Western Slavic theonyms with a second component *-vitú

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Pages: 545-558

Abstract:

In this article author is trying to explain the origin West Slavonic deities with second clause *-vitú — *Jarovitú, *Svetovitú, *Rujevitú, *Porevitú. They came into being most probably in the 9th century, alternatively in 9th century they gained such a importance, that for the sake of linguistic taboo in the territory of their appearance the clause *-vitú could not be used in the other proper nouns. Initially each of these deities was a private deity-carer some of the Slavic tribe or family. He existed beside old deities associated with forces of the nature. We can suspect that their origin is connected with the cult of ancestors, which participated as an ordinary soldiers in dandruff expeditions in ancient times, which were organized by German tribes. During these expeditions they were called by their companions as a Germ. *viking- and from that word we should derive ancient slav borrowing *vitêdzü. When these Slavic soldiers in the glory of winners came back with spoils and great knowledge about the surrounding world, they could find their own family or even take over control of the tribe that they were descended from. By their descendants they were worshiped as gods till finally they became gods. In connection with it we can suspect, that deities with second clause *-vitú could be responsible first of all for military expeditions. In the course of time they could take over bigger and bigger authority deities associated with forces of the nature and slowly dislodged them.

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