Stribog— Slavic God"God of Wind"

Grandfather of Winds

Stribog is the Slavic god of wind, air, and the atmosphere. His grandchildren are the eight winds that blow from all directions—the breeze and the gale, the warm summer wind and the bitter winter blast. He is an ancient deity, his name perhaps meaning "flowing god" or "spreading god," suggesting his nature as the force that moves across the world.

The Distributor

Stribog's name may connect to the concept of distribution. He spreads the wealth of the gods across the earth—not gold, but the invisible gifts: air to breathe, wind to drive ships, currents to carry seeds. He is the medium through which divine blessings flow. Prayers rise on his winds; his grandchildren carry messages between heaven and earth.

Patron of Sailors

Sailors venerated Stribog above most gods. Their lives depended on his favor: a fair wind meant swift passage; a storm meant death. Before voyages, they made offerings to Stribog, asking his grandchildren to fill their sails kindly. The maritime Slavs of the Baltic particularly honored him, for the sea obeys the wind.

The Tale of Igor's Campaign

The medieval Slavic epic Tale of Igor's Campaign describes the winds as "Stribog's grandchildren" blowing arrows from the sea against Russian warriors. This confirms his importance in Slavic belief—his winds are personified as living beings, capable of action and even taking sides in human conflicts.

The Invisible God

Stribog is perhaps the most elemental of the Slavic gods—invisible, untouchable, yet felt everywhere. You cannot see him, but you feel him on your face, hear him in the trees, see his work in the bending grass. He is the breath of the world, the spirit that moves across waters, the presence that exists between all things.