Czechs & Balts

The relatedness of some Suavic and Baltic Gods can be shown by references to the same vegetation Deity – Zelu. This name appears in the Czech Neplach but also is reported – as Želus – among the Prussians by Matthäus Prätorius (1635 – 1704) in his Deliciae Prussicae oder Preussische Schaubühne (written in 1698 but not published till 1871).

The name may also appear in Laskowski or in the De diis Samagitarum caeterorumque Sarmatarum et falsorum Christianorumi if I recall correctly.

It seems that this is the “Green Deity” the God of Vegetation though because of the Suavic Jarylo/Yarylo‘s connection with yar, it seems that this is simply another name for Yassa/Jassa or Jarowit/Yarovit/Gerovit.

Curiously, while Jassa and Jarylo bear clear connections to the word jar and Jahr/year, Zelu may not only be cognate with the obvious ziele (herb) and hence zielony (green) which is derived from it – but also may bear a connection to the word “zealot” as in eifrig, jarski that is animated, driven – adjectives very connected withe the growth of vegetation in the spring, that is the return of Life to the Earth.