Also called Diva.
Their story
In the Tale of Igor's Campaign, as Igor rides out against the Polovtsy, the Div cries from the top of a tree, calling foreign lands to listen. Later in the poem the Div has "fallen to the earth". No other early text describes it, and scholars have read it as a bird of ill omen, a demon or an old god.
Best times to give to them
- no festivals are recorded
What they like being given
- none recorded; heed warnings and act wisely
How to honour them
- Take warning signs seriously and pause before acting in haste.
How they can help you
- heeding warnings
- reading signs
- caution
Symbols
- a tree-top
- a cry in the night
- a bird-like shape
Known only from the Igor Tale; its nature is unknown.
Sources
- The Tale of Igor's Campaign (Slovo o polku Igoreve)
More Slavic beings
- Vodyanoy The old man of the millpond
- Polevik The spirit of the fields
- Poludnitsa Lady Midday of the harvest fields
- Mavka Hollow-backed maiden of the Ukrainian woods
- Mora The night-mare who sits on the chest
- Zmey Gorynych Many-headed dragon of the byliny
- Firebird The glowing bird of the golden apples
- Alkonost The bird of joy