Triglav: Master of the Three Worlds
Autumn, with the arrival of colder days and winter, is dedicated to calming down, introspection, and cleansing the past. During this time, all three worlds – the sky, the earth, and the underworld – are connected. Our ancient Slavic ancestors celebrated a holiday called "Dedi" (Ancestors) during this period. They remembered their ancestors by lighting candles in the windows; the flames symbolically represented their souls and helped them find their way. In some places, candles were placed in hollowed-out turnips, and throughout the winter, people ate roasted turnips, which were believed to cleanse the body and spirit. Because all three worlds are connected at this time, the image on the T-shirt is that of Triglav – the god after whom the highest Slovenian mountain is named.
The god Triglav is said to have three heads, as he ruled over all three realms – the underworld, the earth, and the sky. Many mythology researchers see him as a union of the three most important gods. In an article from 1871, I found a wonderful record of him: "...he was the most wonderful Triglav, god of the earth, sea, and air. Triglav is the god of the greatest wisdom." He is also compared to the three seasons: spring, summer, and winter. The symbol of the sun god Triglav is the golden triangle. In depictions, his three faces are often covered so that he would not see the sins of people and could thus forgive them. Triglav is also said to have a black horse, cared for by his spirits, which predicted all future events.
Some connect the name of the highest Slovenian mountain directly with this god. In 1788, Linhart wrote: "Triglav is, as the name suggests, a three-headed god, as power over air, earth, and water was attributed to him... Mount Triglav above Bohinj is said to be named after this god." The artist Saša Šantel also depicted Triglav as an old man with three faces rising above the mountain, and France Prešeren described him in "The Baptism on the Savica" as the "gray head" of the Carniolan chief.
ON THE NUMBER THREE
In mythology, the number three is a magical number representing wholeness and perfection. Ancient Slavs divided the world into three spheres: the underworld, the earth, and the sky, which were connected in a world mountain or a cosmic tree. Society was also divided into three classes: priests, warriors, and farmers/herders.
In Slovenian folklore, the story of the tročan (the triad) has been preserved. The tročan was always marked by fire (sun), water, and earth. We know of "large triads" that connect three cult points in space (water – the goddess Mokosh, sun – the god Perun, and earth/underworld – the god Veles). With such a division of space, the ancient Slavs created cosmos out of chaos and ensured prosperity. We also know of "small triads" (stones) that people placed in their homes – two for the foundation, and the third hidden by the master of the house. Our ancestors also frequently arranged farms and crops in the shape of a triangle.
