Gods of the Salamanderverse: Veles, the Slavic God of the Three Realms.
- nmtdesignstudios
- Mar 28
- 5 min read
I’ve been meaning to talk about Veles for a while now, but let’s be honest… He’s one of the most powerful and mysterious figures in Slavic mythology, and his story stretched through history like a well-kept secret, layered with magic, wisdom, and a touch of the unknown.
Also known as Volos or Gvidon, Veles is a shape-shifting powerhouse who rules over wealth, the wilderness, and the unseen forces of the universe. But what really sets him apart is that he’s the only god who can move freely between the three realms—the Prav, the Yav, and the Nav—walking paths that are off-limits to ordinary beings.
Even though his name and some of his qualities varies among different groups of Slavs, in each land it carries respect and mystery.
So, what is it about Veles that makes him so unique? Let’s uncover what makes him stand out among the mighty gods of the Slavic pantheon.
Who is Veles?
Veles is one of the most fascinating, complex, and downright powerful gods in Slavic mythology. If you’ve never heard of him, buckle up, because this guy isn’t just a one-trick deity. He’s the god of Wealth, Magic, Forests, Animals, and even the Balance of Natural Order.
Oh, and did I mention he also keeps an eye on the fulfillment of promises? That’s right, in ancient Slavic culture, if you swore an oath by Veles, you were expected to keep it. No ifs, ands, or buts.
Veles is often associated with bears, the undisputed kings of the forest. And it makes sense, right?
Back in the day, when hunting was the key to survival, people naturally gravitated toward a deity who ruled over the wild. Hunters sought his favor, hoping for a successful hunt, while farmers revered him as the bringer of fertility and prosperity. Whether you were tracking game through the taiga or tending to your cattle, Veles was the one to thank for your good fortune.
But Veles wasn’t just about material wealth. He was also the guardian of deep, hidden knowledge. He moved effortlessly between the realms of the living, the dead, and the divine, bringing secrets and wisdom to those who knew how to listen. He was the ultimate bridge between realms, guiding not just merchants and craftsmen but also those who seek to see beyond the physical world.
If there’s one god who truly embodies the magic of life, it’s Veles.
Veles walks the thin line between Order and Chaos as if he were born to it… Because, well, he was.
How Was Veles Born?
According to ancient Slavic myths, when Rod, the Slavic god Creator, shaped the universe, he separated Light from Darkness and Order from Chaos. And from Rod’s primordial power, the gods were born.
But Veles? He was different.
He wasn’t just Light or Darkness. He was both. He was a mix of creation and destruction, balance and wild unpredictability. And that’s what makes him so powerful. While others saw conflict, he saw harmony. He thrived where opposites collided. And that, my friends, is pure magic.
Young Veles
Veles didn’t grow up like the other gods. While most had a clear purpose from birth, he was destined for something far more complicated. Rod placed him at the crossroads of the Yav (the world of the living), the Nav (the world of the dead), and the Prav (the divine realm). Raised by his mother, Amelfa Zemunovna, a being as formidable as she was wise, he learned discipline early on. But her stern ways also taught him resilience, survival, and the weight of responsibility.
When the time came to learn magic, Veles was sent to the dark realm of the Nav, placed under the tutelage of Viy, the Lord of Souls. There, among restless spirits and shadows, he unraveled the mysteries of magic. The darkness he absorbed shaped his nature, making him cunning, volatile, and, at times, cruel. He also learned how to balance the forces within himself.
His early years were wild. Folk tales paint young Veles as impulsive, quick to anger, and unafraid to manipulate fate. To understand mortal struggles, he took human form, living as a simple peasant. He toiled in fields, shared bread with strangers, and felt the pain of human loss. He realized that true strength wasn’t in raw power but in restraint, wisdom, and knowing when to act.
Through hardship and self-discovery, Veles tamed his inner Chaos. He learned that true balance wasn’t about choosing between Light and Darkness but embracing both. In mastering himself, he found his path, not only as a god of Magic, but as a guide between the Three Realms.
Veles in Love
Veles loved as fiercely as he lived, his heart a battlefield of passion, tenderness, and defiance. One of the most famous tales of his love is his devotion to Yaginya, a powerful sorceress and pupil of the goddess Makosh. She, like Veles, walked between the three realms, understanding the magic that tied them together.
But Yaginya wasn’t the only love in Veles’ life. Legends talk of his infatuation with the beautiful goddess Diva-Dodola. She had captured the hearts of the two most powerful gods of the Slavic Pantheon: Veles and Perun. When Dodola chose Perun, Veles turned to trickery, transforming into a flower to entrance her.
The result? Their son, Yarilo, the god of Spring Sun, Fertility and Passion…
Though, some say it was all an illusion, a trick played by fate to drive the two powerful gods apart.
Despite these tales, Veles remains a symbol of devotion. While legends connect him to other goddesses—Zhiva, Morena, even Makosh—it is his eternal love for Yaginya that endures through the ages. To the Slavs, he is not a god of fleeting passions but one whose love defied even death itself.
How was Veles worshipped in different lands?
Across Slavic lands, people honored Veles in different ways, shaping his image according to their needs and surroundings.
Belarus. Veles was known as Asila, the Strong God. His power echoed through legends, and his mythical sons—asilki, volotomani, and velesichi—were seen as embodiments of his might.
Northern lands of Novgorod and Rostov. Veles was deeply tied to cattle, agriculture, and trade. Peasants and merchants alike asked for his favor, building temples near rivers and lakes to honor his connection to fertility and prosperity.
Kyivan Rus. Kyivan Rus did not count Veles among the high gods, but in Podol, he was a guardian of wealth and daily affairs, his idol standing as a promise of protection.
Western Slavs. For the Western Slavs, Veles was a master of magic and the underworld, linked to serpents and bears, keepers of nature’s darkest secrets.
South Slavs. In the South, he was a shepherd’s god, watching over flocks and fields, merging with local traditions as a protector of home and harvest.
North Slavs. Veles remained a cherished figure, his memory alive in songs and stories, embodying the wisdom of the land and the power of the earth itself.
Wherever Slavs lived, Veles walked with them, a bridge between the realm of gods and the world of humans.
There are so many stories, legends, and fairy tales about Veles that I could spend a lifetime talking about them and still not cover them all. But I hope this little introduction gave you a glimpse into his wild and mysterious world.
References:
Enter the Salamanderverse, where magic and ancient myths are real, and things are not what they appear to be.
If you haven't done it yet, you can download "The Burns Path”, a prequel to the Fire Salamander Chronicles Urban Fantasy series, for FREE on my website. The events of this 49,000-word novella occur before the Burns Fire, and it can be read as a standalone book.
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