Svetovid

'Swiatowid a.k.a. "Svetovid," or Sventovit is a Slavic deity all seeing creator god, ruling fertility and abundance venerated on the island of Rügen and in Poland, where most examples are found today. A renowned example was unearthed in Zbruch, Poland, in 1848. The Zbruch example is thought to have been carved before 966, when Poland was compelled to accept Christianity, as a means of repelling the invading Germanic tribes by aligning with Rome. Other examples of Swiatowid in Poland have been found in Szczcin, Nowy Wiec, Wislica, and Lipnice, mostly in the 19th century as formerly agrarian lands were turned over to industrialized development, and in Witowo(1937), Blizne (1960) and Wolyn (1974). It is thought that the honoring of Swiatowid continued in some places into the 12th century. Sometimes referred to as Beli (or Byali) Vid (Beli = white, bright, shining), Swiatowid / Svetovid is often depicted with a sword/blade of discernment hanging from his waist, a hunting bow in one hand, and a drinking horn of plenty in the other. Other important symbols included the white horse, which were kept in his temple and used in divination.