Mat Zemlya- Slavic GodDeity"Moist Mother Earth"
Also known as: Mati Syra Zemlya, Мать Земля, and Мать Сыра Земля
Description
To swear by Moist Mother Earth, a man placed soil on his tongue — no oath was more sacred, no witness more absolute. She receives the dead into her body and brings forth grain from their rest, the living earth beneath every Slavic field and grave.
Mythology & Lore
The Living Earth
For the ancient Slavs, the earth was not soil but a mother. She gave birth to all plants and received the dead into her body. To wound her with a plow or to spit on her were offenses against a divine mother. Before plowing in spring, farmers begged her pardon for the violence they were about to do to her body, offering libations of milk and honey.
Oaths by the Earth
The most sacred oath in Slavic tradition was sworn by eating a piece of earth. A man placed soil on his tongue and swore by Moist Mother Earth. No oath was more binding. Those who broke it could expect the earth to reject them: refusing to produce crops or denying them burial.
Receiver of the Dead
Mat Zemlya received her children back in death. The dead were buried in her body, returned to the womb that had produced them. Before burial, the dying might beg the earth's forgiveness for any offenses committed during life, hoping for peaceful rest in her embrace.
Relationships
- Family
- Svarog· Spouse⚠ Disputed
- Aspect of
- Equivalent to
- Associated with