DIEVAS (RUSSIAN/SLAVIC GODS)
Classification: Gods (Extra-Dimensionals/Immortals)
Bsae of :
Svarga, the Russian heaven
The city of the gods in Russian Myth was called Iriys.
Other worlds in their cosmology includes Buyan-
a fairy world of ever-lasting peace and Vela-
the land of the dead
Known Members: Ajysyt, Dazhbog (god of light), Lada (goddess of beauty & youth), Perun (god of thunder), Svantovit (god of war), Stribog (god of the wind & sky), Svarozvich (god of fire), Milda (goddess of love), Laima (goddess of fate & luck), Marzana (goddess of witchcraft), Saule (goddess of the sun), Svarog (god of the sun & sky), Veles (god of the underworld)
Affiliations: Other races of Gods; possibly Baba Yaga, the Supreme Soviets/People's Protectorate
Enemies: Thanos, The Celestials, (possibly) Demogorge The God-Eater
Aliases: Slavic Gods, Baltic Gods, Latvian Gods, Lithuanian Gods
First Appearance: Thor I#300 (October, 1980)
Powers/Abilities/Traits: The Dievas all possess certain superhuman physical attributes. They are true immortals who cease to age upon reaching adulthood, and they cannot die by conventional means. The Dievas are immune to all terrestrial diseases and are resistant to conventional injury. If a Dieva is wounded, his or her godly life force will enable him or her to recover at a superhuman rate. It would take an injury of such magnitude that it incinerates a Dieva or disperses a major portion of his or her bodily molecules to cause him or her to die. Even then, it may be possible for a god of greater or equal power, or several gods acting together, to revive the deceased Dieva before the god's life essence is beyond resurrection. Dieva flesh and bone are about three times denser than similar human tissue, contributing to the gods' superhuman strength and weight. An average male god can lift about 40 tons; an average goddess can lift about 35 tons. The gods' metabolism gives them superhuman endurance in all physical activities. Many Dievas also possess additional superhuman powers that may be magical in nature. For instance, the thunder god Perun can summon the elements of the storm (lightning, rain, wind, etc.) and channel vast amounts of bioelectric energy through his weaponry.
History: (Thor & Hercules: Encyclopedia Mythologica) - The Dievas have been worshipped by the Slavic people inhabiting Eastern Europe, Central Europe, and the Balkans from as early as 700 BC until approximately the 10th century AD. Most of the Dievas dwell in Svarga, a "pocket" dimension adjacent to Earth; an interdimensional nexus between Svarga and Earth exists somewhere in the proximity of the Zbruch River (in the modern-day nation of Ukraine). Very little is known about Svarga other than it appears to be built on a small planetary object. The Dievas are called different names by their human worshippers; for example, the underworld god Veles was known as "Weles" in Polish.
The Dievas' precise origin, like that of all Earth's pantheons, is shrouded in legend. According to Slavic folklore, the primordial god Rod emerged on Earth following the Demogorge's purging of the demonic Elder Gods, and set out to bring order to the chaotic world by establishing the universal laws known as Prav. He eventually crossed paths with the primordial Earth Mother Gaea (known as "Erce" to the Dievas) and accompanied her back to his native realm of Svarga, where she gave birth to Praamzius, the god of time. After siring a host of other offspring, Rod was succeeded as pantheon leader by Praamzius, who was in turn succeeded by his son Svarog, the god of the sun & sky.
Svarog granted portions of his power to each of his children. However, Perun, the rugged and boisterous thunder god, usurped the largest share of power in an attempt to gain his father's favor. He was eventually challenged by Veles, the therianthropic death god, who kidnapped Perun's wife Saule, the sun goddess. Perun chased Veles into his underworld realm of Virey; although Veles transformed into a dragon and attacked his pursuer, he was ultimately defeated by Perun. Following Russian King Vladimir the Great's conversion to Christianity in approximately 980 AD, Svarog determined that it was in his pantheon's best interest to return to their native realm of Svarga and cut off most ties with the Earth realm.
(Thor I#300 (fb) ) - In approximately 1000 AD, Svarog attended a meeting of the Council of Godheads to discuss the threat posed by the Third Host of the extraterrestrial Celestials.
(Soviet Supersoldiers#1 - BTS) In modern years, Valeri Sovloyev, A Soviet Government Agent, discovered an amulet left behind by the Russian gods. Using the artifact allowed the thunder-god Perun to channel his presence through Sovloyev on Earth.
(Captain America I#352-353) - In one of his first missions for the Soviet Government, Perun aids the Supreme Soviets in subduing the defected heroes Darkstar, Vanguard and Ursa Major.
(Infinity Gauntlet#2) - Svarog represented the Russian Gods in a meeting with Zeus, Odin, Osiris, Nuada, Itzamna, Tezcatlipoca and Manitou. The eight immortals discuss the Eternal Thanos as a possible threat to their realms.
(Avengers I#319-324, Incredible Hulk II#393, Soviet Super Soldiers#1, Quasar#54, Starblast#2, Quasar#55, Starblast#3, Quasar#56, Starblast#4, Quasar#57) - Perun continued to serve with the People's Protectorate.
COMMENTS: So far, very few Russian Gods have appeared in the Marvel Universe. Very few stories have been made referring to them to avoid the tangled mess of the Celtic Gods interpreted by five to seven creative teams.
The ancient Slavic word for god is "bog." It appears in many names: Dazhbog, Svarog, Chernobog.
The main image in this profile is by Kevin Sharpe.
Profile by William Uchtman
CLARIFICATIONS: Not to be confused with the Daevas, the Hindu Gods.
Ayjysyt (Slavic name Dekla) is the goddess
of childbirth present for the birth of every child. Daughter of
Laima, the goddess of destiny, and granddaughter of Svarog, she
was one of three Russian "Fates" along with Sudice and
Dolya.
Mentioned in Soviet Super-Soldiers #1.
Svantovit (Slavis name Tiermes) is the god
of war and son of Svaros and Lada. He and his brother Perun
usurped much of their father's power shared with their brothers
and used it against each other in attempts to oust their father's
power in heaven.
Mentioned in Soviet Super-Soldiers#1.
images:
Thor & Hercules: Encyclopedia Mythologica, p20
Last updated: 08/18/02
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