Mokosh
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Mokoš (Old Russian Мокошь) is a Slavic goddess attested in the Primary Chronicle, connected with female activities auch as shearing, spinning and weaving. The name is probably also contained in the Czech toponym Mokošín, and in the Old Russian male personal name Мокошь, attested 1585 in Pskov. The name is probably connected to мокрый "wet", which evokes connections of fertility.
A Mokoša in Russian folklore is a female spirit with a large head and long arms.
Wife of Svarog according to some Old Slavic legends[citation needed], she talked him into creating a life on Earth that would look like him. So, he breathed life into an oak tree from which the first man, named Dubravko, came to life; she created another one, a woman, Ljubljenica. Her statues in temples are in a seated position, as are Svarog's.
Her day of the week is Friday, and her feast day falls between October 25th and November 1st (one reference[citation needed] fixes this day to October 28th). She was offered vegetables, which was the focal point of the feast day. At night, women would leave strands of fleece beside the stove in her honor. It was said that women who made satisfactory offerings would be helped with their laundry, by association with her as a water goddess. This is illustrated by the fact that rainfall is sometimes called Mokosh's milk.[citation needed]
In Christian times, she became conflated with the Virgin Mary and Saint Paraskeva. She is sovereign over the Domowije and the patroness of midwifery. In one myth, she is the wife of Perun, and was represented as a woman with a large head, long arms and unkempt hair. In another myth she is wife of Svarog, which created a marriage of heaven and earth.[citation needed]
[edit] References
- Max Vasmer, Russisches Etymologisches Wörterbuch (1979).
[edit] See also
Major Gods Dazbog • Jarilo • Morana • Perun • Siwa • Svantevit • Svarog/Svarogich • Triglav • Veles • Zorya Other Gods Belobog • Berstuk • Chernobog • Dziewona • Hors • Flins • Karewit • Lado • Mat Zemlya • Mokosh • Oźwiena • Perperuna • Porenut • Porewit • Porvata • Radigost • Rod • Rugiewit • Stribog • Zirnitra • Zlota Baba Legendary heroes Alyosha Popovich • Bash Chelik • Burislav • Dobrynya Nikitich • Ilya Muromets • Ivan Tsarevich • Lech, Czech, and Rus • Libuše • Marko Kraljevic • Sadko • Solovey-Razboynik Magical creatures and plants Alkonost • Cikavac • Firebird • Gamayun • Raskovnik • Simargl • Sirin • Zmey Spirits and demons Baba Yaga • Bagiennik • Bannik • Bies • Boginki • Bukavac • Domovoi • Drekavac • Karzelek • Kikimora • Koschei • Lady midday • Leshiy • Likho • Polevik • Rusalka • Skrzak • Stuhać • Sudice • Vila • Topielec • Vampir • Vodyanoy |