DIEVAS (RUSSIAN/SLAVIC GODS)
CLASSIFICATION: Extra-Dimensional/Immortal
LOCATION/BASE OF OPERATIONS:
Svarga-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: (in the MU) Ajysyt, Baba Yaga, Perun, Svantovit, Svarog
AFFILIATION: (possibly) Other races of Gods; possibly 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: (of Perun) Captain America I #352 (April, 1989)
POWERS/ABILITIES: The Russian Gods possibly have numerous traits in common with the Asgardians and Olympians such as superhuman strength (Class 25 and greater), stamina, vitality and resistance to injury. Probably as long lived as the Olympians, they have physical densities three times greater than similar human tissue as well as several abilities to tap into and manipulate magical, elemental and cosmic energies into feats of magic.
TRAITS: The Russian Gods appear to be entirely human in appearance but do seem to share several characteristics in common with the Asgardians such as horned helmets and the like.
HISTORY: (Russian Myth/History) The Russian Gods are the descendants of the Earth-Deity Rod and Gaea in her role as Erce, the Russian Mother-Earth. In their earliest roles, they were worshipped by the ancient pagans presiding in the modern-day countries of Latvia, Lithuania and Estonia.
In the late 9th Century AD, the Viking Chief Rurik from Sweden conquered much of the area and created the settlement that the modern Russian city of Novgorod was founded on. He declared Svarog the King of the Gods equal to Odin himself and continued many of the same ancient Baltic rituals alongside his old Norse customs. By the end of the Tenth Century AD, however, King Vladimir the Great of Russia declared himself a Christian and turned from these ancient pagan beliefs. He spread Christianity throughout Russia as the ancient Slavic Gods retreated from or broke their contacts with their converted worshippers.
(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) 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.
(Captain Britain II #11) The witch-goddess Baba Yaga encounters the British heroes Captain Britain and his girlfriend Meggan as they are traveling through Western Russia. She very nearly corrupts Meggan's soul before being subdued by Captain Britain.
(Infinity Gauntlet #2) Svarog represents 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.
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.
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.
Clarifications:
None
Last updated: 08/18/02
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