Perun and Veles

Perun, the thunder god, and Veles, the god of the underworld, were locked in eternal conflict. Veles, in the form of a great serpent, would steal Perun's heavenly cattle or kidnap his family members.

Enraged, Perun would chase Veles through the world tree, striking him with lightning bolts. Veles would hide underground or transform into animals, but Perun always found him.

Their battles caused thunderstorms and shaped the landscape - where Perun's lightning struck, valleys were formed, and where Veles fled, rivers appeared.

This myth represents the eternal struggle between order (Perun) and chaos (Veles), sky and earth, divine and chthonic forces. It explains natural phenomena like storms and the changing seasons.

The story survived Christianization as the battle between St. Elijah (replacing Perun) and the devil (replacing Veles). Elements appear in folk tales and seasonal rituals.