"We Are Slavs!" by Maria Semenova, summary Automatic translate

The Encyclopedia of Ancient Slavic Culture was published in 1997. The text provides a detailed account of the daily life, beliefs, and crafts of the Eastern Slavs of the ninth to eleventh centuries, clearly demonstrating the persistence of pagan traditions in later everyday rituals. The author analyzes the worldview of distant ancestors, tracing the connection between mythology and purely material things like home construction or sword forging.

Pagan pantheon and nature spirits

The Slavs saw the universe as a giant egg. Earth was in the center. Nine heavens sheltered the human world. In the highest heaven was the bright island of Buyan — the abode of the progenitors of animals and birds. The heavenly god Svarog and the earthly goddess Makosh were revered as universal parents. Dazhdbog gave people sunlight. Svarozhich presided over the sacred fire. Perun the Thunderer hurled lightning bolts and battled the eternal enemy — the subterranean serpent Volos. Volos was responsible for earthly wealth and livestock. The destinies of people were presided over by Rod and the Rozhanitsy — Lada and her daughter Lelya. Dark forces were embodied by Chernobog and the icy Morana. The springtime riot of nature was under the control of Yarilo.

Every corner of both the developed and wild spaces had its supernatural master. The Domovoi guarded the hut. The Bannik frightened unwary bathers. Beyond the courtyard lay the domain of the Leshy. He tangled paths, punished those disrespectful to the forest, and aided kind travelers. The Poludnitsa ruled the fields, severely punishing those working in the hot midday sun. The Vodyanoi guarded the rivers and lakes. Bread was especially revered. The process of baking bread united the sacred elements of Earth, Water, and Fire.

The cycle of human life

Humans constantly crossed invisible boundaries between worlds. The birth of a baby was accompanied by special rituals. The child was necessarily introduced to the cosmos: introduced to the sky, fire, water, and earth. Their name was hidden from outsiders for fear of evil witchcraft. Children wore shirts remade from their parents’ clothing. Coming of age required a rigorous initiation rite. Boys and girls symbolically died and were reborn in a new form, earning the right to adult clothing.

The beard served as the primary symbol of male honor. To insult the beard was to inflict a blood insult. A maiden’s braid was guarded with no less care. The wedding ceremony cemented the bride’s transition into the groom’s family. The girl mourned the separation from her kin’s patron spirits. The traditional white dress originally signified grief and mourning. Death was perceived by pagans as another transition. The afterlife awaited the righteous beyond the Star Bridge — the Milky Way.

Old Russian dwelling

Building a house was considered a creation of the world. Trees for the log cabin were chosen with extreme care. It was forbidden to cut down old, creaky trunks, or those growing at crossroads. Aspen and spruce were rejected due to their negative energy. The site for the hut was determined by fortune-telling using bread, domestic animals, or wool. Spring, especially the waxing moon, was considered a favorable time for construction. The skull of a horse or bull was often placed under the holy corner to ensure prosperity.

Northerners preferred to build wooden huts. Residents of the forest-steppe south built semi-dugouts. The oldest houses were heated using smoke. A stone or clay stove was placed in the northern corner, blocking the cold and evil spirits. A red corner — the main sacred space — was built diagonally from the stove. Drag windows provided little light but retained heat well. The animals began settling into the new hut. The owners entered after them, carrying the fire from the old hearth.

Organization of settlements

Settlements were located on convenient river headlands or hills. The earliest villages had a clustered or circular layout. Over time, fortified tribal centers emerged. The word "gorod" originally meant any enclosed area. True cities arose at the intersection of trade routes. The central fortress was called a detinets or kremlin. Craftsmen’s settlements spread beyond the fortress walls. Large cities were divided into autonomous districts called kontsy (meetings). Each kontsy (meeting) had its own veche (assembly council).

The townspeople erected powerful defensive systems. Earthen ramparts were reinforced with wooden log structures called gorodni. A deep ditch was dug outside. The streets were paved with wooden pavements supported by longitudinal joists. Rotten decks were covered with new layers of planks. Drainage pipes made of hollowed-out logs diverted groundwater. Rivers were crossed by sturdy bridges supported by log piers. Commerce flourished in the squares.

Family ties

Family dictated strict rules of conduct. Blood relatives were held accountable for the misdeeds of each other. Extended families shared property and land. Despotism within the ancient clan was nonexistent. The elder and elder women managed the household, relying on the authority of the family council. Women were deeply respected as the continuers of the family line. Echoes of matriarchy persisted for a long time in everyday life and language.

The words "brother," "sister," and "daughter" trace their origins back to ancient Indo-European times. The kinship system imposed prohibitions on marriage within the community. Clan merging occurred through the exchange of brides. The personal preferences of young people were rarely taken into account. Obedience to the will of elders was considered the highest virtue. Sharing a meal made strangers blood relatives.

Weaving and clothing

Spinning threads was likened to weaving human destinies. Girls learned to handle a spindle from a young age. The spindle was equipped with a spindle weight — a stone or clay weight — to facilitate spinning. Threads were obtained from flax, hemp, wool, and nettles. Horizontal looms made it possible to create complex woven fabrics with raised patterns. Finished canvases were bleached with ash, snow, and dew. Craftswomen extracted vibrant dyes from roots, grasses, and tree bark.

Men’s and women’s clothing was cut in the form of tunic-like shirts. The sleeves, collar, and hem were richly decorated with embroidery. Embroidery served as a reliable amulet. Men cinched their shirts with leather belts. Women wore woolen ponevas (short-sleeved ponevas) over their shirts. The checkered pattern of the ponevas unmistakably revealed the wearer’s place of residence. In winter, they wore warm svitas (sweatshirts) and fur coats. Thick votola (short-sleeved cloaks), myatli (short-sleeved cloaks), and korzna (short-sleeved cloaks) protected them from the elements. Braided bast shoes or leather porshnya (short-sleeved cloaks) were worn. Wealthy city dwellers sported soft, colorful boots.

Jewelry and amulets

Married women hid their hair under horned headdresses or povoi. Young girls limited themselves to narrow metal crowns. Metal jewelry was considered amulets. Neck rings were made from twisted silver or bronze rods. Temple rings served as the primary marker of tribal affiliation. The Vyatichi wore seven-lobed rings, the Krivichi wore bracelet-shaped ones, and the Radimichi wore seven-pointed ones. City women jingled glass bracelets. Miniature hatchets, skates, and lunnitsa were often hung from the chest.

Armament of Slavic warriors

Weapons were crafted by experienced blacksmiths. Swords were considered living creatures and a warrior’s faithful companion. Blades were forged from durable, welded damask steel. The soft iron core of the sword was welded onto blades of hard, high-carbon steel. A high-quality sword could bend into an arc without breaking. The hilts were inlaid with silver and enamel. Sabers were used by mounted warriors in the southern steppe regions. Battle axes were in great demand in the north. The heel of the ax concentrated the force of the blow in a small area.

Maces and flails delivered swift, stunning blows. The faceted weights of the flails were attached to the handles with rawhide straps. Infantry spears reached two meters in length. Throwing javelins were called sulitsy. A heavy spear could easily stop a large animal or an armored knight.

Bow and protective gear

Slavic composite bows significantly outperformed their Western European counterparts in power and range. The wooden frame was glued together from juniper and birch. The back of the bow was further reinforced with sinew. A birch bark braid protected the weapon from moisture. The string, made of tanned leather, performed reliably in frost and rain. Arrows with armor-piercing or broad-bladed points were stored in birch bark bow cases. Mounted archers kept their bows in a special case called a bow case.

Iron chainmail consisted of thousands of small riveted rings. A chainmail shirt covered a warrior to the knees and weighed about seven kilograms. Scale and plate armor more reliably deflected direct blows. A fighter’s head was protected by a spherical-conical helmet. The helmet’s shape prevented an enemy blade from slipping to the side. The face was covered with a steel half-mask or nasal guard. An aventail protected the neck. Almond-shaped and round shields were made from sturdy wooden planks. The shield was covered with boiled leather and secured with an iron boss.