The Zorya

There is a beautiful story from Slavic mythology about two sisters called The Zorya. They are also called Zorza and the Auroras. Both sisters are goddesses and daughters of Dazhbog, the sun god. They live on the island of Buyan, where also there lives the winds, of the according to the Dove Book. The Zorya sisters are guardians of the doomsday hound Simargl, chained to the Polaris star in Ursa Minor. or Little Bear. If Simargl broke loose, he would eat the constellation and the world would end. 

Each sister has a name and function. There is Zorja Utrennyaya, a dawn goddess, the "morning star" who opens the palace gates to release the sun. She's also associated with the planet Venus. It's said that she and her sister are the wives of the moon god Myesyats. Although other accounts have the sisters as virgins. Warriors often prayed to her before going into battle:

"Defend me, O maiden, with your veil from the enemy, from the arquebus and arrow."

Her sister is Zorja Vechernyaya, a dusk goddess, the "evening star" and sometimes associated with the planet Mercury or sometimes with Venus. She closes the celestial palace gates after the sun has returned. Both she and her sister are love goddesses and protect against evil spirits. Their sacred animals are horses.

Posted by Storm Valkyrie 🌹