Veles is a major Slavic god of the underworld, cattle, wealth, magic, and the arts, often depicted as a shape-shifting serpent or dragon who rivals the thunder god Perun. He is one of the few Slavic deities whose name and functions are consistently attested across medieval chronicles, toponyms, and folklore, even though the original Slavic pantheon was never recorded in a single unified text. Below is a detailed look at his origins, roles, symbols, and the ways he was worshipped, plus answers to common questions.
Who Is Veles in Slavic Mythology?
Veles (also spelled Volos, Weles, or Voloh) is a chthonic deity associated with the earth, waters, and the underworld. Medieval sources, such as the Primary Chronicle (a Kievan Rus’ text from the 12th century), mention him alongside Perun as a god whose statues stood on a hill in Kiev. While Perun was the god of sky, thunder, and warriors, Veles ruled the lower world, cattle, and commerce. This opposition is not absolute—Veles was also a god of poetry and magic, and he was invoked in oaths by princes and merchants alike.
The name Veles likely derives from a Proto-Indo-European root meaning “wool” or “cattle,” linking him to pastoral wealth. In Old Church Slavonic texts, the word volos (hair) is sometimes used interchangeably with his name, reinforcing his connection to animal fur and the earth. Some scholars also connect him to the Baltic god Velnias, a devil-like figure, though this is debated.
The Myth of Veles and Perun
The central myth involving Veles is his eternal conflict with Perun. According to reconstructed Slavic mythology (based on folklore, songs, and comparative Indo-European studies), Veles would steal Perun’s wife, cattle, or children, and then hide in the branches of a great tree, in a cave, or beneath a rock. Perun would pursue him, hurling thunderbolts and splitting the tree, until Veles was forced to flee to the underworld. This cycle of theft and pursuit explains natural phenomena: the thunderstorm is Perun’s battle, and the rain that follows is Perun’s victory over the drought that Veles brings.
This myth mirrors the Vedic story of Indra and Vritra, and the Norse tale of Thor and the World Serpent, suggesting a shared Proto-Indo-European heritage. In Slavic folk songs, the conflict is often re-enacted as a ritual battle between a dragon (Veles) and a hero (Perun), with the dragon ultimately being defeated but never destroyed—he returns to the underworld, only to rise again.
Veles as God of Cattle, Wealth, and the Underworld
Veles’s primary domain was cattle and livestock, which in ancient Slavic economies represented the main form of movable wealth. Shepherds and farmers prayed to him for healthy herds, and the word volos (hair) was used in rituals to symbolize the animal’s coat. His association with wealth extended to trade: merchants swore oaths by Veles, and in the Primary Chronicle, the Rus’ prince Oleg invokes both Perun and Veles when making a treaty with the Byzantines in 907 CE, showing that Veles was a guarantor of contracts.
As a chthonic god, Veles also ruled the dead. In Slavic cosmology, the souls of the deceased traveled to the underworld, which was called Nav or Vyraj. Veles was the shepherd of these souls, guiding them across the river of forgetfulness. This role made him a psychopomp, similar to the Greek Hermes or the Norse Odin. In some folk tales, Veles appears as a wolf or a bear, leading the dead through the forest.
Symbols, Animals, and Appearances
Veles is most often depicted as a serpent or a dragon, but he is also associated with a bear, a wolf, and an owl. His primary symbol is the serpent, which represents his connection to the earth, water, and the underworld. In Slavic art, he is sometimes shown as a composite creature with horns and a long tail, or as a man with a bull’s head. The color black is sacred to him, as are the plants vlasatka (a type of grass) and volosatka (a kind of algae), both of which have hair-like structures.
His sacred tree is the oak, though he is also linked to the willow and the aspen. In some regions, a pole or a stone was placed at crossroads as a representation of Veles, where offerings were left. The number nine is associated with him, as it is with many underworld deities in Slavic lore.
Worship and Rituals
There is no evidence of a formal temple dedicated to Veles, unlike Perun, who had a hilltop shrine in Kiev. Instead, Veles was worshipped in natural settings: near rivers, in groves, or at crossroads. Offerings included grain, honey, milk, and the blood of cattle. During the festival of Velesova noč (Veles’s Night), which some scholars place in late autumn or early winter, people would light bonfires and leave food for the dead, believing that Veles opened the gates between worlds.
In folk Christianity, Veles was often syncretized with Saint Nicholas (Nikola), who is the patron of shepherds and travelers in Eastern Orthodox tradition. This blending is evident in the similarity of their names (Volos and Nikola) and their shared role as protectors of cattle. In some regions, the Christian saint Vlasius (Saint Blaise) also absorbed Veles’s attributes, and his feast day (February 11) was celebrated with cattle blessings.
Veles in Modern Slavic Paganism
With the revival of Slavic native faith (Rodnovery) in the 20th and 21st centuries, Veles has regained popularity as a deity of wisdom, magic, and the underworld. Modern practitioners often honor him during the winter solstice and at the festival of Maslenitsa (which has pre-Christian roots). They may leave offerings of bread, beer, or coins at crossroads, and some use his symbol—a downward-pointing triangle with a line—as a talisman.
It is important to note that modern reconstructions are not directly inherited from ancient practice; they are based on scholarly research and creative interpretation. There is no continuous, unbroken tradition of Veles worship from pre-Christian times to the present, so contemporary rituals vary widely among different Rodnover groups.
Common Misconceptions and Regional Variations
One common misconception is that Veles was a purely evil deity, akin to the Christian devil. This view stems from later Christian writers who demonized all pagan gods, and from the fact that Veles’s name was sometimes used as a synonym for the devil in medieval texts. However, in the original Slavic worldview, Veles was not evil—he was a necessary counterpart to Perun, representing the fertile earth and the cycle of death and rebirth.
Another misconception is that Veles and Perun were enemies in the same way that Satan and God are enemies. In Slavic mythology, the conflict between the two is more like a cosmic game or a seasonal cycle: Veles steals, Perun chases, and the world is renewed. There is no concept of eternal damnation or absolute evil.
Regional variations exist in the spelling and pronunciation of his name: Volos in Russian, Weles in Polish, Veles in Czech and Slovak, and Volos in Ukrainian. In some South Slavic traditions, he is known as Vlas or Vlasije.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Veles the same as the devil?
No, Veles is not the devil. In pre-Christian Slavic religion, he was a complex deity of the underworld, cattle, and magic, who was neither purely good nor purely evil. After Christianization, some texts used his name to translate the concept of the devil, but this was a polemical move, not a reflection of his original nature.
What is Veles’s relationship to Perun?
Veles and Perun are cosmic opposites: Perun is the sky god of thunder and order, while Veles is the earth god of chaos and fertility. Their eternal conflict—where Veles steals and Perun pursues—represents the natural cycle of storms, drought, and renewal. They are not enemies in a moral sense but complementary forces.
Why is Veles associated with cattle?
In ancient Slavic economies, cattle were the primary form of wealth, and Veles was the god who protected and multiplied herds. His name is etymologically linked to words for “wool” and “hair,” and shepherds made offerings to him for healthy flocks. This association also extended to trade and contracts, as merchants invoked him as a guarantor.
Did Veles have a temple?
No archaeological evidence of a temple dedicated to Veles has been found. Unlike Perun, who had a hilltop shrine in Kiev, Veles was worshipped in natural places: near rivers, in groves, and at crossroads. This reflects his chthonic nature, as he was closer to the earth and the underworld.
How is Veles worshipped today?
Modern Rodnover (Slavic native faith) groups honor Veles with offerings of bread, beer, and coins at crossroads or near trees. They celebrate him during the winter solstice and at Maslenitsa, and some use his symbol as a talisman. However, these practices are reconstructions, not unbroken traditions.
What is Veles’s symbol?
Veles’s primary symbol is the serpent, but he is also associated with the bear, the wolf, and the owl. In modern Rodnovery, a downward-pointing triangle with a line through it is often used as his symbol, though this is a contemporary creation, not an ancient artifact.
Related
- Tyr: Norse God of War, Justice, and the Lost Hand
- Anu in Mesopotamian Mythology: Sky God & Ruler
- Sekhmet in Egyptian Mythology: Lioness Goddess
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