Frostmarked Chronicles take their strongest roots with Polish gods (though others are present too), Dziewanna’s influence is strong in A Dagger in the Winds and later books in the series. Otylia, one of the two point-of-view characters, is a szeptucha (sorceress), the only one chosen to follow the goddess. Dziewanna has been pushed aside in favor of the worship of gods considered more powerful, but the wilds are everywhere. So is their protector.
Otylia’s personality draws heavily from her following of Dziewanna. She is independent and determined, but if Otylia is going to serve her goddess well, she must figure out Marzanna’s plans as she threatens spring. To do that, she’ll need help – something neither Dziewanna nor Otylia are fond of relying upon.
That’s all for this week’s Slavic Saturday. Be sure to keep a lookout for more posts next week, and if you haven’t seen the full series of posts, be sure to check them out.
*As always just a quick disclaimer. Slavic mythology is broad and not written in many if any primary sources, so there’s a variety of interpretations. The interpretations I’m using here are from the sources I’ve found to be reliable.