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When you think of Slavic culture, the first things that come to mind are probably vodka, fur hats, and the Orthodox church. Polish photographer Marcin Nagraba, however, wanted to show the world a more ancient view of Slavic people in his dark pictures - by dialing it all the way back to Pagan times.

Christianity arrived in this world between the 7th and 12th centuries, but before that, the region was a hotbed of Slavic mythology and polytheism. Though little is known to this day about the mysterious Pagan rituals, accounts by early Byzantine explorers describe the ancient Slavs as worshipers of thunder and earth - no doubt referring to Perun, the highest god of the pantheon and the Slavic equivalent of the Greek Zeus.

With the help of costume designer Agnieszka Osipa, the Warsaw-based visionary captures the breathtaking photoshoot idea which reminds us of the wonder and wisdom of ages past. Experience every cool photo for yourself below, and let yourself drift back in time for a moment.

More info: Marcin Nagraba, Agnieszka Osipa (h/t: DYT)

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    #2

    Pagan Poetry Photo

    Marcin Nagraba , Agnieszka Osipa Report

    Skure
    Community Member
    8 years ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    Similar to Vesna and/or Morana, goddess of death and afterlife

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    #5

    Pagan Poetry Photo

    Marcin Nagraba , Agnieszka Osipa Report

    Magdalena Bertola
    Community Member
    8 years ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    Ahh It would be so Nice If they post the name of the deities :/

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    #7

    Pagan Poetry Photo

    Marcin Nagraba , Agnieszka Osipa Report

    Tracy Graber
    Community Member
    8 years ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    Oooh! Reminds me of a Bean Sidhe. Or La Llorona. Even a Valkyrie.

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    #8

    Pagan Poetry Photo

    Marcin Nagraba , Agnieszka Osipa Report

    Hisseefit
    Community Member
    8 years ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    Yikes! The centipede makes me shiver even if it's fake.

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    #10

    Pagan Poetry Photo

    Marcin Nagraba , Agnieszka Osipa Report

    Trina Rose
    Community Member
    8 years ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    She would look perfect in the Iron Islands.

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    #17

    Pagan Poetry Photo

    Marcin Nagraba , Agnieszka Osipa Report

    Zana Berisha
    Community Member
    8 years ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    Very similar (or the same) as "Nusja" - The Bride in Albanian tradition.

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    #19

    Pagan Poetry Photo

    Marcin Nagraba , Agnieszka Osipa Report

    Hisseefit
    Community Member
    8 years ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    My guess is the winter God with the snowflake and death.

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    #22

    Pagan Poetry Photo

    Marcin Nagraba , Agnieszka Osipa Report

    flyingaquapigs123
    Community Member
    8 years ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    She looks like she has seen and known the whole universe

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    #28

    Pagan Poetry Photo

    Marcin Nagraba , Agnieszka Osipa Report

    Derek Stocker
    Community Member
    5 years ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    I bless the harvest of Dionysus for from my head emerge the twisted daggers of your fate!

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    #33

    Pagan Poetry Photo

    Marcin Nagraba , Agnieszka Osipa Report

    Debbie Gannaway
    Community Member
    8 years ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    Who did the costumes, headdresses, makeup, they are spectacular.

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    #34

    Pagan Poetry Photo

    Marcin Nagraba , Agnieszka Osipa Report

    Sami Thompson
    Community Member
    8 years ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    Love the headpiece, costume, & palm jewels - everything is beautiful!

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    #35

    Pagan Poetry Photo

    Marcin Nagraba , Agnieszka Osipa Report

    Sami Thompson
    Community Member
    8 years ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    Everything is perfect - but the lace eyelashes are a teensy bit disturbing.

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    #38

    Pagan Poetry Photo

    Marcin Nagraba , Agnieszka Osipa Report

    Lynn Provost
    Community Member
    8 years ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    I only wish these had some origin stories with them!

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    #39

    Pagan Poetry Photo

    Marcin Nagraba , Agnieszka Osipa Report

    Derek Stocker
    Community Member
    5 years ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    South American. Add colour could be Inca or Aztec. Even if there was contact the centuries do not match. I was going to mention Scarab/Dung Beetle but 8 legs - Arachnid - Parasitic Tick. The Wheat? Signifies? A successful harvest or votive offerings for the harvest to come? When did humans begin to cultivate winter wheat? I just find her lined features mesmerising.

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    #42

    Pagan Poetry Photo

    Marcin Nagraba , Agnieszka Osipa Report

    Terri Rowland
    Community Member
    8 years ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    If I wear this my dog and every other dog from miles around would love me and follow me everywhere 🤗 💝 🌹 🌈 🐩🐶

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    #43

    Pagan Poetry Photo

    Marcin Nagraba , Agnieszka Osipa Report

    Terri Rowland
    Community Member
    8 years ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    When I first looked at this one I thought that the antlers were attached to her boobies ❤ 🤣🤣🤣

    #45

    Pagan Poetry Photo

    Marcin Nagraba , Agnieszka Osipa Report

    DeMarie Ingraham
    Community Member
    8 years ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    I can't imagine how much time these elaborate dressings took to construct. They are incredible.

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    #52

    Pagan Poetry Photo

    Marcin Nagraba , Agnieszka Osipa Report

    Terri Rowland
    Community Member
    8 years ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    Is that octopus on the shoulders 🐙 💝 🐙 💝 🐙 💝

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    #60

    Pagan Poetry Photo

    Marcin Nagraba , Agnieszka Osipa Report

    Bartek Banach
    Community Member
    5 years ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    If you got all the way to 60 you probably recognized some patterns. Constant war since 3000bc sad slave history. I'd like to just cut off that bad intro. Person who writes the article has no knowledge of slav natives in Europe pre Christian times. And for our gods sake! Russians are eastern Slavs and are Wareg Viking descendants which puts their orthodox church and furry hats where they suppose to be. The photography shows a lot of Royal Polabian people culture as well as B.C. slav culture that was unfortunately conquered by Danes, great Roman Empire, Crusades etc. Beautiful take

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