Aryan Paganism, Traditions and Art (APTA)

25 Nov 2022 01:23

Typhon is another stand-in for the archetypal serpent in the Chaoskampf myth in which the Thunder God fights the aquatic snake which represents Chaos

Aryan Paganism, Traditions and Art (APTA)

24 Nov 2022 14:18

Just like Thor who hunts Jotuns in Midgard, Perun strikes evil spirits

Aryan Paganism, Traditions and Art (APTA)

23 Nov 2022 01:11

Volh’s mentality itself is very peculiar. He is a uniquely ambitious and proactive hero. In fact, he is the only conqueror in Slavic folklore.
Unlike the folk heroes who will come later, Volh is not reactively defending his country from enemy attacks, he’s the one who attacks. Volh thirsts for power and knowledge, he began by studying secret arts and used them to become a self-made king.

Aryan Paganism, Traditions and Art (APTA)

23 Nov 2022 00:37

Another notable trait of Volh is his youth. He grew up supernaturally fast and was more skilled than any adult. By his pre-teens he already mastered all the secrets of the volkhvs and could transform both himself and others with no issue. By his actual teens he was already a chief of his war band. Which leads us to another important element of the tale.

Aryan Paganism, Traditions and Art (APTA)

23 Nov 2022 00:27

Whatever minor differences are, all animals Volh can turn into are apex predators on top of their food chains.
Wolf dominates the forest. Falcon dominates the skies. Pike dominates the waters.

Aryan Paganism, Traditions and Art (APTA)

23 Nov 2022 00:14

Volh’s list of transformations differs from one version from another

Aryan Paganism, Traditions and Art (APTA)

22 Nov 2022 23:41

The tale of Volh the Shapeshifter

My analysis

Let’s start with the obvious. This tale is very old, ancient even by the standards of epic folk songs. The main character himself is best proof of that. Volh is of non-human (presumably divine) origin and has shamanic abilities taught to him by Pagan priesthood.

Aryan Paganism, Traditions and Art (APTA)

22 Nov 2022 19:06

Volh became the new ruler. He shared all riches and best women with his men. The latter became the new elite. This is how a shapeshifter became a king.

Aryan Paganism, Traditions and Art (APTA)

22 Nov 2022 18:32

Once inside Volh turned his troops back into human and easily scattered the defenders.

Aryan Paganism, Traditions and Art (APTA)

22 Nov 2022 18:27

Then Volh turned into an ermine and chewed through all their bowstrings. In stables he turned into a giant wolf and slaughtered all their horses.

Aryan Paganism, Traditions and Art (APTA)

22 Nov 2022 18:18

The king’s wife said she saw a strange dream which she interprets as the king loosing to a young warrior, but the husband doesn’t believe her.

Aryan Paganism, Traditions and Art (APTA)

22 Nov 2022 18:09

When Volh’s army got close to the city they saw the great gates and the walls no army could breach.

Aryan Paganism, Traditions and Art (APTA)

22 Nov 2022 16:29

Volh took wolf form to hunt in the woods and brought plenty of wild beasts.

Aryan Paganism, Traditions and Art (APTA)

22 Nov 2022 16:24

That’s how Volh’s military campaign began during which he provided for the troops by using his shapeshifting powers to hunt all kinds of beasts. He turned into a pike and led fish to their nets.

Aryan Paganism, Traditions and Art (APTA)

22 Nov 2022 15:58

When Volh finished his training with the volkhvs he was the youngest master of magic in the world, but this wasn’t enough to satisfy his ambitions.

Aryan Paganism, Traditions and Art (APTA)

24 Nov 2022 18:57

The best of American culture comes from the period of Romanticism in the 19th century. Most things that are loved and cherished about America is found within this time frame. A return to nature was expressed in much of the art, Nationalistic songs incorporated the beauty of nature as well, music was folkish and rich, architecture was distinctly European, attitudes and family values were traditional. This period shaped the image of America that is immortalized. When Europeans are left alone there is a natural pull to the Earth we all experience, free thoughts and philosophy arises, paintings are made, architecture is designed, inventions are born, books are written.

( Painting: Bierstadt Albert, 1830-1902 - "Sunset in the Yosemite Valley" )

Aryan Paganism, Traditions and Art (APTA)

23 Nov 2022 01:19

The tale of Volh’s campaign represents ancient yet ever-young barbaric power conquering the civilized kingdom softened by the security of it’s walls.
This spirit of youthful ambition is what led to European (Aryan) success. It allowed our ancient Mannerbunds have spread and settled far beyond the plains and forests of Central Europe.

Aryan Paganism, Traditions and Art (APTA)

23 Nov 2022 00:51

Volh is not a lone hero. In Slavic epic songs the protagonist rarely has any companions, let alone an entire squad. Again, this is due to the tale being so old it comes from the times not of professional armies, but rather small raiding parties of brave youth aka Männerbund. The nature of relationship in such groups is not that of superior commander and obedient troops, but rather of a circle of friends with one leader.
The affection Volh has for his men is shown clearly. In the middle of the tale he supplies them with the best provision by hunting while they rest. The end has him sharing the status and riches of the kingdom. This is contrasted with the king and his army.

Aryan Paganism, Traditions and Art (APTA)

23 Nov 2022 00:33

Volh’s aurochs bull (or ram) transformation is the only exception, but those are still very dominant and aggressive animals no other beast hunts.

Aryan Paganism, Traditions and Art (APTA)

23 Nov 2022 00:18

In some versions of the tale Volh turns into a lion instead of a wolf, but it’s a rare exception and most likely a late contamination of the original song, especially considering the lions are not found in Central Europe.

Aryan Paganism, Traditions and Art (APTA)

22 Nov 2022 23:45

Shapeshifting is something the later folklore associates mostly with evil characters due to demonization of pre-christian tradition which is why Volh is the only hero of Slavic bylinas who uses such powers.

Aryan Paganism, Traditions and Art (APTA)

22 Nov 2022 19:09

This is the end of the tale of Volh, great shaman and chief.

Aryan Paganism, Traditions and Art (APTA)

22 Nov 2022 18:49

The king was slain by Volh who took both his kingdom and queen.

Aryan Paganism, Traditions and Art (APTA)

22 Nov 2022 18:28

When all preparations were done he became a bird again and returned to his troops. But the wall was still tall and strong, so instead of a frontal assault Volh decided to turn his men into ants and they just crawled over it.

Aryan Paganism, Traditions and Art (APTA)

22 Nov 2022 18:27

After that Volh flew to the armory. There he turned back human and bended all the swords, maces and spears.

Aryan Paganism, Traditions and Art (APTA)

22 Nov 2022 18:10

Volh had a plan. He turned into a bird and flew over the walls. Once there he first visited the palace where he spied on the king and his young wife.

Aryan Paganism, Traditions and Art (APTA)

22 Nov 2022 18:06

On their way to the kingdom Volh’s men had an abundance of game, fowl, and fish due to their leader’s powers.

Aryan Paganism, Traditions and Art (APTA)

22 Nov 2022 16:25

He turned into a falcon and did the same in the sky. His warriors always had good fowl.

Aryan Paganism, Traditions and Art (APTA)

22 Nov 2022 16:17

By his teens Volh has assembled a war band of promising youth (mannerbund) and decided to conquer the neighboring wealthy kingdom.

Aryan Paganism, Traditions and Art (APTA)

22 Nov 2022 15:56

Even as a child Volh could turn into different animals such as: a falcon, a giant wolf, a huge pike and a bull (or a ram) with golden horns.