*Welnos is a reconstructed Indo-European deity associated with cattle with possible descendants in various mythologies, including Slavic, Lithuanian, Latvian, Norse, and Old English. The deity was reconstructed from the Slavic god Veles, Lithuanian god Velnias, and Latvian god Velns, all of whom are considered protectors of flocks. The name of the deity is also directly connected to the root word of the Old Norse Valfǫðr, a byname for Odin and Valhǫll, the afterlife he presides over.[1]

According to scholar Jaan Puhvel, Welnos is also connected to the Elysian fields in Greek myth and ritual. However, there is little evidence to support the existence of a god of cattle in northern lands.[1]

In the past, some scholars, such as Max Muller, believed that Welnos, along with Veles, Velnias, and Velns, were related to Sanskrit Varuna and Greek Ouranos.[2]

Welnos may have been a kind of benevolent sky father representing the night in contrast to Dyēus the aggressive day sky father.[3] He may have had a rivalry with Perkwunos similar to the rivalry between Perun and Veles.[4]

References

  1. 1 2 Jaan Puhvel, Analecta Indoeuropaea, (a collection of articles), publ. by Innsbrucker Beitrage zur Sprachwissenschaft, Innsbruck, 1981
  2. ↑ Müller, Max. Comparative Mythology. p. 84.
  3. ↑ Marcílio Diniz, da Silva (April 2021). "Notes on Proto-Celtic "Pantheon"" (1.0 ed.). Academia:46084030.
  4. ↑ Belaj, Juraj; Belaj, Marijana; Krznar, Siniša; Ivančan, Tajana Sekelj; Tkalčec, Tatjana (eds.). "Sacralization of Landscape and Sacred Places". Proceedings of the 3rd International Scientific Conference of Mediaeval Archaeology of the Institute of Archaeology. ResearchGate:330925145. Academia:25730445.
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