View source for Chernobog and Belobog

{{short description|Alleged Slavic deities}}
{{About|alleged Slavic gods|mountains in Germany|Czorneboh|and|Bieleboh|the Disney character|Chernabog}}
'''Chernobog'''{{Efn|Also transcribed as ''Černobog''.}} ({{Tooltip|lit.|literally}} "Black God"{{Sfn|Gorbachov|2017|p=}}) and '''Belobog'''{{Efn|Also transcribed as ''Belebog'', ''Belbog''.}} ({{Tooltip|lit.|literally}} "White God"{{Sfn|Gorbachov|2017|p=}}) are an alleged pair of [[Polabian Slavs|Polabian]] deities. Chernobog appears in [[Helmold]]'s ''[[Chronica Slavorum|Chronicle]]'' as a god of misfortune worshipped by the [[Wagri]] and [[Obotrites|Obodrites]], while Belobog is not mentioned – he was constructed in opposition to Chernobog. Both gods also appear in later sources, but they are not considered reliable. Researchers do not agree on the status of Chernobog and Belobog: many scholars recognize the authenticity of these [[theonym]]s and explain them, for example, as gods of good and evil; on the other hand, many scholars believe that they are pseudo-deities, and Chernobog may have originally meant "bad fate", and was later associated with the Christian [[devil]].

== Sources ==
In Latin records, this theonym is noted as {{Lang|la|Zcerneboch}} and {{Lang|la|zcerneboth}}.{{Sfn|Alvarez-Pedroza|2021|p=158}}

The 12th-century German monk and chronicler [[Helmold]], who accompanied the [[Christianization]] missions to the [[Polabian Slavs|Elbe Slavs]], describes in his ''[[Chronica Slavorum|Chronicle of the Slavs]]'' the cult of Chernobog:

{{cquote|
Also, the Slavs have a strange delusion. At their feasts and carousals, they pass about a bowl over which they utter words, I should not say of consecration but of execration, in the name of [two] gods — of the good one, as well as of the bad one — professing that all propitious fortune is arranged by the good god, adverse, by the bad god. Hence, also, in their language, they call the bad god Diabol, or ''Zcerneboch'', that is, the black god.{{Sfn|Gorbachov|2017|p=187}}
}}

Belobog does not appear in any reliable sources{{Sfn|Ivanov|Toporov|1990a|p=672}}{{Sfn|Urbańczyk|1991|p=26}}{{Sfn|Brückner|1985|p=199}}{{Sfn|Łuczyński|2020|p=181}} – he was created in opposition to Chernobog.{{Sfn|Ivanov|Toporov|1990a|p=672}}{{Sfn|Urbańczyk|1991|p=187}}

=== Later sources ===
The next sources that speak of Chernobog and/or Belobog appear only in the 16th century. Around 1530, a Dominican friar from [[Pirna]], Johan Lindner, recalls the gods in his compilation. Although he lived in or near the [[Lusatia]]n region, he probably only used written sources and monastic stories, and not field research, which made many historians deem his work unreliable, including [[Georg Fabricius]] and [[Petrus Albinus]]. They believed that although his sources were numerous and varied, he used them uncritically. At the end of the 17th century, {{ill|Abraham Frencel|lt=Abraham Frencel|de|Abraham Frencel|WD=}} also mentioned the Chernobog in his list of the Lusatian gods. This information is also considered unreliable because it came into being late, when the Lusatian paganism was probably completely extinct and about half of the gods he mentioned are of [[Prussia (region)|Prussian]] origin.{{Sfn|Gorbachov|2017|p=}}{{Sfn|Strzelczyk|1998|p=57–58}}

In 1538, the Pomeranian chronicler [[Thomas Kantzow]] in his ''Chronicle of Pomerania'' wrote:
{{cquote|
I have heretofore related all manner of faithlessness and idolatry, in which they had engaged before the time of the German Empire. Earlier yet, their ways are said to have been even more pagan. They placed their kings and lords, who ruled well, above the gods and honored the said men [as gods] after their death. In addition, they worshipped the sun and the moon and, lastly, two gods whom they venerated above all other gods. One [of them] they called ''Bialbug'', that is the white god; him they held for a good god. The other one [they called] ''Zernebug'', that is the black god; him they held for a god who did harm. Therefore, they honored ''Bialbug'', because he did them good and so that he might [continue to] do them good. ''Zernebug'', on the other hand, they honored so that he should not harm them. And they appeased the said ''Zernebug'' by sacrificing people, for they believed that there was no better way of assuaging him than with human blood, which is actually true, if only they had seen it in the right light: that ''Zernebug'' seeks nothing other than the death of Man's body and soul.{{Sfn|Gorbachov|2017|p=235}}
}}

Then [[Sebastian Münster]], in ''Cosmographiae universalis'' of 1550, describes the harvest ritual associated with [[Svetovid|Svetovit]] and continues: "In general they (the Rugians) worshipped two gods, namely ''Belbuck'' and ''Zernebuck'', as if a white and a black god, a good and an evil [[Genius (mythology)|genius]], God and Satan, as the source of good and evil, according to the error of the [[Manichaeism|Manichaeans]]". The works of Kantzov and Münster are probably independent of each other (various forms of recording the name of the Belobog, the ''Chronicle of Pomerania'' was first published, but it was not published until the 19th century), but they use a common source, which, according to Miroslava Znayenko, could be the archive of the Abbey of {{ill|Białoboki (Trzebiatów)|lt=Białoboki|pl|Białoboki (Trzebiatów)|WD=}}, where the Belobog was forged. [[Daniel Cramer]], a theologian and professor from [[Szczecin]], probably held in his hands a copy of a chronicle from this archive or saw a quote from it, because in his ''Pommerisches Kirchen-Chronicon'' he probably paraphrased a part of it:{{Sfn|Gorbachov|2017|p=}}
{{cquote|
To this monastery they (the founding monks) gave the name ''Belbug'', [more] correctly ''Bialbuck'', which in the Wendish tongue means literally ‘the white god,’ thus to give [the Slavs] to understand that, unlike their (the Slavs’) heathen ancestors, the Christians did not know of any ''black god''. The name [Belbug] also well befits the clothes of the Premonstratensians, who [always] went dressed in white. The foundation of the monastery took place anno 1163.{{Sfn|Gorbachov|2017|p=237}}
}}

Chernobog also appears in the anonymous ''Historia Caminensis'' as the god of the [[Vandals]], which is based on a work by Münster (both works speak of the "error of the Manichaeans"). Chernobog and Belobog also appear in other minor texts.{{Sfn|Gorbachov|2017|p=}}

== Interpretations ==
There is no consensus in the academic community about the status of Chernobog and Belobog in Slavic mythology, or whether the two gods existed at all in Slavic mythology. Some researchers completely reject the existence of Belobog due to his non-appearance in the sources.{{Sfn|Ivanov|Toporov|1990a|p=672}}{{Sfn|Łuczyński|2020|p=181}} At least four views have developed in scholarship:{{Sfn|Łuczyński|2020|p=182}}

# Chernobog is an epithet of Satan, and Belobog arose secondarily in later literature
# Chernobog and Belobog are Slavic deities (actual theonyms or epithets of other deities)
# Chernobog and Belobog are names of Christian figures with pre-Christian origin
# Chernobog and Belobog are pseudo-deities, they did not exist in either the Christian or pagan vocabulary

=== As deities ===
Helmold's information led to the 19th century concept according to which there was supposed to be [[Dualism in cosmology|dualism]] in Slavic religion, which reached the Slavs from the [[Iranian peoples]] ([[Scythians]], [[Sarmatians]] or [[Bogomilism|Bogomils]]); Chernobog and the hypothetical Belobog were compared to [[Ahriman]] and [[Ormuzd]], the eternal enemies in [[Zoroastrianism|Zoroastrian]] mythology.{{Sfn|Szyjewski|2003|p=40}} In this spirit, Chernobog was interpreted by Alexander Hilferding. Later, [[Alexander Afanasyev]] and [[Alexander Famitsin]] considered the eastern counterpart of Belobog to be [[Belun]] (field spirit). None of these scholars, however, considered dualism an important element of Slavic religion; such a view was expressed only by {{ill|Nikolay Kvashnin-Samarin|lt=Nikolay Kvashnin-Samarin|ru|Квашнин-Самарин, Николай Дмитриевич|WD=}} in his amateur work {{Lang|ru|Очерке славянской мифологии}} (1872), but his work is not considered important.{{Sfn|Klejn|2004|p=36}} Franciszek Slawski, in his {{Tooltip|''Słownik prasłowiański''|Proto-Slavic dictionary}}, reconstructed the [[Proto-Slavic language|Proto-Slavic]] ''*bělъ bogъ'' "white, bright deity"{{Sfn|Sławski|1974|p=238}} and Proto-Slavic {{Tooltip|dial.|dialectal}} ''*čŕ̥nъ bogъ'' "black deity, dark deity", for the latter the main attestation is supposed to be Helmold's account.{{Sfn|Sławski|1976|p=243}} Such dualism was advocated, for example, by [[Aleksander Gieysztor]],{{Sfn|Gieysztor|2006|p=159}} [[Vyacheslav Ivanov (philologist)|Vyacheslav Ivanov]] and [[Vladimir Toporov]] considered Chernobog to be a god who brings misfortune.{{Sfn|Ivanov|Toporov|1990b|p=672}} Some authors have tried to prove the cult of Chernobog with the names of the ''[[Czorneboh]]'' and ''[[Bieleboh]]'' mountains in [[Upper Lusatia]], where the gods are said to have been worshipped, but these names were not created until the modern era due to the popularity of the gods in the culture of those areas.{{Sfn|Gorbachov|2017|p=}}{{Sfn|Strzelczyk|1998|p=57–58}} When considering the authenticity of the gods, place names that are said to refer to Chernobog and Belobog are also mentioned as arguments, such as the village of {{Tooltip|''Chernobozhye''|Чернобожье}} in [[Russia]] or the village of {{Tooltip|''Chernobozhna''|Чернобожна}} in [[Ukraine]], also the neighboring villages of [[Černíkovice (Plzeň-North District)|''Černíkovice'']] and {{ill|Bělbožice|lt=''Bělbožice''|cs|Bělbožice|WD=}} in the [[Czech Republic]] are said to be evidence of the authenticity of the cult of Chernobog and Belobog;{{Sfn|Gorbachov|2017|p=}}{{Sfn|Kulišić|Petrović|p=28–29|Pantelić|1970}} however, the former actually comes from a personal name, likely of the founder.<ref>{{cite journal|last=Vokatá|first=Lenka|title=Specifika některých českých oikonym|url=https://theses.cz/id/8wngoi/26412518|language=cs|page=27}}</ref>

=== As pseudo-deities ===
On the other hand, many researchers considered Chernobog merely a personification of bad luck, some mistake by Helmold or a pseudo deity in general. [[Andrzej Szyjewski]] considered Chernobog only a pejorative epithet for the devil,{{Sfn|Szyjewski|2003|p=47}} [[Stanisław Urbańczyk]] said:
{{cquote|
It is likely that Helmold heard something about the Slavs' belief in malevolent spirits, in personified fate, and combined it with Christian depictions, which, by the way, may have already permeated among the Slavs. This, in my opinion, is the kernel of his story; the connections with the Iranians must be abandoned in this case, because the basis is too fragile. The Slavic name for evil spirits were the words [[bies]] and [[chort|czart]]; glaringly different from Chernobog.{{Sfn|Urbańczyk|1991|p=26}}
}}

His view was supported by [[Jerzy Strzelczyk]].{{Sfn|Strzelczyk|1998|p=57–58}} Chernobog was also supposed to be the personification of bad luck according to Martin Pitro and Petr Vokáč{{Sfn|Pitro|Vokáč|p=139|2002}} and [[Stanisław Rosik]].{{Sfn|Rosik|2012|p=272}}

[[Aleksander Brückner]] negated the existence of Chernobog (and Belobog) in Slavic religion and claimed that Chernobog was created under the influence of Christianity, including medieval depictions of the devil as a black demon, and compared him to the alleged Prussian god ''[[Peckols|Pikulas]]'', which ultimately derives from the Polish word {{Lang|pl|piekło}} "[[hell]]".{{Sfn|Brückner|1985|p=195, 199, 210, 213}} The view was supported by e.g. [[Henryk Łowmiański]].{{Sfn|Łowmiański|1979|p=189}}

An extended analysis of ''Chernobog'' and ''Belobog'' was made by Michał Łuczynski.{{Sfn|Łuczyński|2020|p=180–194}} He points out, first of all, that Slavic linguistic material makes it easy to conclude that words like ''black god'' and ''white god'' have a pan-Slavic range and a Proto-Slavic origin.{{Sfn|Łuczyński|2020|p=187, 189}} The attestations of the ''black god'' are as follows: [[Slovincian language|Slovincian]] ''čǻrnï bȯ́u̯g'' "devil", [[Silesian language|Silesian]] {{Lang|szl|Czorny Bóg}} "evil spirit, devil", and [[Toponymy|toponyms]]: [[Russian language|Russian]] {{ill|Chernobozhye|lt=''Chernobozhye''|ru|Чернобожье|WD=}}, [[Ukrainian language|Ukrainian]] {{Tooltip|''Chernobozhna''|Чернобожна}} and [[Serbian language|Serbian]] {{Tooltip|''Černobožeskij gorodok''|Чернобожеский городок}}; the attestations of the ''white god'': Slovincian ''bjǻu̯lï bȯ́u̯g'' "God", Silesian {{Lang|szl|Bioły Bóg}} "a good, human-friendly deity; a good spirit", Serbian {{Tooltip|dial.|dialectal}} {{Tooltip|''bel(i) bog''|бел(и) бог}} "fate", [[Bulgarian language|Bulgarian]] {{Tooltip|dial.|dialectal}} {{Tooltip|''byal bog''|бял бог}} "luck, success",{{Efn|Also in phraseology: {{tooltip|''do byala boga''|до бяла бога}} "(shout) very strongly", {{tooltip|''nyamam byala boga''|нямам бяла бога}} "I have no peace", ''videt byala boga'' "to see consolation, joy".{{Sfn|Łuczyński|2020|p=186}}}} and toponyms: Czech {{Lang|cs|Bělbog}}, {{ill|Bělbožice|lt=''Bělbožice''|cs|Bělbožice|WD=}}, Russian {{Tooltip|''Belye bogi''|Белые боги}}, {{Tooltip|''Belovozhskiy monastyr''|Беловожский монастырь}}, [[German language|German]] {{Lang|de|Belboh}}, {{Lang|de|Belbog}}, {{Lang|de|Belbuk}} and others.{{Sfn|Łuczyński|2020|p=185–186}} According to him, the above material leads him to assume that: the words ''black'' and ''white'' used in the expressions were used in their metaphorical sense, successively "bad" and "good", and the word ''god'' was used in its abstract sense of "fate, luck, fate". Accordingly, Proto-Slavic ''*čŕ̥nъ bogъ'' meant "bad fate", and ''*bělъ bogъ'' "good fate" and this was their original meaning. Evidence of this etymology is provided by analogies, e.g. Polish {{Lang|pl|czarna dola}}, Serbian {{Tooltip|''crna sreća''|црна срећа}}, {{Tooltip|''crna sudbina''|црна судбина}}, [[Croatian language|Croatian]] {{Lang|hr|crna sudba}} all meaning "bad fate", {{Tooltip|lit.|literally}} "black fate".{{Sfn|Łuczyński|2020|p=187}} Subsequently, these terms passed into personal names category and were used to describe [[God in Christianity|God]]/[[Jesus]] and the [[devil]] as figures responsible for good fate and bad fate.{{Sfn|Łuczyński|2020|p=190, 192–193}} Consequently, he considers Helmold's Chernobog to be a pseudo-deity,{{Sfn|Łuczyński|2020|p=191}} which has been misidentified by modern scholars as a deity due to Helmold's [[calque]] of ''black god'' and ''white god'' into Latin as ''niger deus'' and ''bonus deus'' which suggests that Slavic ''bog'' used in these terms = Latin ''deus'',{{Sfn|Łuczyński|2020|p=187}} and personal names ''*Čŕ̥nobogъ'' "devil" and ''*Bělobogъ'' "God/Jesus" as semantic neologisms belonging to the Christian cultural circle, not pagan, as religious, not mythological terms, as may be further indicated by the toponymy (the Christian places of worship in Bielboh and Belovozhskiy monastyr).{{Sfn|Łuczyński|2020|p=189, 192, 194}}

== In popular culture ==
=== In Disney productions ===
{{Main|Chernabog}}
[[File:Villain Float.jpg|thumb|A [[float (parade)|float]] of Disney's rendition of Chernabog, holding the Wicked Queen from Disney's ''[[Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs (1937 film)|Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs]].'']]
An alternative version of Chernobog named Chernabog appears in the [[symphonic poem]] ''[[Night on Bald Mountain]]'' by Russian composer [[Modest Mussorgsky]]. He is depicted as a giant winged demon summoning the souls of the dead. One segment of [[Walt Disney]]'s ''[[Fantasia (1940 film)|Fantasia]]'' (1940) was based on this work.{{Sfn|Culhane|1983|p=185}} The character may have been originally intended as a representation of Satan; in the film, Disney calls him "Satan himself". A full-length live-action film based on the segment was announced in 2015.<ref name=":4">{{cite web|title=Disney's giving one of its darkest characters -- a demon gargoyle from 'Fantasia' -- its own movie|url=https://www.businessinsider.com/disney-chernabog-live-action-movie-2015-6|author=Kirsten Acuna|website=[[Business Insider]] |agency=Business Insider Australia|date=2015-06-04|access-date=2020-09-29|language=en}}</ref> Since ''Fantasia'', Chernabog has appeared in many Disney productions:
* ''[[Fantasia 2000]]'' (1999) – a sequel to the 1940 film; Chernabog appears in references to the first film<ref name=":0">{{Cite web |title=Chernabog - Kingdom Hearts 3D Wiki Guide |url=https://www.ign.com/wikis/kingdom-hearts-3d-dream-drop-distance/Chernabog |access-date=2022-08-13 |website=IGN |date=25 June 2012 |language=en}}</ref>
* ''[[House of Mouse]]'' (2001–2003) – guest starring in one episode along with other characters from ''Fantasia''<ref name=":4" />
* ''[[Mickey Mouse (TV series)|Mickey Mouse]]'' (2013) – in the episode "Touchdown and Out" as Mickey Mouse's opponent. In the episode "The Scariest Story Ever: A Mickey Mouse Halloween Spooktacular!", he is visible in the background during the introductory subtitles.
* ''[[Kingdom Hearts]]'' (2002) – as a boss during the ''End of the World''<ref name=":4" />
* ''[[Kingdom Hearts 3D: Dream Drop Distance]]'' (2012) - as a boss during the ''Fantasia'' inspired world ''Symphony of Sorcery'' <ref name=":0" />

=== Movies and shows ===
* ''[[Once Upon a Time (TV series)|Once Upon a Time]]'' (2011–2018) – appears in [[Darkness on the Edge of Town (Once Upon a Time)|"Darkness on the Edge of Town"]] episode<ref name=":4" />
* ''[[American Gods (TV series)|American Gods]]'' (2017–2021) – television series adaptation of the [[Neil Gaiman]] [[American Gods|novel with the same name]]<ref name=":6">{{cite web|title=American Gods mythology guide: Who is bloodthirsty Slavic deity Czernobog?|url=https://www.radiotimes.com/news/on-demand/2019-06-21/american-gods-mythology-guide-who-is-bloodthirsty-slavic-deity-czernobog/|agency=Radio Times|access-date=2020-09-29|language=en}}</ref>

=== Books and comics ===
* [[Walter Scott]]: ''[[Ivanhoe]]'' (1820) – Zernebock is depicted as the god of the ancient [[Saxons]]<ref>{{Cite book|last=Scott, Walter.|url=https://www.worldcat.org/oclc/781614504|title=Ivanhoe.|date=1996|publisher=OUP Oxford|others=Duncan, Ian.|isbn=978-0-19-161111-7|location=Oxford|oclc=781614504|quote=...May Mista, Skogula and Zernebock, gods of the ancient Saxons...}}</ref>
* ''[[Heirs of Alexandria series|Heirs of Alexandria]]'' series (2002) – as an antagonist
* [[S. M. Stirling]]: ''[[The Peshawar Lancers]]'' (2002) – the action takes place in 2025, 147 years after the meteorite rain that destroyed the Earth. The [[Russians]], believing that [[God in Christianity|God]] and [[Jesus]] abandoned the world, began to worship Chernobog
* Chernobog appears as the god of chaos, darkness, and night in the Balto-Slavic pantheon of the [[Marvel Universe]].<ref>{{cite web|title=Chernobog Powers, Enemies, History {{!}} Marvel|url=https://www.marvel.com/characters/chernobog|agency=Marvel Entertainment|access-date=2020-09-29|language=en}}</ref> He is a member of [[Winter Guard]], a group of Russian superheroes
* Chernobog is the principal villain in ''[[Spinning Silver]]'' (2018), appearing as a demon of fire who possesses the Tzar

=== Video games ===
* ''[[Blood (video game)|Blood]]'' (1997) – Tchernobog is the primary antagonist, being depicted as a "bloodied, horned Dark God of monstrous appearance", who controls the cult known as "the Cabal"
* ''[[Persona 3]]'' (2006) - Chernobog is one of the many Personas the protagonist can embody for its powers in battle.
* ''[[Crusader Kings II]]'' (2012) – In expansions, ''Monks and Mystics'', when a player plays as a pagan Slavic ruler, a Chernobog appears as a "Satanic" god, worshipped by a "Cold Bloods" sect
* ''[[Smite (video game)|Smite]]'' (2014) – as a playable character added in the May 2018 update. He is also the first god of the Slavic pantheon in this game<ref>{{cite web|title=Pierwszy słowiański bóg zawitał do SMITE. Robi wrażenie... {{!}} Portal o grach MMO|url=https://mmorpg.org.pl/news/zobacz/pierwszy-slowianski-bog-zawital-do-smite-robi-wrazenie|agency=mmorpg.org.pl|access-date=2020-09-29|language=pl}}</ref>
* ''[[Arknights]]'' (2019) – Chernobog is the name of the first town that the story takes place in.
* ''[[Honkai: Star Rail]]'' (2023) –  Belobog is the name of the blizzard-stricken town in the first planet, Jarilo-VI, where the story takes place.
* ''[[Grand Theft Auto Online]]'' (2017) – An [[Multiple rocket launcher|MLRS]] based on the Soviet [[MAZ-7310#MAZ-543M|MAZ-543M]] appears as the Chernobog.
* ''[[Zenless Zone Zero]]'' (2024) - Koleda Belobog is the name of one of the playable characters and is the president of the construction company Belobog Heavy Industries.

== See also ==

* [[Veles (god)|Veles]]
* [[Niya (mythology)|Nyja]]

==Notes==
{{Notelist}}

== References ==
{{reflist}}

== Bibliography ==
{{refbegin|30em|indent=yes}}
* {{Cite book |last=Alvarez-Pedroza |first=Juan Antonio |title=Sources of Slavic Pre-Christian Religion |year=2021 |isbn=978-90-04-44138-5 |publisher=Koninklijke Brill |place=Leiden |language=en}}
* {{Cite book |last=Brückner |first=Aleksander |title=Mitologia słowiańska i polska|year=1985 |isbn=8301062452 |publisher=Państwowe Wydawnictwo Naukowe |place=Warsaw |language=pl |author-link=Aleksander Brückner}}
* {{Cite book |last = Culhane |first = John |title = Walt Disney's Fantasia |url = https://archive.org/details/waltdisneysfanta00culh/|year = 1983 |isbn = 978-3-8228-0393-6 |publisher = Harry N. Abrams Inc. |place = |pages = |language = en}}
* {{Cite book |last=Gieysztor |first=Aleksander |title=Mitologia Słowian |year=2006 |isbn=978-83-235-0234-0 |publisher=Wydawnictwa Uniwersytetu Warszawskiego |place=Warsaw |pages= |language=pl |author-link=Aleksander Gieysztor}}
* {{Cite journal |last=Gorbachov |first=Yaroslav |date=2017 |title=What Do We Know about *Čьrnobogъ and *Bělъ Bogъ |url=https://brill.com/view/journals/ruhi/44/2-3/article-p209_209.xml |journal=Russian History |volume=44 |issue=2–3 |pages=209–242 |doi=10.1163/18763316-04402011 |language=en|url-access=subscription }}
* {{Cite book |last1=Ivanov |first1=Vyacheslav |title=Мифологический словарь |year=1990a |editor-last=Meletinsky |editor-first=Yeleazar |editor-link=Yeleazar Meletinsky |publisher=Большая российская энциклопедия |place=Moscow |pages=672 |language=ru |chapter=Белобог |last2=Toporov |first2=Vladimir |author-link=Vyacheslav Ivanov (philologist) |author-link2=Vladimir Toporov |chapter-url=http://myths.kulichki.net/enc/item/f00/s06/a000600.shtml}}
* {{Cite book |last1=Ivanov |first1=Vyacheslav |title=Мифологический словарь |year=1990b |editor-last=Meletinsky |editor-first=Yeleazar |editor-link=Yeleazar Meletinsky |publisher=Большая российская энциклопедия |place=Moscow |pages=672 |language=ru |chapter=Чернобог |last2=Toporov |first2=Vladimir |author-link=Vyacheslav Ivanov (philologist) |author-link2=Vladimir Toporov |chapter-url=http://myths.kulichki.net/enc/item/f00/s38/a003865.shtml}}
* {{Cite book |last=Klejn |first=Leo |title=Воскрешение Перуна: К реконструкции восточнославянского язычества |year=2004 |isbn=5-8071-0153-7 |publisher=Евразия |place= |pages= |language=ru}}
* {{Cite book |last1=Kulišić |first1=Špiro |title=Српски митолошки речник |year=1970 |isbn= |publisher=Нолит |place=Belgrade |pages= |language=sr |first2=Petar Ž. |first3=Nikola |last2=Petrović |last3=Pantelić}}
* {{Cite book |last=Łowmiański |first=Henryk |title=Religia Słowian i jej upadek, w. VI-XII |year=1979 |isbn=83-01-00033-3 |publisher=Państwowe Wydawnictwo Naukowe |place=Warsaw |language=pl |author-link=Henryk Łowmiański}}
* {{Cite book |last=Łuczyński |first=Michał |title=Bogowie dawnych Słowian. Studium onomastyczne |year=2020 |isbn=978-83-60777-83-1 |publisher=Kieleckie Towarzystwo Naukowe |place=Kielce |pages= |language=pl |author-link=}}
* {{Cite book|last1=Pitro|first1=Martin|title=Bohové dávných Slovanů|year=2002|isbn=80-85866-91-9|publisher=ISV|place=Prague|language=cs|first2=Petr|last2=Vokáč}}
* {{Cite book |last=Rosik |first=Stanisław |title=Historia Narrat. Studia mediewistyczne ofiarowane profesorowi Jackowi Banaszkiewiczowi |others=Andrzej Pleszczyński (red.) |year=2012 |isbn=978-83-7784-189-1 |publisher=Wydawnictwo Uniwersytetu Marii Curie-Skłodowskiej |place=Lublin |pages=263–276 |language=pl |chapter=Jarowit Mars i Czarny Bóg Diabeł. O rozmaitej genezie nowych tożsamości słowiańskich bóstw na północnym Połabiu (w kręgu przekazów z XII wieku)}}
* {{Cite book |last=Sławski |first=Franciszek |title=Słownik prasłowiański |year=1974 |isbn= |publisher=[[Zakład Narodowy im. Ossolińskich]] |place=Wrocław, Warsaw, Kraków, Gdańsk |volume=1 |chapter=bělъ bogъ |chapter-url=https://archive.org/details/slownik-praslowianski/slownik-praslowianski-1/page/238/mode/1up?view=theater |pages=238 |language=pl}}
* {{Cite book |last=Sławski |first=Franciszek |title=Słownik prasłowiański |year=1976 |isbn= |publisher=[[Zakład Narodowy im. Ossolińskich]] |place=Wrocław, Warsaw, Kraków, Gdańsk |volume=2 |chapter=čŕ̥nъ bogъ |pages=243 |language=pl}}
* {{Cite book |last=Strzelczyk |first=Jerzy |title=Mity, podania i wierzenia dawnych Słowian |year=1998 |isbn=978-83-7301-973-7 |publisher= |place= |pages= |language=pl |author-link=Jerzy Strzelczyk}}
* {{Cite book |last=Szyjewski |first=Andrzej |title=Religia Słowian |year=2003 |isbn=83-7318-205-5 |publisher=Wydawnictwo WAM |place=Kraków |language=pl}}
* {{Cite book |last=Urbańczyk |first=Stanisław |title=Dawni Słowianie. Wiara i kult |year=1991 |place=Wrocław |language=pl |author-link=Stanisław Urbańczyk |publisher=Ossolineum}}
{{refend}}

== Further reading ==
* {{cite journal |title=On the Concept of Chernebog and Bielbog in Slavic Mythology |last=ZNAYENKO |first=Myroslava T. |journal=Acta Slavica Iaponica |volume=11 |pages=177–185 |date=1993 |hdl=2115/8061 |url=http://hdl.handle.net/2115/8061}}

{{Slavic religion}}

[[Category:Slavic demons]]
[[Category:Slavic gods]]
[[Category:Slavic pseudo-deities]]
[[Category:Death gods]]
[[Category:Night gods]]
[[Category:Evil gods]]
[[Category:Underworld gods]]
[[Category:Mythological duos]]