The God of Earth Powers in the Balt mythology were Latvian Veln - Lithuanian Vels. Veln it is widely distributed in folklore and national arts and crafts. He is horned, sometimes has hoofs, is connected to water the eye of him is 'a window in a bog'. Veln has got wisdom, builds bridges, patronises music and dances. At the same time in fairy tales he frequently gets mistake. N. Velius believes this character is wise in sacral sphere and simple in prophanic one (see. Velius, the author's abstract of the dissertation). This reasoning indirectly confirms connection of the God of Earth Powers with magic, priestly sphere. Vels more ancient variant of an image. "At 17-th. century A.D. G. Stender informs about Vels (Wels) - the god dead to which 'days of dead' were devoted (Welli; compare Lith. vele, 'soul', veles, 'shadows deceased', words of the same root, as V.); V. it is connected to cattle etc. animals (according to Stender - 'the divine horses', 'the divine bulls', 'the divine birds')". (Myths of nations of the world, 1998. v. 1, 228). Vels it is known also from Lithuanian dualistic legends which are connected with Slavic Bogumil heresies of Middle Ages and, on the other hand - with dualism Ugrian peoples. He acts in them as one of creators of the world, the contender of God (Dievas) (Pumpur, 1975). To an image of this Balt deity it is especially close East Slav Veles . V.V. Ivanov and V.N. Toporov compare to him also Indian Vala , Vritra, and even Varuna. (Myths of nations of the world, 1998. v. 1, p. 530).

Prussian analogue of Vels/Veln was Patollo/Pekols. He entered into the triad of gods, the most esteemed in Romovo sanctuary. According to medieval sources, the sanctuary looked as follows: in the middle of spacious plain there was a huge oak. In it there were three niches in which ancient Prussian sculptures contained. That were: Perkunas, Potrimps and Patollo. Statue of Perkunas had a twisted black beard, a bright-red face and the same colours a sheaf of beams around of a head. Before it the inextinguishable fire flared. To the right of Perkunas there was a sculpture affable young men without beard in a wreath from ears - Potrimps, the god of the rivers and sources, the bearer of fertility and a good harvest. The main symbol of him was the snake lived in a clay urn, covered hay. On the left side from Perkunas there was statue Patollo - the god of Underworld and night phantoms, an embodiment of horror. He was represented as the gray-bearded old man with a white scarf on a head (variant - in a horned helmet). Symbols Patollo were three skulls - the person, a horse and the bull. The described triad reminds Uppsala one (with that difference, that in last the Cultural Hero - Odin occupied the central place) and, is similar to it, was certainly a product of complex intellectual activity of Prussian priests.

There was in Baltic culture also one more image liked the God of Earth Powers. This is Cerocles - the god of fields and cereals. In the message of cardinal Valenti from 1604 A.D. is identified with Veln. "In the report of Jesuits from 1619 it is informed, that at meal on the ground for C. throw the first piece and spill the first drink of drink. The author 18 century Rostovsky names C. the god of hospitality. Name Cerocles make from the Latvian. cerot, 'to cluster' (compare connection C. with cereals), that proves to be true presence in folklore (where C. is not) Ceru mate, 'mothers of bushes'" (Myths of nations of the world, 1998. v. 2, p. 618-619). We shall recollect Iranian saka - 'fork', 'bush', and connection of the given word with a deer. And sounds almost identically: Cerocles - Cernunnos . And that alongside with Ceru mate in Baltic culture exists and Velu mate, together with all rest, it is almost incontestable testifies for the benefit of direct identification Veln/Vels and Cerocles/ Cernunnos.

With identification of the Slavic God of Earth Powers there is no problem for east Slav Veles (Volos) likes Balt Vels. He was popular and considered as the god of "all Russia" in counterbalance Perun - to the patron of a princely warriors. In Kiev Perun's idol stood on mountain and Veles's idol down, in the bottom part of city. In ancient Russian sources Veles is the god of cattle and riches. "The Word about Igor's regiment" names legendary poet Boyan (probably, living at court yard Yaroslav Wise) 'Veles's grandson', that reflects connection of the God of Earth Powers with ceremonial and, in genesis - priestly functions.

Overthrow of Veles. (A. Fantalov, watercolour and Indian ink).

Myth about overthrow of Veles by Perun from the sky.

Veles and Usinya (the man with huge mouthtaches). (A.Fantalov, watercolor).

This picture shows the battle between Slav chthonic personages.

Triumph of Veles. (A. Fantalov, watercolour and Indian ink).

Veles had shown Slav god of earth natural powers like Dionysus - Greek mythology; Shiva/Rudra - Indian mythology; Cernunnos - Celtic mythology; and especially Vels - Balt mythology.

Slav mythology 9.

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