Also called Dziewanna, Dzewana, Diewona.
Their story
Jan Długosz, writing in the fifteenth century, listed Dziewanna among the Polish gods and explained her as the Roman Diana. Because Długosz was matching Polish names to classical ones, many historians think he built part of his pantheon from learned guesswork. The name lives on in Polish as dziewanna, the tall mullein plant.
Best times to give to them
- spring
- Semik
- Kupala Night
What they like being given
- wild flowers
- bread
- a ribbon tied in a wood
How to honour them
- Walk in woodland quietly and leave nothing behind but a ribbon or flowers.
- Honour her as a modern image of the wild maiden, knowing her history is uncertain.
How they can help you
- independence
- time in nature
- focus
Symbols
- a bow
- the forest
- the great mullein plant (dziewanna)
Most scholars see Devana as a late learned construct from Długosz, not a proven ancient goddess.
Sources
- Jan Długosz, Annales seu cronicae incliti Regni Poloniae
- Aleksander Gieysztor, Mitologia Słowian