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Svaixtix

Cyclopedia of Biblical, Theological and Ecclesiastical Literature

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in Slavic mythology, was the god of the stars and of sunlight, whom the ancient Prussians revered in common with the Wends and Slavs in Pomerania, etc. He was represented in exceedingly rich clothing, had flames and rays about his head, and a tuft of hair on the middle of his crown, which rose like a flame of fire. From old Rhetsean works of art we infer, notwithstanding the inscription which calls him Belbog (1. biali bog, a good deity, in opposition to Czernebog, the evil god), that he was a malicious deity, since he appears as fierce and forbidding; but we must bear in mind that sculpture must rise to a high grade before double and inviting forms can be represented. This Art was at that time in such infancy that we call only wonder how the figures are shapely at all. Svaixtix was the most benevolent deity; he illuminated the night by tile glimmer of the stars, by the aurora and the snow light, and, like the sun god, imparted growth to seeds and warmth and fruitfulness to the soil.