veles

Veles is a name with multiple referents in Slavic culture. In myth, Veles (also known as Volos in some traditions) is a principal deity associated with the underworld, forests and waters, cattle and wealth, and magic. In many traditions he is depicted as a horned or serpentine figure and is portrayed as the adversary of the thunder god Perun, with myths describing their periodic cosmic battles that symbolize the struggle between order and chaos as well as the changing seasons.

Scholars view Veles as a central figure in the pre-Christian Slavic religious landscape, with associations to earth, wealth, and rites aimed at securing fertility, livestock protection, and harvest prosperity. The character and worship of Veles vary by region, but the deity commonly embodies the worldly, subterranean, and magical aspects of Slavic spirituality and is often linked to the domain of the dead and the mysteries of life and nature.

Veles is also the name of a town in North Macedonia. The town is located on the Vardar River and serves as the administrative center of Veles Municipality. The use of the name for both a mythic figure and a modern settlement reflects longstanding linguistic and cultural connections in the region.