Nikolaj Mihajlov, the Russian professor, who teaches at the University of Udine (Friuli, Italy), also introduced the question of Slovenian mythology in his interview for Ljubljana's Daily Newspaper 'Delo' (30.5.01), where he stated: "it is very rich". However, this "richness" he does not specify in any way, but he quotes the following:
"I think that the Slovenian mythological tradition retained some very archaic lines on the basis of which we can also reconstruct some fragments of the common Slav mythology. Nowadays the main concern in mythological explorations is in the reconstruction of what originated before the Slavic people were Christianized. Some people are looking at the scientific reconstruction of the Slovenian mythology with great skepticism just because they have such a vast number of unbelievable mythological and also ethno-genealogical, but of course, imaginative theories. I would rather not talk about Venets . . ."
That he would rather not talk about Venets, is understandable for someone who is teaching at a university that is financed by Rome. Because of the financial structures in Italy, all the branches of humanity studies are tuned only to the ancient Romans, Latins and Italians, and represent, even if unofficially, the ideology of the state. Professor Mihajlov is obviously not game to confront this ideology with the discoveries of Venets. In this way he skips over to the supposed 'Old Slavs', that he does not name directly, for this would be too banal. He only points to the existence of an 'all-Slav' Pantheon. This one in fact does not exist and it never existed. However, for Slovenians, Pan-Slavism also builds its propaganda about our ancestors, 'the Ancient Slavs' in this imaginary pantheon, which is merely an ideological and academic edifice. Next the people were emotionally fired up, especially by author Franc Finzgar with his passionate novel, "Pod svobodnim soncem" (Under the Free Sun), that was intended for the wider public and ordinary intellectuals. That is generally how the misconception entered the Slovenian mind. It also influenced greatly, probably even decisively, the interests of Slovenian semi-intellectuals towards the great Slavic Russia, from where they later also accepted communism, under the brotherly coat of grand pan-Slavism.
The consequences of this Pan-Slavic romanticism is such that in our schools today still, a false 'Slavic' pantheon, that has the Russian deity at its stern, is taught: Perun, Dazbog, Svarog, Veles, naturally Morana and others. All these presumed 'common' deities that were wrenched away from Carantanians (Slovenians) "with fire and sword" by the German missionaries, are still today one of the fundamental components of the regime's (government's) ideology based on old liberalism, anti-Christianity, Pan-Slavism and Yugo-Slavism. Even though there is not the faintest trace of them with Slovenians, and they cannot be juggled, even scientifically. But, with Slovenians it is just the opposite. We find traces of ancient Venetic deities, and professor Mihajlov is obviously aware of them.
The truth is that Belin, god of light and sun remained in the Slovenian memory up to the present. Quite understandably we do not find their catchwords in the Slovenian encyclopedia that is still written in the frame of the Yugoslav and Pan-Slavic ideology. However, the first Slovenian opera (1780) that is now lost, was already named 'Belin'. He was also the principal deity of ancient Noricum. Alongside him, as the mother of the land, was the deity Norea. The god of war in Noricum was Latobi. Roman sources also contain reports about these deities. Although, Triglav, god of the universe, is not mentioned in them, yet, archeological excavations also contain this evidence. Linhard specifically mentions him in his history (1791). Kresnik, who shows certain parallels with the Indian Krishna (similarly with some other deities: Agni, Yama, Vishnu), and with it the ancient Venetic base has not yet been scientifically examined.
Belin (Belenus) was the protector of ancient Aquileia, even during the Roman period. The fact that he remained in Slovenian memory could be partly explained by the fact that he was, in the early Christian period, in at least some of the regions, likened to Christ, obviously in the image of 'The Sun, the Redeemer' (Sol Salutis). In the vicinity of Galjan near Cedad, a little church has been preserved until now, that is consecrated to St. Belin.
In Greek scriptures a story about Fetonte has been preserved, obviously Venetic, even though he is presented as the son of Zeus. Zeus has thrown him into an amber river because in his sunny yoke (sun's carriage??), he came too close to the earth and could have burned it. The sisters buried him and mourned him, and their tears turned into the River Jantar. The River Eridan is presumed to be the present River Po, yet it is more likely that it was the River Isonzo (Soca, Slovenia) because the path of River Jantar finishes at its mouth there, near Aquileia.
These are only some of the concrete facts that were suppressed in the above-mentioned interview. It is quite possible that the Yugoslav-oriented newspaper 'Delo', even though it is constantly endeavoring to be printed on 'democratic paper', would not have even published the interview with the Russian professor if he had actually spoken of the ancient Slovenian and naturally the Venetic pantheon. This was certainly necessary, so that it would not influence the awakening of consciousness, of obviously veiled Slovenian lambs. Such an intention naturally does not reflect science, but only the totally clear Pan-Slavic ideology that cannot be accepted by everyone uncritically.
Page Created: August 10, 2003
Last Updated: August 10, 2003
©Copyright 2003 Gary L. Gorsha
