We keep on rolling with my Slavic Saturday posts, and this week, we’re continuing on the track of deities with the Zorza (or Zorya) sisters, goddesses of dawn and dusk.
(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 true names of the sisters in Polish are Zorza Poranna and Zorza Wieczorna, quite literally meaning morning dawn and evening aurora. They’re also commonly known by their more Russian names: Zorya Utrennyaya and Zorya Vechernyaya, but for our purposes, I’m using the Polish name, as I will be in the books.
Zorza Poranna, as her name implies, is the goddess of the dawn. In the morning, she opens the gate for her father, Dadźbóg (Dažbog), who is the god of the sun, so that he may bring his light to the world after spending the night in Nawia, the underworld. She was known both as a fighter and a patroness of horses, thus, the Slavs would pray to her in the morning to protect the day. In some myths, she was also known as the goddess of Venus.
When the day was done, her sister, Zorza Wieczorna, would then open the gates for Dadźbóg to return to Nawia (or his palace in some myths). She was also a warrior, so the Slavs would pray for her protection during the dusk, which was a dangerous time when demons would often emerge. Dusk was associated with the planet Mercury.
The sisters had another crucial role as well, and that was protecting the world from the god Simargł, a fire god who is depicted as a dog. He is chained to the star Polaris. If he were to break free, he would destroy the world, so the Zorza have an incredibly important role in keeping him in chains.
Along with Dadźbóg, the Zorza are considered to reside on a beautiful island in the ocean, sometimes joined by the north, east, and west winds (not sure why the other five aren’t invited). They are considered virgin goddesses, though some stories claim they are married to the god of spring, JaryÅ‚o.
That’s all I’ve got for the Zorza this week. When you watch the sunrise and set, though, think of them, and think of the important role they play in protecting us from SimargÅ‚.
*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 and as well as some creative freedom for my book series.