Veles is a horned Slavic god primarily associated with the protection of cattle, flocks of sheep, fertility of the land and abundant harvests. He is considered the God of the earth, the underworld and the mysterious depths where all life is born and perishes. VELES is also the guardian of the boundary between the world of the living and the dead - hence the ancestral soul is in his power. Although he is the ruler of the realm of the dead, he is not seen as dark or evil - on the contrary, his power is full of life-giving force that sprouts from the earth, the soil and the cycle of nature.
He is often depicted as a strong man with the head of a bull, ram or in human form with massive horns, emphasising his connection with animal strength, vitality and instinct. He is also sometimes associated with the form of a bear or snake, as these shapes represent his ability to transform and control the hidden world. In mythology, Veles is the eternal adversary of Perun , the God of storms and celestial order. Their cosmic "eternal battle" symbolizes the cycle of nature: drought and rain, summer and winter, life and death. Through it, balance is born.
Veles is also the patron of magic, divination, song and poetry. Among the ancient Slavs , he was worshipped by farmers, shepherds, shamans and poets alike. His cult was very strong and deeply rooted. However, Christianity later began to liken him to the devil - the horns and the connection to the world of the dead were inconvenient for the new religion. Therefore, a monumental statue of him in Kiev was toppled into the Pochayna River in 988 at the behest of Prince Vladimir to weaken his cult and replace it with the new faith.
Our statue is based on the original archaic ideas and is hand carved in the traditional way. Every detail carries the symbolism of the power of the land, the protection of property, the renewal of life and the mystery of the cycle of existence. It is a reminder of ancient Slavic roots, reverence for nature and respect for the forces that transcend human existence.
- Material: wood
- Dimensions: 28 cm
- Made in the Carpathian Mountains of Ukraine
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